Product Side Hustles
Over 1,000 episodes of Side Hustle School follow real people who turned a product — physical, handmade, or manufactured — into an income stream. From the beekeeping couple who built a six-figure honey brand to the engineer who turned a garage idea into a bestseller, these stories show what it actually looks like to create something people will pay for. Browse every episode below.
- Shoe Designer Runs After $1 Million Challenge
Shoe designer creates custom dress shoes after challenge from a friend. Justin Schneider's 90-day prototype sprint. Side Hustle School Ep. 3403.
- Art Director Turns Passion For Puppets Into Profit
Art director launches Puppet Pelts, selling pre-dyed Antron fleece to puppeteers and earning $9,000/month. Side Hustle School Ep. 3401.
- Q&A: "How to go from prototype into manufactured product?"
How to turn a product prototype into manufactured goods for retail. Manufacturing sourcing and assembly strategies for makers. Side Hustle School Ep. 3398.
- Loan Officer Charts New Course With Nautically Inspired Jewelry
Nautical chart jewelry made from customizable maps. Charlotte Guptill combines sailing passion with metalwork in Maine. Side Hustle School Ep. 3396.
- Three Friends Step Up, Pull In Restroom Revenue
Restroom door opener built by three friends solves hygiene problem with foot-operated steel device. Side Hustle School Ep. 3389.
- Two Women Create Swimwear Brand for D-Cups and Up
Swimwear brand for D-cups and up founded by two best friends in Minneapolis who identified a major market gap. Side Hustle School Ep. 3387.
- Cigar Subscription Box Delivers Smoking Returns
Software engineer built a cigar subscription box earning $4,500/month. Premium boxes for aficionados, started in college. Side Hustle School Ep. 3382.
- Q&A: "Help, my bank said I can't open a business account!"
Why your bank rejected your business account application and what to do next. Side Hustle School Ep. 3378.
- Firefighter Uses Chainsaw for Jumbo-Sized Woodworking
Firefighter carves giant wooden bears and animals using chainsaws during wildfire training downtime in Alberta. Side Hustle School Ep. 3375.
- Savvy Stationery Site Offers Cards for Divorce & Diwali
Cards for divorce, Diwali, and same-sex weddings. Ali King's Groundswell Greetings fills gaps in the $8B card industry. Side Hustle School Ep. 3373.
- Veteran Turns Sweet Compulsion Into Obsessive Candy Hustle
Veteran with OCD turns candy organization obsession into a side business. Ellen Laguatan's quirk becomes her hustle. Side Hustle School Ep. 3368.
- Designer Earns $1M Giving It The Old College Try
Designer Micah Whitson earns $1M creating college football posters, pennants and t-shirts celebrating Southern schools. Side Hustle School Ep. 3361.
- Working Mother Sells Coats to Buckle in Babies
Mother invents side-zip car seat coat for winter safety. Dahlia Rizk's prototype eliminates the harness removal battle. Side Hustle School Ep. 3359.
- "Productivity Nannies" Dig Co-Working Caves for Modern Workers
CaveDay co-working events help NYC and LA professionals crush productivity goals in distraction-free group settings. Side Hustle School Ep. 3354.
- Trader Joe's Sign Artist Earns $43,200 Selling Tea-Stained Prints
How a Trader Joe's sign artist earns $3,600/month selling tea-stained vintage prints online. Side Hustle School Ep. 3347.
- Beard Oil Behemoth Expands to 35 Countries
How Ryan Lane built Dream Beard from $46 to six figures monthly with beard oil. Now in 35 countries. Side Hustle School Ep. 3345.
- Proud Mainer Brings Whoopie Pies to the World
Former stay-at-home mom bakes Maine whoopie pies in bulk, generating $25,000+ monthly with Cape Whoopies. Side Hustle School Ep. 3340.
- Game of Cones: Two Women Make Architecturally-Inspired Ice Cream
How two women turned architecturally-inspired ice cream into a multi-million dollar business after a Coachella debut. Side Hustle School Ep. 3333.
