You use an app to get first jobs doing find students on Preply or italki, then keep your own calendar. Collect reviews, then move regulars onto your own calendar and invoice.
This starts on a gig app. You take jobs doing find students on Preply or italki, then keep your own calendar. The app pays per task minus fees. The real job is turning regulars onto your own invoice. A normal week is specialized gigs (not every task on the map), screenshots of reviews, and capped hours. Gig apps can replace a punch clock short-term and trap you long-term. If the app still owns 80% of income, raise an owned offer.
Preply / italki: $0 profile. A headset is $0–50. First student commonly 1–4 weeks (Preply).
Each required material has a matching shop listing — photo, price, and a way to add it to the cart.
The tools the gig needs
Hand-tool starter kit
Hand-tool starter kit. A tote of the first hand tools a one-person trade actually uses: drivers, knives, tape, and a small hammer. Not a contractor van build-out.
A phone with data
Smartphone with data
Smartphone with data. A current-enough phone with a clean lens and a prepaid data starter. This is the camera, inbox, and maps in your pocket — not a cinema body.
A simple CRM of regulars
CRM of regulars
CRM of regulars. A simple CRM workspace: names, last job, next ask. Built for a route of regulars, not enterprise sales.
Public examples matched to this path by what they actually publish — not endorsements, and not a claim they run this exact shop. Handles change. Verify before you write to anyone.
No closely matched public example yet. Treat any lead you find as something to verify, not a directory listing.
Mira Chen left salaried work and now coaches this craft. Book a slot for a tailored plan, a starter kit list, and follow-up support.
Background Artist / Extra
Work as a film extra as a stopgap, not a plan
Background Artist / Extra
Work as a film extra as a stopgap, not a plan
You use an app to get first jobs doing work as a film extra as a stopgap, not a plan. Collect reviews, then move regulars onto your own calendar and invoice.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Online-Test Proctor Independent
Proctor online tests if still contracted in your region
Online-Test Proctor Independent
Proctor online tests if still contracted in your region
You use an app to get first jobs doing proctor online tests if still contracted in your region. Collect reviews, then move regulars onto your own calendar and invoice.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Airbnb Co-Host
Run Airbnb ops for owners who travel
Airbnb Co-Host
Run Airbnb ops for owners who travel
You use an app to get first jobs doing run Airbnb ops for owners who travel. Collect reviews, then move regulars onto your own calendar and invoice.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
