Lets Toss Out Ideas On Making A Buck [Archive]

Wildflower

11-27-2006, 09:50 AM

Once a month I get together with some other ladies and rent a local building for a small flea market. It's usually the same few people that do it. Our table space is $10, we get two to three conference-size tables depending on how many people show up to sell. I usually make anywhere from $50 to $150. Some of the other ladies make more, but then they have nicer stuff to sell. Most of my stuff is donated by people moving, family members cleaning out closets, and there are a few craft items I make. Even if I don't make much money it's fun to get together once a month.

gump

11-27-2006, 01:20 PM

What about waiting tables Fri, Sat & Sun? Too much work or good money? Pizza delivery?

Northwoods_Hippie

11-28-2006, 02:54 AM

Gump,

That is what I do, wait tables all winter!! The money (tips) is usually pretty good until March/April when the snow mobile season runs out.

My main employment is painting houses, exteriors only, so during the winter I have to find other work. So I also clean houses, and am the caretaker of a large resort, great work in this tourist rich area of the northwoods.

Peace,
Margie

DonnaKay

11-28-2006, 10:35 AM

What about waiting tables Fri, Sat & Sun? *Too much work or good money?

Hi Gump!! I've been waiting tables for the last two months and the answer is BOTH........it's way too much work but the money can be really good. I have had nights where I have come home dog tired, feet killing me and only 40 bucks to show for it....other nights I've felt like I hardly worked and have made over a hundred not counting the hourly wage....it's those nights that keep you coming back for more abuse.

Donna

gump

11-28-2006, 11:17 AM

How do you know if you the right personality for waiting tables? I just can't see myself putting up with a lot of sh!t from customers - read not good for tips :-/

Northwoods_Hippie

11-29-2006, 03:13 AM

Gump,

Since I moved to the Northwoods of Wisconsin three years ago I have had several different jobs in the service industry. Bartended the first winter, made great $$ on the weekends, and yes the work can be hard sometimes just like any other job. The second winter I decided to take a break from working in bars and worked at a local grocery store, full-time no health benefits, and the pay was only 7.50 an hour, it was a terrible winter money wise and that made me dislike the job. So this winter it is back to the waiting tables and bartending for me.

The things I had the most trouble dealing with when I bartended was drunk nasty snowmobilers, had one guy drop his pants and shake his "you know what" at me, these are times that call for extreme temper control, however things like this don't happen every day!!

This winter I am working at an up-scale restaurant as opposed to the local "burger/pizza" bar place, mainly so I don't have to deal with drunks. I make good tips which off-sets the $3.00 per hour pay rate. I enjoy the people I work with, and for the most part enjoy the customers.

Honestly I really don't like people all that much, funny right, but I don't! So here is how I deal with grumpy, complaining types or families with a lot of bothersome loud children...I call it ACTING!! When I walk out of the kitchen I paste a big smile on my face and pretend that I am auditioning for a role in a movie or play...it works every time!!

By the way I am 43 years old, and yes there are some times then I hurt all over after a busy night carrying heavy trays, and my feet almost always hurts but to me it is worth it as I can continue to live here in the woods!

Margie

MYellowRose

12-02-2006, 08:13 AM

I signed up today to sell Country Bunny Bath & Body products. They don't have a very large line but I like the way they're made and the fact that the lady who started the company believes in "family first". I'll be eagerly awaiting the arrival of my kit. If anyone is interested let me know and once I get my rep number I'll pass it along to you and you can go online and check it out.

humbug

12-17-2006, 02:25 PM

When I was pregnant and when my son was little I used to clean houses. I charged 11.00 cash over the table per hour. I had to turn work away. I know people are always looking for good hardworking house keepers.
I have also made wooden nic nacs using patterns from " The Winfield Collection" catalog. I sold a lot of these at craft fairs.
My son mows lawns and does lanscaping. He keeps busy all summer.

DV8

01-07-2007, 10:07 AM

Around here in eastern TN, I live near a scrap yard, so I go around with my pickup & trailer (keepin winches handy) and pick up old washers, dryers, stoves, remove junk cars, & take it all to the scrap yard to sell.

