Let's be real—most side hustle advice sounds the same. "Start dropshipping!" "Create a digital course!" "Become a social media influencer!" It's all noise. But what if I told you there's a different path? One that doesn't require coding skills, a massive social media following, or selling digital products to an oversaturated market.
I bought a truck last July thinking I'd do landscaping or haul junk. Classic side hustle ideas, right? But then something unexpected happened. I stumbled across a used throne chair on Facebook Marketplace. Four and a half months later, that single chair has turned into a legitimate side business pulling in consistent monthly revenue. No prior experience. No fancy equipment. Just one weird chair and a willingness to figure things out.
This isn't another "get rich quick" story. It's a real breakdown of how regular people can spot opportunities in their own communities and build something tangible. If you're tired of the same old online business advice and want something you can actually touch and grow, keep reading. I'm going to walk you through exactly what worked, what didn't, and how you can apply these principles to your own situation.
The Accidental Discovery: Why Throne Chairs?
Here's the thing about side hustles—sometimes the best opportunities find you when you're not even looking for them. I was browsing Facebook Marketplace for completely different reasons when I saw this ornate, slightly ridiculous throne chair. The seller wanted $150. My first thought was, "Who buys this stuff?" But then curiosity kicked in.
Instead of scrolling past, I started asking questions. What events would use a throne chair? Who rents these things? How much do they charge? A quick Google search revealed something interesting: throne chairs aren't just for medieval-themed parties. They're used for birthday parties (especially "queen for a day" celebrations), weddings (photo booth props), baby showers (gender reveal thrones), quinceañeras, and even corporate events.
The market was more diverse than I expected. And here's what really caught my attention—when I searched for local rental options in my area, there were exactly two companies offering throne chairs. Both were traditional party rental companies with massive inventories and minimum order requirements. Neither was specifically marketing throne chairs as a standalone service.
That's when the lightbulb went off. There was a gap. A small, specific gap, but a gap nonetheless. People who just wanted a throne chair without renting a bunch of other equipment. People planning smaller events. People who found traditional rental companies intimidating or expensive for single items.
Sometimes opportunity doesn't look like a revolutionary new app. Sometimes it looks like a weird chair on Facebook Marketplace.
The Research Phase: How to Validate Any Side Hustle Idea
Before spending a single dollar, I needed to answer three critical questions. This research phase is what separates successful side hustles from expensive hobbies. Here's exactly how I approached it—and how you can too.
First, I needed to understand pricing. I didn't just look at what throne chairs cost to buy—I needed to know what people were willing to pay to rent them. This meant checking competitor websites in nearby cities, searching Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for rental listings, and even calling a few party rental companies pretending to be a customer.
What I found surprised me. Rental prices ranged from $75 to $200 per day, depending on the chair's quality and the company's location. Some companies charged extra for delivery, setup, and cleaning. Others included everything in one price. The average seemed to be around $125-$150 for a weekend rental.
Second, I needed to understand demand. Were people actually searching for this? I used Google Trends to see search volume for terms like "throne chair rental" and "party chair rental" in my area. I joined local Facebook groups for event planners and parents. I searched Instagram hashtags like #[mycity]partyrental and #[mycity]eventplanning to see what people were actually posting about.
Third—and this is crucial—I needed to understand the logistics. Where would I store the chair? How would I transport it? What about cleaning between rentals? Insurance? Contracts? These practical questions can kill a side hustle before it starts if you don't address them early.
For me, the truck solved the transportation problem. My garage became storage. Cleaning was just basic upholstery cleaner. But your situation might be different. The key is to think through these logistics before you invest money.
The Minimal Viable Business: Starting With Just One Chair
Here's where most people get stuck. They think they need a perfect website, professional photos, a full inventory, and business cards before they can start. That's wrong. What you need is something to sell and one customer.
I bought that first throne chair for $150. That was my entire initial investment. No website. No fancy equipment. Just a chair in my garage and a plan to rent it out.
The first step was creating a listing. I took decent photos with my phone (natural light is your friend), wrote a clear description including dimensions and rental terms, and priced it at $100 for a weekend rental. I listed it in three places: Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and a local Facebook group for parents.
