Ideas for a small business?

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ZRX61
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by ZRX61 »

Potter wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:48 am The local farms have turned into storage centres or holiday cabin with fishing lakes.
The storage thing seems to be easy money, I stored all our possessions and our two cars there when we were moving, it was a six month minimum contract, fee paid up front. He has rows of containers and a few barns, all left at your own risk.

The land is expensive though, I absolutely love where we are now, but my only wish is more land to play about with, I've got workshops, double garage and a granny flat/annex but I've not got much land other than a slightly bigger than average garden. A bit of land to accommodate twenty containers would probably bring in a tidy monthly sum, storage seems to be in demand.
Not only is it easy money, but it's also stupid money here in the US. There are several here in town & the one I'm familiar with is on 4 acres & pulling in over $100k a WEEK.. & the bloke who owns that one has another across town. He employs Mexicans to run the place & pays them minimum wage.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Mussels »

Something I considered before was buying agricultural land (paddocks) and taking grants to plant trees. You need a fair chunk of land to do it but you can employ people to plant the trees and after time the grant money starts coming in.
There's obviously a delay in return but from the sound of it that might suit you and you get to employ local people but none of the work is critical so if someone messes you about you haven't lost customers.
Some councils may get funny about the change of use, it's still agricultural but they might say you can't switch from one type to another.

With the extra benefit that you are doing the environment some good it might prevent you getting fed up with it, you can go and enjoy the results of your work.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Cousin Jack »

Saw something very recently, some academics reckon that planting trees is not the answer it was cracked up to be. Expect a Govt reversal in 10 years or so, so don't be relying on grants/tax stuff.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by cheb »

I think the reversal has already happened in Scotland, there was a piece on the BBC news website about it. Chap persuaded to plant lots of trees with a view to them being bought by Scottish Forestry or whatever they are called and now the Scottish Gov have run out of (other people's) money.

Here you go: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-68133750
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Horse »

Cousin Jack wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:11 pm Saw something very recently, some academics reckon that planting trees is not the answer it was cracked up to be.
Do you mean for carbon capture?

If they grow, die, rot, then they just act as a temporary store.

If used as biomass fuel, they release quickly.

Best store option is if used as building material. See, them Tudors had carbon capture sussed ;)
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Cousin Jack »

More about the CO2 captured being balanced out by the change in albedo, so more heating from sunlight. Net effect of a big forest, not a lot.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Scotsrich »

A dog park?

Just a field with a decent fence round it seems to be all that is needed. There’s 2 or 3 around here, I know my daughter used one occasionally.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Vroomy »

I actually started an eBay business a while back, selling vintage collectibles and handmade crafts. It's been a blast, honestly. Way less overhead than running a brick-and-mortar place, and I can do it in my PJs from home. It's pretty cool to see something that started as a hobby actually bringing in a bit of cash and making folks happy with unique finds.

The game changer for me was definitely this ebay margin calculator in UK I found. It helped me figure out how to price things once I factored in eBay's fees and shipping costs. Made sure I was actually making a profit on sales, which, let's be real, is kinda important if you want to keep things going.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

I too enjoy a good non-specific business idea which involves a previously unknown website or app from a blind link, thanks Vroomy.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by KungFooBob »

Vroomy is the best AI member here!
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Horse »

KungFooBob wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:59 am Vroomy is the best AI member here!
AI Vs Real Unintelligent :)
Even bland can be a type of character :wave:
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Count Steer »

KungFooBob wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:59 am Vroomy is the best AI member here!
Our latest member seems to have come from the same software. (Not that the first post from 'amelia' made it onto the forum....funny how they always seem to contain links. New advertising channels in development I guess :( ).

I think 'Vroomy' may be taking a belated early bath....
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by mangocrazy »

On Ridersite I've noticed a pattern where the spammer creates a UserId then does nothing for a week or so, then gradually starts infiltrating topics in much the same way as Vroomy has. Most of the ones I deal with come from BD (Bangladesh) or PK (Pakistan). These days If I see a new member from BD or PK I just give them the flick straight away.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Cousin Jack »

mangocrazy wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:37 am On Ridersite I've noticed a pattern where the spammer creates a UserId then does nothing for a week or so, then gradually starts infiltrating topics in much the same way as Vroomy has. Most of the ones I deal with come from BD (Bangladesh) or PK (Pakistan). These days If I see a new member from BD or PK I just give them the flick straight away.
Oi ! That's erhnic cleansing! :evil:
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

I'm always superficially polite to AI members, just like I always rescue the shopping delivery robots which are beached half way off a kerb.

Come the apocalypse, my actions will be remembered.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Count Steer »

mangocrazy wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:37 am On Ridersite I've noticed a pattern where the spammer creates a UserId then does nothing for a week or so, then gradually starts infiltrating topics in much the same way as Vroomy has. Most of the ones I deal with come from BD (Bangladesh) or PK (Pakistan). These days If I see a new member from BD or PK I just give them the flick straight away.
Nowt I can see suggesting it's based in the subcontinent. Main pointers I can find are to USA and Madrid :hmmm:

At the moment it's vaguely amusing how poor they are, but this is just the learning/training phase...

Marv, AI will change the world, but just like all the other stuff it looks like it's all about advertising. :(
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by mangocrazy »

Cousin Jack wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:50 am
mangocrazy wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:37 am On Ridersite I've noticed a pattern where the spammer creates a UserId then does nothing for a week or so, then gradually starts infiltrating topics in much the same way as Vroomy has. Most of the ones I deal with come from BD (Bangladesh) or PK (Pakistan). These days If I see a new member from BD or PK I just give them the flick straight away.
Oi ! That's erhnic cleansing! :evil:
What is this erhnic of which ye speak? Are you an AI bot with a faulty dictionary module? :D
There is no cloud, just somebody else's computer.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by mangocrazy »

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:58 am I'm always superficially polite to AI members, just like I always rescue the shopping delivery robots which are beached half way off a kerb.

Come the apocalypse, my actions will be remembered.
Gents, we have a collaborator in our midst... :o
There is no cloud, just somebody else's computer.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Cousin Jack »

mangocrazy wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 12:12 pm
Cousin Jack wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:50 am
mangocrazy wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:37 am On Ridersite I've noticed a pattern where the spammer creates a UserId then does nothing for a week or so, then gradually starts infiltrating topics in much the same way as Vroomy has. Most of the ones I deal with come from BD (Bangladesh) or PK (Pakistan). These days If I see a new member from BD or PK I just give them the flick straight away.
Oi ! That's erhnic cleansing! :evil:
What is this erhnic of which ye speak? Are you an AI bot with a faulty dictionary module? :D
AI bot? CertInly not. I am fully independent wetware.
Faulty dictionary module? Guilty as charged.
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Re: Ideas for a small business?

Post by Count Steer »

mangocrazy wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 12:20 pm
Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 11:58 am I'm always superficially polite to AI members, just like I always rescue the shopping delivery robots which are beached half way off a kerb.

Come the apocalypse, my actions will be remembered.
Gents, we have a collaborator in our midst... :o
If he says he needs your boots, clothes and motorcycle, leg it sharpish.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
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