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☆ Getting laid off from PayPal was a blessing in disguise that enabled me to turn my online side hustle into a full-time business
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

She started the business as a side hustle but took it full time when she was laid off in February. She described how she scaled the business after losing her job and offered advice for entrepreneurs. El-Amin was laid off in February from her role as a technical product manager at PayPal, alongside roughly 7% of the company's workforce. Her startup, called Flynanced, is a career-development and wealth-building platform for women who work 9-to-5 jobs. Finding product-market fit gave me options to growWhen I started Flynanced in 2020, I didn't think I was going to become an entrepreneur.

☆ 5 businesses you can start from home with little or no money
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Now is the time to start a business from home. Morsa Images/Getty ImagesMany people are looking to start businesses or side hustles to earn additional income and supplement inflated costs or replace jobs they lost. However, due to the sometimes lonely, stressful, and uncertain nature of being a founder, focusing on mental health, productivity, and goals are crucial while building your new business, remote founders told Insider. For instance, having a designated work area can help achieve some separation between work and home, one entrepreneur said. From tapping into the social-media craze with user-generated content to finding business-to-business clients through freelancing, here are five of the easiest businesses to start from home, and founders' advice on how to best manage life as a remote entrepreneur.

☆ I'm a drag queen in Tennessee and scared the new law banning cabaret performances will hurt the drag community and leave me without a steady income
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Bella DuBalle, a Memphis-based drag queen, said this law will hurt both her and small businesses. DuBalle has been doing drag for a decade and working as a full-time drag queen in nightclubs and other venues for three years. However, a new law in Tennessee that takes effect on April 1 threatens her business and that of fellow drag performers in the community. DuBalle believes the law will harm the income and livelihoods of both drag performances and the local businesses that feature them. Building a full-time career took perseveranceBella DuBalle has been a full-time drag queen for three years.

☆ Gen Z job seekers are rattling older managers by asking about work-life balance in the first interview
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Alexandra York | Josée Rose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Many Gen Z job seekers are asking about work-life balance during interviews. There wasn't a big focus on work-life balance when many of today's managers started working more than a decade ago. Gen Zers need to know the industry before asking about work-life balanceSome industries invite questions of work-life balance, according to Gen Zers and hiring managers who spoke with Insider. "If you were to directly ask, 'Can you describe the work-life balance for analysts at your firm?' Mary Cooney, the founder of the professional-development platform Generation IQ, said it's time to move on from this stigma of work-life balance.

☆ Macy's CEO to step down. Here's what the future of the brand looks like and the strategy to engage younger consumers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette will retire in February, the company announced on Wednesday. Tony Spring will take his place and continue shifting Macy's strategy based on consumer changes. Here's how Macy's "Polaris Strategy" is preparing the brand for the future. A shift in supply chain proceduresJeff Gennette spoke about the future of Macy's. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty ImagesThe supply chain has been a pain point for many businesses over the last three years.

☆ Blogs are a low-lift but high-reward tool for starting your own business. Two founders share tips for how to use blogs to stand out and prove credibility.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

They share best practices for search-engine optimization and choosing the right blog platform. "The blog is the thing that supports your mission, that continues to prove your credibility and value to people," Dunlap said. Dunlap and Curtis shared their tips for launching a blog, including leveraging search-engine optimization and choosing the right platform. Dunlap said SEO should play into every aspect of a blog post, including the browser title, post title, URL, blog copy, and image captions. "If a brand is paying me for a social-media post, I offer a sponsored blog post for an extra amount," she said.

☆ I started my online marketing business with just $22. Here's how I control costs and keep things flexible.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

For her second business, Mallory Rowan wanted a low-cost startup that wouldn't lead to burnout. She built a marketing company, called Rowan Marketing, and initially spent $22 to launch it. Rowan closed the apparel business and took time off before launching her next venture, Rowan Marketing. Rowan shared her steps to launching and scaling an online business with low startup costs. Keep your business lean for as long as possibleRowan suggests keeping your business as lean as possible at all stages.

☆ My small business banked at SVB and almost lost $300,000. I worry some banks will never take care of Black of women founders.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Gilbert revealed how other founders of color can protect themselves amid banking uncertainty. Gilbert, who has raised $1.3 million in pre-seed VC, revealed how other founders can protect themselves amid banking uncertainty. Many of the women who were impacted by SVB, specifically the Brown women, noticed how quickly our government reacted. Founders need to find opportunities that will serve themIt's important that founders find opportunities that will protect them along the way. When SVB closed, I was pushed toward FWB by my investors as the bank opened floods of accounts for other women founders and founders of color.

