Discovering Your $250/hr Side Gig: How a Firefighter Earned an Additional $40k Annually

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      Imagine if you could earn $250-$300 an hour by addressing a problem that most people would rather avoid. Jim Lashbaugh did just that, ultimately generating around $40,000 in extra income last year.

      A retired firefighter with almost thirty years of service, Jim flipped houses in his spare time, which led him to contend with one of the most frustrating aspects of real estate development: building permits.

      Although he became proficient at this task, he didn’t intend to offer his services to anyone else. That changed when a friend reached out for help, followed by a call from a stranger. This led to the creation of SynergyPermits.com.

      Jim joined the podcast to discuss how he transformed a very specific, unglamorous skill into a flexible side hustle without resorting to cold calling, advertisements, or any formal qualifications.

      Tune into Episode 727 of the Side Hustle Show to discover:

      - How to identify the niche skill embedded in your own experiences

      - A straightforward pricing alteration that can significantly boost your effective hourly rate

      - A simple closing question that turns nearly every prospect into a paying client

      Jim’s story showcases how a common pain point became a profitable side hustle. Contractors and builders are well-acquainted with the permitting process—it's slow, bureaucratic, and detracts from actual construction work. For years, Jim had navigated this process for his own projects, never enjoying it but managing nonetheless.

      After retiring, he reduced his house flipping activities, but when a friend requested help with a permit, Jim agreed and charged a nominal fee. His wife noticed this, pointed out his aptitude, and suggested he could do it for others instead of lounging on the couch.

      Thus, Jim reached out to a couple of builders he knew, and word began to spread. A call from a plumber, someone he had never met, followed soon after with the request: “I heard you handle building permits. Can I pay you to do this for me?”

      That first client paid him $500 for the job, translating to about $100 per hour. Jim had no website or social media presence, and the client didn’t inquire about his credentials; they simply wanted someone else to handle the process.

      Jim hasn't run any ads for Synergy Permits; his business has flourished through word of mouth, which he describes as the “skipping rock theory.” When a rock skips across the water, each point of contact creates ripples. Jim told just two builders about his services, and each informed their network. That plumber client referred Jim to additional work through his connections.

      “It’s not just your circle that counts — it’s all the circles you influence.”

      His advice for newcomers is to tell four people about your service; each of these individuals will likely know someone in need. It may seem straightforward, but it proves effective.

      Currently, Jim has over 25 active permits, a significant increase from just two when he launched about a year ago.

      Jim candidly admitted he wouldn’t have listed permitting as a strength on his own; it was his wife's insight that brought it to light.

      His suggestion for finding your niche is to:

      1. List things you’re skilled at

      2. Note what people commonly ask you about

      3. Identify what assistance people request from you

      Then, ask your spouse, a close friend, and a coworker to do the same without seeing your list. Look for overlapping themes; this exercise can reveal insights that you might overlook.

      You often can’t recognize your own expertise — others may see it more clearly.

      Initially, Jim charged by the hour because that was his norm. But he soon transitioned to flat-fee pricing, which transformed his business model. His starting rate for a standard building permit was $1,250, which later increased to $1,500, and he currently charges $1,750 for standard jobs. For more complex projects, such as duplexes or cottage clusters, he raises the price further. No clients have questioned these rates.

      On a typical job, this flat fee corresponds to roughly $250-$300 per hour based on his actual time invested. The crucial insight is that clients are paying for results, not hours. They are looking for time saved and stress alleviated.

      In Portland, the average timeline for permits is around nine months, while Jim achieves an average of four to five months. His efficiency stems from quick responses to reviewer inquiries, direct coordination with surveyors and designers, and maintaining momentum. A contractor managing the process themselves might let emails linger for weeks before addressing them.

      “Time is a factor in every business. If you can complete a task in three to four months rather than their usual six, they will pay