50 Low-Priced Businesses
This story appears in the April 1996 issue of Startups. Subscribe »
If you think it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars in capital, a sizeable bank loan, and decades of experience to launch your own business, think again. In this month's cover story, we feature 50 businesses that require minimal start-up investment-in most cases, less than $12,000. There is a catch, however: As most of the entrepreneurs we've profiled can attest, starting a business takes a significant personal investment. That is, you need commitment, persistence, high quality standards and strong networking skills. With these skills under your belt, you stand a better chance of surviving those often formidable-and at times thrilling-first few months of start-up. And with further perseverance and careful investment in your growing venture, you stand a good chance of turning that little, low-investment enterprise into a booming, revenue-generating business. Good luck!
Listings 1-10
Mobile DJ
It takes more than an ear for music to keep a mobile disc jockey
business groovin'. Take it from Dan Nichols, who operates a
mobile DJ service in Royal Oak, Michigan. "While congeniality
and knowing your music are important, you've got to have
personality," explains the 28-year-old. Indeed, Nichols feel
so strongly about this point, the motto printed on his business
card reads: "A DJ must appeal to the party in
people."
Mobile DJs need relatively little equipment to get started.
Nichols, for example, started out from home with a couple compact
disc players, an amplifier, a mixer and a van to transport them in.
"It's a low investment for the hardware," explains
Nichols. He says a good mix of music on CDs can be compiled for
around $400.
Like most successful DJs, Nichols got his start in the business by
playing music at a friend's party. "One thing led to
another, and soon I was playing banquet halls," explains
Nichols, who relies on networking, in addition to personally
contacting banquet coordinators to drum up business.
"It's a good business to be in, because you work short
hours and get paid good money for the time you spend in it,"
says Nichols. Also known to clients as "Dan the DJ,"
Nichols says his enterprise has grown "twofold" every
year since he started the business in 1990. That's music to
this entrepreneur's ears.
D.J. Times, 25 Willowdale Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050, (516)
767-2500.
Used Car Inspection
Strangely-colored exhaust . . . paint dust inside the door . . . a
broken odometer . . . these are just some of the telltale signs of
a used car gone bad. Help your clients avoid getting suckered into
buying a lemon with your basic automotive expertise. Using a
diagnostic kit can also help set the wheels turning on your own
used-car inspection business.
Used Car Dealer, 2521 Brown Blvd., Arlington, TX 76006-5203,
(817) 640-3838.
Painting Service
It doesn't take a lot of know-how to build a colorful career in
the painting industry; just put on your painter's pants and
brush up your entrepreneurial skills.
Take Jeff Lamont and Bereket Selassie, for example. When the duo
started painting houses as a "little summertime business"
to help pay for college in 1991, Lamont admits, "We knew how
to hold a brush, and that was about all." They started with
less than $1,000. With a used truck, two ladders, persistent
door-to-door residential sales visits and conscientious work,
however, the pair have built Lisle, Illinois-based Drumtight
Painting & Staining Inc. into a high-profit business; last
summer's sales approached $250,000.
"It's a good business to be in because, if you do a good
job, it's easy to get referrals, regardless of how small your
business is," explains Lamont, who today employs a summertime
staff of about 25.
Though painting service entrepreneurs needn't be limited to
summertime work, Lamont, 23, and Selassie, 24, have found this
season works best for them, even now that they've graduated
from college. The pair hire college students, whom they've
found to be "high-quality workers," to do the painting,
while they focus on managing the business from their office in
Lamont's basement. During the off-season, the new business
owners keep busy drumming up ideas for other ventures. With one
success under their belts, nothing's stopping them from
painting the town red.
Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, 3913 Old Lee
Hwy., #33B, Fairfax, VA 22030, (703) 359-0826.
Home Decorating
Home in on attractive earnings as a decorator. Get started by
making your own home showcase perfect, then establish relationships
with local furniture stores, paint shops and carpet and drapery
outlets. With some word-of-mouth, clients will come calling for
help with their domestic decor.
American Society of Interior Designers, 608 Massachusetts Ave.,
N.E., Washington, DC 20002, (202) 546-3480.
Computer Training Service
There's no doubt about it: Just about everything's
computerized these days. That's why entrepreneurs with a little
technical savvy can tally big profits by giving the less
computer-minded a lesson in computerese.
Former corporate MIS manager Barbara Williams is doing just that.
The 39-year-old provides clients in east Houston and the
surrounding area with training in DOS-based programs, ranging from
Windows and Lotus to WordPerfect. Business clients seeking to
improve their employees' computer skills aren't the only
ones who benefit from Williams' Candlelight Computer Services,
however. Many of her clients are individuals seeking to better
their chances at landing a job, the entrepreneur explains. "A
lot of people are frustrated, because even to get a job at a
temporary placement firm, they're required to take a test on a
computer," Williams says.
Williams booted up her business from a homebased office with little
more than a 286 computer in January 1994. Though it didn't
require much of a capital investment-approximately $500 for a
telephone line, business cards and advertising-her business did
require a professional approach, she claims. "I made sure I
had a separate business phone line and a beeper, and that I dressed
professionally," she says. To land her first clients, Williams
contacted former business associates, advertised in local free
newspapers, networked and "worked at reduced rates just to get
my name out there."
Williams' professional persistence has paid off: Today, the
entrepreneur runs her business from an office building with the
help of a couple of interns and 10 computers, and boasts clients
ranging from the local Fire Department to an international tanking
company. Not bad for a business you can start with one computer-and
perhaps a little candlelight.
Independent Computer Consultants Association, 11131 S. Towne
Sq., #F, St. Louis, MO 63123, (800) 774-4222.
Lawn-Care Service
Wanna work in the glorious outdoors? With little more than a lawn
mower and some pushing power, you could be seeing green
(literally), maintaining lawns for businesses and homeowners.
Sprinkle in additional services such as garden pest control and
expert edging, and watch your business grow.
Professional Lawn Care Association of America, 1000 Johnson
Ferry Rd. N.E., #C-135, Marietta, GA 30068, (770)
977-5222.
Bulletin Board Service (BBS)
Though the Internet and its web of dependent commercial online
services seems to have slipped into the daily lives of computer
users 'round the globe, that doesn't mean there isn't
room for the "small guys" in the market, namely
independent bulletin-board services (BBSs). With little more than a
dedicated phone line, a fast modem and a high-powered computer,
system operators (a.k.a. sysops) cater to callers seeking a more
specialized, personal venue. Entrepreneur Mark Murphy likens his
BBS Macintosh-user group, The Desktop, to a local pub.
