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MONEYMAKING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN
Here's an excellent
collection of over 2OO easy business ideas for women that can be
started with little training and investment All these ideas are
capable of producing additional income.
Most of these businesses
can be conducted in the privacy and comfort of home, in between
household chores, during weekends or at your leisure. All of these
ideas do not require extra help, brawn and best of all, some are
extensions of hobbies or skills developed or acquired from childhood.
For best results, browse through the business suggestions and
write down those that sound interesting. List the opportunities you
would like to try out. Then narrow the list down to one, two or more
related businesses. For instance, if you collect dolls as a hobby, you
can start your own doll making business or start designing and sewing
doll clothes (specializing in party clothes) for Barbie or Cabbage
Patch Kids.
These ideas are intended to stimulate you
imagination. Only you can make the decision based on your own
experiences, qualifications, interests and the current market in your
community. As you compile your list of possibilities, take a critical
look around your area. Note what is and isn't available what is
overpriced or inadequate that people in your community will pay for.
When you find just the right combination, start preparing for a
successful business operation!
The first thing you must do is to
prepare a BUSINESS PLAN. This is an outline of what
you plan to do and how you intend to do it. When you write a business
plan, it will make you organize your business in your mind and on
paper. This will insure your ultimate business success!
Be sure to
check with city hall or county courthouse on local license, tax or
permit requirements before making your final selection/s and before
investing your money. Sometimes a minor adjustment at the start can
prevent future headaches.
Finally, familiarize yourself with
your choice/s. Start ordering your office supplies, but don't invest
too much in stock because you may make adjustments as you learn your
market and adjust to market conditions.
GOOD LUCK IN YOUR
NEW BUSINESS!
ADULT DAY CARE
CENTER. Operate a center to look after elderly and/or
handicapped people. Offer refreshments, games and activities and
assistance but not "health care."
ADVERTISING
SPECIALTIES. With distributor provided catalogs and samples
call on regular customers and supply them with custom imprinted pens,
calendars, matches, etc.
ADVERTISING SERVICE.
Arrange for the design, printing and distribution of
advertising/announcement flyers, mail outs and ad campaigns for
clients for fee plus commission.
AFRICAN
VIOLETS. Specialize in the propagation and care of this popular
indoor plant. Nurture, hybridize and sell when in full bloom. Sell
accessories and supplies.
ALTERATIONS.
Replace buttons, let out cuffs, shorten sleeves, turn collars repair
tears for clothing stores, laundries and cleaners who don't already offer
this service.
AQUARIUM SNAILS. Raise red
ram's horn snails for home and commercial fish tanks. Sell to pet
shops and aquarium dealers. Advertise in fish related trade journals.
ARTIFICIAL PLANTS. Make your specialty artificial
flowers and plants. Sell a selection of arrangements, baskets and
special occasion creations; take custom orders.
BABY
CLOTHES. Specialize in bargain-priced new and hand-me-down infant
clothing and supplies. Offer an alteration service; take in trades to
refurbish and resell.
BABY FOOD. Specialize
in mixing, processing, packaging and selling homemade natural baby
foods. Licensing and insurance required, dedicated work area strongly
recommended.
BABY SITTING. Go to client's
home by appointment and stay with the children for hourly fee. Charge
extra for two or more, doing housework or for taking the kids out.
BABY PICTURES. With still or video camera,
arrange with the hospital staff to photograph newborns (with parents,
nurses, visitors). Sell print sets to proud parents.
BABY SITTING SERVICE. Accumulate a list of
qualified, bonded sitters. Advertise your service and rates, deliver
and pick sitters. Collect fees and pay sitters a percentage.
BABY DOLLS. Make and attach fine wigs from client
baby's own baby hair to keepsake dolls. Try to get cloth from baby's
actual clothes to make similar looking outfits for the doll.
BANQUET DECORATING. Take full charge of banquet
room preparation: theme decoration, seating arrangements,
centerpieces. Advertise your service and list with Chamber of
Commerce.
BASKET WEAVING. Design, make and sell a
variety of your basket creations: plain and decorated (or with
arrangements). Sell various fibers, plans and instruction kits.
BATIK CREATION. Learn this ancient process: dip
fabric in wax, crinkle, scratch or melt design into the wax, then dip
in dye. Clean, stretch and dry for a valuable decoration.
BEAN SPROUTS. Grow fresh bean sprouts on a
rotating basis: have new crop every week or as needed to supply client
restaurants, vegetable markets and retail customers.
BEAUTY AIDS. Sell general or specialized beauty
(or ethnic) supplies in your home salon or by appointment. Represent
established lines and/or sell you own brand.
BONSAI
PLANTS. Grow (or buy) and arrange into attractive pots or
arrangements. retail from your home, through ads, or wholesale to
flower shops, greenhouses and nurseries.
BOOK
REVIEWING. If qualified, read current books for publishers or
agents. Write reviews to be quoted in book promotions or media
reviews; work towards your own column.
