At Home Business Suggestions?

M.D. Holloway · 01-30-2007, 12:30 PM

My Sister-in-law is a stay home Mommy but I think she is getting the itch to go back to work but the schedule with the kids and school precludes her getting a 'real'job. She wants to do something out of the house. My Wife thinks we should hire her to help with our LLC but I don't want to get anyone on board yet.

I am sure there are things for her that she can do. She has good organizational, phone and data entry skills. Any ideas?

tabs · 01-30-2007, 12:33 PM

Is she good with a Hairbrush?

legion · 01-30-2007, 12:40 PM

She could be a discretionary income disbursment consultant for college students.

legion · 01-30-2007, 12:48 PM

It's a great time to become a realtor.

M.D. Holloway · 01-30-2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tabs
Is she good with a Hairbrush?

oh the memories come rushing back...where are my pills!

M.D. Holloway · 01-30-2007, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
She could be a discretionary income disbursment consultant for college students.

Oh my Gawd I just pee'd my pants a little! Thats some funny shyt!!!

legion · 01-30-2007, 12:56 PM

Interior designer?
Pet psychic?
Dog whisperer?

arcsine · 01-30-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
My Wife thinks we should hire her to help with our LLC but I don't want to get anyone on board yet.

Doing business with family is always a dangerous proposition. Be very wary.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
Sell stuff on eBay. Really. It's the easiest way to make money while you can vary the amount of time and effort that you put into it. The difficult part is finding stuff to sell easily...

-Wayne

+1 Craigslist is another (cheaper) possibility.

Or she can set up a website and sell Porsche parts

M.D. Holloway · 01-30-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arcsine
Doing business with family is always a dangerous proposition. Be very wary.

True dat Gary, true dat.

As for the e-bay thing, I don't see her doing it because it would require some outward thinking. This women is a methodical, punch a key type that isn't gonna take time researching and writing.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Mike,

Is it possible for her to sell some of the higher end lube products you deal with online? Become an Amsoil type "distributor" for your stuff. Maybe she'll hit a chord with the enthusiasts that shop on Ebay. I'm sure you can write some convincing ad copy. Perhaps private label the stuff.

cantdrv55 · 01-30-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
Sell stuff on eBay. Really. It's the easiest way to make money while you can vary the amount of time and effort that you put into it. The difficult part is finding stuff to sell easily...

-Wayne

Check out this thread I started a while back. She can also frequent estate sales for products to sell on eBay.

An interesting way to make a buck

lendaddy · 01-30-2007, 02:12 PM

Does she have a sexy voice?

on-ramp · 01-30-2007, 02:58 PM

stay away from e-commerce.

E-bay is good if you have a high profit margin on your product. Otherwise, you'll make more money working at McDonalds,

legion · 01-30-2007, 03:31 PM

Seriously...

My coworker's wife does medical data transcription. They call her at home, she types what the doctor says into her computer and e-mails it back.

M.D. Holloway · 01-30-2007, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RickM
Mike,

Is it possible for her to sell some of the higher end lube products you deal with online? Become an Amsoil type "distributor" for your stuff. Maybe she'll hit a chord with the enthusiasts that shop on Ebay. I'm sure you can write some convincing ad copy. Perhaps private label the stuff.

The small packaging sizes really chew up the margins. We been dealing more in drums, totes and tankers. The pints will be going away. The smallest size containers we will have is 1 gallon. The 2 1/2 gallon jugs are still pretty popular.

I always thought that our stuff could make for a good Amspoil rival but our channel to market is so different than theirs and with the kind of growth we have been having over the last several years I just don't want to mess with a good thing. I may try it though, what do I have to lose right? (except a garage full of overpriced oils)

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I've always wondered how some of those eBay sellers with ratings in the high five or six digits handle that kind of voulme.

Seems to me the best set up would be to find a national warehouse chain that handles your packaging and shipping for you, gives it to you wholesale and you sell it for what you can get for it. I know people do it, but I just never could figure out how to get into it.

M.D. Holloway · 01-30-2007, 08:04 PM

Some will live with a 15% margin. They don't have 27 scientists, 180 engineers 2000 direct reps and 5000 misc employees worldwide.

With an angle and some seed money I could find a few toll manufacturers and warehouse/distribution. Takes some insight and ballz but it is very doable. Folks do it all the time.

Christien · Christien's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by arcsine
Doing business with family is always a dangerous proposition. Be very wary.

+100000000000. Almost invariably, someone takes advantage of the other person, or someone feels they're being taken advantage of. Not worth it, IMO.

alf · 01-30-2007, 08:55 PM

You cannot fire family nicely. So if you hire her it is for life or until she decides to quit.

I run a small e-biz selling antique swords, been doing it since 98. I do not rely on it for income, just fun, but it is doing ok. Wife does most of the logistics and got an employee to help with taking pics and posting the stuff. If i could do it anyone could, just got to want to do it.