"It's a lot easier than getting on the Internet; you
don't get lost so easily," Murphy explains. Modem-equipped
callers simply dial the BBS directly to share opinions, ask
questions, swap files or send messages, all within the comfortable
confines of a familiar locale.
For many sysops, running a BBS provides a direct line to profits by
requiring membership fees. Others, such as Murphy, see BBSs as a
venue to indirect profits. "I don't make money
directly," explains the 31-year-old. "I do use the BBS,
however, as a server for my other company." Thanks in part to
"virtual" friends and contacts he's made via his
10-year-old Westminster, California-based BBS, Murphy has been able
to turn the part-time software development firm he started shortly
after launching the BBS into a full-time venture.
Murphy relies on the Macintosh version of Hermes, one of several
widely available software programs, to manage his homebased
service, and he's expanded The Desktop to include two dedicated
phone lines. The entire system takes up two square feet, says the
former computer hardware repair shop employee. "Running a BBS
is like running a local store," he concludes.
"There's still a different flavor to it than you'll
find in the major chains."
Association of Online Professionals, 7578 B, Telegraph Rd.,
#635, Alexandria, VA 22315, (703) 924-9692.
Dating Service
It may take two to tango, but it often takes three just to find the
perfect dance-or life-partner. Matchmakers who have a knack for
bringing two like minds together are thus in great demand by the
lovelorn seeking amorous bliss. But beware: The competition for
Cupid's arrow is great, say industry insiders. "You need
to like working with people, and be interested in psychology to be
successful in this business," says Noel McLane, who founded
Matchmaker in the Market in a downtown Seattle office 10 years ago.
A former real estate broker who spent years matching people with
their dream homes, McLane today relies on the same "good
people skills" she honed in that industry to keep her
people-matching business thriving.
From day one, McLane has provided clients with carefully developed
questionnaires, videos and lots of one-on-one attention, to ensure
she finds the best match possible. And she's been careful to
nurture her higher-than-standard initial investment of $30,000
(including video equipment, a computer and a rented office) as her
business has grown by reinvesting in items such as a
custom-designed business management software program.
"The key is finding a niche, then doing a superb job,"
advises McLane, who is apparently doing just that. Though she
won't disclose sales figures, the seasoned matchmaking
entrepreneur says business is going "very well"; at least
half her educated, professional clientele is based on referrals
from satisfied, not-so-single-anymore customers.
International Society of Introduction Services, P.O. Box 4876,
West Hills, CA 91308, (818) 222-1367.
Home Health Care
As the old adage goes, "Health is wealth." For
entrepreneurs in the home health-care field, the adage is
especially significant, since providing service to house-bound
patients is where the business is.
Peter Amico, a 47-year-old entrepreneur, got his start in the
business in 1982 for less than $10,000 by contacting physicians he
had worked with in hospitals and placing an ad in the Yellow Pages.
The registered respiratory therapist stored an inventory of
equipment in his Flushing, New York, garage and had his office in
his basement. Amico delivered oxygen equipment and provided setup
assistance to patients himself until, after a year in business, he
was able to hire some part-time drivers and eventually move the
business out of his home.
While having a clinical background such as his isn't absolutely
essential, Amico says, "It does help to know medical
terminology and how equipment is used." As his company, Prime
Care Medical Supplies, has grown, Amico has come to rely on his
hospital administration background, as well.
"Since you need to manage people, it helps to have a
management background," advises the entrepreneur, who
currently employs a staff of 35. With healthy annual revenues of
about $5 million, this is one entrepreneur who's certainly
feeling wealthy and wise.
National Association for Home Care, 519 C St., N.E., Stanton
Park, Washington, DC 20002-5809, (202) 547-7424.
In-Store Demos
"Try it, you'll like it," is the credo of the
in-store demonstration entrepreneur. As independent agents, these
promoters find the bulk of their business in grocery stores where,
backed by manufacturers and/or store owners, they make tasty
profits offering sample foods to shoppers.
Field Marketing Services Association, 790 Farmington Ave., Bldg.
3, Farmington, CT 06032, (800) 338-NADC.
Listings 11-20
Welcoming Service
Equipped with a smile and greetings from local businesses, welcome
service entrepreneurs in neighborhoods across the country are
saying "Hello" to friendly profits. The key to opening
doors of opportunity-and earning commissions for promoting local
enterprises-however, is having a neighborly and professional
approach.
"You have to dispel people's image of the 'little
Welcome Wagon lady' by being as professional as possible,"
explains Cheryl Fischer-Beaudreault, who operates New Neighbors
Services & Welcome Center in Atlanta.
Having a fax machine, computer and laser printer helps business
owners do the job right, says Fischer-Beaudreault, by enabling them
to produce high-quality business cards and other communication
pieces. The laser printer can also be used to print fliers
promoting local businesses to new residents. "It's
important to be out there giving quality presentations to new
people," says the 46-year-old.
Good organization skills are essential, too. "As the owner of
a welcoming service, you're pulled in lots of directions,"
explains Fischer-Beaudreault, who started pounding the pavement to
greet new residents with coupons and other business promotions in
1984. "You've got to be professional with business
clients, warm and fuzzy with residential customers, and a good
negotiator when it comes to putting together your
office."
In addition to the Atlanta center, Fischer-Beaudreault, who started
her business from home, has expanded her hospitable efforts to
include a team of town greeters in 16 cities across the country.
How's that for being a good neighbor?
Entrepreneur Magazine Group publishes Business Start-Up
Guide #1350: Welcoming Services. To order, call (800)
421-2300.
Utility Bill Auditing
For entrepreneurs in the utility bill auditing field, making money
is a numbers game. That is, by checking utility and phone bills for
numerical and other errors, auditors reveal how clients can save on
their bills. The result: happy customers. And a happy pocketbook,
since you get paid for finding any discrepancies.
