Hello everyone — welcome to this month’s business income report.
In October I made a major life change: I left my day job.
You might expect that my business income would jump right away after quitting, since I suddenly had more time to devote to it. In reality, October’s business revenue was a bit lower than previous months. I don’t have a firm explanation, but I’m not upset about it. I spent nearly half the month still working my job and I allowed myself extra downtime after years of working or studying 80+ hours a week. I was tired and needed a break.
Those first weeks of being self-employed have been restful and restorative, and I’ve also focused on strengthening family relationships — progress I’m proud of. Overall, October was a strong month: one of my highest to date and a hopeful sign heading into my first full month of self-employment in November.
Significant progress over the past year
For October I reported $13,127 in business income before expenses. After business-related expenses (about $1,200 for staff writers, collaboration costs, PayPal fees, etc.) and accounting for a rent payment from my sister, my approximate take-home amount for October was $11,927.
To put that growth in perspective: last October I earned about $3,700 in extra income. I didn’t expect to reach the revenue levels I now have when I first started blogging, but steady effort produced substantial gains. There were long stretches — about a year early on — when I earned nothing while investing full-time hours into building this business. That effort matters.
Keep in mind this income is not passive. I work many hours every day; this is my full-time job now. Also remember taxes typically take a significant portion — in my case roughly 30–40% of this extra income goes to taxes. That reality often gets overlooked when people see income reports without context.
I genuinely enjoy this work, which makes the long hours and occasional sleepless nights worthwhile. Our current big-picture goal is saving for extended travel, which keeps me motivated. If you want more detail on what I include in “extra/business income,” see my Extra/Business Income page.
If you have questions about any line items you’d like me to break out or explain in next month’s report, please let me know.
Figures above refer to October, before fees and expenses. The approximate $1,200 in expenses included staff writing, collaboration costs, PayPal fees, and similar business expenses. October’s total also includes a rent payment from my sister; after accounting for expenses and fees, the net amount is approximately $11,927. The totals reflect only my personal earnings and do not include revenue from blogs I help manage unless that money was paid directly to me.
Blog and project updates
Making Sense of Cents continues to perform well. I still enjoy blogging — I’ve met great people and learned so much. If you’re considering starting a blog, now is a good time to begin.
My sister’s blog, FITnancials, is also doing well; she’s making progress and planning a move to Chicago. My new site, Diversified Finances, is off to a good start too. It’s been an excellent place to write about self-employment and to get reader feedback. I recently posted about my early experience as a full-time self-employed person there.
If you want guidance on launching a blog, check my “How To Start a Blog” post for step-by-step instructions. A popular related post is “How To Make Money Blogging,” which outlines realistic ways bloggers can earn income.
Improving my schedule
One challenge I faced in October was losing my routine. I plan to set stricter work hours, stop working from bed, and move to a desk or table more often — I’m more productive when I change my environment and enforce structure.
FinCon 2013 takeaways
Attending FinCon in October was valuable and inspiring. I compiled a list of action items I want to implement. My current priorities include starting an eBook, refining my brand, increasing promotion, accepting more interview opportunities, and pursuing public speaking at conferences.
Staff writing
I picked up a few staff writing gigs in October and I’m actively looking for more. October was one of my busiest months for paid writing in a while. If you need reliable content — one-off posts, ongoing articles, or quick-turnaround pieces — I’m available for hire. Writing is a service I offer regularly, and I’ve written a guide titled “So You Want to Be a Freelance Writer?” if you’re exploring that path.
Website and social media management
My blog and social media management services are contributing meaningfully to my income. I manage content and social channels for several blogs, which has helped increase total revenue recently. These services are enjoyable and leverage my strengths in content and community management.
I also offer short-term blog management if you need coverage for travel, parental leave, or a temporary break. If you’re interested in hiring a blog manager, contact me with your needs.
I’ve been considering starting a niche site, though some bloggers have mentioned stepping away from niche sites lately. I’m weighing why several have chosen that path and whether it makes sense for me.
Curious about virtual assistance? I’ve shared resources on how to become a virtual assistant and what virtual assistants actually do — helpful if you’re exploring freelance support roles or considering offering those services yourself.
Affiliate income — a growth area
I haven’t focused much on affiliate marketing recently, though I plan to change that in November. Readers often ask for recommendations about affiliate programs; since I haven’t actively managed affiliate partnerships, I don’t have a single go-to to endorse. I welcome suggestions from readers about programs that work well for them.
Offline side hustles
My partner and I have been brainstorming offline side hustles — small projects that align with our interests and might earn extra money without major overhead. These won’t be huge revenue generators, but they could be enjoyable and profitable in niche markets. We hope to start testing ideas soon.
What offline side hustles do you run or recommend?
Business and extra income for October (after expenses)
- Staff writing – $760
- Website-related (management, direct advertising & AdSense) – $10,442
- Affiliate income – $400
- Virtual assistant tasks – $0
- Selling items from home – $67 (credited to the store, not included in main total)
- Miscellaneous (non-blogging) – $0
- Rent (room rented to my sister) – $325
Comparisons and 2013 totals (after expenses, before taxes)
- Total extra income for October: $11,927
- Income in September: $12,334
- Difference: -$407
- Total so far in 2013: $90,972