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An easy way to increase your business revenues…

Monday, June 14th, 2010

One of the most important things in an entrepreneurs bag of tricks is their ability to obtain new customers and build their business more.  The more people you talk to/network with, the more people will want to try your service or buy your product.  A great way to increase your brand power and obtain new customers is by becoming involved in every civic, educational and professional organization you can that is also relevant to you and your business!

Buy building relationships with people who are also involved in these organizations, you will build a reputation as a solid and concerned citizen, and will get your name, and the name of your business out in the business world.  Just remember not to join more groups than you have time to dedicate to them.  While there are many local groups that you can join in the town/city you live in or near, there are many national groups as well.  Try to pick groups that are relevant in some way to your business, if that’s at all possible.  What are some of the national groups you could join?  Check these out:

The Boys and Girls Club of America  – Get involved in mentoring children with hard luck backgrounds.

Kiwanis International - Global volunteer organization that helps communities and children.

Volunteers of America - Service oriented organization that helps people get “back on track”

Volunteer.gov - A database that has volunteer opportunities able to be sorted by state, agency and type of opportunity.

Habitat for Humanity - A nonprofit organization that builds houses for those in need. 

There are countless others to choose from, but these are a few volunteer options to get you started.  Don’t forget, though, that you can join other groups that focus on education or professional development in your local community!

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Interesting and controversial way to make money!

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Our regular readers know the types of suggestions that we typically make for making extra money, so this might come as a shock to you, but today, we wanted to suggest making money by selling your eggs or sperm!

While goofing off this weekend, we ran across this article and this article that talked about sperm/egg donations, and we thought it was a great idea for a way to make extra cash! 

Now, you should know ahead of time that it isn’t the shady type of operation that most of us picture it to be.  These are upstanding businesses that are helping infertile couples get pregnant.  Are they doing it for free? NO!  Of course not, because they are a business.  So if you have moral problems with making money off of helping people achieve pregnancy, this is probably not the route for you.  Also, if you worry that you will have children running around everywhere marrying each other, this is probably not for you.  If, however, you believe it to be a good and vital part of our society that helps people create the family they have always wanted, then you should consider donating, especially given to income potential!

Does it pay well?  Yes, as a matter of fact it does!  After the routine psychological and physical screenings that a potential donor has to pass, they are admitted to programs that can make them $500-$1,000 a month (for sperm) and $5,000 -$10,000 per removal (for eggs).  That’s a lot of money for something we already have in our bodies!  I’m sure that you noticed the compensation disparity in eggs versus sperm, and I want you to know that there is a reason.  While men can donate relatively easily, women have to go through hormone therapy and a minor surgical procedure to donate, so the risks are higher. 

Does everyone get accepted?  No!  The screening process is very stringent, and most applicants don’t make it through.  Those that do, however, get a decent sized paycheck and the knowledge that they have helped couples all over the country, and that is a truly worthwhile extra “job”!

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It’s time to get creative!

Monday, March 1st, 2010

You’ve heard people say that “everyone is good at something”, and I believe that is true.  Everyone has something that they do well, and a lot of the time, that something can make you money!  So today,  I want you to create something (whatever you’re good at) and sell it!

So, what are you good at making?  Perhaps you make jewelry, or flower arrangements, or perhaps you do woodworking, or use leather to make belts, purses and vests.  Whatever you’re good at, now is the time to make some extra money on it!  Here are a few tips for getting started:

  • You need to decide on only a few options you will be offering, since the more you can reuse things, the lower the cost per item will be for you, making your profits higher! 
  • Look into local arts and crafts shows and fairs that where you can sell your creations, and plan to attend.  Be wary though.  It is better to run out early than to have a lot leftover, so put some thought into the amount you’ll make for each show.
  • Look into selling your craft on Etsy.com, an online seller driven marketplace for everything handmade.  Perhaps you will be the next big thing, since everyone loves “one of a kind” or unique items that are reasonably priced.
  • Go to local stores/boutiques that are privately owned to see if they would want to include your items in their store inventory.  These locally owned stores thrive on having something different than the mall, so they are more likely to be interested in something locally made.
  • Keep in mind that it takes time to build a successful side business, so if it doesn’t happen right away, keep plugging away at it!

