Description of Job

• Perform almost any minor repair or maintenance chore for homeowners.
• Be available on short notice for urgent jobs.
• Supervise subcontractors and licensed plumbers and electricians.

The Need

Have you heard the old joke about the definition of homeowners? They’re people who sleep in their own bed at night but live at the hardware store! Every house needs care. Older houses need repairs to essential systems, from leaky sinks to broken light switches. New homes need to have curtains and shades hung and minor landscaping; some homeowners need help in assembling gas grills or putting bicycles together. Houses in between new and old need all sorts of touch-ups, refurbishments, and installations.

Even the most handy of homeowners may not have time to work around the house or may just need help from time to time. Examples of jobs include changing smoke detectors, caulking windows and bathtubs, touch-up painting or staining, changing locks, replacing light fixtures, installing garage door openers, driveway sealing, repairing screens, and installing weather stripping.

Challenges

A handyperson is capable enough to do almost any job around the house and smart enough to know when to call in an expert. It is important to know when to draw the line; unless you have the qualifications, you should not perform substantial work on electrical, plumbing, heating, or cooling systems. (That doesn’t mean you can’t change a light switch, hang a chandelier, fix a leaky faucet, change the filters on a heating system, or make simple adjustments to an air conditioner.)

You also have to know your own abilities; don’t promise something you are not capable of completing in a professional manner. You should be able to assist your client with your own list of plumbers and electricians and other professionals for more complex jobs, and you should be willing to take on the role of contractor to supervise their work.

You’ll have to learn how to keep more than one client at a time happy. One customer may think that his or her blocked rain gutter is more important than someone else’s broken storm door.

Know the Territory

You’ll need some natural skill as a handyperson, augmented by experience. Read books on home repair, visit hardware and home centers, and consult Internet web sites for information about projects. (Some home centers offer free classes on
projects.) Get to know area tradespeople.

How to Get Started

Make people aware of your services through ads and flyers placed in home centers, hardware stores, and community centers. Include postings at area senior centers, as older homeowners are a large market for handyperson services. Place an ad in local newspapers and shopping guides. Church and club bulletins are also helpful.

Contact area licensed professionals to find out about their services and to let them know about your availability. They may be able to steer some simple jobs your way in return for calls from your client for their services.

Up-front Expenses

You’ll need a basic set of tools. Complex and/or expensive tools can often be rented for particular jobs. A good collection of home repair books and access to the Internet will be of great value. Up-front expenses include advertising and promotion.

How Much to Charge

Bill for jobs on an hourly basis; add charges for any hardware or supplies you must purchase, plus the cost of any rented equipment.

If you will be on call for a number of jobs, it’s good business practice to ask for an advance payment equal to several days’ worth of work; your actual hours will be subtracted from this retainer.

Legal and Insurance Issues

In dealing with your client’s property, seek to limit your liability for damage or loss to the actual replacement value of items in your possession. You should protect yourself against claims for sentimental value or loss of use.

Discuss with the attorney any prior legal problems you may have encountered and seek advice about whether they need to be disclosed to clients.

Description of Job

• Plan and manage personal events such as a child’s birthday party, a special occasion such as an anniversary, graduation celebration, adult’s birthday, retirement party, or reunion.
• Plan and manage business events such as cocktail parties, product introductions, fund-raisers, open houses, retirement parties, and holiday parties.
• Design an event that meets your client’s needs, wishes, and budget.
• Develop a network of reliable and professional service providers such as caterers, servers, bartenders, entertainers, and setup and cleanup crews
• Stay abreast of appropriate locations for events that will be held outside of your client’s residence or place of business.
• Write an inclusive contract for your services that properly spells out all that you will provide.
• Budget accurately and maintain records for proper billing.

The Need

A truly successful social event doesn’t happen by accident. We’re not talking about inviting a few of your best friends over for pizza and beer to watch the Red Sox break the curse of the Bambino. A party planner has the creativity, the sense of organization, and the contacts to put together dozens of details, from location to theme to food and drink to entertainment and even the morning after the night before.