- Dog Stocking Hustle Earns Husky Payoff
Seasonal pet gifts side hustle inspired by a marketing client's success. Side Hustle School Ep. 3331.
- Physician Designs Plush Toys to Teach Anatomy
Physician creates plush organ toys to teach anatomy and comfort hospital patients. Educational side hustle from a DC doctor. Side Hustle School Ep. 3319.
- Jiu-Jitsu Instructor Pins Down Mobile Workout Tool
Jiu-jitsu instructor earns $20,000/month selling portable workout tool on Kickstarter. Side Hustle School Ep. 3317.
- Failure Friday: “We opened the box and it was a totally different product…”
When a supplier sent the wrong kettlebell order, the founder had to rebuild trust. Side Hustle School Ep. 3310.
- Engineer Makes $80,000/Year Handing Out Free Maps
How a former sound engineer earns $80,000/year with free hotel maps that attract advertisers. Texas-based business model. Side Hustle School Ep. 3305.
- Dachshund-Loving Duo Designs Doxie Apparel
How two dog lovers built a six-figure dachshund apparel brand. Woof-worthy designs drive steady income. Side Hustle School Ep. 3291.
- Side Hustle School Season 10 Starts TODAY
Season 10 of Side Hustle School launches with new features, music, and 365 days of entrepreneurship stories ahead. Side Hustle School.
- Weekend Workshop: From Rock Bottom to Business Empire
Building a million-dollar business from homelessness: the key steps to transform your side hustle in 2025. Side Hustle School Ep. 3270.
- Frenchman Says Bonjour to $35,000/Month Foodie Hustle
How a Frenchman built $35,000/month selling artisanal food in Quebec. Seasonal flavors drive holiday sales. Side Hustle School Ep. 3252.
- Six-Figure Beekeeping Biz Buzzes for Minnesota Couple
How a Minnesota couple earns $150,000 annually from beekeeping. Hardy bees bred for survival produce sweet profits. Side Hustle School Ep. 3245.
- Q&A: “What’s a fair founder-investor deal between friends?”
Founder-investor equity splits between friends: how to structure vesting, dynamic equity, and fair payouts for cash and sweat. Side Hustle School Ep. 3234.
- Line Chef Makes Millions Cooking Up Apron Empire
Chef builds multi-million-dollar apron company while cooking in restaurants at night. Side Hustle School Ep. 3224.
- Aussie Stretches Out with Online Store for Tall Women
Online clothing store for tall women built by Melbourne entrepreneur. Custom sizing for 6'3" frames and beyond. Side Hustle School Ep. 3217.
- Canadian Bidets Modernize Bathroom Life
How a Toronto entrepreneur earns $10,000/month selling bidets to immigrant families. Modernizing bathrooms one seat at a time. Side Hustle School Ep. 3210.
- Underwear Side Hustle Turns Into $500,000/Month Business
How two women built a $500,000/month underwear brand from a Kickstarter campaign. Now employs 15 people. Side Hustle School Ep. 3203.
- College Grad Shares “More than Mac & Cheese” Student Recipes
College student earns $1,000+/month with student recipe blog beyond mac & cheese. Side Hustle School Ep. 3189.
- Movie Industry Friends Rewrite the Credits, Earn $20,000/Month
Movie end credits software simplifies producer coordination—two industry friends earn $20,000/month. Side Hustle School Ep. 3175.
- IT Guy Earns Extra $50,000/Year Restoring Vintage Radios
IT professional earns $50,000/year restoring vintage 1950s radios. Works 5-10 hours weekly buying, repairing, and reselling. Side Hustle School Ep. 3168.
- Curated Gift Boxes for Breakups and Baby Bumps
Curated gift boxes for breakups and baby bumps, selling hundreds monthly to millennial women. Side Hustle School Ep. 3161.
- First $1,000: YouTube Bonsai Channel Grows Into Online Store
YouTube bonsai creator turned hobby into Shopify store selling to passionate audience. Side Hustle School Ep. 3159.
