From $17 per hour to a Six-Figure Side Business - Side Hustle Nation

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      “Changing the world with chess” and earning $100,000 annually on the side is the journey of today’s guest, Jeff DiOrio from EliteChess.net. Jeff transitioned from making $17 per hour teaching kids at summer camp chess programs to organizing his own camps and earning five times that amount. He later pivoted to an online recurring membership model, partly due to the pandemic, while maintaining the in-person coaching aspect of his business.

      How did Jeff achieve such rapid growth in his student base? His strategy relied on organic growth by giving to charities and delivering a service driven by value, all while doing something he enjoys—teaching chess.

      Tune in to The Side Hustle Show interview to learn about:

      - How Jeff established his minimum viable audience

      - The strategies he employed to create a business with recurring revenue

      - How you can apply similar tactics in your own business

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      The Idea to Start Elite Chess

      Jeff first conceived the idea of teaching chess for himself while he was working at a nearby school’s summer camp, where he earned $17 an hour. “I thought, ‘Wow, maybe I could do this on my own and give myself a raise,’” Jeff recounted.

      Validating the Idea and Getting Started

      Jeff admitted that he can be a bit slow to act on ideas and didn’t immediately launch into his side hustle. Just before beginning his fourth summer camp year, he decided to host a chess tournament to gauge the response. Not wanting to put it all under his name in case it flopped, Jeff reached out to local charities to host the event under their banner. He found a charity willing to partner, which helped promote the tournament to their audience, and he donated all proceeds to them. The tournament was a success, confirming that there was a demand for chess tournaments and players in his area.

      Building a Following and Hosting a Summer Camp

      After the initial tournament, Jeff became more active in the local chess community, organizing tournaments at local schools that drew in new students and their parents. He would attend other tournaments and offer free coaching to kids after their games, analyzing their play and suggesting improvements. Slowly, crowds began to gather around him, with people inquiring about one-on-one coaching and how to find him. He started collecting email addresses, informing everyone about his upcoming chess summer camps. After a few months, he amassed around 50 emails, leading him to rent space in local schools and churches for his first summer camp. Jeff recalled that the first week attracted 12 kids, and he made five times what he earned teaching summer camps for someone else.

      Starting EliteChess.net and Growing His Student Numbers

      When summer ended, parents and kids asked Jeff if he could continue teaching chess, prompting him to officially launch EliteChess.net. He began running weekly chess academies in 7-week sessions. At the end of each session, he sought new students for the next. As his student numbers grew, Jeff began receiving requests to host seminars and tournaments. His commitment to charity work played a crucial role in expanding his student base through word of mouth.

      Pricing

      While there were organizations hosting similar tournaments, Jeff didn’t know of any offering comparable classes. Although after-school chess programs were common, they lacked the chess focus of his offerings. With no direct competition to inform his pricing, Jeff struggled to determine starting rates. He settled on $8 per hour for his initial group lessons, similar to babysitting costs. This proved viable, allowing him to earn $96 per hour with 12 kids. Since then, his pricing has evolved significantly; he now charges $