Here are just three of many reasons party planners are needed:

1. Putting on a good party requires creativity, and many people are willing to pay for good help.
2. Planning and putting on a party requires a great deal of time and effort, and individuals and companies may not be able to do it themselves.
3. Many people are not comfortable with all of the details that may go into mounting a successful event. You’ll probably know that this is the job for you if you’ve put on more than a few successful parties of your own, but remember that as a professional party planner you’ll have to deal with someone else’s expectations, needs, budget, friends, and business associates.

The biggest difference between a party or event you set up for yourself and one that you do for a client is this: You are not the host and not a guest. It is your job to exceed your client’s expectations and spare your client from all of the headaches.

Challenges

This is not your party, and you can’t cry if you want to. The headaches are all yours. The client is always right, even when he or she is wrong. You are there to interpret and suggest, but not to impose your sense of style on an event if the client disagrees. Don’t take on a job that you can’t do well. If the job is too complex or too large or not possible, walk away from the contract.

It’s much worse to have a failure (and a bad reference) than to forgo a job. Expect to be asked to put on a champagne (and caviar) reception on a beerand pizza budget; you’ll need to know costs and be able to steer your clients to realistic expectations.

If a caterer delivers a bad meal, the entertainer fails to show, or the tent company provides a leaky covering, it’s your headache. Spend the time to learn about available caterers, locations, entertainers, setup crews, furniture and equipment rentals, and other services you may need.

Read your local newspaper carefully to learn about social events and parties in your area. Consider the newspaper coverage as part of your research about what kind of events are put on and how they are set up. Visit the locations for events you might manage. Tour facilities when they are empty and ask if you can return during (or just before) scheduled events they
may be putting on. Obtain price lists and advance calendars that let you know when facilities may already be booked.

Ask for references from any service provider you may want to make part of your team. Talk to more than one company in each of the categories you will be working with.

Gather a database of prices for all of the available services from service providers. Collect menus from caterers and restaurants you will be working with.

Establish and maintain a list of names, phone numbers, cell phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and other information for all of the service providers you may need to work with. Your black book will become the heart of your operation.

Get to know some of the other party planners in your area; you may find it valuable to partner with them on a particularly large or complex event, and they may do the same with you someday.

How to Get Started

Start spreading the news. Let your friends and acquaintances know you are in the business. For parties for individuals, post flyers on bulletin boards in markets, at sports clubs, and in schools to let people know your availability. Include your phone number and web page address.

For parties for businesses, start by asking your friends and acquaintances about the sorts of events they see at work, and ask for the names of the people in charge. Create a professional letter, including your qualifications, and send it out.

Advertise in shopping guides and newspapers. Set up a web page to advertise your availability. Ask clients for permission to list them as references or to include pictures or descriptions from events you’ve staged for them.

Maintain a portfolio of photos and details of all of your parties and events to show to prospective clients.
Carefully prepare a questionnaire and checklist for your client. Send it on ahead of your first planning meeting, or go over it line by line with the client.

This will help you determine exactly what the client wants to have at the party and will be the basis of your bid for the job. Make a professional appearance when you consult with your client. Wear business clothing; bring business cards
and supporting material.

Follow up after your initial contact. Some people take a long time to make a decision, and your continued expression of interest may get you the job. If you are not selected for the job, be polite and ask the reason. Was it price? Was it a service you did not offer? Ask the client to keep you in mind for a future event.

Don’t go out of your way to lose money, but you might want to take on a job or two on a break-even basis or at a minimal profit when you’re getting started to help you build a reputation and some references.

Up-front Expenses

Initial expenses include advertising and promotion. You may also have to bear the costs of research trips to visit locations and service providers.

