Can You Start Your Own Business?

Those looking to make some extra money on the side really can start their own business. There is an easy model to follow that does not involve high start up costs. This won't get you rich, but it can get you a little extra dough.

Younger people or parents may remember Ann M. Martin's book series The Babysitters Club. This actually provides a good model to follow that can be adapted to suit a few businesses besides babysitting.

In the book series, a group of girls decided to do babysitting and set themselves up like a professional business. They had a treasurer, secretary, etc. Anytime someone needed babysitting, they would call the group. The person in charge of scheduling would look at the sitters' availability and book whoever was available for the job. Customers loved it because they repeatedly received high quality service from the same small group of people. This is the model you can use for your own small business.

First you will need a service. You could do babysitting, landscaping, house cleaning, handy work (fixing leaky pipes and wobbly banisters), or just about anything else that you and your friends are good at. It will also help if you have reliable friends working with you.

Things will be easier for all involved if one person is in charge of scheduling. That way you decrease the likelihood that someone will be doublebooked or overbooked.

Money can be handled however the group decides, such as each person keeps a certain percentage of what they're paid for a job and gives a certain percentage to the "community fund". Or you could decide its best if each person keeps all payment they receive for their jobs; even adding all payment together and dividing equally among your group could work if everyone's honest.