May 8, 2025 • 11 mins
Once a pet owner finds a pet sitter they can trust and depend on to care for their beloved pets, they will stay with that sitter forever. Many pet owners need a pet sitter when they travel on vacation and during the holiday seasons. If you want holidays off, then pet sitting may not be for you. Expect to work weekends, early mornings and late evenings because although most pets will be on a pee and poop schedule that is once in the morning and once in the evening, others will require 3-4 stops a day.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jim (00:00):
Welcome to the Deep Dive.
Key knowledge from interestingsources, stuff that you can
actually use.
And today we're digging intosomething pretty relatable, I
think.
How to you know, make moneyfrom your hard work without
needing a ton of cash up front.
Shelby (00:14):
Right.
The idea is really aboutlooking at business models where
your effort, your labor is themain thing.
Jim (00:19):
Yeah.
Our mission today is to explorethese later intensive
businesses and maybe find somesurprisingly profitable angles
based on the source we'relooking
Shelby (00:29):
at.
Exactly.
Less about finding biginvestors, more about, you know,
rolling up your sleevesstrategically.
Let's see what the actualpotential is in these spots
people might overlook.
Jim (00:37):
OK, so the source kind of kicks things off by reminding
Right.
And the source suggests theseearly gigs, these hustles can
actually be the foundation forlike real adult income.
It's all about businesses whereyour time and effort, that
(00:58):
sweat equity is the maininvestment, not a big bankroll.
Shelby (01:01):
That's the core concept.
Your dedication pays offdirectly.
Jim (01:05):
Okay, so let's jump in.
First example to use is petsitting.
Shelby (01:08):
Yeah, pet sitting.
It's a great way to illustratestarting small and growing
gradually.
Jim (01:12):
How so?
Shelby (01:13):
Well, you can start really simply.
Maybe just...
People you know, friends,neighbors, get some basic
business cards made up supercheap these days and let word of
mouth do its thing.
Jim (01:24):
Right.
Low barrier to entry builds ontrust.
Shelby (01:27):
Trust and reliability.
Exactly.
That's key.
Jim (01:29):
And the source suggests it can scale up quite nicely.
Shelby (01:31):
Oh, definitely.
They give this example.
Say you have eight to 10clients.
You visit them maybe four timesa week.
Charging around, say, $15 avisit.
That alone could bring insomething like $2,000 a month.
Jim (01:45):
Wow.
Okay.
And how much work is that?
that roughly?
Shelby (01:47):
Well, if each visit takes about half an hour,
including travel, maybe 20 hoursa week ish.
Jim (01:54):
It's not bad for two grand a month on the side.
Shelby (01:56):
Not at all.
And the source suggests that ifyou keep at it, build it up,
you could potentially be lookingat like $50,000, maybe even
$60,000 a year.
Jim (02:05):
So there's a really clear link between the hours you put
in and what you get out.
Shelby (02:10):
Correctly.
But, and this is important, thesource stresses that you have
to maintain that quality.
Your reputation is everything.
Jim (02:18):
Makes sense.
Can't slack off when someone'strusting you with their pet.
Shelby (02:21):
Exactly.
And they also mention premiumpricing.
You know, those early morningwalks, late night visits,
holidays.
people will pay extra for thatconvenience.
Jim (02:30):
Ah, good point.
Peace of mind for their furryfamily members.
Shelby (02:34):
Right.
And to really show thepotential, there's this anecdote
in the source.
Oh, yeah.
About a pet sitter who, getthis, earned $21,000.
Whoa.
In just three weeks, lookingafter six pets while the owners
were away on a long trip.
Jim (02:47):
$21,000 in three weeks.
That's serious money, butsounds intense.
Shelby (02:52):
Extremely intense.
And that's the flip side thesource brings up.
Yeah, the money was great, butthe sitter found it completely
exhausting.
I
Jim (02:58):
bet.
Always on call, basically.
Shelby (03:00):
Yep.
Living at other people'shouses, away from her own life,
she actually decided it justwasn't sustainable for her long
term.
Jim (03:09):
So it raises that question, doesn't it?
