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TLDR ⚡

  • Rake the neighbors' leaves for $100 a yard

  • Sell ten things from your closet for about $200

  • Pet sit overnight and keep $40 a night

  • Fix resumes from home for $40 each

  • Rent the spare room for $900 a month

What is 80/20? Created by LOGO.com, every issue shares side hustle ideas you can start this week, where a small effort gets you 80% of the result and you only do the 20% that matters.

RAKE THE LEAVES 🍂

The Fall Leaf Raker

Every October the yards on your street fill up with leaves, and plenty of neighbors would rather pay than spend a Saturday with a rake. Angi puts the average professional leaf removal job at $379, with most homeowners paying between $191 and $592.

The 80%: You don't need a crew or a truck. A rake, a tarp, and a box of yard bags cover a small yard. Charge $100 for a small front and back yard, do three on a weekend, and that's about $300. Leaves keep falling for weeks, so a happy customer often books you two or three times in one season.

Illustration of a person raking a pile of leaves in front of a small house

YOUR 20% 🎯

1. Do your own yard first. Take a before and after photo. That pair of photos is all the proof a neighbor needs.

2. Post one simple price. Share the photos on Nextdoor and local Facebook groups with a flat price for a small yard.

3. Book the next visit. Before you leave, offer a second clean up in two or three weeks while the trees are still dropping.

Total time: About 2 to 3 hours per small yard.

CLEAR THE CLOSET 👚

The Closet Cleaner

Most closets have a few things that still have the tags on or haven't been worn in a year. On Poshmark you list them from your phone, and the fee is 20 percent on sales of $15 or more, or a flat $2.95 below that. Poshmark sends the buyer a prepaid label.

The 80%: The clothes are already paid for and sitting there. Sell a $40 jacket and you keep $32. Ten items at around $25 each comes to about $200 after fees, and you get the closet space back too. Brand name coats and boots sell best as the weather turns cold.

Illustration of a sweater being photographed with a phone in front of an open closet

YOUR 20% 🎯

1. Pull ten items. Choose clean things in good shape, starting with coats, boots, and anything with a known brand.

2. Shoot in daylight. Lay each piece flat or hang it on a door, and add a close up of the tag and size.

3. Price off sold listings. Search the same brand and filter by sold to see what people actually paid, then list just under that.

Total time: About 5 minutes per listing, plus a trip to drop off each sale.

WATCH THE PETS 🐶

The Overnight Pet Sitter

When families travel, someone has to feed the cat and walk the dog. On Rover you set your own rates for house sitting and boarding, and Rover keeps a 20 percent service fee in most of the US.

The 80%: You get paid to spend the night with a dog, and much of the time is just being there. At $50 a night you keep $40, so a four night trip is $160. Holiday weekends book up early, and families who trust you tend to book you again every time they travel.

Illustration of a pet sitter filling bowls for a dog and cat on a sofa at night

YOUR 20% 🎯

1. Build a friendly profile. Add a photo with an animal, any pets you've cared for, and say yes to the background check.

2. Start with people you know. Offer your first stays to friends and neighbors, and ask each one for a review.

3. Send photos every day. A quick photo of a happy dog is the reason owners come back to you.

Total time: Overnights plus about 30 minutes for each walk and feeding.

FIX THE RESUMES 📄

The Resume Fixer

If you're good with words, plenty of people need help making one page sound like them at their best. On Fiverr you set your own price for a resume rewrite, and Fiverr keeps 20 percent of each order.

The 80%: You're fixing something that already exists, not writing from scratch. Charge $50 for a one page rewrite and you keep $40, so two orders a week is about $320 a month. Add a matching cover letter for $25 more and many buyers will say yes.

Illustration of a laptop showing a one page document being edited

YOUR 20% 🎯

1. Fix three for free. Rewrite resumes for friends and keep the before and after as your samples, with their permission.

2. Offer one clear package. One page rewrite, one round of changes, delivered in three days. Simple sells.

3. Ask about the job they want. Ten minutes on what they're applying for makes every line stronger.

Total time: About 1 hour per resume.

RENT THE SPARE ROOM 🛏️

The Spare Room Host

Traveling nurses and other workers on short contracts need a furnished room for a few months at a time. Furnished Finder lets you list a room for a $199 a year listing fee, and it takes no commission on the rent.

The 80%: The room is already there, and one tenant can stay for three months. Rent it for $900 a month and a single three month stay brings in $2,700, more than ten times the yearly listing fee. Check your lease, your local rules, and your insurance first.

Illustration of a furnished spare bedroom with a suitcase waiting at the door

YOUR 20% 🎯

1. Set up the basics. A bed, a desk, good Wi Fi, a lock on the door, and clean sheets are what these guests look for.

2. Photograph it in daylight. Show the room, the bathroom, the kitchen, and the parking.

3. Talk before you say yes. A short video call and a simple written agreement protect you both.

Total time: About a weekend to set up, then a few minutes a week.