Editorial Policy

Last updated: July 11, 2026

Our Editorial Commitment

First Extra Dollar publishes practical information for beginners who want to explore side hustles and ways to earn extra money without hype, misleading promises, or unnecessary risk.

Our goal is to help readers understand their options and make better-informed decisions.

We aim to publish content that is:

Clear and easy to understand
Honest about risks and limitations
Useful to beginners
Based on appropriate research
Transparent about commercial relationships
Updated when important information changes

We do not promise guaranteed earnings or present unusual success stories as typical results.

Who Creates the Content

First Extra Dollar is founded, written, and edited by Michael Leitner.

Michael has more than 10 years of professional experience in financial analysis, corporate finance, investment analysis, forecasting, financial modeling, and strategic planning.

He is responsible for the research, writing, review, and maintenance of the content published on the site.

You can learn more on the Meet the Author page.

How Topics Are Chosen

Topics are selected based on the questions and decisions beginners commonly face when exploring side hustles.

Priority is given to subjects that help readers:

Choose between realistic options
Understand startup costs and time requirements
Recognize risks and common mistakes
Test an idea before making a large commitment
Compare platforms, tools, or approaches
Calculate whether an opportunity is genuinely worthwhile
Avoid scams, misleading claims, and unnecessary spending
Take a clear next step

We do not choose topics only because they are popular, profitable, or likely to generate affiliate commissions.

A topic should provide genuine value to the reader.

Research and Sources

The type and depth of research depend on the subject.

When an article includes information about platform rules, prices, fees, eligibility, taxes, regulations, safety, or other details that may change, we aim to consult current and appropriate sources.

Sources may include:

Official company and platform documentation
Government websites
Regulatory bodies
Recognized professional organizations
Original research and reports
Reputable publications
Product documentation
Publicly available terms, policies, and fee schedules

Primary sources are preferred when they are available and appropriate.

Secondary sources may be used to provide context, comparison, or explanation.

We avoid relying on unsupported social media claims, anonymous income screenshots, promotional material presented as independent evidence, or information that cannot reasonably be verified.

Minimum Citation Standard

The number and type of sources required depend on the claim rather than the length of the article.

At a minimum, we aim to provide an appropriate primary or authoritative source for each material, externally verifiable claim that could meaningfully affect a reader’s money, eligibility, safety, legal obligations, taxes, privacy, or decision to use a platform, tool, or service.

This includes claims about:

Platform fees, commissions, payouts, and cash-out options
Eligibility, availability, application, and account requirements
Prices, product features, plan limitations, and cancellation terms
Laws, regulations, permits, taxes, and official obligations
Safety, insurance, privacy, and security
Reported earnings, market data, or industry statistics
Material changes to a company, platform, or opportunity

When practical, the source is linked close to the claim it supports.

For comparisons, we aim to consult the official documentation for each product or platform being compared. Independent or secondary sources may be added when they provide useful context, but they do not replace available primary documentation.

Estimates, illustrative examples, and editorial planning ranges may not have a single external source. In those cases, we aim to label them clearly and explain the assumptions, variables, or calculation behind them.

A disclaimer does not replace appropriate sourcing.

Facts, Estimates, and Opinions

We aim to distinguish between verified facts, reasonable estimates, general guidance, and editorial judgment.

A platform fee listed in official documentation may be presented as a fact.

An estimate of how long it could take a beginner to get a first result may depend on several variables and should be described as an estimate rather than a guarantee.

A conclusion about whether an opportunity is beginner-friendly is an editorial assessment based on factors such as cost, complexity, risk, time, and accessibility.

Readers should be able to understand which type of claim they are reading.

Earnings and Income Claims

Income from side hustles varies widely.

It may depend on location, experience, demand, pricing, hours worked, platform access, expenses, competition, and individual circumstances.

First Extra Dollar does not guarantee earnings.

When discussing possible income, we aim to:

Avoid presenting the highest result as typical
Explain important assumptions
Consider expenses as well as revenue
Identify factors that can affect the result
Avoid false precision
Make clear when figures are estimates
Provide context when using examples or reported results

A revenue figure is not the same as profit.

Whenever relevant, readers should consider fees, taxes, equipment, software, transportation, unpaid preparation, refunds, revisions, and other costs.

Firsthand Experience and Research-Based Content

Not every article published on First Extra Dollar is based on firsthand experience.

Some content may draw on Michael’s direct experience. Other content is based on research, official documentation, comparison, financial analysis, and evaluation of available evidence.

We do not claim that a platform, product, or side hustle was personally tested when it was not.

Research-based content should not be presented as a personal success story.

When firsthand experience is central to an article, we aim to make that clear.

How We Identify the Basis of an Article

Not every article on First Extra Dollar is based on the same type of evidence.

When useful, articles may indicate whether the guidance is based on one or more of the following:

Firsthand experience: The article includes direct personal experience, testing, examples, screenshots, workflows, results, or lessons learned.
Research-based analysis: The article is based on official documentation, platform information, public sources, comparison, and evaluation of available evidence.
Finance-based evaluation: The article uses cost, profit, risk, time, assumptions, or scenario analysis to help readers understand whether an opportunity may be worthwhile.
Expert-reviewed content: The article has been reviewed by a relevant professional when the topic requires additional tax, legal, accounting, financial, safety, privacy, or other professional expertise.

We do not present research-based articles as personal success stories. We also do not claim that a side hustle, product, platform, or app was personally tested unless that is true.