BOOK
SALES. Sell general subject or specialized books wholesale or
retail by mail: through mailing lists or direct advertisements.
Warning: lots of competition in this field.
BOOKKEEPING SERVICE. Provide a (even beginning)
bookkeeping services to (especially one-person) small businessmen in
your area. Expand to more complex systems and computers.
BOTANICAL. Stock "magic" potions, roots, powders,
candles, good luck charms. Print (buy) and sell related instructions
and lore. Careful not to guarantee results.
BREAD
SPECIALTIES. Bake and sell unusual varieties of home made breads:
low calorie, ethnic, etc. Take orders for loaves fresh from your
kitchen, deliver to stores on a route.
BRIDGE LESSONS.
Give Bridge lessons in your home when you are qualified. Charge
by the lesson, or course. Hold tournaments, award prizes, publicize
students.
BROMELIADS. Specialize in culture of
these beautiful pineapple relatives with their hauntingly beautiful
blooms. Sell growing on driftwood arrangements for highest prices.
BUYER'S GUIDE. Publish and sell or give away your
guide to best prices and values available in your area. As it gains in
popularity charge more to list the businesses!
CACTUS
CULTURE. Propagate, grow, groom and arrange native and exotic
cacti for retail and wholesale market. Prepare little information
booklets for each species.
CAKE DECORATING. Take
orders to bake and decorate special occasion cakes. Retail through
small, constant ads ("CAKES- phone number"). Offer to decorate bakery
cakes.
CALLIGRAPHY. Easily learned by artistic
person: work through ads and stationary stores. Print fancy menus,
show cards, place cards, invitations, announcements, etc.
CAN ART. Make and sell pincushion chairs and
other unique, decorative items from tin cans and bits of cloth. Write
down your plans and sell kits with instructions.
CANDLE
MAKING. Turn a hobby into a profitable business. Design your own
line, offer custom styling, scents and special effects. Between
orders, make standard items.
CANDY MAKING.
Specialize in one or more types of candies that you can make in your
kitchen. Package with you brand and wholesale to stores or sell through
ads.
CANNING SERVICE. Preserve customer's home
grown (or purchased) garden products with your canning operation. Use
your recipes or theirs, apply personalized labels.
CARPET
CLEANING. With steam shampoo equipment, clean and renew
residential and commercial carpets. Contact rental agencies,
apartments and condos for wholesale jobs.
CATERING
SERVICE. Prepare old fashioned, gourmet or special occasion meals
for clients to pick up. Use insulated canisters to keep the food hot
(charge deposit).
CERAMIC FLOWERS. Learn to
fashion, color, fire and arrange ceramic flowers, both singles and in
arrangements. Display them for sale; teach the art in your ceramic
shop.
CERAMICS. Make ceramic pieces to retail,
wholesale and display in your "school". Hold classes, sell green ware,
kits and supplies. Charge for finishing and firing pieces.
CHEESE MAKING. Make your own brand of unusual or
gourmet cheeses from your cow or goat milk. Sell from your place, on a
route to area stores, or in mail order kits.
CHILD PICK-UP
SERVICE. Pick up and deliver client's kids after school, theater,
games. Pick-up, deliver to parties, charge extra to stay with them
until mom returns.
CHILDREN'S TOWN HISTORY. Write
and illustrate a booklet about your town just for kids. Sell copies to
doctors, dentist offices, stores, hospitals and nursery schools.
CHILDREN'S BOOKS. With licensed equipment,
"publish" children's books with their name appearing in print
throughout the book. Set up booth in malls for holidays.
CHILDREN'S ROOM DECORATOR. Specialize in
decorating nursery and children's rooms. Offer varied "package"
motifs. Work with or through suppliers for a commission.
CHILDREN'S CLOTHING. Specialized in new (stylish
and/or closeout) and outgrown children's clothes, accessories. Alter
hand-me-downs, "wash" jeans, monogram sweats.
CHINA and
GLASS DEALER. Collect and deal in antique and interesting china
and glass items. Buy at auctions, private and public sales and through
you advertisements.
CLIENT LISTINGS. Contract to
keep customer (or business) information lists: customer birthdays,
purchases, credit records, price records, employee records.
MAKE-UP ARTISTRY. Make up women, actors for
formal or entertainment situations. Offer classes for beauty or actor
application and sell "your" line of make-up supplies.
CLIPPING SERVICES. Review newspaper publications
for contracted subjects (wedding announcements, graduations, mention of
client products). Sell to agents and merchants.
CLOTH
LABELS. Make and sell small orders of fabric labels for small
businesses and home crafters on your embroider machine. Offer lower
prices for repeated orders.
COMMUNITY COOK BOOK.
Publish a theme or organizational oriented recipe collection with
entries from each family/member/department. Print and distribute for a
fee.
COMPANION SERVICE. Accompany lonely, ailing
or elderly people alone temporarily, on shopping trips, to and from
the doctor, on short tours or when traveling longer distances.