It takes more than knowing your arithmetic to succeed in this
industry, though, claim industry insiders. In addition to keeping
on top of the going rates and tariffs, it's important to
understand how these factors relate to costs, explains commercial
utility consultant Alan Foley. Combined with his strong background
in computers, plus a good understanding of bulk power systems,
Foley writes utility-use management software and consumption
analysis reports for clients ranging from small doctors'
offices to large industrial plants. Using these skills, and
initially working from a shared office space with a single computer
and printer, Foley founded Houston-based RateCheckers in
1984.
"Most utility companies are typically too busy to help
clients," says the 42-year-old. "That's where we come
in, and look at their usage patterns to help lower their
costs." In some cases, Foley even helps clients figure out why
a purported "energy-saving" device they've purchased
and installed isn't working as they'd hoped. "There
are a range of ways to help clients lower their costs,"
explains Foley.
Just as utility companies' products tend to surge and ebb, so
do Foley's sales: "We've had good years and bad,"
the entrepreneur admits. But if you do your addition right,
you'll probably find the good outnumbers the bad in this
industry.
Auditel International Inc., 233 Springfield Ave., Joliet, IL
60435, (800) 551-9282.
Nanny Placement
Everyone knows good child care is hard to come by. Thanks to nanny
placement entrepreneurs' careful interviewing, screening and
reference-checking skills, however, finding a modern-day Mary
Poppins just got easier for parents. Often too busy to make their
own search, parents rely on these scrupulous entrepreneurs to find
the perfect solution for their child-care needs.
International Nanny Association, 125 S. Fourth St., #214,
Norfolk, NE 68701, (800) 297-1477.
Closet Organizer
Though it might sound silly at first, it takes just a peek inside
the average American's cluttered closet to realize there's
a decided need for closet organizers-those service-oriented
entrepreneurs with a knack for neatness.
"You'd be surprised at what people keep in their
closets," says Mary Tresh, founder of Detroit-based Re/Vamp, a
closet (and cabinet, basement and garage) cleaning and organizing
business. Give her a chance, and the 41-year-old neatnik will even
give your bathroom cabinet a good going over. In fact, that's
how Tresh got started.
"I'm an obsessive-compulsive person," she explains.
"I've been known to open a friend's bathroom cabinet
and say, 'Hmmm, this needs straightening,' or to clean
under their sink when I get bored."
In fact, Tresh prefers straightening to actual cleaning. That's
why she closed up her housecleaning business to focus on organizing
in 1993. Business cards were her main expense; Tresh marketed her
services to her friends and former cleaning clients. The result:
"Business took off like gangbusters," says Tresh, who
charges clients by the hour, with a four-hour minimum. Her clients
aren't the only ones to get such a clean break, though: Local
charities benefit, too, when Tresh brings them bags full of
donated, secondhand items.
National Association of Professional Organizers, 1033 La Pasada
Dr., #220, Austin, TX 78752-3880, (512) 206-0151.
Adventure Tours
Contemporary urbanites' desires to get "back to
nature" through adventure tours and excursions are no mystery,
claims Canadian adventure-preneur Joe Kowalski. "I think
it's genetic. People thrive on things that get their adrenaline
going," explains the founder of Beachburg, Ontario-based
Wilderness Tours. "With the exception of crime and traffic,
however, modern living no longer satisfies that need."
By offering his clients a chance to experience the thrill of
white-water rafting in one of numerous adventure vacation packages,
Kowalski appeals to that age-old human urge. "People feel more
alive when they're outside with nature in a challenging
environment," the 47-year-old explains. "Rafting provides
them a legitimate risk-not a great risk, but nonetheless a
risk."
Building a successful adventure tours business can demand a bit of
risk, too. "When I started, I had just $50, a desk, a sleeping
bag and a phone," recalls Kowalski of the early days of his
business. "Without any money, you're forced to become very
creative." Because he couldn't afford paid advertising
when he started his business in 1975, for example, Kowalski says he
"got good at getting free publicity" by contacting the
media personally for press coverage. The former rafting
"hobbyist" also got good at operating on a
shoestring.
"Because in this industry you deal with advanced reservations
and payments, I was able to take my first payments to purchase
secondhand equipment, then lead the tours myself," Kowalski
recalls. And though today Wilderness Tours is one of North
America's 10 largest rafting companies with a staff of about
200, Kowalski still stands by his original business philosophy:
"You've got to be creative, or you just won't make
it."
The Adventure Travel Society Inc., 6551 S. Revere Pkwy., #160,
Engelwood, CO 80111-6410, (303) 649-9016.
Personal Shopper
Imagine this: A business where you do nothing but spend other
people's money-and earn money while you're at it. For
shopaholics, being a personal shopper is, indeed, a dream come
true. Moreover, the price is right: To get started, you don't
need to dig too deeply into your pocketbook. Take Francine Finucan,
for example. The spend-happy entrepreneur started her Troy,
Michigan-based personal shopping business with little more than
some home office equipment and a penchant for talking shop.
"In the beginning, all I had was a filing cabinet, a word
processor, a phone and an answering machine," recalls Finucan,
who started her business for about $500. She had spent several
years working in various segments of the service industry before
founding Executive Concierge Services Inc. six years ago. "It
helps, too, to be a 'people person.'"
Catering to busy executives, Finucan started out by doing
miscellaneous errands, including everything from personal airport
and dry cleaning pick-up/drop-off to pet feeding and gift buying.
"Services in general are in demand today because people are so
busy, especially with both husbands and wives working,"
explains Finucan. "Hiring a personal shopper is cost-effective
because clients don't need to take time off work to do their
errands."
Thanks to word-of-mouth, Finucan's business has expanded into
an office and doubled every year since its inception. The
entrepreneur has even put her point-of-purchase skills to work
shopping for other executive services: "I'm like a travel
agent," explains Finucan. "I help my clients do
everything from finding a caterer and sending flowers to
gift-wrapping a present." Though her shopping list keeps
getting longer, Finucan is clearly determined to keep shopping
'til she drops.
Entrepreneur Magazine Group publishes Business Start-Up Guide
#1310: Personal Shopping Service. To order, see page 93, or call
(800) 421-2300.
Wedding Consultant
With wedding vows and a lifetime of togetherness ahead of them, the
bride and groom have more important things to think about than
whether the flowers will arrive on time. Here's where a
professional wedding consultant saves the big day for pre-nuptial
couples. Exceptional organizational and people skills help you
coordinate everything from caterers to photographers, and let those
wedding bells ring.
Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants, 7791
Prestwick Cr., San Jose, CA 95135, (408) 223-5686.
