How Luisa Zhou Built a $106K Coaching Business While Working Full-Time

Introduction

On the surface, Luisa Zhou enjoyed a stable and well recognized position at a New York startup. She had a nice condo, a paycheck above market average, and family pride. Still she felt stuck in a routine, craving control over her schedule and a sense of purpose that went beyond climbing the corporate ladder. After a phone call about her mother’s health, everything changed. She saw that no salary could replace the time lost when serious events arise. That pushed her to give amateur entrepreneurship a fair shot — but she refused to go all in right away.

Testing Ideas Without Quitting

Rather than abandon her job, Luisa started experimenting on evenings and weekends. Her first idea was tutoring students aiming for top colleges. It turned a small profit but felt limiting. Next she pitched Excel consulting, only to realize she disliked the topic and had zero clients. After shaking off that misstep she built a basic career coaching service at a low entry price. But she didn’t enjoy coaching clients who stayed in the corporate cycle. Each pivot taught her to focus on skills she liked and markets that matched demand.

Finding a Fit in Ads Consulting

A routine question from a copywriter led her to a Facebook group named 'Entrepreneur Incubator.' She saw dozens of posts about ad budgets and campaign setup. With years of experience running brand campaigns, she knew she could add real value. She posted answers, then offered quick audits via private messages. In Month 1 she closed her first sale — a $5,000 package. Month 2 brought $11,000 by adjusting price and offering free mini sessions. By Month 3 she hit $41,000 focusing on group engagement and short livestreams. In Month 4 her total reached $49,000, crossing the six figure mark. These numbers gave her room to resign, ready to focus on coaching small businesses full time.

Key Strategies

Three tactics stood out: direct group engagement over generic ads,flexible pricingto build trust, andrapid iterationon what topics drew interest. She used Facebook groups for real time feedback, Zoom calls to diagnose ad issues, and simple spreadsheets to track her promotions. This lean test-and-adjust style helped her avoid big upfront bets.

Impact and Growth

Not only did she clear $100K in revenue without quitting, but today Luisa guides hundreds of side hustlers who follow the same path. Her approach shows that with limited risk and a clear plan, you can fund your exit on your current paychecks. The hardest part? Starting without grand drama. Instead, small steps and honest feedback turned her idea into a business that covers bills and gives her time freedom.