Help this introverted, slightly socially backward artist-type make money.

August 8, 2008 10:09 PM

I'm trying to think of some low-skill business ideas. So far I'm looking into dogwalking and housesitting. Any other suggestions? I don't have a driver's license and any references at the moment. I have some savings I could use to invest in a venture.

Also, I'm trying to avoid 9-5 and working under someone else, but would consider something which is low pressure, but not mind numbingly boring. I like people, but I don't too well at jobs where I have to interact with "patrons" all day long.

Additionally, I have a diploma in publishing (copywriting, design, web) which I haven't done much with. Can anyone tell me how to get my foot in the door hiring out my services as an editor/proofreader?

On the design front, I've always had the idea to design my own journals, stationery, jewellery...has anyone done this who can give me some tips on how to come up with your own product, get it made and then sell it?

Thanks, people!!

posted by oceanview to work & money (8 comments total)

This might fail the "not mind-numbingly-boring" rule, but I think there's a huge business in taking people's old pictures, slides, DVDs and digitizing them. I have tons of old 35mm slides that I'd love to just hand off to someone to give me a CD with the pictures. I'm sure there are lots of home movies floating around like that as well. You wouldn't need ton invest in a lot of equipment - a computer, slide scanner, flatbed scanner, etc.

Maybe you could incorporate your design skills by adding an extra charge to create custom menus, labels, etc for these collections?
posted by sherlockt at 10:19 PM on August 8, 2008 [2 favorites]

If you are in the right location, walking the dogs of the idle rich can be lucrative. But you have to be good with dogs, not afraid of dogshit, and willing to walk 7 miles daily. Try to do it for free for a shelter first if you are unsure about any of that. Then throw up fliers, craigslist ads, etc, and build your biz, then when you can afford it get biz insurance.

If you live in a place where you have to drive to get around and have no legal driving ability, this plan will not work.

Your username is also the name of a straunt on Martha's Vineyard that kicks serious seafood ass. Give 'em hell!
posted by vrakatar at 10:41 PM on August 8, 2008

Babysitter/Nanny/Mother's Helper
Tutor
Lawn Maintenance (cutting grass, pulling weeds, etc.)
Gardener
Blogger (you need to be fairly salacious though)
Newspaper delivery
Ticket Scalper
Car Detailing
Elder Cab driver (elderly people pay you to drive them to run errands, doctor's appointments, etc.)

Most of these, you just need to be driven enough to aggressively build a customer base. Check out Craigslist for ideas (Under "Gigs," click services).
posted by mynameismandab at 1:07 AM on August 9, 2008

I worked with someone who walked dogs as well, and made a lot more money than at our normal unskilled job. In addition to dealing with the dogs, keep in mind you'll also have to deal with weird rich people who are a bit eccentric when it comes to their pets.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 2:37 AM on August 9, 2008

Babysitter/Nanny/Mother's Helper

Tutor

These two might not be ideal if you don't like interacting with clients. Especially the first one.

I really enjoyed being a transcriptionist and I worked from home and set my own hours (as long as I met my deadlines).
posted by jeanmari at 7:55 AM on August 9, 2008

Nobody's said "cleaning houses" yet. Until now.
posted by amtho at 8:21 AM on August 9, 2008

can you do copyediting? i know some folks who've gotten work doing that via craigslist and local universities, particularly grad schools. (although much of it now comes from word of mouth)
posted by rmd1023 at 9:10 AM on August 9, 2008

Two poop-related ideas: a dog-poop pickup service, and a goose-poop pickup service. For the former, you would go to client's houses and clean up their yards. For the latter, your clients would be golf courses, park districts, condo complexes, office complexes - any place with a large expanse of grass and a goose population.

Another idea, and I know of someone who does this, although I don't know how financially successful they are - a service that gets drunk people and their cars home. For that you'd need a partner - someone to drive your car with drunk person, and someone to drive drunbk person's car.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 9:49 AM on August 10, 2008