Lisa Andrea launched a financial blog in 2021 and consistently books $8,000 in monthly revenue. Andrea outlines 9 of the easiest ways to earn passive income, including resale and blogging. She took her experience building passive income streams and teaching herself the fundamentals of financial literacy to launch the financial-advice blog The Financial Cookbook in February 2021. Andrea shared her own financial strategy, including the nine methods of passive income she encourages everyone to try. Julia CheskyAndrea said companies typically contact her about brand partnerships, but she encourages other entrepreneurs to be more proactive when looking for passive income avenues.

☆ Two millennial founders share how they invest in real estate for financial stability while building their own businesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Real-estate investments can help business owners find financial stability if done correctly. Two founders revealed how they invest in real estate for extra income. Rowan didn't go on a homebuying spree, but is slowing adding to her real-estate investments. It's OK to start smallRowan said her slow approach to real-estate investing is attractive to millennials, who have a lower rate of homeownership compared to previous generations. "If you're investing $100, you're not going to make a huge return, but you're still going to make the same percentage as the person that invested $100,000," she previously told Insider.

☆ Want to start a side hustle and earn extra money? Here's how to launch a lucrative business and bring in six figures.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Like many people during the pandemic, Davis reallocated the time she'd typically spent commuting home to building her side hustle. Davis' handbag company netted $14,000 in sales in its first four months in business, which Insider verified with documentation. Another entrepreneur, Lisa Andrea, regularly books $8,000 in revenue a month from her side hustle, The Financial Cookbook, which Insider also verified with documentation. Andrea started The Financial Cookbook, an online financial-coaching company, to earn extra income and try entrepreneurship part time before taking the plunge. Leveraging expertise, as Andrea did with financial coaching, is one way entrepreneurs can start a side hustle and balance risk versus reward.

☆ How a college student uses TikTok to scale her photography side hustle with passive income and find clients she's excited about
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Cheung booked five figures in revenue last year, some of which came from passive income streams. She explains how she leveraged TikTok to find clients and earns passive income from her side hustle. TikTok changed my business trajectoryThe majority of my clients found me on TikTok. It's also been great for generating customers in other creative fields because many of them use TikTok for work, too. CheungI expanded my services to include passive income streamsEarlier in the pandemic, I also developed my own "presets."

☆ The 4-day workweek may not be the answer to workplace productivity and flexibility
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The four-day workweek was also discussed in a panel at the World Economic Forum earlier this year. "We have had a static, for many countries, five-day week for about a century," Grant said Thursday at his panel discussion called "The Four-Day Week." While a four-day workweek seems like an obvious answer, there are some key factors to consider before making the change, they agreed. But there are productivity benefits to giving employees more time to invest in themselves, which could come through the four-day workweek or other rescheduling methods. Flexibility through reorganizationWhether it be a four-day workweek or another method of schedule restructuring, a focus on both flexibility and productivity also benefits companies, van 't Noordende said.

☆ 8 free online Coursera classes to take if you want to work in AI, from experts at Amazon, Meta, and others
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

There's a growing need for artificial-intelligence experts in the workplace. Trevor Williams/Getty ImagesWith the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence and its capabilities — from writing and refusing to write cover letters to giving business advice — there's a growing need for AI experts in the workplace. To help workers learn and improve their skills in AI, Insider compiled a list of eight free Coursera classes on the subject. These courses offer education and can help students find a job in the field. Several are highly rated on the platform, and the ones listed without ratings were created by prominent firms and educational institutions.

☆ I turned my consultancy side hustle into a full-time business and book using these two strategies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ashley Stoyanov Ojeda started her consulting business after seeing a hole in Latina representation. "There was this need for a resource, a guide for Latina entrepreneurs," Stoyanov Ojeda told Insider. The event series spanned 16 cities and comprised more than 10,000 community members, Stoyanov Ojeda said. Stoyanov Ojeda shared her experience building her business and why diversifying her offerings and writing a book helped establish her as an expert. Diversified services help broaden my businessStoyanov Ojeda's consulting business has multiple branches courtesy of Stoyanov OjedaMy consulting work has gone through various stages.

☆ How we took our user-generated-content marketing agency from a side hustle to a business that regularly books 5 figures in monthly revenue
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Lauren Mabra and Lauren Ferry, both 25, are the cofounders of a social marketing agency. The business makes user-generated-content-style videos and books five figures in monthly revenue. The two friends discovered user-generated content, or UGC, a marketing tactic where brands hire unaffiliated creators to film and produce social-media content. Mabra said the business specializes in UGC-style videos that feel organic but are still created for marketing purposes. The two have hired more than 40 creators to make content and regularly book five figures in monthly revenue, documents viewed by Insider show.

