From $99 to $1.9 Million: A Teacher's Living Room Side Hustle Success Story

In the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, one woman's journey from a $99 investment to a $1.9 million annual revenue is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and adaptability. Lisa Collum, a 41-year-old former teacher, turned her living room into a thriving business, Top Score Writing, by leveraging her expertise in teaching English as a second language (ESL) and her understanding of diverse learning needs.

Collum's teaching experience laid the foundation for her successful side hustle. As a fourth-grade teacher, she noticed that many of her students struggled with writing, particularly English language learners. By focusing on structured writing techniques, she helped her students improve their writing scores dramatically. This approach, which emphasizes clarity and organization, forms the core of Top Score Writing's curricula.

In 2011, with just $99 and a dream, Collum started her business by creating accessible educational materials tailored to diverse learning needs. She filled five binders with copies of her fourth- and fifth-grade writing curricula and sold them to local principals. As word of mouth spread, her business grew, and she expanded her reach by digitizing her curricula in 2016.


Collum's understanding of her target audience allowed her to tailor her marketing efforts to reach and resonate with educators. Her ability to connect with and understand her customers' needs, honed through her teaching experience, fostered trust and drove her business's growth. Today, Top Score Writing sells K-12 writing curricula and consulting services to schools and teachers across all 50 U.S. states, generating nearly $1.9 million in annual profit.

As Collum's business grew, she adapted her approach to cater to different types of schools and students. Initially, she focused on Title I schools, catering to students from low-income families. However, as her business expanded, she found her formulaic approach to writing received a mixed reception in schools with higher concentrations of "gifted" students. Parents and teachers criticized the regimented education, arguing it prioritized test-taking over creativity. Collum adapted her business model to address these concerns, incorporating creative writing strategies into her curricula and expanding her target market to include schools with diverse student populations.


Collum's story is a testament to the power of adaptability and understanding one's audience. By leveraging her teaching experience and staying attuned to the evolving needs of her customers, she transformed her living room side hustle into a multi-million dollar business. As the economy continues to shift and small businesses face challenges, Collum's success serves as an inspiration for entrepreneurs seeking to navigate the complexities of the market and achieve long-term growth.