That’s it!  These tips should get you started down the right path to starting a side job and making some extra money!

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Extra money for the holidays…

Monday, December 7th, 2009

The holiday season is well under way, and now is the time to make some extra cash for those last minute Christmas gifts!  The usual way of making extra money is to get a seasonal job at a retail store, but more often than not these jobs come with the problem of being guaranteed to work on Christmas eve, probably the late shift, and every other weekend until Christmas Day!  This is a deal breaker for a lot of people.  Now, if you want to get one of these jobs for the season, feel free to do so.  I am always glad to see someone choosing work over credit!  If however, you’d like to make some extra money this season, without pigeon-holing yourself into a crazy work schedule, I might have a couple of good ideas for you!

One way to make some extra cash this year is to offer to fill out or write Christmas/holiday cards for elderly (or busy) people in your life, your friends or family etc. You will be doing them a favor and making some cash in the process.  You should be aware, however, that this means you have to do a competent job, putting just as much effort in the cards as they normally would.  Also, how much should you charge?  Well, I would say if it’s an elderly relative, cut them a discount, but other than that, I would charge per card, whatever you think is fair in your local market.  I say this, because, you could probably get a better price in a place like New York City and Los Angeles, as opposed to rural towns in the Midwest.  Not sure what’s fair in your local market?  If someone does take you up on your offer, ask what they think is fair!  Not getting any interested people by word of mouth?  Advertise in your local paper and on Craigslist!

Another way to make some extra cash is by offering to go to the post office and mail packages for people.  Charge a flat fee, and if you get enough interest (see above for ideas on this) then you can combine trips and up your hourly pay!  I would charge a couple of dollars per package, and of course, they pay the cost of shipping. 

The problem (obviously) with both of these tips is that you won’t make as much money as with a regular seasonal job, but that is the price you pay for wanting a flexible schedule during the holidays.  It’s your choice of course, but these tips could bring in enough extra money for a fun and festive holiday at your house!   Good luck!

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Goofy, but good for making a little cash!

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Today, I am providing you with the information to get paid for doing very little, by turning you car into a moving advertisement!  I know this sounds silly and too good to be true, but after a little research, I think there are a few places you can go to do it responsibly on the web, and you could always try it in your own town/city with local businesses, if you’re so inclined.  On the web, there is a website called the Web Trade Bureau, which investigates websites and protects consumers online.  They are a useful tool to guard against scams, which is truly important when thinking of making extra cash in this manner.  Below are a list of websites for you to do your own research if this is a way that you would like to make extra money.  Whatever your choice, look out for scams…we can’t have our readers driving around in neon green cars without being paid for it!

That’s it!  Hopefully, this is enough to point you in the right direction and get you started!  If you decide to make money this way, we would love you to post a comment with your successes and tips for other readers!  Good luck!

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Need some extra holiday cash? Try selling your old stuff on Ebay!

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Today’s Mucho Moolah tip is a way to make money by selling your old stuff on Ebay!  Many of you have heard about Ebay, and would like to try selling stuff on there, but you aren’t sure how, or you’re afraid you will do something wrong.  Don’t be scared!  It’s only hard if you don’t educate yourself first!

The first place you should start is the Seller Information Center at Ebay.  From there you can create an account, check out tips on selling, creating buyer confidence and “bone up” on Ebay policies.  This is a very good resource that is provided by Ebay.   It’s important that your information come from reputable sources, because, like every other aspect of buying and selling, there is a chance you’re dealing with a dangerous individual or website.

Another resource I found is a website called MIStupid.com, an online knowledge magazine.  Their Ebay selling section can bee found here.  This is an actual video tutorial on how to sell things on Ebay, which might be better for those people who are visual learners, as opposed to reading to learn.  It’s a free service (at least the part on selling on Ebay is), so feel free to watch it a few times to get proficient.

