Business ideas that could make you money

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Frame and sell collections for display.
These might include specialised items that appeal to particular groups of people. For example, sets of coins for coin collectors, stamps for stamp collectors, autographed photographs of celebrities, medals, maps, replica guns, stuffed fish, butterflies, insects and numerous other things. Advertise in suitable magazines.

Supply and fit replacement plastic guttering.
Here`s another business that can be started by a handyman who doesn`t mind climbing and working up ladders. No special skills are involved, just a basic knowledge of how to remove old guttering and replace it with new parts. Many older houses still have the old style guttering which often needs replacing, but the newer plastic guttering is also prone to cracking sometimes, and the sections affected will need renewing. To find work, canvass homes and advertise your service in the local press.

Supply and fit carpet tiles or laminated wood flooring.
These are ideal materials for places like the kitchen, utility rooms, porches, playrooms and spare rooms. or any other room where the customer would rather not have a carpet fitted. They are usually very hard wearing and easy to keep clean. Materials are easy to obtain, with good discounts if you find the right source. Fitting is fairly straightforward in most cases, but can be difficult in awkward shaped rooms. Which is one of the reasons why someone with enough practice and experience should find plenty of work to keep them happy.

Start a mobile nappy delivery service.
Babies go through an amazing amount of nappies each day. For mothers in urgent need of a fresh supply, but can`t get to the shops for some reason, or the shops are too far away, a mobile nappy delivery service can be a godsend. The bigger the discount you can obtain when buying your stock in bulk, the more successful you`re likely to be, as mothers who normally buy from the shops might use your service too. But only if your prices are much more favourable. This is an ideal business for a mobile lady with a van or large estate car. Advertising can be done through local newspapers and some well placed posters and leaflets in suitable places.

Breed and sell pedigree pups.
If you love dogs and have suitable kennels, breeding certain types of dogs with good pedigrees can be a profitable, as well as very enjoyable, way to make an occasional spare-time income. Certain breeds sell for hundreds of pounds. If you doubt my word, check the pet section of the Exchange & Mart. However, there are costs to consider, including feeding and vet fees, and the well being of the dogs is of paramount importance. So it`s not a business to be taken lightly, with little or no notion of what is involved.

Start a flowers and chocolates delivery service.
Everyone loves a nice surprise, and they don`t come much nicer than this. For people romantically attached, or celebrating an anniversary, birthday or engagement, this is an ideal service that gives people a chance to show how much they care. Supplies can be obtained from stock, or through a special arrangement with chosen suppliers. Advertise your service in the local press.

Start a business that organises a regular `almost new` clothing sales event.
Similar to a car boot sale, this would involve hiring a hall, renting stalls to people with clothes to sell, charging a small admission fee and running a small food and drink facility. Advertise each event in the local press.

Buy and sell secondhand cookers and fridge freezers.
Refurbish where necessary using new parts if needed. Use cleaning materials to spruce them up, and a spray gun and compressor for re-spraying scratched goods with new enamel paint. You could also sell microwaves, chest freezers and dishwashers. A small shop or factory unit will be needed once business takes off. Until then, you could test your business aptitude by buying and selling from home. Advertise in the local papers` classified sections.

Start a keycutting service using a key duplicating machine.
Everyone needs extra keys cut at some time or other. Whether it`s extra house keys or a spare set of keys for the car, in case your main keys get lost, a keycutting service will always find customers. Particularly if your prices are competitive. Ideally, you should provide your service in a busy central location. Perhaps from a small booth in a department store or shopping centre. Even a fast turnaround mail order service is a possibility, in which case you could work from home, but success would depend on the amount of business you receive in relation to advertising costs. Check the internet and trade directories for suppliers of equipment.

Become a promotions and competition organiser.
Here`s something that people with very good organisational skills might consider. It`s a business with very big potential and big profits when run successfully. If it sounds like something you would like to try out click here

Breed and sell tropical fish.
If you`re an expert in tropical fish you`ve probably already tried this idea, but for a newcomer who may be interested, there`s lots of information available on how to look after, and breed various types of fish for profit. Before considering this as a way to make extra money however, there`s plenty to learn and you would be well advised to gain as much experience as you can to make it a worthwhile proposition. It`s not as easy as it sounds, certain types are harder to breed than others. Equipment can be a little expensive to begin with, but not prohibitive. Some types of tropical fish can bring good profits and are worth perservering with. You can sell them through various pet stores or directly to the public through classified advertising.

Start your own dog grooming service.
If you`re good with dogs, this could be just the job for you. Though, you will need to be fairly proficient at using a pair of scissors and hair clippers. Some dogs, such as poodles, need expert handling. It takes practice to be very good at this game. Learn as much as you can before setting up on your own. As an additional service you could also offer to do nail clipping. In either case, you can run it as a mobile service, or run the business from home.