Collectibles
Collectibles entrepreneurs live and succeed by an old motto:
"One person's junk, another person's treasure."
Indeed, rummaging through other people's attics and closets,
and scouring flea markets and thrift stores is many a collectibles
dealer's raison d'être. Larry Aikins' happens to
be lunch boxes.
That's right, those old metal and soft vinyl containers that
used to carry PB&J. To the 56-year-old former construction
worker and custom cabinet maker, however, they're much more.
"They're the history of television," Aikins explains.
"I'm possessed by them."
Aikins isn't the only one. Dealers and other collectors call
him daily offering top dollar for a particular "kit" (box
and thermos). Like most collectibles entrepreneurs, he spends much
of his time traveling to find new items for his collection of about
3,000 boxes. Since he started his collection about 10 years ago, he
has also run ads in toy and antique magazines, attended flea
markets, and generally "put the word out to dealers" to
expand his Athens, Texas-based business. Now, claims Aikins,
"Dealers come to me."
No matter what item you decide to collect, the key is to have it in
your heart, says Aikins, who started his venture for $1,200.
"Getting into the business for the investment alone isn't
the way to succeed." On the other hand, Aikins must admit that
collecting some cash along the way isn't such a bad way to
go.
Antique & Collectables, 1000 Pioneer Wy., P.O. Box 1565, El
Cajon, CA 92022, (619) 593-2925.
Tutoring
The "Three Rs"-reading, 'riting and
'rithmetic-don't come so easy for everyone. If they do for
you, however, you could earn high marks helping others as a tutor.
In fact, whatever you're an expert at, be it computers, the
piano or speaking a foreign language, there's bound to be
someone who could benefit from your expertise. Teach them what you
know at your house or theirs.
How To Talk So Kids Can Learn, by Adele Faber & Elaine
Mazlish (Rawson Associates, $22.00, 800-223-2336). Improving
Your Child's Schoolwork, by Lawrence J. Greene. (Prima
Publishing, $16.95, 800-632-8676).
Screen Printing
Make way for a special screening: With some basic screen-printing
equipment, you can turn political statements and other logos into
wearable works of art. Businesses, organizations, schools and
private individuals make up your clientele. And advertising is
cheap, since your work gets seen by people everywhere.
Screenprinting and Graphic Imaging Association International,
10015 Main St., Fairfax, VA 22031, (703) 385-1335.
Private Investigator
Got a nose for mystery? Sniff up the trail of missing persons,
unfaithful spouses, unidentified witnesses, competitive businesses
and more with your private investigation firm.
Contrary to popular lore, a trench coat and magnifying glass
aren't required to make your mark as a private eye. "It
takes persistence, common sense, and the ability to think through
information until you find what you're looking for," says
Jan Barefoot, owner of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Barefoot
Private Investigations.
Barefoot has paid her dues in the industry; before starting her
business from home 10 years ago, the former legal secretary spent
some time working for another investigation firm. "It helps to
be familiar with the legal process, since that's where most of
the business is," explains the 32-year-old, whose first
clients included attorneys she knew from her days in that
industry.
Good photography skills are a plus, too, says Barefoot, for
capturing surreptitious activities and more. Having started out on
her own, with just $2,000 and no computer, the entrepreneur
attributes her business' success to good client relations:
"If a client likes you, they'll stay with you for future
cases," explains the seasoned sleuth, who today takes on some
500 cases per year and employs four full-time investigators.
National Association of Investigative Specialists, P.O. Box
33244, Austin, TX 78764, (512) 719-3595.
Listings 21-30
Videotaping Service
Put yourself where the lights and action are-behind the camera-with
your own videotaping service. With some persistence, you could soon
be saying "roll 'em" to a field full of star
opportunities.
Take Greg Coon, for example. With no video camera of his own, Coon
started out for about $10,000 by renting equipment and videotaping
for family and friends on a part-time basis. In between jobs, the
entrepreneur recalls, "I was persistent, and constantly sent
out letters with my resume to potential clients." Today,
Coon's Dallas-based Eyecon Video Productions, which he started
from a home office in 1993, produces everything from television
commercials to sales and promotional videos for corporate
clients.
Though Coon studied radio, television and film in college, the
30-year-old cameraman says getting some real-life experience is
invaluable to getting your foot in the door of this industry.
"I spent six years working for nothing and interning just to
get experience and to meet as many people as I could," Coon
explains. One of these jobs, helping record legal depositions, soon
paid off for the ambitious entrepreneur. "When I started my
own business, I was able to draw from the knowledge I gained from
this experience," he says. Joining various trade associations,
too, has proved a valuable source of new clients.
To build his business, Coon explains, "I buy more equipment as
jobs become available." Today, the entrepreneur employs a
full-time video duplications editor and several freelancers out of
his Dallas office. With annual sales of roughly $120,000, and
projected sales of $150,000 in 1996, Coon insists his business is
still rolling along.
International Teleproduction Society, 350 Fifth Ave., Suite
2400, New York, NY 10118, (212) 629-3266.
Referral Service
It's been said one has to kiss a lot of frogs before finding a
prince (or princess). The same can be said about finding a reliable
service. By creating a database of tried-and-true companies that
can be recommended to clients, however, referral service
entrepreneurs help wary consumers screen out the "frogs."
Businesses pay to be listed with you, while consumers receive
referrals for a nominal fee, or none at all.
Alliance of Information and Referral Systems, P.O. Box 3546,
Joliet, IL 60434, (815) 744-6922.
Vending Machine
What could be better than doing business to the tune of falling
coins? Those coins could be yours, when you provide the machines
that dispense drinks, snacks and other convenience items to
businesses, schools and other organizations. When you purchase or
lease the machines from a vendor, your only other investment is in
marketing and maintaining them. Viva, vending business!
National Automatic Merchandising Association, 20 N. Wacker Dr.,
#3500, Chicago, IL 60606, (312) 346-0370.
Medical Billing
The reason medical billing services are so popular, says medical
billing services entrepreneur Joanne Mitchell, is simple:
"Just as you hire someone to clean your house when you
don't have time to do it yourself, doctors hire people to do
their billing." It's apparently all part of the
outsourcing phenomenon, whereby businesses hire outside vendors to
do extra tasks so they can focus on the business at hand.
