Easy start ups that anyone can do

CharlieJones · #1 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 11:38

So I'm unemployed in a rural area where most everyone is self-employed. No money in the bank and no trade or degree to market myself.

I plan to start a video production business (weddings, property and commercials) and also a niche travel business. Both of course, could never bring in instant income because they will take months to get going.

So I'm looking online for ideas and decided on the Concierge & Errand Service idea because it covers so many odd jobs, labour and chores that many people do not have time to do when they have busy professions. Or for a business that wants a last minute hand for the day but doesn't want a temporary employee (min 3 month contract).

The list covers everything like:

long distance courier
General pick-ups and drop offs
lawn cutting
security checks
pet care
general yard labour
fence painting
data entry
flyer distribution
stock taking
basic pc and website help

I figure I could start off charging ten pounds an hour to see if there is a demand. Advertise in local papers and order a magnetic sign to place on the roof of my car?

I am hoping this would at least bring in 200 pounds a week but I need to double that.

I feel okay with this idea but have I missed something?
Ideas and feedback please. I am desperate for a wage.

Dotwhack · #2 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 12:02

Hi.

Being desperate for a wage and coming across as desperate to companies are two seperate things.

You'll need to market your service in several more ways than just car signage - people won't just come to you, you have to show them you exist and stay in their memories. Local advertising could be a good way of doing this but try to be a bit creative - every week I see ads for 'stan the plumber' or whatever with just a phone number. Not very imaginative and wouldn't say with me.

Your pricing of 'starting off at £10 an hour' isn't a great idea and needs a bit more thught. If you attract customer on £10 per hour, clients are likely to be disgruntaled if you suddenly increase it later on. There is a fine line with pricing - too cheap and people question your credibility and too expensive and you're seen as a rip off. Have a look round and see what other competitors are charging in the area for similar services.

You need to think through your business:
1) how will you pay for advertising/marketing?
2) how will clients contact you - phone (home or mobile), internet (do u have a website or money to get one)
3) you need to research the market - is there demand for this type of odd job service or do people prefer to contact specialists i.e. I wouldn't hire the same person to cut my lawn as I would to hand out leaflets for me.

It's great that you're trying to be pro-active in earning money but you do need to think it through properly.

CharlieJones · #3 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 12:45

You would surely want to pay the same person to cut your lawn, water the plants, security check your home, etc if you were on holiday for six weeks?

I would not market myself as 10 pounds an hour, I will experiment with a fee until I get enough work to fill the week. One call too many that says "Sorry too expensive" reduces the fee until a demand increases.

This type of business is something anyone can do with a little bit of time to spare to generate another stream of income.

What other ideas are there for starting a business with no capital other than for marketing?

James Smith · #4 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 14:57

Charlie,

Good to hear you are "getting on your bike" as the much maligned Mrs T once said.

I would try and make your offering specific rather than general.

Ie call it something like "helping hands" with the sales pitch "increasing your leisure time" as opposed to a long list of services as otherwise you will sound like a classic "jack of all trades". Normally niche business do better as people perceive (and generally get) better service from a specialist. ie my cleaner knows what products to use, my decorator can do it twice the speed (and better!) than I can put paint on the walls. I can see a good case for why I should use these people. What is your pitch to your customers? Why should they use you and not a specialist?

I would do a leaflet drop myself - a couple thousand leaflets doesn't cost a lot to print up and if you have time on your hands you can put them through the doors. You need to drop the same leaflet I would suggest every 7-10 days aiming for 3-4 drops per household for maximum effect. First 2 times it will get binned 3rd and 4th they may just take notice. Also have different leaflets for different areas........ie nice posh ones for the huge houses and basic ones for your more average sort of areas.

And finally "Concierge" sounds Amercian and many people wont know what that is. I can am guessing from your list of services "general yard labour" that you have picked some ideas up from a US site. Do take the time to put it into "brit speak"..........

Hope that helps and good luck.

PS If you are in oxfordshire and have a ladder my windows are filthy!

Indizine · #5 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 17:48

I ws confused over the bit about a company not wanting to employ a temp worker (min 3 month)?? There is no minimum for a temp; I could hire one for a day if I want to, so I wouldnt use that as a reason.

CharlieJones · #6 (**permalink**) 15-08-2008, 11:18

How often do you see adverts for one day's work in your town?

Anyway, here is an advert I am thinking about placing (business name withheld) for forum feedback.

Errands & Deliveries
•Shopping,
•Pick up & drop off
•Mailing / distributing
•Long distance courier
(small packages to van loads)

Labour
•Fence & shed painting,
•Lawn cutting

Away From Home?
•House sitting
•Security checks
•Pet care
•Plant watering

Technical Services
•Basic pc help
•website design & management
•Video digitising & editing,
•Research
•Sorting
•Data entry
•Stock taking
•Bulk copying & labeling
•Event & Travel Planning

Do you think its too "jack of all trades" and I should divide this into two or three different services (with different phone numbers), with the aim of course, to fill my week up with enough work / produce opportunities for extra income? My target is 300 pounds a week.

Errand & Courier Service

General Home Labouring Services; house-sitting to lawn mowing.

Computer Basics

Indizine · #7 (**permalink**) 15-08-2008, 11:27

yes this list is too varied and will appear Jack of all trades, and for a start im not sure ytou will want to fork out for the public liability insurance cover you wil need for certain services you have listed.

The public wonty likely repsond to a leaflet that has no business name on it and just a phone number, especially for what you are listing.

Does your target include for all your overheads, and also your tax and NI?

CharlieJones · #8 (**permalink**) 15-08-2008, 11:35

No I didn't want my name and number on the post.

The jobs I have included pretty much covers what most other "life style management" services do and that was what inspired me. Looking on the net you can see they are in most big towns and cities but not where I live. But thinking about it, I might split it into two different businesses.

As for the legal stuff, I'm not paying for any of it until money comes in and I see it could work.

Thanks.

Indizine · #9 (**permalink**) 15-08-2008, 13:24

Well some servicews may be a legal requirement to have liability insurance, so check it out just in case. You will probably need a CRB check for the houssitting, and register for Data Protection for the data stuff (pending what type of data you will process) - that's £35 a year and is also a legal requirement if ts deemed you need it.

antonia · #10 (**permalink**) 15-08-2008, 20:33

Round here there are lots of elderly folk, and a couple of businesses that market themselves along the 'helping hands' line: a kind of 'no job too small'....with suggestions that they can do any household job from changing a light bulb upwards. Your suggested fee of £10 s very much in line with what they charge.