COOKBOOK PUBLISHING. Publish a cookbook of your
own favorite recipes (usually a catchy, interesting subject
collection). Promote and sell through ads and stores.
COOKING LESSONS. Give gourmet/ethnic/regional
cooking, canning, baking lessons in your specialty from your kitchen,
or by appointment in your student's kitchen.
COOKING
SERVICE. Prepare complete meals at home, from your traditional or
customized (gourmet, ethnic, traditional) menu to be delivered and
served hot, or picked up.
COOKING, CUSTOM. An
overseas treat: offer genuine American style home-cooking. Prepare and
deliver (serve?) complete meals to parties, banquets and private homes.
CURTAIN LAUNDRY. Wash, stretch and pleat curtains
in your home laundry. Be sure to learn fabric requirements and have
insurance. Offer installation and sell liners.
CUSTOM
COOKBOOKS. Assimilate, decorate (personalize the cover) and
custom print (on computer), client recipe collections -- into their
own "family heirloom" cookbook.
CUSTOM HANDICRAFTS.
Use your talents to embroider, tat, sew, crochet products for
customers with limited time or talent. Make extra good sellers between
custom orders.
CUSTOM CLOTHING DESIGNS.
Paint, block print or transfer unique or custom designs on clothing
for smocks, aprons or fabrics to be used for clothing, curtains or even
upholstery.
CUSTOM KNITTING. Take orders for
hand-knitted sweaters, stockings and sets (ski outfits?). Make more
fast sellers between orders; attach your labels to all products!
CUSTOM TAILORING. Offer the luxury of hand made
clothing: shirts, skirts, coats, uniforms, suits. Good service to add
to alteration business when you feel competent to start from scratch.
CUT FLOWER BUSINESS. Grow and supply freshly cut
flowers to markets and florists in your area. Offer a variety of
seasonal or specialize in one (or two) greenhouse/ shade house grown
varieties.
DANCING SCHOOL. Instruct others in
your dance specialty in group or individual classes. Be sure to
"showcase" students to encourage them and publicize your business!
DECORATIVE PATCHES. Design patches, quilt names
and sew-on decals for sweatshirts, garden shirts. Design completed
garments and do-it-yourself kits.
DIRECTORY
PUBLISHING. Publish local information booklets or maps: where to
shop, eat, fish or visit. Booklets can be given away or sold by paid
advertisers, businesses.
DOLL CLOTHES. Difficult
work for expert seamstresses, but pays well. Work with doll makers,
collectors, sell at fairs and through advertisements in doll related
publications.
DOLL MAKING. Use ceramic molds,
hand paint and finish fine dolls to sell to collectors, children and
stores. Advertise in doll publications; attend doll shows.
DOLL COLLECTING. Buy, sell and trade fine and
antique dolls with other collectors and investors. Visit shows and
fairs regularly to keep abreast of trends and prices.
DONUT MAKING. Make and sell a variety of donuts
at home or in public view at fairs, flea markets and public events.
Offer "specials": tasty toppings, bargain bags.
DRAPERY
SERVICE. Make (have made), clean or alter drapery for private or
commercial customers. Sell replacements. Use ads for retail jobs, call
on commercials.
DRAPERY CLEANING. Offer in-home
(in-office) or pick-up service to renew and re- pleat curtain fabrics.
Offer re-lining and expand to do upholstery, walls, and rugs.
DRY CLEANING. Offer a dry cleaning service in
your area for clothes, drapes, etc. Send items to processing plant
until you are ready to do the cleaning yourself.
ELEPHANT
GARLIC. Specialize in growing and marketing this remarkable,
delicious giant garlic for gourmet restaurants and stores. Sell fresh,
dried and frozen.
ENAMELING/CLOISONNÉ. Create
beautiful, unique enameled objects of art to sell: your own designs,
themes, plaques, jewelry, trinkets. Sell at shows and via catalogs.
ERRAND SERVICE. Perform errands for individuals
and businesses: go to the corner store or across the country. Deliver
or pick up messages, packages, important papers.
ESCORT
SERVICE. Supply (legitimate) escorts for official and business
functions. Advertise for on-call escorts. Interview and qualify; have
your entire services bonded.
ETHNIC ARTIFACTS.
Buy/create and market one category of products (Indian, Black
heritage, German, Asian). Focus all of your advertising and expertise
on specific market segment.
EXERCISE
COMPANION. Serve as a walking, jogging companion for company,
morale support and extra protection (good in cities). Carry any
necessary (legal) protection.
EXERCISE FOR
SENIORS. Conduct daily passive aerobic classes and sessions for
different categories (agility) of senior citizens at your place, and
stops on a daily route.
EXOTIC DISHES.
Package and sell your "special" recipe: frozen or fresh;
wholesale or retail. Advertise the product locally and rent a booth at
fairs to publicize it.
