1001 original paths off the 9-to-5
Unclocked is a field guide to 1001 ways of earning and dwelling that are not a conventional 9-to-5. Each path has a name, an honest description, a step-by-step start, skills, materials, capital, a public source, and people or communities who have walked a version of it.
Filter by craft, capital, and whether the work travels. Save anything that tugs — it lands in your collection.
Minimum initial capital
73 paths
Boat-Brightwork
Varnish and small marine joinery
Boat-Brightwork
Varnish and small marine joinery
You do this trade work — varnish and small marine joinery. Customers pay from a written estimate with a deposit, inside a set service radius.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $800
Play Food from Wood
Make and sell kitchen toys that survive
Play Food from Wood
Make and sell kitchen toys that survive
You make kitchen toys that survive by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $150
Macramé with Architecture
Make and sell plant hangers that respect a room, not a 2016 dorm
Macramé with Architecture
Make and sell plant hangers that respect a room, not a 2016 dorm
You make plant hangers that respect a room, not a 2016 dorm by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $40
Hand-Quilted Oven Mitts
Make and sell things that actually insulate
Hand-Quilted Oven Mitts
Make and sell things that actually insulate
You make things that actually insulate by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $60
Clock and Watch Bench
After training — mechanical time
Clock and Watch Bench
After training — mechanical time
You do this trade work — after training — mechanical time. Customers pay from a written estimate with a deposit, inside a set service radius.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $800
Kid Adventure Capes
Make and sell play capes from deadstock
Kid Adventure Capes
Make and sell play capes from deadstock
You make play capes from deadstock by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $80
Repair Ticket
A storefront or cart that only does mending
Repair Ticket
A storefront or cart that only does mending
You run a storefront or cart that only does mending — zips, chips, and small appliances. Clients pay a posted rate, ticket, dues, or commission.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $250
Natural-Fiber Stuffies
Make and sell toys without a plastic pellet blizzard
Natural-Fiber Stuffies
Make and sell toys without a plastic pellet blizzard
You make toys without a plastic pellet blizzard by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $80
Wool Repair Kits
Make and sell darning mushrooms and matched yarn
Wool Repair Kits
Make and sell darning mushrooms and matched yarn
You make darning mushrooms and matched yarn by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $40
Heirloom Seed Packets
Make and sell art packets plus grow notes
Heirloom Seed Packets
Make and sell art packets plus grow notes
You make art packets plus grow notes by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $60
Recycled-Glass Beads
Make and sell jewelry from bottles
Recycled-Glass Beads
Make and sell jewelry from bottles
You make jewelry from bottles by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $100
Tile Repair Artist
The cracked shower nobody wants
Tile Repair Artist
The cracked shower nobody wants
You do this trade work — the cracked shower nobody wants. Customers pay from a written estimate with a deposit, inside a set service radius.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $800
Masonry Tuckpoint
Brick that wants to live
Masonry Tuckpoint
Brick that wants to live
You do this trade work — brick that wants to live. Customers pay from a written estimate with a deposit, inside a set service radius.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $500
Metal-Fab Micro
Brackets, railings, repairs
Metal-Fab Micro
Brackets, railings, repairs
You do this trade work — brackets, railings, repairs. Customers pay from a written estimate with a deposit, inside a set service radius.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $2,000
Stained-Glass Scraps
Make and sell suncatchers from remnant glass
Stained-Glass Scraps
Make and sell suncatchers from remnant glass
You make suncatchers from remnant glass by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $150
Appliance Whisperer
Diagnosis before replacement culture
Appliance Whisperer
Diagnosis before replacement culture
You do this trade work — diagnosis before replacement culture. Customers pay from a written estimate with a deposit, inside a set service radius.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $500
Upcycled Denim Rugs
Make and sell rag rugs from jeans
Upcycled Denim Rugs
Make and sell rag rugs from jeans
You make rag rugs from jeans by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $50
Second-Life Leather
Make and sell wallets and straps from discarded hides and belts
Second-Life Leather
Make and sell wallets and straps from discarded hides and belts
You make wallets and straps from discarded hides and belts by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $150
Custom Pet Silhouettes
Make and sell papercut or print portraits from phone photos
Custom Pet Silhouettes
Make and sell papercut or print portraits from phone photos
You make papercut or print portraits from phone photos by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $50
Kid-Size Stools
Make and sell low wooden seats for apartments
Kid-Size Stools
Make and sell low wooden seats for apartments
You make low wooden seats for apartments by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $200
Window Restoration
Old sashes instead of vinyl replacement
Window Restoration
Old sashes instead of vinyl replacement
You do this trade work — old sashes instead of vinyl replacement. Customers pay from a written estimate with a deposit, inside a set service radius.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $500
Beeswax Workshop
Make and sell wraps and candles from local wax
Beeswax Workshop
Make and sell wraps and candles from local wax
You make wraps and candles from local wax by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $80
Locksmith Road
After proper training and licensing
Locksmith Road
After proper training and licensing
You do this trade work — after proper training and licensing. Customers pay from a written estimate with a deposit, inside a set service radius.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $1,500
Foraged-Dye Yarn
Make and sell small-batch color with honest lightfastness notes
Foraged-Dye Yarn
Make and sell small-batch color with honest lightfastness notes
You make small-batch color with honest lightfastness notes by hand. Customers pay per piece on Etsy, at a market, or through a shop.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $150
