Most side hustles fail because they chase trends, not problems. This guide shows you how to build a solution-first hustle that businesses actually need—and will pay for. You’ll learn how to use sourcing matrices, B2B templates, and smart SaaS bundles to turn pain into profit.
Why Most Side Hustles Miss the Mark
You’ve probably seen dozens of side hustle ideas floating around—dropshipping, digital products, coaching, content creation. But most of them ignore one thing: real business pain. That’s why they fizzle out. If you want to build something that lasts and actually gets you paid, you need to solve problems that businesses are already struggling with.
Let’s break this down.
Businesses aren’t short on tools. They’re short on clarity. They’re overwhelmed by:
- Too many disconnected platforms
- Poor documentation and onboarding
- Repetitive tasks that eat into productive hours
- Lack of visibility across teams and workflows
Imagine a small agency trying to onboard new clients. They’re using Google Docs, Slack, email, and a few spreadsheets. Every new client means manually copying templates, chasing down missing info, and repeating the same instructions over and over. It’s messy, slow, and error-prone. That’s pain.
Or think about a solo consultant who’s great at what they do but spends hours each week writing proposals, sending follow-ups, and managing leads. They’re not inefficient because they’re lazy—they just don’t have a system.
This is where most side hustlers miss the mark. They build from what they know or what’s trending, not from what businesses are actively losing time and money over.
Here’s a simple comparison to show the difference between trend-chasing and pain-solving:
| Approach | Focus Area | Outcome for You | Outcome for Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trend-chasing | What’s popular right now | Short-term attention | Low relevance |
| Pain-solving | What’s broken or inefficient | Long-term demand and trust | Real operational relief |
If you want to build a side hustle that pays well, you need to flip your thinking:
- Stop asking “What can I sell?”
- Start asking “What’s costing businesses time, money, or clarity—and how can I fix it?”
This shift positions you as a solution provider, not just another creator. And it opens the door to recurring income, referrals, and defensibility.
Now, how do you actually find these pain points?
Here’s what works:
- Join niche LinkedIn groups and read the complaints, not the wins
- Browse Reddit threads in business, consulting, and operations subreddits
- Watch YouTube teardown videos where founders walk through their tech stack—listen for what’s not working
- Ask small business owners what they hate doing every week
You’ll start to notice patterns. Repetitive tasks. Confusing onboarding. Poor documentation. No automation. These are goldmines.
Once you’ve spotted a pain point, your next move is to map it to a solution. Not by building something from scratch—but by curating what already works.
That’s where tools like Notion, Tango, and Zapier come in.
- Notion lets you build sourcing matrices, onboarding templates, and internal playbooks. You can package these as assets and sell them to businesses that need clarity.
- Tango auto-generates SOPs from screen recordings. You click through a process, and Tango builds the documentation for you. Perfect for teams that don’t have time to train.
- Zapier connects apps and automates workflows. You can use it to eliminate repetitive tasks and show businesses how to save hours every week.
Here’s a quick example of how this plays out:
| Business Pain | Tool-Based Solution | Your Role |
|---|---|---|
| Messy client onboarding | Notion templates + Tango SOPs | Curate and deliver clarity |
| Manual lead follow-up | Zapier automation + email sequences | Build and install workflows |
| Poor internal documentation | Tango walkthroughs + Notion wiki | Package and sell the system |
You’re not just recommending tools. You’re solving pain with a system. That’s what businesses pay for.
And because these tools offer affiliate programs, you’re also earning from every signup. But the real win is positioning—you become the person who brings clarity, not just another tool pusher.
When you start from pain, everything else flows: your offer, your content, your monetization. You’re not guessing—you’re responding to real needs. And that’s how you build a side hustle that lasts.
Identifying Real Business Pain (And Why It Pays)
You don’t need to be a business analyst to spot pain. You just need to listen better. Most businesses are leaking time and money in places they don’t even realize. And when you show up with clarity, you become valuable fast.
Start by looking for friction. That’s where the pain lives. You’ll find it in:
- Onboarding processes that take too long
- Teams repeating the same tasks manually every week
- Founders juggling five tools just to send a proposal
- Managers who can’t track what their team is actually doing
Let’s say you talk to a small firm that’s onboarding new hires. They’re using email, Google Drive, and a few scattered PDFs. Every new employee gets a different experience. Some get lost. Some ask the same questions over and over. That’s costing time, morale, and retention.
Or maybe you notice a consultant who’s great at delivery but terrible at follow-up. They forget to send proposals, lose track of leads, and miss out on repeat business. That’s not a skill problem—it’s a system problem.
You can solve these pains without building anything from scratch. You just need to map the pain to a solution using tools that already exist.
Here’s how to do it:
| Business Pain | What You Can Offer | Tool That Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Disorganized onboarding | A repeatable onboarding system | Notion + Tango |
| Missed follow-ups | Automated lead tracking | Zapier + Systeme.io |
| No internal documentation | SOPs and process clarity | Tango + Notion |
| Poor client handoff | Templates and workflows | Notion + Frase |
You’re not selling software. You’re solving a problem. And when you do that well, businesses will pay you to keep doing it.
Position Yourself as a Solution Provider
Once you’ve identified the pain, your job is to become the person who fixes it. Not with vague advice, but with actual systems that work.
Start with a sourcing matrix. This is a simple table that maps business pain to tools, templates, and workflows. You can build it in Notion or Airtable. It doesn’t need to be fancy—it needs to be useful.
