Mom's Side Hustle Started in Garage, Makes $5 Million a Year

Key Takeaways

Meyrignac traveled to China and invested $30,000 to place her first order for Cali’s Books.

In the years since, Cali’s Books has surpassed $1 million in revenue — on track for $5 million in 2025.

This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Carinne “Cali” Meyrignac, 45, of Los Angeles, California. Meyrignac is the founder of Cali’s Books , a certified minority- and woman-owned children’s publishing house projected to reach $5 million in revenue this year. Meyrignac launched the company from her garage in 2016, and nearly a decade later, Cali’s Books has grown into a global, family-run business with more than 50 titles selling over 500,000 copies worldwide. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Cali’s Books. Carinne Meyrignac.

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