How do you scale these thingswithout burning yourself out?
Shelby (03:14):
It's a crucial balance.
You have to figure out thetradeoffs.
What works for you?
Jim (03:18):
Interesting point, too.
The source mentioned somethingabout age, like people over 40
maybe having an easier timestarting out in pet sitting.
Shelby (03:26):
Yeah, they do touch on that.
The idea seems to be aboutperceived trust.
Jim (03:30):
Right, like homeowners might feel more comfortable
giving house keys to someone whoseems a bit more, I don't know,
settled or experienced.
Shelby (03:37):
Potentially.
It's about that perception ofresponsibility, especially when
it involves access to someone'shome and caring for a beloved
pet.
Jim (03:44):
Yeah, that makes sense.
Shelby (03:45):
And speaking of responsibility, the source
hammers home the practicalstuff.
Insurance and bonding.
You absolutely need it.
Jim (03:52):
Right, the not-so-glamorous side.
How much does that usuallycost?
Shelby (03:57):
Basic insurance might be a few hundred bucks a year.
Bonding, maybe another couplehundred on top of that.
It protects everyone involved.
Jim (04:04):
And they mentioned hold harmless agreements, too.
Shelby (04:06):
Yeah, basically contracts spelling out liability
just in case somethingunexpected happens.
But honestly, building thatloyal client base through good
service is your best protectionin many ways.
Jim (04:16):
Okay, good advice.
So moving from pets to...
plants.
Lawn care.
Shelby (04:23):
Yeah.
Lawn care.
Another classic low investmentstartup.
Jim (04:28):
The source talks about how easy it is to begin, like really
basic.
Mention someone starting withjust an electric mower and a
super long cord.
Shelby (04:35):
Right.
It really emphasizes that lowbarrier.
Jim (04:37):
Yeah.
Shelby (04:37):
And they give this fascinating historical
perspective.
Jim (04:40):
Oh, yeah.
What was that?
Shelby (04:41):
Someone earning $7,000 a year mowing lawns back in 1972
as a 15-year-old.
Jim (04:47):
Wow.
$7.72.
That was real money then.
Shelby (04:49):
It really was.
Apparently comparable to someaverages adult salaries at the
time.
Shows how valued even basicservices can be.
Jim (04:56):
That's wild.
So fast forward to today.
What's the potential now?
Shelby (05:00):
Considerably higher, as you'd expect.
The source suggests a solooperator really hustling could
potentially gross around$100,000 a year.
Jim (05:07):
A hundred grand mowing lawns.
Shelby (05:10):
Gross, yeah.
Maybe netting closer to $75,000after expenses, but...
Jim (05:14):
Big but.
Shelby (05:15):
Big but.
The expenses are higher now,too.
You need decent equipment,probably a truck, and
definitely, definitelyinsurance.
Jim (05:23):
Insurance again.
Non-negotiable, you think?
Shelby (05:26):
Absolutely.
The source makes that clear.
Way too much liability risktoday to operate without it.
Protects you, protects thehomeowner if, say, a rock flies
out and breaks a window.
Jim (05:36):
Gotcha.
Okay, so lawn care.
What's next on the list?
Handyman services.
Shelby (05:40):
Yep, handyman work.
The source kind of positions itlike general contracting, but
focused on smaller, shorter jobsaround the house.
Jim (05:47):
Like what sort of things?
Shelby (05:48):
Oh, you know, installing ceiling fans, maybe swapping
out a dishwasher, fixing a leakytap, painting a room, repairing
a bit of fence.
All those odd jobs people needdone.
Jim (05:57):
Stuff homeowners don't have the time, tools, or maybe the
skills for.
Shelby (06:01):
Exactly.
And that highlights what youneed.
The practical skills,obviously, but also the right
tools, reliable transport to getto jobs.
Jim (06:09):
And knowledge.
Knowing how to do thingsproperly and safely.
Shelby (06:13):
Crucial.
And like the others, insuranceand bonding are essential here,
too.
You're working in people'shomes, often on plumbing or
electrical systems.
Jim (06:22):
Right.
Makes sense.
And the earning potential.
