Side Hustle School Ep. 3259 - STORY: Accountant Earns Six-Figures Selling Spreadsheets to Etsy Sellers
Dec 3, 2025
After feeling burnt out as a CPA, Janet LeBlanc shifted gears to launch a successful Etsy shop. She faced new challenges as a parent, leading her to pivot towards creating spreadsheets for fellow Etsy sellers. Her digital products quickly gained traction, earning her over $10,000 in the first year and eventually surpassing her CPA salary. Now on track for six-figure earnings, Janet is exploring future ventures like courses and live events, showcasing the power of blending skills for a profitable side hustle.
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From Burnout CPA To Six-Figure Seller
- Janet LeBlanc left a draining CPA role and started an Etsy shop selling jewelry and later dropshipped goods.
- She ultimately created and sold accounting spreadsheets for Etsy sellers and grew Paper and Spark to six figures, enabling her husband to quit his job.
Build A Simple Digital Product And Market It
- Create digital products that solve a clear pain and sell them where your customers already search, like Etsy.
- Pair the product with tutorials and basic marketing (Facebook groups, blog posts, Pinterest) to scale traffic and sales.
Start Lean And Use Content To Drive Sales
- Start with minimal startup costs and iterate: simple hosting, a theme, and basic video editing sufficed for Janet.
- Use content (answers in groups, blog posts, Pinterest) to convert organic search into consistent sales.