Luckily, I have the space to put things I may come across, untill I have enough for a whole load.

By doing this, "scrap Collecting", I am helping do my part to recycle, but also, it's a good fallback, as I have prolly $300 worth of scrap on the trailer even now, which is WAY better off going into my pockets rather than rusting away or joining the landfills...

Sometimes it's pain in the a$$ hard werk, but it's an honest, & fruitful side job for keeping ahead of those bill collectors.

Also my wife makes quilts in her spare time, which we sell at flea markets, tho we gift more out than we sell, still, it's her thing, like mine is scrapping.

Allways up for more Money Making or Saving Tips.

Great Topic
~DV8

ryanmercer

01-07-2007, 03:53 PM

I've supplemented my income a little selling Acai Plus, I've sold some on Amazon in '06 (but hated the awful comission they charge), and I've sold a lot in eBay the past year or so... other than that I haven't really found any other ways to add to my income.

fishinhunter

03-24-2007, 04:09 AM

i cut up deer during deer season and make 4 or 5 hundred during the season.i dont make jerkey so i only charge $30 a head.its real hard to get a small business going just starting.people think you will rip them off and will pay more to someone else to feel secure.

papasmurf

03-25-2007, 03:26 AM

You could try refereeing sporting events. I ref college lacrosse for extra income.

It is a lot of fun, plus I get some money for exercising.

It helps if you have play the sport you would like to ref, but it is not required. Often, you need to take a class and an exam.

12vman

03-25-2007, 04:13 AM

I believe that there are many folks out here with crafty, inventive minds with ideas/products that could be marketed but really don't know how to go about it.. (Me for one)

I remember a "CO-OP" idea being mentioned some time ago. (Don't know if it was here or on another forum) Maybe this thought could be revisited..

tufhelp

03-25-2007, 03:26 PM

The absolute key to moderate success in any crafts like endeavor is getting the word out about your product – getting it before the public. Even if you do have the best ever mouse trap in history, the world beating a path to your door is a myth and flat unlikely.

Presentation is the key, whether it is in the form of one on one interaction or mass unveiling/advertising in its many forms. There are many schemes to get your product in front of the public.

I changing my thoughts on full fledged “shows”, as we went to one of the bigger/better ones here in Albuquerque and we were out $18.00 before we even saw the “art” up for sale. These promoters have turned into complete money grubbers and the state fair grounds where they hold it are right in line. They see a buck and go for it like bull dogs. They have escalated the parking fee from $2 to $4 over a period of 1 year. The door fee was $7 each… The booth rate (10’x 6’) for the exhibitors was $650 day or $1000 for the show. I was watching closely as we walked around and we took our time just to see the transactions. We were there 2 ½ hours and we did not witness a single transaction, nor did we make one ourselves (too mad about the $18.00)! Now that is a tough row to hoe if you ask me.

Smaller shows and specialty shows that might cater to your “target” audience if you have one, that seems more likely to garner either “in hand sales” or future sales through product/service introduction.

In the case of artisan crafts, actually personally taking them to venues that could handle them on a consignment basis seems the most likely. If your items require display, consider including a display rack or display packaging that will enable them to be in full view and hopefully near the cash register. Establish a route throughout your area, county, state (which ever you can manage) and give service and follow through for your retailers. The one thing you can count on is that if the item sells, they will re-stock – they want to make money just like you do. The problem with this is that the split is usually 50/50, or basically they want to mark everything up at least 100%.

One of my early ventures in high school I was involved in making rustic picture frames out of saguaro cactus wood (the ribs of the dead cacti). It was OK, but in those days they sold to a distributor for .50 and he sold them to the rubber tomahawk shops for $1.00 and they retailed them to $2.00-$2.50. Now you can’t even do it because the downed cactus wood is “protected”.

12vman

03-25-2007, 05:05 PM

Great Post, tufhelp! ;)

My dilemma is what I have to offer and the area that I'm in. And the frugality of my mindset..

I'm almost totally alone, Living the lifestyle that I do, In the area that I'm in. Not to mention the notion of operating a home strictly on 12 v.d.c.

