for women that can be started with little training and investment
All these ideas are capable of producing additional income.
Most of these businesses can be conducted in the privacy and
comfort of home, in between household chores, during weekends or at
your leisure. All of these ideas do not require extra help, brawn
and best of all, some are extensions of hobbies or skills developed
or acquired from childhood.
For best results, browse through the business suggestions and
write down those that sound interesting. List the opportunities you
would like to try out. Then narrow the list down to one, two or more
related businesses. For instance,if you collect dolls as a hobby, you
can start your own doll making business or start designing and sewing
doll clothes (specializing in party clothes) for Barbie or Cabbage
Patch Kids.
These ideas are intended to stimulate you imagination. Only you
can make the decision based on your own experiences, qualifications,
interests and the current market in your community. As you compile
your list of possibilities, take a critical look around your area.
Note what is and isn't available what is overpriced or inadequate that
people in your community will pay for. When you find just the right
combination, start preparing for a successful business operation!
The first thing you must do is to prepare a BUSINESS PLAN. This
is an outline of what you plan to do and how you intend to do it. When
you write a business plan, it will make you organize your business in
your mind and on paper. This will insure your ultimate business success!
Be sure to check with city hall or county courthouse on local license,
tax or permit requirements before making your final selection/s and before
investing your money. Sometimes a minor adjustment at the start can
prevent future headaches.
Finally, familiarize yourself with your choice/s. Start ordering your
office supplies, but don't invest too much in stock because you may make
adjustments as you learn your market and adjust to market conditions.
GOOD LUCK!
ADULT DAY CARE CENTER. Operate a center to look after elderly and/or
handicapped people. Offer refreshments, games and activities and assistance
but not "health care."
ADVERTISING SPECIALITIES. With distributor provided catalogs and samples call on regular customers and supply them with custom imprinted pens, calendars, matches, etc.
ADVERTISING SERVICE. Arrange for the design, printing and distribution of
advertising/announcement flyers, mail outs and ad campaigns for clients for fee
plus commission.
AFRICAN VIOLETS. Specialize in the propagation and care of this popular
indoor plant. Nurture, hybridize and sell when in full bloom. Sell accessories
and supplies.
ALTERATIONS. Replace buttons, let out cuffs, shorten sleeves, turn collars
repair tears for clothing stores, laundries and cleaners who don't already offer
this service.
AQUARIUM SNAILS. Raise red ram's horn snails for home and commercial fish tanks. Sell to pet shops and aquarium dealers. Advertise in fish related trade journals.
ARTIFICAL PLANTS. Make your specialty artificial flowers and plants. Sell
a selection of arrangements, baskets and special occasion creations; take custom orders.
BABY CLOTHES. Specialize in bargain-priced new and hand-me-down infant
clothing and supplies. Offer an alteration service; take in trades to refurbish
and resell.
BABY FOOD. Specialize in mixing, processing, packaging and selling homemade natural baby foods. Licensing and insurance required, dedicated work area strongly recommended.
BABY SITTING. Go to client's home by appointment and stay with the children
for hourly fee. Charge extra for two or more, doing housework or for taking the
kids out.
BABY PICTURES. With still or video camera, arrange with the hospital staff
to photograph newborns (with parents, nurses, visitors). Sell print sets to proud
parents.
BABY SITTING SERVICE. Accumulate a list of qualified, bonded sitters.
Advertise your service and rates, deliver and pick sitters. Collect fees and pay
sitters a percentage.
BABY DOLLS. Make and attach fine wigs from client baby's own baby hair to
keepsake dolls. Try to get cloth from baby's actual clothes to make similar looking outfits for the doll.
BANQUET DECORATING. Take full charge of banquet room preparation: theme decoration, seating arrangements, centerpieces. Advertise your service and list with Chamber of Commerce.
BASKET WEAVING. Design, make and sell a variety of your basket creations:
plain and decorated (or with arrangements). Sell various fibers, plans and
instruction kits.
BATIK CREATION. Learn this ancient process: dip fabric in wax, crinkle,
scratch or melt design into the wax, then dip in dye. Clean, stretch and dry for
a valuable decoration.
BEAN SPROUTS. Grow fresh bean sprouts on a rotating basis: have new crop
every week or as needed to supply client restaurants, vegetable markets and retail customers.
BEAUTY AIDS. Sell general or specialized beauty (or ethnic) supplies in your
home salon or by appointment. Represent established lines and/or sell you own brand.
BONSAI PLANTS. Grow (or buy) and arrange into attractive pots or arrangements. Retail from your home, through ads, or wholesale to flower shops, greenhouses and nurseries.
BOOK REVIEWING. If qualified, read current books for publishers or agents.
Write reviews to be quoted in book promotions or media reviews; work towards your own column.
