When two Americans faced mountains of red tape trying to move to Canada, they turned their struggle into a bestselling guide that now earns them $500 a month.
Challenge
In 2015, Cori and her wife Casey were ready for a change. They loved their life in Brooklyn, but their hearts were set on a fresh start in Canada. The problem? Immigration paperwork.
Every step of the process was tangled in confusing jargon, endless checklists, and contradictory advice. Hiring an immigration lawyer would cost thousands—money they didn’t have after budgeting for the move itself. All Cori wanted was a clear, step-by-step guide that made sense. But after days of searching online, she realized something shocking: no such guide existed.
Action
So the couple decided to create their own.
Each night after work, Cori and Casey pored over every government document they could find. They collected information from official sources, compared notes, and slowly pieced together the puzzle of how to immigrate legally and efficiently. It wasn’t easy—most of the material was written in dense “legalese” that felt like decoding a foreign language. But by staying patient and methodical, they finally succeeded.
When they arrived in Canada, they realized they’d accumulated hundreds of hours of research—essentially a roadmap that could save others from the same frustration. They started sharing their story and practical tips on their travel blog, 15 Miles, and that single post quickly became their most-read article.
Seeing the response, Cori had an idea. “If we wished this book existed, maybe others do too.” Drawing from her background in publishing and design, she expanded their notes into a complete eBook — a simple, straightforward guide to moving to Canada without a lawyer.
The timing couldn’t have been better. When they released it in late 2016, political tensions in the U.S. had many people exploring relocation options. Sales began rolling in almost immediately — even on election night.
Result
Their eBook quickly became a reliable side income, bringing in about $500 a month with zero ongoing effort. Readers appreciated its clarity and honesty, often emailing to thank Cori and Casey for helping them avoid costly mistakes.
While the couple kept their full-time jobs — Cori managing a nonprofit and Casey working as a business analyst — their book continued to help others make the move north. The extra income covered travel expenses and funded their blog, allowing them to keep writing and exploring new projects.
Lesson
Cori and Casey’s story proves that expertise doesn’t always come from formal training — sometimes it’s earned through persistence and lived experience. By turning their personal challenge into a solution for others, they built something both useful and profitable.
Their journey is a reminder that your struggles might just be someone else’s shortcut. When you take the time to document what you’ve learned, you don’t just solve your own problem—you open the door for others to follow.
Inspired by a true story originally featured on Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau. This rewritten version is independently produced and fully original.