Actually I'm very comfortable with what I've accomplished. I have most everything everyone else has as far as everyday "Needs" of life without much effort involved to maintain it. My home has been my project and I've become very creative on how to produce common "Creature Comforts" with what I have to work with..

It's my passion to promote my lifestyle but most folks can't fathom the thought. I know it works but trying to convince the general public is another story all together..

Sure, I could build things and sell them but who operates their home in the fashion that I do? I'm not conventional, Can ya tell.. 8)

I could build stuff that is more conventional but this would defeat my purpose. I don't want to think that I've gained my knowledge for nothing..

I see my niche to be very limited and narrow. Even in the areas that solar power flourishes. But I know my system will be paid off in my lifetime and with little maintenance required. Without a huge chunk of money upfront either..

How do you sell this? Write a book? You can't take it to a show because the misconceptions that are out there would kill me. Do tours? Done that with not much of a response..

I'm sure that I'm not the only 12 volt home in the world but I'm willing to promote my knowledge and attempt to make a meager living from it..

Your thoughts..?
Don

Gunnywag

06-18-2007, 07:53 PM

A friend told me the other day that information is the largest seller on the internet.

12vman, I would think that the information and techniques that you have developed would be of interest/worth. I think the easiest - least costly way to sell your ideas, etc. would be via the internet. I have spent from $5 to $45 on downloadable information. Word documents or PDF files. Some people mail out a CD, others give you a secret web address, others just e-mail you the information. Some times the information seems too elementary for the money I've spent, but I have yet to be ripped off. The best part is that once you have written it all down there are no publishing fees!

Hope this helps.

Mark

creekside-angie

06-19-2007, 05:06 AM

I have a few ways that I make a couple extra $$,
I do a little stained glass work,altho not as much as I used to when I had my big studio.I started with craft shows but I could never predict what would be the "hot item" and if I did come up with something good the next year every one had copied my ideas and undercut my prices.So then I started doing custom work and that paid decent until had to move.I'm just now getting my studio back up and running,but not as much space :-[
I also breed Shih-tzu puppies.I really enjoy my little "dust mops" and only have a few,not a puppy factory.I usually have a litter in the spring and 2 near Christmas, this brings in enough to get us thru the winter when my hubbie gets laid off. I also do grooming for my local people who buy my pups.This usually brings in around 100.-120. a month.Plus I get to see the puppies grow up! :)
I also consider any food preservation I do as income because thats money from the house hold budget that I get to keep. ;D

tufhelp

07-03-2007, 04:41 PM

Sniff, sniff, sniff... I'm sniffin' SPAM!!! With a bit of pyramid on the side...

THANKS TO ADMIN, THE SPAMMER THAT POSTED HERE HAS BEEN REMOVED!!!

gump

11-01-2007, 01:57 PM

I'm curious, where do you all find stuff for Ebay? What have been your most profitable deals?

machinemaker

11-02-2007, 12:30 PM

Gump,
I'm an industrial scrounger. I have industrial clients that I do work for and I am in the industrial parts of town either to do work or get supplies. I always have my eyes open for stuff that looks like its getting tossed. If I hear of a business that is moving or going out of business I offer to help them move or close down the facility. I keep a little stash of cash in case I see something I want. For example: I have two carton sealing machines that I saw a company put outside in the weather. they wouldn't give them to me or sell them to me for a year, then I offered to haul them away and they gave them to me. I'll clean them up do some repairs and off to ebay they go. It helps to find the person in charge of the facility rather than some one who might have actually put the stuff outside. Most plant managers feel like the stuff just sitting around, clutter, looks bad on their records. Other free items: a roll in band saw, lots of electric motors and blowers, pumps, old robotics and lots of hydraulic components. Some things I use in my own shop and others I sell. If there is no market there is always the scrap price I can get for it. Maybe you aren't in the same industrial environment, but from your past posts I would guess that you are in a corporate office environment, look for what you are knowledgeable of or around. Is there scrap value or resell value, maybe a service that is needed. I know a guy who got frustrated with working for the man and now has more work as a janitor for businesses and makes more than when he was in mid management.