Within 48 hours, I had my first inquiry. A mother planning her daughter's 8th birthday party. She wanted the chair for a "princess party" the following weekend. We agreed on $100 for Friday afternoon through Sunday evening. I delivered it in my truck, showed her how to adjust it, and collected payment in cash.
That first rental paid for 2/3 of the chair. The second rental, two weeks later, paid for the rest. By the end of the first month, the chair had generated $300 in revenue against a $150 investment.
This is what people mean by "minimum viable product"—but applied to a physical business. Start with the absolute minimum. Prove the concept. Get feedback from real customers. Then—and only then—consider expanding.
Scaling Up: From One Chair to a Real Business
After those first two rentals, patterns started to emerge. Most bookings came from Facebook. Weekends were obviously busier than weekdays. People often asked if I had other colors or styles. And several customers mentioned they found me because traditional rental companies had minimums or weren't responsive for small items.
This feedback became my roadmap for scaling. Here's what I did in months 2-4:
1. Added inventory strategically. I didn't just buy more throne chairs. I bought different styles based on what customers asked for. A silver modern throne for wedding photo booths. A pink velvet one for kids' parties. A rustic wooden throne for gender reveal parties. Each new chair addressed a specific customer request or observed need.
2. Created simple systems. I developed a basic rental agreement (found a template online and modified it). Created a Google Calendar to track bookings. Set up a separate business phone number using a free app. Bought cleaning supplies in bulk. These systems took maybe 10 hours total to set up but saved countless hours later.
3. Improved marketing. Instead of just listing individual chairs, I created "packages." A "Princess Party Package" with a pink throne, tiara, and scepter (bought cheap on Amazon). A "Wedding Photo Booth Package" with two thrones and props. Packages increased my average rental value from $100 to $150-$200.
4. Built social proof. After each rental, I asked customers for photos. With permission, I used these in my listings. Real photos of real events are infinitely more convincing than stock photos. I also started collecting simple testimonials—just a sentence or two about their experience.
By month 4, I had 5 throne chairs and was booking 8-10 rentals per month. Revenue hit $1,500 in a good month. Not life-changing money, but significant for a side hustle requiring maybe 10 hours of work per week.
The Digital Side: How Online Tools Made Everything Easier
Even though this is a physical rental business, digital tools are what made it scalable. Here are the specific tools that made the biggest difference—and most are free or very cheap.
Booking and scheduling: I started with Google Calendar, but as bookings increased, I switched to Calendly. The free plan lets customers see my availability and book slots themselves. This eliminated 90% of the back-and-forth emails. "What weekends are available?" "Can I get it Friday or Saturday?" All answered automatically.
Communication: Google Voice gives me a separate business number that forwards to my phone. All rental-related texts and calls go there. This keeps my personal number private and lets me "turn off" the business outside of reasonable hours.
Contracts and payments: I use HelloSign for digital contracts (free for 3 per month) and Square for invoices and card payments. Most customers still pay cash, but offering card options has definitely increased bookings.
Marketing and listings: Facebook Marketplace remains my #1 source of customers. But I've also started using Instagram to showcase past events. Nothing fancy—just posting customer photos (with permission) and using local hashtags. I also listed on Canva Pro Subscription to create better-looking flyers and social media posts.
Here's a pro tip: create templates for everything. A template for your rental listing. A template for your follow-up email. A template for your invoice. Every time you do something more than once, create a template. It saves mental energy and makes your business look more professional.
Common Questions (And Real Answers)
When I share this story, people always ask the same questions. Let me address them directly with what I've learned from actual experience.
"Do you need insurance?" Yes, absolutely. I got a general liability policy through my existing insurance provider. It costs about $40/month and covers up to $1 million in damages. Is it strictly necessary when you're starting with one chair? Maybe not. But the peace of mind is worth it. The first time a customer's dog chewed on one of my chairs, I was glad I had it.
"What about damaged or stolen items?" I require a security deposit equal to one day's rental. This is separate from the rental fee and is refunded when the chair is returned undamaged. In 4.5 months, I've had to use a deposit once—when a chair came back with red wine stains that wouldn't come out.