- Weekend Workshop: Emotional Products Command Premium Prices
How nostalgia-themed handcrafted items command premium prices. Industrial engineer shares the emotional product strategy. Side Hustle School Ep. 3151.
- Q&A: “Can I sell my ideas for inventions?”
Can you sell product ideas without starting a business? Learn how licensing works and why execution beats creativity. Side Hustle School Ep. 3139.
- Metal Detectorist Gets Paid for Finding Lost Jewelry
Metal detectorist finds lost jewelry and gets paid rewards—recovering over $100,000 in valuables with his kids. Side Hustle School Ep. 3133.
- TBT: How Selling $2 Digital Products Earned $185,000
How one creator scaled $2 digital products to $185,000 in revenue using SEO, volume, and smart upsells. Side Hustle School Ep. 3127.
- Nerdy Kickstarter Campaign Raises $1 Million
Board game creator's Kickstarter campaign raises $1 million instead of $6,000 goal. Side Hustle School Ep. 3126.
- Ex-Baseball Players Hit Home Run With Baseball Bat Subscriptions
How two ex-baseball players earn $50k/month with a bat rental subscription serving thousands of families nationwide. Side Hustle School Ep. 3119.
- Q&A: “How can I launch a no-recipe cooking channel?”
Teaching cooking without recipes: can improvisation-based food content become profitable? Side Hustle School Ep. 3118.
- “Graphic Design for Dogs” Earns $84,000
How a graphic designer earns $84,000/year with custom pet designs. Dog-themed logos and illustrations drive revenue. Side Hustle School Ep. 3112.
- Aussie Man Eats Nothing But Potatoes for 365 Days
How an Aussie man earns $1,500/month from a potato-only diet challenge that helped him lose 121 pounds. Side Hustle School Ep. 3105.
- Engineer Turns Home Energy Problem Into Million-Dollar Solution
Construction engineer creates attic ventilation product saving homeowners money, building $2M annual side hustle. Side Hustle School Ep. 3098.
- Faux Taxidermy Turns Heads on Home Decor
Faux taxidermy decor business unites couple with opposing values. Pennsylvania side hustle. Side Hustle School Ep. 3091.
- Kiwi Coder Makes Extra $50,000/Year from Digital Paintbrushes
Software engineer creates digital calligraphy brushes earning $50,000/year. Virtual lettering tools for digital artists. Side Hustle School Ep. 3084.
- Four Friends Create Conversations, Earn $400,000 in 8 Months
Four Dutch friends create a card game for meaningful conversations and earn $400,000 in 8 months. Side Hustle School Ep. 3077.
- High School Student Earns $20,000 Making Wooden Bow Ties
High school student earns $20,000 selling wooden bow ties. Started after receiving one as a gift and decided to make his own. Side Hustle School Ep. 3070.
- Golfer Takes Swing At Content Website
How a sales manager earns $5,000/month from a golf advice website. Built it out of frustration with poor online content. Side Hustle School Ep. 3063.
- Architect Creates Mini-Blind Repair Tool
Architect earns $15,000 annually with mini-blind repair tool. A practical solution that took years to develop and market. Side Hustle School Ep. 3056.
- Internet Trolls Eat Their Words In This Comedic Cake Hustle
Troll-inspired cake business that turns internet negativity into a hilarious side hustle. Side Hustle School Ep. 3049.
- TBT: From Cracked Screens to Tech Buyback Business
College student scaled phone screen repairs into $20K/month tech buyback platform. TBT: Where are they now? Side Hustle School Ep. 3043.
- Fashion Buyer Creates Quirky Comfort Craze
Fashion buyer Kyle Bergman turned viral Buzzfeed attention into a quirky comfort brand for edgy style lovers. Side Hustle School Ep. 3042.
- Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats Are No Barking Matter
Frozen yogurt dog treats made by a Colorado couple give dogs their own dessert bowls. Side Hustle School Ep. 3035.
- Q&A: “How can I incorporate activism into my brand without seeming performative?”