gump

11-02-2007, 03:10 PM

Thanks for sharing MM and yes, I am a corporate drudge ;)

mike82934

12-26-2007, 11:12 AM

12vman: I like Gunny's suggestion of selling a downloadable PDF file. As long as you have Adobe Acrobat or a similar program, it would cost you next to nothing to sell it online. The only problem that I would really foresee is that there is alot of information about solar power out there already. You basically need to find a niche, so that you don't have to compete with the other sources.
You say that your system requires little maintenance and a low up-front cost? There's your niche.
If you want to go the route of writing/selling a book, look into print-on-demand (POD) publishing. It's still self-publishing, but you don't have a huge initial cost; if you can do the formatting yourself and just send in a disc with the book on it, it actually seems pretty inexpensive. I don't know much about it, or what companies are the best and worst, but I've been told that you can get a small initial run of books for maybe $200. Then you can sell copies online, as well, and the company is supposed to just print them off and ship them as they're ordered (no inventory gathering dust).

Kooga

12-29-2007, 08:55 PM

Are there any freelance programmers onhere?
Would that be sustainable with a future?
I've read before that there is an American company specialising in out sourcing IT work to people living in "rural" area's.

Btw hi all new member ;D

chrisser

01-03-2008, 09:23 AM

Kooga,

My wife has toyed with the idea of freelance web design. Supposedly there's a bid site online, but you're competing with the third world once you go remote. Not at all lucrative unfortunately.

I'm not a developer, but am in IT (sys/net/db admin) and the nature of my job has found me doing more and more coding and scripting and some site building. So far, its been a "learn-by-doing" process, or "learn by taking apart my vendors' code" to be more accurate. I've thought about taking a few classes to learn how to do it right (mostly jscript and vbscsript). If you could find a niche and make a useful piece of software, that might generate some income.

I happen to be in the real estate industry (not a realtor though) and have a couple of ideas I might be able to develop, but none are going to ever morph into a full-time level income, I suspect. Probably just end up taking more of my freetime for minimal income since anything I make will be taxed at the highest income bracket.

pinetreefarm

01-05-2008, 07:27 AM

We own an internet company. DH and I are not active in it anymore but we get monthly income from it. We began by providing dial-up then moved into SDSL, primarily to businesses, banks etc. We have provided excellent local service at a reasonable price and managed to keep all the banks in 4 communities + some large businesses. SDSL is better than ADSL which also helped. We have managed to do this by also providing pipe to other internet companies. We expanded dialup when most were getting out of it and it still a good moneymaker.

We have been at this for 11 years now. This is probably not possible. We also hosted website but this was not profitable.

Pine

turboRC

01-12-2008, 02:28 PM

This is a great forum!
Washing windows is great for a person with next to nothing to do anything with. Newspaper works great!

Cutting and selling firewood pays good and good exercise.

It is hard to find stuff to sell on ebay for some folks. But you can't go wrong by taking a motorcycle, 3wheeler or 4wheeler apart and selling on ebay. Then sell what is left for scrap.

The best thing I've found at thrift stores to sell on ebay is hunting videos and old books.

Another good ebay deal is when your driving around and see a tractor, cool truck or boat for sale. Stop and ask that person if you can sell it on ebay. Just give them their asking price and you keep the extra. I've pulled this move more times than I can count. I always do a 3 day listing so it will be over soon. It will cost you about 40.00 to find out if you can make a profit on most these items.

I have bought stuff at harbor frieght and sold it on ebay. Find something will work with a hobby or business put the item in that section. Make your profit from shipping.

I've done and do all these things I've listed. Hope it helps?

AlchemyAcres

01-25-2008, 03:39 PM

How about a set of homestead/self-reliances related 'plans' or other DIY info?
SPAM homesteading/self-reliance oriented boards with a link to your website, sales pitch and ordering info in your signature line or where ever.

Looks like it works for some!
I wanna try it!!!