BOOK SALES. Sell general subject or specialized books wholesale or retail
by mail: through mailing lists or direct advertisements. Warning: lots of competition in this field.
BOOKKEEPING SERVICE. Provide a (even beginning) bookkeeping services to (especially one-person) small businessmen in your area. Expand to more complex systems and computers.
BOTANICA. Stock "magic" potions, roots, powders, candles, good luck charms. Print (buy) and sell related instructions and lore. Careful not to guarantee results.
BREAD SPECIALITIES. Bake and sell unusual varieties of home made breads: low calorie, ethnic, etc. Take orders for loaves fresh from your kitchen, deliver to stores on a route.
BRIDGE LESSONS. Give Bridge lessons in your home when you are qualified. Charge by the lesson, or course. Hold tournaments, award prizes, publicize students.
BROMELIADS. Specialize in culture of these beautiful pineapple relatives with
their hauntingly beautiful blooms. Sell growing on driftwood arrangements for highest prices.
BUYER'S GUIDE. Publish and sell or give away your guide to best prices and values available in your area. As it gains in popularity charge more to list the businesses!
CACTUS CULTURE. Propagate, grow, groom and arrange native and exotic cacti for retail and wholesale market. Prepare little information booklets for each species.
CAKE DECORATING. Take orders to bake and decorate special occasion cakes. Retail through small, constant ads ("CAKES- phone number"). Offer to decorate bakery cakes.
CALLIGRAPHY. Easily learned by artistic person: work through ads and stationary stores. Print fancy menus, show cards, place cards, invitations, announcements, etc.
CAN ART. Make and sell pincushion chairs and other unique, decorative items from tin cans and bits of cloth. Write down your plans and sell kits with instructions.
CANDLE MAKING. Turn a hobby into a profitable business. Design your own line, offer custom styling, scents and special effects. Between orders, make standard items.
CANDY MAKING. Specialize in one or more types of candies that you can make in your kitchen. Package with you brand and wholesale to stores or sell through ads.
CANNING SERVICE. Preserve customer's home grown (or purchased) garden products with your canning operation. Use your recipes or theirs, apply personalized labels.
CARPET CLEANING. With steam shampoo equipment, clean and renew residential and commercial carpets. Contact rental agencies, apartments and condos for wholesale jobs.
CATERING SERVICE. Prepare old fashioned, gourmet or special occasion meals for clients to pick up. Use insulated canisters to keep the food hot (charge deposit).
CERAMIC FLOWERS. Learn to fashion, color, fire and arrange ceramic flowers, both singles and in arrangements. Display them for sale; teach the art in your ceramic shop.
CERAMICS. Make ceramic pieces to retail, wholesale and display in your "school". Hold classes, sell greenware, kits and supplies. Charge for finishing and firing pieces.
CHEESE MAKING. Make your own brand of unusual or gourmet cheeses from your cow or goat milk. Sell from your place, on a route to area stores, or in mail order kits.
CHILD PICK-UP SERVICE. Pick up and deliver client's kids after school, theater, games. Pick-up, deliver to parties, charge extra to stay with them until mom returns.
CHILDREN'S TOWN HISTORY. Write and illustrate a booklet about your town just for kids. Sell copies to doctors, dentist offices, stores, hospitals and nursery schools.
CHILDREN'S BOOKS. With licensed equipment, "publish" children's books with their name appearing in print throughout the book. Set up booth in malls for holidays.
CHILDREN'S ROOM DECORATOR. Specialize in decorating nursery and children's rooms. Offer varied "package" motifs. Work with or through suppliers for a commission.
CHILDREN'S CLOTHING. Specialized in new (stylish and/or closeout) and outgrown children's clothes, accessories. Alter hand-me-downs, "wash" jeans, monogram sweats.
CHINA and GLASS DEALER. Collect and deal in antique and interesting china and glass items. Buy at auctions, private and public sales and through you advertisements.
CLIENT LISTINGS. Contract to keep customer (or business) information lists:
customer birthdays, purchases, credit records, price records, employee records.
MAKE-UP ARTISTRY. Make up women, actors for formal or entertainment situations. Offer classes for beauty or actor application and sell "your" line of make-up supplies.
CLIPPING SERVICES. Review newspaper publications for contracted subjects(wedding announcements, graduations, mention of client products). Sell to agents and merchants.
CLOTH LABELS. Make and sell small orders of fabric labels for small businesses and home crafters on your embroider machine. Offer lower prices for repeated orders.
COMMUNITY COOK BOOK. Publish a theme or organizational oriented recipe collection with entries from each family/member/department. Print and distribute for a fee.
COMPANION SERVICE. Accompany lonely, ailing or elderly people alone temporarily, on shopping trips, to and from the doctor, on short tours or when traveling longer distances.
