Weekly newsletter
One tested idea every Thursday with startup cost, time required and honest earnings.
Since 2021, 34,000 readers
Real numbers, not screenshots of somebody's dashboard
Every playbook here was run by one of us or by a member who opened their books. You get the startup cost, the hours per week and what it actually earned.
34,000newsletter readers
41playbooks published
$0to subscribe
4 yrspublishing
What we publish
Playbooks, teardowns and a community
Start with the free newsletter. Everything paid is priced once, with no upsell ladder behind it.
Playbook library
One time payment for all 41 playbooks and everything we publish for the next year.
Members community
A working group of about 900 people, weekly office hours and a channel for asking about numbers.
Income teardowns
Monthly breakdown of one member's side income with the real profit and loss, published with permission.
Starter kit spreadsheets
Pricing calculators, tax set aside tracker and a simple profit and loss template.
One hour strategy call
A working session to pick one hustle that fits your hours, skills and starting capital.
Who writes this
Written by people still doing the work
The Second Shift is Jordan Aguirre and Nikki Bess. Jordan spent six years driving delivery, flipping tools and building a weekend detailing route before this became the main thing. We publish what worked and what did not, including the two ventures that lost money.
•Every playbook lists startup cost, weekly hours and actual earnings
•We say when an idea has stopped working, and we archive it
•No affiliate links inside playbooks, ever
•Failed ventures get written up in the same detail as the successful ones
Reviews
From readers who started something
“The pricing calculator alone fixed my rate. I was charging thirty an hour and losing money on drive time without knowing it.”
Devon S., mobile detailing, year one
“I appreciated the teardown where somebody made four hundred dollars in six months. That saved me from quitting my job over a fantasy.”
Renata C., member since 2023
FAQ
Questions before you subscribe
Is the newsletter really free?
Yes, and it always will be. About one in twenty readers buys a playbook bundle or joins the community, which pays for the whole operation. You can unsubscribe with one click and we do not sell the list.
Do I need money to start one of these?
It varies a lot, which is why every playbook opens with the startup cost. Eleven of the forty one need under one hundred dollars, mostly service work using skills or tools you already have. A few need several thousand and we say so before you read further.
How much time do these take each week?
Most of what we publish assumes six to twelve hours a week, since the point is that you still have a job. Each playbook states the realistic hour range and how much of it has to fall on evenings or weekends.
Can I get a refund on the playbook library?
Yes, thirty days, no questions and no form to fill out. Email us and the refund goes back to your card the same day.
Contact
Start with Thursday's issue
Drop your email and you will get this week's playbook plus the three most read issues from the archive.
Phone(614) 555-0108
Address1200 North High Street, Suite 6, Columbus, Ohio
HoursEmail support Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm Eastern
AreaOnline, members in all 50 states