Side Hustle Spotlight #70

Read more to find out how you can start this profitable side hustle today plus tips and tricks to make starting a business easier

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Welcome Back To Side Hustle Weekly!

I’m excited to share with you another great side hustle you can start today! Today we will be discussing how you can start a voice acting business as a beginner.

Before We Get Started Here’s Your News Recap:

Housing push from D.C.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration is preparing measures to tackle high housing costs, including standardized permitting and a possible national housing emergency this fall. He expects activity to rebound once rates ease and locked-in owners can list.

Fed independence under a spotlight

Bessent said the Fed “should be independent” but has made mistakes, while defending the move to oust Governor Lisa Cook amid fraud allegations (which Cook contests in court). The comments keep investors focused on central-bank autonomy heading into September.

IMF shuffle: U.S. eyes a top slot

The U.S. is considering White House economist Pierre Yared for the IMF’s No. 2 role after Gita Gopinath’s departure—a key lever over global lending and crisis policy. Decision timing lines up with the October IMF/World Bank meetings.

U.S.–India trade twist

President **Trump said India offered to cut tariffs on U.S. goods to zero, even as New Delhi publicly courts ties with Beijing and Moscow. If realized, that’s a material market-access shift for U.S. exporters.

Energy check: crude grinds higher

Brent settled $68.15 (+1.0%) and WTI $64.68 (+1.1%) as a weaker dollar and Russia/Ukraine supply risk nudged oil up. For operators, that’s a modest uptick in input costs and mid-stream margins.

Metals flash: gold & silver pop

Gold hovered near record highs while silver hit a 14-year peak at ~$40.69/oz as the dollar touched its lowest since late July. Classic risk-hedge flows ahead of jobs data and possible Fed cuts.

September risk radar

Markets head into September with elevated event risk—from the Fed drama to European political tremors—after a sleepy summer stretch. Historically a choppy month, portfolio re-sets are in focus.

Aerospace/industrial: RTX in the mix

Wizz Air is working on a deal with Pratt & Whitney (owned by RTX) to speed engine servicing that has grounded parts of its fleet. Any breakthrough helps RTX’s service backlog narrative and airline capacity planning.

Consumer megacap shake-up (global → U.S. exposure)

Nestlé abruptly removed its CEO over an undisclosed relationship, opening the door to a strategy reset (talk of portfolio reshaping, including U.S. assets). Governance jolt meets margin-mix opportunity.

Policy heat on Big Pharma

Trump publicly pressed drugmakers to justify COVID-drug outcomes, raising the odds of pricing and oversight headlines. Health-care names should expect messaging risk into fall.

It’s go-time for holiday campaigns

Roku Ads Manager makes it easy to extend your Q4 campaign to performance CTV.

You can:

  • Easily launch self-serve CTV ads

  • Repurpose your social content for TV

  • Drive purchases directly on-screen with shoppable ads

  • A/B test to discover your most effective offers

The holidays only come once a year. Get started now with a $500 ad credit when you spend your first $500 today with code: ROKUADS500. Terms apply.

 

Use Your Voice to Make Thousands

Turn Your Voice Into $5,000, $10,000, or More Per Month

You don’t need to be a celebrity or a radio announcer to make serious money with your voice. Voice acting is one of the fastest-growing freelance opportunities, and with the explosion of podcasts, YouTube channels, audiobooks, and online ads, demand for voice talent has never been higher.

What starts as a simple side hustle can easily grow into a $5,000 to $10,000 per month career path — if you know how to get started and how to stand out.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started

1. Explore the Industry

Before jumping in, understand where voice work opportunities exist:

  • Audiobooks – Self-published authors need affordable narrators.

  • Commercials – From local radio to social media ads.

  • YouTube channels – Many creators outsource voiceovers.

  • Corporate training videos – Companies need voices for internal materials.

  • Video games and animations – Perfect for those with creative range.

This diversity means there’s a niche for almost every voice type.

2. Train Your Voice

You don’t need formal schooling, but you should practice:

  • Record yourself reading books or ads.

  • Work on clarity, tone, and pacing.

  • Take affordable classes on platforms like Udemy or Skillshare to improve technique.

The better your delivery, the more premium clients you can attract.

3. Set Up a Simple Home Studio

You don’t need to break the bank to start. Begin with:

  • A quality microphone (like Blue Yeti or Rode NT-USB).

  • Free software like Audacity or GarageBand.

  • A quiet space with blankets or foam panels to reduce echo.

A clean, clear sound is what separates amateurs from professionals.