Here’s what a basic sourcing matrix might look like:
| Pain Point | Tool Stack | Template or Asset |
|---|---|---|
| Onboarding takes too long | Notion + Tango | Onboarding checklist + SOP |
| Leads fall through the cracks | Zapier + Systeme.io | Lead tracker + email sequence |
| No content strategy | Frase + Notion | SEO brief + content calendar |
You can package this matrix and sell it. Or use it to guide your consulting. Or turn it into a downloadable asset that builds your email list. The point is: you’re giving people clarity.
Use Loom or Tango to record walkthroughs. Show people how to use the tools. Walk them through the templates. This builds trust and positions you as someone who gets it.
You don’t need to be an expert in every tool. You just need to know how to connect the dots. Businesses are busy. They’ll pay for clarity.
Tools That Solve Real Pain (and Pay You Well)
Let’s talk about the tools that actually move the needle—and pay you well through affiliate programs.
Notion You can use Notion to build sourcing matrices, onboarding templates, SOP libraries, and internal wikis. It’s flexible, easy to learn, and businesses love it. You can sell Notion templates, bundle them with walkthroughs, and earn affiliate revenue from workspace upgrades.
Tango Tango lets you record your screen and automatically generate step-by-step guides. It’s perfect for documenting processes, training new hires, or handing off tasks. Businesses that don’t have time to train will love this. You can package Tango guides with your Notion templates and offer a complete system.
Zapier Zapier connects apps and automates workflows. You can use it to eliminate repetitive tasks like sending follow-ups, updating spreadsheets, or moving data between platforms. Businesses will pay you to set up these automations—and you earn affiliate revenue when they sign up.
Frase Frase helps you build SEO-optimized content briefs and knowledge bases. If you’re helping businesses rank better or organize their internal content, this tool is gold. You can use it to create content calendars, strategy docs, and even AI-powered outlines.
Systeme.io Systeme.io is an all-in-one funnel builder, email platform, and course host. It’s simple, powerful, and pays well through affiliate commissions. You can use it to build onboarding flows, lead magnets, and client portals.
These tools aren’t just useful—they’re monetizable. You can earn from the setup, the templates, the walkthroughs, and the affiliate links. That’s four income streams from one pain point.
Blueprinting Your First Offer (Without Building a Product)
You don’t need to build a product to get paid. You need to package clarity.
Start with one pain point. Let’s say it’s “client onboarding for solo consultants.” Build a Notion template that includes:
- A welcome checklist
- A client intake form
- A timeline of deliverables
- A feedback loop
Record a Tango walkthrough showing how to use it. Set up a Zapier automation that sends reminders and updates a tracker.
Now you’ve got a bundle:
- Notion template
- Tango SOP
- Zapier automation
- Loom walkthrough
You can sell this on Gumroad or ThriveCart. Or offer it as a freebie to build your list. Or use it as a lead magnet for consulting.
You’re not selling software. You’re selling clarity, speed, and relief.
How to Launch and Get Paid
Start small. Pick one audience and one pain point. For example:
- Solo consultants who need better onboarding
- Small agencies that want to automate lead follow-up
- Freelancers who need internal documentation
Offer a teardown or audit. Look at their current process. Show them what’s broken. Then offer your bundle as the fix.
Use Loom to record your audit. Use Notion to present your findings. Use Systeme.io to deliver your bundle.
You can charge for the audit, the bundle, or both. And every tool you recommend can earn you affiliate revenue.
You’re not guessing. You’re solving. That’s what gets you paid.
Scaling Your Hustle with Defensibility
Once you’ve launched, it’s time to scale. But don’t chase growth—chase defensibility.
Build a modular content engine:
- Blog posts that rank for pain-based keywords
- Guides that walk through your sourcing matrix
- Videos that show your templates in action
Use SEO tools like Frase or NeuronWriter to find keywords that match real business pain. Write content that solves those pains. Link to your bundles, your walkthroughs, and your affiliate tools.
Create a feedback loop:
- Pain → Solution → Content → Affiliate → Community
You’re not just building a hustle. You’re building a platform.
3 Actionable Takeaways
- Start with business pain, not product ideas. Use sourcing matrices to map problems to solutions.
- Package clarity using Notion, Tango, and Zapier. Don’t build—curate and deliver.
- Monetize through setup fees, templates, walkthroughs, and affiliate links. One pain point, four income streams.
Top 5 FAQs
1. How do I know which business pain to focus on? Talk to real people. Join forums, LinkedIn groups, and communities. Look for complaints, not features.
2. Do I need to be an expert in these tools? No. You need to know how to use them well enough to solve a problem. Most tools are beginner-friendly.
3. Can I do this without a website? Yes. You can start with a Notion page, Gumroad, or Systeme.io. . Build your site later if needed.
4. How do I get people to pay me? Offer clarity. Show them what’s broken. Package the fix. Use audits, walkthroughs, and bundles.
5. What if I don’t have an audience? Start by helping one person. Document the process. Turn it into content. Your audience will grow from your solutions.
Next Steps
- Pick one business pain you understand well. Build a sourcing matrix in Notion that maps it to tools and templates.
- Use Tango to record a walkthrough of your solution. Package it with your Notion board and offer it as a bundle.
- Set up a simple automation in Zapier or Systeme.io that delivers your bundle and follows up with leads.
You don’t need a big launch. You need a clear fix. You don’t need to be everywhere. You need to be useful. You don’t need to build from scratch. You need to connect the dots.
Start with pain. Deliver clarity and helpful solutions. Get paid.