Is it similar to lawn care?
Shelby (06:27):
It's in a similar ballpark, yeah.
The source suggests a goodhandyman, someone reliable with
good word-of-mouth referrals,could gross maybe $60,000 to
$75,000.
And
Jim (06:38):
net?
After tools, insurance, gas?
Shelby (06:42):
Maybe around $50,000.
It depends on your expenses andhow efficiently you run things,
of course.
Jim (06:47):
OK, so looking at pet sitting, lawn care, handyman,
what's the common thread here?
What are the big takeaways?
Shelby (06:53):
Well, a few things stand out.
Success really seems to hingeon your reliability, your
dedication, showing up when yousay you will.
Jim (07:00):
Building that trust.
Shelby (07:00):
Building trust, exactly.
That's huge.
And then there's the practicalside.
The source mentions a lot ofthese can be cash businesses,
which means you have to bediligent about tracking income
for taxes.
Self-employment tax is a realthing.
Jim (07:12):
Good point.
Easy to overlook that.
Yeah.
The source also contrastsdifferent ways of starting a
business.
Shelby (07:17):
Yeah.
It draws a line between likejumping in with a big loan and
lots of investment versus thisslower, more methodical
approach.
Jim (07:25):
And it leans towards the slow and steady.
Shelby (07:28):
Definitely seems to recommend it.
Less risk.
Test the waters.
A lot of people start thesethings on the side while they
still have a day job.
Jim (07:36):
Use your existing paycheck to fund the initial small costs.
See if it works.
Shelby (07:40):
Exactly.
And it helps you figure out ifit's just, you know, a way to
make extra cash, like walkingthe neighbor's dog sometimes, or
if you want to build it into aproper formal business.
Jim (07:49):
Right.
There's a difference incommitment and structure.
Shelby (07:51):
Yeah.
Jim (07:51):
Okay.
Shifting gears a bit.
The source talks aboutmusicians.
Shelby (07:55):
Yeah.
Brings in a personal example,actually.
Earning pocket money, playingdrums.
Jim (07:59):
How much pocket money are we talking?
Shelby (08:01):
Around Depends on getting the
Jim (08:10):
gigs.
Shelby (08:11):
For sure.
But then they mention anothermusician, someone retired, who's
pulling in $40,000 a yearplaying local gigs.
Jim (08:17):
$40,000.
Wow.
That's more than pocket money.
Shelby (08:21):
Right.
For this person, it's seriousdisposable income adds a lot to
their retirement lifestyle.
It shows how a passion, ifyou've got the skill, can still
generate real income.
Jim (08:32):
But it's not just labor, is it?
Musicians have costs.
Shelby (08:35):
Oh, yeah.
The source points that out.
Instruments aren't cheap.
Neither is equipment like ampsand PA systems.
Plus, maybe marketing, gettingyour name out there.
There are definitely overheads.
Jim (08:44):
Okay.
What about online businesses?
The source touches on thosetwo, right?
Yeah.
Especially It
Shelby (08:49):
makes a useful distinction, though.
Selling your old junk on eBay.
Jim (08:54):
Like that tennis racket example they used.
Shelby (08:56):
Yeah, selling one unused racket.
That's different from settingup a consistent online selling
business.
Jim (09:02):
Right.
One is clearing clutter.
The other is trying to buildrevenue.
Shelby (09:06):
Exactly.
So they talk about platformslike Amazon.
Setting up a seller accountmight cost, what, $40 a month?
Jim (09:12):
Something like that.
Shelby (09:12):
So the entry cost is low and the potential reach is
huge.
Jim (09:16):
But always a bet.
Shelby (09:18):
Always.
There are challenges.
Platform fees, dealing withcustomer service, returns, it's
work.
And again, taxes on thosesales.
Jim (09:25):
Gotcha.
Online selling isn'tnecessarily easy money, even if
the startup cost is low.
Shelby (09:30):
Definitely not passive income, usually.
Okay.
And finally, the source getsinto content creation.
Writing, podcasting, marketing.
audiobooks.
Jim (09:41):
As low-cost entry points.
Shelby (09:43):
Yeah.