4. Create a Demo Reel

Your demo is your “resume.” Record 3–5 short clips showcasing different styles — friendly, professional, dramatic, and casual.
You can edit this yourself or hire a pro editor on Fiverr for under $50 to polish it up.

5. Start Finding Clients

Here are platforms where beginners can land jobs:

  • Fiverr – Perfect for small gigs that build your portfolio.

  • Upwork – Great for corporate and audiobook projects.

  • Voices.com – One of the largest marketplaces for voice actors.

  • ACX (Amazon) – Directly connects narrators with audiobook authors.

Pro tip: Apply for gigs daily, even if you think you’re underqualified. Volume is key when starting out.

6. Build a Brand

To grow beyond small gigs:

  • Create a simple website with samples and contact info.

  • Open social profiles (LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube) to share snippets of your work.

  • Network with podcast creators, YouTubers, and small businesses to find recurring clients.

7. Scale and Specialize

As your skills grow, move into higher-paying niches:

  • Corporate voiceovers can pay $500–$1,000 per project.

  • Audiobooks often range from $1,000–$5,000 per book.

  • Commercials can pay hundreds per minute of recording.

Specializing in one area can position you as an expert and command higher rates.

The Key to a $1.3 Trillion Opportunity

A new trend in real estate is making the most expensive properties obtainable. It’s called co-ownership, and it’s revolutionizing the $1.3T vacation home market.

The company leading the trend? Pacaso. Created by the founder behind a $120M prior exit, Pacaso turns underutilized luxury properties into fully-managed assets and makes them accessible to the broadest possible market.

The result? More than $1B in transactions and service fees, 2,000+ happy homeowners, and over $110m in gross profit to date for Pacaso.

With rapid international growth and 41% gross profit growth last year alone, Pacaso is hitting their stride. They even recently reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

The same VCs that backed Uber, eBay, and Venmo also backed Pacaso. Join them as a Pacaso shareholder before the opportunity ends September 18.

Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.

Requirements to Get Started

  • Reliable internet connection for submitting files and communicating with clients.

  • Basic editing skills for cleaning up audio files.

  • Patience and consistency — early gigs may pay less, but they build your reputation.

Websites and Software to Use

  • Fiverr, Upwork, and Voices.com – To find work.

  • Audacity or GarageBand – Free audio editing tools.

  • Canva – For designing your demo cover or branding assets.

  • Notion or Trello – To track projects and deadlines.

Products to Buy for Maximum Results

  • Microphone – Rode NT-USB or Audio-Technica AT2020.

  • Pop filter – To reduce harsh “p” and “s” sounds.

  • Acoustic foam panels – For a professional sound.

  • Studio headphones – To edit with precision.

  • Mic stand – Keeps recordings stable and consistent.

Income Potential

Voice acting income varies, but here’s a realistic estimate:

  • Beginner – $500 to $2,000/month within 3–6 months.

  • Intermediate – $3,000 to $7,000/month with steady clients.

  • Pro – $10,000+/month when specializing and landing premium gigs.

Once you’ve built a reputation, you can land long-term contracts that provide consistent income.

Pros

  • Low startup cost – You can start with under $300.

  • High demand – Businesses and creators always need voices.

  • Scalable – Turn it into a full-time career or keep it a flexible side hustle.

  • Creative outlet – Fun and expressive work for people who enjoy performance.

Cons

  • Competitive field – You’ll need to stand out with quality and professionalism.

  • Time investment – Landing clients takes persistence early on.

  • Equipment learning curve – Editing and setup can feel overwhelming at first.

Summary: Turning Your Voice Into Income

  1. Learn and practice to build a professional-sounding voice.

  2. Set up a home studio with budget-friendly equipment.

  3. Create a strong demo that highlights your versatility.

  4. Hustle for gigs on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Voices.com.

  5. Reinvest and specialize to scale into higher-paying niches.

Voice acting is one of the rare side hustles where you can start small and scale big. Whether you want to make an extra $500 a month or turn it into a full-blown career making five figures monthly, the path is clear — and your voice could be your ticket to financial freedom.

That’s A Wrap

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and if you have any questions about the post, upcoming posts, how to advertise, or anything else, feel free to reply. See you next time with another money-making post, helping you boost your income!

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the opinions of its editors and contributors. The content provided, including but not limited to real estate tips, stock market insights, business marketing strategies, and startup advice, is shared for general guidance and does not constitute financial, investment, real estate, legal, or business advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investment, real estate, and business decisions involve inherent risks, and readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before taking any action. This newsletter does not establish a fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship between the publishers and readers.

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