The last resource I found is an “Internet for beginners” section on About.com, where they cover buying and selling on Ebay.  Check out the web page here.  This is a very informative source that also includes information on what you pay to market your things on Ebay and how to use Paypal, an e-commerce business allowing you to make or accept payments through the Internet.  PayPal is an electronic alternative to traditional payment methods such as checks and money orders.  Paypal is a very important part of Ebay, since, logically, if you want to sell something, you have to be able to accept payment for it!

I’d like to add that if you research the items you want to sell, or items you pick up at flea markets and decide to turn around and sell, you can get more for your items.  Good luck with it, and happy selling!

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Why not try babysitting again?

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Today’s tip is making money by babysitting!  Sure, you haven’t done it since you were 15, and you might not want think that it screams “adult job”, but it’s a great way to make extra money as a side job!  The only problem you might have is that you will have to compete against 15 year olds who can cut their rate and don’t have any other responsibilities.  If you run into that, you will have to make the decision as to whether or not you are willing to cut rates etc., because if you do it once, you might have to do it from then on.  One point though…you should not babysit if you have not been (or do not think you are) a competent caregiver in the past.

Some tips that might make you more valuable as a babysitter:

  • It might benefit you to be CPR certified.  To find a class near you, check out this website.
  • Advertising on Craigslist or in your local newspaper might be a good way to attract clients.  Or, just put up fliers in your neighborhood.
  • Be willing to do things that your average teenager can’t/won’t do, like take care of infants or keep the child/children overnight.
  • It’s a job, just like any other.  That means you need references.  People who can attest that you are responsible, especially with children (if you know someone who can vouch for that sort of thing).
  • Check around for well-to-do families that need a nanny for vacation.  If you can go with them (unlike a teenager, who is in school, or too young, generally) you make yourself more valuable to them.  And yes, it is their responsibility to pay your way.

I know a person who babysits a lot, and has a job working with children, and all they do is complain about them.  I question why they want a job in that field, if they hate it and get so frustrated with the children.  Therefore, there is one other thing I feel compelled to say-if you don’t necessarily like children, or if , after being around children, all you can do is complain about them or what they did, you should probably steer clear of babysitting.  Not only does a parent not want a babysitter that doesn’t like children, but you probably won’t do as well as as someone who does.

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Mucho Moolah! Monday’s Money MAKING tip!

Monday, August 10th, 2009

As the summer starts to wind to an end, many of you might have noticed that your cash flow has dropped off, thanks to over spending at the beginning of the summer. Today, I wanted to remind you that there are a couple of good ways to make some extra money in the summer that shouldn’t cost you much to get started on!

Mowing other people’s lawns is a great way to make extra cash. If you own your own home, chances are you already have a lawnmower that you can use to mow yards in your neighborhood (and other neighborhoods if you have the ability to haul that lawnmower), and if you don’t own your own mower, borrow a friends until you mowed enough lawns (usually 5-8 lawns, depending on where you live) to buy your own! Then you can mow a few lawns in your spare time and have plenty of extra cash to go out with friends, pay for projects you want to do around the house, etc.

If you want to get really ambitious, a good way to bring in even more money than that is to pressure wash people’s driveways, fences or houses. If you do not already own your own pressure washer, this is quite an investment, but will pay for itself after only 1-2 jobs. A decent (not top of the line, but “get the job done” decent) pressure washer costs around $500, which I know sounds like a lot. However, when you pressure wash someone’s driveway you can charge $200-$400 dollars (depending on the size of the driveway and what part of the country you live in), so you will have made that money back quickly. Pressure washing a fence or a house will bring in even more cash, so you should ask around in your area to figure out a price point that suits you.

    A friendly warning:

  • Do NOT use the pressure washer without reading the manual and testing it first. Pressure washers clean by pressurizing water (duh, right?). If used improperly, you can accidentally damage what you are pointing it at…i.e., a driveway with a gash in it, a fence with a chunk sprayed out of it or a house with siding or brick blown off of it. This means you would have damaged the person’s property, and you’d end up paying them, not the other way around. Pressure washing is not for everyone, so don’t attempt it if you aren’t competent with the machine.

