Help: Need Job Ideas

NGOG_NRYTHRNG

I am going to be out of a job later this month. It was a desk job doing planning and forecasting for call centers and does not really have applicability outside the field, so nine years down the toilet.

Do any of you have experience with franchises? I would like to start my own business and have been looking at things like: paintless auto dent repair; windshield replacement/repair; home inspections; handyman/remodel type. The franchises all talk a good game, but that is how they make their money. I need to find people who have tried some of these out to get the real story.

So, if you have been-there-done-that, or have some other good ideas for a small business (that does not require big money to start), please reply.

Thanks,
-Ngog

Sawz

I Have a freind who got into disaster cleanup and did pretty good with it. even crossed over and started janitorial business at night so he had mop up crews during the day, it also ran into small remodeling , cuz of damages done. Then ran janitorial crews at night made money 24 hours a day bad side of it is they call him on suicides and homicides to come in and cleanup . Good luck wherever you end up. Oh yeah, and insurance money for that kinda stuff around here is better than going prices were. once you get in with them you can stay busy all the time they will call you all the time. He also had carpet cleaning and repair sideline as well. It went right along with the tools he had for the cleanup business so with one business he had lots of irons in the fire and was pretty versatile and not stuck waiting for one type of work to come in to feed his family

---

"Respect your Tools"
"Freedom is not Free"

Edited by - Sawz on 05/06/2002 23:33:13

Rafter-S

Most of the things you mention (paintless auto dent repair; windshield replacement/repair; home inspections; handyman/remodel type) don't require a franchise to do them. You can easily do those on your own if you have the skills.

You mention work that has manual labor to it so I am assuming you don't mind hard work. If so, that's good.

I was suggesting a line of work to a young guy a couple of weeks ago. He's been doing odd jobs around farms and ranches and has picked up the basics of welding. I suggested to him to get a job as an helper/goffer with someone who fabricates metal buildings (barns, shops, churches, etc)--we have a couple of good fabricators in this area. I told him to spend a year or so with the guy and pay attention to everything he does, how he does it, where he gets his materials, what he pays for things, etc. To work his tail off for the guy and learn the business.

Then, later he can start his own business doing the same thing, or go partners with the guy he's been helping. It's hard work--requires a small $ investment--but very rewarding and somewhat lucrative.

Would you have any interest in doing something like that? If I were a young man again, I would give it a try.

RugerNiner

You could start a new business... "Antiques Made While-U-Wait."

Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!

Edited by - RugerNiner on 05/07/2002 06:18:21

ndbilly

I worked for a shopping mall developer several years ago and there were franchisees of fast food and some personal services with whom we did business. I don't have any direct experience but it did seem to me, based on my discussions with the franchisees, that you need to do a heck of a volume in order to cover costs and have anything left over. The franchise fees vary widely but there is , or used to be, a fairly consistent clause in every franchisor's contract about the percentage of gross sales you had to commit to advertising the product or service. The complaint from the locals was that the money was spent on the national level. I always thought that the franchisee benefited from that strategy but it seemed to stick in their craws. I guess the one only observation I have is to be very careful of what you sign. Earlier in this thread someone was suggesting that a person might work for someone in a given field for a while and then strike out on his own. That's good advice. Talk to people who have franchises in your areas of interest. Perhaps you can hook up with one of them and learn from their experience before you make any committments. Best of luck to you and let us know what you decide. I know that there are others on this board who, by choice or circumstance, are considering similar changes.

timberbeast

As a guy who is working a full time job to keep a flagging business afloat, I might offer a few tips. First off, treat your business as if it's the only thing keeping you from losing everything that you own. Because it is. Don't expect to get rich. Expect to make a living without ever punching out. Buy the book: "In Business For Yourself" by Bruce Williams. Here's an idea, if you got the sack and are in the right area (I'm not): A decent truck, a big drum of oil and every kind of oil filter known to man could be a good investment if you can advertize it right, as an "oil change anywhere, anytime" deal. To make it work, you'd have to bust your butt and hustle like crazy! But it can be done!