How Much to Charge

There are three ways to set your prices for this sort of business: (1) Charge a flat fee for your services; (2) offer a cost-plus contract in which the client agrees to pay all agreed-upon expenses plus a specified percentage; or (3) provide an allinclusive contract in which the client sees only the bottom line.

Whichever way you choose to establish your rates, it should be based on an estimation of how much time you will need to devote to the job. If an event is going to require 40 hours of work by you, and you determine that you need to receive $25 per hour to pay the costs of running your business and generating a profit, then your contract should either (in this example) consist of a flat fee of $1,000, a cost-plus figure that produces about $1,000 for you, or an all-inclusive amount that is marked up by $1,000.

Make certain your contract is properly drawn. If the client makes a change to the requirements that results in a higher cost, the contract should be written in a way that allows you to increase your charge accordingly. Similarly, you should seek written contracts or bids from your suppliers with full details about their responsibilities and products.

Legal and Insurance Issues

Consult your insurance agent about specialized insurance to protect you once you begin putting on large events. You’ll want to especially watch for liability issues. In addition, your client might want to know about insurance that protects against such things as cancellations and unanticipated expenses because of rain, snow, extremes of temperature, or other acts of God.

Description of Job

• Provide special expertise in shopping for unusual items.
• Assist clients who are not able to shop for themselves because of disability or illness.
• Research and purchase gifts for business clients to present on special occasions.

The Need

There are only 24 hours in each day. Subtract a full day of work, getting the kids off to school and back home, making dinner, and, if you’re lucky, eight hours of sleep, and there’s not much time left over for shopping. Senior citizens and people with physical infirmities may not be able to get out of their homes to shop for food, necessities, and gifts.

Businesses purchase gifts for clients and to honor employees for significant personal milestones.

Then there are those people whose vision of the levels of hell include one specifically devoted to being trapped in a shopping mall.

The personal shopper gets to know the client and the market, and efficiently shops for (and often delivers) items ranging from groceries to furniture, appliances, and supplies.

Challenges

The personal shopper puts the emphasis on the personal, promising a sharp focus on the client’s needs and careful shopping to fulfill them. You will not succeed if you deliver the wrong items at the wrong price. Make sure you fully understand the needs and wants of your client. If you are asked to go to The Gap and buy a pair of size 8 cropped jeans, you can’t substitute relaxed-fit khakis from Wal-Mart.

On the other hand, if you are asked to research and find the highest-quality set of kitchen knives, your client may ask you to present a list of recommendations with prices.

A third option would be for a client to give you a general description of a type of product and ask you to use your judgment in finding it and buying it without further consultation.

Wear appropriate clothing for the stores in which you shop, and act professionally in all of your dealings, since you are representing someone else.

In some situations, you may be given a key to a house and asked to deliver groceries and place them appropriately in the refrigerator, freezer, or cupboard.

You will be in competition with shopping sites on the Internet, although not everyone feels comfortable (or has the time) for that exercise, and again, your pitch should emphasize the personal attention you will deliver.

Know the Territory

You’re probably interested in this sort of job because you consider yourself to be a good shopper for yourself. However, make sure you don’t limit yourself solely to stores that meet your needs; you should spend the time to learn about retail outlets, grocery stores, and specialty shops in your area. You should also become familiar with shopping on the Internet and by mail order.

This sort of assistance is most likely to be popular in areas with professionals who do not have the time to shop for themselves or in localities with many senior citizens who are unable to get out on their own.

How to Get Started

Advertise your availability in community and senior citizen centers. Place ads in area newspapers and shopping guides. Ask friends and relatives to spread the word, and offer satisfied customers a bonus if they refer new clients to you.

Send letters of introduction to the human resources departments of major employers in your area, offering to shop for gifts for employees and customers of the company.

Up-front Expenses

The primary expenses here are for advertising and promotion. You should have access to the Internet for research, shopping, and promotion.

