Ideas for a small business?

[Buckaroo]

There's a real ale pub-type place near me that doubles as a flower shop during the day. Totally different to a cafe granted, but it's a clever way of increasing the usage of a unit.



Another place near me is a cafe that doubles as a cycling shop.

That was what I had in mind. My son runs a cycle service, build and repair business and without ever advertising, makes as much in a four day week as he did as a secondary school teacher. He taught science and was on a good salary. If he took on every job that he was asked to do, he'd be working 7 days a week. He's very good and meticulous. That certainly gets business.

It doesn't matter which cycling themed cafe, plus workshop and components outlet we go to, they're busy, especially at weekends for the cafe and week days for spannering. Components mark up is crazy.

Just need a good mechanic, not a huge investment in workshop tools and parts (we helped set our son up and it wasn't a huge amount) and away you go. Add a small seating area, couple of TV, coffee and locally sourced cakes and savoury options and you should be able to make a reasonable business in a fairly short time.

[Yorick]

Undertakers. People are dying to get into that game!

It's a dying trade.

[Felix]

Sod the shop it costs to much. Get a van and start a dog walking business. Lots have popped up where i live and they are all in demand. More so if you can look after them all day. Earn money while keeping fit and being outdoors. Probably a bit shit in the winter months but spring is just round the corner they say.

[Wscad]

Hey up my old sparring partner

Two suggestions for you

If you can design and make a Electrical control panel have a look see at that. I’m talking 3 phase stuff, motors, proxy’s, limit switches, interlocks, hmi and a plc.

It’s what I do and I work out of my garage so my overheads are low. Last one I did was 55 kw motor, forward/ reverse control interlocked with a screw conveyor and pumps.

Dedicated control panel wire company’s cannot compete with me on price, because of operating costs

Not a huge upfront outlay. I have all the crimping tools. Wire numbers... stuff like that.

I also provide schematic drawings using dedicated software. Looks professional and the one I use is called WSCAD.

I always try to put in a plc to look after the control side of things. The reason I do this is I put a time related time bomb into the program. If I don’t get paid after 30 days, the time bomb runs out, the program stops and the machine doesn’t run.

The second one is 3D printing.

A good mate of mine makes 3D stuff for Star Wars models, starship enterprise models, thunderbird stuff, fireball xl5 stuff, stingray stuff, captain scarlet stuff.

He exports things like this all over the world and I mean all over the world. All done from his spare bedroom / garage

He does a few exhibitions. At one a guy a came up...... I’m making 1/40 a model of a James Bond model of Aston Martin db5
Can you sort it?

My mate got 18k out of it

[Wscad]

Hey up my old sparring partner

Two suggestions for you

If you can design and make a Electrical control panel have a look see at that. I’m talking 3 phase stuff, motors, proxy’s, limit switches, interlocks, hmi and a plc.

It’s what I do and I work out of my garage so my overheads are low. Last one I did was 55 kw motor, forward/ reverse control interlocked with a screw conveyor and pumps.

Dedicated control panel wire company’s cannot compete with me on price, because of operating costs

Not a huge upfront outlay. I have all the crimping tools. Wire numbers... stuff like that.

I also provide schematic drawings using dedicated software. Looks professional and the one I use is called WSCAD.

I always try to put in a plc to look after the control side of things. The reason I do this is I put a time related time bomb into the program. If I don’t get paid after 30 days, the time bomb runs out, the program stops and the machine doesn’t run.

The second one is 3D printing.

A good mate of mine makes 3D stuff for Star Wars models, starship enterprise models, thunderbird stuff, fireball xl5 stuff, stingray stuff, captain scarlet stuff.

He exports things like this all over the world and I mean all over the world. All done from his spare bedroom / garage

He does a few exhibitions. At one a guy a came up...... I’m making 1/40 a model of a James Bond model of Aston Martin db5
Can you sort it?

My mate got 18k out of it

[ZRX61]

BDSM sex dungeon.

[Wossname]

Get a van and start a dog walking business.

Tie their leads to the towbar?

[Wossname]

Potty: just don’t. There are 2 problems- the first one you’ve already found: you don’t have a clue where your retail enthusiasm lies. And second: the big C will be a problem - commitment. On your part and/or that of the family members you rope in. Open 9.00, there all day, all week, all year, maintain the place, cash up etc. You’d be bored in a week.

[Mr. Dazzle]

My mate (best man at my wedding) runs a barbers shop in a trendy town on the south coast, he's doing well and he's 100% straight

I know we southerners seem different, but in this day and age you don't need to specify things like this.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I know

Totally agree on the money thing, I can't see how loads of these shops make any sense otherwise.

[Count Steer]

Hard isn't it - thinking of ways to earn a living on your own money and not go bust or stress yourself to death.

It is. If you can avoid the drain of expensive rented premises it's a start. I know a couple of businesses that survived longer than expected (one opened in the 1860s and closed in 2021!) because they owned their High Street premises. Eventually the children didn't want to struggle on and they cashed out, pretty successfully and the site is being redeveloped as housing at the back and 2 retail units at the front.

Others doing OK tend to be specialist...eg a bookbinder, restorer with a workshop in the garden. Does a lot of restoration of antiquarian books, so there's a fair bit of money available in the market.

I know a couple of craft materials supplier businesses for sale that pay OK if you're prepared to put the hours in, do the craft fairs etc. The owners are getting old and it's a lot of work. If we were younger we'd be interested in one of them, quite fancy going on the road doing the fairs each season. It would probably need a longish handover learning the ropes though.

