Ok this is the deal the company I work for is going to reduce it's workforce by 16,000/20%. I know that the job market for my skill set has NO openings. So I have been thinking about 2 things to make money while the job market is so bad in my filed.

1) Mobile lawn mower and small equipment repair. I would load a trailer up with as much as I could and repair peoples equipment at there house with a small travel charge. If I was unable to repaire it on sight hall it off and fix it at the shop.

2) Lawn care. This one is easy to do with little cost but hard work and you see lawn services all over the place.


What do you guys think???

 

Hmmm..can I guess? I'm guessing you work for Worldcom?

If I'm right, you are in a very tough market..no jobs whatsoever
in telecommunications..I work for SBC...so I feel your pain..we
are just trying to keep our heads down and hold on. It can happen
to anyone..and unfortunately, it happens to the good workers also..something that we all need to keep in mind.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do....

Lisa

 

Landscaping/yard maintenance is good honest work and you will be in good shape from it.

You need a catchy slogan.
How about" The other side of the fence" Landscaping

Why? Because the grass is always greener on " The other side of the fence"


[font color=red]Dennis

Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font]


[link:www.ford-trucks.com/guidelines.html|FTEModerator]

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[font color=red]
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
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[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
[/font]

 

I recomend that you take a proper course in driving tractor-trailers at a reputable school, if you're good at it you will be hired BEFORE the class is over, there is decent money to be made if you get in with the right company, a good truck driver will never starve!!!

 

if you have a family that is used to you being around.....dont drive a truck unless you get a dedicated run where youre home everynight or youre a route driver. you can find stuff like that but depending on where you live it may be hard to do. driving in general is a great way to make a living. youre on the road all day, nobody to tell what to do or how to do it(most of the time), you dont have to deal with people and if you do they are usually happy to see you, like the other poster said "a good driver will never go hungry" , someone always needs to move something.

there are drawbacks....long delays due to construction or an accident, people have no respect for trucks on the road and truckers are ALWAYS blamed in accidents. it is a dangerous profession.

i drive a 1500gal. septic truck. its not most folks idea of a great job, nor is it mine, but its getting me through flight school and i make more money and deal with less crap(no punn intended) than most of the other people out here. im home every night, off on weekends and i get all the overtime i can handle, and then some! if you can drive and do it well, youll have nothing to worry about. even if im not as good a pilot as i am a driver, i know i can always come back to it and live very comfortably. just look in your local classified ads, companies are always looking for drivers, CDL or not.


Good luck in whatever you do!


Ryan

 

I am a retired air conditioning/heating and refrigeration mechanic. I worked in that field for over 40 years. I get calls all the time from people wanting me to go to work for them either full or part time. That is an excellent field to get into whether it be automotive or stationary. I am cetified for both.

 

Well I know I can always make a living driving but realy don't feel like being on the road. I drove dump truck when I was a kid and got behind the wheel of my father's truck every time I had a chance. Don't want my daughter to have a weekend father like I had.

Any way the wife keeps telling me I should do handyman work for people but not to sure if I want to do that. I have spent the last 18 years making money for the "company", so now I think it's time to try something for myself. I like working on yards and landscaping and know that I could make a go of it with very little out of pocket money. Just thought I would see what you guys think is the best shot at making good money.

 

Odie, I'm proud of you! I can tell from your reply post that you have confidence in yourself and your abilities. I say go for it man! Do the yard thing if you want to. There's nothing more satisfying than working for yourself. I warn you though. Once you work for yourself, it is awfully hard to go back to working for someone else. Never let anyone discourage you. EVERYONE in my family, including my mom, but with the exception of myself, told my dad he'd never make a go of the business he wanted to start. That was 16 years ago, and now he pulls down 6 figures. ANYONE can do it if they are determined enough. The only thing holding you back is yourself. Best of luck my friend!
BTW, I loved the name Mil1ion suggested. "The other side of the fence landscaping" Too cool!

Chuck

 

Learn to dive and swim decent enough, go to a Marina and hang up a sign, go pick up crap of the bottom for people. While you're there you can wash boats, clean hulls... I've learned there is always work around Marina's that is hard honest rewarding work... that no one seems to find anyone else willing to do.

I watched a guy loose a 159.99 gas grill in 40 feet of water from the end of the dock, he paid a guy $25.00 to jump in and bring it up. It took him all of 5 minutes. The droppee had to wait 2 hours for the guy to finish other jobs to get to him.

I watched this guy for a while, he was like a hippee just wandering around doing stuff and being paid cash. He had the Marina's approval and just made it known he was willing to dive upto 60 feet and do underwater work.

