1001 original paths off the 9-to-5
Unclocked is a field guide to 1001 ways of earning and dwelling that are not a conventional 9-to-5. Each path has a name, an honest description, a step-by-step start, skills, materials, capital, a public source, and people or communities who have walked a version of it.
Filter by craft, capital, and whether the work travels. Save anything that tugs — it lands in your collection.
Minimum initial capital
17 paths
Library Freelance Researcher
Research and publish paid questions for people who would have had a staffer
Library Freelance Researcher
Research and publish paid questions for people who would have had a staffer
You research and publish paid questions for people who would have had a staffer. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Fact-Check
Research and publish creators and small newsrooms
Fact-Check
Research and publish creators and small newsrooms
You research and publish creators and small newsrooms. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Market-Map for Niches
Research and publish paid research memos for indie hackers
Market-Map for Niches
Research and publish paid research memos for indie hackers
You research and publish paid research memos for indie hackers. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Oral History Press
Research and publish books and audio from one town
Oral History Press
Research and publish books and audio from one town
You research and publish books and audio from one town. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Neighborhood Weather Station
A hyperlocal forecast plus a paid SMS for gardeners and sites
Neighborhood Weather Station
A hyperlocal forecast plus a paid SMS for gardeners and sites
You run a hyperlocal forecast plus a paid SMS for gardeners and sites. Clients pay a posted rate, ticket, dues, or commission.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
User-Research Gun for Hire
Research and publish interviews, not just surveys
User-Research Gun for Hire
Research and publish interviews, not just surveys
You research and publish interviews, not just surveys. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Geographic Arbitrage Planner
Research and publish city comparisons, visas as research not counsel
Geographic Arbitrage Planner
Research and publish city comparisons, visas as research not counsel
You research and publish city comparisons, visas as research not counsel. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Climate-Risk Translator
Research and publish plain language for boards — with sources
Climate-Risk Translator
Research and publish plain language for boards — with sources
You research and publish plain language for boards — with sources. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Archival Digitization Micro
Research and publish families and small museums
Archival Digitization Micro
Research and publish families and small museums
You research and publish families and small museums. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
FIRE Spreadsheet
Research and publish education, not personalized investing advice
FIRE Spreadsheet
Research and publish education, not personalized investing advice
You research and publish education, not personalized investing advice. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Genealogy
Research and publish trees with citations
Genealogy
Research and publish trees with citations
You research and publish trees with citations. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Local Housing Data
Research and publish one city's rents, permits, and meetings
Local Housing Data
Research and publish one city's rents, permits, and meetings
You research and publish one city's rents, permits, and meetings. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Open-Source Investigator Tiny
Research and publish OSINT for journalists, ethics first
Open-Source Investigator Tiny
Research and publish OSINT for journalists, ethics first
You research and publish OSINT for journalists, ethics first. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Standards-and-Compliance Writer
Research and publish accessibility, privacy, docs
Standards-and-Compliance Writer
Research and publish accessibility, privacy, docs
You research and publish accessibility, privacy, docs. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Independent Policy Brief Shop
Research and publish one beat, subscribers, not a think-tank cube
Independent Policy Brief Shop
Research and publish one beat, subscribers, not a think-tank cube
You research and publish one beat, subscribers, not a think-tank cube. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Civic Minute Clerk
Record and summarize town meetings for people who work nights
Civic Minute Clerk
Record and summarize town meetings for people who work nights
You record and summarize town meetings for people who work nights. Clients pay a posted rate, ticket, dues, or commission.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Court-Watch Newsletter
Research and publish local justice reporting
Court-Watch Newsletter
Research and publish local justice reporting
You research and publish local justice reporting. Readers buy a membership, or organizations buy a retainer memo.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
