How one Apex mom left her corporate job and doubled her income

Tara Flake, a mom of four, was working as a graphic designer when she decided to devote her career to her side hustle instead. So, she started a Merch by Amazon account to sell clothes — and she doubled her income.

"I uploaded my first shirts in April of last year, and a few of them sold right away," Flake said. "So, I figured I was on to something good."

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"Good" is an understatement. Flake's designs generated $250,000 in one year.

"I do like to come up with my own words, my own phrases," Flake said. "They may be funny to a target audience."

It works like this: Flake creates a design and uploads it to Amazon, and then Amazon handles the rest.

"They manufacture everything," Flake said. "They hold all the inventory, they ship it and they handle all of the customer service."

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Flake's shirts sell for $20, and the hooded sweatshirts go for $40.

But Flake said the best perk of her new job is something she can't put a price tag on: time with her family. Flake's youngest is just 3 years old, and working from home let's her family spend more time together.

"Amazon isn't knocking at my door, they aren't telling me what to design," Flake said. "It's really up to my own timetable, my own creativity, and if I don't do something, I'm not in trouble."