Lesson

Side Jobs & Business Math

6-8th Grades

45 min

Summary

Total compensation isn't just wages or salary earned—gig workers keep significantly less of every dollar. This lesson explores the hidden costs of being your own boss and the Golden Business Math Formula every side hustler must know.

Activities

Bellringer: The Double Tax Trap

Pose the true/false statement on gig vs. employee earnings.
Give students 1–2 minutes to commit to an answer before revealing.

6 min

Instruction

Walk through W-2 vs. 1099, the 15.3% self-employment rate, and deductions.
Land on Revenue − Expenses = Net Profit as the takeaway formula.

10 min

Discussion: Hustle vs. Office

Split the room and have each side argue freedom vs. security.
Remind students there's no wrong answer, but there is a math difference.

8 min

Activity: Mini Business Plan

Students complete pages 9–10 of the Middle School workbook independently.
Pair up to swap and review entrepreneurial ideas.

16 min

Wrap-Up & Assessment

If you charge $10 per dog walk, complete 4 walks, and spend $12 on supplies, what are your total revenue and net profit?
Why is it dangerous for a side hustler to spend 100% of their business earnings?

5 min

Est. Time	Activity	Description
6 min	Bellringer: The Double Tax Trap	Pose the true/false statement on gig vs. employee earnings. Give students 1–2 minutes to commit to an answer before revealing.
10 min	Instruction	Walk through W-2 vs. 1099, the 15.3% self-employment rate, and deductions. Land on Revenue − Expenses = Net Profit as the takeaway formula.
8 min	Discussion: Hustle vs. Office	Split the room and have each side argue freedom vs. security. Remind students there's no wrong answer, but there is a math difference.
16 min	Activity: Mini Business Plan	Students complete pages 9–10 of the Middle School workbook independently. Pair up to swap and review entrepreneurial ideas.
5 min	Wrap-Up & Assessment	If you charge $10 per dog walk, complete 4 walks, and spend $12 on supplies, what are your total revenue and net profit? Why is it dangerous for a side hustler to spend 100% of their business earnings?

Lesson Prep

Middle School Personal Finance Workbook

Complete pages 9-10, "So You Wanna Be an Entrepreneur?"

Middle School Personal Finance Workbook

Complete pages 9-10, "So You Wanna Be an Entrepreneur?"

Workbook

120 min

Class Presentation

Includes a 16-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.

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Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout

Unit 3: Earning & Taxation

Tax Structures

Total compensation isn't the only thing the government cares about — three different levels of government all want a slice of your money. This lesson explores federal, state, and local taxes and how flat, progressive, and regressive structures hit different incomes in very different ways.

6-8th Grades

45 Min

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