He went out with a guy one day to dive and recover a fouled anchor. My anchor costs $300.00... I can imagine it would be worth $100.00 not to have to spend $300.00 Since most good anchorages are considered to be less than 20 feet deep, he probably didn't have to go far...

Just my 2 cents, as I watched this guy from my boat I thought... you know I could do that...

Robert

 

go for it man!

a buddy of mine and his dad now own there own garage. They buy cars and repair them, sfety them (paint if nessiary, and they do good work too!! there painting my truck this fall)

his dad's a self empoyed contractor and he sells firewood.

you can do whatever you want, as long as you put your mind into it.

just keep your head up and try to tghink positive bud!

 

>You need a catchy slogan.
>How about" The other side of the fence" Landscaping
>
>Why? Because the grass is always greener on " The other side
>of the fence"

Well I like it but the boss (wife) thinks it is to long. Any other ideas?

 

After hearing your wife didn't like it.

My wife Michelle just yelled out from the kitchen
How about " Gangreen (gangrene) "

I thought,
"The Green Gang"
"Yard Apes"
"Yard Patrol"
"Yard Guard"
"Green Acres"

[font color=red]Dennis

Calgary,Alberta,Canada[/font]


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[font color=red]
Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions,
"I'm Saving My Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's" [/font]

[font color=blue]78 F-150 429CJ,Silver,Explorer Pkg.
[/font]

 

I am planning on doing the same thing here in Phoenix.

It will cost me about $1500 for a McClane Lawn Mower, and rotory lawn mower, blowers, edgers, gas trimmers and various other stuff including the Business licenses for the various cities. I was a Greenskeeper for some time and I found out I liked it and, if I can gather up about $2000, I will go for it.

 

My company has been and more than likely will continue to downsize. I've been looking for ways to work for myself too. Using the computer to do resumes (since everybody is looking for a job, right?) or other desktop publishing type stuff or landscaping or handyman work as well. As a matter of fact I just re-finished a kitchen for somebody and in two weeks I'm going back to do the bathroom for him. This weekend, I'm putting up a fence for somebody else. The same person I'm doing the fence for, I just finished a competitive analysis report that she needed to do to become a manager at a major grocery store. The point is that you can always find ways to make money, especially if you have a little common sense (which it sounds like you do).

Make sure you look into business laws and licences that are needed. You mentioned your daughter, that means family.....that means they need to go to the doctor, dentist etc. You may need to look into health coverage for the family if the wife doesn't work and have coverage.

I think the " The other side of the fence" Landscaping was a great idea. Why did she think the name was too long? At least she's optimistic that the phone is going to be ringing off the hook and the name would be too long to say when she answers the phone for you....ring ring..."Other side o' the fence landscaping, you grow it, we mow it. How can I help you?

Be patient, do some research and the right thing will come around for YOU. Make sure that you put some sort of business plan together. As 460 was saying, the cost for equipment, advertising, insurance etc. How much are you going to pay yourself?

 

Now a perspective from one who is self employed. First: do not forget to purchase contractors insurance in case you get hurt on someone's property. A savy homeowner will ask for proof of it before a price to do any job. Check to see if the state in which you live requires registration and proof of insurance. Homeowners do not want to be sued if you cut your foot off on their lawn! And they dam well could be in this litigation crazy society. Second,and very important: if you live in America you must file quarterly self employment taxes, social security tax, and medicare contributions. This means that every three months, like this June 15, all self employed people must file quarterly taxes based upon a estimated yearly income. For instance if you estimate you are going to make $40,000 gross earnings yearly, I would suggest you earmark about $10,000 for for taxes. This means you would have to send in $2500 every three months to old Uncle Sam. If your state has an income tax, you will have to find out what percentage they require, and pony up that as well on the same date you would owe the Feds. Corporations have a different tax structure but I would wait until I was somewhat successful before corporate conversion. You will have to pay a myriad of other taxes, like unemployment, etc if you hire someone to help you, unless you pay them on a 1099 schedule. This is a subcontractor status and probably would not qualify in your situation, so you would have to structure your taxes to include the unemployment tax and social security contributions to the state and federal coffers. You could pay someone under the table, but if he or she gets hurt on the job, they will sue you, the state will prosecute you, and you probably will become bankrupt and ruined. You will have a new job alright, in prison. Same is even more true if you do not pay these taxes. So these are risks not worth taking.
I hope I am not discouraging you from self employment, but only pointing out the realities of the situation.. Done right, one can be very successful and be forever free of the demanding backstabbing boss who is kin to Simon La Gree. I say go for it. I did 11 years ago, and would not trade my living for anything on earth, except for a hit on the mega lottery. In some ways I have hit the lottery already, but I still have to show up at my office 5 days a week to keep the old ball rolling. Once again, go for it, and remember, perseverance and hard work is the key to your success!