Startup cost: $100 - $1k

Setup costs for Model Manager range from $100 to $1,000. On the lower end, one can start with basic equipment like a digital camera, a laptop, and some basic office supplies. As you scale up, investing in professional lighting equipment, backdrop setups, and high-quality editing software can push the costs to the higher end. Essential expenses include domain registration for a website, social media advertising, and potentially hiring models. Optional costs could include paid photo editing services or influencer collaborations. Recurring fees may include website hosting, software subscriptions, and marketing expenses. According to online communities, costs for this side hustle can surprise some individuals as they tend to increase once you commit to better equipment and marketing strategies. To take this seriously, I would advise a friend to budget around $500 to $1,000 to cover initial setup and some marketing expenses.