Side Hustle School
by Chris Guillebeau / Onward Project
Latest Business Ideas
Electronics Arbitrage Business Model
Market Gap: Many travelers struggle to afford luxury travel experiences.
This business idea revolves around creating an electronics arbitrage operation similar to Trevor Mountcastle's approach. The model involves purchasing electronics using gift cards bought at a discount, then reselling those products at a competitive price across various marketplaces. The focus is on electronics priced between $200 and $800, where consistent price differences can be leveraged for profit. By developing a systematic approach for market analysis and utilizing shipping and fulfillment services, entrepreneurs can optimize their operations for efficiency and profitability. This model allows for modest profits on sales while also earning travel rewards, making it an appealing option for those who want to travel luxuriously without incurring high costs.
From: Ep. 3193 - Weekend Workshop: The Art of Electronics Arbitrage
Automated Price Comparison Tool for Electronics
Market Gap: Resellers struggle to identify profitable arbitrage opportunities.
This business idea proposes the development of an automated price comparison tool specifically designed for electronics. This tool would help resellers easily identify price differences across various marketplaces, streamlining the process of finding profitable arbitrage opportunities. By integrating real-time data and analytics, the tool can provide insights into pricing trends and sales velocity for electronics within the $200 to $800 range. The primary target audience would be individuals engaged in reselling, allowing them to make informed purchasing decisions and maximize their profits. This tool can significantly reduce the time spent on manual searches and improve the overall efficiency of reselling operations.
From: Ep. 3193 - Weekend Workshop: The Art of Electronics Arbitrage
Freelancer Cash Flow Management Software
Market Gap: Freelancers struggle with inconsistent income management.
The proposed business idea is a software solution designed specifically for freelancers to manage their cash flow more effectively. This platform would allow users to set up multiple accounts (operating, tax, and personal pay) within the software, streamlining the income allocation process. Users can automate transfers to these accounts based on their income, ensuring that a portion is always set aside for taxes and personal expenses. This system mimics the three-bucket approach discussed in the episode, making it easier for freelancers to maintain a predictable paycheck and manage their finances without the need for complex setups. The target audience would be freelancers across various industries who are looking for simple, effective ways to stabilize their income management.
From: Ep. 3192 - Q&A: “How can a freelancer pay herself a stable salary?”
Customer Engagement Monitoring Tool
Market Gap: SaaS founders need insights into user engagement to reduce churn.
The proposed solution is a customer engagement monitoring tool specifically designed for SaaS businesses. This tool would track user behaviors and interactions, focusing on key actions that indicate engagement, such as logins or feature usage. By providing insights into which activities correlate with customer retention, founders can take proactive measures to enhance user experience and reduce churn. This tool would serve as an essential resource for micro-SaaS teams, offering them the ability to monitor and improve engagement without being overwhelmed by data. The target market would be small SaaS founders looking for effective ways to retain customers.
From: Ep. 3191 - Q&A: “What KPIs should I track for my software biz?”
KPI Tracking Dashboard for Micro-SaaS
Market Gap: Micro-SaaS owners struggle to track relevant performance metrics.
The proposed business idea is a specialized KPI tracking dashboard designed specifically for micro-SaaS businesses. This dashboard would focus on the most relevant KPIs, such as monthly recurring revenue (MRR), churn rate, and user engagement metrics. By integrating various data sources into one easy-to-use interface, this tool would alleviate the confusion faced by small teams. The dashboard could be developed as a SaaS product, targeting micro-SaaS entrepreneurs who need to simplify their analytics to make data-driven decisions without being overwhelmed. This solution not only addresses the pain point of metric overload but also empowers users to focus on growth-oriented actions.
From: Ep. 3191 - Q&A: “What KPIs should I track for my software biz?”
Subscription Service for Film Crew Job Listings
Market Gap: Aspiring film professionals struggle to find credible job opportunities.
The business idea revolves around a subscription-based platform that provides aspiring film crew members with access to vetted job opportunities, along with educational resources on how to navigate the industry. Named 'Set Start,' the service offers a monthly subscription that grants members access to job listings, CV building guides, and insights into union requirements for various roles. This platform not only connects users with legitimate job options but also builds a sense of trust through its thorough vetting process. The success of Set Start is illustrated by its growth, from 42 initial sign-ups to over 600 monthly subscribers within a year. The founder plans to expand the service to major film hubs like Los Angeles and Vancouver, thereby increasing its reach and helping even more individuals break into the industry.
