HELP!-->2nd job/Small Business Ideas

wilgold

Hello,

I am wanting to start a small business as my 2nd job. However i cant for the life think of any ideas. Where i live most areas of work that i have considered are already flooded with people doing the same thing i.e gardening, cleaners, window cleaners etc

Has anyone got and fresh ideas?

Thanks peeps

BargainGalore

Usually start with any hobbies you may have

slkh

Could you offer a service using a skill you already have, perhaps from your existing line of work? Also just because other services exist in your area doess'nt mean you can't offer them aswell, competition is good and if they already exist it means there is a need for them in your area! For example people may use the exisiting window cleaner because they don't know of any others in the local area! Try thinking of something you enjoy doing and go from there, to succeed you need to enjoy what you do and have the back up of knowledge in that area whether you already know it or make a point of finding it out. For example domestic cleaning, there may already be 2 other companies in your area but they will each have their difference's that people have preference to, one may charge more but offer the day/time the customer wants, another may be cheaper and offer the same cleaner each time, something the other might not be in a position to offer! Just consider your strength's carefully and research your ideas fully. Best wishes

wilgold

Thats the thing I capable at putting my hand to anything. Things i think about either require more training or people are already doing it.

I know its the million pound question and everyone wants to get rich from the one big idea but i am hoping someone could point me in the right direction.

I am just wanting to start a small biz from home to earn abit of money on my days off and take it from there

:think: :think: :think: :think:

slkh

Also an idea maybe to run a local advertising booklet say monthly that advertise's all the local business' in your area, to start with just charge a small fee to each company that's willing to give you business to get things going and to cover the costs of printing etc, doesnt have to be anything fancy! I'm sure it would be of a benefit to local people and the local business' save having to wade through yellow pages and internet pages. Also preventing the business' having to pay large advertising fees to local papers for a tiny piece in the weekly paper!

MikeR71

Regarding window cleaning, competition is not always welcome. I lived in a part of Lincolnshire and the area already had a window cleaner who used to come and clean the windows every month. He did extremely well out of it. But suddenly we noticed there is another person touting for the same business. At first we thought nothing of it but later there was a major war and the new guy was threatened with his and his family's life if he didn't clear off.

Maybe it was just this area, but it gave me the impression that even something as freelance as window cleaning is not as straight forward to get into.

slkh

MikeR71 wrote: »

Regarding window cleaning, competition is not always welcome. I lived in a part of Lincolnshire and the area already had a window cleaner who used to come and clean the windows every month. He did extremely well out of it. But suddenly we noticed there is another person touting for the same business. At first we thought nothing of it but later there was a major war and the new guy was threatened with his and his family's life if he didn't clear off.

Maybe it was just this area, but it gave me the impression that even something as freelance as window cleaning is not as straight forward to get into.

It was just an example that competition is not ALWAYS a bad thing. Obviously the person you have mentioned was very unlucky and hopefully it did'nt deter him from trying again with a new venture or idea. There will always be the undesirable people of this world but the good ones just need to pick themselves up and keep trying, that is the difference between those that succeed and those that don't!

lincroft1710

slkh wrote: »

Also an idea maybe to run a local advertising booklet say monthly that advertise's all the local business' in your area, to start with just charge a small fee to each company that's willing to give you business to get things going and to cover the costs of printing etc, doesnt have to be anything fancy! I'm sure it would be of a benefit to local people and the local business' save having to wade through yellow pages and internet pages. Also preventing the business' having to pay large advertising fees to local papers for a tiny piece in the weekly paper!

There was a thread on a similar topic some months ago. Unfortunately I think the general consensus was that the idea was a non starter.

wilgold

Its a good idea, but unfortunately someone has already thought of it. I actually plan to use it as a friend of mine does very well from advertising and gets alot of business through it... however I am yet to come up with an idea lol

liz-paul

Ironing? I've often thought about ironing to earn a few quid but never got around to it.

slkh

lincroft1710 wrote: »

There was a thread on a similar topic some months ago. Unfortunately I think the general consensus was that the idea was a non starter.

I was not aware of that, only we had something similar in my area and it seemed to get alot of local business. I guess again it depends how motivated a person is to make it work, alot might think it's a non starter but for the person who does'nt think like that and tries to make a go of it will more than likely succeed!