Three side businesses that fit 10 hours a week
This is a worked example so you can see the shape of a finished plan. Every number here is a placeholder assumption you would replace with your own. Nothing on this page was researched on the live web.
Jobsite video packages for local contractors
Short before/after and walkthrough videos that small construction firms use on their websites and social pages.
- Why it fits you
- Uses the video editing skill directly, works in evenings and weekends, and the equipment is already owned.
- The offer
- A fixed-price monthly package: one site visit, four short edited videos, delivered in a week.
- Who buys it
- Owner-operated remodelling and roofing companies with 5–30 staff.
- Effort
- About 8–10 hours a week: one filming visit plus editing.
- Start-up cost
- Low. Existing camera and laptop; small spend on a microphone and storage.
Your numbers
These are starting assumptions. Change them to match your situation.
Monthly revenue
$2,400
Direct costs
$270
Fixed costs
$220
Operating profit before taxes
$1,910
Clients needed to break even
1
Evidence and assumptions
- Local contractors want short social videos. (needs validation)
- A monthly retainer is easier to sell than one-off shoots. (assumption)
Questions to validate
- Will five local contractors take a 15-minute call this month?
- What do they pay now for marketing help?
Risks
- Contractors may be slow to reply during busy season.
- One-off jobs instead of monthly packages would make income unpredictable.
7-day validation checklist
30-day launch plan
Week 1 — Proof
- Film one sample
- Publish it as your portfolio page
Week 2 — Outreach
- Contact 30 contractors
- Track replies in a simple sheet
Week 3 — First paid job
- Convert one call into a paid pilot
- Agree a written scope
Week 4 — Repeat
- Ask the pilot client for a referral
- Set your standard package price
Small-office Windows support on a monthly plan
Remote and occasional on-site Windows help for offices with no IT person.
- Why it fits you
- Matches the Windows support skill and suits short evening blocks.
- The offer
- $300 a month for unlimited remote help for up to 10 computers, response within one business day.
- Who buys it
- Dentists, small law offices, and trades offices with 5–15 computers.
- Effort
- Unpredictable in bursts; roughly 6 hours a week once three clients are on board.
- Start-up cost
- Very low. Remote support tooling and business insurance.
Your numbers
These are starting assumptions. Change them to match your situation.
Monthly revenue
$1,800
Direct costs
$150
Fixed costs
$150
Operating profit before taxes
$1,500
Clients needed to break even
1
Evidence and assumptions
- Small offices without IT staff exist in every metro area. (needs validation)
Questions to validate
- Can you honour a one-business-day response while employed?
- Would three offices pay $300 a month?
Risks
- Emergency calls can collide with day-job hours.
- Price competition from managed IT firms.
7-day validation checklist
30-day launch plan
Week 1 — Define the plan
- Write scope and price
- Set response promise
Week 2 — Warm outreach
- Contact 15 offices you can reach personally
Week 3 — Paid trial
- Run one paid fix
- Measure real time spent
Week 4 — Convert
- Offer the monthly plan to the trial client
Website refresh plus video for trades businesses
A one-off package combining a tidy website update with two short videos.
- Why it fits you
- Combines both skills into a single higher-priced project.
- The offer
- $1,500 one-off: refresh the site, add two videos, set up a contact form.
- Who buys it
- Trades businesses with an outdated one-page website.
- Effort
- Roughly 25 hours per project, so about one project a month.
- Start-up cost
- Low; hosting and template costs are passed through.
Your numbers
These are starting assumptions. Change them to match your situation.
Monthly revenue
$1,500
Direct costs
$200
Fixed costs
$120
Operating profit before taxes
$1,180
Clients needed to break even
1
Evidence and assumptions
- Bundled projects can command higher prices than single services. (assumption)
Questions to validate
- Can one project a month be delivered in 10 hours a week?
Risks
- One-off work means starting from zero each month.
- Scope creep on website edits.
7-day validation checklist
30-day launch plan
Week 1 — Samples
- Build one demo refresh
Week 2 — Outreach
- Send 15 video reviews
Week 3 — Sell one
- Close a single project
Week 4 — Deliver
- Ship it and ask for a testimonial
What to do first
Jobsite video packages for local contractors — It uses equipment already owned, fits evenings, and can become repeat monthly income rather than one-off work.
Next step: Send ten outreach messages to local contractors this week and book two calls.
What still needs checking
- Real local demand: how many contractors in your area reply to outreach?
- Real pricing: what do three contractors actually say they would pay?
- Real time cost: how long does one finished video take you end to end?
- Competition: who already offers this locally, and at what price?
Honesty notes
- All figures in this example are placeholders, not researched market data.
- Operating profit shown is before taxes and is not take-home income.