630: How this College Student’s Side Hustle Brings in $10k a Month
Sep 19, 2024
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Jack Leimbach, a college student and entrepreneur, makes around $10k a month with his window washing side hustle, which he started with a simple $200 kit. He shares his journey, from overcoming initial challenges to leveraging targeted online ads that dramatically boosted his revenue. Jack highlights the importance of client relationships and effective marketing strategies, including impactful video ads. He also discusses balancing academic life with business, underscoring the potential for significant income through discipline and smart planning.
Jack Leimbach started his $10k/month window washing side hustle with a $200 cleaning kit, demonstrating low-cost entrepreneurship.
Utilizing online platforms like Nextdoor and Instagram significantly boosted client acquisition and revenue through effective marketing strategies.
Balancing a demanding college schedule with a thriving business highlights the importance of time management and structured planning for success.
Deep dives
Inception of the Business
The business journey began with inspiration from a family member already involved in professional window cleaning. The aspiring entrepreneur secured a $200 loan from his father to purchase a basic cleaning kit from Amazon, which included essential tools such as a squeegee, bucket, and cleaning supplies. This low startup cost allowed him to take immediate action, showing that starting a service business can be simple and accessible. Acquiring equipment was the first step, leading to his initiation in the window washing industry.
Customer Acquisition Tactics
Initially relying on door-to-door cold calling proved challenging, as after his first successful job, he faced numerous rejections. However, he adapted his approach by creating a post on the Nextdoor platform, which yielded multiple clients and substantial earnings that motivated him to persist. The shift to leveraging social media for leads highlighted the power of community engagement and online presence in attracting customers. This experience underscores the importance of diversifying marketing strategies to include both traditional and digital platforms.
Refining the Sales Pitch
A pivotal moment in business growth occurred when he adopted a new sales pitch modeled after successful approaches from other window cleaners on TikTok. This pitch included humor and relatability, which helped break the ice with potential customers, significantly increasing his success rate. By addressing homeowners’ familiar concerns, like their pets, he created rapport, prompting more people to consider his services. This refined strategy allowed him to achieve remarkable sales results, marked by a notable increase in accepted jobs.
Leveraging Technology and Marketing
Investing in a water-fed pole system upgraded his capabilities, allowing him to clean higher windows more efficiently and expand his client base. Furthermore, his foray into online advertising through Instagram targeted homeowners effectively, demonstrating the value of location-based digital marketing. A modest $600 ad spend yielded $10,000 in revenue, highlighting the impressive return on investment that can be achieved with well-conceived online campaigns. This illustrates the synergy between traditional methods and modern marketing tools in driving business growth.
Balancing Education and Business Growth
As a full-time college student, he has successfully balanced his academic responsibilities with his flourishing window washing business. He structured his schedule to maximize productivity, working early before classes and utilizing evenings for business operations. This ability to manage time effectively has not only helped sustain his business success but has also allowed him to maintain high academic performance. The experience showcases that with careful planning and dedication, one can pursue multiple goals simultaneously without compromising on either front.
This episode's guest is about to start his sophomore year in college, but he's already making around $10k a month from his side hustle window washing side hustle.
And it all started with a $200 window cleaning kit from Amazon.
This is Small Business — Learn how to start and grow your small business with “This Is Small Business,” an Amazon original podcast, on your favorite podcast app.
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