Hey guys,
First off, I'm posting in this section because I know the more hands-on people will be snooping around this section! But anyway, I'm a senior in high school and want to start a small company (not really company rather than a way to make money without having to be working under somebody). After college applications are in I have a few ideas.
-Screen repair-i have experience in this from many many summers and storms helping my dad and most recently redoing it myself
-Metal waste disposal-being 18 when I do this, I could put the truck back to work and be allowed into the scrap dealer but, more importantly, getting paid for taking away junk people dont want to have to deal with.
-Typical small jobs-pressure washing, yard work, mulching. All of the jobs typically handed out to teenagers.
Any other recommendations whould be very helpful!

 

So you are a senior and have plans to go to college. Will you be attending something local or does your little business need to be somewhat portable? All these are okay ideas for a way to make some $$ during your senior year, some more than others.

 

Yes this is just for a more immediate source of income than when I'm working for my father(I get paid after every job which can sometimes be months). Which ones do you emphasise the most? Thanks by the way!

 

I have done the scrap processing, and it can be time consuming and space taking to be able to maximize the payback. It has gotten to be kind of cut throat to get scrap, and the free aspect is waning. Appliances can be tricky, as not every scrap yard will accept them, and some states "require" you to have a license to do them. Refrigerators and freezers will have refrigerant to deal with, and it is technically illegal to just release it into the air. I am currently processing scrap now, as a way to keep cash coming in while waiting to get started at my new job. I have been taking the copper windings out of electric motors to get clean copper. The problem can be getting enough to make it worth processing. I have a bunch of stainless that I have cleaned all of the iron off of and ready to go. Scrap prices have dropped some lately, but still pays much better than it did years ago when I started doing it.

 

Window washing I hear is easy to get into. Almost no startup costs. But you have to be willing to do door to door sales.

 

I have done scrap before, and especially when i was in college a few years back. it was always a hit or miss and was supplemental because of it, but it could be some good money if you could work out deals and trades just right. I would always sell the better parts, save the radiators, cats, and the easier aluminum to recycle individually, then haul the rest in as an incomplete. just don't do what my dad does and haul in antique equipment/ vehicles that are worth more to save. you hardly ever get paid to haul stuff off, but can sometimes get it for free through networking your friends. it is one of those things that a small time operation works good for when you have the time to kill.

be sure to keep an eye on the gigs part of craigslist.

I have been considering lately putting some new axles under a dump trailer my dad has and trying to find work for it. I have seen alot of ads on craigslist of people needing fill dirt, and people with free fill dirt, but nobody to haul it. I could also do some construction cleanup with it if i could get in with some contractors.

if you have the stuff to do some landscaping, a good mower with some various accessories for it, you could probably turn that into something.

 

See if you can get a job just helping where you can learn what they are doing and then maybe turn it into a full time gig.

Ck the Craigslist under labor gigs and remember these 3 rules + a little more.

1. Be there on time (ten minutes early never hurt a thing) especially the guy needing the job YOU.

2. Be a the right place, (that why the 10 min early can cover a job location change or bad directions).

3. Be ready to work, long pants and sleeve shirt, work, gloves and boots. And work your *** off no matter the job. The boss will see that you are wanting to work and in my book that a recall to employ.

Also there is craigslist free curb stuff remember old recliners and couches with a fold out bed have metal in it. Burn the couch, scrap the metal.