Although the term "medical biller" sounds technical,
entrepreneurs in the field needn't be especially skilled in
either medicine or banking. "You just need to be
detail-oriented," says Mitchell, who invested $2,000 in
starting San Diego-based Pacific Medical from a corner of her
bedroom almost six years ago. "You also need a healthy
appreciation for the fact that you're dealing with other
people's money."
Mitchell, who started out with a computer and a modem, lands new
accounts by sending brochures and making personal visits to offer
help with electronic claims and insurance billing.
"There's lots of software out there that enables you to
offer these services," says the 36-year-old, who's had
such luck with the business that she's even developed a
self-study package to help aspiring entrepreneurs follow in her
footsteps. "It's a great homebased business." Within
10 months of starting her full-time business, she reached her
initial goal of replacing her former corporate salary of $49,000.
With such a healthy prognosis, Mitchell continues to grow her
business from home with the help of her husband and two full-time
assistants.
For more information about Pacific Medical's training
packages, call (800) 815-6334.
Child Care
Put your training in TLC to the test by taking care of a couple-or
a roomful-of toddlers and tykes. Whether you set up shop in an
office complex or provide care in your own home, you'll need a
state license, plenty of babysitting experience and references, and
a lot of patience.
Child Care Action Campaign, 330 Seventh Ave., 17th Floor, New
York, NY 10001, (212) 239-0138.
Online Information Broker
Thanks to today's age of online services and electronic
libraries, information has never been closer to consumers'
fingertips. Knowing how to retrieve specific pieces of information,
however, is still a mystery to many. "Gaining access to
various information systems, such as Dialog is easy," says
Robert Aaron, president of Atlanta-based Aaron/Smith Associates
Inc. "The hard part is knowing how to find what a client
wants, knowing 'where the bodies are buried.'"
A master's degree in library research, plus experience working
as a local newspaper researcher, helped Aaron get his business off
the ground in 1981. "Experience is important, since clients
don't want you to experiment on their time," explains
Aaron, who started out in a spare bedroom in his home. His $10,000
start-up included an early-model personal computer and connections
to commercial online services.
"When we started, our clients didn't even understand what
a database was, nor did they realize they had a need for
information or that the need could be met," recalls Aaron, 43.
"Now, they're glad to have someone help them through the
information highway maze."
Thanks to consumers' growing awareness and requests for
"information, please" from primarily corporate clients
across the country, Aaron has expanded his business to include five
employees in a downtown office-which happens to be located not far
from a large university. Says Aaron, "Yes, there are still
things we need to do in a library!"
The Information Broker's Handbook, by Sue Rugge & Alfred
Glossbrenner (Windcrest/McGraw Hill, $34.95,
800-822-8158).
Windshield Repair
Want a clear view of success? It could be as simple as making
cracked windshields shiny and new. Equipped with one of a number of
crack repair kits available on the market today, windshield repair
entrepreneurs are getting a new perspective on business by
targeting used car lots, individual car owners and rental car
agencies.
Because it costs a fraction of the cost of replacement, windshield
repair is a popular choice among consumers and insurance companies,
alike. "Our customers are thrilled to pay $45 to $100 for a
repaired windshield, versus $250 to more than $1,000 for a new
one," says Dee Bergé-Morse, who started Westminster,
California-based Dee's Windshield Repair part-time in 1990 for
about $5,000.
"At first, I just answered the phones and set up appointments
from my home office," recalls the 44-year-old, a former staff
trainer for a company that sells a windshield repair kit business
opportunity. "I hired technicians to do the work for the first
18 months, until I began doing it myself."
Equipped with a truck and a ding, chip and crack windshield repair
kit, Bergé-Morse advertised in local print media to garner her
first clients. From there, windows of opportunity have literally
opened up for the entrepreneur. "The small, mobile company I
started has really grown," Bergé-Morse attests. "Now
we're in a four-car garage." Working out of a storefront
location, says the entrepreneur, has helped her achieve a more
professional image and perform higher-quality repairs.
Marketing is also an important element of a successful windshield
repair business, says Bergé-Morse. "It helps to be
heavily involved in your community, too," she says, "and
to focus on providing quality, professional work."
National Glass Association, 8200 Greensboro Dr., #302, McLean,
VA 22102, (703) 442-4890.
Handyman Service
If you're handy at repairing leaky pipes, stopped-up toilets,
jammed drawers, broken windows and more, you could be making handy
profits offering your services to clients with less time or muscle.
Advertise in local papers or on bulletin boards: If it's
broken, you can fix it!
Home Improvement Research Institute, 400 Knightsbridge Pkwy.,
Lincolnshire, IL 60069, (708) 634-4368.
Language Translation
If you've got an ear for the vernacular, language translation
might be for you. But beware: A few years of high school language
studies won't do the trick. You've got to be thoroughly
fluent in at least one language-and adequate in another-to avoid
getting tongue-tied, say industry experts.
"The government and universities offer training, but
you've got to be completely fluent and know all the correct
grammar and structures," explains Brenda Arbeláez, a
native of Columbia who taught adult education with Berlitz for five
years before founding PALS International in 1983. "What's
more, the vocabularies in different countries can be different, so
you need to make a big investment in dictionaries: $500 to $600 for
specialized technical dictionaries and $60 to $70 for regular
dictionaries."
Dictionaries aside, translators and interpreters can break through
the language barrier with minimal start-up costs. Arbeláez,
for example, got started from her kitchen table for a little less
than $5,000. The key to success, she notes, is teaming up with a
partner who can proofread your work and/or translate documents from
those languages in which you are not completely fluent.
Some of the more common documents that need translating include
birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce documents and
citizenship papers, says Arbeláez, who started out by
teaching, translating and interpreting English for Spanish
speakers. Today, her Troy, Michigan-based business has grown to
include an office staffed by 60 part-time teachers of 12 languages.
And though she recently got out of translating to focus on teaching
cross-cultural programs nationwide, she says the field is still
open for quality translators. "Because it can be quite
complicated, translators need to specialize in just
translation," says Arbeláez. That's not to say
it's a vanishing vocation, however: "With globalization,
there's a big need for translating and interpretation
services," explains Arbeláez. "English is simply not
good enough any more."
American Translators Association, 1800 Diagonal Rd., #220,
Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 683-6100.
