After 10 years of building up a career as a medical assistant in Atlanta, Georgia, Desiree Hill felt trapped. Not only was she earning just $38,094 a year, but the job was getting increasingly stressful.
“It was long hours,” she told CNBC Make It. “It was three hours of commuting in Atlanta traffic everyday and I never saw my children, so it really was taking a toll.”
Then came the breaking point: a divorce that forced her to find new ways to support her family.
But what started as a desperate side hustle — buying a beat-up $1,200 truck and teaching herself how to fix it via Google and YouTube — soon became something much bigger. That first flip netted her $4,000.
By 2020, she had repaired and flipped more than 38 cars, enough to convince her it was time to quit her day job and go all-in.
Today, the 39-year-old runs Crown’s Corner Mechanics, a full-service auto repair shop in Atlanta with five employees. Her business brought in $440,000 in revenue in 2024 and her journey has drawn more than 120,000 TikTok followers.
Want to follow in her footsteps? Here’s how she turned a DIY hustle into a six-figure business — and how you can too.
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Start with small experiments
Hill says she decided to try flipping cars because it was a relatively cheap side hustle. “I knew it was something I could spend a very small amount on and maybe, potentially, make a lot of profit,” she says.
Instead of spending thousands of dollars on professional training or buying a repair shop, Hill started with a small experiment — repairing a used truck she managed to purchase for just $1,200.
If you’re looking to switch your career or start your own business, low-cost experiments can help you test the waters and see if the new venture is the right fit, before overcommitting. If the experiment fails, you can walk away without any permanent damage to your financial situation.
Don’t quit your job right away
Although she made a sizable profit on her first flip, Desiree didn’t quit her medical assistant job right away. Instead, she kept building her skills for several years while also working full time.
“I came home, made dinner, got my children all set for bed… and then I went to the [garage] and started working on the vehicles,” she says. “Sometimes it lasts until 2-3 in the morning and then I get right back up at 6am and go to work.”
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Launching a business as a side hustle — dipping your toes, instead of diving in headfirst — is a smart, low-risk way to test the waters. And it’s more common than ever: nearly 52% of workers now report earning extra income from a side hustle, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Like Hill, if your side hustle starts to gain immense traction, you could consider leaving your job. But if it doesn’t, you could still benefit from the additional income.
Build an online presence
Hill says she initially started sharing her journey online just to track her progress, but it quickly gained more traction than she anticipated. Today, her 120,000 TikTok followers have become a major source of new customers.
In today’s economy, using digital marketing and social media as part of your business strategy is absolutely essential. Nearly 48% of consumers surveyed by Salesforce said they prefer using social platforms to learn about small businesses. With that in mind, spending some time and money to build up even a modest social presence could help your DIY business immensely and help fuel your side hustle’s future growth.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