~Martin ;D

gardenfay

01-25-2008, 04:19 PM

Uh, yea, Martin - at first I was a little unsure
what you were talking about; but as I scroll a little further down the '50 most recent posts list' - i think i am getting the picture. hmmmm. ;)

oldnndway

04-06-2008, 06:01 PM

I'm still seeing e-bay as about the best method I've come up with.

It has worked well for me.
I mostly sell books and have gotten to know my market pretty well over the last several years of fooling with it.
But just about anything can be sold on that venue.

I've also sold driftwood, cypress knees, pine cones, pine knots,wasp and hornet nests, a turtle shell, carvings (that I carved), collectibles (and people collect everything), clothes and more stuff than comes to mind right now.

It is amazing what happens when you get 2 or 3 avid collectors that all want the 1 thing you have listed in their area of interest, be it books, magazines or whatever.

There is just such a HUGE number of people looking at the site around the clock and all of them are looking for something.
All you have to do is find out what they are looking for then go find it for them.

(sometimes) Easy Money !

I_AM_LEGEND

04-06-2008, 06:54 PM

I know some guys on a hunting website that make predator calls and sell them from anywhere between $15 all the way up to $100-$200 depending on the materials used, size and detail. Basically all you need is a wood turner, chisels, some wood/acrylic/animal horn, a soundboard and a reed. Some of the guys have there one business and website and do it for a living while others just do it as a hobby...

There's also a few guys that reload ammo and sell it, custom paint guns and make braided lanyards from paracord and sell them.

oldnndway

04-06-2008, 08:07 PM

There is a market for dang near everything you can think of and the internet just opens the world up to you.
You can put your product in front of millions.

vargthewanderer

04-07-2008, 05:36 AM

Start a home foundry in your garage and cast custom parts for people.

Plow snow, build old fashioned cannons for people who like to hunt deer with them( http://www.buckstix.com/howitzer.htm <---This guy is nuts!), dig out stumps, ect.. The usual ;)

machinemaker

04-07-2008, 02:52 PM

vargthewandereer,
do you do any castings? have you looked at www.backyardmetalcasting.com?
kent

oldnndway

04-07-2008, 08:00 PM

One bit of advice I've seen that was given often on e-bay discussion boards was to start with something you know about, that is familiar to you.
That's good advice there or in any enterprise.

Finding a niche market , a specialty, can really add to the equation.

If you are just one more guy trying to unload something that 10,000 more folks are trying to sell then your chance of success goes way down.

But ...

Be the only guy advertising that you have some "part number abc123 super gizmo" for a Harley shovelknucklepan head that you cast and machined in your shop and you might be surprised at the volume.

... and the neat thing is is that now, with the internet (and a little practice at manipulating it) you can put whatever it is that you are trying to exchange for payment in front of (literally) The World.

I choose to go to market via e-bay but there are a million other ways to do it and most of them are valid.

I believe that ... If you can make it (and it's not just pure junk), They will buy it, you just have to get "it" in front of them.

Uncle_Alvah

04-24-2008, 09:20 AM

I'm scratching my head on this very subject right now. ???
I'm not looking to earn extra coin on a continuing basis, but any ideas as to how I might make a "one-time" influx of cash a reality would be helpfull.
Have an unexpected bill that is giving me headaches.
Something along the lines of a one-two week job would be ideal!!!!!!!

msta999

04-24-2008, 09:50 AM

The only way I have been able to make any real money, above my regular job, is to buy a broke down vehicle, fix it and sell it or to just get a second job, which sucks, but does produce money.
good luck.

machinemaker

04-24-2008, 09:52 AM

I don't know what your skills are, but in the past I could find part time machining jobs, usually at night for companies facing a deadline. I also bring home a lot of salvaged industrial equipment that I usually either clean up, or part out to sell on ebay or haul to the scrap yard. I can do that in slow times to generate a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to help the cash flow. I just keep an eye out for old equipment and companies going out of business.
kent

wy0mn

05-14-2008, 03:16 PM

If there is a facility available, and you meet the health requirements... donate (sell) blood plasma! The Laramie BioLife (where I used to work) gives $60 a week for two donations, thats $240 a month.
I still 'donate' when I'm on a grocery run, it pays for the fuel. But its not economical for me to make the twice weekly run, so I only get the single weekly $20 donation. Hope that made sense, I've been up far too long & have reached the caffeine jitter stage...

