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How to start a “portable business” and make an easy R1,000 an hour!
Money Making Insider | 18 February, 2010 | Hot Topics:
Every day, people have great business ideas. They’re sure customers will want to buy their service or product by the van load, and everyone tells them it’s bound to work. So what is it that stops so many people getting their ideas off the ground?
It’s not the initial start up costs, as most people might think (unless you want to build the first rocket that can fly people to venues and back). In fact, most great business ideas can usually be started up with as little as R1,000, and certainly no more than R10,000.
No, the really crippling factor to any new business is the dreaded overheads. Starting up your business is one thing, but forking out for an office or shop, fitting it out, and paying rates, electricity, water and all the other unavoidable costs soon mount up. And this can be devastating to a small business, especially in those vital first few months when you are trying to build a customer base.
And there’s another problem with renting a shop or office. What if you’ve picked the wrong location? What if customers just never walk past your fantastic window display? What if dozens of potential customers feel it’s a bit too far to go? You could be paying a small fortune for sitting in a space that no one ever visits! And believe you me, that’s why many small businesses fail. The idea itself is sound, but it’s not reaching the right people and it’s costing hundreds of rands to maintain every month. But there’s a cunning way round this problem that most people just don’t think about: Make your business portable!
That way, you pay NO overhead, and you go and find your customers rather than letting them slowly find you. And the best way you can find a huge customer base in one fell swoop…? Visit the workplace. Awaken the consumer in the office worker… And sell your service to hundreds of trapped, eager buyers.
Here are four portable businesses to start today…
1. Personal fitness – anything that requires little space and little equipment is ideal. The maximum you should think of bringing is hand weights or exercise mats. Work out a routine that works out every muscle group (or split the class over two parts and concentrate on different groups). Yoga and tai-chi could also work easily.
2. Manicurist – this is a perfect little business to bring to the office. What girl doesn’t like having her nails done? If you’re not sure what you need to set up, treat yourself to a manicure at one of the countless little shops that have sprung up (which just goes to show how popular this service is), and see what you need. But the staples – files, polishes, false nails, adhesives, and cleansers – are easy to transport and set up at someone’s desk.
3. Massage – the portable business is not geared towards a full body massage. It takes too long and you need a specialist table which I imagine would be difficult to set up. Instead offer a specialised service – such as a head massage or neck and shoulder massage. Reflexology would be another treatment ideal for a small space. If you are already a masseuse or reflexologist, then this business could boost your income no end.
4. Languages – learning a second language is something that hundreds of people would like to do, but never get round to it. They either lack the discipline to study at home, or can’t be bothered to schlep to an evening class after work. But if you bring the lessons to them, it’s an entirely different story.
There’s a whole world of office staff happy to break up their day and spend good money on a service they don’t have to leave their office for – so think about the skills you have and how you can translate them into a profitable, portable business!
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Editors note
Chris Densley
Business Opportunity Guru and contributer to Insider Secrets
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