Set up a photocopying service for small businesses.
Good quality new and reconditioned photocopying machines can be purchased or rented at very reasonable prices from specialist firms who deal in photocopying machines. It`s just a case of phoning around to see who can give you the best deal. A service contract can be taken out at the same time to keep your machine in good working order. After that, it`s just a case of making suitable contacts and offering a pick-up and delivery service to meet your customers needs.

Supply and fit roller blinds.
There`s a number of firms who offer this kind of business as a franchise, which may be worth considering unless you prefer to go it alone. If so, you`ll either need to learn to make the blinds yourself, which is not too difficult when using the right materials, or find a supplier who can make the blinds up to your own specifications. All you need to do then is get the orders through advertising and home visits to show what you can offer, and take your customer`s measurements to have them made and fitted.

Start a rotovating and lawn turfing service.
People with gardens and allotments often need to turnover their soil before re-planting fresh seed to grow new plants or new grass. With a rotovator, an expensive tool which not many people buy or use frequently, you could offer a service which helps them complete this task, by doing the work for them. To begin with, to save money, you could purchase your own rotovator secondhand from an auction or through the classifieds. New homebuyers are a good source of potential customers, because the gardens which come with their new home are not always grassed over. With a suitable contact and source of supply, you could offer a turf laying service as well. Neither of these tasks needs a great amount of skill, just the right equipment and plenty of energy. To advertise, place leaflets through the letterboxes of suitable prospects and advertise in the local press.

Start a travelling theatre group.
This would involve producing and putting on plays at selected locations around the country. Places such as colleges and small theatres, plus clubs which arrange pantomines around christmas time are all potential venues. Your job might also include finding suitable actors, arranging publicity and selling the tickets. If you lack the experience in stage management, find a suitable partner who can direct the actors and share some of the responsibilities for running the group.

Buy and sell golf equipment.
Heres a business idea that you could start from home, and eventually, with shrewd investments, open your own specialist shop. Lot`s of people are taking up golf for the first time as a new leisure pursuit. Other people are giving it up because they find they don`t have the time or inclination to continue with their game. Yet others, wish to continue and improve their game by upgrading their equipment. Whatever the reason, there are always people wanting to sell their old clubs, golf bags, carts and accessories. Providing their equipment is in first class condition, and available at the right price, there`s no reason why someone who can strike a good bargain, couldn`t buy and re-sell these type of goods for a profit. Start by using `goods wanted` and `goods for sale` classified adverts in your local or regional newspapers.

Invest in a horse and carriage and offer sightseeing tours in a popular tourist location.
You could also hire out your services for weddings. The drawback is that you will need somewhere to keep your horse and carriage. Check to see where you can hire a stable and storage for the carriage locally. As close to the tour route as possible.

Grow and sell your own vegetables and herbs.
There are lots of gardening books which tell you how to grow your own food successfully. If you have a large area of garden or an allotment which you can use, this should be sufficient to start with. Particularly if you concentrate on growing small products such as herbs, tomatoes. cucumbers, horseradish etc. You will also require a number of greenhouses of adequate size to hold your plants and cultivating equipment. Even then, you will be severely limited in your output until you can invest in more land and equipment. However, if this is something that really interests you, then by all means start small but think big. Using suitable packaging, products can be sold direct to general grocers or in larger quantities to wholesale distributors.

Start a business selling and distributing facial cosmetics, hand creams and body lotions.
Produce your own brand name. Obtain supplies direct from selected manufacturers, preferably in bulk, and package them under your own label. Sell by party plan, mail order or through factory agents.

Buy and sell childrens books.
Advertise for unwanted books and resell them from a childrens bookstall at car boot fairs. By specialising in secondhand childrens books you can often pick up popular titles at bargain prices. Seek out fiction and non-fiction books which have been read and discarded, or put away in a collection which is no longer needed. . You could also buy and sell computer games and childrens videos as well. If you attend the same car boot fairs regularly you will gradually become well known and people are likely to approach you to sell their unwanted books and games for cash.

Produce a range of audio cassettes based on bible stories for children.
The bible is packed full of fascinating stories that can be adapted to suit the imagination of young children. They make ideal bedtime stories and can teach children the importance of what is right and what is wrong in many different ways. The stories can be narrated by a single person with a good speaking voice, or enacted as a play using a cast of suitable actors. A local drama group may be happy to oblige. Have the scripts typeset and hire an inexpensive recording studio to record the dialogue. Some music and sound fx tapes may also come in useful. Once the master tape or CD has been produced, copies can be made quite easily using good quality hi-fi equipment. Have duplicates packaged and sold by mail order and through christian bookshops.

