4kids4me Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Ok, I was reading in Time magazine about people really starting to rent A LOT. Homes, vehicles, clothes, furniture. What caught my eye was a little caption about people renting others to do chores, such as folding laundry. And this got me thinking.... We have rent-a-husband companies here (tends to be house maintenance) or rent-a-wife (house cleaning) and even a rent-a-son (moving). But we don't have a general rent-a-? (not sure what you'd call it). Some ideas that I could include in a business: -house chores (think of anything) -dog walking/care -garden and lawn maintenance (fall cleanup) -driveway care in winter -organization -personal assistant -personal shopper (I would need to bring in my sis for that) -personal training (I would need my friend for that) -visitation (maybe for older folks) -house repair (husband's forte), which could include little things like sanding and restaining a deck, etc -child care -tutoring younger grades These are some of the things someone may need on a TEMPORARY basis, but may not want to commit to full-time (like a cleaning service or lawn care). I live in a fairly affluent area (outside Toronto...average house price would be in the 500,00-600,00 range, though our home is way more modest and we only have one income) So my questions: Is this a dumb idea? It's a "broad" company, rather than a specific one (only dog-walking or only lawn care). Any other ideas of things a company like this could provide? Any name ideas? Not sure what else to ask, but just throw feedback out there and I surely would listen to it all. I have NO business experience but just have this idea that I like. :) And I'm qualified...lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in Florida Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 This sounds like a viable idea to me. I do not have any idea how you would price services and market them. Have you looked at Task Rabbit and Zaarly? There are some similarities that might help you refine for niche. Names could be cutesy like "the honey-do list' or professional like "Home management helpers' who are your potential clients. Good luck, sounds neat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in Florida Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I have considered a line standing (place holding) business. I have been to the social security office twice this year, each time I waited HOURS for my number to be called and if you leave the room and they call your number you have to start all over again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 This sounds like a viable idea to me. I do not have any idea how you would price services and market them. Have you looked at Task Rabbit and Zaarly? There are some similarities that might help you refine for niche. Names could be cutesy like "the honey-do list' or professional like "Home management helpers' who are your potential clients. Good luck, sounds neat. Thanks for those company names. It'll help! I'm in Canada and haven't heard of them. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 This sounds like a viable idea to me. I do not have any idea how you would price services and market them. Have you looked at Task Rabbit and Zaarly? There are some similarities that might help you refine for niche. Names could be cutesy like "the honey-do list' or professional like "Home management helpers' who are your potential clients. Good luck, sounds neat. LOL, love it! :) Know what I AM really good at? Getting money knocked off bills (say, the company that provides my internet, phone and tv...and they rip you off) or better prices on services. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carriede Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 "Rent-A-Hand"? Kinda a play off of lend-a-hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruby Rose Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Helping Hand Assistant Services Second You Fairy Apprentice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Rent-a-chore Chorely ChoreBGone Task Master Zippity tag lines: We make your to do list a done list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Rent-A-Helper Assist-Temps (sort of a play on "assistance") Someone Else (tag line: Get Someone Else to do it!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSNative Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Great ideas. It looks like you have a few different businesses here that would all use different marketing. I've split them up in a way that I think would make targeted marketing easier. These would be a good - "Make your to do list a done list" type business. -house chores (think of anything) -dog walking/care -garden and lawn maintenance (fall cleanup) (Maybe add indoor and potted plant care while homeowners are on vacation) -driveway care in winter -house repair (husband's forte), which could include little things like sanding and restaining a deck, etc This could be separate or go with the "to do" business. There are lots of sites for professional organizers that could have great marketing and pricing ideas for you. If you made it separate, you may be able to go higher end with it. -organization -personal assistant This I would leave out for now unless you are talking about grocery, etc. shopping. That could go in the "to do" business. Personal clothes shopping would be a diff. market, I think. -personal shopper (I would need to bring in my sis for that) If you have certification for this, go for it. If not, there are already a lot of businesses that do this. -personal training (I would need my friend for that) These could all go together. You would probably need a background check. -visitation (maybe for older folks) Could add some of the chore business here. I think someone who would take an elderly parent grocery shopping, to drs. appt, help with their housekeeping, etc. would be very useful. -child care This I would make a separate business where you would use your marketing to showcase your skills, degrees, experience, etc. -tutoring younger grades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Rent-a-chore Chorely ChoreBGone Task Master Zippity tag lines: We make your to do list a done list Love your and others' suggestions...I had Task Master on their, too! :) I like Zippity, also. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Rent-A-Helper Assist-Temps (sort of a play on "assistance") Someone Else (tag line: Get Someone Else to do it!) Could you imagine two friends talking: "Who got this house cleaned up?" "I used Someone Else." "Ok, who was it?" "It was Someone Else." and on and on.... