If you have been curious about how to start a UGC business, you are not alone. Brands are increasingly looking for authentic content from real people, and you do not need a large following to get started. In this guide, I share the steps I took to begin creating user generated content, build a portfolio, pitch brands, and land my first collaborations.

In college, I struggled to find steady work and quickly realized one job would not be enough. From working at the YMCA to becoming a resident advisor, selling clothes online, taking graduation photos, and eventually building a thriving UGC business, I learned how to create multiple income streams during uncertain seasons. This is the honest story of how I made side money in college and beyond and the lessons that shaped my financial independence.