[Pirahna]

If I were going to do something it would be web based with all the stock kept at home. Orders roll in 24x7, stuff packed and dispatched same day, Monday to Friday. I've a mate who does well from car fasteners, nuts and bolts and the relevant tools to fit them. Another friend was doing ok with selling coffee associated stuff aimed at stressed out mums, she sold the business when her children started school and she went back to work.

[Scud]

I’d also not even give the slightest bit of consideration to employing relatives, I won’t even have my parents in the window cleaning rounds.

[weeksy]

The wife showed me something the other day, a Cacao shamen.... No, really.

He's charging £50 for some Cacao with different ways of making it, all with non-animal products and a 'lifestyle' that goes with it... Apparently it is the greatest thing in the world .... Bemused... oh yes. Spiritual healing and all that shit.

https://www.keithscacao.com/pages/meet- ... ate-shaman

This was the guy who this guy got the idea from..

https://www.google.com/search?q=cacao+shamen

I bet he's raking it in !!!

[Horse]

Stuff

I just want to do something that covers bills and keeps me busy.
I'd give it five days a week, six or seven if it's fun and

Sister-in-Law had a long-held dream of having her own shop. Eventually, had a sequence of 4 shops in 2 towns, over 10 years or so.

They were open 6 days a week. But that didn't mean 'free' on Monday. That was buying stock and preparation, etc. Her husband also worked in the shop, did the web and accounts stuff too. Taking time off, holidays, etc., meant either closing or finding someone to stand in. Or just not going.

It also meant working with the public - some (and their kids) had absolutely no respect for her stock, potentially damaging and just walking out.

Most successful event was the closing down sale. Customers like locusts. One bought a display shelf off the wall. A couple even said what a lovely shop and stock ...

I doubt they made much profit over the years, for all of the effort.

But it got the idea out of her system. If you're desperate to do something, go ahead. Make it something you'll enjoy.

[v8-powered]

The wife showed me something the other day, a Cacao shamen.... No, really.

He's charging £50 for some Cacao with different ways of making it, all with non-animal products and a 'lifestyle' that goes with it... Apparently it is the greatest thing in the world .... Bemused... oh yes. Spiritual healing and all that shit.

https://www.keithscacao.com/pages/meet- ... ate-shaman

This was the guy who this guy got the idea from..

https://www.google.com/search?q=cacao+shamen

I bet he's raking it in !!!

Pretty sure there was some fruit-loop on Dragons Den a few weeks back trying to tout that shite......

[weeksy]

The wife showed me something the other day, a Cacao shamen.... No, really.

He's charging £50 for some Cacao with different ways of making it, all with non-animal products and a 'lifestyle' that goes with it... Apparently it is the greatest thing in the world .... Bemused... oh yes. Spiritual healing and all that shit.

https://www.keithscacao.com/pages/meet- ... ate-shaman

This was the guy who this guy got the idea from..

https://www.google.com/search?q=cacao+shamen

I bet he's raking it in !!!

Pretty sure there was some fruit-loop on Dragons Den a few weeks back trying to tout that shite......

Yup, that was him. fruitloop to you and me.... i bet he's getting fairly wealthy now.

[Horse]

Interesting figures on turnover and profit.

[Horse]

Precautions:


Cocoa contains a variety of chemicals, including antioxidants called flavonoids. It's not clear how these might work in the body, but they appear to relax the blood vessels. This could lead to lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation and blockage of blood vessels.

People most commonly use cocoa for heart disease and high blood pressure. It is also used for high cholesterol, memory, aging skin, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.


Cocoa can cause allergic skin reactions and might also trigger migraine headaches. It can also cause nausea, stomach discomfort, constipation, and gas.


Cocoa can cause allergic skin reactions and might also trigger migraine headaches. It can also cause nausea, stomach discomfort, constipation, and gas.

Children: Dark chocolate products, which contain high amounts of cocoa, are possibly unsafe for children. These products can contain high levels of lead and cadmium, which can cause serious health issues in children. There isn't enough reliable information to know if other chocolate products, which usually contain lower amounts of cocoa, are safe in children.

Anxiety: The caffeine in cocoa might make anxiety disorders worse when consumed in large amounts.

Bleeding disorders: Cocoa can slow blood clotting. Consuming a lot of cocoa might increase the risk of bleeding and bruising in people with bleeding disorders.

Heart conditions: Cocoa contains caffeine. The caffeine in cocoa might cause irregular heartbeat in some people and should be used cautiously in people with heart conditions.

Diabetes: Cocoa seems to be able to raise blood sugar levels and might interfere with blood sugar control in people with diabetes.

Diarrhea. Cocoa contains caffeine. The caffeine in cocoa, especially when taken in large amounts, can make diarrhea worse.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Cocoa might make the symptoms of GERD worse.

Glaucoma: Cocoa contains caffeine. The caffeine in cocoa increases pressure in the eye and should be used cautiously in people with glaucoma.

High blood pressure: Cocoa contains caffeine. The caffeine in cocoa might increase blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. But for people who consume caffeine regularly, it might not be a big increase.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Cocoa contains caffeine. The caffeine in cocoa, especially when taken in large amounts, can make diarrhea and IBS symptoms worse.

Rapid heartbeat: Cocoa from dark chocolate can increase heart rate.

Seizures: Cocoa contains caffeine. High doses of caffeine might cause seizures or decrease the effects of drugs used to prevent seizures. If you have ever had a seizure, don't use high doses of caffeine or caffeine-containing products such as cocoa.

Weak bones (osteoporosis): Cocoa contains caffeine. The caffeine in cocoa might increase how much calcium is released in the urine. People with osteoporosis should limit their intake of cocoa.

[Tricky]

Maybe a more alpha , flat capped and barbour-wearing ( and undoubtedly more interesting) version of TMF?