After 43 years in my construction business I am looking for something else to do. I am 66 in another 2 months. I was going to make it 50 years before starting something else but it is so bad around her I am forced to now. My arthritis is kicking up really bad and work is eternally slow. So I am honestly looking for ideas of what to start. I have no intention of ever retiring. I need something to start that will make money so I can't start at the bottom of anybody's ladder. I was thinking of a franchise of some sort, or duplicating one. Maybe like Batteries Plus or something.

Anybody have any good ideas?

I have already eliminated pole dancing.

 

Find a niche and fill it - is there something in your neighborhood that's lacking, such as services or shops? Is there a local demand for something? - ask around and hear what people would like to see in that area.

With the economy the way it is, it might be tough to start up a new business. My aunt and uncle were both postmasters with the USPS, but left to start up an artisan coffee roaster. However, due to rising prices of the "green" coffee beans combined with a decrease in sales, my aunt had to go back to work for the USPS in order to pay the bills...

With your construction experience, maybe you could do a sort of "Handyman" business where you could go around and do small jobs for people who either don't have the time or the expertise to do it themselves. I know someone who's doing a "Honey for Hire" thing - going around and doing odd jobs (Honey-do lists) for people - seems to be doing fairly well at it...

 

Thanks for the reply. The problem where I live is that more and more places are closing down. They raised the taxes and for sale signs started to go up and property values down. There is no niche except for bankruptcy lawyers. You are right, to find a need and fill it. But my town has no needs except to move out.

I have a CDL class A with double and triple trailers and tankers. But I don't want to go over the road. The Philadelphia airport is about an hour away. I thought maybe something to and from the airport or even one of the shuttles to the parking areas. But everything is taken there. If the economy wasn't so bad it would be easier to come up with something.

 

These are just suggestions!

Handyman for hire might work, if you emphasize small jobs and reasonable rates. Especially if you're willing to fix things and not just replace. You can probably do some market testing with 3x5 cards at a few local stores.

Not sure, but with all of the foreclosures still going on, a lot of the places are being turned to rentals when they're finally sold. The new owners usually have to do some renovation. Be assured that they want to keep it cheap, but they might be interested in a one man band.

Same type of thing for homes that have been trashed. Might not be so prevalent now, but people were bailing and some trashed the place when they left. (or squatters did it later). Around here, you have to bring it up to code or it will get condemned -- then you have to make it into a lot.

So, it might pay to talk to some local realtors. Rental shoppers are probably well known to some of them. As well as other potentials.

Good realtors will probably want to talk to you. In this economy, they like to be able to say "I know a guy" if that will close a sale. But, be prepared for a lot of cold shoulders.

If you have any local industry, there might be some local distribution from warehouses and other supply locations.

I've never been faced with nearly as tough a situation, but when I went to 'find a job' school at my company, they emphasized 'networking'. Basically this means calling everybody that you can think of to look for opportunities. It's not a lot of fun, but it does work.

Good Luck,

hj

 

gigolo!!!!!



there are enough lonely old ladies in your area of the county.


and you will cut down on all the miles i put on the crown vic by me not having to drive over that way.

 

I quit construction in 08 or it quit me. I had over 30 years of my own business. The handyman business is over run by fly by night guys that have people afraid to try anyone. My best work comes from rental companies. I just got laid off on my state park maintenance job. I have a job this week for a man with over 300 rental homes.I hope to get his repair work. It will be all I need.Check with your local realtors.They may need a service guy.

 

Politics? Walmart greeter?

O.K! I'll assume your answer on that!

Well, if you can deal with stupid people, you might want to look into working for the local school district in the maintenance dept. My Father-In-Law did that for 5 years. If you can get past all the waste, and the idiots above you, it's was a very stress free job. He also accumulated a lot of tools from there too. His boss insisted on throwing new tools in the dumpster. (seriously) My Father-In-Law learned real quick to park next to the dumpster!

What about maintenance areas for other buildings and rental properties? I'm just thinking about something you could do that uses your knowledge and experience.