EXOTIC VEGETABLES. Grow
high value plants (chives, watercress, capers). Use a small greenhouse
to produce big profits. Deliver fresh to restaurants and stores.
EXOTIC PLANTS. Raise and sell especially valuable
plants, such as four leaf clovers, rare mosses or delicate begonias.
Advertise and display often at fairs and shows.
FLOWER
ARRANGING. Arrange flowers for parties, banquets, office
functions, from general decor to head table centerpieces. Make up
displays to sell through stores.
FLOWER DRYING.
Raise or buy dryable flowers and shrubs for retail and wholesale
customers: one kind packets or arrangements. Sell kits with complete
instructions.
FOLK ART GALLERY. Specialize in
folk art. Become an "expert" in one or more areas (and receive much
free publicity). Buy, sell, take consignments, appraise, teach.
FORMULAS. Research libraries and books for
marketable formulas: soap, shampoo, hair tonic, cleaners. Bottle or
package under your own label and market locally.
FORTUNE
TELLING. If you are good at palmistry or tarot reading, give
performances at parties, fairs and at a mall booth and at festivals.
Sell booklets, card kits.
FREELANCE HOT FOOD
DELIVERY. Contract to use your van to deliver hot food for
one or more fast food businesses. Have set of magnetic signs each
sponsor. Save them money.
FREEZE DRY FLOWERS.
With your equipment freeze dry and preserve wedding bouquets,
corsages, centerpieces. Add this service to florist or nursery
business for extra income.
GALLOPING GOURMET.
Go to people's homes by appointment; cook them a gourmet meal! Furnish
helpers, utensils, condiments, place settings service if desired for extra
charges.
GARAGE CLEANING. Contact to clean out
garages, sheds and attics for individuals, rental agents and absentee
landlords. Get paid for the work AND keep anything of value.
GARAGE SALE SERVICE. Set up, promote and manage
garage sales for inexperienced or reluctant clients. Inventory, help
price and sell for percentage of the proceeds.
GARAGE
SALES. Buy under priced items at auctions and other garage sales.
When sufficiently "stocked" have your own -- or hold "joint" sales at
various locations.
GENEALOGY. Trace and document
family archives. Provide records and related artifacts to descendants.
Charge by amount of research involved and documents produced.
GHOSTWRITER. Write articles, letters, reports,
speeches and other papers for busy executives and those with little
talent in this area. Provide signed agreement to clients.
GLASS ETCHING. Custom-etch glassware for
individuals, and to order for retail stores. Offer monograms, town or
company logo, family crest, art designs or scenery.
HANDBAGS. Specialize in ladies handbags. Make
them in your "factory" to retail or wholesale, or buy and stock a wide
variety of sizes, styles, colors and prices.
HANGING
PLANTS. Specialize in hanging plants of all sizes and
descriptions. Display when in peak condition in various types of
attractive pots, holders and hangers.
HEALTH
FOODS. Use only natural fertilizers and pesticides in your garden
to produce higher priced organically grown products. Sell as
"organically grown" products.
HERB HOUSE. Grow,
process and sell herbs that grow well in your area (or greenhouse).
Package products separately and in blends (e.g. pickling
preparations).
HERB PLANTS. Provide live, healthy
potted herbs (basil, chives, borage) for really fresh seasoning to
gourmet restaurants. Exchange for new plants as needed.
HERBAL SEASONINGS. Develop, package and market
your own blends of seasonings for local, hopefully wider distribution.
Arrange for attention-getting packaging to expedite sales.
HERBAL AND SPICE TEA. Blend and sell different
blends of herbal teas. Include leaflets with history and folklore in
each package. Use uniquely decorated containers.
HOBBY
NEWSLETTER. Originate a newsletter or directory for and about
hobbyists and their crafts. Build readership by fostering
participation, exchanging ideas, listing fairs and supply sources.
HOBBY KITS. Sell do-it-yourself hobby kits in
your field of expertise. Include step-by- step guidance and pictures
to help beginners learn the craft.
HOLIDAY, SPECIAL EVENT
BASKETS. Prepare holiday and special event baskets of fruit,
flowers, "goodies". Wholesale or consign to gift stores and advertise
custom retail work.
HOME-CANNED GOODS. Take
orders or sell home canned goods from your garden. Offer ethnic,
regional, or dietary (low-salt/sugarless) as well as "regular" recipes.
HOME-SMOKED MEATS. With your smoker, recipes and
wood selection, smoke and sell your sausage, hams, ribs and chicken.
Offer hot smoked meats & sandwiches for holidays and banquets.
HOME PERMANENTS. Specialize in giving "home
perms" at "their" place. Go to offices, homes, hospitals, senior
citizen centers by appointment or on a route.
HOME STUDY
COURSES. Sell/rent new/used home study courses. Buy new courses
on sale (when available), buy courses back from students. Sell locally
and by mail order.
HOMEMAKER'S HELPER. Provide
temporary relief or assistance for sick, vacationing or just plain
"pooped" moms. Charge by the hour or job (more than a full-time helper).
