There are a couple of different options here.

One is to take a look at what things you are seriously interested in.

Maybe you have a hobby, or maybe have simply have a real curious interest in a particular subject area.

If you can isolate one or more areas, then consider setting up a website to provide news, views, and information on that topic. You can also look at selling products around that interest by developing an ecommerce section.

For example, if you were interested in model trains, you could set up a website all about model trains and railways: post some tips and information on what you've found works best, the experience, and different products you use (ie, gauge, train types, rare models, fun times with kids, etc).

You could also set up a Google News alert based on keywords such as model trains and major manufacturers, and post news items about these in a dedicated news section.

And you could also set up a forum that provides a meeting ground for similar enthusiasts.

A simple revenue model would be to take advertising from vendors and shops, but you could set up your own shop using something like OSCommerce, Cubecart, Zen Cart, etc.

No products? Then run a search for dropshippers who will mail out ordered items direct to customers with your business name on the invoice.

So as the website develops, it becomes a significant authority on model trains, attracts knowledgeable people in this area, and also attracts customers to your site.

If you're selling kits at $50-$100 per order, and 30% is profit, then it'll only take a few sales per day to earn over $1k week in profit. If you aggressively push on this via PPC marketing you can increase your sales and profit levels much higher depending on how much effort you're willing to put into this..

Sounds like hard work?

It is and it isn't - it takes time and effort to research what you can develop and sell, and maybe even learning basic webmastering skills - but the internet is your friend in providing much of this information already, and for free. If you can put the time in to look, you can reap the rewards from this.

And setting up a website yourself costs peanuts. I built my original business with little more than a $20 webhosting account.

My brother is in a similar situation - he's been working in the fireplace business for a few years now and hates his job. He actually walked out last week, but went back because he needs the cash. He loves the subject though, just not his boss.

So this month I'm going to set up the internet side while he connects with suppliers. By June 1st he'll be running his own business elling them online with my company backing him for a minority share that I'd estimate as earning $5k-$10k in monthly profits all things going well.

The other option is to simply look for opportunities where you can find them.

For example, someone came around to clean our house windows last week. He charges $10 to do it. Doesn't sound like much, but it only takes him 10 mins to do the job. That means he should be looking at around $60/hour if he works efficiently just getting the job done.

Another area is landscape gardening - lots of people near where I live would love to do their gardens better but don't have the time. I just landscaped mine. If I were broke, I'd use it as a showcase and offer landscaping options at different pricing levels for them to consider.

Look for similar opportunities in your area that require little skill but a little dedication, and a market demand.

Overall, try and find something that may offer either some interest or simply opportunity and work on that.

The big problem is most people are comfortable with their lives and don;t like taking risks fully stop, and going into business is a risk. But as in all of the above examples, long-term profitable business models can be built with little actual investment.

Entrepreneurs aren't special. They simply notice opportunity, and dare to act on it because few other people do.

Anyway, free business consulting for you there - I just hope some of that helps the people reading this.

Hey Brian,

stumbled across this site while researching home-based businesses.

I'm probaly one of the few people who will "Thank You" for you insights. I am an entrepenuer. Started my own business while still in Grad school about 10 years ago and am still loving it (I teach music for a living, guitar/bass etc). Until recently I was working two other related jobs during my non-teaching hours but, due to economic issues in my community, I no longer am.

This has actually turned out to a huge blessing in disguise because the other "jobs" (in hindsight) were eating up time I really needed to expand my studio business.

Anyway, I once again have morning time free and have been reading, studying and asking myself "what can I do/offer that will be just as fun and engaging and earn additional income without sacrificing my first love (the studio)?".

Like I said, I _had_ been looking at some of the home-based business and becoming increasingly wary of even the "better-sounding ones". This morning it hit me: I could develop a product that I know there is a need for (one that I have tried to find online with no success) and start marketing it online. Finding this forum and this particular link has been my confirmation.

So again, THANK YOU! You have laid out some wonderful ideas that I can add to my own. I am energized again knowing that I can develop and really offer a product of quality that will not be scam (I have _very_ high standards and principles, the very same I apply to running my studio).

So to david50, hang in there and follow your passion!

Here's to your success,
"Moose"

No problem, Moose, and thanks for the thanks.

