When a broke college student needed a meaningful gift, she picked up a paintbrush — and ended up building a booming pet portrait business that helps pay her way through school.
Challenge
At 21, Sarah M. was juggling college classes, soccer practice, and late-night study sessions at Georgia College and State University. She didn’t have much money, but she did have one constant source of joy — her cat, Cooper, a chubby, cross-eyed Siamese who kept her company through the chaos.
When her anniversary rolled around, Sarah wanted to surprise her boyfriend with something special. But with an empty wallet, she couldn’t afford anything expensive. That’s when inspiration struck. Her boyfriend adored his tabby cat, Merlin, so Sarah decided to paint a watercolor portrait of him as a gift.
The painting turned out better than she expected — and when she shared it online, everything changed.
Action
Sarah posted a photo of the portrait on her college’s Facebook marketplace page, where students typically sell used books and furniture. She figured a few people might like it. Instead, she was flooded with messages.
Within days, she had dozens of requests for pet portraits — cats, dogs, rabbits, even one parrot. By Christmas, she had completed 100 paintings, charging just $15 each, and earning nearly $1,500 in extra income.
Her startup costs were laughably small: a $7 watercolor set and a $12 pack of paper. But her effort was massive. She painted late into the night, learning as she went and improving with every brushstroke.
After realizing there was real demand, Sarah launched her brand, Sarah Paints Pets, and began taking things more seriously. She created Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest accounts to showcase her work, and even built a website using Wix for about $100 a year. Later, she opened an Etsy shop — inspired, funnily enough, by listening to Side Hustle School.
As her skills and audience grew, so did her prices. She raised her rates to $30–$75 per portrait, depending on the size, and added small touches that made her work stand out — like including a hand-painted thank-you card with every order.
She also started using her marketing background to track analytics, run giveaways, and post at the best times for engagement. Slowly, her small college side hustle began to take shape as a real business.
Result
In less than a year, Sarah had painted over 300 pets and earned around $5,000. Her costs stayed low — about $30 a month in supplies — and her customer base kept growing.
Balancing the business with college life wasn’t easy. Between painting, packaging, answering emails, and managing social media, she often worked 20 hours a week. But she loved it. Each new order was another connection with fellow pet lovers who wanted to celebrate their furry friends.
Now, Sarah plans to expand her offerings with custom stickers, pillows, mugs, and magnets featuring her artwork. Her goal? To save $10,000 before graduation while keeping her business as a fun, flexible creative outlet.
Though she doesn’t plan to make painting her full-time career, she’s proud that her side hustle gives her both financial freedom and artistic satisfaction. As she says, “It’s nice to know my art can make people — and their pets — happy.”
Lesson
Sarah’s story shows how creativity, combined with initiative, can turn a simple idea into something sustainable. She didn’t wait for the “perfect time” or “perfect product” — she just started.
Her success also offers an important lesson about pricing: start low to prove demand, then raise your rates once you’ve earned it. People will gladly pay more for quality and care — especially when it’s personal.
Sometimes, all it takes is one heartfelt gift, one Facebook post, and a little hustle to turn your passion into profit.
Inspired by a true story originally featured on Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau. This rewritten version is independently produced and fully original.