HOMEOPATHY. Specialize in natural remedy products
and related folklore. Provide information on "reputed" remedial
properties. Be very careful not to offer "cures".
HOROSCOPE SERVICE. Provide horoscope/astrology
information to clients -- prepare manually or use your computer
program to select and/or print out the information.
HOSPITAL GROOMING. Assist patients with nail,
hair, skin care in hospitals and nursing homes. License may not be
needed to provide an appreciated service on a route.
HOUSE
CLEANING. Offer one-time or periodic house cleaning services.
Perform the heavy tasks (shampoo rugs, clean stoves, wash windows, wax
the floors, defrost, etc.)
IMPRINTED CLOTHING.
Print (or have printed) names, designs, slogans on T-shirts, hats,
uniforms by heat transfer, screen or sublimation for schools, companies,
or tourists.
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS, CASSETTES.
Make recordings of yourself or others teaching and demonstrating their
crafts and specialties. Market via mail or wholesale to stores.
INVISIBLE MENDING/WEAVING. Repair snags, tears,
burns in fine clothing and fabrics. Advertise locally work with
cleaners and clothing stores in your area.
JEWELRY SALES.
Sell inexpensive to fine jewelry to friends, through party plans,
direct from advertisements, or wholesale to local stores. Compare
suppliers constantly!
JEWELRY BOXES. Make fine
jewelry boxes (lined, lacquered, inlaid, shell covered) for gift
stores, catalog sales and retail sales. Add music works for extra profits.
JEWELRY CREATIONS. Use your talent and ingenuity
to mass produce or individually create exquisite jewelry -- from
virtually anything from diamonds to sliced bamboo.
JEWELRY
BUYING (OLD). Buy old, "worn out" or "outdated" jewelry for
"salvage". Actually, rejuvenated old jewelry is quite valuable! Sell
"waste" only as salvage.
JUNK JEWELRY ART. Buy
old jewelry and create designs on framed velvet backgrounds. Glue on
beads, drill holes for lights. Wire and light for a spectacular display.
KID PHOTO DOLLS. Take or use photos of kids to
make various size (up to full size) "paper dolls" of client's
children. Cut out, seal in plastic and mount in slot on sturdy plywood
and base.
KITCHEN SPECIALTIES. Whip up and sell
your mouth-watering or prize-winning recipes. Sell to local
restaurants or advertise with big posters at the fair booth. Sell hot,
canned or frozen!
LAPIDARY (GEM MAKING).
Operate a "rock shop" in your garage. Cut, polish facet, shape and
mount gems in commercial findings. Sell mounted, unmounted gems and
jewelry.
LIVE-IN AGENCY. Check out both
prospective employers and workers. Charge fee to find a reliable widow
to stay with elderly person who would otherwise have to go to a home.
LOCAL WHO'S WHO. Compile and publish a directory
or index with biographical sketches of prominent people (pioneers,
heroes, leaders) in your area, past and present.
LOCAL
HEROES. Research and write items about local heroics (police,
scouts, lady pioneers, ancestors). Sell to local publications and
again later as a collection.
LONELY HEARTS.
Advertise for, list and match names of people who would like to meet
others. Consider age, interests, hobbies, what they like in others, church
affiliation, education.
MACRAMÉ. Make and
sell a good selection of hangers and hangings. Take orders for custom
work. Find (keep secret) good sources for materials, sell do-it-yourself
kits.
MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS. Sell a variety of
magazine subscriptions from your "office"; Use "gimmicky" ads, give
credit for leads and do lots of telephone canvassing.
MAIL
ORDER SALES. Find the right product, "showcase" it, advertise it,
and sell it by mail (ad and/or mailing lists). Caution: Heavy
competition and many "sharks"!
MAIL ORDER BOOKS.
Sell books by mail (most suppliers will drop-ship). Always offer
follow-up products and check several sources before "signing" with any
one.
MANICURE SERVICE. Provide nail care service
in or from your "salon." Check needs in hospitals, nursing homes, even
office and factory workers on break.
MINERALS AND
GEMS. Where petrified wood, meteorites, jade, or other potential
gem minerals are available, gather and process them. Sell finished
jewelry and stones.
MINIATURE GARDENS. Create
various sizes of garden-like displays of live plants for hospital sick
rooms, boxes for balconies, rooftop planters, offices and residences.
MONOGRAM SERVICE. Embroider names, logos,
initials on clothing, uniforms and company team jackets. Specialize in
a style or service, charge extra for custom work.
MULTI-LEVEL SALES. Work with reputable company
(e.g. Amway, Watkins) to make money from sales of merchandise -- both
your own sales and those by others that you sponsor into the program.
MUSHROOM CULTURE. Grow and sell mushrooms. Fill
standing gourmet restaurant and store orders, advertise for retail
sales. Can, freeze or dry leftovers and stems.