Particularly things likeself-publishing.
Amazon's KDP, Kindle DirectPublishing, makes it really
accessible.
Jim (09:50):
And the stigma around self-publishing isn't what it
used to be, is it?
Shelby (09:53):
Not at all.
It's a totally viable path now.
And audiobooks are huge.
Jim (09:57):
The source seemed keen on audiobooks.
Shelby (09:59):
Yeah.
Mentions they often sell betterthan the e-book versions.
Shared a personal story aboutgetting books narrated.
Jim (10:04):
Right.
Talked about different dealswith narrators, profit sharing
versus flat fees, and how longit can take.
Shelby (10:10):
Sometimes Yeah.
Definitely.
Leverage
Jim (10:23):
the content you already have.
Shelby (10:27):
They also mentioned writing short how-to type
e-books, selling them cheap,volume play.
Jim (10:33):
And AI tools for podcasting.
Shelby (10:34):
Briefly, yeah.
Mention Google's Notebook LM assomething that could help
create podcast content quicklyand cheaply.
And just the general wayspodcasts make money, ads,
subscriptions, basicmonetization models.
Jim (10:46):
Okay, so we've covered a lot of ground.
Pet sitting, lawns, handymanwork, music, online sales,
content creation.
Bringing it all together,what's the main message from
this deep dive?
Shelby (10:59):
I think the core idea is just how many accessible ways
there are to generate income ifyou're willing to put in the
work, even without a big chunkof startup tash.
Jim (11:08):
Right.
It spans so many differentinterests and levels of
commitment.
Shelby (11:11):
Exactly.
And it broadens the idea ofwhat a business is.
It doesn't have to be somehuge, complex thing.
It can be a well-run sidehustle, too.
Jim (11:18):
It really emphasizes the value of your own skills, your
time, your effort.
Shelby (11:23):
Your sweat equity.
Jim (11:24):
So I guess the final thought for you, the listener,
is this.
Think about the skills youalready have.
the effort you're capable of.
Could any of that be the startof your own, maybe surprisingly
profitable, venture?
Shelby (11:36):
Yeah, even if it starts really small and just grows
organically.
Jim (11:40):
What underutilized talents might you have just sitting
there?
Something to think about.
Thanks for joining us on TheDeep Dive.
Welcome to the Deep Dive.
Key knowledge from interestingsources, stuff that you can
actually use.
And today we're digging intosomething pretty relatable, I
think.
How to you know, make moneyfrom your hard work without
needing a ton of cash up front.
Shelby (00:14):
Right.
The idea is really aboutlooking at business models where
your effort, your labor is themain thing.
Jim (00:19):
Yeah.
Our mission today is to explorethese later intensive
businesses and maybe find somesurprisingly profitable angles
based on the source we'relooking
Shelby (00:29):
at.
Exactly.
Less about finding biginvestors, more about, you know,
rolling up your sleevesstrategically.
Let's see what the actualpotential is in these spots
people might overlook.
Jim (00:37):
OK, so the source kind of kicks things off by reminding
Right.
And the source suggests theseearly gigs, these hustles can
actually be the foundation forlike real adult income.
It's all about businesses whereyour time and effort, that
(00:58):
sweat equity is the maininvestment, not a big bankroll.
Shelby (01:01):
That's the core concept.
Your dedication pays offdirectly.
Jim (01:05):
Okay, so let's jump in.
First example to use is petsitting.
Shelby (01:08):
Yeah, pet sitting.
It's a great way to illustratestarting small and growing
gradually.
Jim (01:12):
How so?
Shelby (01:13):
Well, you can start really simply.
Maybe just...
People you know, friends,neighbors, get some basic
business cards made up supercheap these days and let word of
mouth do its thing.
Jim (01:24):
Right.
Low barrier to entry builds ontrust.
Shelby (01:27):
Trust and reliability.
Exactly.
That's key.
Jim (01:29):
And the source suggests it can scale up quite nicely.
Shelby (01:31):
Oh, definitely.
They give this example.
Say you have eight to 10clients.
You visit them maybe four timesa week.
