The $72k “Hidden” Side Hustle, $90k per month from Selling Baby Sleep Masks, $500k in Print on Demand Candles, and more - Side Hustle Nation

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      What do a baby sleep mask, a mobile detailing service, and print-on-demand candles have in common?

      They are all quietly generating substantial income for real individuals — and in this episode, we explore the figures behind six of the most intriguing side hustle stories circulating right now.

      I’m joined by Cody Berman — co-host of The FI Show and author of Retire by 30: How to Build Wealth, Gain Freedom, and Live Life on Your Own Terms — for an in-depth analysis of the latest Side Hustle Headlines. Each story includes real figures, candid reactions, and suggestions on how you might apply the same model in your own life.

      Tune into Episode 742 of the Side Hustle Show to discover:

      how a first-time mother created a $90k/month business in brief intervals between feedings

      why a "mundane" service side hustle is keeping pace with a six-figure salary

      what the rise of print-on-demand candles indicates about tapping into underserved markets

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      Round 1: Side Hustle Headlines

      1. Baby Sleep Mask: Generating up to $90k per Month

      Julia Holden is a New Jersey mother who realized her newborn settled down faster with his eyes covered. Unable to find a product she liked, she created her own: a baby hat with an eye cover called Sleepy Hat.

      The product:

      retails for $28 to $29

      required an initial investment of $16,000

      and was developed in quick 20-minute sessions during feedings while Julia held a full-time job

      It now potentially brings in up to $90,000 per month during peak season ($69,000 following the holidays). With conservative 20% profit margins, that translates to about $10,000 monthly profit from a single item.

      Sales occur primarily through Amazon and TikTok.

      The baby product industry has stringent safety standards that serve as a natural deterrent for copycats.

      Moreover, the market psychology is clear: parents will invest significantly to ensure their children can sleep. For insights on the service side of this niche, check out the episode featuring Jayne Havens on sleep consulting.

      2. The $72k “Secret” Detailing Business

      A 26-year-old finance professional shared on Reddit about a side hustle he is “too shy to disclose.”

      Balancing work on evenings and weekends (roughly 8 to 9 months out of the year), he developed a mobile car detailing service that generated $72,000 in revenue last year, nearly matching his $85,000 day job earnings.

      He operates a fully wrapped Ford Transit Connect and a custom trailer, secured around $5,000 monthly in recurring maintenance contracts, and has reinvested his earnings into two rental properties.

      Cody posed a broader question: at what point does a lucrative business cease to be a source of embarrassment?

      The long-term objective is to set up processes, recruit a team, and shift into a managerial role, which would also enhance the business's resale potential.

      In a prior mobile detailing episode, an operator revealed that 70% of his clients had never previously detailed their vehicles, indicating a still-expanding market.

      3. $500k from Print-on-Demand Candles

      Emily, who collaborates with Cody at Gold City Ventures, has sold over 22,000 candles via Etsy, totaling more than $500,000 in revenue with approximately 30% margins — around $150,000 in profit from several years of part-time efforts.

      She never personally handles the candles. Every order is fulfilled through Printify, which manages the printing and shipping whenever an order is placed.

      Emily uses Canva to create her listings, uploads them to Etsy, and relies on organic search for the majority of her sales — no paid advertising. Some of her older listings continue to generate sales years later.

      As Cody noted, the crucial strategy is to approach Etsy as a search engine: optimize keywords, titles, and listing images,