NAIL POLISH
MANUFACTURING. Buy red lacquer in bulk and bottles in bulk. Mix
in various colors, bottle and sell. Add your own nail polish remover
(acetone mixture).
NARRATING. Use your speaking
ability to narrate private or commercial movies, videos, demos and
advertisements. Sell taped versions for slide show presentations.
NATIVE PLANTS. Become an expert on plants native
to your locale. Grow, propagate and improve. Raise the value of your
plants and seeds by enclosing an informative brochure in each pack.
NATURAL JEWELRY. Make and sell jewelry and
decorations from seeds, twigs, berries. Example: China berry seed
necklaces, "moose-apple" pins, acorn beads, willow wreaths.
NATURE'S PRODUCTS. When in an area with wild
products (hickory nuts, maple syrup) that you can harvest, do so!
Process, package and sell as genuine products of nature.
NECKTIES. Make and sell exclusive, hand made ties
from exotic materials from all over the world. Offer a wide selection
of designs, attach your exclusive label.
NEEDLECRAFT. Make and sell homemade items (pot
holders, bonnets, towel rings) to sell on consignment, to mail order
catalog companies, or through parties and ads.
PAPER
SCULPTURE. Create and sell your own unique "heads", figures,
caricatures, abstracts, even effigies! Sell for up to $5O each for
holidays, promotions, parties.
PAPIER MACHE SCULPTURE.
Create a selection of your "standard" caricatures, piñatas and
offer custom versions. Assemble do-it-yourself kits with full
instructions.
PARTY PACKAGES. Make up and market
complete party packages with innovative games, masks, favors, stunts
and entertainment for various age, size and interest groups.
PARTY PLANNING. Take complete charge of
customer's planned party: decorate, schedule activities, send
invitations. Arrange entertainment, catering and clean-up.
PASTE CRAFT. Glue unusual fabrics onto hard
surfaces (trays, dishes) to sell in craft shops. Build stock of
fabrics and projects, teach, sell do-it-yourself kits.
PEN
PAL SERVICE. Advertise in overseas publications. Offer to enroll
host country citizens in correspondence clubs for US or other
nationality pen pals. Offer introductions.
PEN PAL
CLUB. Advertise for members and arrange into categories by age,
location, sex, interests, etc. Charge for membership (or newsletter),
addresses or "matches" from your files.
PERFUME
BAR. Stock and sell a selection of genuine and/or "imitation"
brand perfumes and accessories from your salon (have samples and take
orders to start).
PERSONALIZED OFFICE ITEMS. Make
and/or sell personalized (engraved or monogrammed) office accessories:
logos, coffee cups, desk signs, paperweights, briefcases, etc).
PET SITTING. Feed, water, clean up after and
check on pets twice a day in their homes while owners are away. Call
owners or veterinarian if there are any problems.
PET
HOTEL. Board and care for pets in your kennels or cages while
owners are away. Or, work with assistants who provide "foster homes"
for unusual or pampered pets.
PET TATTOOING.
Offer this permanent identification service to breeders and individuals
to deter theft, expedite recovery of lost pets and confirm lineage
(e.g., breeder has record of marks).
PIES AND COOKIES.
Take orders or contract for baked goods from your kitchen.
Deliver to customers or stores daily with your name and logo imprinted
on the cartons.
PILLOWS. Make and decorate
designer, fancy, or "down home" pillows to sell in boutiques, fairs,
party plans, sales catalogs and/or advertisements and mail order.
PLANT SCULPTURE. A profitable specialty: braid
trunks, shape into interesting forms. Trim, bend, graft, to create
valuable sculptures that bring premium prices.
POMANDERS.
Revive this old Egyptian art: process oranges into hardened and
long- lasting sachets. Use spice and perfume mixtures and penetrating
cloves: sell!
POPCORN PRODUCTS. Make and market
various popcorn base products. Give your recipes exotic names. Create
your colorful holiday and special occasion containers.
POTTED PLANTS. Learn to start (propagate) and
groom popular potted plants. Display in attractive settings,
especially when they are in bloom or full foliage.
POTTERY. With your potter's wheel, make, fire and
sell your own style of pottery. Encourage onlookers and students and
put your "mark" on every piece you offer for sale.
PRINTS,
LINOLEUM. Cut your artistic designs into linoleum blocks; make
and frame your prints. Teach the art, sell kits, publicize student
work (great advertising!).
PRODUCT DEMONSTRATIONS.
Contract with food brokers to demonstrate consumer products
(prepare and give out samples) in supermarkets, drug stores and
shopping malls.
PRODUCT BROKER. Buy a quantity of
a product wholesale (preferably at a close-out price) and advertise it as
a "one-time special" locally. Sell leftovers at close-outs!
POTTED
PLANTS. Learn to start (propagate) and groom popular potted
plants. Display in attractive settings, especially when they are in
bloom or full foliage.
POTTERY. With your
potter's wheel, make, fire and sell your own style of pottery.
