People in Los Angeles hold a variety of jobs. More than many places in the world, Los Angeles is the home to many freelancers - actors, directors, writers, and content creators. And if you ask them, they all have a side hustle going. Unfortunately, more than thirty percent of side hustlers in Los Angeles will fail in their pursuits. Here's why.
An article by Beth Braverman on the CNBC website says, “…flexible work outside of business hours has nearly a third of workers maintaining a side hustle in addition to their regular jobs.” And, according to these three articles, many of these side hustles, in Los Angeles and in other cities around the world, will fail for one reason.
Side hustlers in Los Angeles don’t stick around long enough to succeed.
It’s not what people want to hear, but most side hustles take time to get started and become profitable. And many folks in Los Angeles that start a side hustle don’t see it through to profitability.
First of all, let’s look at some side hustle statistics.
- In America, approximately 70 million people have a side hustle.
- An average side hustle takes in $1,122 per month, but guess what? The median is only $200 per month. (Wah wah.)
- Online business and freelancing/consulting are the two most popular side hustles.
In short, side hustling in Los Angeles is a thing. Whether you are currently doing it, considering it, or supporting someone else’s side hustle, the side hustle culture isn’t going anywhere.
So, how do side hustlers in Los Angeles succeed?
According to a survey of 1,700 people conducted by side hustle nation, half of the people surveyed make less than $100 per month. However, after breaking down their data, they found that the longer side hustlers stuck around, the more money they made.
If we combine some of these income brackets, you can say that after someone’s side hustle gets over the initial startup phase, 43.4% of side hustlers earn $1000 or more per month.
We all want to get rich quick in Los Angeles, but the side hustle data doesn’t support that notion. As with any job in the world, it takes time to learn the ropes, it takes time to make connections, and it takes time to become confident in what you’re doing.
It seems like a simple concept, but when side hustlers in Los Angeles are in the thick of it, they can’t see the forest for the trees. When a writer earns $1.08 for an article that took an hour, when a craftsman on Etsy sells just one handmade coat rack, and when an affiliate sells exactly zero products after a hard day’s work, it is difficult to have the mental fortitude to persevere.
Run the money says it best, “Many a potentially excellent business has been abandoned because the people behind it expected too much too quickly.” It all takes time.
Rome and Seth Godin weren’t built in a day. Your Los Angeles side hustle won’t be either.
So, if you happen to be one of the people in Los Angeles pursuing a side hustle, you're definitely not alone - by a long shot. Many other people are working toward the same goal. One Instagram follower, one cold email, and one new customer at a time. I encourage you, though, to really look at the data before you consider throwing in the towel.
You are not alone (by far) and your chances of success go up with every day you persevere in your side hustle. So, go and get it hustlers. It’s out there for the taking. We all just need a little patience.