The goal is for readers to understand not only what the article recommends, but why the recommendation was reached and what type of evidence supports it.

Reviews and Recommendations

Reviews and recommendations are based on the factors that matter to the intended reader.

Depending on the subject, these may include:

Price
Startup cost
Ease of use
Time requirements
Flexibility
Risks
Limitations
Beginner suitability
Customer support
Platform dependence
Available alternatives
Overall value

A recommendation does not mean that a product, platform, or side hustle is suitable for everyone.

We aim to explain who may benefit, who may not, and what should be considered before making a decision.

Our detailed evaluation framework is available on the How We Evaluate Side Hustles page.

How Affiliate Products and Services Are Evaluated

A product or service is not recommended only because it has an affiliate program.

Depending on the article and the nature of the recommendation, the evaluation may consider:

Official pricing and plan information
Free-plan or trial limitations
Eligibility and geographic availability
Features relevant to the intended reader
Ease of use and setup requirements
Important restrictions, fees, and cancellation terms
Customer support and documentation
Suitable alternatives
Risks, limitations, and reasons not to use the product
Firsthand testing, when it has actually been completed
Research-based comparison when firsthand testing has not been completed

We do not claim to have personally tested an affiliate product or service unless that is true.

If access was provided free of charge, a company supplied promotional material, or an affiliate relationship exists, that relationship does not guarantee positive coverage and should be disclosed where relevant.

Affiliate commission rates do not determine rankings, conclusions, or whether a product is included.

Editorial Independence

First Extra Dollar may earn revenue through advertising and affiliate partnerships.

Commercial relationships do not guarantee positive coverage.

We do not aim to change a conclusion solely because:

A company offers an affiliate program
An advertiser is paying to appear on the site
A product has a higher commission
A company provides free access or promotional material
A negative point could reduce conversions

When a commercial relationship is relevant, it should be disclosed clearly.

More information is available in the Disclaimer.

Affiliate Links and Advertising

Some pages may contain affiliate links.

When a reader uses one of these links and makes a purchase, First Extra Dollar may receive a commission at no additional cost to the reader.

Affiliate links help support the operation of the website, but they do not change the editorial standards applied to the content.

Advertising is kept separate from editorial judgment.

An advertisement appearing on the site does not mean that First Extra Dollar endorses the advertiser, product, or claim shown in the advertisement.

Content Review

Before publication, articles are reviewed for:

Clarity
Accuracy
Logical structure
Unsupported claims
Unrealistic earnings language
Important risks and limitations
Relevance to beginners
Appropriate disclosures
Useful next steps

The review process is intended to ensure that an article helps the reader make a decision rather than simply encouraging action.

When We Consider Expert Review

Michael’s finance background is relevant to evaluating costs, profit, assumptions, financial risk, and the practical economics of a side hustle. It does not replace specialist qualifications in every subject covered by the site.

We consider additional expert review when an article’s central guidance depends on interpreting or applying:

Tax rules or accounting obligations
Contracts, employment law, licensing, or other legal requirements
Insurance coverage or liability
Privacy, cybersecurity, or sensitive account practices
Work involving minors or vulnerable people
Medical, health, or accessibility claims
High-risk physical work or specialized safety procedures
Other regulated or professionally restricted activities

When an appropriate expert reviews an article, we aim to identify the reviewer, relevant qualifications, scope of review, and review date.

If expert review is not available, we limit the content to general educational information supported by appropriate primary sources, make the limitation clear, and encourage readers to consult a qualified professional for advice specific to their circumstances.

Updates and Review Schedule

Side-hustle information can change.

Platforms may change their fees, rules, eligibility requirements, features, or payment systems. Laws and tax requirements may also change.

We aim to prioritize review according to how quickly the subject may change and how seriously outdated information could affect a reader.

Our general review schedule is:

Quarterly: App, platform, tool, product, pricing, payout, eligibility, and feature comparisons
Every six months: Tax, legal, scam, privacy, insurance, and higher-risk safety content
Annually: Earnings and cost benchmarks, pricing examples, seasonal opportunities, and market-dependent comparisons
Every 12–18 months: Evergreen planning, productivity, workflow, and general beginner-guidance content
As soon as reasonably practical: Material changes that could significantly affect a recommendation, reader safety, eligibility, cost, or legal obligation

These are editorial review targets rather than guarantees that every sentence, link, or external detail will be rechecked on a fixed date.

An article’s publication or last-updated date may be displayed on the page. A last-updated date is used when meaningful changes have been made, not merely for minor formatting or wording edits.

Readers should confirm current requirements directly with the relevant platform, company, government authority, or qualified professional before making an important decision.

Corrections

We aim to correct meaningful factual errors when they are identified.

Minor spelling, grammar, formatting, or clarity changes may be made without a formal correction notice.

More substantial errors may require an update, clarification, or correction note.

You can learn more in the Corrections Policy.

External Contributions

If First Extra Dollar accepts contributions from other writers in the future, those contributions will be reviewed before publication.

Contributors will be expected to:

Provide accurate information
Disclose relevant conflicts of interest
Avoid unsupported earnings claims
Identify the basis of their experience
Follow the editorial standards described on this page

First Extra Dollar will retain final editorial control over published content.

Professional Advice

The content on First Extra Dollar is provided for general educational and informational purposes.

It is not personalized financial, legal, tax, investment, accounting, or business advice.

Readers should consider their own circumstances and consult an appropriately qualified professional when necessary.

Questions About Our Editorial Standards

Questions, concerns, or reports of possible errors can be submitted through the Contact page.