Man turns his side hustle into $40,000 a month remote business, and it all started with a free favour
When Indianapolis-based attorney Derrick Morgan Jr. helped his cousin with a trademark during the pandemic, he reignited a forgotten skill. What began as a pro bono side gig turned into a thriving remote business. (Image: LinkedIn/ .)
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
A side hustle that took off
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
A business built on freedom and flexibility
When the world shut down in early 2020, so did the courtrooms—and for 34-year-old Derrick Morgan Jr. , a junior attorney in Indianapolis, that meant the paychecks slowed too. Contingency-based legal work depends on active court schedules, and with hearings postponed and dockets frozen, Morgan was staring down uncertainty. Then came an unexpected call from his cousin, who needed help filing a trademark for a new architecture firm.'I was like, 'Alright, sure, I'll help you. I haven't done it in a while. This will be pro bono, we'll figure it out,'' Morgan recalled in an interview with CNBC Make It. But as he dove back into intellectual property law , something clicked. 'It was like riding a bike — got right back into it.'That moment sparked an idea. What if he could help other small business owners navigate the complicated world of trademarks? What if he could do it remotely—and independently?Listing his services on Fiverr , a freelance platform, Morgan offered affordable trademark assistance at a time when thousands of entrepreneurs were launching side hustles of their own. His first month earned him just $180—enough to pay his phone bill—but it was the beginning of something bigger. Within three months, he was earning $5,000. By month four, it had doubled to $10,000.What resonated with clients wasn't just his legal expertise—it was his approachable, relatable style. 'A lot of these prospective clients, they're first-time business owners,' Morgan explained. 'They've never dealt with a big fancy attorney who's going to be charging them hundreds of dollars to confuse them. I get a lot of clients because I'm approachable and I meet them where they are.'By early 2021, Morgan had reduced his hours at the law firm and was quietly scaling his freelance business. A few months later, he left the traditional path altogether to focus full time on what had started as a modest side hustle.Today, Morgan's trademark filing business is projected to bring in nearly half a million dollars this year—over $40,000 each month. With help from a paralegal and an AI assistant, he manages his growing clientele while maintaining affordable service rates. He typically charges between $600 and $800 per trademark filing.But the real success, according to Morgan, lies in the freedom his business gives him. Now splitting his time between Dallas and a vibrant neighborhood in Mexico City, he enjoys the flexibility to work when and how he chooses. 'Being able to do what I want, when I want,' he says, 'that's the goal.'Lower living costs in Mexico City have allowed him to invest 40% of his income with the aim of achieving financial independence by 45. He's already visited more than 60 countries and sees his business not just as a source of income—but as a passport to the life he's always envisioned.What began as a favor to a cousin during a pandemic has grown into a remote business rooted in purpose, service, and personal freedom. For Morgan, it's not just about building wealth—it's about reclaiming control over time and life.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
a minute ago
- India.com
Meet Nikhil Ravishankar, who is now set to lead Air New Zealand as..., he once worked as...