WileyCoyote

05-14-2008, 07:21 PM

On donating plasma - I used to do it twice a week for a year - and then came down with hepatitis. No one could prove where it came from - and no one I lived with, worked with, or knew, had it or came down with it. I was 6 weeks in bed on clear liquids while my liver regenerated (the only human organ, supposedly, that does).

Be very cautious about sharing ANY of your bodily fluids, or allowing anyone to open any access in your skin surfaces. With the ever increasing incidents of MRSA and other infections, some virulent and some deadly, some spreadable by a mere cough or sneeze or contact, I will avoid those sorts of exposures wherever, whenever I can. Easy money can sometimes cost you more than you think - it did me. And we received an alert last week that over 55% of all health care workers will contract a form of MRSA in the next 5 years. Just something to think about.

flatwater

05-14-2008, 07:21 PM

wyOmn , when I was in the service and was broke , which was most the time . we would go on vampire liberty and do just what you wrote about only in the late sixty's I think we only got five dollars.
Flatwater

suijurisfreeman

05-14-2008, 07:42 PM

Back in 1974 I found my 'niche' for earning a living. *I began manufacturing a line of carpeted cat furniture. *I designed, manufactured, sold and delivered cat furniture to pet stores in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio.
Eventually I had a 6,000 s.f. factory with 12-15 people working, we shipped UPS to pet stores east of the Mississippi. *In 1986 I closed the factory down and moved my operations home to my garage doing most of the work myself -- still produced something like $10,000 per month, netting 60% of my gross. *I semi-retired in 2001 after I moved to Kentucky.
That's what I did to make a living -- 27 years operating a cat house! *Never could find a easier way to make a living, so I stuck with it until 2001. *Never thought I'd get back into it again but Firday I got a $1,300.00 order from one local store so here I go again -- time to make the donuts!

I'll try to post pictures from my color brochure -- it shows 35-40 items that I manufactured. * Cat-a-Nooga Choo Choo, Kaboose, Riverboat, Airplane, Wishing Well, Mail Box, Horse, Stage Coach, Covered Wagon, Round Houses, Scratching Posts, etc.

Vinland

05-19-2008, 05:15 PM

I started making extra money with woodturning....it's fun and gets me extra money at the tattoo shops as I turn plugs for them (plugs are what you may see the local kids wearing in their ears...from 14g-2")

suijurisfreeman

05-31-2008, 08:35 AM

Here's those pictures of my 'cat houses' that I said I would post:

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/suijurisfreeman/brochures%20pics/brochurepics.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/suijurisfreeman/brochurepics_3.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/suijurisfreeman/brochurepics_2.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk296/suijurisfreeman/brochures%20pics/brochurepics_1.jpg

smileylove162

06-30-2008, 08:20 PM

I live in Southwestern Ontario, Canada & the easiest way for us to add a bit of income is to drag out our roadside stand (we live on a fairly busy country road) and sell our garden extras, our honey, eggs, plus I make fudge and peanut brittle. The city folk just love it! Hubby tinkers with cornstoves, and we found that since they're so popular here but no one services after the sale,whenever some poor family's cornstove gets sick hubby goes over, fixes it, and we end up with a couple of extra bucks or nice baked goods or a tank of gas. Every bit helps!

Cil

07-07-2008, 11:45 AM

Giving classes in a particular subject, that you are good at. Like Shamrock and her frugal grocery shopping.

Cil

07-07-2008, 04:52 PM

I was remebering the old The Waltons tv show and an episode where Ben and Jimbob made molasses from wild sorghum [sp?] plants. If when the SHTF comes, sugar maybe like back in WWII. By becoming so scarce the government has to ration it. Just an idea.

<oh why? oh why can't i spell correctly today? ;) this the second post i've had to correct.>

SingleStack45

08-17-2008, 09:47 PM

12vman: I like Gunny's suggestion of selling a downloadable PDF file. As long as you have Adobe Acrobat or a similar program,

If you download Open Office (www.openoffice.org)...the word program has an option to export saved documents to PDF. I've used it for resumes and it makes a neat, clean PDF.