David....in any opportunity on the web there are pitfalls. The pitfall usually is are you going to work the opportunity or not. The whole of business is moving goods and services from one entity to another for a finacial sum. If there is a demand for the product then money can be made. The product may not even be tangible. It may be information or training. But there must be a real demand for it. Demand drives business and demand can be created by marketing. So marketing your product or opportunity is everything. Sounds like another person on this blog is more of a pessimist than an optimist. Optimisim is a great asset to any business and the only thing that can keep you going when you are on your own. I looked at edc gold and thought it was a great program because of the pull the system had. I didn't sign up because I wasn't ready to commit to the training that was really needed to learn how to market the business effectively. I did join a spin off called Passport to Wealth because there was a marketing system in place. I've been in PP2W for 3 weeks and my campaign has just hit the web with amazing results. You really can make $997/day if the system is in place. So the demand is definately there and the products are real as well. There is a whole download section with so much software included it's rediculous. They are all real and you do have master reseller rights. But the real clincher for me was the plug in marketing system.

"Passport to Weath"? Jeez, when will these companies stop giving themselves tacky names that sound like useless "get rich" schemes?

Pretty sad, really, that there appears to be such a strong market in the US for selling rainbows, and getting away with it.

Optimism is an asset? Sure it is. But not as valuable as realism.

Setting up an online business - a successful business with long-term goals and profits - doesn't require a degree in nuclear physics. All it takes is the ability to work with something you enjoy, and be prepared to put the effort in to reap rewards.

People are are simply trying to chase "easy cash" all the time are the people least likely to find it, IMO.

Also the people most likely to buy a lottery ticket

Bingo.

My youngest brother wants to set up a business on his own. He's slogging away trying to build his ecommerce site, making mistakes, correcting them, and generally putting a lot of effort in.

Because of this, he's going to succeed.

It's not because I'm going to invest in and market his business once he's finished - it's the fact that he's already got the right attitude.

He has a full-time day job, but spends his evenings getting as much work on this venture down as he can. Even though he's exhausted, even though it's taking months, and even though there is no definite promise of success.

No one's telling him he's on an easy ride to riches. He just knows he has to put the effort in to succeed. He knows his industry really well, so he has a secure background to work from. No simple day-dream - he's just working with a realistic understanding of what he needs to do.

Bloody clear sign of a successful entreprenuer, if you ask me.

Brian,

I was hoping to sit on my a** sipping margaritas making 6 Billion dollars a day selling overpriced MLM fruit juice (or maybe join EDC (early daily con) fools gold), ahh to dream.

Seriously though, are there any dropshippers out there who's prices aren't way above wholesale? For instance about 20 I looked into (including DOBA, which was the worst, not only do they give lousy prices, but you have to pay to be screwed), their "wholesale" prices are higher then my local retail store. I thought I almost found a "good" price, but realized it was on a discontinued refurb unit, and when I looked around, I found a similar item (also refurb), from 10 e-tailors the highest price was way less then the "wholesaler". Have you had any luck finding a wholesale distributor (or dropshipper), that actually is somewhat close to being wholesale?

Thanks,
Steve

To be honest, one of the big challenges of drop shipping is indeed finding partners who can offer real value and benefits - and also be reliable.

Unfortunately, from the people I know in the business, it takes a lot of time and development to figure this out, and also set up good business relationships.

Additionally, sometimes merchants find a dropshipper works great for six months, then provides a lousy service, so a replacement is required.

So, sorry, I'm afraid I can't provide a gold list - but hopefully with due dilligence you may be able to compile one that suits your own needs.

Anyone here tried blogging for an income? I just started my own blog Financing your family and am looking for some other freelance gigs as well on monetized sites.

I have thought about blogging for some extra income but really haven't had the time to look into all that much.
What kills me are the people that see those ads that promise 5,000.00 a month if you do this. I mean come on if that were the case we all would be doing it.

I've met people who do make that much blogging, but it took them about 3-5 years to be at that level. It was approximately 10000 pages of pure content for one guy before he started to make a livable income.

I don't know much about blogging, I mean I have my own blog but I don't have many people on it and haven't checked it in awhile. I am involved with a couple of sites; however, which aren't scams, which is kinda weird cuz I'm usually pretty skeptical about that kid of stuff.

can you send me the link to your blog?