Meet Nikhil Ravishankar, who is now set to lead Air New Zealand as..., he once worked as... Air New Zealand has announced that Nikhil Ravishankar will be the company's next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Nikhil is currently the airline's Chief Digital Officer, and he will take over the CEO role from Greg Foran on October 20. Greg Foran had earlier announced in March that he would be stepping down from the position. Ravishankar has been with the airline for nearly five years, during which he has overseen major advancements in digital infrastructure, customer experience, and loyalty systems. Who is Nikhil Ravishankar? Nikhil joined Air New Zealand in September 2021 as the Chief Digital Officer, where he has been leading the airline's digital and technology efforts. Before this, he worked as the Chief Digital Officer at Vector New Zealand, a major utilities and energy company. He joined Vector in 2017 and played a key role in managing their digital and IT strategies. He has also worked with Hector Telecom New Zealand in the past. Nikhil holds a Science degree as well as a Commerce degree with Honours in Computer Science from the University of Auckland. Apart from his corporate role, Nikhil is also involved in several community and advisory groups: He is an advisor and mentor in the Strategic CIO Programme at the University of Auckland. He is part of the AUT Influencer Network. He sits on the board of New Zealand Asian Leaders. He is also on the advisory committee of the Auckland Blues Foundation. Why Nikhil Ravishankar's appointment as CEO is important for Air New Zealand Nikhil Ravishankar has been appointed CEO of Air New Zealand at a very crucial time. The airline is still recovering from the heavy losses it suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, which deeply affected the global aviation industry. Nikhil has already played a key role in digitally transforming the airline during his time as Chief Digital Officer. With his strong understanding of technology and innovation, his appointment as CEO could act like a booster for the company's growth and stability. Before this, he was a Managing Director at Accenture in Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand and held technology strategy and transformation leadership roles at Telecom New Zealand (Spark). About Air New Zealand Air New Zealand is the flag carrier of New Zealand and operates from major hubs like Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. The airline connects to around 50 destinations. It plays a major role in providing direct flights from the U.S. to New Zealand, including cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Honolulu, and New York. The airline is also a member of the Star Alliance, one of the world's largest global airline networks, which helps expand its reach and improve connectivity for passengers. With Nikhil leading the airline, Air New Zealand is hoping to move forward strongly in the post-pandemic world.
India Today
a minute ago
- India Today
From dual incomes to debt: The silent struggle of parents paying private school fees
On a rainy Thursday morning in Gurugram, Neha and Aditya Kapoor weren't preparing for a client pitch or quarterly review they were scrambling to upload documents, pay a 1.25 lakh term fee, and arrange pickup from a robotics class their four-year-old had after school. Both working professionals, Aditya in finance and Neha in HR they considered themselves financially stable. But when their son got into a reputed private school, the numbers told a different weren't worried about the admission interview. We were worried about the fee circular,' Neha says. 'The annual fees were more than what I paid for my entire MBA.'What followed was a drastic shift , not in careers, but in lifestyle, savings, priorities, and even parenting roles. Mornings became a relay race of Zoom meetings and school drop-offs. Weekends were for managing school apps, activity registrations, and paying for 'extras' like smart labs and field trips. 'We're both still working,' Aditya adds, 'but it feels like one of us works just to pay school fees, while the other works to keep the house running.'This is the new reality for many Indian families where education isn't just a necessity but a second full-time commitment, with emotional and financial demands that go far beyond the classroom. This isn't an outlier. It's the reality for millions of middle-class Indian families navigating an increasingly unaffordable private schooling ecosystem one where aspirations meet hard math, and where 'education' is no longer a public good, but a lifestyle DOESN'T LIE: THE SOARING PRICE OF SCHOOLINGA 2024 report by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) revealed that urban private unaided school fees have increased by over 169% in the last decade, far outpacing inflation and salary growth.A middle-class family in metros spends between 1.5 to 5 lakh per year per child on tuition, uniforms, transportation, and "miscellaneous charges".In comparison, government schools cost as little as 3,000–10,000 per year—but remain under-enrolled due to concerns around infrastructure and quality."MY PROMOTION WENT ON HOLD JUST TO BE AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOL INTERVIEWS."Chennai-based software engineer Nivedita Rao faced a dilemma when her daughter was shortlisted by three high-end private schools , all with differing dates for admission interviews, parent orientations, and fee payments.'Each process demanded both parents to be physically present, sometimes during work hours,' says Nivedita. 