Income Ideas ( not surveys)

princesspoppypop

Hi Everyone,

As I strive to "up my income" I thought we could start a thread with income ideas that were not survey based or any cashback, slice the pie etc websites.

Im not really into surveys for very little return. This is just my opinion tho and good luck to all those who do this.

Anyway after looking on MSE I have found a few ideas that people are using to generate extra income...

*Setting up an ironing service seems to be very popular.

*Domestic cleaning

*Gardener- ie mowing lawns for people for say £5

*Car washing - a place I once passed in a town called South Shields did car washing by hand and there was a huge queue of people waiting.

*Partyplan - but initial outlay is to be expected

*Avon/Betterware/Kleeneze - be prepared to work hard at these.

*Handmade Cards- drop into local businesses with a box of cards, ask if they could sell them, a tip is to offer 10% of all sales to charity, this way you are selling your cards and also helping out a charity.

*Ebay - sell all your unwanted goods and gifts. You could also dropship, or buy wholesale goods and sell on for profit.

:j

Mrs_Thrify

Hiya, what about window cleaner, posting leaflets through doors, dog walking,paper round, babysitting.

jpe20

I agree with the OP that surveys, STP and daily clicks are alot of effort for pennies though I do them at the moment cos I ain't got anything better at the moment.

I like the idea of dropshipping or setting up a web shop to sell good purchased from wholesale. Personally I have the confidence on the computer/internet side to set of an ecommerce website but I am have trouble finding a dropshipper, wholesaler or distributer I can trust from internet searching. Not too sure I can trust the "lists" you can buy off ebay. Also running an EBay business is littered with similar problems as I still have the fundamental problem of finding decent products to sell.

I and the OP would appreciate any tips on finding reliable and profitable dropshippers, wholesalers or distributers to sell goods.

Only other idea I had was to set up some sort of site which earns income off referals, affiliate links etc but not sure where the hell to start with this.

The main problem for me is finding the goods to sell which make a reasonable profit. I have got access to some funds ie less than 5K so could make a modest start with something but I do not really want to spend all my money on "stock" which seems to be a popular attitude on "Dragons Den"

Good luck to the original poster on this one as it will be one thread I will follow.

Jools

princesspoppypop

I sell bits and bobs on Ebay but find the fees totally ridiculous.. I know they have reduced fees recently but still its pure greed!
If you think of all the people selling things all over the world millions of listings each day then Ebay should reduce fees. Ive had a lot of people say they wouldnt bother due to fees. If you list for 99p or under then its 15p add a gallery pic then another 15p, then 5% of sale cost, then if customer pays via paypal its another fee!!!

Id love to set up my own website selling my handcrafted items but I dont know where to start... Ive seen that Mr Site product on IWOOT but not sure how good that would be.

I think affiliate links is a great idea but like yourself Jools I dont have a clue!

Ive looked on Ebay at goods that sell but there doesnt seem to be any one thing that stands out although new clothing seems popular... there is a seller in Scotland that seems to sell loads..... with that sort of thing its worth hiring a professional model or gorgeous friend to model the clothes for the pics as its all about selling an image. I do however find it rather sad that people buy clothes thinking they will be transformed into this tanned, fake boobs and hair extensions person that they see in the pic, but afterall it does sell the items!

toastking

I may soon have the capability to allow you to put items online for sale by the way with your own website and everything. I could use it as a moneymaker myself and make money for some of my fellow savers/makers.

geordie_joe

jpe20 wrote: »

I like the idea of dropshipping or setting up a web shop to sell good purchased from wholesale.

The problem with this is getting the visitors.Less than 1 in 100 visitors ever spend money on a web site, so you have have to get a lot of visitors to make it worth while.

jpe20 wrote: »

Personally I have the confidence on the computer/internet side to set of an ecommerce website but I am have trouble finding a dropshipper, wholesaler or distributer I can trust from internet searching. Not too sure I can trust the "lists" you can buy off ebay.