Start and run a regular arts and crafts fair.
Ideally, this should be somewhere in a busy location where there`s plenty of people who may call in out of curiosity. Press advertising will also bring a number of visitors with more serious intentions to buy. To get started, find a suitable building that can be hired and fitted out with temporary stalls. Charge a set fee for craftspeople to display and sell their wares, and offer free admission to attract potential customers. The more people that come, the more successful the event is likely to be. This way, more sellers will become interested and higher rents can be charged.

Buy and sell metal detectors.
Start a mail order business for new and used equipment. Set up a monthly newsletter for enthusiasts, including articles about valuable finds and suggested locations for treasure seeking. Include a column of items for sale and items wanted. A newsletter would also be a good way to get likeminded people together by arranging trips to sites of interest.

Supply and fit car alarms and car radio cassette/cd players. If you have a good knowledge of car electrics, this could be a good way to make money and work for yourself. Find a reputable supplier of car alarms and in-car entertainment systems and advertise your services in the local press. A mobile sevice would be the easiest way to start, perhaps with the aim of eventually opening your own specialist shop.

Supply and fit outdoor garden lighting systems.
In fact anything that`s electrically powered in the garden such as fountains and miniature water falls which require electrical pumps, could be supplied and fitted by you, if you have some experience in electrical wiring. Most people would prefer an expert to fit these type of features in their garden. Your service might also include simple landscaping features, such as rockeries and ponds, that can be incorporated as a special feature of your lighting and water systems. Find out which firms can supply you with the basic equipment and materials. Compile your own catalogue or leaflet and price list, and advertise your business in the local press, the Yellow Pages and through door-to-door leaflet drops.

Start your own fence erection business.
Wood fencing doesn`t last forever. It often gets damaged in strong winds, or simply rots away. People with garden fences occasionally need to have them replaced, and new fences are sometimes being put up for the first time. If you have some basic knowledge or experience of erecting posts and sections of lap fencing then all you need to get started in business is a reliable supplier with whom you can set up a trade account. Advertise your service in the local and regional newspapers.

Buy and sell old record collections.
Trade in various collections of music including rock, pop, jazz, classical, rythm and blues etc. There`s still a demand by collectors for old LPs and singles, particularly original recordings, plus various audio tapes and cd`s. Advertise in the Exchange & Mart and selected music magazines. Also trade at car boot sales and collectors fairs.

Supply and fit telephone extension leads and sockets.
This would be a simple service offering people a way to add an additional phone to their existing phone line. For example, an extra phone in the bedroom or study. You might also consider supplying new phones of various types to expand your business. Canvas door-to-door and advertise in the local press.

Buy and sell reproduction furniture.
You`ll need a large van and plenty of storage space, but there`s a good demand for this type of used furniture. Whether it`s a sideboard, a TV or hi-fi cabinet, bookshelves or a set of dining room table and chairs, good profits can be made if you buy and sell wisely. Keep a lookout for bargains in the classified ad sections of the free papers and local newspapers. Place your own items wanted ads in regional papers and sell locally. Build up your knowledge of antique furniture, as this can also be a lucrative field. Attend auctions until you become familiar with prices. Eventually, you might like to consider opening a shop if your business brings in a steady income.

Buy and sell musical instruments.
There`s a whole wide range of instruments you can deal in. The most popular being guitars and keyboards. You can start by buying and selling secondhand until you establish yourself as a reputable dealer. An alternative route, if you would like to specialise and run a small business fom home, is to import folk instruments from other countries and sell by mail order. Advertise your stock in selected music magazines and local newspapers.

Purchase a badge machine and make badges for clubs.
Badges are ideal for fundraising, promotions and special events. Badge machines are relatively cheap to buy. Firms who supply them can usually supply the blank badges and designs you require as well. Check out the business opportunity magazines where these firms normally advertise.

Start a telephone answering service for small local businesses.
There are some business people who are often out on a job and cannot always answer their phone, which could very easily mean losing out on gaining new customers. Although mobile phones have alleviated part of this problem, it can still be inconvenient to answer the phone while busy at work on a job. Rather than employ a full-time office assistant, a small business could easily benefit from using an affordable telephone answering service that specialises in helping small businesses. Your job would involve tasks like taking simple enquiries, booking appointments and taking orders for firms who sell by phone. To get started, contact suitable businesses which may be interested in your service. One man firms such as plumbers, electricians, driving instructors etc. Arrange to meet them to discuss their requirements and what rate of fees you charge.