'I had to decline a promotion because travel and weekend work were no longer possible.'Their combined income was healthy, but the couple soon realized that 'school readiness' meant lifestyle re-engineering. 'We stopped our EMIs for a second car and cancelled our Kerala trip. That money went to the school's development fee, 1 lakh, non-refundable.'THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE: ARE THERE ANY FEE CAPS?India's education system, particularly in the private unaided school sector, operates in a regulatory grey Fee Regulation Acts (like in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Rajasthan) empower governments to cap fee hikes to 10–15% over three years but enforcement is patchy at Right to Education Act (RTE), 2009, mandates 25% free seats in private schools for children from economically weaker sections, but middle-income families, neither poor nor rich—are left out.A 2023 Supreme Court judgment upheld states' power to regulate fees but emphasised that schools must maintain transparency and cannot charge arbitrary levies like 'building donations' without rules are there,' says lawyer Shyam Dutt Mishra. 'But the implementation is weak, and schools cleverly label charges to bypass scrutiny—calling it 'development fund', 'infrastructure cost', or even 'tech enhancement fee'.'WHAT ARE OTHER COUNTRIES DOING?Let's look at how India compares globally when it comes to basic education affordability: 'India's middle class is essentially paying Scandinavian-level fees for Southeast Asian-level service quality,' quips Delhi-based economist Raghav Bhatia.'WE MOVED CITIES, FOR THE SAME SYLLABUS, BUT HALF THE PRICE.'Vikram and Poonam Sharma, originally from Pune, shifted to Nashik when their son reached Class 1. 'The school in Pune was asking for 4.2 lakh a year. In Nashik, the same board CBSE offered quality education for 1.2 lakh,' says Vikram. 'We both got hybrid jobs. Our quality of life improved, and we stopped living paycheck to paycheck.'advertisementSchool-related migration is a growing but silent trend parents opting for Tier 2 cities to beat the metro-school inflation EMOTIONAL COST OF CHASING 'THE BEST'Beyond the financial toll, there's an emotional one.'Every weekend was spent prepping for school interviews, filling forms, downloading admission checklists,' recalls Neha Kapoor. 'By the time our son actually got in, we were exhausted—mentally and financially.' The pressure to 'get it right from the start' is immense. Parents often conflate school names with future success, leading to decision-making that's driven by fear more than CAN BE DONE?Experts suggest a multi-pronged approach:Better regulation and real-time audit of private school fee public schools to retain middle-class faith in transparency in donation, capitation, and admission collectives advocating for school-wise accountability and state-wide regulation.'India doesn't lack laws—it lacks implementation and political will,' says activist Abha Saxena. 'Until schools fear consequences, families will continue paying the price.'advertisementIT'S NOT JUST EDUCATION, IT'S AN INVESTMENT WITH NO GUARANTEEFor India's aspirational class, schooling has morphed into a high-stakes investment—one that comes with no sure-shot ROI but still demands sacrifices, lifestyle changes, and emotional strain.'We used to dream of taking our child to Disneyland,' says Neha. 'Now, if we can afford the next academic term without borrowing, that'll feel like a holiday.'- Ends
Indian Express
a minute ago
- Indian Express
‘Have we tried increasing revenue?': Intern's first-day email stuns CEO, reignites debate on Gen Z work culture
An unexpected email from a new intern on his first day has the Internet laughing and cringing. The message, shared by Roshan Patel, CEO of US-based Arrow Payments, has gone viral after he posted a screenshot on X with the caption: 'We hired a college intern. Today's his first day. Here's what he just sent me.' In the now-widely circulated email, the intern said, 'Hey, I had a quick idea for the company, sorry if this was already brought up, but have we tried increasing revenue?' — a suggestion so vague and broad that it left people both amused and bewildered. We hired a college intern. Today's his first day. Here's what he just sent me. — Roshan Patel (@roshanpateI) July 28, 2025 Social media users wasted no time jumping into the conversation. One said, 'Firing him would increase the revenue.' Another user added a touch of optimism, saying, 'At least he is somewhat engaged and eager. Can't have it all can you?' A third user commented, 'Next email… sorry if someone has already brought this up but… have you tried lowering your expenses?' Another X user said, 'You would be surprised how many companies have not, in fact, thought of doing that.' Also Read: Indian moonlighter Soham Parekh reacts to hiring freeze at TCS: 'Outwork the system' The incident has reignited an ongoing debate around Gen Z in the workplace, especially their approach to communication and professional norms. A few months ago, writer Harnidh Kaur sparked a conversation on X when she pointed out a recurring concern among her peers. 'They're smart and good at their jobs, but they're often rude, difficult to work with, and struggle with basic workplace etiquette. Honestly, it's hard to defend sometimes,' she wrote, echoing the growing discomfort many employers feel.