How Much to Charge

The simplest and most transparent way to charge for this sort of service is to levy an hourly charge plus the actual cost of purchases; keep copies of all receipts and maintain accurate records of your time. If you use your vehicle for shopping, add
a mileage charge to the bill.

• Provide scheduled care for a child, or a small number of children, for a set period of time in the home of the client.
• Accept limited responsibility for feeding and other services within the home of the client.

The Need

If you are a parent, you understand the need for adults to get away from their children every once in a while. It may be for only a few hours to go out to dinner and a movie; it may be short-term scheduled care when the mother or father has a medical appointment or other needs.

Other situations include emergency babysitting for a working parent when a sick child is unable to go to school. Some babysitters are also called on to take care of children at the end of the school day before the parents return from work.

In this modern day, many parents no longer live near family members who might be available to watch children when needed, and suburban neighborhoods don’t offer the same sort of support system that used to be found in the higher density cities.

This job is not the same as working in a day care center, which is intended for large numbers of children on a regularly scheduled basis and located away from the children’s homes.

Challenges

On some levels, babysitting is the most basic of temporary jobs, something that has been the entry-level job for millions of high school girls and the occasional boy. Today, though, even this simple job has taken on new challenges, including
exposure to legal liability for the care of the child and caretaking of the home. To reduce your exposure to liability, avoid situations where you will be asked to pick up or deliver a child by car, and don’t accept children into your own home.

You must, of course, be good with children. It is also essential that you can be depended on to arrive when promised and flexible enough to be available on reasonably short notice. Let your clients know if you will be available only for nights and weekends or if they can reach you on weekdays for emergency coverage.

Obtain from your clients full information about where they will be and how you can reach them if needed. You should also get the names and phone numbers of other relatives or guardians in case of emergency. Finally, you should have a signed form authorizing you to grant permission for emergency medical treatment if the need arises.

Parents should also provide full information about allergies and special medical conditions. They should fully explain rules of the house regarding television time, food, bedtime, and so on.

Know the Territory

Although most babysitting is still performed on a very casual basis, if you’re going to be performing this service as a business you should protect yourself from liability.

Your best qualification is your reputation in the community. A young person should be able to offer references from teachers as well as parents they have helped previously; older people should offer references from happy clients. If possible, visit the home and meet with the parents and the child before you take your first job as a babysitter; this will reduce the surprises for the child and for you.

Make sure you know the rules for yourself, as well. Are you welcome to raid the refrigerator, or are you expected to bring your own meal? Do the parents expect you to clean up after the children eat?

How to Get Started

Post flyers in schools, community centers, and supermarkets. Place ads in local newspapers and shopping guides.
Ask family and friends to spread the word about your availability. Send letters to the human resources departments of major employers in your area. Do the same with school nurses.

Up-front Expenses

The principal up-front expense is for advertising and promotion.

How Much to Charge

There is usually a standard rate for babysitting in your area. You can add a premium for emergency calls and for jobs that continue late into the night.

Legal and Insurance Issues

Your contract should identify any safety and security responsibilities of the client and limit your liability for accidents, errors, and omissions. You should also obtain a signature on a document granting you permission to authorize emergency medical treatment for the child if necessary.

If you are making yourself available to care for a sick child, make sure it is clear who is to pick that child up from school. Most schools will not release a child to anyone but a parent unless they have written authorization.

Be very cautious about accepting a job that requires you to pick up or deliver a child by car; if you do, make sure your insurance agent is aware of it and that your insurance covers you for this kind of responsibility.

Description of Job

• Help a student—of any age—achieve success in school.
• Provide training in a specialized subject to meet business or professional needs.

The Need

Sometimes we (or our children) need some extra help or one-on-one instruction to achieve success in school or in our jobs. Your child may be a whiz when called on to produce written reports, but may struggle mightily in algebra and geometry. Your young student may be a math prodigy, but may be unable to master a foreign language.

