How AppSumo employees build side income while keeping their day jobs

Executive overview

Most people assume a full-time job leaves no room for side income. Several AppSumo employees prove otherwise — each earning $1,500–$75,000 a year on the side while staying fully employed.

The common thread: start with existing skills, get your first customers from your personal network, and do whatever it takes early on to build a portfolio.

The 1% rule: doing just 1% more than everyone else — free work, follow-ups, quality — is enough to stand out.

Real examples from AppSumo employees

• Amy (senior support specialist) earns $75K/year running Scythia Florals, doing wedding flower arrangements — discovered the talent when a friend needed a florist
• Nick (director of marketing) earns $3K/month running Rax Digital, a digital marketing agency helping dentists get customers — started it before AppSumo, now runs it on nights and weekends
• Kaitlyn (partner success associate) earns $1,500/month with Kate Bakes Cakes ATX — started by baking for coworkers, posting on Instagram, then taking orders

How they got their first customers

• Offer services free or heavily discounted to build a portfolio
• Nick offered one free month of marketing (client pays ad costs) — that client stayed over a year
• Kaitlyn baked for family, friends, and church connections before taking on paying clients
• Ask your immediate network first; people want to support you
• Use referrals — ask if anyone knows someone who needs what you offer

What actually drives growth

• Extra effort is the main differentiator — follow up, send gifts, show up in person
• High-quality photos of your work serve double duty: portfolio and advertising
• Consistent results keep clients; don't get complacent after a good month
• Build your network before you need it — connect with people you'll want later
• Leverage your existing professional expertise; it has immediate market value

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Taking on too many client types early leads to burnout — pick one niche and get good at it
• Overextending hours (8am–2am) is not sustainable; set boundaries
• Failing to recession-proof: keep 20% of effort on alternative income streams within your niche
• Amy's wedding business nearly died in early 2020; she pivoted offerings to stay visible

Lightning round: more AppSumo side hustles

1. Jeff Lurie (biz development) — Twigs Golf, selling custom golf tees
2. Emma Donston (partner success) — Cesaria Studio, jewelry made from broken Moroccan ceramics, sold at farmers markets
3. Sean Stubbs & Alec Bartzumian (sales) — SportsQueue.com, sports trivia quizzes for cash and prizes
4. Josh Gough (partner success) — original music under Joshua Ryan Music
5. Alec Escobar (head of people) — MyTechnologist.com, interview coaching for veterans, new grads, and career returners

Advice for getting started

• Write down your doubts, then start anyway
• Don't let the side hustle distract from your main job
• Say yes to everything early; say no strategically once established
• Employers benefit from encouraging side hustles — employees bring back new skills