Restaurant Delivery
Gastronomically speaking, it's a scrumptious idea: Just look at
a menu, pick up the phone, and presto! Your favorite restaurant
vittles arrive on your doorstep. Indeed, thanks to restaurant
delivery entrepreneurs, instant dining gratification is finally
possible. "People like anything that makes their lives
easier," attests Bob Lapkin, who began catering to
consumers' cravings for convenience with his Gourmet Express
Inc. restaurant delivery service in 1992.
Busy executives are especially eager to order their meals on
wheels. "We've seen phenomenal growth in the business
market," says Lapkin, who distributes a "magazine"
chock-full of local restaurant menus to homes and businesses in
Minneapolis. Restaurants who offer no delivery services of their
own are especially eager to sign on with Gourmet Express, since
doing so helps expand their customer base. The restaurants pay a
monthly fee to advertise in the delivery service's magazine, as
well as a percentage of each sale to Gourmet Express. Customers pay
a nominal delivery fee.
Though entree into the restaurant delivery business can be made on
a shoestring, Lapkin poured $100,000 into his start-up. He
recommends beefing up your business with important equipment such
as two-way radios, computers and handheld credit card
processors.
"You can get into this business fast, but you need to be sure
to stay in touch with your customers to succeed," says the
42-year-old former corporate "marketing guy."
The right computer system, for example, can help entrepreneurs
study their client base, process orders and create effective
marketing programs. At Gourmet Express, such a system has helped
cook up business to include between 200 and 400 new customers per
month, as well as put substantial food on the table for
Lapkin.
Entrepreneur Magazine Group publishes Business Start-Up
Guide #1348: Restaurant Delivery Service. To order, call (800)
421-2300.
Listings 31-40
Apartment Prepping
Get a new lease on life as an apartment preparation specialist.
Busy landlords and leasing offices with recently vacated units
benefit from your basic painting, plumbing, caulking and scrubbing
skills. Equip yourself with some fixer-upper tools, and you're
set to make a house (or apartment) into a home, and make some handy
profits while you're at it.
Building Service Contractors Association International, 10201
Lee Hwy., #225, Fairfax, VA 22030-2222, (703) 359- 7090.
Family Historian
Keep history all in the family by chronicling people's lives,
including important events such as birthdays and graduations, in a
family tree. Keep costs down by producing booklets yourself, using
a computer, scanner (for scanning photos), and laser printer. Once
you've compiled all the information, start collecting the
profits from clients and their next of kin.
Writing Family Histories and Memoirs, by Kirk Polking (Betterway
Books, $14.99, 513-531-2222). Becoming a Professional
Geneologist, by Nancy Carlberg (Carlberg Press, $25.00,
714-772-2849).
Consignment
Just because you sell secondhand goods doesn't mean you
can't make firsthand profits, especially in an age where
throwing things away is becoming taboo. "With everyone into
recycling today, what could be better than consignment?" notes
Dee Rubel, owner of Dee's Consignment Shop in Minneapolis.
"In today's economy, it's difficult for working women
and mothers to dress at a reasonable price. With consignment, they
can dress for one-third of the price of retail."
Success in the consignment industry requires some experience in
retail, claims 61-year-old Rubel, whose background includes years
of buying, managing and retail sales experience. "To succeed,
you need a good sense of what the customer wants." Industry
insiders also recommend store owners use one of the many
consignment-store management software packages available on the
market today.
To build her initial inventory, Rubel sent out mailers and
contacted friends. She has no inventory costs, because owners
gladly place their items for sale in Rubel's store with the
understanding that they will get 50 percent of the sale price. To
get her store off the ground in 1993, Rubel's initial
investment was primarily in renovation items, such as carpeting and
fixtures, and a computer.
Today, Rubel continues to advertise regularly in local magazines,
and to do direct mailings two times per year to keep up her
inventory and draw new customers to her store. Her first-class
approach to doing business in the thrift industry has paid off:
Sales of Rubel's "gently worn" women's clothing
and accessories are increasing every year, she says.
Entrepreneur Magazine Group publishes Business Start-Up
Guide #1229: Consignment Clothing Store. To order, call (800)
421-2300.
Network Marketing
You could call it trickle-down economics: As a network marketer,
you tell three friends, and they tell three friends, and so on. In
fact, when you've got a product to sell through network
marketing, the more people you know, the better. And with so many
network marketing programs to choose from today, getting into this
"Net" has never been more appealing.
Multi-level Marketing International Association, 1101 Dove St.,
#170, Newport Beach, CA 92660, (714) 622-0300.
Office Plant Maintenance
Plants do more than just add color to a workspace: According to
studies, they also help clean the air. But with phone calls to
answer and deadlines to meet, what office worker has time to have a
green thumb, too? Here's where office plant maintenance
specialists come in, cultivating profits by providing regular plant
care and allowing clients to focus on their business at hand.
American Association of Nurserymen Inc., 1250 I St. N.W., #500,
Washington, DC 20005, (202) 789-2900.
Miniblind Cleaning
Make way for windows of opportunity with your own miniblind
cleaning service. Business and residential clients alike require
periodic miniblind cleaning to maintain their window coverings'
original gloss. Start with some towels and cleaning spray, or for a
truly dazzling effect, invest in an ultrasonic tank cleaning
machine.
Entrepreneur Magazine Group publishes Business Start-Up
Guide #1343: Miniblind Cleaning. To order, call (800)
421-2300.
Secret Shopper
Can you keep a secret? Unbeknownst to many, "mystery"
shoppers are putting retailers across the country to the test.
Hired by employers to pose as customers and evaluate their
employees in areas including first impression, product knowledge,
customer service and sales savvy, these entrepreneurs keep customer
service employees on their toes.
Being a secret shopper, however, isn't as easy as many people
think. "Everyone who's ever bought something from a store
thinks they can do it, but that's not true," attests
Judith Rappold, a mystery shopper in Austin, Texas. "It helps
to have a background in areas such as retail sales, personnel
management, personnel training and writing." Such a
background, says Rappold, can help secret shoppers evaluate
employees, compose marketing letters and proposals, and keep
records of employee performance.
In comparison, the "physical" things you need to get
started as a mystery shopper are minimal. "This is a great
business, because the investment is so low," says Rappold, who
started Business Resources in 1984 from a home office. "With
stationery, business cards, and a computer, you essentially have
what you need to open doors and start making a profit."