I wouldn't trust the lists, they are probably way out of date. Try searching for drop shippers your self. Personally (and I know people will come and say they make money from it) I think drop shipping is way over rated. Even if you find a good one you will be competing with many other ebay sellers who use the same one.

jpe20 wrote: »

Also running an EBay business is littered with similar problems as I still have the fundamental problem of finding decent products to sell.

If you have bought it to sell on ebay, and it sells, some other seller will spot it, find your supplier and start selling the same item cheaper.

This is why I gave up, too much hassle finding new products to sell. You can only sell the same product for so long before others spot it and start selling the same thing.

Personally I think the best way to go on ebay is sell things that cost you nothing, sell things that you have made or sell one off items. Hunt boot sales, charity shops for ornaments, clothes, shoes etc. It means you have to do a new auction for each item, instead of just relisting, but you get less competition.

jpe20 wrote: »

I and the OP would appreciate any tips on finding reliable and profitable dropshippers, wholesalers or distributers to sell goods.

There must be plenty of them around, but you will have to sell at less than others are selling for. And most sellers have cut their profits to the bone to get a sale.

That's why ebay is so popular, it is cheap therefore attracts the buyers.

jpe20 wrote: »

Only other idea I had was to set up some sort of site which earns income off referals, affiliate links etc but not sure where the hell to start with this.

Do you have a web site? If not get building some.

Money4banners will pay you £5 per month just for having 3 banners on your site.
Matched.com will pay pay you £3 per month per banner for up to 5 banners on your site. Although they hardly have any advertisers and so it's hard to get one of their banners on your site.

Also look into google ads, put them on your site and you may earn some money.

MySearchFunds pays you each time you search the internet. Well, haven't been paid yet as first payment is due mid March, but so far it is looking good.

Google "affiliate networks" There are a few. Affiliate Future is a good one to start with as once they accept your site the merchants don't check it.

jpe20 wrote: »

The main problem for me is finding the goods to sell which make a reasonable profit. I have got access to some funds ie less than 5K so could make a modest start with something but I do not really want to spend all my money on "stock" which seems to be a popular attitude on "Dragons Den"

[/quote]

If you have the fund then you could really buy in bulk and get good discounts. But be careful, others may also be doing it and you may find you still can't make a reasonable profit.

If I were you I would get some web sites, you can get free web space, and look into getting paid for having banners on them. Then look into affiliate networks and try getting commission from selling other peoples goods. At least that way if you don't sell anything you haven't lost any money buying stock.

Later you can use the money to buy stock of your own. That way you won't be losing "your own" money if it doesn't work out. Plus you will have learned something about selling on the net before you risk trying to sell your own stuff.

geordie_joe

princesspoppypop wrote: »

Id love to set up my own website selling my handcrafted items but I dont know where to start...

I think affiliate links is a great idea but like yourself Jools I dont have a clue!

How do you mean "I don't know where to start" and "don't have a clue"

Do you have a web site? Could you make a web site? Or do you have no experience at all with web site?

If you have a web site, or have the skills to make one then you're half way there.

Bit different if you have never made a web site, but not impossible.

facingthefuture

I sold something on ebay today for 6p &40 p postage. It was paid through paypal (46p) and they charged me 22p for the privilege! Not to mention the ebay listing fee of 10 p plus selling fee on top! It has definitely cost me.:mad:

Still I have made about £300 on ebay in the last month (after all those blinkin fees)

justanothermuppet_2

I'd be interested in getting paid for having banners on a website, but what type of website do you have to have?

I'm assuming they wouldn't just accept any old website that has been set up...any pointers for a site that is likely to be accepted?

jam

save-a-lot

Some reasonably substantial set up costs and a course to do, but ok money thereafter if you can get the work. Costs, test equipment and annual calibration of equipment, also a one off course to do.

PAT testing, out of hours. Portable Appliance Testing, offering it out-of-hours makes it easier for the customer and the tester.

I am qualified to do the above, but just not got round to it

save-a-lot

Also, I learnt the art of plastering on an intensive course, 4 days long. I did this almost 2 years ago, and now I do some occassional plastering. It started with jobs for family and now via recommendation there is a nice trickle of jobs that come my way.