Looking for possible Side Business ideas

[Straightup]

I've been thinking of side work for a while. There's so much get rich junk, but I'm not looking for that, and consider myself smart enough to avoid it (plus I'm cheap too!). I'm pretty mechanical (I'm a toolmaker) and I've done several building projects including 840 sq foot addition on my house with 3 car garage underneath. <br /><br />I've lowered my debt pretty good and would like to get a new truck, BUT my finance for dummies book says only loan $ for things that appreciate - and lists them - property, education, and business. So rather than watch my $ go down the tubes, I'd like to see it make more $.<br /><br />I'm looking to invest about what a new vehicle would be or less.<br /><br />My ideas so far have been concessions, building or something on those lines. I've considered getting a bobcat, jackhammer and trailer and start a wrecking co. because destruction is fun. I am worried about making any $ in construction because I am so particular that I spend way more time than I think I could charge for. <br /><br />I am also considering going to school for realty lic. or some sort of Info Tech. training.<br /><br />I'm sure I would probably have #3,000 to #5,000 in lawyer, insurance, advertising and other start up costs. Is that realistic or is it more?<br /><br />Thanks for listening to my long post. Any realistic ideas / success stories appreciated.<br /><br />Jeff

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

Ive got a friend that has gone whole hog into building fountains, they are really getting big around here. Commercial businesses are putting them in also. Banks, motels etc. Bobcat, backhoe and your in business.

 

[dakk1]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

Kitchen cabinet refinishing if you have a population center to support it. Not much competition. Very low start up costs. Very little overhead. I suggested this to a friend about 15 years ago (he was a painter) and he's been doing it for a living ever since. More work than he can do. I am in a related field and turned down this kind of work because I just can't get to it.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

If your looking for a hobby and just weekend work,theres a pretty good market in yard ornments shepard hooks,flower holders,benches and so on.In construction you could run into alot of liabilty issues,insurance,workmans comp,it can get to be a big head ache alot of money.or you could work under the table do small fixes like fixen toilets screen doors and so on there is a demand for skilled labor beleive it or not.good luck also people are always looking for a painter thats reliable.

 

[Twidget]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

I have a friend that started a handy man business a couple of years ago part time. He now supports a family of 5 on it after quitting his job. Best part is he doesnt work weekends or holidays.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

I know a local guy who makes trailers into catering trailers. He sells them on ebay and is making a good living. Caterers use them for events and private people have turned them into lunch trailers for lakes and parks. He has outfitted them for vendors and flea markets too.<br /><br />Probaly one of the most successful people I know has a side business .... he installs trailer hitches, step rails, plows and does this all for the local car dealers. He is absolutely cheaper than dealership labor prices and does much better work than the local u-haul dealer.<br /><br />Bob

 

[KRS]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

If you have a little truck, then you can buy a slide-in unit, place an ad, get certified (if your state requires it) and start Pest Control Spraying on your time off, get monthly contracts and keep them happy.

 

[mrloring]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

I did the plumbing business for a little while in college. I worked at my cousins hardware store, they also did HVAC and plumbing, and did just the small jobs(leaky toilet/faucet) that they were too busy to do. Most people paid cash for the small jobs. One rule in plumbing--poop flows downhill.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

I've thought about wrecking/recycling for a long time, I too like to break things! Well who doesn't? I work in and around the building industry and cannot believe how much recyclable material is just landfilled. I know a guy who scraps drywall. He's paid to remove it from the site and sells it to feedlots for cattle bedding. Another business here is paid to take junk pallets from area businesses and grinds them to mulch and sells it. A siimilar business does the same with waste construction lumber, spreads it on the jobsite as erosion and mud control.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

Whatever idea you decide on, look around, and in the local phone book to see how many OTHER guys are doing the same thing.. maybe even call them to see how booked up they are.. if you call 3 places and they all say they are too busy to squeeze you in, then you might be in a good market.<br /><br />I thought about doing a pressure washing business, getting a big trailer, water tank, GOOD heated pressure washer... until I looked around and every joe schmoe around was doing the same, it would be hard compition, and very seasonal.<br /><br />Seasonal businesses are great, if you have one for each season!<br /><br />My side business is fireworks related, 70% of the year's income is in about a 6 week period. I'm always looking for something.<br /><br />....are you afraid of heights? hang Xmas lights!