One way to start building your clientele is by initially performing
free analyses of local businesses' customer service. From
there, networking can go a long way in helping grow your
business.
"I sent out lots of letters, made personal phone calls and
spoke directly with store managers," recalls Rappold of her
business's early days. Indeed, the 53-year-old attributes much
of Business Resources' success to these early efforts.
"We're now the largest secret shopping service in the
Southwest," she says.
Apparently, there's still room in the market for the secretive
shopper, however. Rappold explains: "We've even started
teaching other people how to establish their own secret shopping
business."
For more information about starting a secret shopping business,
send an SASE to Business Resources, 2222 Western Trails, #107,
Austin, TX 78745, or call (512) 416-7702.
Personalized Children's Books
You don't need a whole lot of book smarts to see the
opportunity in personalizing publications for kids: Children
delight in reading stories about themselves, and friends and family
delight in giving such a personalized gift. By producing the
one-of-a-kind books with a home desktop publishing system,
entrepreneurs open a new chapter in their lives-and promote
literacy, too.
Entrepreneur Magazine Group publishes Business Start-Up
Guide #1368: Personalized Children's Books. To order, call
(800) 421-2300.
Carpet Cleaning
A low start-up investment isn't the only appeal behind running
a carpet cleaning business, maintains Connie Campbell, co-founder
with her husband, Steve, of Connie's Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning. "When we started our homebased business, we were
looking for something we could do independently," recalls
Connie, 45. By purchasing a carpet and upholstery cleaning
equipment package from the Von Schrader Company for less than
$5,000 in 1989, the Altoona, Iowa-based entrepreneurs had just
about everything they needed to begin achieving that goal.
By keeping their business "in the family"-Connie does all
the bookkeeping and management, while Steve, 47, does most of the
actual carpet and upholstery cleaning-the Campbells are able to
maintain a good reputation among their roster of 1,800 customers
across Polk County. Steve, a former railroad worker, makes the
rounds to customers' homes in a minivan that touts the
business's name on its side.
"We like to keep customer satisfaction high, so we grow only
as big as we need to satisfy our financial needs," says
Connie.
Maintaining a computer database of customers helps the pair provide
good customer relations. "With the computer, we keep in
contact with our old clients," explains Connie. "We also
get new clients by advertising in the Yellow Pages." The pair
occasionally enlist the help of their two grown children, as well
as independent contractors, to get their primarily residential
cleaning work done. "We focus on residential work because we
don't like to work nights," says Connie, a former
homemaker and school bus driver. "We like being able to set
our own hours."
A competitive tip from the Campbells: Offer upholstery cleaning
services in addition to carpet cleaning. "If you don't do
both, a customer may move on to someone who does," explains
Connie. "Typically, customers want both services done on the
same day."
Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration, 10830
Annapolis Junction Rd., #312, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701, (301)
604-4411.
Import/Export
For importers and exporters, it really is a small world, after all.
Improved global communication, an increasing demand for everyday
necessities, and a growing international pool of skilled technical
workers make doing business 'round the globe all the easier. As
the "middlemen" who arrange for the transport of goods,
import/exporters needn't stockpile any inventory to achieve
out-of-this-world success.
Small Business Administration, Office of International Trade,
409 Third St., S.W., 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20416, (202)
205-6720.
Listings 41-50
Home Inspection Service
Put yourself on the home front by offering residential building
inspection services. With some knowledge of construction and
carpentry, plus a recommended license in home inspection,
you're set to assess problems such as structural damage and
decay, insect infestation and foundational abnormalities. Real
estate agents and prospective buyers alike rely on you to pave the
way for safer, sounder homes.
National Association of Home Inspectors, 4248 Park Glen Rd.,
Minneapolis, MN 55416, (800) 448-3942.
Countertop Repair
There's no under-the-counter activity involved, here. In fact,
as a countertop repair specialist, the only thing you've got to
worry about is what's above the counter. Fix chips, cracks and
unsightly countertops with some basic cleaning and repair
equipment, and give clients the working space they need.
National Association of the Remodeling Industry, 4301 N. Fairfax
Dr., #310, Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 276-7600.
Graphic Design
Today's easy-to-use computer software makes it possible for
just about anyone to play graphic designer: Just point, click and
drag a border here or insert a fancy font there. What most people
aren't able to do, however, is turn their concepts or rough
designs into finished, professional, camera-ready products.
Here's where you, the experienced graphic designer, come
in.
Take Cathy Carey, for example. The 35-year-old La Costa,
California, graphic artist has applied her varied background in the
industry to build a steady clientele. "You need more than just
an artistic temperament," says Carey, who worked in the art
department at an advertising company and at a local newspaper
before founding her homebased business in 1991. "Having a good
head for business and knowing how to market and place an ad, for
example, are important, too."
Carey invested $5,000 into her start-up, and she has been careful
to reinvest any profits into her business as it has grown. She
began with a single computer and laser printer she purchased with a
credit card. Today, she advises other aspiring graphic designers to
equip their businesses with a high-memory computer (in order to run
graphics software), a large-screen monitor, and a scanner. With
this equipment and some industry know-how, you're set to point
and click your way to a picture-perfect business.
Graphic Communications Association, 100 Daingerfield Rd.,
Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 519-8160.
Specialty Advertising
Everyone loves to see their name in print; imagine the results when
you spell it out on everyday items like pens, lighters and golf
caps. By sourcing such products from an outside manufacturer,
running your own specialty advertising enterprise is as easy as
marketing and selling the promotional items to clients looking for
an alternative way to advertise their name or their business.
Promotional Products Association, 3125 Skyway Cir., N., Irving,
TX 75038-3526, (214) 252-0404.
Resume/Cover Letter Writing
Job applicants need every advantage they can get when it comes to
finding new employment. Equipped with your computer, laser printer
and editing and design skills, you're in a position to breathe
new life into clients' curricula vitae. Put the odds in your
favor by maintaining a supply of quality stationery to help boost
clients' prospects.
Professional Association of Resume Writers, 3637 Fourth St., N.,
#330, St. Petersburg, FL 33704-1336, (813) 821-2274.
Event Planning
Donning a party hat and blowing a noisemaker is all fine and dandy
when it comes to partying, but unless you want to be known as a
party pooper, you've got to infuse a bit more creativity into
your next bash, no matter its size.
