Editorial IndependenceWe want to help you make more informed decisions. Some links on this page — clearly marked — may take you to a partner website and may result in us earning a referral commission. For more information, see How We Make Money.
Your hobby or passion project could be making you extra money along the way.
“My sister assigned me cake duty for my niece’s birthday, so I started calling around and getting prices,” says Michelle Heston, a marketing executive based in San Francisco who now bakes hyper-realistic cakes on the side. “The quotes I received were ridiculously high, so I decided to try and tackle the project myself.” Heston’s cake was a hit, but more importantly, she had discovered a new passion — one that would also eventually become a side hustle.
After the birthday party, Heston volunteered to make cakes for family and friends when they had special occasions, and eventually created an Instagram account, Heston Cakes. “I usually bring in about $500 to $1,000 [of income] per month,” she says, “and I only take about one commission cake a week.”
Four out of 10 Americans have a side hustle, according to a recent report from Zapier, a marketing automation company. If you’ve thought about a side hustle, but have a demanding day job, here’s how one corporate professional makes it work.
Managing a Busy Career While Starting a Side Hustle
Heston has a demanding corporate career overseeing PR and marketing communications for an international luxury hotel brand. She says baking is her solace—her outlet.
“I love presenting a cake gift to friends and family, a special cake baked just for the recipient,” she says. “Most of my cakes tell a story. My first customers were friends of friends.” After years of baking for loved ones and the occasional referral client, Heston started an Instagram page for the side hustle in 2018 and registered the business. She says that’s when her side hustle took off.
A round cake…..
[ad_2]