Side Hustleslow risk
Property Tax Protest Service: $150/hr Side Hustle
Start a property tax protest service targeting overpaying homeowners. Simple research process yields $150/hour with 80% success rates.
Last verified: 6/1/2026
Start a property tax protest service targeting overpaying homeowners. Simple research process yields $150/hour with 80% success rates.
Capital Required
$0–$500
Time Commitment
5-20 hrs/week
Skill Level
beginner
Risk Level
low
Property owners across America overpay billions in property taxes annually due to inflated assessments, yet less than 5% challenge them. This creates a perfect arbitrage for anyone willing to learn basic property research—and the window is widening as post-pandemic assessments surge.
The opportunity is straightforward: homeowners pay you 25-50% of tax savings to protest their inflated property assessments. With average savings of $600-2,400 per successful case and minimal startup costs, operators regularly earn $150+ per hour.
Property values exploded 20-40% in most markets between 2020-2024, but many assessments used outdated comparables or inflated peak values. Assessment cycles lag market corrections, meaning properties assessed in 2022-2023 often reflect prices that no longer exist.
Most property owners don't know they can challenge assessments, don't understand the process, or assume it requires a lawyer. In reality, most jurisdictions allow informal protests with basic comparable sales data—something anyone can research online.
Startup Costs: $200-500
Revenue Model: Performance-based pricing
Success Rates:
Timeline to Profitability:
Property taxes equal assessed value times millage rate. While you can't change tax rates, you can challenge inflated assessments using three approaches:
Comparable Sales Approach: Find 3-6 similar properties that sold for less than your client's assessment. Properties must be within 1 mile, similar size/age, sold within 12 months.
Income Approach: For rental properties, calculate value based on rental income using local cap rates.
Cost Approach: For unique properties, calculate replacement cost minus depreciation.
Assessment Analysis: Compare client's assessment to recent sales of comparable properties using county records and MLS data
Market Research: Identify 6-10 comparable sales, focusing on properties that sold for 10-20% below client's assessment
Documentation: Create comparison spreadsheet showing client property versus comparables, highlighting differences that justify lower value
Protest Filing: Submit formal protest with supporting documentation before deadline (typically March-May)
Focus on areas with rapidly changing property values:
Primary Targets:
Property Types:
Avoid luxury homes over $1M (often have professional representation) and properties under $200k (limited savings potential).
Direct Mail: Target neighborhoods where recent sales suggest over-assessments. Mail cost: $0.50-0.70 per piece. Response rate: 0.5-2%.
Door Knocking: Identify specific over-assessed properties and approach owners directly. Higher conversion but time-intensive.
Referral Network: Partner with:
Online Presence: Simple website with case studies and assessment calculator. SEO for "[city] property tax protest" and "lower property taxes [city]."
Research Tools:
Documentation:
Business Management:
Using Inappropriate Comparables: Properties must be truly similar. A 3-bedroom ranch isn't comparable to a 4-bedroom colonial, even if similar square footage.
Missing Deadlines: Protest deadlines are firm—typically 30-60 days from assessment notice. Miss it and wait until next year.
Underpricing Services: Many beginners charge $50-100 per case. This undervalues your research time and expertise. Charge based on value delivered, not hours worked.
Taking Weak Cases: Don't protest assessments that are already fair market value. Focus on clear over-assessments of 10%+ to ensure client satisfaction.
Ignoring Local Rules: Each jurisdiction has specific requirements. Some require sworn affidavits, others accept simple forms. Study local procedures carefully.
Systematize Research: Create templates for common property types. Develop checklist for comparable property qualification.
Hire Virtual Assistants: Train VAs to handle initial research and data entry. Pay $15-25/hour, maintain $100+ hourly margins.
Partner with Agents: Offer revenue splits to real estate agents who refer clients. They have MLS access and client relationships.
Expand Geographically: Once you master local rules, expand to neighboring counties with similar processes.
Most states don't require special licensing for property tax protests, but check local requirements. Some jurisdictions require registration as a "property tax consultant."
Use clear contracts specifying:
Research Local Process: Visit your county assessor website and download protest forms. Understand deadlines and requirements.