As a parent, we all want our children to do well and succeed in school. However, any parent will quickly learn that it is somewhere between extremely difficult and impossible to teach your own child without a descent into screams and tears . . . and we’re not just referring to the kids.

As an adult, you may want the assistance of a professional to help you learn how to operate a computer, master the art of knitting, or brush up on your 20-year-old French skills before taking a trip to Europe.

Challenges

It is not enough to know the subject; you also have to be capable of teaching. You have to be a good communicator, and you have to be patient. You’ll also have to work with school teachers where appropriate, and you’ll have to get along with parents and guardians who may be a help or a hindrance in the process.

If you are offering tutoring to adults seeking to improve their skills in a professional area, you should work to coordinate your efforts with human resources and training departments where appropriate.

Know the Territory

Parents learn quickly that success in school, especially high school, is critical in getting into a good college and may play a role in obtaining financial aid and scholarships. It may not be sufficient to point to a child’s extreme success in language
skills and ask that poor results in math be ignored.

Another modern issue is the increased use of standardized testing in schools. If you are working with a student in school, ask to see the textbooks the student is using and become familiar with the subject matter you will be covering. If you are coaching the student for a particular test, seek copies of past tests and work with them as a base.

How to Get Started

The best qualification for this sort of job is an advanced teaching degree or certificate and experience as a teacher. That doesn’t mean you can’t offer your services based on other experiences and background; for example, your own background as a computer user may be more than enough to qualify you to teach others how to navigate the Internet.

Whether you are currently a schoolteacher or are coming from industry, you should be up-to-date on current information, specialized language, and teaching methods.

In some school districts you may be able to work closely (though informally) with guidance counselors, teachers, and administrators. Make them aware of your resume and references and ask them to recommend you to parents who seek help
for their children, as appropriate. Place flyers and business cards on community bulletin boards, at schools, and in libraries. Place ads in the school newspaper, community shopping guides, and local newspapers.

Up-front Expenses

The principal up-front costs for this job are for advertising and promotional expenses. You could set up a web site, which would also involve costs. You may need to purchase some textbooks and research materials to help you in your preparation and teaching.

How Much to Charge

Tutors usually charge by the hour. You might consider offering a discounted rate for a package of hours; for example, sell 10 hours of tutoring for the cost of 9. If the student lives a great distance from your home, you can ask for a reasonable reimbursement for the cost of travel.

• Adjust sizes and fit of new or old clothing.
• Add hems to dresses and pants.
• Make minor repairs to fix costume malfunctions.

The Need

One size does not fit all and we all change size over time. Those two facts of life support the need for clothing alterations. Although you may think of yourself as a perfect size 8 or a 40 regular, your new dress or sport coat may not be quite ready to wear. The gown or the pants that fit you so nicely a year ago may have mysteriously shrunk or, more likely, you may have added a few pounds.

Sometimes a minor costume malfunction (a missing button, an open seam, a broken zipper) can be repaired to rescue a favorite or valuable piece of clothing. Another fact of life is that relatively few people in modern society have the time, skills, or equipment to make clothing alterations or repairs.

Challenges

Don’t experiment on jobs that are beyond your skills or experience. As a business, you will be liable for any damage you cause; your agreement with customers should limit the liability to the cost of replacement, excluding claims for sentimental value or loss of use. Even so, you should be very careful about accepting a job to hem a $2,000 wedding dress for a $20 fee; the risk is
much greater than the reward.

Know the Territory

Your principal advantages:You have skills that are no longer common and equipment that is not generally possessed. Another advantage is the fact that almost all of us purchase clothing off the rack and are forced to deal with the fact that even though an item may be labeled a particular size, modeling forms of different manufacturers vary widely.

Spend the time to get to know as much as you can about fabrics, designs, and methods to let out or take in clothing.