Charging around, say, $15 avisit.
That alone could bring insomething like $2,000 a month.
Jim (01:45):
Wow.
Okay.
And how much work is that?
that roughly?
Shelby (01:47):
Well, if each visit takes about half an hour,
including travel, maybe 20 hoursa week ish.
Jim (01:54):
It's not bad for two grand a month on the side.
Shelby (01:56):
Not at all.
And the source suggests that ifyou keep at it, build it up,
you could potentially be lookingat like $50,000, maybe even
$60,000 a year.
Jim (02:05):
So there's a really clear link between the hours you put
in and what you get out.
Shelby (02:10):
Correctly.
But, and this is important, thesource stresses that you have
to maintain that quality.
Your reputation is everything.
Jim (02:18):
Makes sense.
Can't slack off when someone'strusting you with their pet.
Shelby (02:21):
Exactly.
And they also mention premiumpricing.
You know, those early morningwalks, late night visits,
holidays.
people will pay extra for thatconvenience.
Jim (02:30):
Ah, good point.
Peace of mind for their furryfamily members.
Shelby (02:34):
Right.
And to really show thepotential, there's this anecdote
in the source.
Oh, yeah.
About a pet sitter who, getthis, earned $21,000.
Whoa.
In just three weeks, lookingafter six pets while the owners
were away on a long trip.
Jim (02:47):
$21,000 in three weeks.
That's serious money, butsounds intense.
Shelby (02:52):
Extremely intense.
And that's the flip side thesource brings up.
Yeah, the money was great, butthe sitter found it completely
exhausting.
I
Jim (02:58):
bet.
Always on call, basically.
Shelby (03:00):
Yep.
Living at other people'shouses, away from her own life,
she actually decided it justwasn't sustainable for her long
term.
Jim (03:09):
So it raises that question, doesn't it?
How do you scale these thingswithout burning yourself out?
Shelby (03:14):
It's a crucial balance.
You have to figure out thetradeoffs.
What works for you?
Jim (03:18):
Interesting point, too.
The source mentioned somethingabout age, like people over 40
maybe having an easier timestarting out in pet sitting.
Shelby (03:26):
Yeah, they do touch on that.
The idea seems to be aboutperceived trust.
Jim (03:30):
Right, like homeowners might feel more comfortable
giving house keys to someone whoseems a bit more, I don't know,
settled or experienced.
Shelby (03:37):
Potentially.
It's about that perception ofresponsibility, especially when
it involves access to someone'shome and caring for a beloved
pet.
Jim (03:44):
Yeah, that makes sense.
Shelby (03:45):
And speaking of responsibility, the source
hammers home the practicalstuff.
Insurance and bonding.
You absolutely need it.
Jim (03:52):
Right, the not-so-glamorous side.
How much does that usuallycost?
Shelby (03:57):
Basic insurance might be a few hundred bucks a year.
Bonding, maybe another couplehundred on top of that.
It protects everyone involved.
Jim (04:04):
And they mentioned hold harmless agreements, too.
Shelby (04:06):
Yeah, basically contracts spelling out liability
just in case somethingunexpected happens.
But honestly, building thatloyal client base through good
service is your best protectionin many ways.
Jim (04:16):
Okay, good advice.
So moving from pets to...
plants.
Lawn care.
Shelby (04:23):
Yeah.
Lawn care.
Another classic low investmentstartup.
Jim (04:28):
The source talks about how easy it is to begin, like really
basic.
Mention someone starting withjust an electric mower and a
super long cord.
Shelby (04:35):
Right.
It really emphasizes that lowbarrier.
Jim (04:37):
Yeah.
Shelby (04:37):
And they give this fascinating historical
perspective.
Jim (04:40):
Oh, yeah.
What was that?
Shelby (04:41):
Someone earning $7,000 a year mowing lawns back in 1972
as a 15-year-old.
Jim (04:47):
Wow.
$7.72.
That was real money then.
Shelby (04:49):
It really was.
Apparently comparable to someaverages adult salaries at the
time.
Shows how valued even basicservices can be.
Jim (04:56):
That's wild.
So fast forward to today.