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

internet porn, or if you are the queesy type, buy a pressure washer

 

[mrloring]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

Moonshine!! Recruit a college kid to do the selling. College kids will drink anything.

 

[i rowboat]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

Hey Jeff, you and I are in the same boat, excuse the pun...I suggest taking the real estate courses(in Pa., two courses @ 60.00 each, M/W/Sat. for 3 hours, total 60 hrs. over ten weeks), then 50.00 for the exam. Another 1200. for startup costs with a liscenced Broker (approx.). The reason for being liscensed (in my case) is being able to access the Multiple Listing Services, and find low cost property (that may need some work) before it hits the general market, buy and fix and resell (flip, as they say..). You can also find property without a liscence by getting reposessed and sheriff sale lists in your area, etc ...just stay away from the 'get rich quick' programs you see on t.v., it's a lot of work, but it pays.Case in Point: bought three properties at an auction for 44k, resold in 5 yrs. for for 253k and spent 15k total in cleanout and taxes....and it's amazing how many people you meet and opportunities there are for related business, aside from just selling and listing properties! Like: ....ummmm,, what do you wanna do with that boat that's in the back yard?...

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

internet porn, or if you are the queesy type, buy a pressure washer<br /><br />

Mike is the pressure washer used to clean up porn before it's posted!

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

Originally posted by mrloring:<br /> I did the plumbing business for a little while in college..... One rule in plumbing--poop flows downhill.

No wonder you're not plumbing now. There's more to know than you realize.<br />poop ONLY flows downhill.<br />the hot's on the left.<br />payday's on Friday.<br />the boss is a sunuvab1tch

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

If you are the handy type go find a old bobcat and fix it up, you may need to find 2-3 and make 1.<br /><br />bobcat guys make a good living - if they dont have to rent the machine - <br /><br />You can do grading, debris removal, dirt moving - to advertise just drive around with a sign on the truck<br /><br />Plus in the winter you can do snow removal with the bobcat.<br /><br />I have a neighbor who just moved into plumbing - took him a year - because he had to do work a year to become fully licensed but he is doing well now.

 

[fixin]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

If you are the handy type go find a old bobcat and fix it up, you may need to find 2-3 and make 1.<br />If you go the skid steer route,I'd look at Case,they hold up very well and can be found cheap.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

My dad always said I only needed to know THREE things to be a plumber:<br /><br />S-H Don't run uphill<br />Don't bite your fingernails<br />Paydays friday.<br /><br /><br />I do believe you are over complicating it.<br /><br /><br />

Originally posted by BoatBuoy:<br />

Originally posted by mrloring:<br /> I did the plumbing business for a little while in college..... One rule in plumbing--poop flows downhill.

No wonder you're not plumbing now. There's more to know than you realize.<br />poop ONLY flows downhill.<br />the hot's on the left.<br />payday's on Friday.<br />the boss is a sunuvab1tch

 

[PAkev]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

Copycat Idea.......<br /><br />I've got a good friend that contracts with a handful of large department and hardware stores to assemble merchandise that customers usually purchase unassembled. This includes things like bookcases, bicycles, lawnmowers, snowblowers, gas grills, etc. <br /><br />He once told me he gets paid $7.00 for a bicycle and can put about 10 together in about an hour....Not too shabby.<br /><br />Since he gets paid piecework and uses his own tools as a private contractor, he also has the opportunity to qualify a lot of ordinary tool purchases and some vehicle expenses as a "tax deduction"<br /><br />He usually works two evenings during the week for a few hours after his shop mechanic job and Saturday mornings. Financially, it seems to provide his family a few more sheckles to have a few more extras of life.

 

[Straightup]

Re: Looking for possible Side Business ideas

Wow! Thank you everyone for taking me seriously. Great suggestions everyone (except for the porn one). I'm going to keep all these ideas in mind. I know that the key is to work hard not do any work for free (too cheap). It's funny how when you look around and see people that you think are pretty lucky, they're the ones who work very hard and are always learning. <br /><br />Jeff