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Mucho Moolah! Monday’s Money MAKING Tips…

Monday, July 13th, 2009

I love summer, because it is full of opportunities for making money. When summer rolls around, people take vacations. When people take vacations, someone else needs to step in to take care of their pets. This is where you make extra money!

Petsitting is a great way to make extra money! You get paid really well, and all you have to do is spend time with a friend’s/coworker’s/neighbors’ pet(s). Normally, petsitting only requires about an hour a day (unless they have asked you to stay at their house, in which case your pay goes up) and, if you like animals, isn’t really like work anyway.

Don’t know anyone who needs a petsitter? Advertise! Local newspapers are cheap, but if you don’t want to make a monetary commitment (no cashflow) then you can always advertise on Craigslist! It’s free! Still not getting anyone interested in your petsitting services? Get 3 respectable people (your minister, a teacher, a colleague etc.) to write character references (including their phone number) for you and advertise to be a housesitter! That is another GREAT way to make money and in most cases will pay even better than petsitting. You should note, however, that to housesit you must actually stay at the house, generally keep no company while staying at the house, and have a large responsibility to the homeowners regarding their house. This job is not to be taken lightly.

So, there they are! 2 more great ideas on ways to make money this summer! Good luck!

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Mucho Moolah! Monday’s Money MAKING Tip!

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Today I wanted to remind some of you who may have forgotten, that summer is a great opportunity to make a little extra money. Yard sales are a wonderful way to earn a little extra money while simultaneously clearing the things you don’t want anymore out of your house! Maybe you don’t want that picture of the dogs playing cards any more, or maybe you have had a couple children, aren’t planning on anymore, and want to sell your maternity clothes and their baby clothes. It doesn’t matter, because anything you have that you don’t want can go into a yard sale!

We have had yard sales in the past, with very good luck. However, there are some “tricks of the trade” that you must be aware of when you have a yard sale. The first is simply to advertise. Not just with a cardboard sign at the end of your street, but with an ad in your local newspaper. You want to attract as much attention as possible. Your ad should feature a couple of your more abundant/higher priced items, and if you have a specialty item that will attract certain buyers, put it in there too! Trust me when I say that this is a small investment that will pay off. Your ad should also state the hours of the sale, and indicate whether or not you want “early birds” (i.e. people who show up 30-45 minutes early and try to make offers on things before you have the sale set up).

Now, on the day of the sale you should be aware that people will be there exactly when the ad said you would be open, and some of those people will be vendors from flea markets who will be looking for specific things, like gold or jewelry for sale. These requests can seem odd, so simply state your answer firmly and move on.

Another part of having a yard sale is bargaining. All items in the sale should have the price clearly marked on it, and it should be reasonable (or slightly above reasonable) to get the attention of the buyer. You need to expect to have to lower the price/bargain on all the items you are selling. These shoppers are out to get a deal, or they wouldn’t be at a yard sale, they would be at a store paying retail!

Believe it or not, it also pays to be friendly! Yard sale shoppers have been out shopping some days since 6 a.m., and by 11 a.m. they are tired. A friendly smile and cheerful small talk can go a long way to encouraging them to buy. Talking to them also helps you learn about them and their likes, which helps you steer them toward specific things you have that they might want to buy!

So say you either don’t want to have a yard sale or don’t have time to have a yard sale. Well, then I suggest you gather up any clothes/accessories you don’t want and take them to a consignment shop to sell! They are fast, usually offer a fair price (considering the items are used) and you get to clean out your closet! If you are a little more ambitious, I would say to sell any items you want to get rid of on ebay or at the Amazon Marketplace. You should be aware however, that you will need a Paypal account to operate on Ebay with any amount of success.

So, there you have it! Yard sales (either online or actually IN your front yard) are a great way to make some extra money this summer. Yard sales happen on your terms. They require only a very small, if any, up front investment and help motivate you to clean out your house! They are a perfect way to come up with a little spending money for vacation or to pay for the materials for a home improvement project!

On a personal note, Jerrill and I had a wonderful vacation. Lots of time together, good conversation, spent time with friends and, in general, goofed off! We love spending time together…the more, the better! Unfortunately, we didn’t remember to take many pictures, so I am only posting one!

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