Idea for extra income

Miffi_2

:idea: Last night in bed I started thinking about earning extra money and decided that I am going to approach local small businesses and offer PR support (this is what I do for a living). I can write their press releases, proof read etc and even got a good idea for an advert in the local freebie paper that everyone in this town seems to read.

I am going to go for it and see what happens, will be good experience as well to do freelance stuff.

I've also had a second idea. My friend works at a local Uni and I thought about getting them to put up little notices offering students to type up their essays for a small fee.

May come to nothing but worth a try...have no idea what to charge though (any suggestions?). I don't have to declare what I earn extra do I? I'm not expecting it to be a lot.

tango

hi miffi, sounds a great idea, could you do some research on google re how much too charge or ring up some people who do this? ( as a customer of course!)
good luck.

lallyaya

It does sound like a good idea that you should give a go. I would declare it though..... If you not earning a huge amount you won't have to pay any extra NI so it will just be tax. I'm a wimp and I'm scared of what would happen if I got caught!

jobbingmusician

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I wouldn't waste any energy offering to type students' essays, as in my experience they all work straight on to a computer nowadays. I believe most colleges require essays etc. to be submitted in typewritten form, and students are well aware of this and queue where necessary to use the uni facilities.

Quasar

A few years ago somebody told me I should advertise to tune video/DVD Recorders etc. as I have no problems following the manual and setting up new equipment, while many people have. I helped a few friends with this. Sound stupid now as most equipment is easily tuned nowadays, but I was told I could charge a tenner for the service. OK, maybe this is hardly relevant to your circumstances.

How about offering to design notices etc. on computer?

Or what about the traditional, sure extra sources of income such as part-time work somewhere? Even half a day per week can bring a handy little extra.

frugglewump

If you are prepared to do proofreading of awful english then there is a market for this sort of thing. My friend set up a 2nd job as proof-reader, mainly for phd & other student and some businesss clients about 18months ago and now has a steady stream of clients. It's particularly popular with the chinese students who come to the uk to do their final year of a degree or masters.

Miffi_2

frugglewump wrote:

If you are prepared to do proofreading of awful english then there is a market for this sort of thing. My friend set up a 2nd job as proof-reader, mainly for phd & other student and some businesss clients about 18months ago and now has a steady stream of clients. It's particularly popular with the chinese students who come to the uk to do their final year of a degree or masters.

Thanks, do you think then I should advertise at the local Uni then? I am glad you think it is a reasonable idea, I had a real lightbulb moment last night just as I was about to drop off to sleep!

frugglewump

Miffi wrote:

Thanks, do you think then I should advertise at the local Uni then?

It's a start.

I'll ask my friend how she went about advertising - I know she has a webpage set up for it, but i don't think that helped much in the beginning.

jobbingmusician

frugglewump wrote:

If you are prepared to do proofreading of awful english then there is a market for this sort of thing. My friend set up a 2nd job as proof-reader, mainly for phd & other student and some businesss clients about 18months ago and now has a steady stream of clients. It's particularly popular with the chinese students who come to the uk to do their final year of a degree or masters.

I think this is really wonderful - I do hope my earlier post didn't come across as too negative, and I'm just delighted that another MSE has refined Miffi's original idea into something that sounds really great :T

Miffi_2

Thanks everybody! I am going to draft some mini flyers tonight and ask my friend to post them up around the Uni - any advice on what to put on them would be much appreciated - brain gone blank.

bank_of_slate

short flyer with a basic message that grabs their attention 'FREE BEER' often works

offer to meet tight deadlines, you know how students leave things until the last minute!
...Linda xx