COOKBOOK PUBLISHING. Publish a cookbook of your own favorite recipes (usually a catchy, interesting subject collection). Promote and sell through ads and stores.
COOKING LESSONS. Give gourmet/ethnic/regional cooking, canning, baking lessons in your specialty from your kitchen, or by appointment in your student's kitchen.
COOKING SERVICE. Prepare complete meals at home, from your traditional or customized (gourmet, ethnic, traditional) menu to be delivered and served hot, or picked up.
COOKING, CUSTOM. An overseas treat: offer genuine American style home-cooking. Prepare and deliver (serve?) complete meals to parties, banquets and private homes.
CURTAIN LAUNDRY. Wash, stretch and pleat curtains in your home laundry. Be sure to learn fabric requirements and have insurance. Offer installation and sell liners.
CUSTOM COOKBOOKS. Assimilate, decorate (personalize the cover) and custom print (on computer), client recipe collections -- into their own "family heirloom" cookbook.
CUSTOM HANDICRAFTS. Use your talents to embroider, tat, sew, crochet products for customers with limited time or talent. Make extra good sellers between custom orders.
CUSTOM CLOTHING DESIGNS. Paint, block print or transfer unique or custom designs on clothing for smocks, aprons or fabrics to be used for clothing, curtains or even upholstery.
CUSTOM KNITTING. Take orders for hand-knitted sweaters, stockings and sets (ski outfits?). Make more fast sellers between orders; attach your labels to all products!
CUSTOM TAILORING. Offer the luxury of hand made clothing: shirts, skirts, coats, uniforms, suits. Good service to add to alteration business when you feel competent to start from scratch.
CUT FLOWER BUSINESS. Grow and supply freshly cut flowers to markets and florists in your area. Offer a variety of seasonal or specialize in one (or two) greenhouse/shade house grown varieties.
DANCING SCHOOL. Instruct others in your dance specialty in group or individual classes. Be sure to "showcase" students to encourage them and publicize your business!
DECORATIVE PATCHES. Design patches, quilt names and sew-on decals for sweatshirts, garden shirts. Design completed garments and do-it-yourself kits.
DIRECTORY PUBLISHING. Publish local information booklets or maps: where to shop, eat, fish or visit. Booklets can be given away or sold by paid advertisers, businesses.
DOLL CLOTHES. Difficult work for expert seamstresses, but pays well. Work with doll makers, collectors, sell at fairs and through advertisements in doll related publications.
DOLL MAKING. Use ceramic molds, hand paint and finish fine dolls to sell to
collectors, children and stores. Advertise in doll publications; attend doll shows.
DOLL COLLECTING. Buy, sell and trade fine and antique dolls with other collectors and investors. Visit shows and fairs regularly to keep abreast of trends and prices.
DONUT MAKING. Make and sell a variety of donuts at home or in public view at fairs, flea markets and public events. Offer "specials": tasty toppings, bargain bags.
DRAPERY SERVICE. Make (have made), clean or alter drapery for private or
commercial customers. Sell replacements. Use ads for retail jobs, call on commercials.
DRAPERY CLEANING. Offer in-home (in-office) or pick-up service to renew and re-pleat curtain fabrics. Offer re-lining and expand to do upholstery, walls, and rugs.
DRY CLEANING. Offer a dry cleaning service in your area for clothes, drapes, etc. Send items to processing plant until you are ready to do the cleaning yourself.
ELEPHANT GARLIC. Specialize in growing and marketing this remarkable, delicious giant garlic for gourmet restaurants and stores. Sell fresh, dried and frozen.
ENAMELING/CLOISONNE. Create beautiful, unique enameled objects of art to sell: your own designs, themes, plaques, jewelry, trinkets. Sell at shows and via catalogs.
ERRAND SERVICE. Perform errands for individuals and businesses: go to the corner store or across the country. Deliver or pick up messages, packages, important papers.
ESCORT SERVICE. Supply (legitimate) escorts for official and business functions. Advertise for on-call escorts. Interview and qualify; have your entire services bonded.
ETHNIC ARTIFACTS. Buy/create and market one category of products (Indian, Black heritage, German, Asian). Focus all of your advertising and expertise on specific market segment.
EXERCISE COMPANION. Serve as a walking, jogging companion for company, morale support and extra protection (good in cities). Carry any necessary (legal) protection.
EXERCISE FOR SENIORS. Conduct daily passive aerobic classes and sessions for different categories (agility) of senior citizens at your place, and stops on a daily route.
EXOTIC DISHES. Package and sell your "special" recipe: frozen or fresh; wholesale or retail. Advertise the product locally and rent a booth at fairs to publicize it.
