How Rodney Melton Turned a Backyard Side Hustle Into a 6-Figure Business 🛠️🐾

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TL;DR  

Rodney Melton, a 55-year-old from Alma, Arkansas, built a 6-figure side hustle by creating pet memorials in his backyard.

After starting his Etsy shop in 2021, Rodney was able to leave his 60-hour-a-week job and focus on his family and business.

By investing in tools and enlisting his family’s help, he now generates over $200,000 annually, with two-thirds of it being profit.

His story proves that with passion and the right setup, anyone can turn a hobby into a lucrative business.

The Story of Rodney Melton’s Side Hustle Success  

Rodney Melton’s journey to 6-figure success began with a hobby and a heartfelt mission. In March 2021, Rodney started molding and engraving headstones for pet memorials, leveraging his skills in concrete and stonework—a passion he had developed while working 60 hours a week as a maintenance lead. After a friend’s dog passed away, Rodney found himself drawn to creating beautiful memorials, turning his personal grief into a way to help others.

Starting from his self-built workshop behind his home in Alma, Arkansas, Rodney began selling pet memorial headstones on Etsy. With his first engraving machine and a few concrete molds, he set up shop. Soon, the orders started to roll in.

By May 2022, just over a year later, Rodney’s Etsy shop was bringing in nearly $20,000 a month, prompting him to leave his full-time job and focus on his business full-time. Now, with the help of his family, Rodney has built a thriving four-person operation that allows him to make a great living while spending more time with loved ones.

How Rodney Built His 6-Figure Side Hustle 💸

1. Start with What You Have  

Rodney didn’t begin his journey with expensive tools and a massive budget. He already owned a $15,000 engraver, but you don’t need such a large investment to get started. Rodney estimates that with about $10,000, anyone can replicate his success. Cement molds, sandblasting equipment, and engraving tools are the basics you need to start your own memorial-making business. As Rodney’s sales grew, he reinvested his earnings in new equipment like sandblasters and granite saws to scale production.

2. Involve Your Family  

One of Rodney’s secrets to success is working with family. His daughter Kristen took on a significant role in the business, handling tasks like cutting granite and brainstorming new product ideas. His wife also plays a key role in production, adding epoxy filling to the engraved stones. Working together not only helps the business run smoothly but also gives the family more time to spend with one another. They now enjoy a flexible work-life balance, working about 5 hours a day from the comfort of their home workshop.

3. Scale by Reducing Production Time  

Each new tool Rodney bought helped to minimize production time, enabling him to sell more products and increase his income. This allowed him to generate over $200,000 in revenue last year, with roughly two-thirds of that being profit. By cutting down on time-intensive tasks like engraving and molding, Rodney was able to focus on growing his business while maintaining high-quality products.

Why Rodney’s Success Is Replicable  

Rodney is quick to emphasise that anyone can achieve similar success with the right mindset and a passion for their craft. His initial inspiration came from personal loss and the desire to help others memorialise their pets. What sets his story apart is how he combined a personal mission with a viable business idea. By serving more people, he not only created a fulfilling career but also built a profitable business that benefits others.

If you have a passion, a small initial investment, and a willingness to put in the effort, you can build a business like Rodney’s. The key is to start small, invest in the right tools, and expand your business as demand grows.

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Lessons Learned from Rodney’s Journey 🎓

1. Follow Your Passion

Rodney’s business grew from a personal place, making it both meaningful and profitable.

If your heart is in what you do, the work becomes more rewarding.

2. Start with What You Have

Rodney didn’t wait for the perfect time or the perfect setup.

He started with what he had and reinvested his earnings into improving and scaling the business.

3. Family Support

Involving family in your business can make it more manageable and enjoyable.

With the help of his daughter and wife, Rodney has turned his side hustle into a full-time business while maintaining a great work-life balance.

Final Thoughts 💭

Rodney Melton’s story is proof that you can turn a passion into a profitable business, even from the comfort of your own backyard.

His journey from a 60-hour workweek to flexible, fulfilling work shows that success is achievable with the right mix of determination, hard work, and smart investments.

If you’re looking for inspiration to start your own side hustle, take a page from Rodney’s playbook—invest in your passion, involve your family, and scale your business as demand grows.

Ready to turn your hobby into a 6-figure success? 

Start today!

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in our Fast Track Wealth Hacks newsletter, where we explore real stories and practical strategies for building income-generating side hustles.

Inspiration Spotlight

55 year old with lucrative backyard side hustle

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