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Summer can bring out the entrepreneur in us
With summer upon us, it's a good time to think about money-making opportunities afforded by the warm weather.
Services for children
For some families, summer is a logistical nightmare. Kids who aren't in school or camp have to be supervised, transported, entertained, fed . . . What can you do to lighten the load?
Ideas include offering traditional in-home baby-sitting and running your own camp. You also could provide a specific entertainment or education opportunity. I knew a couple who held swimming lessons at the family's pool. Once the insurance and maintenance costs were covered, they said, the profit was respectable.
Cleaning and organizing
In many parts of the country, summer means yard sales. How about hiring yourself out to set up sales for people? Or cut to the chase and just help them clean out the house or garage.
While you have the scrub brushes out, look for other cleaning opportunities, such as boats or vacation homes.
Helping relocators
Summer is also relocation time. Undoubtedly there are people in your area who are leaving to take new jobs or arriving from other parts of the country. Can you pack or unpack boxes? Maybe you can run errands or handle lawn care for homeowners in transition.
Yard services
Speaking of lawn care, one summer-cash perennial is to keep yards looking good. The options are broad, from simple weeding services to all-out landscaping. A recent article in my local newspaper noted the shortage of cemetery groundskeepers; could this be a fit?
Painting
Summer is a good time for painting projects, both inside and outside. Here's a hint: Look for garages that need painting. This project is usually manageable without a truckful of ladders or special equipment.
Pet care
You've seen this service before, but cleaning up after pets remains a good way to generate pocket money. Other options include walking dogs, grooming pets, cleaning fish tanks and even just playing with pets. Folks are crazy about their animals and may be willing to part with some cash if you are, too.
Recycling electronics
Here's the summer business of the future: hauling old TVs and computers to the proper recycling places. Nearly every community now restricts the disposal of these items, leading some people simply to stack them in the basement when they buy new models.
By researching your area's laws and the rates at local recyclers, you can come up with a price for each item you haul away.
Services for small businesses
I've run my company out of a storefront office for more than a decade, and I'm surprised at how few people have offered us services. One fellow shoveled snow and mowed our lawn, and another has cleaned our windows. Both got started by knocking on the door and quoting a price. They are the only two people who have "applied" in this way, and I hired them both.
Small businesses in free-standing buildings almost certainly do not have landlords or associations taking care of their needs. If you offer a worthwhile service at a reasonable rate, you're likely to pick up customers.
If you like any of these ideas or have some of your own, the next step is to make fliers, set rates and start looking for customers. These kinds of services are usually trial-and-error operations. Try things one way for a while and make adjustments as you go. Eventually, you'll find the right mix of effort and profit.
- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice. com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.