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Great ideas. It looks like you have a few different businesses here that would all use different marketing. I've split them up in a way that I think would make targeted marketing easier. These would be a good - "Make your to do list a done list" type business. -house chores (think of anything) -dog walking/care -garden and lawn maintenance (fall cleanup) (Maybe add indoor and potted plant care while homeowners are on vacation) -driveway care in winter -house repair (husband's forte), which could include little things like sanding and restaining a deck, etc This could be separate or go with the "to do" business. There are lots of sites for professional organizers that could have great marketing and pricing ideas for you. If you made it separate, you may be able to go higher end with it. -organization -personal assistant This I would leave out for now unless you are talking about grocery, etc. shopping. That could go in the "to do" business. Personal clothes shopping would be a diff. market, I think. -personal shopper (I would need to bring in my sis for that) If you have certification for this, go for it. If not, there are already a lot of businesses that do this. -personal training (I would need my friend for that) These could all go together. You would probably need a background check. -visitation (maybe for older folks) Could add some of the chore business here. I think someone who would take an elderly parent grocery shopping, to drs. appt, help with their housekeeping, etc. would be very useful. -child care This I would make a separate business where you would use your marketing to showcase your skills, degrees, experience, etc. -tutoring younger grades LOL, "Caralyn" the lady with five businesses. I think Shark Tank would be all over me on diversifying too much! Thanks for helping me sort it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Thanks for the name ideas, Ladies!!! As well as the advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erica in OR Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 We knew someone in our church in the late 1990's who had that sort of business and they used "Honey Do-ers" for the name. I googled them and it's still going, so there's definitely call for it. Erica in OR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 I would make it all female-oriented tasks and call it "Jane-of-All-Trades." :001_smile: And yes, I do think there is a market for it. I have heard of Task Rabbit and also something that was Gopher (something). "GoPher You"? Something like that. I don't think it should be totally general, as in anything at all you can think of - need someone to pick up your carry-out? Need a dog walker? Need someone to replant the Hostas? Maybe not as general as that. I think the Task Rabbit business hires others on an as-needed basis, so it's not literally one person doing whatever tasks come their way, but a "hub" who will connect you with the person who will bring in your mail or take you to the airport or feed your pet rabbit or whatever. Then the "hub" business gets a commission and the actual task-doer gets paid directly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 We have that here. It is called Southern Comforts and targets the college students. They do - laundry house cleaning car washing pet sitting plant sitting/care computer repair shopping typing tutoring party set-up/tear down etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 Thanks for the additional replies! So helpful and very encouraging! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 You might check out Sittercity. They might give you ideas. It's basically a matching service--people who want to do the jobs are matched with people who need the jobs done. It's free to those who want to work; the people needing the job done pay a small fee to get the contact information. THey have a "backround check" option, too-- Not quite what you are proposing, but it might help to see. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 Will check it out -- thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 They recently (last few months) had an article in Macleans about this type of business. It even was featured as the cover illustration for the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 They recently (last few months) had an article in Macleans about this type of business. It even was featured as the cover illustration for the week. Will have to look. Thanks! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 I had a friend who tried to start a business being a 'mom's assistant'. Her services included things like driving kids to activities, laundry, personal errands, accountability coach, walking partner, etc. It didn't really take off, but I think it could have if she found the right clients. I think it is going to be a matter of combining the right marketing with just getting lucky. I would separate them into different job types to market to different clienteles. Then once you have a client, you can offer the other services to them as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 You could put a spin on it being a personal concierge service, but I think it depends on whether you want to market it as more upscale vs. to more middle class folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happygrrl Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 From one small business owner to a potential other: read "The E-Myth" by Micheal Gerber. Then read it again :D. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 I had a friend who tried to start a business being a 'mom's assistant'. Her services included things like driving kids to activities, laundry, personal errands, accountability coach, walking partner, etc. It didn't really take off, but I think it could have if she found the right clients. I think it is going to be a matter of combining the right marketing with just getting lucky. I would separate them into different job types to market to different clienteles. Then once you have a client, you can offer the other services to them as well. Ya, this is what I'm thinking. I'm wondering if I had the right business background it would be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 You could put a spin on it being a personal concierge service, but I think it depends on whether you want to market it as more upscale vs. to more middle class folks. This would work really well in the city...I've seen that there are a couple and they seem to be big business. Maybe I should quit homeschooling and work for them. :) lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kids4me Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 From one small business owner to a potential other: read "The E-Myth" by Micheal Gerber. Then read it again :D.Best of luck! Can you give me a synopsis? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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