EXOTIC VEGETABLES. Grow high value plants (chives, watercress, capers). Use a small greenhouse to produce big profits. Deliver fresh to restaurants and stores.
EXOTIC PLANTS. Raise and sell especially valuable plants, such as four leaf clovers, rare mosses or delicate begonias. Advertise and display often at fairs and shows.
FOWER ARRANGING. Arrange flowers for parties, banquets, office functions, from general decor to head table centerpieces. Make up displays to sell through stores.
FLOWER DRYING. Raise or buy dryable flowers and shrubs for retail and wholesale customers: one kind packets or arrangements. Sell kits with complete instructions.
FOLK ART GALLERY. Specialize in folk art. Become an "expert" in one or more areas (and receive much free publicity). Buy, sell, take consignments, appraise, teach.
FORMULAS. Research libraries and books for marketable formulas: soap, shampoo, hair tonic, cleaners. Bottle or package under your own label and market locally.
FORTUNE TELLING. If you are good at palmistry or tarot reading, give performances at parties, fairs and at a mall booth and at festivals. Sell booklets, card kits.
FREELANCE HOT FOOD DELIVERY. Contract to use your van to deliver hot food for one or more fast food businesses. Have set of magnetic signs each sponsor. Save them money.
FREEZE DRY FLOWERS. With your equipment freeze dry and preserve wedding bouquets, corsages, centerpieces. Add this service to florist or nursery business for extra income.
GALLOPING GOURMET. Go to people's homes by appointment; cook them a gourmet meal! Furnish helpers, utensils, condiments, place settings service if desired for extra charges.
GARAGE CLEANING. Contact to clean out garages, sheds and attics for individuals, rental agents and absentee landlords. Get paid for the work AND keep anything of value.
GARAGE SALE SERVICE. Set up, promote and manage garage sales for inexperienced or reluctant clients. Inventory, help price and sell for percentage of the proceeds.
GARAGE SALES. Buy underpriced items at auctions and other garage sales. When sufficiently "stocked" have your own -- or hold "joint" sales at various locations.
GENEALOGY. Trace and document family archives. Provide records and related artifacts to descendants. Charge by amount of research involved and documents produced.
GHOSTWRITER. Write articles, letters, reports, speeches and other papers for busy executives and those with little talent in this area. Provide signed agreement to clients.
GLASS ETCHING. Custom-etch glassware for individuals, and to order for retail stores. Offer monograms, town or company logo, family crest, art designs or scenery.
HANDBAGS. Specialize in ladies handbags. Make them in your "factory" to retail or wholesale, or buy and stock a wide variety of sizes, styles, colors and prices.
HANGING PLANTS. Specialize in hanging plants of all sizes and descriptions. Display when in peak condition in various types of attractive pots, holders and hangers.
HEALTH FOODS. Use only natural fertilizers and pesticides in your garden to produce higher priced organically grown products. Sell as "organically grown" products.
HERB HOUSE. Grow, process and sell herbs that grow well in your area (or greenhouse). Package products separately and in blends (e.g. pickling preparations).
HERB PLANTS. Provide live, healthy potted herbs (basil, chives, borage) for really fresh seasoning to gourmet restaurants. Exchange for new plants as needed.
HERBAL SEASONINGS. Develop, package and market your own blends of seasonings for local, hopefully wider distribution. Arrange for attention-getting packaging to expedite sales.
HERBAL AND SPICE TEA. Blend and sell different blends of herbal teas. Include leaflets with history and folklore in each package. Use uniquely decorated containers.
HOBBY NEWSLETTER. Originate a newsletter or directory for and about hobbyists and their crafts. Build readership by fostering participation, exchanging ideas, listing fairs and supply sources.
HOBBY KITS. Sell do-it-yourself hobby kits in your field of expertise. Include step-by-step guidance and pictures to help beginners learn the craft.
HOLIDAY, SPECIAL EVENT BASKETS. Prepare holiday and special event baskets of fruit, flowers, "goodies". Wholesale or consign to gift stores and advertise custom retail work.
HOME-CANNED GOODS. Take orders or sell home canned goods from your garden. Offer ethnic, regional, or dietary (low-salt/sugarless) as well as "regular" recipes.
HOME-SMOKED MEATS. With your smoker, recipes and wood selection, smoke and sell your sausage, hams, ribs and chicken. Offer hot smoked meats & sandwiches for holidays and banquets.
HOME PERMANENTS. Specialize in giving "home perms" at "their" place. Go to offices, homes, hospitals, senior citizen centers by appointment or on a route.
HOME STUDY COURSES. Sell/rent new/used home study courses. Buy new courses on sale (when available), buy courses back from students. Sell locally and by mail order.
HOMEMAKER'S HELPER. Provide temporary relief or assistance for sick, vacationing or just plain "pooped" moms. Charge by the hour or job (more than a full-time helper).
