If you’ve ever daydreamed at your desk about swapping spreadsheets for a set of tennis balls (or pickleballs), you’re not alone. Side-hustles are booming, especially the kind that let you share the sport you love with people who can’t wait to learn it. Few stories capture that vibe better than Coach Tim Ton’s. The San Diego native has taken a lifelong obsession with tennis, added a dash of pickleball, and, thanks to the TeachMe.To marketplace, built a thriving coaching business that slots neatly around a full-time corporate gig. Here’s how he’s doing it, why it matters, and what you can steal from his playbook.
Meet Tim Ton: Athlete, Business-Dev Pro, Coach Extraordinaire
Tim first picked up a racket at eight and never really put it down. He starred for Serra High School, racked up wins at Mesa College, and basically treated every neighborhood court like a second home. Yet his day job is as button-down as they come, business development for a pharmaceutical software company. When friends and coworkers asked how he found time to teach, Tim just grinned: “I played in high school, played in college, played for Mesa College, played for Serra High, coaching is simply baked into who I am.”
That mindset set the stage for an epic side-hustle. Instead of letting his corporate schedule dictate his life, Tim slid his true passion into the margins and watched it grow.
The Numbers That Make You Sit Up
Side-hustles feel great in theory, but they have to pay the bills. Tim does. Through TeachMe.To, he charges $100–$120 per private lesson and averages roughly 14 lessons a week. Do the math: at the higher end, that’s $1,680 in weekly revenue, north of $80k a year if he kept that pace year-round. Not bad for “spare-time” work that involves fresh air, top-spin forehands, and the satisfaction of helping another player level up.
The platform takes care of marketing, scheduling, and secure payments, so Tim can focus on feeding serves, not fiddling with invoices. That efficiency is why more coaches keep piling in, and why thousands of students book again and again.
Why TeachMe.To Is a Side-Hustler’s Secret Weapon
Marketplace Power. TeachMe.To hosts around 10,000 coaches nationwide, covering everything from basketball and golf to surfing and even musical instruments. That variety means students can experiment and stick with whoever clicks.
Transparent Pricing. Lessons start around $30 and run past $100, so learners pick the budget that works. Tim sits in the premium tier, but plenty of newcomers price lower while they build a roster.
Zero Listing Fees. Coaches create a profile for free, set their rates, and only get charged when they actually teach. It’s a low-risk way to see whether your hobby can pay off.
Local Convenience. New student Dottie Sutherland nailed it: “What a great idea to get fantastic coaching right in your community.” When booking is that friction-free, both sides win.
Passion Meets Purpose: The Fulfillment Factor
Money’s great, but fulfillment is the real ROI. Tim lights up when he talks about a first-time pickleballer connecting on a clean volley or a rec-league doubles team mastering court positioning. There’s something special about guiding somebody from “total beginner” to “wow, I can actually rally.”
Coaching also scratches a mentor itch that his nine-to-five can’t. In corporate life, wins can feel abstract; on-court wins are immediate. The smile when a student finally nails that topspin serve? Priceless. And for Tim, that energy spills back into his weekday role, proof that a well-chosen side-hustle can boost, not burn, your full-time career.
Lessons for Aspiring Side-Hustlers
Start with Expertise. Whether it’s tennis, ukulele, or freestyle swimming, lean on something you can teach confidently.
Let Tech Do the Heavy Lifting. Marketplaces like TeachMe.To handle discovery and bookings so you spend time teaching, not cold-calling.
Price for Value, Not Just Time. Tim’s $100-plus rate reflects decades of experience. Don’t undersell; students are paying for hard-won wisdom.
Collect Reviews Early. Social proof snowballs. A handful of five-star raves can fill your calendar faster than any ad spend.
Stay Authentic. Students sense passion. If you’re hyped, they’ll be hyped, and they’ll tell their friends.
Ready to Rally with Coach Tim?
If you’re in San Diego and itching to perfect your serve, or curious about why pickleball is sweeping the nation, Coach Tim Ton is your guy. His sessions mix technical drills with a laid-back vibe that keeps things fun and pressure-free.
But don’t stop there. Explore hundreds of other passionate instructors on TeachMe.To, from golf pros who’ll shave five strokes off your handicap to surf coaches who’ll get you popping up before sunrise. Whether you want a one-off lesson or a full training plan, the perfect coach is a click away.
Book Your Lesson Today
Hit the courts (or the waves, field, stage, take your pick) and experience firsthand why TeachMe.To is the smartest way to learn. Book Coach Tim Ton now, or browse our growing roster of expert coaches across 20+ sports and hobbies. Your next favorite side-hustle mentor, or your next big skill breakthrough, is waiting.
