Here’s one I have actually tried and it works well. You have to be willing to hang on the phone all day though, and that made it too similair to a business I had previously and I got tired of it quickly.
But, it generates decent income and one can do it most anywhere. The volume you can do is only limited by the size of population in your region.
It was a handyman service. I simply ran classified ads in all the local papers asking handimen to register with us. They had to be licenced, experienced and bonded. They came forth quickly, hoping to pick up some business when they had a lull.
Then I ran ads in the same places offering the service. It only took a couple of weeks to launch and cost me maybe $300. I also hung notes on supermarket bulletin boards and such places.
It got really busy really fast. People always need stuff fixed, and handymen often are not to be found or they are too busy to come right away. By having some 30 guys I could call up I was able to fill demand really fast. Lots of stuff that needs fixing doesn’t require a skilled professional but just someone who is willing to do it. Used to be we had husbands for that. :tongue:
Anyway, you do have to learn local laws governing this stuff and what type of licences are required for what kind of work etc. I would take 10% off the top of their earnings. They would stay busy. The custmers got fast, reliable service. It worked like a charm. People would stay loyal to the service and call back whenever something broke. Beats calling around looking for someone or being made to wait.
The headache was coordinating it all. I really didn’t want to run another agency so I quit when I didn’t need the money anymore, but it could have easily been grown to employ people to handle the phones and such.
It’s done all the time with maid services and such, but you’ll be surprised that you don’t find these for handymen, where the demand is so huge most anyplace.
I shoulda franchised it. 