Indeed, the art of event planning has taken on such a clever bent
that no idea for a party seems too outrageous today. Take Bethesda,
Maryland, entrepreneur Rita Bloom, for example. The founder of
Creative Parties Ltd. has arranged everything from laser lightshows
to extravagantly painted ballroom floors for her clients'
festive occasions.
Though putting on such creative parties doesn't come cheap for
clients, organizing them isn't necessarily costly for
enterprising event planners. "Because organizers typically use
a client's money to buy event supplies, start-up costs are
low," says Bloom, who founded her business part-time from her
home, with no out-of-pocket investment, in 1968 after a friend
asked her to help plan a "Sweet 16" party. Attending a
stationery trade show later that year hooked Bloom on the life of a
"party girl." Thanks to word-of-mouth, Bloom's
business has blossomed into a storefront location that sells
invitations and includes an event-planning division that grosses $2
million per year.
"The industry is exploding," enthuses Bloom. "Today,
George Washington University offers a master's degree in event
management." And though event planners can still get started
with little more than stationery, business cards and some calls to
hotels, florists and others in the industry, Bloom recommends
investing "as much as you can" into your business to keep
it at the forefront of the social scene.
International Special Event Society, 9202 N. Meridian St., #200,
Indianapolis, IN 46260, (317) 571-5601.
Office Support
For Gayle Fitch, business is just another day at the office. At
someone else's office, that is, providing administrative and
clerical office support.
Though many office support entrepreneurs may start out actually
providing office help for clients, themselves, other business
owners simply serve as a sort of "middle man," finding
other people to do the work for them. Such is the case with Fitch,
who advises other aspiring entrepreneurs to have some kind of human
resources recruiting background before getting started in this
low-investment business.
"This is a customer-oriented business, so it's important
to place an emphasis on customer service," she notes.
Fitch started her Ossining, New York-based Crickett Personnel
Services in 1983, placing permanent employees in clients'
offices. "I printed out a bunch of brochures, then personally
handed them out at train stations and wherever there was heavy
traffic," recalls Fitch. "I also made lots of phone
calls."
By depositing $500 in a business checking account, Fitch was able
to pay her initial overhead costs and, after six months of working
from a small, rented office, expand her business. "With the
commissions I earned for placing employees in clients' offices,
I was eventually able to fund a temporary-employee payroll,"
Fitch explains.
Today, Fitch's client base covers a 10-mile radius from her
Ossining office, which she no longer shares. With the help of an
in-house staff of four and a roster full of temporary employees,
Fitch's business has achieved million-dollar sales
status.
National Association for Business Organizations, 10451 Millrun
Cr., #400, Owen Mills, MD 21117, (410) 581-1373.
Freight Broker
Say "Hello" to business in more ways than one in the
burgeoning international market. As a freight broker, you negotiate
arrangements between shippers and receivers and speed imported
goods through customs. It helps to have some savoir faire of
international land, sea, air and rail shipping rates, rules and
regulations. A network of reliable transport carriers, too, puts
you on the path to smooth shipping.
American International Freight Association, 1200 19th St., #300,
Washington, DC 20036, (202) 857-1134.
Mobile Auto Detailing
Rev up your entrepreneurial wheels, keeping clients' cars
looking shiny and new. A vacuum, a few brushes, spray bottles and
rags put you in the driver's seat with your own mobile auto
detailing business. Individual car owners aren't the only ones
to benefit from your services: Used car lots and rental agencies,
too, need their cars cleaned, waxed and polished.
Entrepreneur Magazine Group publishes Business Start-Up
Guide #1146: Automobile Detailing. To order, call (800)
421-2300.
Start-Up Investment/Net Profit Table
| Business Type | Start-Up Investment | Average Net Profit Before Taxes |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure Tourism | $12,000 | $64,300 |
| Apartment Prepping | $1,502 | $35,000 |
| Bulletin Board Service | $12,000 | $366,400 |
| Carpet Cleaning | $7,221 | $85,000 |
| Child Care | $8,000 | $58,000 |
| Closet Organizer | $900 | $55,000 |
| Collectibles Searcher | $3,800 | $82,500 |
| Computer Training | $7,000 | $50,000 |
| Consignment | $3,310 | $29,000 |
| Countertop Repair | $5,000 | $50,000 |
| Dating Service | $9,833 | $276,000 |
| Event Planning Services | $5,000 | $76,500 |
| Family Historian | $100 | $30,000 |
| Freight Broker | $9,540 | $39,050 |
| Graphic Design | $9,500 | $26,000 |
| Handyman Service | $5,500 | $50,000 |
| Home Decorating | $9,130 | $113,700 |
| Home Health Care | $6,900 | $300,000 |
| Home Inspection | $4,480 | $44,600 |
| Import/Export | $9,195 | $120,000 |
| In-Store Demonstrations | $1,500 | $50,000 |
| Language Translation | $8,260 | $92,000 |
| Lawn-Care Service | $2,771 | $22,300 |
| Medical Billing | $5,625 | $50,000 |
| Miniblind Cleaning | $8,800 | $65,400 |
| Mobile Auto Detailing | $900 | $100,000 |
| Mobile DJ | $4,788 | $55,000 |
| Nanny Placement | $3,600 | $61,000 |
| Network Marketing | $100 | $40,000 |
| Office Plant Maintenance | $80 | $52,000 |
| Office Support Service | $4,300 | $30,000 |
| Online Information Broker | $7,300 | $72,200 |
| Painting Service | $7,705 | $25,000 |
| Personalized Children's Books | $4,420 | $54,000 |
| Personal Shopping Service | $1,845 | $46,000 |
| Private Investigator | $1,260 | $75,000 |
| Referral Service | $4,250 | $49,500 |
| Restaurant Delivery Service | $6,510 | $70,000 |
| Resume/Cover Letter Writing | $790 | $27,000 |
| Screen Printing | $5,000 | $138,400 |
| Secret Shopper | $2,000 | $50,000 |
| Tutoring | $800 | $30,000 |
| Used Car Inspection | $9,584 | $84,000 |
| Utility Bill Auditing | $6,025 | $55,000 |
| Vending Machine | $7,475 | $90,000 |
| Videotaping Service | $10,485 | $137,500 |
| Wedding Consultant | $1,601 | $39,958 |
| Welcoming Service | $400 | $17,000 |
| Windshield Repair | $3,800 | $40,000 |
