| This article shows you how to make money using | | | | to a different location? You might want to use a |
| your pickup truck or van. You don't need any | | | | pad of sticky notes to write down any |
| special skills or knowledge. You can learn what | | | | instructions. Place each note on the affected item. |
| you need by working on the job. Let's say you | | | | Carry the trash out and put in your vehicle. Use a |
| already have most of the required equipment and | | | | wide shovel to put small items into trash bags for |
| supplies. Then you can start business as soon as | | | | easier handling. Perform any additional services |
| you satisfy all the governmental and insurance | | | | required or that seem appropriate. (An example |
| requirements. | | | | would be knocking down any cobwebs and |
| Here are the requirements for these four | | | | sweeping up the floor.) |
| business ideas: | | | | Business Idea 2 - Doing seasonal jobs |
| *Be in good health and enjoy physical activity | | | | Homeowners or tenants pay you to do various |
| *Have a pickup truck or van | | | | types of seasonal jobs. These jobs could include |
| *Set up a home office with basic office | | | | the following: |
| equipment and supplies | | | | *Clearing ice and snow off doorsteps, sidewalks, |
| *Possess or acquire basic handyman type | | | | and driveways |
| equipment and supplies | | | | *Cultivating gardens |
| *Possess or acquire protective gear, such as | | | | *Pruning shrubs and small trees |
| heavy-duty gloves and boots | | | | *Raking leaves |
| *Determine if you are allowed to operate a home | | | | *Removing weeds |
| based business | | | | Upon arriving at the job site, you need the |
| *Determine and satisfy any governmental and | | | | customer to point out the various locations to be |
| insurance requirements | | | | worked on, what needs to be done, and how |
| *Determine location of local dumpsites, fees | | | | should it be done. For example, when clearing |
| charged for dumping, restrictions on materials | | | | snow and ice off sidewalks, where should the |
| allowed to be dumped, and rules for hauling trash | | | | snow and ice be placed? When cultivating gardens, |
| General guidelines | | | | what plants are considered to be weeds? When |
| Getting these jobs usually is just a question of | | | | pruning shrubs and small trees, how far back |
| becoming known to potential customers, being | | | | should the limps be cut off? When raking leaves, |
| qualified to do the work, and quoting the right | | | | should they be placed in leaf bags or just a big |
| price for the job. | | | | pile? When removing weeds, are there any other |
| Keep your startup and operating costs and | | | | plants mixed in with the weeds that should be |
| expenses to a bare minimum. You want to start | | | | protected? |
| showing a cash profit as soon as possible. | | | | After performing your work, place any rubbish in |
| Don't meet with customers in your home. The | | | | your vehicle. Use a wide shovel to put small items |
| increased traffic may upset your neighbors and | | | | into trash bags for easier handling. Perform any |
| violate zoning rules. | | | | additional services required or that seem |
| Solicit customers by placing classified advertising in | | | | appropriate. (An example would be raking up any |
| your local newspaper or the local craigslist.org | | | | rubbish and sweeping off the sidewalk.) |
| website. Describe the service or services you are | | | | Business Idea 3 - Washing windows |
| offering in plain language. Include a telephone | | | | Washing windows is an easy way to make |
| number or e-mail address where customers can | | | | money. Your main problem is getting customers. |
| reach you. You may also want to include a | | | | You should try to sign up business owners for a |
| tentative hourly rate. | | | | long-term contract. You might offer them a free |
| Common job procedures | | | | washing job to show how worthwhile (and |
| When discussing a job with a customer, you need | | | | perhaps inexpensive) your services are. |
| the following questions answered: | | | | Upon arriving at the job site, have the customer |
| *Are you willing and able to provide the desired | | | | show you the outside (and any inside) windows to |
| service? | | | | be washed. |
| *Will you need to bring a helper? | | | | If there are any hardened lumps of mud or some |
| *Can you and the customer agree on an hourly | | | | other substance on a window surface, you will |
| rate or a fixed fee for the job? | | | | have to remove them with a plastic scraper |
| *When and where will the job be performed? | | | | before washing the window. |
| Note: If this is a large or difficult job, you probably | | | | Mix a suitable window cleaning solution in a pail of |
| want to inspect the job location before quoting an | | | | water. Use a combination cleaning sponge and |
| hourly rate or a fixed fee for the job. | | | | squeegee (or other professional tools) on a long |
| If you need to purchase any materials for the | | | | handle to wash the windows. Wipe off the |
| job, the customer should pay for this upfront. | | | | window with the squeegee, wiping the squeegee |
| Any cost of materials will be in addition to your | | | | blade with a lint-free rag after every pass. |
| bid for labor and minor expenses, such as dump | | | | Perform any additional services required or that |
| fees. | | | | seem appropriate. (An example would be cleaning |
| You need to agree with the customer on the | | | | up any water spills and wiping off the windowsill |
| various details of the service required. For | | | | with a lint-free rag.) |
| example, are there any extra services that the | | | | Business Idea 4 - Working as a "slave" for a day |
| customer desires or expects? You don't want to | | | | This idea has a clever twist, which is offering to |
| argue over being paid because the customer is | | | | be a "slave" for a day. This means that you can |
| not satisfied with your services. To avoid | | | | make money by doing almost any task that the |
| arguments, write down all important details on a | | | | customer desires. For example, you could do any |
| standard job bid form. Then both you and the | | | | of the tasks shown above. Other tasks might |
| customer should sign it. | | | | include cleaning up an attic, moving furniture, or |
| After completing the job, gather up your tools | | | | digging up a lawn for a garden plot. |
| and equipment. Tidy up any areas that need it. | | | | You may be able to get a write up in a local |
| Collect your agreed upon fee from the customer. | | | | newspaper because of the unusual nature of your |
| Haul any trash or rubbish to a dumpsite. | | | | services. |
| Business Idea 1 - Clearing out basements and | | | | Upon arriving at the job site, have the customer |
| garages | | | | describe the various tasks desired. However, you |
| Homeowners or tenants pay you to remove | | | | want to avoid any dangerous tasks. You don't |
| trash and other unwanted items from their | | | | want to make money from a job if it might result |
| basements and/or garages. (As a related activity, | | | | in getting injured or disabled. |
| you could make money by refurbishing and selling | | | | Complete all the tasks that you can perform |
| some of the items you haul away.) | | | | safely. Perform any additional services required or |
| Upon arriving at the job site, you should have the | | | | that seem appropriate. (See above business ideas |
| customer indicate which items are to be hauled | | | | for examples. |
| away. Also, are any retained items to be moved | | | | |