From: Ep. 3190 - TBT: Helping Aspiring Film Professionals Get Hired
Recipe Development Service for Bloggers
Market Gap: Bloggers need quality recipes but lack culinary expertise.
The concept involves launching a service that offers personalized recipe development for food bloggers. This could cater to those who want to enhance their blog's content but struggle to create unique recipes. The service could include customized recipes based on the blogger's theme, target audience, and dietary restrictions. This could be implemented as a subscription service or on a per-project basis, allowing flexibility for varying needs. This business would cater to the growing number of food bloggers looking to improve their content quality while also providing a revenue stream for the service provider through direct payments or commission on traffic growth.
From: Ep. 3189 - STORY: College Grad Shares “More than Mac & Cheese” Student Recipes
Student Recipe Blog for Budget Cooking
Market Gap: Students struggle with limited cooking skills and budget.
The business idea is to create a blog focused on budget-friendly recipes specifically for college students, similar to Chelsea Cole's 'A Duck's Oven'. This platform would offer simple, quick recipes that can be made with minimal ingredients and tools, appealing to students who may have little cooking experience. The blog could also feature 'cheater' methods or shortcuts for those who want to cook but lack the time or skills. The monetization strategy could involve affiliate marketing partnerships, ads, and even recipe development services for other bloggers. This idea has the potential to help students improve their cooking skills while also generating a passive income stream for the blogger.
From: Ep. 3189 - STORY: College Grad Shares “More than Mac & Cheese” Student Recipes
AI Voiceover Service for Content Creators
Market Gap: Content creators need cost-effective voiceover solutions for videos.
This business idea involves creating a service that offers AI-generated voiceovers specifically for content creators. By leveraging advancements in text-to-speech technologies, the service would provide creators with high-quality voiceovers that can be used in videos, podcasts, or other media formats. The service would focus on ensuring compliance with platforms like YouTube, which requires transparency when using synthetic voices. This would not only cater to individual creators but could also attract businesses looking for cost-effective audio solutions. By positioning the service as a reliable and compliant option for voiceovers, it can tap into the growing market of content creators seeking innovative production methods.
From: Ep. 3188 - Q&A: “Can you run a YouTube channel with only AI voices and scripts?”
AI-Generated Educational YouTube Channel
Market Gap: Content creators struggle to maintain viewer engagement without personal presence.
The idea revolves around launching a YouTube channel dedicated to educational content, entirely produced using AI technologies for script writing and voiceover. By utilizing tools like GPT for script generation and advanced text-to-speech systems, creators can bypass traditional filming and editing processes. This model allows for rapid content production, focusing on topics that viewers commonly seek information about, such as tech updates or finance explanations. The key to success lies in maintaining viewer engagement through well-paced visuals and informative scripts, all while adhering to YouTube's content policies. As AI continues to evolve, so too will the possibilities for engaging, informative content without the need for a human host.
From: Ep. 3188 - Q&A: “Can you run a YouTube channel with only AI voices and scripts?”
Recent Episodes
Ep. 3193 - Weekend Workshop: The Art of Electronics Arbitrage
Host: Chris Guillebeau
2 ideas found
Ep. 3192 - Q&A: “How can a freelancer pay herself a stable salary?”
Host: Chris Guillebeau
1 idea found
Ep. 3191 - Q&A: “What KPIs should I track for my software biz?”
Host: Chris Guillebeau
Ep. 3190 - TBT: Helping Aspiring Film Professionals Get Hired
Host: Chris Guillebeau
1 idea found
Ep. 3189 - STORY: College Grad Shares “More than Mac & Cheese” Student Recipes
Host: Chris Guillebeau
Ep. 3188 - Q&A: “Can you run a YouTube channel with only AI voices and scripts?”
Host: Chris Guillebeau
2 ideas found
Ep. 3187 - First $1,000: Typography Lover Turns Letters Into Revenue
Host: Chris Guillebeau
Ep. 3186 - Weekend Workshop: Design Disruption in Traditional Markets
Host: Chris Guillebeau
Ep. 3185 - Q&A: “How can I sell an Amazon-only FBA brand for top dollar?”
Host: Chris Guillebeau
1 idea found
Ep. 3184 - Q&A: “How can a coast-to-coast road trip pay for itself?”
Host: Chris Guillebeau
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