I'm feeling entrepreneurial!!!!

[two fingers]

HA! Love it!

Wait. Is that the "destination" you guys are planning?

 

[fhm555]

I bet there aren't NEARLY the regulations there are on human crematoria either.

While I'm sure you are right, they do have certain rules they must abide by. It doesn't hurt that it's illegal to bury or dispose of dead pets in the garbage. There are exceptions to the burial part as we also have a few dedicated pet cemeteries, including the only coon dog graveyard in the world, but that requires the same style of vault and box as a human burial.

 

[Aberdumbie]

Ok....Ok..... I have decided to share my retirement business plan with you. Bait shop a-la Hooters. Come get your bait tanks filled by bikini clad chicks. That'll wake you faster than a jumbo coffee at 4:30 on a Saturday morning. The Carolina Skiffs will be holding up traffic for blocks on end waiting to buy your bait.

 

[fdeck]

Well, it's known that I have a tiny business. I've sold things such as "shareware" and electronic gadgets, on and off, since the late 80s. I have what's called a "lifestyle business," meaning that it produces a steady income, but does not produce exponential growth or value that could be sold to a buyer. Importantly, I have no employees. That raises the complexity of running a business considerably.

Of course there's all of the stuff that you already know. Start with money, avoid risk. Buy low, sell high.

One of my best kept secrets is that I learned a lot about running a small business from a mentor at the company where I had my first job out of school.

 

[Son of Wobble]

Something that pays by the word, perhaps?

 

[two fingers]

Something that pays by the word, perhaps?

Whatchu trying to say?

 

[Plake]

Male escort?

 

[two fingers]

Male escort?

Man...... So many jokes I can't type here!

 

[Plake]

Seriously though, had 1 bud started doing spray on bedliner, doing well, and another that started a limousine service,doing very well.

 

[Groove Doctor]

@two fingers
Safety and Compliance, and Workplace Safety. New rules being made or updated often, prevent injuries and reduce liability.

Growing sector of the market, where employees or building owners have to ensure they meet safety requirements. From Electronic equipment & wiring, hazard reduction, installing/testing/maintenance fire safety systems, lifting machines/trolleys, etc.

You sell the products you install/replace/upgrade. eg. Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, slip-resistant flooring, signage, etc. plus consumables like gloves, masks, hearing protection.

Could subcontract out specialised roles like first aid training, workplace induction/safety training, etc.

A friend of mine specialises in this to supply instal, inspect, replace & upgrade medical hardware & equipment to major hospitals. Very profitable.

 

[DirtDog]

Male escort?

Fred Garvin was a hero to us all.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Kind of a neat idea. Not sure if a bar and a shooting range would mix well though.
Maybe a breathalyzer to get you into the shooting area?

Actually, an indoor shooting range opened in a town about 70 miles away that is doing well. Something to think about.

It has been done. You will find some in the south. I saw one place where a side door of the bar led directly to the firing line.

 

[pcake]

en·tre·pre·neur·i·al
ˌäntrəprəˈnərēəl/
adjective

1. characterized by the taking of financial risks in the hope of profit; enterprising.

I need to start a business! I have started several in the past and sold them for a profit. I LOVE my current job. But I need to work for myself as well.

A guy I know recently started a business putting some new coating on the floors of boats. It's rubbery and indestructible. It's the latest and greatest thing in boating in our area. He doesn't own the product. He's the authorized installer of it around here. So all he does is buy the stuff from the distributor and slap it on boats for a profit. He's as busy as he wants to be and works when he wants. It seems to be paying well as he just put the stuff on his own new boat. Something like this....being the authorized dealer/installer for a new product (even if I need to travel for factory training) would be cool.

For this thread, there are virtually no rules. I would like the get your experiences with owning/running a business. When did you start it? WHY did you start it? HOW did you start it? Just talk about running a business.

