homeschoolin'mygirls Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 what might it be? Service like childcare, elder care, groomer Food services -- opening type of store other ideas? All the recession talk plus the post of hard hit areas really have me thinking. My dh and I have talked about this often. We're interested in others' pov nanik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 If you have well muscled teenaged boys without allergies, lawn care/landscaping might be a possibility. For what it's worth, girls can mow and landscape, too. I know I do. I knew a young man who started mowing lawns as a teen...did good work and made decent money. As he got older, he hired a few other teens to mow lawns for him. His business grew into a successful company. Eventually, he opened a garden nursery. As a young man with a wife and children, he sold the whole she-bang for some nice dollars and started something else. Housecleaning can be a good service type business. If moms are working, then it is nice to have someone clean the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Used book store! ( not curriculum focused - all used books) There is a fantastic one on our town - Vintage Books - owned by a wonderful lady. I am so jealous. She says the store "is my passion" and she and her husband run it together and LOVE it. They are very successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotherMayI Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 We started a flooring business a few months ago in Portland. My husband has worked in the industry for years and he has a passion for it:001_smile:. An opportunity came our way and although the timing could have been better- we went for it. We are hopeful that if we can make it through this time in our economy then we should be strong when things get better. All the same- we are pretty scared- but I'm not sure what our alternative would be at this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jzsnow Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I've always wanted a bed and breakfast! DH and I were talking about opening a used homeschool supply store. That would be fun! Jessica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgmaddox Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I have a small (very small home based business) making bath and body products. I would love to have a store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Ours is a photography/printing business. In addition to our professional sports clients, we do a considerable amount of on-site work. For example, last week we were hired to photograph guests at a major software company's convention wrap-up party. We set up two backgrounds at opposite ends of the location where my husband and another photographer shot images of the party-goers. I took the images and loaded them to the company's web site where the guests could visit the next morning and download their images. Usually, instead of loading photos to a web site, I make a 5x7 print for each guest so they can go home with their photograph. My older sister's business is web design. Her husband actually does the site design and she writes the code and does all of the updates. My younger sister is a terrific seamstress and is just considering starting a custom sewing/embroidery business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vettechmomof2 Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 A pet store that actually has safe and useful products and ones that should be offered for sale to pet owners.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfarm Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 In this current economy, I would try to think of things that people will need regardless of whether there is a lot of extra money or not. Garden produce, possibly a really great selection of used children's clothing and toys, as mentioned, used books. I would also consider used music. I was fascinated to learn that the Carter Family (a famous bluegrass precursor) sold millions of copies of their recordings during the heart of the 1930's depression. Apparently, people need those things that will keep them going on a daily basis and those things that will give them comfort and hope for the future, as long as both are in an affordable price range. IMO, it is better to frequently sell 10 items for a small profit each than to have things priced high and never sell any, therefore no profit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanestMomInMidwest Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 If my dh could get paid to find all the spelling errors in the morning paper, that would be great, since he does that as a hobby now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Closeacademy Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 We've done this a lot. In the mid 1990's my dh and I sold CDRom software at computer shows. When the market went bad we got jobs. Since I have had kids, I have sold successfully on e-bay for almost 3 years until my supplier closed their doors. And now, I am doing child care in my home. I have also done some typing and tried to start a homeschool consulting/organizing/scheduling business but it never took off. Good luck with your ideas.