Say good-bye to the Dilbert cartoons pinned up on your corporate cubicle wall … to a commute that stretches out longer than it takes an astronaut to orbit the earth … to one more day stuck at the freeway ramp behind 55 other nail-biting commuters.
Say hello—with several million other Americans—to your own home-based business! Here are eight to get you thinking:
1. Antique Locator. Here’s a great business for anyone who travels to flea markets and has (or is willing to acquire) special knowledge of furniture, housewares, collectibles, and the like. How to begin? Try contacting interior designers. Tell them you are willing to handle acquisitions for their projects. Distribute flyers at auctions and flea markets. You may need a garage or other building to store your finds.
2. Attic Cleaner. Do a lot of homeowners a favor by helping them clean and organize their attics, garages, closets and basements. If you’re already an organized person, simply use your own skills to sort the valuable and practicable items from the trash items. Then, organize yard sales to generate income for your clients and charge a percentage. If you’re not already an organized person, some of the many books on the market will turn you into an expert. Establish relationships with outlets that supply storage racks, shelves, and other organizing tools and design space-saving storage areas to help organize the area.
3. Bicycle tour guide. Make those miles you chalk up on your bike every year count for something besides toned leg muscles. Conduct bicycle tours locally or bicycle to national parks or cities or … the possibilities are endless. Check restaurant and sleeping accommodations and set up reservations in advance. If your clients don’t have their own bicycles, contract with a local bicycle shop to get bicycles when you need them.
4. Chauffeur. All you need to set up a chauffeur service is a good-driver’s record and some kind of vehicle—even old, funky ones are acceptable. Acquire the required driver’s license, then get the word out that you’re available to drive people to and from the airport, to the casino or symphony, or wherever they want to go. As business grows, add more cars and drivers and set yourself up as a dispatcher. Make sure you carry the proper insurance.
5. Cooking class teacher. Put your cooking talents to work by offering cooking classes in your home—with virtually no investment. Teach newly arrived wives of foreign businessmen how to cook simple American meals. Or specialize in classes for specific types of foods, such as Mexican, French or Italian. Emphasize desserts, low-fat, or vegetarian. Advertise in local publications. Publicize your classes at no cost by posting notices with special-interest groups, at doctor’s offices, weight clinics, or on community bulletin boards.
6. Herb gardener. If you have a green thumb, you can grow and offer fresh herbs for sale. Herbs in demand include basil, chives, dill, marjoram, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme. Many can be grown indoors in window boxes. Sell your products to local gourmet food shops, farmer’s markets and grocery stores. Prepare a flyer that includes recipes and the benefits of fresh herbs.
7. House restorer. There is an abundance of restoration work available and too few reliable people to do the facelifts. Although this work can be difficult, tedious and dirty, the rewards of restoring a wood mantelpiece in a century-old home makes it worthwhile. The financial windfall can be equally rewarding if you can build a reputation as an artisan. Kitchen and bathroom restorations are also lucrative. A great way to get started is by offering to help a friend restore his or her home in your spare time. The first few jobs may involve trial and error but if you are cautious and talented, your efforts should yield positive results. Many books and videotapes are available to help guide you.
8. Videotaper. Open your own on-location videotaping business to capture special events, such as weddings and graduations on video. Costs of consumer-grade editing equipment have been dropping so you can offer professional-quality videos at low prices. Advertise in local publications and place your name with organizations sponsoring special events. Get the names of a few good tape duplicators who can supply you with low-cost copies of tapes as well as the names of potential customers.
Leave Your Comments