After 10 years of building her career as a medical assistant in Atlanta, Georgia, Desiree Hill felt trapped. Not only was she earning only US$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 US$1,200 truck and teaching herself how to fix it via Google and YouTube — soon became something much bigger. That first flip netted her US$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 US$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.
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 US$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 held onto her medical assistant — for a bit.
Instead of quitting right away, 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.”
Launching a business as a side hustle is a smart, low-risk way to test the waters rather than diving in headfirst. And it’s more common than ever: A 2025 H&R Block survey estimated that nine million Canadians work a side hustle — that’s almost one-third — to earn extra income on top of their regular job.
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, up to 94% of Canadian side-hustlers use digital marketing and social media to promote their business, according to IAB Canada. 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.
Sources
1. CNBC Make It: This mom googled how to repair cars—now her auto shop brings in $440,000 a year by Eric Clark and Ashton Jackson (May 31, 2025)
2. H&R Block: Around a third (30%) of Canadian gig workers didn’t plan to report all gig income this tax season; 71% had change-of-heart upon learning about new rules mandating gig platforms to share users’ earnings with CRA, reveals new H&R Block Canada survey.(March 5, 2025)
3. IAB Canada: Canada’s Creator Economy: From Side Hustle to Structural Force (July 8, 2025)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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