The Best Side Hustle to Start While Working Full Time (This Is What I Did)

If you're working a full time job right now and wondering if there's a way to make extra money on the side without taking on a second job, answering to a boss, and sacrificing every free hour you have, this post is for you.

Because I've been exactly where you are. And I found something that changed everything: 

The best side hustle to start while working full time in my opinion is selling low content books on Amazon KDP. You can set it up around your existing schedule, it costs nothing to start, and once your books are live they earn passive income around the clock even while you're at work, asleep, or just living your life. 

I Was Working Full Time in Tech When I Started This Side Hustle

Back in March 2021 I was working a full time position in tech. Good job, steady paycheck.

But I knew better than to rely on one income stream.

So I started looking for something I could build on the side. Something that didn't require me to clock in somewhere else after already putting in a full day.

That's when I found Amazon KDP.

I started publishing low and medium content books — journals, notebooks, simple things I could create in Canva around my work schedule.

I won't pretend it was easy. There were trials, losses, and a lot of figuring things out the hard way.

But starting this side hustle? One of the best decisions I've ever made.

My First Sale Was $8! And It Changed Everything

As I previously mentioned,

I struggled for a bit after I started.

There were plenty of people online saying it didn't work, that the market was too saturated, and that it wasn't worth the effort.

I kept going anyway.

Then in May 2021 two months after I started I made my first sale. Eight dollars.

To most people that sounds like nothing. But to me it meant everything and heres why: 

• It meant it was real 
• It meant Amazon would actually pay me
• It meant that despite what everyone else was saying  this business model works

Here's what I noticed that changed the game for me:

The book that sold wasn't just any journal. It was niched down to a specific audience.

That was my aha moment.

From there I stopped publishing generic books and started publishing for a specific person with a specific need.

Everything shifted after that.

Why KDP Works So Well Around a Full Time Job

Here's what makes KDP different from every other side hustle I looked at:

1: There are no set hours. You don't have to show up at a specific time. You don't have to be available for clients. You don't have to answer to anyone.

2: You create your book on your own schedule. You can work on your business over a weekend, a few evenings or whenever you have time. You upload your books once and Amazon sells it for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What I love about publishing low and medium content books on Amazon is that I was making money while I was sitting at my desk at work, sleeping or just living my regular life.

That's the side hustle that actually works around a full time job — not one that just replaces it with different obligations.

Then... I Got Laid Off

Here's the part of my story I really want you to hear.

I got laid off from my tech job.

And because I had already been building my KDP income on the side it was my saving grace.

That passive income helped me:

• Pay bills
• Buy groceries
• Cover emergency expenses and more....

It didn't replace my salary overnight. But it was there when I needed it most.

Now here's the cold hard truth:

Companies are laying off left and right right now with no signs of slowing down. 

That stable job, that steady paycheck, believe me it can disappear faster than you think.

The one thing that I try to stress to everyone that I know that is working a "safe" corporate job is this: Never rely on one income stream. 

What I'd Tell Anyone Stuck in a 9-5 Right Now

Start something today.

Don't wait for the bottom to fall out from under you.

You don't need a big idea or a huge budget to start this business.  to invest. You don't need to quit your job or take a risk.

You just need to start something small on the side that can grow while your regular life keeps going.

KDP is that thing for me and it can be for you too.

Since starting this business I've now made over $160K (and counting) from selling low content books on Amazon.

It started with an $8 sale and a journal niched down to the right audience.

How to Get Started This Weekend

Here's everything you need:

1. A free Canva account to design your interior and cover
2. A free KDP account at kdp.amazon.com
3. A niche — a specific audience who needs a specific book
4. An idea of the type of book that you want to publish
5.  A few hours this weekend
6. A laptop or computer with internet 

The beauty of publishing low content books is that Amazon handles all of the shipping, customer service and product returns for you.

You in turn give a portion of your earnings and royalties to them in exchange for using their platform.

Ready to Publish your First Book?

My Jumpstart Kits give you the starting framework so you're not staring at a blank screen wondering where to begin.

You can grab the  Puzzle Book Jumpstart Kit if you want to publish medium content books like puzzle books.

For lower content books like journals consider grabbing the Gratitude Journal Jumpstart Kit

And if you want to see the bigger picture check out my post on 10 Side Hustle Ideas From Home You Can Start With No Money — KDP is #1 on that list for a reason.

Thanks for reading and here's to your next side hustle.