Clair_Schwan

09-01-2008, 06:30 PM

suijurisfreeman:

What a great example for the rest of us - a serious business making serious money. $100K or more a year - now that's what I'm talking about!

My thinking has always gone along the lines of selling "information". It's easy to create, package and send, and it can make lots of money.

Think of consulting, inspecting, writing, analysis, engineering, research, editing and the like. It's not for everyone, but then no business is.

I am putting together a website to help people start their own businesses. I think it is the only way to create meaningful wealth without spending a lifetime doing it. The site provides some profiles of home based businesses and small businesses now, and I'm always looking for more to show to others.

It also has a long list of potential home based business activities to consider.

http://www.sensible-small-business-ideas.com

I've just launched this thing, but I work on it nearly every day. There are probably some ideas that could help those interested in figuring out how to make more money even if they aren't interested in starting a full time enterprise.

I haven't posted my profile on the site yet, but my enterprise is a technical and management consulting operation that I still operate today as a "onezee". It has put me into the debt-free arena, so I can highly recommend it.

Information type businesses are great because they can be operated from any location that has phone, Internet and reasonable access to mail. I used to run my business out of a travel trailer on top of a mountain in California.

I started my own enterprise out of necessity - I owed way more than I could pay. Results show that self-employment is a great way to turn a bad financial situation around.

Good fortune to all of the budding entrepreneurs out there,

Clair

zachweiss

09-05-2008, 01:56 PM

I have been putting together "concerts" for FIVE years.

It's very easy and anyone can do it on a shoestring budget. (I started very small, but I eventually expanded and became the fulltime concert booking agent for The Hard Rock Cafe in Saint Louis, MO.)

For my first concert in 2003, I rented the Farmington City Hall building in Farmington, Missouri. ($50/ insurance included)

I got on the internet and myspace and looked around for a few local bands/performers from the area that would be interested in playing the show. I booked 4 bands for the event. I made a deal with the bands that we would equally share all of the profits. (We all win together, we all lose together)

I printed up some very attractive fliers and posters and started getting the word out.

Long story short, we had 120 paid @ $8 a head = $960

I had around $150 in expenses when it was all said and done, which left $810 to be split up, which was about $160 for myself and each band/performer.

Too bad the place didnt allow food/drinks, because we would have made a good amount of money on concessions as well!

I kept this post very short and simple....if anyone would like to know more about small-time concert and event promotion - please drop me a line, I would be very happy to share ideas and answer any questions!

FYI: There is a specific formula that professional concert promoters use, but it is very impersonal, so I generally just cut everyone in equally.

flatwater

09-05-2008, 05:09 PM

A friend of mine tried to make a buck once but got the serial numbers wrong and it cost him a couple of years in the federal pen. :D :D :D.
Flatwater

LABeekeeper

10-30-2008, 10:38 AM

Get a Buzz. No, not that kind. The Beekeeping buzz.

With a little investment you can make cash outside of your day job from a just few colonies to a few thousand colonies. Choice on number of colonies and finances are yours based on your income. Beekeepers are not required to own land. Make contract with farmer or landower to put bees on his/her property for honey rent or crop pollination fees.

Here in Louisiana, most of the beekeepers I know are over the age of 30. Back breaking work in humidity and working with stinging insects may not be the career move that young people aspire to. So, it makes since America's beekeeping industry needs more beekeepers, if not for pollination of our crops.

This month I made before expenses just about $2,000.00 selling my own honey, honeycomb, chunk honey, handmade candles, handmade soaps, honeystraws, bee pollen, propolis from festivals and online sales via my store on Local Harvest. I've also purchased beeswax from other beekeepers to make my candles and honeystraws from Glorybee Foods in Oregon for resale.

This is my 3rd year beekeeping and I (my bees) produced over a drum (55 gal) of honey from about 15 colonies. I have 35 strong colonies going into the winter with a strong fall nectar flow. Should have 2 to 3 drums of honey by this time next year and I am doubling my colonies via splits, raising my Russian queens, catching swarms, and cutting bees out of structures for cash.

