From Amazon Flex to $6,000 a Day: Maria's Journey to Launching Her Own Business

Maria, an Amazon Flex driver in Houston, didn’t just dream of becoming her own boss—she made it happen. Today, she owns a seasonal transportation service that takes groups to professional sporting events in Houston. On a good day, Maria can make up to $6,000, and she credits her success to the strategic steps she took while working gig jobs.

Here’s her story and the five key strategies that helped her go from gig worker to entrepreneur.

1. Starting with a Solid Emergency Fund

“When I was driving for Amazon Flex,” Maria recalls, “I knew that if I wanted to start my own business, I had to build a safety net first.”

Maria took the 6-month emergency fund rule seriously. Before launching her transportation service, she saved six months’ worth of expenses. This emergency fund gave her the confidence to pursue her business without worrying about personal bills or unexpected financial setbacks.

“I didn’t want to risk everything on a business idea. That cushion made a huge difference.”

2. Following the 30% Rule for Investments

Maria was disciplined from the start. “I followed the 30% Rule to keep things safe,” she explains. “I knew I shouldn’t throw everything I saved into my business right away, so I limited my initial investment to 30% of my savings. That way, I had money left to live on and invest as the business grew.”

She used a portion of her savings to buy a sprinter van, the foundation of her transportation service. "The sprinter van was a big investment, but I knew I needed it to get the business rolling—literally," Maria laughs.

3. Building Business Credit Early

While saving money, Maria also started building her business credit early. She knew this was crucial to growing her business and getting access to better financing options down the road.

“I formed an LLC for my transportation service as soon as I was ready to get serious,” Maria says. “Then, I applied for a D-U-N-S number through Dun & Bradstreet. That was key because it set me up with a business credit profile.”

But Maria didn’t stop there. “I signed up for tradelines with Nav, Jewelry Merchant, and Magnum to build my credit fast. They were easy to qualify for, and they reported to the business credit bureaus. That helped me start building a strong credit history.”

4. Saving Consistently from Gig Work

In the early days, Maria drove for Amazon Flex to fund her future business. “I treated my Amazon Flex gig like a stepping stone,” she explains. “Every time I got paid, I put a portion of my money into a dedicated business savings account. That discipline helped me build enough capital to start my business when the time was right.”

She set a goal for how much she wanted to save each month and stuck to it. "Consistency was key. I wasn’t making thousands yet, but I knew every dollar was adding up to my bigger dream."

5. Leveraging Business Credit for Growth

Once Maria’s transportation service was up and running, she took advantage of the business credit she had built. She used business credit cards and Net 30 vendor accounts to manage her cash flow and cover operational costs, like maintaining her van and marketing her services.

“I opened vendor accounts with Net 30 terms so I could buy what I needed for my business upfront and pay later,” Maria says. “That was a game-changer because it gave me flexibility while keeping my expenses manageable.”

Q: What was your biggest challenge in transitioning from gig work to your own business?

Maria: “The biggest challenge was staying disciplined with my savings. It was tempting to spend on other things, but I reminded myself that this was for my future. Every hour I drove for Amazon Flex was bringing me closer to my goal.”

Q: What’s your favorite part about running your own business now?

Maria: “I love the freedom. On a good day, I can make $6,000 by doing what I love—bringing people together for a fun time at sporting events. I get to set my own hours and be in control.”

Maria’s 5-Step Recap for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:

1. Save a 6-month emergency fund before launching your business.

2. Follow the 30% Rule: Invest no more than 30% of your savings initially.

3. Build business credit early by forming an LLC, applying for a D-U-N-S number, and adding tradelines like Nav, Jewelry Merchant, and Magnum.

4. Save consistently from gig income to build startup capital.

5. Leverage business credit with business credit cards and Net 30 vendor accounts for cash flow management.

Maria’s journey from Amazon Flex driver to successful business owner shows that with hard work, financial discipline, and smart credit-building strategies, any gig worker can turn their side hustle into a thriving business.

Are you ready to take your gig work to the next level, just like Maria? Follow her steps and turn your business dreams into a reality.