Encourage onlookers and students and put your "mark" on every piece
you offer for sale.
POTTED PLANTS. Learn to start
(propagate) and groom popular potted plants. Display in attractive
settings, especially when they are in bloom or full foliage.
POTTERY. With your potter's wheel, make, fire and
sell your own style of pottery. Encourage onlookers and students and
put your "mark" on every piece you offer for sale.
PRINTS,
LINOLEUM. Cut your artistic designs into linoleum blocks; make
and frame your prints. Teach the art, sell kits, publicize student
work (great advertising!).
PRODUCT DEMONSTRATIONS.
Contract with food brokers to demonstrate consumer products
(prepare and give out samples) in supermarkets, drug stores and
shopping malls.
PRODUCT BROKER. Buy a quantity of
a product wholesale (preferably at a close-out price) and advertise it
as a "one-time special" locally. Sell leftovers at close-outs!
PRODUCT REPACKAGING. Buy bulk products (nails,
beans, vinegar) by the ton or barrel. Re-package into neatly labeled
packets, pints, boxes and sell for much more.
PUPPET
MAKING. Create your own puppets (cartoon, caricatures or custom
faces). Give shows at children's parties, train both "actors" and
puppet makers. Sell kits.
QUILTING. Make and sell
beautiful homemade quilts from "scraps" in your "spare time". Take
color photographs of each quilt and make a "catalog" to show them.
RAG DOLLS. Make and sell rag, sock and similar
stuffed dolls in your own unique fashion. Attach your label and offer
to stores in your area and via mail nationwide.
READING TO PATIENTS. Visit hospitals, nursing
homes or individual homes and read stories, novels to patients. If
time is limited, read a chapter a week. Charge relatives.
REAL PEOPLE DOLLS. Make and dress doll
representations of real people (heroes, historical, actual clients).
Include information about the person. Present in attractive glass
display boxes.
RECIPE SALES. Perfect your
favorite recipes. Promote and sell them individually, in small sets,
or collections. Sell something that will make the cook look great!
REPORT WRITING. Write information or "how-to"
articles on subjects in which you are well versed. Sell to technical
publications or advertise and sell "reports" direct.
RESIDENTIAL
POSTCARDS. Take pictures of well-kept homes and make.
RESUME SERVICE. A professional resume writing
services: interview and review qualifications. Slant for types of job
sought: include picture on each resume (computer programs exist).
RUG MAKING. Make sell hand woven (or?) rugs in
standard and custom designs. Offer instructions, materials
do-it-yourself kits, plus related supplies and equipment.
SCARECROWS. Make and sell authentic scarecrows
for gardeners and garden displays. Also, sell kits, complete with
frames, straw, and old clothes and face parts.
SCREEN
PRINTING. Set up a silk screen apparatus in your shop to print
anything from a small badge to a large order of real estate signs,
even fabrics and labels.
SEED PACKETS.
Collect, sort, label and sell packets of selected wildflowers or
plants native to your area. Include instructions, history and folklore
on each package.
SEED DEALER. Buy bulk seeds from
suppliers or farmers. Repackage into small packets and blends. Add
instructions and package along with folklore info; wholesale to local
markets.
SEWING SERVICE. Make repairs and do
alterations for non-sewing (busy bachelor?) clients needing buttons,
adjustments. Charge extra for one-day or "emergency" service.
SEWING
CLASSES. When qualified, hold sewing classes in your home.
Offer full courses as well as special "how-to" seminars for specific
techniques. Sell material and supplies to students.
SHELL CRAFTS. Use glue, dyes, toy animals eyes,
props and your imagination to make shell decorations and novelties to
sell at fairs and wholesale to local stores.
SHOPPING
SERVICE. Do grocery shopping for clients. Get their list, buy
and deliver. Use your shopping, pricing experience and volume buying to
get best values.
SHUT-IN SERVICE. Call and/or
visit temporary or permanent shut-ins on behalf of absentee relatives.
Take magazines, play games, read to them, and be their friend.
SILK FLOWER RENTALS. Make up silk flower
arrangements for weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs and banquets. Sell,
rent and offer do-it-yourself baskets, centerpieces, etc.
SNAIL RAISING. Raise and sell fresh "escargot"
(edible) snails for gourmet restaurants. Preserve, package and sell
leftovers to local stores or a food broker.
SOAP
MAKING. Learn as a hobby or adjunct to candle making. Create and
sell various shapes, colors, fragrances. Mold prepared solutions or
make your soap from scratch.
SPECIALTY FOODS.
Represent one or more suppliers of specialty foods (diet, ethnic,
gourmet) to restaurants, stores and/or individuals. Advertise for
customers.
SPECIALTY MERCHANDISE. Sell a line of
merchandise from your catalogs and samples to retail stores,
individuals, and sub-sales efforts like parties or group discounts.
SPICES AND HERBS. Grow spices and herbs that
thrive in your climate (and greenhouse). Sell dried, blended, freshly
cut, in flats or pots, packets and bunches -- ready for use.
