FROM PACKING BOXES TO STACKING PAYCHECKS: HOW MILITARY SPOUSES ARE TURNING RELOCATION SKILLS INTO REAL INCOME
If you’ve been a military spouse for more than a hot minute, you already know PCS season isn’t just about new orders and boxes. It’s an Olympic-level sport of packing, planning, organizing, and surviving—and some spouses are realizing those skills are worth serious money.
Imagine turning your PCS superpowers into a portable side hustle (or even a full-blown business) that moves with you. It’s happening all over the military community—and the best part? You already have the skills.
Military Spouses Turning PCS Challenges into Thriving Businesses
When it comes to navigating the unique challenges of military moves, some savvy spouses have turned their firsthand PCS experiences into thriving businesses that help others do the same.
Mallory “DITY Mama” Pevoto has built a community around making Do-It-Yourself moves easier and less stressful. Megan Harless, founder of PCS Like a Pro, offers expert guidance and resources that empower military families to take control of their PCS journeys. Meanwhile, the authors behind ABCs of PCS provide practical, step-by-step advice to simplify every aspect of relocation.
These inspiring entrepreneurs prove that turning PCS expertise into a successful venture isn’t just a dream—it’s a real, achievable path for military spouses everywhere.
These entrepreneurs tap into a community tightly bound by military life—always on the move, always needing help, always grateful for someone who’s “been there.”
Mallory “DITY Mama” Pevoto: Building a Brand from 13 DIY Moves
If anyone knows how to PCS, it’s Mallory Pevoto. She and her family have tackled 13 DITY/PPM moves in 13 years—and instead of just surviving them, she turned her expertise into a personal brand as DITY Mama on Instagram.
Mallory shares free resources like kids’ PCS packets, “Open First” box checklists, and weekly packing planners. Her audience loves her not just for the tips, but for her humor and honesty about the chaos.
She’s been featured on military podcasts, websites, and spouse blogs, all because she leaned into what she knew best: helping other military families succeed in their moves.
Her takeaway for aspiring PCS entrepreneurs? “Your personal experience is expertise. Share it. Someone out there needs it—and will pay for it.”
PCS Like a Pro: A Resource and a Business Model
Some military spouses skip the business-from-scratch phase by creating a community resource first.
PCS Like a Pro started as a guide for military families, packed with tools, checklists, and insider hacks. It grew into a go-to PCS support hub that other spouses can now emulate.
From printable inventories to housing-hunt worksheets, this kind of resource proves you can start with something simple—like organizing the PCS info you already know—and expand it into a product or service.
The ABCs of PCS: Turning Family Needs into a Product
Navy spouses created The ABCs of PCS, an illustrated children’s book that turns moving into an adventure for kids. Not only does it help families ease their children’s anxieties, but it’s also a perfect example of how PCS experiences can inspire a marketable product.
Think about it: What PCS problems have you solved in your own home? Could those solutions become something other families buy—whether it’s a book, a guide, a service, or a workshop?
Five Ways to Monetize Your PCS Skills
Whether you’re all about bubble wrap or you’ve mastered settling in at a new duty station, there’s a way to turn those talents into income:
1. Offer Pre-Move Decluttering & Organization – Help families purge before the movers arrive.
2. Packing & Labeling Services – Create an easy-to-unpack system with color codes or room tags.
3. Unpacking & Home Setup – Set up kitchens, kids’ rooms, or home offices for busy families.
4. PCS Coaching – Guide others through the paperwork, timelines, and logistics.
5. Content & Product Creation – Sell checklists, planners, guides, or even kid-friendly PCS books.
Your PCS Skills Are Already a Business Toolkit
You don’t need an MBA, a warehouse, or a massive following to start. You just need to look at your PCS skills as a service someone else is willing to pay for.
Start small—help one friend for a fee, create a downloadable PCS guide, or offer weekend unpacking services. Like Mallory, you could build a brand. Or like the creators of PCS Like a Pro and The ABCs of PCS, you could create a product that lives on beyond your own moves.
PCS will always be part of military life—but now, it could also be part of your paycheck.
PCS Side Hustle Quick Start Guide: Launch in One Weekend
You don’t need months of planning to start monetizing your PCS expertise. If you’ve got the skills, here’s how to get moving—literally.
Step 1: Pick Your PCS Niche (1 hour)
Think about what you already do well during a move:
- Decluttering before the movers arrive
- Packing fragile items like a pro
- Creating checklists for kids or pets
- Hunting for housing long-distance
- Unpacking and organizing fast
Tip: The more specific, the better—“unpack your kitchen in 48 hours” is easier to sell than “I help with moves.”
Step 2: Set a Starter Price (1 hour)
Don’t overthink it. Choose a flat fee or hourly rate to start. Check your local Facebook marketplace or spouse groups for what organizers or packers charge in your area.
Example Starter Rates:
Suggestions only.
- $25–$40/hour for organizing or unpacking
- $75–$150 flat fee for a pre-move purge session
- $10–$20 for printable PCS checklists
Step 3: Spread the Word (2–3 hours)
Tell everyone you know - (and their sister)
- Post in local military spouse Facebook groups (follow each group’s rules).
- Share on your personal Instagram or TikTok—bonus points for before/after pics.
- Ask friends to tag you when someone posts, “PCS help needed.”
Step 4: Deliver + Document (During the Job)
Take photos (with permission) of your work. These will be your before/after proof for future clients. Even one good project can become your entire marketing portfolio.
Step 5: Level Up (Ongoing)
Once you’ve done a few jobs, you can:
- Build a simple one-page website with your services and rate
- Offer package deals (like “PCS Prep + Unpack”)
- Create and sell digital products (checklists, planners, kids’ activity packs)
Pro Tips from Pro MilSpos
Mallory/DITY Mama’s Tip: “Share your real PCS stories online—your personality is part of your brand.”
PCS Like a Pro Lesson: Organize your knowledge into easy-to-use tools, then package them as a product.
The ABCs of PCS Inspiration: Creative ideas—like children’s books—can help families in unique ways while creating steady income.
You’ve done this before—probably more times than you can count. The only difference between you and the spouses already making money from PCS skills? They started charging for what they were already doing for free.
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