HOMEOPATHY. Specialize in natural remedy products and related folklore. Provide information on "reputed" remedial properties. Be very careful not to offer "cures".
HOROSCOPE SERVICE. Provide horoscope/astrology information to clients -- prepare manually or use your computer program to select and/or print out the information.
HOSPITAL GROOMING. Assist patients with nail, hair, skin care in hospitals and nursing homes. License may not be needed to provide an appreciated service on a route.
HOUSE CLEANING. Offer one-time or periodic house cleaning services. Perform the heavy tasks (shampoo rugs, clean stoves, wash windows, wax the floors, defrost, etc.)
ADULT DAY CARE CENTER. Operate a center to look after elderly and/or
handicapped people. Offer refreshments, games and activities and assistance
but not "health care."
ADVERTISING SPECIALITIES. With distributor provided catalogs and samples call on regular customers and supply them with custom imprinted pens, calendars, matches, etc.
ADVERTISING SERVICE. Arrange for the design, printing and distribution of
advertising/announcement flyers, mail outs and ad campaigns for clients for fee
plus commission.
AFRICAN VIOLETS. Specialize in the propagation and care of this popular
indoor plant. Nurture, hybridize and sell when in full bloom. Sell accessories
and supplies.
ALTERATIONS. Replace buttons, let out cuffs, shorten sleeves, turn collars
repair tears for clothing stores, laundries and cleaners who don't already offer
this service.
AQUARIUM SNAILS. Raise red ram's horn snails for home and commercial fish tanks. Sell to pet shops and aquarium dealers. Advertise in fish related trade journals.
ARTIFICAL PLANTS. Make your specialty artificial flowers and plants. Sell
a selection of arrangements, baskets and special occasion creations; take custom orders.
BABY CLOTHES. Specialize in bargain-priced new and hand-me-down infant
clothing and supplies. Offer an alteration service; take in trades to refurbish
and resell.
BABY FOOD. Specialize in mixing, processing, packaging and selling homemade natural baby foods. Licensing and insurance required, dedicated work area strongly recommended.
BABY SITTING. Go to client's home by appointment and stay with the children
for hourly fee. Charge extra for two or more, doing housework or for taking the
kids out.
BABY PICTURES. With still or video camera, arrange with the hospital staff
to photograph newborns (with parents, nurses, visitors). Sell print sets to proud
parents.
BABY SITTING SERVICE. Accumulate a list of qualified, bonded sitters.
Advertise your service and rates, deliver and pick sitters. Collect fees and pay
sitters a percentage.
BABY DOLLS. Make and attach fine wigs from client baby's own baby hair to
keepsake dolls. Try to get cloth from baby's actual clothes to make similar looking outfits for the doll.
BANQUET DECORATING. Take full charge of banquet room preparation: theme decoration, seating arrangements, centerpieces. Advertise your service and list with Chamber of Commerce.
BASKET WEAVING. Design, make and sell a variety of your basket creations:
plain and decorated (or with arrangements). Sell various fibers, plans and
instruction kits.
BATIK CREATION. Learn this ancient process: dip fabric in wax, crinkle,
scratch or melt design into the wax, then dip in dye. Clean, stretch and dry for
a valuable decoration.
BEAN SPROUTS. Grow fresh bean sprouts on a rotating basis: have new crop
every week or as needed to supply client restaurants, vegetable markets and retail customers.
BEAUTY AIDS. Sell general or specialized beauty (or ethnic) supplies in your
home salon or by appointment. Represent established lines and/or sell you own brand.
BONSAI PLANTS. Grow (or buy) and arrange into attractive pots or arrangements. Retail from your home, through ads, or wholesale to flower shops, greenhouses and nurseries.
BOOK REVIEWING. If qualified, read current books for publishers or agents.
Write reviews to be quoted in book promotions or media reviews; work towards your own column.
BOOK SALES. Sell general subject or specialized books wholesale or retail
by mail: through mailing lists or direct advertisements. Warning: lots of competition in this field.
BOOKKEEPING SERVICE. Provide a (even beginning) bookkeeping services to (especially one-person) small businessmen in your area. Expand to more complex systems and computers.
BOTANICA. Stock "magic" potions, roots, powders, candles, good luck charms. Print (buy) and sell related instructions and lore. Careful not to guarantee results.
BREAD SPECIALITIES. Bake and sell unusual varieties of home made breads: low calorie, ethnic, etc. Take orders for loaves fresh from your kitchen, deliver to stores on a route.
BRIDGE LESSONS. Give Bridge lessons in your home when you are qualified. Charge by the lesson, or course. Hold tournaments, award prizes, publicize students.