How to align your brand with activism and sustainability without appearing performative. Side Hustle School Ep. 3034.
- College Student Hacks Into $40,000 A Month Side Hustle
College student earns $40,000/month teaching ethical hacking courses. Started with a $40 investment to escape student debt. Side Hustle School Ep. 3028.
- TBT: When Selling Prints Wasn’t Enough
Digital art prints to Etsy mockups: how pivoting to product mockup design became a high-demand service. Side Hustle School Ep. 3022.
- Immigrant Couple Translates Heritage Into Children’s Flash Cards
Immigrant couple from Laos creates dual-language flash cards to preserve heritage language for their children. Side Hustle School Ep. 3021.
- Weekend Workshop: Create a Side Hustle Shopping List
Essential tools and resources to start your 2025 side hustle. Weekend Workshop. Side Hustle School Ep. 3004.
- “Pocket Monkey” Tool Sells 500,000 Units
Software engineer's wallet tool sells 500,000 units, earns $50K annually. Side Hustle School Ep. 3000.
- Q&A: “Can I legally sell t-shirts with retro images of celebrities?”
Can you legally sell t-shirts with retro celebrity images? Learn copyright and likeness rights rules for your side hustle. Side Hustle School Ep. 2996.
- Homemade Art Tutorials Turn Struggling Artist Into YouTube Star
YouTube art tutorials: Mexican painter and sculptor builds 50 million views with hand-drawing videos. Side Hustle School Ep. 2993.
- Itchy Honeymoon Shaves Way To Pubic Oil Kingdom
How three friends built a six-figure pubic oil business from scratch. Turning personal discomfort into unexpected revenue. Side Hustle School Ep. 2986.
- TBT: Production Assistant Specializes in Props Sourcing
Props sourcing specialist in Vancouver fills niche for film & TV productions. Side Hustle School Ep. 2980.
- Former Construction Inspector Helps Students Pass Exams
Former construction inspector teaches students to pass licensing exams through online courses. Side Hustle School Ep. 2979.
- 13-Year-Old Australian Creates Schoolyard Lollipop Fortune
13-year-old Australian student sells 50+ lollipops daily at school with 100% profit margin. Side Hustle School Ep. 2972.
- Coffee Lover Bets Beans On Workplace Coffee Subscriptions
Workplace coffee subscriptions side hustle built by a corporate HR executive in Salt Lake City. Side Hustle School Ep. 2965.
- Q&A: “What’s the best way to pre-sell a product I haven’t made yet?”
How to pre-sell a product that doesn't exist yet while building customer trust and managing expectations. Side Hustle School Ep. 2961.
- Florida Man Leads Scooter Tours After Watching Macklemore Video
How a Florida man built a scooter tour business after watching Macklemore's Thrift Shop video. Side Hustle School Ep. 2958.
- Lifelong Girl Scout Earns Her Side Hustle Badge
Girl Scout leader turned side hustle creator finds meaningful work inspiring young visionaries. Side Hustle School Ep. 2951.
- Q&A: “How much time should I spend on social media each week?”
How much time should you spend on social media weekly for your side hustle? Learn what drives real growth vs. busy work. Side Hustle School Ep. 2950.
- First $1,000: Career Transition Guides Quickly Earn $25,000
Former HR pro builds career transition guides and workshops, earning $1,000 fast. Side Hustle School Ep. 2949.
- Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2,800/Month Hustle
Pastor turns Dungeons & Dragons passion into $2,800/month custom dice business called Dice Envy. Side Hustle School Ep. 2930.
- Side Hustle School Season 9 Starts TODAY
Side Hustle School Season 9 kicks off with new features, music, and 365 daily episodes ahead. What's coming this year. Side Hustle School.
- Q&A: “Best way to launch a book in 2025?”
Book launch strategies for 2025: building platform buzz, pre-orders, and launch week momentum. Side Hustle School Ep. 2849.
- Failure Friday: The Challenges of Helping Smokers Switch to Vaping
Why a vaping transition business failed to attract paying clients. What went wrong and why it matters. Side Hustle School Ep. 2834.