SPIDER FARM. Raise different kinds of spiders:
sell webs to scientific institutions. Sell to schools and
laboratories. Write booklets for each species.
STAMP
APPROVALS. Buy U.S. or foreign stamps in bulk; search for
valuables (to sell individually); sell the rest in packets or as
approvals (e.g., 2 for each one kept).
STAMP
DEALING. Buy, sell and/or trade postage stamps of the USA or
world. Buy in bulk, sell packets, mixtures, sets and singles to
beginning or intermediate collectors.
STENCILING
(FABRICS). Design your own stencils for interesting fabric
designs. Apply to clothing and fabrics for sale. Sell stencils, fabric
kits paints, dyes and supplies.
STORY TELLER.
Narrate stories at children’s' parties. Use props (dolls, pets,
puppets) and audience participation. Perfect the stories then tape or
put down on paper.
SURPLUS PRODUCE. Buy peaches,
tomatoes, etc., when in season and price is low. Preserve (freeze,
can, dry) to sell when the price goes later in the season or in
winter.
TAILORING. Use your skills to custom
tailor men, boys and women's garments (including jackets, uniforms,
suits) in or from your home "shop". Attach your own label.
TALENT AGENCY. Locate and list people (and
animals) with unusual talents (charge a small listing fee). Send lists
to talent agents, producers, show managers, and actors.
TAMALES AND TACOS. Take orders for tamales, tacos
(or other specialties) in your kitchen for customer or pick-up (or
delivery to restaurants). Freeze leftovers.
TELEPHONE
CANVASSING. Contract with salesmen or businesses to obtain
leads or potential customer info for them from your telephone
operation. Charge by the lead.
TELEPHONE SALES.
Call listed or phone book names to sell merchandise or
services (yours or client's).Charge a sales commission and keep ALL
profits on your products.
TEMPLE RUBBINGS.
With lumber (or similar) crayon and rugged, fabric, copy stone or
metal relief designs by rubbing onto covering paper or fabric. Seal,
frame and sell.
TERRARIUMS. Start and nurture
plants in bottles and plastic containers that require little if any
watering. Grow plants to peak of attractiveness and sell, container
and all.
TOWN HISTORY. If none exists, "publish"
a booklet about your town. Sell direct and/or to merchants for resale
or to give away (consider including paid advertisements.)
TURTLES. Raise and market various types of
turtles: edible, aquarium, decorative, pet shop and possibly larger
ones to protect species and/or market to zoos and preserves.
TUTORING. Provide assistance by appointment or
scheduled classes to students (anyone in need) of your expertise,
whether academic, technical or operational skill.
TYPING SERVICE. Do typing jobs in your home: for
doctors, lawyers, business people, and students. Charge less than word
processor but still make a nice profit.
USED BOOKS
SALES. Buy, sell and trade used books: novels, reference,
science, text, even collector editions from your home.
VEGETABLES, OFF SEASON. Grow and sell "vine
ripened" (with lights, heat) tomatoes from your greenhouse in winter,
fresh corn in spring, ripe strawberries in the fall.
VITAMIN SALES. Sell one or more lines of vitamins
and supplements, some with generic or your name "brand." Advertise
and/or enlist user/helpers and party plans.
WEAVING,
SPINNING. On old fashioned equipment, spin, weave and dye
authentic, hand made fabrics that command high prices; sell kits,
instructions and folklore.
WEDDING
CONSULTANT. Plan and coordinate weddings from start to finish:
decor, guests, dresses, schedules, catering, photographer, etc.
Receive fee and commissions.
WILD BERRIES.
Pick, preserve and sell wild (only!) blackberries, gooseberries, etc.
Prepare different forms, but always emphasize that they are genuine
wild products.
WILDFLOWER SEEDS. In your travels,
gather wildflower seeds. Seal and label, then take home and cultivate
to produce seeds for packets "from around the nation."
WILDFLOWER PLANTS. Start, nurture and market when
ready, genuine wildflowers and plants of local interest. Have small
brochures printed for each plant (this sells them).
WINE
AND BEER MAKING. After perfecting your recipes, sell kits,
instructions and supplies (not the product) to others who would also
like to make their own too.
WORD PROCESSING.
Produce "editable" drafts and finished professional letters,
manuscripts and documents for students, lawyers, writers and
businesses. Allow editing prior to final printing.
WRITE FOR CHILDREN. Write poems, Sunday school
stories, puzzles, explanations, riddles, etc., for children. Sell to
local papers, children's book publishers or in your own booklets.
WRITING, FREELANCE. Starting with local articles
(even "filters"); sell or even GIVE to local paper (to be
"published"). Work up to articles and stories that sell.
YOUR-BRAND PRODUCTS. Make or formulate your own
line of household (or?) products from "secret" recipes. Design your
own packages and advertising and market your products. Tips,
Tricks, and Tools for Promoting Your Business Online
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