Nick Loper is an entrepreneur and digital business expert known for his work in side hustles and online income strategies. He runs the popular Side Hustle Nation blog and podcast, where he interviews entrepreneurs and shares insights about part-time business ideas. Nick is also the author of “Buy Buttons,” a book that explores various online marketplaces and strategies for making extra money. He has built multiple online businesses, including a footwear comparison shopping site, and has become a respected voice in the entrepreneurial community for helping people explore alternative income streams.
Nick Loper from the Side Hustle Nation podcast is the king of side hustles: low-risk entrepreurship, for-profit hobbies. Thanks to marketplaces like iTunes, Fiverr, eBay, Craigslist, and other sharing economy sites, the universe has shrunk, and now is the time for you to jump in:
- Find a marketplace that uses the sharing economy (such as Uber, Airbnb, DogVacay, Turo for P2P car rental, Prosper for P2P loans)
- Use your unique skills (freelancing)
- Buy low and sell high
- Create your own products
Quotes:
“I think of side hustles as a lower-risk form of entrepreneurship. You don’t have to quit your job, but if you have an extra 5, 10, or 20 hours a week and want to do something productive with that time, consider it like for-profit hobbies.” – Nick Loper
“We’ve underutilized assets in our lives—our car, spare bedroom, and even various platforms to generate money.” – Nick Loper
“Realistically, the biggest failure is often cash flow. Businesses fail because they don’t bring in enough money or make enough sales.” – Nick Loper
Takeaways:
01:53 Marketplaces like Fiverr, Amazon, and Airbnb provide built-in audiences and easier entry points for new entrepreneurs.
04:13 Treating a side hustle like a real business, with persistence and willingness to learn from failures, is crucial to success.
22:17 Side hustles offer a low-risk path to entrepreneurship, allowing people to earn extra money and learn new skills without quitting their day job.
29:40 Small, incremental earnings can grow into significant income streams when approached with patience and strategic thinking.
37:39 Successful side hustlers focus on one platform or skill at a time, building momentum through consistent small actions.
Side Hustles Mentioned
- Turo (rent out your car)
- CuddleUp (charge money for cuddling — yes, really)
- Fiverr (provide any service you want)
Resources
- Buy Button (Book)
- Side Hustle Nation (Podcast)
- The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson (Website)
- Steve Scott (Website)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:27 — 43.4MB) | Embed
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