Analyze Your Own Property: Practice the research process on your home or a friend's property. This gives you real experience before taking clients.
Set Up Basic Tools: Sign up for free property research accounts and create simple comparison spreadsheet templates.
Property tax protests follow annual cycles:
January-March: Research and client acquisition April-June: Peak protest season (deadlines vary by state) July-September: Hearing season for formal protests October-December: Planning next year's strategy
This seasonality allows you to focus intensely during peak months while developing other income streams during slower periods.
Track These KPIs:
Target Benchmarks:
Successful operators often expand into:
Q: Do I need a law degree or special certification? A: Most states don't require special licensing for property tax protests. You're helping homeowners file paperwork they could file themselves—no legal advice involved. Check your state's requirements, but most allow anyone to provide this service.
Q: How do I get MLS access without a real estate license? A: Partner with a licensed agent for MLS access, use services like RealtyTrac or PropStream, or join local real estate investor groups that often share access. Some MLSs offer limited public access for fee.
Q: What if the assessment was actually fair? A: Only take cases where you can clearly demonstrate over-assessment. Honest assessment of property value protects your reputation and ensures client satisfaction. It's better to decline weak cases than damage your success rate.
Q: How do I handle clients who don't want to pay after winning? A: Use clear contracts with specific payment terms. Many operators require partial payment upfront or use liens on tax savings. Build strong relationships and clearly communicate value provided.
Q: What's the best way to find over-assessed properties? A: Look for neighborhoods with recent sales significantly below assessment levels, properties assessed during market peaks, and unique properties often mis-categorized. County websites often list recent sales vs assessments.
Master the Local Process: Spend 2-3 days understanding your county's assessment and protest procedures. Download all forms and study successful protest examples.
Build Research Capability: Establish MLS access, set up property research accounts, and create standardized comparison templates.
Practice on Test Cases: Analyze 5-10 properties in your area to identify over-assessments and practice creating compelling comparison packets.
Launch Marketing: Start with direct mail to identified over-assessed properties or door-to-door in promising neighborhoods.
Complete First Cases: Take on 2-3 initial clients to refine your process and build case studies for future marketing.
Scale and Systematize: Hire virtual assistants for research, develop referral partnerships, and expand to additional markets.
This side hustle works because it solves a real problem most people don't know they have, requires learnable skills rather than special credentials, and provides clear value that clients happily pay for. The key is starting small, mastering the process, and scaling systematically.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult with qualified professionals for specific situations.
Master your county's assessment and protest procedures by downloading all forms and studying 2-3 successful protest examples
Establish property research capability through MLS access, PropStream subscription, or real estate agent partnership
Practice the research process by analyzing 10 over-assessed properties and creating comparison packets
Launch targeted marketing via direct mail to identified over-assessed properties or door-to-door in promising neighborhoods
Complete 3-5 initial cases to refine your process and develop case studies for future client acquisition
Scale systematically by hiring virtual assistants for research and building referral partnerships with agents and accountants
Most states don't require special licensing for property tax protests since you're helping homeowners file paperwork they could submit themselves. However, some jurisdictions require registration as a 'property tax consultant.' Check your state's requirements, but most allow anyone to provide this service without legal credentials.
Partner with licensed real estate agents for MLS access, use services like RealtyTrac or PropStream ($30-80/month), join local real estate investor groups that share access, or use limited public MLS access some areas offer. You can also rely heavily on public county records and Zillow for initial research.
Only accept cases where you can clearly demonstrate over-assessment of at least 10%. Do preliminary research before taking clients—if recent comparable sales support the current assessment, decline the case. It's better to maintain a high success rate than take questionable cases that damage your reputation.
Use detailed contracts specifying payment terms, consider requiring 25-50% payment upfront, and build strong client relationships throughout the process. Some operators use liens on tax savings or payment plans. Clear communication about value provided and professional documentation help ensure payment.
Focus on neighborhoods where recent sales are 15-20% below assessment levels, properties assessed during 2022-2023 market peaks, and unique properties often mis-categorized by assessors. Use county websites to compare recent sales prices to current assessments, and target areas with rapid gentrification or recent market declines.