I have a lot of permanent bee yards on small farms. I pay farmer honey for my bees on his or her property and every year every farmer always offers to give me plenty of produce and jelly from the farm for the bee pollination. Pretty sweet deal I think.

If you are interested, start off with a hive or two and see if you get the buzz. If not, then you have plenty of honey for you and your family and friends. Join a local bee club for assistance. There may bee one near you.

proverbs31girl

10-31-2008, 04:43 PM

We had a guy flood our neighborhood with fliers about roof stain removal. His overhead was a truck, a good ladder, and the stain removal supplies. He charged between $300.00 and $500.00 per house. He was an engineer at the shipyard around here but did this on the side. Not bad side money I would say....I would say he did about 5-6 houses around here in 3 weekends....hellava lot bet money then waiting tables or ebaying it! When he has saturated a place...he moves to the next.

gump

11-02-2008, 06:33 AM

I would imagine the guy needed some insurance too.

Walking_Tall

11-08-2008, 06:07 AM

I haven't posted in forever but have checked the forum from time to time. Still working on the debt free thingy so that I can live the dream. So here's what I do for the extra income on the side --- parking lot striping.

I started my business a little over 5 years ago after buying the equipment from a man who was moving away and no longer wanted to stripe parking lots. My start up cost was $4000, which is more than most people have for starting a business. Fact is, I didn't have it either, but since I was already a "slave to lenders", I went $4000 more into debt and made it back and then some in the first 6 months. I do not recommend going into debt to start this type of business --- or any business really. I hate debt like I hate the devil.

Now, you may not have the kind of money to start striping parking lots with the rig that I use, so what can you do? Buy a bucket of Traffic paint from Sherwin Williams, ICI, other, a 9" and 4" paint roller and long handle, and make or buy a stencil for handicap parking. Also, some 1 X 4's to lay along each side of the stripes (not always necessary) can be helpful. I would only recommend this method for re-striping existing stripes --- and only until you can generate enough $$$ to buy a used or new striper. (Or, you may be able to set up a few restriping jobs, and rent the equipment from a local rental store.)

Anyway, I have managed to pay down lots of debt, helped two of my kids go to college without student loans, and without me going further into debt. If my plan continues to work, I have 6 to 8 months to go to get debt free --- and then start saving towards land.

There is a great forum if you are interested in learning more about this business. You can visit

www.parkinglotplanet.com

Good luck to you if you decide to venture out in this side biz.

tufhelp

11-08-2008, 09:01 AM

What a great story! Congratulations on your entrepreneurial spirit and stick-to-it-tiveness... Here in New Mexico you have to have a contractors license for striping, did you face that in Texas? It requires two years "experience working for someone else who has a license already, so you can imagine that the existing business don't want to train anybody to go into competition with them...

Keep up the good work, you'll be debt free before you know it at this rate!

Walking_Tall

11-09-2008, 02:22 PM

No, I did not need a contractors license for striping lots, nor a two year training under another person. I simply registered with the state (Texas) for a sales and use permit and then got going.

My "training" consisted of helping the other guy stripe two parking lots. One involved a new layout (fresh asphalt, no stripes) and the other was restriping existing stripes on an old lot. He moved the next week and I've been going since then.

I did have to (later) take out a general liability insurance policy because I began doing some sub-contract work for a couple of asphalt / paving companies.

It has really been a great experience and a profitable side business for my family. I don't want to do it forever, but it is needed to achieve our goal of becoming debt free and it is helping with that for sure.

So you're in NM. I used to buy my paint from the SealMaster dealer in Albuquerque until the owner sold to another man and moved to Colorado. He used to bring me the paint (no charge for delivery) when he was coming this direction. After he moved, the cost of shipping made it cost prohibitive for me.

Now that the striping season this year is nearing the end for me, I've got to do something through the winter months. I'm thinking about doing some handyman type work. (Of course, my wife thinks I should start with our house. Imagine that!)