BROMELIADS. Specialize in culture of these beautiful pineapple relatives with
their hauntingly beautiful blooms. Sell growing on driftwood arrangements for highest prices.
BUYER'S GUIDE. Publish and sell or give away your guide to best prices and values available in your area. As it gains in popularity charge more to list the businesses!
CACTUS CULTURE. Propagate, grow, groom and arrange native and exotic cacti for retail and wholesale market. Prepare little information booklets for each species.
CAKE DECORATING. Take orders to bake and decorate special occasion cakes. Retail through small, constant ads ("CAKES- phone number"). Offer to decorate bakery cakes.
CALLIGRAPHY. Easily learned by artistic person: work through ads and stationary stores. Print fancy menus, show cards, place cards, invitations, announcements, etc.
CAN ART. Make and sell pincushion chairs and other unique, decorative items from tin cans and bits of cloth. Write down your plans and sell kits with instructions.
CANDLE MAKING. Turn a hobby into a profitable business. Design your own line, offer custom styling, scents and special effects. Between orders, make standard items.
CANDY MAKING. Specialize in one or more types of candies that you can make in your kitchen. Package with you brand and wholesale to stores or sell through ads.
CANNING SERVICE. Preserve customer's home grown (or purchased) garden products with your canning operation. Use your recipes or theirs, apply personalized labels.
CARPET CLEANING. With steam shampoo equipment, clean and renew residential and commercial carpets. Contact rental agencies, apartments and condos for wholesale jobs.
CATERING SERVICE. Prepare old fashioned, gourmet or special occasion meals for clients to pick up. Use insulated canisters to keep the food hot (charge deposit).
CERAMIC FLOWERS. Learn to fashion, color, fire and arrange ceramic flowers, both singles and in arrangements. Display them for sale; teach the art in your ceramic shop.
CERAMICS. Make ceramic pieces to retail, wholesale and display in your "school". Hold classes, sell greenware, kits and supplies. Charge for finishing and firing pieces.
CHEESE MAKING. Make your own brand of unusual or gourmet cheeses from your cow or goat milk. Sell from your place, on a route to area stores, or in mail order kits.
CHILD PICK-UP SERVICE. Pick up and deliver client's kids after school, theater, games. Pick-up, deliver to parties, charge extra to stay with them until mom returns.
CHILDREN'S TOWN HISTORY. Write and illustrate a booklet about your town just for kids. Sell copies to doctors, dentist offices, stores, hospitals and nursery schools.
CHILDREN'S BOOKS. With licensed equipment, "publish" children's books with their name appearing in print throughout the book. Set up booth in malls for holidays.
CHILDREN'S ROOM DECORATOR. Specialize in decorating nursery and children's rooms. Offer varied "package" motifs. Work with or through suppliers for a commission.
CHILDREN'S CLOTHING. Specialized in new (stylish and/or closeout) and outgrown children's clothes, accessories. Alter hand-me-downs, "wash" jeans, monogram sweats.
CHINA and GLASS DEALER. Collect and deal in antique and interesting china and glass items. Buy at auctions, private and public sales and through you advertisements.
CLIENT LISTINGS. Contract to keep customer (or business) information lists:
customer birthdays, purchases, credit records, price records, employee records.
MAKE-UP ARTISTRY. Make up women, actors for formal or entertainment situations. Offer classes for beauty or actor application and sell "your" line of make-up supplies.
CLIPPING SERVICES. Review newspaper publications for contracted subjects(wedding announcements, graduations, mention of client products). Sell to agents and merchants.
CLOTH LABELS. Make and sell small orders of fabric labels for small businesses and home crafters on your embroider machine. Offer lower prices for repeated orders.
COMMUNITY COOK BOOK. Publish a theme or organizational oriented recipe collection with entries from each family/member/department. Print and distribute for a fee.
COMPANION SERVICE. Accompany lonely, ailing or elderly people alone temporarily, on shopping trips, to and from the doctor, on short tours or when traveling longer distances.
COOKBOOK PUBLISHING. Publish a cookbook of your own favorite recipes (usually a catchy, interesting subject collection). Promote and sell through ads and stores.
COOKING LESSONS. Give gourmet/ethnic/regional cooking, canning, baking lessons in your specialty from your kitchen, or by appointment in your student's kitchen.
COOKING SERVICE. Prepare complete meals at home, from your traditional or customized (gourmet, ethnic, traditional) menu to be delivered and served hot, or picked up.
COOKING, CUSTOM. An overseas treat: offer genuine American style home-cooking. Prepare and deliver (serve?) complete meals to parties, banquets and private homes.
CURTAIN LAUNDRY. Wash, stretch and pleat curtains in your home laundry. Be sure to learn fabric requirements and have insurance. Offer installation and sell liners.