Set up a business that erects car ports and pre-fabricated garages.
Here`s a business for the experienced handyman.There`s a number of manufacturing firms who could supply you with materials at trade prices. Write to them using a printed business letterhead to find out what their prices are, as well as terms and conditions of supply. When you find a suitable supplier, canvass for jobs in your local area until you get enough work. Eventually, to expand your business, you might prefer to advertise in local and national publications if you`re willing to travel further afield.

Start a business that builds conservatories.
As an alternative to the previous idea, you might consider building conservatories instead. They do however, require a more skillful approach. Having experience in bricklaying and carpentry or fitting double glazing is practically essential. Though a business-minded person could very easily contract this work out to a third party and still make a reasonable profit if organised properly. Once again, do your homework. Check on available materials, compare prices and work out the best deals to make it a worthwhile proposition. Get orders and enquiries through advertising and leaflet distribution.

Run a business doing watch and jewellerey repairs.
Specialised courses are available to teach you how to repair jewellerey and watches. Your service could be tailored to suit independant jewellers who farm out repair work rather than employ someone full-time to do it for them. You could also offer a mail order repair service direct to customers throughout the country.

Produce and sell a range of personalised embroided handkerchiefs.
Package and sell ready-made designs through menswear shops, as well as offering a custom-made service for their customers.

Start a video rental service that specialises in the top ten or top twenty new videos on release.
Run the business as a mobile delivery service. Set up a limited club membership with an annual subscription for video renters who will be willing to hire videos on a regular basis at a special reduced rate. Dealing in the best of the new releases should guarantee a steady stream of customers. Obtain at least ten copies of the most popular videos to ensure customers have the best chance to get the title they want. Sell the videos off at half-price as soon as their popularity begins to wane.

Start a business organising and promoting music concerts.
Someone with a flair for organising people would find this a very exciting business. Whether it`s rock, pop or classical music, there are thousands of people in every major town and city who would show an interest in these type of events. How many tickets you sell will depend on how popular the performers are, how much you charge for the show, and how successful your publicity is. Get the mix right, and you could easily find a rewarding and lucrative career ahead.

Supply and install small timber constructions.
Specialise in one type of installation. Perhaps various types of garden sheds or timber-framed saunas. To get your business off the ground, try contacting one of the specialist firms who manufacture their own. Tell them you would like to act as an agent and become an approved installer. Alternatively, you could run the business as a general construction firm that supplies and installs a variety of timber products such as summer houses, chalets, garden sheds, saunas or timber-framed conservatories. Provide your own labour or employ other people to do it for you. For the biggest profits run it as a high quality service providing top quality products, and target up-market homes with customers who can afford the very best.

Supply and fit high quality spiral staircases.
As with home saunas and summer houses, these are products which can be squarely aimed at wealthy homeowners looking to add unusual features to their home. You could also provide cheaper alternatives for people carrying out loft conversions. These can be either straight or spiral staircases, but available at lower prices. Contact manufacturers for details of trade prices and terms of supply. Use only experienced fitters for carrying out the work to guarantee a first class job. For getting the orders and overseeing the work, incorporate your own profits in with the final price.

Buy and sell army surplus supplies.
Start your own mail order business, sell at car boot fairs or open a small shop. A number of dealers can supply at trade prices. Check the ads in Exchange & Mart and send for their catalogues and price list.

Start your own gumball or vending machine round.
A number of companies offer this type of business opportunity, whereby you purchase their machines and products, find suitable locations, and regularly service the machines to keep them filled up. There`s very little else involved, apart from counting your profits. Check the pages of business opportunity mags for firms who supply these products. Before entering any type of agreement however, always check the details and fine print.

Make more money with your answering machine.
There`s a number of mail order businesses who make money simply by placing small, inexpensive, classified ads with an enticing messages to phone for more details about their products. It can also work for firms offering business opportunities and certain types of services too. If you have something to sell that can be sold successfully by mail, consider using your answering machine, and a compelling description of your product as a way to get more orders.

Start a business designing and selling personalised wine labels on bottles of wine.
This type of service can provide a gift that is different and out of the ordinary. Customers would send you details of the persons name and date of birth, along with any other relevant details, to be included on the lablel. You would then, using a home computer, design the label to make it look authentic, print it out and stick it to a bottle of wine, white or red whichever preferred, that`s been supplied without a label. The bottle, or crate of wine is then sent to the customer by special delivery. Arrangements could also be made to deliver the goods to a third party as a surprise gift, if required. Advertise your service by mail order through various magazines.

Start a faxback service supplying printed information.
Certain types of useful information that can be sold to businesses, can also be profitable to promote. For example, market research information, mailing lists, company directories etc., can be promoted through a faxback service which is run using a premium rate phone line. Companies willing to respond to your fax promotions are charged at the usual premium rate, which is generally around £1.00 per minute. If you have information to sell, consider using this technique as a way to make more profits.

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