☆ I average $5,000 in monthly revenue creating user-generated content for small businesses. Here's how I got my start and scaled my business.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Giselle González started creating user-generated content in March 2022. She didn't have a social-media following, but she started creating content based on brands she loved. Now she earns thousands a month by creating UGC for beauty-and-wellness brands on social media. "When I realized that I could start creating content for brands without having a huge following, without being an influencer, I started digging," González said. Because I do a lot of outreach on LinkedIn, my profile has to be professional and constantly updated with my latest UGC work.

☆ Gen Z shares 5 red flags that could mean an employer doesn't care about work-life balance
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some Gen Zers fear that asking about work-life balance in interviews could harm their job prospects. Gen Zers shared their warning signs when job hunting, including unclear goals and a "bonus day." Preston Jacobson, a 24-year-old working in retail management, said he left his job in February because it lacked a proper work-life balance. "Instead of just asking folks about the work-life balance, I would ask employees what they do outside of work," he said. Do you have something to share about navigating a work-life balance as a member of Gen Z, as a millennial, or as a part of another generation?

☆ I raised $9.75 million for my health and wellness company as a Black female founder. Here's how I did it and found the right investors.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The duo has raised $9.75 million in VC, a major accomplishment for two Black female entrepreneurs. As of 2022, only a few hundred Black or Latina women founders have raised $1 million or more in VC. White men see white women in their homes and they see Black men in the locker room, but they don't see Black women as often. Feeling seen by our women investors and investors of color has made a huge difference. There are tons of Black women founders in healthcare.

☆ I got laid off in December and took my side hustle full time. Here's my advice for anyone looking to build a business after a job loss.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ayomi Samaraweera was laid off in December and is now focused on her creator-economy startup. Samaraweera revealed her experience building a business after being laid off. Prior to being laid off, I did the necessary work to set myself up for success as a founder. During my day job, I created a robust network of creators, startup founders, and social-media experts to best understand the industry. I keep that in mind when I'm pitching the business to people including potential clients and investors.

☆ Fiverr or Upwork: When freelancers should use one over the other
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Alexandra York | Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

While their expertise may vary, many freelancers rely on the platforms Fiverr and Upwork to advertise their services, find clients, and grow their businesses. In his experience, Upwork clients are CEOs, startup founders, and established companies, while Fiverr clients tend to be smaller business owners or general individuals. That means freelancers who use Upwork can pursue fewer projects at a time while Fiverr freelancers typically complete more shorter-term gigs to earn the same amount of income. Payment terms and protection vary between platformsFisher's biggest gripe about Fiverr is that it pays freelancers in up to 14 days while Upwork pays freelancers in up to 10 days. "Whether it's Fiverr, Upwork, or any of the other platforms out there, you need to build your profile," she said.

☆ Why Gen Zers are asking about work-life balance during job interviews
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Gen Zers are prioritizing jobs where they can make a difference without burning themselves out. And many Gen Zers — myself included — have prioritized work-life balance. To find the right match, some in Gen Z ask hiring managers in interviews whether the company encourages work-life balance. Five Gen Zers shared how they're broaching work-life balance without risking their candidacy or feeding into the stereotype that they're lazy. "Gen Z is willing to have the difficult but essential conversations before they commit to a job," Kim said.

☆ I'm the founder of Gen-Z for Change and a freshman at Harvard. Here's how I balance my day so I don't miss out on the college experience while building my non-profit.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Though the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful, it sparked a passion for political engagement that has since turned into a nonprofit called Gen-Z for Change. It says itworks with local, state, and federal organizations to effect policy change on topics including foreign policy, mental health, and climate. For the first year, Kohn-Murphy said, he spent time building the brand and working on a volunteer basis. He built the platform's infrastructure, created a posting schedule, and started to imagine what Gen-Z for Change could be outside of a TikTok account. A day in Kohn-Murphy's life includes attending classes at Harvard, building the business, and trying to have what he described as a typical college experience.

Before 2021, only 93 Black female founders had raised $1 million or more in venture capital. Companies led by Black women typically receive less than 1% of all venture capital funding. Insider is compiling a list of Black female founders who've raised $1 million or more in VC since 2021. If you're a Black female founder who's raised $1 million or more in VC funding this year, please contact Alexandra York at ayork@insider.com. An earlier version of this story misstated the time period in which 93 Black female founders had raised VC funds of $1 million or more.

☆ How a 34-year-old Ukrainian founder created scrappy business opportunities amid the chaos of war
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Alina Kachorovska has kept her business afloat thanks to scrappy opportunities amid the war. She's made boots for Ukrainian soldiers and focused on international expansion to sustain the brand. Kachorovska, which relied heavily on domestic direct-to-consumer sales before the war, felt a major impact from the displacement of Ukrainians. Opportunities during wartimeKachorovska employees worked from the factory to produce boots and shoes amid the war. Kachorovska first dreamed of taking her brand international six months before the war with Russia began, she said.

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