CUSTOM COOKBOOKS. Assimilate, decorate (personalize the cover) and custom print (on computer), client recipe collections -- into their own "family heirloom" cookbook.
CUSTOM HANDICRAFTS. Use your talents to embroider, tat, sew, crochet products for customers with limited time or talent. Make extra good sellers between custom orders.
CUSTOM CLOTHING DESIGNS. Paint, block print or transfer unique or custom designs on clothing for smocks, aprons or fabrics to be used for clothing, curtains or even upholstery.
CUSTOM KNITTING. Take orders for hand-knitted sweaters, stockings and sets (ski outfits?). Make more fast sellers between orders; attach your labels to all products!
CUSTOM TAILORING. Offer the luxury of hand made clothing: shirts, skirts, coats, uniforms, suits. Good service to add to alteration business when you feel competent to start from scratch.
CUT FLOWER BUSINESS. Grow and supply freshly cut flowers to markets and florists in your area. Offer a variety of seasonal or specialize in one (or two) greenhouse/shade house grown varieties.
DANCING SCHOOL. Instruct others in your dance specialty in group or individual classes. Be sure to "showcase" students to encourage them and publicize your business!
DECORATIVE PATCHES. Design patches, quilt names and sew-on decals for sweatshirts, garden shirts. Design completed garments and do-it-yourself kits.
DIRECTORY PUBLISHING. Publish local information booklets or maps: where to shop, eat, fish or visit. Booklets can be given away or sold by paid advertisers, businesses.
DOLL CLOTHES. Difficult work for expert seamstresses, but pays well. Work with doll makers, collectors, sell at fairs and through advertisements in doll related publications.
DOLL MAKING. Use ceramic molds, hand paint and finish fine dolls to sell to
collectors, children and stores. Advertise in doll publications; attend doll shows.
DOLL COLLECTING. Buy, sell and trade fine and antique dolls with other collectors and investors. Visit shows and fairs regularly to keep abreast of trends and prices.
DONUT MAKING. Make and sell a variety of donuts at home or in public view at fairs, flea markets and public events. Offer "specials": tasty toppings, bargain bags.
DRAPERY SERVICE. Make (have made), clean or alter drapery for private or
commercial customers. Sell replacements. Use ads for retail jobs, call on commercials.
DRAPERY CLEANING. Offer in-home (in-office) or pick-up service to renew and re-pleat curtain fabrics. Offer re-lining and expand to do upholstery, walls, and rugs.
DRY CLEANING. Offer a dry cleaning service in your area for clothes, drapes, etc. Send items to processing plant until you are ready to do the cleaning yourself.
ELEPHANT GARLIC. Specialize in growing and marketing this remarkable, delicious giant garlic for gourmet restaurants and stores. Sell fresh, dried and frozen.
ENAMELING/CLOISONNE. Create beautiful, unique enameled objects of art to sell: your own designs, themes, plaques, jewelry, trinkets. Sell at shows and via catalogs.
ERRAND SERVICE. Perform errands for individuals and businesses: go to the corner store or across the country. Deliver or pick up messages, packages, important papers.
ESCORT SERVICE. Supply (legitimate) escorts for official and business functions. Advertise for on-call escorts. Interview and qualify; have your entire services bonded.
ETHNIC ARTIFACTS. Buy/create and market one category of products (Indian, Black heritage, German, Asian). Focus all of your advertising and expertise on specific market segment.
EXERCISE COMPANION. Serve as a walking, jogging companion for company, morale support and extra protection (good in cities). Carry any necessary (legal) protection.
EXERCISE FOR SENIORS. Conduct daily passive aerobic classes and sessions for different categories (agility) of senior citizens at your place, and stops on a daily route.
EXOTIC DISHES. Package and sell your "special" recipe: frozen or fresh; wholesale or retail. Advertise the product locally and rent a booth at fairs to publicize it.
EXOTIC VEGETABLES. Grow high value plants (chives, watercress, capers). Use a small greenhouse to produce big profits. Deliver fresh to restaurants and stores.
EXOTIC PLANTS. Raise and sell especially valuable plants, such as four leaf clovers, rare mosses or delicate begonias. Advertise and display often at fairs and shows.
FOWER ARRANGING. Arrange flowers for parties, banquets, office functions, from general decor to head table centerpieces. Make up displays to sell through stores.
FLOWER DRYING. Raise or buy dryable flowers and shrubs for retail and wholesale customers: one kind packets or arrangements. Sell kits with complete instructions.
FOLK ART GALLERY. Specialize in folk art. Become an "expert" in one or more areas (and receive much free publicity). Buy, sell, take consignments, appraise, teach.
FORMULAS. Research libraries and books for marketable formulas: soap, shampoo, hair tonic, cleaners. Bottle or package under your own label and market locally.