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 If you are talking in general, I'd love to have a used bookstore too. There's a great one in my town. It has a little area with a couch and chairs, where they have local authors come and do readings. In a perfect world I could run the store and the kids could cosy up on the couch for lessons. I think it wouldn't run so perfectly. Now, as for bringing money to help protect your family right now that's a different story. I think home daycare could be a possibility. However, it would interfere with school (at least how I do school). Daycare centers near me have had huge drops in enrollment. When my oldest was a baby, you needed to be on the center's waiting list for 6 months. Now, people are opting out of afterschool care and looking at home care providers for preschoolers. Grooming, dog walking, house cleaning, and lawn care are services that are easy for people to drop when they have to cut spending. These are luxury services. So, I could see starting such a business , but I wouldn't expect it be anything to help the family through a serious downturn, since your clients could quickly disappear. On the hand starting a business like this is a great opportunity for learning for a homeschooler. My dd walks a dog. At a 11am--a few hours before the owners high school age child gets home. She managing the money and it's great for her. But she knows they may drop this anytime. There are very few jobs which are flexible in time for homeschoolers needs and recession proof. Most of those are in healthcare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Needleroozer Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 All four of us in our family are all sort of pooling our various talents to help come up with extra money right now. Our family business (TurtleWorks Studio) is made up of the following: Our Boy is an excellent dog walker/sitter, and lawn mower. His money goes toward his costs for out of state speech tournaments, and the medical care of the cats (flea meds, shots, etc.). Our Girl teaches piano (she's currently at 1 student and wants more), plays at church services, and also sells her chickens' eggs for $5. a dozen. She also chicken sits for family friends on a regular basis, the pay being that she may sell those eggs, too. Her money goes to piano competition/adjudication fees, and piano tunings. She has also just started saving for a baby grand piano. I am doing respite care for one family (teaching their older teen girl early childhood education); before and after school care and tutoring for our NeighborBoy; teaching art technique workshops at 2 local stores; teaching sewing and art playdate classes to 3 teen girls twice a month; and will hopefully soon be selling my own paintings, mixed media creations, and textile works in my own etsy shop, and in local galleries. We will have a produce/flower/egg stand set up in front of the house this summer, as well. Not sure how it will go, but the kids want to be in charge of it, so we shall see. The kids support me before and after workshops, I will stop off and take care of the Boy's dogs if he can't make it, etc. We all support each other, and work together as much as possible. The Dude is traveling for his job and is out of town 5/7 of the week, and he helps by working so hard and doing lots of overtime. He has in the past, made things that I have sold for him- stepping stones, wire and stone plant stakes, jewelry, etc. Some other ideas we have and may do in the future: Raising bees (mostly for the experience) and selling the honey. Owning and running a small bookstore/cafe', catering to those who deal with food allergies. Singing/playing/reciting (busking) at local fairs, etc. (This brings in a lot of money!) I know we are a more creative artsy family than some, but the point is to look at all the members of your family, and see what contributions they can make to a business. Our goal is that in just five years, I will be contributing enough to our monthly income, that painting/creating is all I will have to do- no other small jobs. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolin'mygirls Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 I, too, can think of many things I'd like to do. :D And in better times those ideas might be profitable. Unfortunately I don't think they'd bring in money in today's economy. My dd and I would love to do a tea/bakery shop with books and such but with businesses closing all over, I don't think it's a good time. I'm actually a RN; nursing jobs seem to be always available. Not always the shift or place or kind of nursing I might choose but still a job. We'd actually like to do a family business. Any more ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Well, I'd love to have a bookstore, catering especially to homeschoolers, and tearoom, but in this economy I'm thinking more and more of sustainable farming.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 We've had it for 3-4 years. It's not making a ton of money, but it's completely self-sufficient and we're able to pull money from it occasionally when we need it. It's steadily growing, so I guess it's a keeper. (although ask me again on a day when I'm really tired of putting orders together. :001_smile:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 My family business would be a retail cloth diaper/natural parenting store. In some ways, I think this would be the perfect time to open one. Just not perfect enough to put my money where my dreams are! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I've thought about starting a homeschooling business that just sells foreign language materials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I am opening my dayhome, so I can continue to work from home. I have a friend that opened a homeschool curric company out of her home and is doing very well with it. I am trained in medical transcription and if I had a desire to put the hours in at an actual clinic to build up my experience I could do that, but most places around here want at least 5 years experience before they are willing to hire you to work from home. I think based on the economy sticking with things that people can not do without even in tough times, childcare, food items etc. The other option is to work with a company like avon, tupperware, discovery toys etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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