- First $1,000: Artisan Chocolatier Hits Sweet Milestone
How an artisan chocolatier in Seattle earned $1,000 with handcrafted chocolates. Fresh ganache, bold flavors. Side Hustle School Ep. 2823.
- TBT: Building a Range of Productivity Tools
Productivity guide seller evolved from single product to $100K/year business. Built range of digital tools over years. Side Hustle School Ep. 2819.
- TBT: Solar Panel Sales Pro Earns $120,000+
Solar panel sales rep in Utah earns $120,000+ annually on commission. Rose from newbie to top performer in competitive market. Side Hustle School Ep. 2777.
- First $1k: Braille Translator Dots the Way to Success
Linguist builds Braille translation side hustle combining language expertise with accessibility advocacy. Side Hustle School Ep. 2739.
- TBT: Cookie Baker Goes from Farmers’ Market to Grocery Store
Home baker scales from farmers' markets to nationwide grocery store distribution. A "Where are they now?" update. Side Hustle School Ep. 2693.
- Failure Friday: Debugging a Modern Business Idea
How AI made a personalized coding tutorial business obsolete. Eric from Omaha learned why staying ahead of tech matters. Side Hustle School Ep. 2687.
- Q&A: “Musical instruments from recycled materials…”
Hand-crafted musical instruments from recycled materials—how to market them and export from Mumbai. Side Hustle School Ep. 2594.
- Q&A: “How to support your local community AND make a profit?”
How to build a profitable side hustle that strengthens your local community. Five ideas that balance profit with purpose. Side Hustle School Ep. 2584.
- Q&A: “Best AI tools to make side hustle income?”
AI tools and automation strategies for side hustlers with limited time. Boost productivity and streamline processes. Side Hustle School Ep. 2565.
- Welcome to Season 8! (Also: introducing a new project)
Season 8 begins with new plans for Side Hustle School and a new Substack newsletter on mental health. Side Hustle School.
- Q&A: “When’s the best time to start??”
When's the best time to start a side hustle? Timing advice for launching your business. Side Hustle School Ep. 2537.
- Failure Friday: The Handmade Hustle Hassle
How a handmade jewelry maker's cost-cutting shortcuts after sudden sales success cost her customer trust. Side Hustle School Ep. 2498.
- TBT: Hand Lettered Wedding Invites Are Here to Stay
Hand-lettered wedding invitations with custom calligraphy. A retail associate's thriving side hustle and where they are now. Side Hustle School Ep. 2399.
- TBT: Biotech Recruiter Earns Commission for Job Placements
Biotech recruiter from India builds placement business, then goes full-time. Commission-based hustle. Side Hustle School Ep. 2350.
- Q&A: “I feel overwhelmed by Shopify…”
Feeling overwhelmed by Shopify? Learn how to simplify your store setup, improve SEO, and understand analytics. Side Hustle School Ep. 2348.
- Q&A: “Navigating regulations for selling herbal remedies…”
Selling herbal teas and tinctures? Learn how to navigate FDA regulations, ensure product quality, and market safely. Side Hustle School Ep. 2345.
- Q&A: “Selling tote bags, but need to raise prices…”
Pricing strategy for eco-friendly tote bags: when to raise prices as costs increase. Side Hustle School Ep. 2338.
- Q&A: “I sell pet bandanas. How can I reach pet influencers on Instagram?”
Reaching pet influencers on Instagram for your handmade pet bandana business. Strategies that actually get responses. Side Hustle School Ep. 2335.
- Q&A: “I’m adding a subscription box for soaps…”
Handmade soap seller considers adding a monthly subscription box—advice on standing out and managing logistics. Side Hustle School Ep. 2332.
- TBT: Role-Playing Dungeon Master Earns $2,000/Month
Dungeon master in Canada earns $2,000/month hosting tabletop RPG games. Two-year update on how this side hustle has evolved. Side Hustle School Ep. 2287.