What's the potential now?
Shelby (05:00):
Considerably higher, as you'd expect.
The source suggests a solooperator really hustling could
potentially gross around$100,000 a year.
Jim (05:07):
A hundred grand mowing lawns.
Shelby (05:10):
Gross, yeah.
Maybe netting closer to $75,000after expenses, but...
Jim (05:14):
Big but.
Shelby (05:15):
Big but.
The expenses are higher now,too.
You need decent equipment,probably a truck, and
definitely, definitelyinsurance.
Jim (05:23):
Insurance again.
Non-negotiable, you think?
Shelby (05:26):
Absolutely.
The source makes that clear.
Way too much liability risktoday to operate without it.
Protects you, protects thehomeowner if, say, a rock flies
out and breaks a window.
Jim (05:36):
Gotcha.
Okay, so lawn care.
What's next on the list?
Handyman services.
Shelby (05:40):
Yep, handyman work.
The source kind of positions itlike general contracting, but
focused on smaller, shorter jobsaround the house.
Jim (05:47):
Like what sort of things?
Shelby (05:48):
Oh, you know, installing ceiling fans, maybe swapping
out a dishwasher, fixing a leakytap, painting a room, repairing
a bit of fence.
All those odd jobs people needdone.
Jim (05:57):
Stuff homeowners don't have the time, tools, or maybe the
skills for.
Shelby (06:01):
Exactly.
And that highlights what youneed.
The practical skills,obviously, but also the right
tools, reliable transport to getto jobs.
Jim (06:09):
And knowledge.
Knowing how to do thingsproperly and safely.
Shelby (06:13):
Crucial.
And like the others, insuranceand bonding are essential here,
too.
You're working in people'shomes, often on plumbing or
electrical systems.
Jim (06:22):
Right.
Makes sense.
And the earning potential.
Is it similar to lawn care?
Shelby (06:27):
It's in a similar ballpark, yeah.
The source suggests a goodhandyman, someone reliable with
good word-of-mouth referrals,could gross maybe $60,000 to
$75,000.
And
Jim (06:38):
net?
After tools, insurance, gas?
Shelby (06:42):
Maybe around $50,000.
It depends on your expenses andhow efficiently you run things,
of course.
Jim (06:47):
OK, so looking at pet sitting, lawn care, handyman,
what's the common thread here?
What are the big takeaways?
Shelby (06:53):
Well, a few things stand out.
Success really seems to hingeon your reliability, your
dedication, showing up when yousay you will.
Jim (07:00):
Building that trust.
Shelby (07:00):
Building trust, exactly.
That's huge.
And then there's the practicalside.
The source mentions a lot ofthese can be cash businesses,
which means you have to bediligent about tracking income
for taxes.
Self-employment tax is a realthing.
Jim (07:12):
Good point.
Easy to overlook that.
Yeah.
The source also contrastsdifferent ways of starting a
business.
Shelby (07:17):
Yeah.
It draws a line between likejumping in with a big loan and
lots of investment versus thisslower, more methodical
approach.
Jim (07:25):
And it leans towards the slow and steady.
Shelby (07:28):
Definitely seems to recommend it.
Less risk.
Test the waters.
A lot of people start thesethings on the side while they
still have a day job.
Jim (07:36):
Use your existing paycheck to fund the initial small costs.
See if it works.
Shelby (07:40):
Exactly.
And it helps you figure out ifit's just, you know, a way to
make extra cash, like walkingthe neighbor's dog sometimes, or
if you want to build it into aproper formal business.
Jim (07:49):
Right.
There's a difference incommitment and structure.
Shelby (07:51):
Yeah.
Jim (07:51):
Okay.
Shifting gears a bit.
The source talks aboutmusicians.
Shelby (07:55):
Yeah.
Brings in a personal example,actually.
Earning pocket money, playingdrums.
Jim (07:59):
How much pocket money are we talking?
Shelby (08:01):
Around Depends on getting the
Jim (08:10):
gigs.
Shelby (08:11):
For sure.
But then they mention anothermusician, someone retired, who's
pulling in $40,000 a yearplaying local gigs.