Also, what about ideas? Are there businesses you don't have in your area you would like to see? Or is there a new business in your area that is taking off? What about an idea you have been bumping around in your head but never tried?

Here's what I can do.
1) Sell things. I have sold radio air time, music equipment and instruments, electrical supplies, and even sold pianos for a few years even though I barely play them! I seem to be a "closer" of sorts, although I never really saw myself as a high-pressure salesperson. We talk. You buy. Everybody is happy

2) Electrical work. I was an industrial electrician for quite a while. I was licensed at one point but not now. It probably wouldn't be a big deal to go back and get it again. There really isn't much money in this area for that kind of thing though. Every maintenance man at every factory, school and hospital has a side business doing service calls and installing ceiling fans and whatnot.

3) I am generally handy. I can do carpentry, electrical work, some basic electronics, working land (reclaiming and landscaping), etc.

4) I'm good with people. I wind up being the "fireman" in most situations. In other words, I get people to calm down and think before everything blows up. I put out fires before they get out of hand. I do it a lot in my current job. Many on my team wonder why I like my particular job because of all of the "human interaction issues". But I actually thrive on it.

5) I have no problem getting more ehjumuhkatid. (I can go back to school.) There is a university here and there are countless online options. I can afford more education.

I LOVE being outdoors. I hunt, fish, hike, shoot, kayak, etc. But may people in my area have started "guide" businesses with no success. I'm not saying I couldn't do it better, but that's a big risk.

I'm ready to take my time and research before jumping in. I'm open to almost any ideas. I just want to try my hand at running my own business again. I have startup money....and could get more if I needed it. Not a million, but some.

I know. I'm rambling. I just got the itch to start a business. So I'm bouncing some things around in my head.

i like "1) Sell things.

i like it because i'd be nervous about doing handyman or electrical work without lots of insurance.

that being said, there's a guy who does work at the complex my son lives in. he doesn't work FOR the complex, but has gotten well known within the complex and several others. he does anything from building the storage units in the parking lot to condo specs - which he knows, which is one of the reasons he gets recommended - to doing kitchen and bathroom remodels. if you don't mind carrying insurance just in case, and you can get known and recommended by a couple HOAs in your area, it could keep you pretty busy. of course, it'll take time to get known.

which brings me back to selling things.

if you're good at it, you can make money faster than waiting to get your name out there. btw, high pressure salesmen don't seem to make as many sales in my experience as guys who are honest and just themselves. a buddy of mine was the number one sales person at a mercedes dealership several years in a row. he was so low pressure that he was talked to by his manager about this and was almost fired for not using pressure tactics - till they saw that his sales were the best.

 

[Norwegian Bass]

I voted charging people to watch him eat; because that could actually be pretty profitable. Now, this is almost in the "male escort realm" perhaps; but there's definately a market for this, for some reason. You can even make video clips with you stuffing your face; and people will buy them to... well, you know what they'll do! I don't get this surge in feeder fetish; is it that exciting or is it the shock value? Now, to become a real "star" you'll gonna have to bulk up. If your belly isn't down by your knees, you won't make it to the big league, apparently. It's a strange world. But what do I know? Peter here; knows what's what:

 

[Aberdumbie]

It has been done. You will find some in the south. I saw one place where a side door of the bar led directly to the firing line.

The thought of liability insurance on a place like that makes me squirm in my seat.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

The thought of liability insurance on a place like that makes me squirm in my seat.

I'll give you odds they don't have anything more that just a bar would have.

 

[two fingers]

The thought of liability insurance on a place like that makes me squirm in my seat.

I'll give you odds they don't have anything more that just a bar would have.

The marketing potential around the phrase "doing shots" is unlimited, you'll have to admit. Throw in a basketball goal and it's pure gold.

 

[Richland123]

You can have a shoeshine stand next to your hot dog cart.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

The marketing potential around the phrase "doing shots" is unlimited, you'll have to admit. Throw in a basketball goal and it's pure gold.

I would put the basketball goal down range