This influencer is using her social media accounts to help retire early from the corporate world — here’s how

Influencer Taylor Hayes, who runs a blog and several social media channels as imperfecttaylor, recently shared on TikTok that she’s leveraging brand deals and her growing number of followers to retire early [1].

Although she has 141,000 followers on Instagram and 49,400 on TikTok, she’s not a full-time influencer. Rather, she has a full-time corporate job and operates her blog and social media properties as a side hustle.

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Her path toward building a profitable side hustle began a couple of years ago when she was laid off from her job. She tried self-employment, but it didn’t suit her, so she eventually found another corporate job.

During her time away from the corporate world she fell behind on her retirement savings goals. So, when her Instagram page gained an additional 100,000 followers in the last four months, she knew she “had to take advantage of the opportunity … to work with brands.”

Many Americans have a side hustle

Hayes is not alone in adopting a side hustle, although it’s less common this year than it has been in the past. According to a Bankrate survey conducted in June 2025, 27% of American adults have a side job, down from 36% in 2024 — the lowest percentage since 2017 [2].

But, with signs that the labor market might be softening and the potential for rising inflation, more Americans may decide to pick up a side hustle to make some extra cash.

While 35% of respondents in the Bankrate survey said they use the extra income to pay for living expenses — and 29% believe they’ll always need a side hustle to make ends meet — 41% said they use the extra cash for discretionary purchases. Meanwhile, only 28% said they allocate some of their side hustle earnings to savings.

This is where Hayes is different: she uses 10% to 15% of her side hustle money to pay her manager and then allocates 30% to taxes, 20% to retirement savings and the rest (35% to 40%) to a high-yield savings account where she saves for goals such as her wedding and home renovations.

If she’s making $1,000 per month from brand deals — or $12,000 a year — that means she’s adding $2,400 per year to her retirement savings. While she won’t be able to retire on this alone, it can help her catch up — especially if she earns a reasonable return and she continues to add to her number of brand deals.

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It’s important to note that it’s the brand deals that allow Hayes to turn social media into a successful side hustle. Influencers typically monetize their platforms through brand partnerships, sponsored posts and affiliate marketing.

Many social media platforms have their own monetization programs that pay creators for posting engaging content. The TikTok Creator Fund, for example, pays eligible content creators when their posts get a lot of views and engagement [3]. Hayes can still make money without the brand deals, but it’s her brand partnerships that bring in the big bucks that might allow her to retire early.

Hayes is wise to set some of her social earnings aside for taxes because, according to the IRS, you “must file a tax return if you have net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more from gig work, even if it’s a side job, part-time or temporary.” [4]

While Hayes doesn’t say how she allocates her regular income or what percentage of her total income comes from her side hustle, one guideline for budgeting total income is the 50/30/20 method — popularized by Senator Elizabeth Warren, where 50% goes to necessities, 30% to wants such as entertainment and vacations, and 20% to savings [5].

Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching stocks — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead

Most side hustlers don’t earn much

When it comes to side hustles, the reality is that most who have one aren’t making a living from all that hustling.

The median side hustle income in 2025 is about $200 per month, which is down $50 from 2024, according to Bankrate. However, given that the average monthly income from side hustles is $885, there are a few hustlers that are doing much better than most, as 9% earn more than $2,000 per month [2].

Influencers can earn anywhere from $200 to $3,000 per post, depending on the social media platform, number of followers and engagement rates, according to personal finance expert Ramit Sethi [6].

On Instagram, for example, an influencer with fewer than 100,000 followers typically earns about $200 per post. Those with 100,000 to 300,000 followers could earn $600 per post, while those with more than one million followers could earn more than $2,000 per post.

If you’re thinking of following in Hayes’ footsteps, keep in mind that being a successful influencer takes time and hard work.

According to a blog by online job search site Teal, “the role demands constant content creation, audience engagement and brand collaboration, which can blur the lines between personal time and professional obligations, making the quest for balance a perpetual challenge.” [7]

Social media influencers work anywhere from 20 to 40+ hours per week, according to the blog, with “significant variation depending on their level of success, the platforms they use and campaign demands.” They also frequently work outside of business hours.

If a social media side gig sounds interesting and you already have a full-time job, you’ll need to consider if you can fit in an additional 20 to 40 hours of work each week. Still, if you follow Hayes’ example and use that money wisely — instead of using it for discretionary spending — it could help to boost your retirement savings.

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[1]. TikTok. “How I’m Using Brand Deals to Retire Early”

[2]. Bankrate. “Roughly one in four American adults have a side hustle. Here’s why that number might change soon”

[3]. Shopify. “How Do Influencers Make Money? 10 Strategies to Know (2025)”

[4]. IRS. “Manage taxes for your gig work”

[5]. Forbes. “https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/guide-to-50-30-20-budget/”

[6]. I Will Teach You to be Rich. “How much money do influencers make? 2025 Salaries Revealed”

[7]. Teal. “Social Media Influencer Work-Life Balance”

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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