30-year-old started a side hustle with her last $2,000—the business now brings in $100,000 a year: ‘I love being my own boss'When she's not cleaning apartments with a portable vacuum strapped to her back, the 30-year-old is managing fluctuating revenue, controlling operational costs and making tough decisions — like downsizing her team — to keep her Portland, Oregon-based business running.
The family lived paycheck to paycheck, stretching every dollar to cover essentials and often relying on thrifted items and hand-me-downs to make ends meet.When Ortiz was in fourth grade, the family moved from Wichita to an 80-acre farm near Kingman, Kansas. The shift to rural life brought a period of social isolation, as she left behind her friends and found herself as one of the few people of color living near a predominantly white"cow town," she says.
Ortiz then worked various odd jobs in Lawrence, Kansas, including as a server at a café. One of her regular customers, a fintech startup founder, invited her to join him on a project. Despite the failure, running the shop gave Ortiz lasting insights she was able to apply to her cleaning business. She also realized through the partnership"that I had selfish tendencies, I had my vision and I wanted things done my way."After going through a difficult breakup and the closure of her shop, Ortiz realized she needed a change in her life. In September 2022, she moved to Portland, where she was able to continue working remotely for her fintech startup job.
To drum up business, Ortiz put up flyers and handed out business cards in targeted neighborhoods. By avoiding online advertising, she also kept her costs low. After recalibrating, she hired a part-time worker in August using a new pay structure, and plans to continue expanding when she can book more cleanings.
Her only other debt is an outstanding student loan balance of about $10,000, currently in forbearance, so payments are paused. She plans to hold off on payments until her lender starts"knocking at my door."