FORTUNE TELLING. If you are good at palmistry or tarot reading, give performances at parties, fairs and at a mall booth and at festivals. Sell booklets, card kits.
FREELANCE HOT FOOD DELIVERY. Contract to use your van to deliver hot food for one or more fast food businesses. Have set of magnetic signs each sponsor. Save them money.
FREEZE DRY FLOWERS. With your equipment freeze dry and preserve wedding bouquets, corsages, centerpieces. Add this service to florist or nursery business for extra income.
GALLOPING GOURMET. Go to people's homes by appointment; cook them a gourmet meal! Furnish helpers, utensils, condiments, place settings service if desired for extra charges.
GARAGE CLEANING. Contact to clean out garages, sheds and attics for individuals, rental agents and absentee landlords. Get paid for the work AND keep anything of value.
GARAGE SALE SERVICE. Set up, promote and manage garage sales for inexperienced or reluctant clients. Inventory, help price and sell for percentage of the proceeds.
GARAGE SALES. Buy underpriced items at auctions and other garage sales. When sufficiently "stocked" have your own -- or hold "joint" sales at various locations.
GENEALOGY. Trace and document family archives. Provide records and related artifacts to descendants. Charge by amount of research involved and documents produced.
GHOSTWRITER. Write articles, letters, reports, speeches and other papers for busy executives and those with little talent in this area. Provide signed agreement to clients.
GLASS ETCHING. Custom-etch glassware for individuals, and to order for retail stores. Offer monograms, town or company logo, family crest, art designs or scenery.
HANDBAGS. Specialize in ladies handbags. Make them in your "factory" to retail or wholesale, or buy and stock a wide variety of sizes, styles, colors and prices.
HANGING PLANTS. Specialize in hanging plants of all sizes and descriptions. Display when in peak condition in various types of attractive pots, holders and hangers.
HEALTH FOODS. Use only natural fertilizers and pesticides in your garden to produce higher priced organically grown products. Sell as "organically grown" products.
HERB HOUSE. Grow, process and sell herbs that grow well in your area (or greenhouse). Package products separately and in blends (e.g. pickling preparations).
HERB PLANTS. Provide live, healthy potted herbs (basil, chives, borage) for really fresh seasoning to gourmet restaurants. Exchange for new plants as needed.
HERBAL SEASONINGS. Develop, package and market your own blends of seasonings for local, hopefully wider distribution. Arrange for attention-getting packaging to expedite sales.
HERBAL AND SPICE TEA. Blend and sell different blends of herbal teas. Include leaflets with history and folklore in each package. Use uniquely decorated containers.
HOBBY NEWSLETTER. Originate a newsletter or directory for and about hobbyists and their crafts. Build readership by fostering participation, exchanging ideas, listing fairs and supply sources.
HOBBY KITS. Sell do-it-yourself hobby kits in your field of expertise. Include step-by-step guidance and pictures to help beginners learn the craft.
HOLIDAY, SPECIAL EVENT BASKETS. Prepare holiday and special event baskets of fruit, flowers, "goodies". Wholesale or consign to gift stores and advertise custom retail work.
HOME-CANNED GOODS. Take orders or sell home canned goods from your garden. Offer ethnic, regional, or dietary (low-salt/sugarless) as well as "regular" recipes.
HOME-SMOKED MEATS. With your smoker, recipes and wood selection, smoke and sell your sausage, hams, ribs and chicken. Offer hot smoked meats & sandwiches for holidays and banquets.
HOME PERMANENTS. Specialize in giving "home perms" at "their" place. Go to offices, homes, hospitals, senior citizen centers by appointment or on a route.
HOME STUDY COURSES. Sell/rent new/used home study courses. Buy new courses on sale (when available), buy courses back from students. Sell locally and by mail order.
HOMEMAKER'S HELPER. Provide temporary relief or assistance for sick, vacationing or just plain "pooped" moms. Charge by the hour or job (more than a full-time helper).
HOMEOPATHY. Specialize in natural remedy products and related folklore. Provide information on "reputed" remedial properties. Be very careful not to offer "cures".
HOROSCOPE SERVICE. Provide horoscope/astrology information to clients -- prepare manually or use your computer program to select and/or print out the information.
HOSPITAL GROOMING. Assist patients with nail, hair, skin care in hospitals and nursing homes. License may not be needed to provide an appreciated service on a route.
HOUSE CLEANING. Offer one-time or periodic house cleaning services. Perform the heavy tasks (shampoo rugs, clean stoves, wash windows, wax the floors, defrost, etc.)
IMPRINTED CLOTHING. Print (or have printed) names, designs, slogans on T-shirts, hats, uniforms by heat transfer, screen or sublimation for schools, companies, or tourists.
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