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In this Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A, we feature Victoria Carroll, a professional voice actress based in the US who has built a full-time career on freelance service platforms. Fiber.
Image credit: Courtesy of Fiverr. Victoria Carroll.
What was your day job (or other source of income) when you started your side hustle?
Before I started voiceover work, I lived in the Czech Republic and worked as an actress and filmmaker, but my income was always low (and irregular) and I mainly supplemented my income by working as a kindergarten teacher. However, before becoming a full-time freelancer, I did a variety of things, including modelling for Disney princesses and brand endorsements, and teaching English to Czech students.
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When did you start your side hustle and what inspired you to start one?
I joined Fiverr, a platform for freelancers of all kinds, in 2018, which has been a big part of my career ever since. I had just finished my first big voice acting and motion capture project in a video game (Kingdom Come: DeliveranceAlthough the site called Voice Over was becoming pretty popular and was generating a lot of buzz, I was still running out of money before payday. A friend suggested I pursue voice-over more seriously and told me that the site had just hired a voice actor. I was super excited to try my hand at freelancing. The prospect of being able to work from anywhere in the world and make my own schedule was really exciting, especially in my field, which requires a lot of flexibility around auditions and filming schedules.
What was the first step you took to start your side hustle?
The first step was to set up a professional home recording studio. I purchased high-end microphones and soundproofing equipment. From there, I researched what clients were looking for in a recording artist and how to best set up my profile on Fiverr. This included creating videos and voice reels of my work, crafting a proper profile, and figuring out how to best communicate project details to meet my client’s needs.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in starting your side hustle and how did you overcome it?
I poured everything into building my freelance career, often working seven days a week, sometimes 14+ hours a day, most of the time in my small, dark home recording studio. I worked on my days off, and while the time and effort I put in was paying off, I was definitely burning out. After about a year of grinding it out to accommodate dozens of clients a day, I started to set clearer boundaries about when, where, and how much I could work. I now have a rule that I don’t work on Sundays, and I try to avoid weekends if possible. I also set stricter conditions for what types of projects I’m willing to take on, and at what rates.
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How long did it take you to start earning a steady income each month? How much did you make from your side hustle?
For the first 6 months I barely made any money. After that I started averaging around $1,000-2,000 a month and it just grew from there. By my second year on Fiverr I had made around $70,000, which is the most I’ve ever made.
What is your current growth and revenue situation?
I’ve been fortunate to nearly double my monthly income every year since I started, and I now make about $250,000 a year from Fiverr alone.
You’ve turned your Fiverr job into a full-time job. What do you enjoy most about this job?
I believe time is our most precious and valuable resource. So the freedom to set my own schedule is the best part of this job. I was never good at a job that required me to go to the same place for hours every day. Fiverr is great from a time-saving standpoint. I don’t waste time auditioning for jobs or looking for gigs because my catalog of past jobs is displayed on the site, along with thousands of honest reviews from past clients to build trust, and the work comes to me. It’s fun to wake up every day and see what new jobs I can take on, and it keeps things fresh. I also like that I don’t have to report to a boss. I have full control over how I run my business.
Last year, I was able to finance and complete my first feature film (a documentary about shamans due for release this year). The project involved traveling to Peru for filming, editing, and post-production. I also got married. and Pregnant — while working full time!
So for me, as a filmmaker and a new mom, that freedom is truly invaluable.
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What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own successful side hustle?
Be prepared to sacrifice a lot of time and effort in the beginning to establish yourself. When I talk to other freelancers about how they got started, they usually say the same thing. I don’t think there are any shortcuts. In the beginning, I worked long hours for low pay. But I managed to push through, build a huge portfolio, and develop good, long-term relationships with brands and companies. The investment you make in building your portfolio and client base at the beginning will pay off when you’re established.