Jim (08:17):
$40,000.
Wow.
That's more than pocket money.
Shelby (08:21):
Right.
For this person, it's seriousdisposable income adds a lot to
their retirement lifestyle.
It shows how a passion, ifyou've got the skill, can still
generate real income.
Jim (08:32):
But it's not just labor, is it?
Musicians have costs.
Shelby (08:35):
Oh, yeah.
The source points that out.
Instruments aren't cheap.
Neither is equipment like ampsand PA systems.
Plus, maybe marketing, gettingyour name out there.
There are definitely overheads.
Jim (08:44):
Okay.
What about online businesses?
The source touches on thosetwo, right?
Yeah.
Especially It
Shelby (08:49):
makes a useful distinction, though.
Selling your old junk on eBay.
Jim (08:54):
Like that tennis racket example they used.
Shelby (08:56):
Yeah, selling one unused racket.
That's different from settingup a consistent online selling
business.
Jim (09:02):
Right.
One is clearing clutter.
The other is trying to buildrevenue.
Shelby (09:06):
Exactly.
So they talk about platformslike Amazon.
Setting up a seller accountmight cost, what, $40 a month?
Jim (09:12):
Something like that.
Shelby (09:12):
So the entry cost is low and the potential reach is
huge.
Jim (09:16):
But always a bet.
Shelby (09:18):
Always.
There are challenges.
Platform fees, dealing withcustomer service, returns, it's
work.
And again, taxes on thosesales.
Jim (09:25):
Gotcha.
Online selling isn'tnecessarily easy money, even if
the startup cost is low.
Shelby (09:30):
Definitely not passive income, usually.
Okay.
And finally, the source getsinto content creation.
Writing, podcasting, marketing.
audiobooks.
Jim (09:41):
As low-cost entry points.
Shelby (09:43):
Yeah.
Particularly things likeself-publishing.
Amazon's KDP, Kindle DirectPublishing, makes it really
accessible.
Jim (09:50):
And the stigma around self-publishing isn't what it
used to be, is it?
Shelby (09:53):
Not at all.
It's a totally viable path now.
And audiobooks are huge.
Jim (09:57):
The source seemed keen on audiobooks.
Shelby (09:59):
Yeah.
Mentions they often sell betterthan the e-book versions.
Shared a personal story aboutgetting books narrated.
Jim (10:04):
Right.
Talked about different dealswith narrators, profit sharing
versus flat fees, and how longit can take.
Shelby (10:10):
Sometimes Yeah.
Definitely.
Leverage
Jim (10:23):
the content you already have.
Shelby (10:27):
They also mentioned writing short how-to type
e-books, selling them cheap,volume play.
Jim (10:33):
And AI tools for podcasting.
Shelby (10:34):
Briefly, yeah.
Mention Google's Notebook LM assomething that could help
create podcast content quicklyand cheaply.
And just the general wayspodcasts make money, ads,
subscriptions, basicmonetization models.
Jim (10:46):
Okay, so we've covered a lot of ground.
Pet sitting, lawns, handymanwork, music, online sales,
content creation.
Bringing it all together,what's the main message from
this deep dive?
Shelby (10:59):
I think the core idea is just how many accessible ways
there are to generate income ifyou're willing to put in the
work, even without a big chunkof startup tash.
Jim (11:08):
Right.
It spans so many differentinterests and levels of
commitment.
Shelby (11:11):
Exactly.
And it broadens the idea ofwhat a business is.
It doesn't have to be somehuge, complex thing.
It can be a well-run sidehustle, too.
Jim (11:18):
It really emphasizes the value of your own skills, your
time, your effort.
Shelby (11:23):
Your sweat equity.
Jim (11:24):
So I guess the final thought for you, the listener,
is this.
Think about the skills youalready have.
the effort you're capable of.
Could any of that be the startof your own, maybe surprisingly
profitable, venture?
Shelby (11:36):
Yeah, even if it starts really small and just grows
organically.
Jim (11:40):
What underutilized talents might you have just sitting
there?
Something to think about.
Thanks for joining us on TheDeep Dive.
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