"How do you handle cleaning?" Between rentals, I vacuum the chair, spot clean any stains with upholstery cleaner, and wipe down hard surfaces with disinfectant wipes. For heavily soiled chairs, I use a Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner. Total cleaning time per chair: 15-20 minutes.
"What's your profit margin?" This varies, but generally: Rental fee $100-$200, minus transportation ($10-20 in gas), cleaning supplies ($5), and any repairs/maintenance. On a $150 rental, I net around $120-$130. The chairs themselves have paid for themselves multiple times over.
"Can this work in a small town?" Possibly even better. Less competition. Everyone knows everyone. Word-of-mouth spreads faster. The key is adjusting your inventory to local demand. In a rural area, maybe it's not throne chairs but farm tables or wedding arches.
Beyond Throne Chairs: How to Apply This Framework
The specific product—throne chairs—is almost irrelevant. What matters is the framework. Here's how you can apply this same approach to almost any physical product side hustle.
Step 1: Spot the gap. Look for products that are expensive to buy but needed only occasionally. Photo booth props. Specialty cooking equipment (paella pans, chocolate fountains). Yard games for parties. Camping gear. Anything people might rent rather than buy.
Step 2: Validate with research. Check what already exists in your area. Search Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Google. Call competitors pretending to be a customer. Join local Facebook groups and listen to what people are asking for.
Step 3: Start minimal. Buy one item. Just one. List it. See if it rents. Don't build a website. Don't print business cards. Don't buy inventory. Get one customer first.
Step 4: Systemize what works. Once you have a few rentals under your belt, create systems. Booking system. Cleaning routine. Rental agreement. Payment method. These don't need to be fancy—just consistent.
Step 5: Scale based on feedback. Add inventory based on what customers actually ask for. Improve your marketing based on what actually works. Expand your offerings based on what complements your existing items.
This framework works because it's iterative. You're not betting everything on a guess. You're making small bets, learning, and adjusting. It's the opposite of the "build it and they will come" approach that fails so often.
The Reality Check: What Nobody Tells You
Let me be completely honest about the challenges. This isn't passive income. At all. When someone wants a chair delivered at 4 PM on Friday, you need to be there. When it's pouring rain and you're loading a wet chair into your truck at 9 PM on Sunday, it doesn't feel glamorous.
Storage is a real issue. Five throne chairs take up significant space in a garage. If you live in an apartment, this might not work without renting storage space—which cuts into profits.
People can be flaky. About 20% of inquiries never turn into bookings. Some people cancel last minute. A few try to negotiate prices down to unreasonable levels. You need patience and clear policies.
Maintenance happens. Chairs get wobbly. Fabric gets torn. Things break. You need basic repair skills or a handyman you can call. I've learned to fix wobbly legs and re-glue decorative pieces myself.
But here's the flip side: when you hand over a throne chair to a little girl on her birthday, and her face lights up—that feels pretty good. When a couple sends you photos from their wedding, thanking you for making their photo booth special—that's meaningful. And when you deposit $1,500 you earned yourself, outside your regular job—that's empowering.
Where It Goes From Here
Four and a half months in, I'm at a crossroads. The business works. It generates consistent income. The question is: do I want to grow it further?
Growth would mean more inventory (maybe adding arches, backdrops, or lighting). Possibly renting a small storage unit. Hiring help for deliveries during busy weekends. Creating a simple website to appear more professional.
Or I could keep it as is—a side hustle that brings in extra money without taking over my life. That's the beautiful thing about this model: you decide the scale. It can be a few hundred dollars a month or a full-time business. The framework supports both.
If you're considering something similar, my advice is simple: start smaller than you think. Buy one item. Rent it to one person. See how it feels. The worst case? You're out a little money and have a weird chair in your garage. The best case? You've discovered a viable side hustle that could grow into something significant.
The opportunity isn't in finding some secret, untapped market. It's in looking at ordinary things—like throne chairs—and asking better questions. Who needs this? How often? What are they paying now? What problems do they have with current options?
Answer those questions honestly, test your assumptions with real customers, and build systems as you go. That's it. That's the "secret" to turning a side hustle idea into actual income. Now go find your version of a throne chair.
