For millions of American professionals, the traditional nine-to-five workday no longer ends at dinnertime.
After family obligations are met and the house grows quiet, a second shift begins—not out of ambition alone, but out of economic necessity. According to recent labor data, a record 9.3 million Americans are now working multiple jobs, the highest level ever recorded since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking multiple jobholders in 1994. In relative terms, 5.7% of all employed Americans now hold more than one job, marking a 25-year high.
What makes this trend particularly notable is who is working those additional hours.
In the mid-1990s, nearly two-thirds of multiple jobholders lacked a college degree and were concentrated in lower-wage occupations. Today, approximately half of Americans working multiple jobs hold college degrees, underscoring a sobering reality: advanced education no longer guarantees sufficient income or long-term financial security.
The Economic Forces Behind the Shift
Several structural pressures are driving this surge in multiple employment.
First, inflation has fundamentally altered household economics. Over the past five years, housing costs alone have risen approximately 28%, while wages have increased closer to 24%. That gap—compounded by higher food, insurance, transportation, and healthcare costs—has left many families financially stretched despite full-time employment.
Second, the modern labor market has made dual employment easier. Remote work has reduced geographic constraints, allowing professionals to supplement income without commuting or relocating. Meanwhile, a historically tight labor market has created an abundance of short-term and part-time opportunities.
Finally, the expansion of the gig economy has normalized side work. Flexible schedules and project-based assignments have made supplemental income commonplace, particularly among white-collar professionals seeking financial stability rather than lifestyle upgrades.
Yet most of these second jobs share a common limitation: they exchange time for money.
The Limitation of Traditional Side Gigs
While ride-sharing, freelancing, consulting projects, and part-time roles may increase short-term cash flow, they rarely create lasting financial leverage. Income typically stops the moment work stops. There is no residual upside, no compounding benefit, and little long-term asset value.
This reality is causing a growing number of professionals to ask a more strategic question:
If I’m going to invest time outside my primary job, shouldn’t it build something durable?
The Case for Commercial Factoring as a High-Leverage Side Business
This is where agent and broker consulting businesses in commercial factoring stand apart.
Unlike traditional side gigs, commercial factoring offers a relationship-based, residual income model. Brokers and referral agents are compensated not just once, but monthly for the life of each client account. As long as the underlying business continues to factor invoices, the broker of record earns recurring commissions—often for years.
Key advantages include:
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Residual commission income tied to ongoing client activity
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Life-of-account monthly payments, not one-time fees
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Recession-resistant demand, as businesses seek cash-flow solutions when banks tighten credit
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Low overhead and minimal startup costs compared to traditional franchises or brick-and-mortar ventures
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Flexible entry, allowing professionals to begin part-time while maintaining full-time employment
Importantly, this is not a speculative or trend-driven opportunity. Commercial factoring has been a core component of business finance for generations, quietly supporting manufacturers, contractors, distributors, staffing firms, and service companies through economic cycles.
Ease of Entry and Structured Training Support
One of the most compelling aspects of factoring as a side business is its accessibility. Professionals do not need a finance degree, lending license, or large capital base to begin. What they do need is structured training, ethical guidance, and industry access.
That is precisely where organizations such as the International Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (IACFB) play a critical role. Through its training programs, certification pathways, and educational resources, IACFB lowers the barrier to entry while raising professional standards across the industry.
New agents and brokers gain:
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Foundational education in factoring and related commercial finance products
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Marketing and business-development training tailored to part-time and full-time professionals
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Access to industry best practices, compliance guidance, and ongoing support
Final Thoughts: From Side Job to Strategic Asset
The rise in multiple jobholding is a clear signal that the economic contract has changed. Professionals are no longer seeking extra work—they are seeking extra security.
For those already investing evenings and weekends into supplemental income, commercial factoring offers a compelling alternative to traditional side jobs. It is a business model built on relationships, recurring revenue, and long-term value, not hourly labor.
In an economy where one paycheck is increasingly insufficient, the most successful professionals will be those who convert their side efforts into scalable, residual-income consulting businesses. Commercial factoring stands out not merely as a way to earn more—but as a way to build something that lasts.