How to Get Started

Contact area clothing stores (for both new and used apparel) and make them aware of your services. They may be willing to let you perform work as a subcontractor at the store, or they may refer customers to you for alterations. Local bridal stores may be willing to contract with you to perform alterations; these jobs may involve an entire wedding party, including bridal gowns and bridesmaids’ outfits.

Community theaters may need help adjusting costumes to fit their actors. Small restaurants that provide uniforms to their waitstaff may need alteration and repair services. (Larger restaurants, hotels, and factories generally use uniform
rental companies that probably have their own tailoring services.) To reach individuals, place ads on bulletin boards at malls, in retail clothing stores, and in fabric stores. You can place an ad in community newspapers.

Up-front Expenses

You’ll need basic tailoring equipment, including a sewing machine with some professional features such as buttonhole serging. You should have an iron for touch-up; you can also send oversized or specialty clothing to a dry cleaner for pressing. Necessary supplies including thread and buttons.

How Much to Charge

Charge a flat rate for simple mending. Add a charge for buttons, zippers, lining, and special threads you must purchase. Your agreement should list additional charges for more difficult jobs, such as hemming a lined dress. If the clothing must be cleaned or pressed, add a charge for services you perform or for services you subcontract to a dry cleaner. (As a professional, you
should seek a discount or a commission from outside companies. You can mark up these costs when you bill your customer.)

Legal and Insurance Issues

Special notes: In dealing with your client’s property, seek to limit your liability for damage or loss to the actual replacement value of items in your possession. You should protect yourself against claims for sentimental value or loss of use.

Description of Job

• Provide scheduled pickup and transportation for clients.
• Meet clients at airports and cruise terminals.
• Provide scheduled service for nonemergency medical transportation, weddings, proms, and special events.
• Requires rental, lease, or purchase of appropriate vehicle.

The Need

Sometimes it makes a lot of sense to leave the driving to others. If you’re heading for the airport, you might prefer to leave your personal car home in the garage instead of at an airport lot; it might be less expensive, too. You can also save some time on early morning departures, and there is the comforting luxury of knowing someone is waiting to meet you at baggage claim when you arrive back home.

Older people without their own transportation can rely on a car service to deliver them and pick them up from doctor’s appointments. Parents can relax (a bit) on prom night and other special occasions knowing that a professional driver and safe car is on call to transport their children.

Challenges

A car service is not a taxi service; in most jurisdictions, you need a special permit to pick up customers who flag you down on the street. You will need to limit your business to responding to reserved appointments and to telephoned requests for service.
In most states, you will need a chauffeur’s license or endorsement to your personal driver’s license. The vehicle may need to be registered as a limousine or commercial vehicle. Your insurance company will require full coverage of your vehicle for commercial use.

Depending on your clientele (and by extension the price range you plan to charge) you will need a clean, well-maintained, and spacious vehicle. You don’t need a Cadillac limousine for ordinary car service jobs, but your 1994 Ford Escort with fuzzy dice hanging from the windshield and dents in the passengerside front door just won’t do.

You will need to have a flexible schedule, especially if you will be accepting jobs picking up clients at airports; if a plane is several hours late, you will have to wait around for your incoming customer or arrange for another service to take your job. (For that reason, some car services do not accept airport pickups or limit the amount of time they will wait for a delayed flight.)

If you will be operating the car service on a part-time basis, you may be able to use the vehicle for other purposes. Be sure to consult your accountant about proper record keeping for mixed use of a business asset.

Know the Territory

Assess the market by working backward: Where do people need to travel? Is there much traffic from your area to an airport or a bus terminal? Is there steady business to area hospitals and doctors? Are there businesses in the area that might
dispatch employees for air travel regularly? Before you purchase a vehicle, research its cost of operation (gas mileage, maintenance, and depreciation) and determine its capital cost. Your business plan should be based on reasonable estimates of the number of jobs you can expect and cash flow you will receive.

How to Get Started

Place flyers and ads in community centers, schools, and retail stores. Advertise your service in newspapers and shopping guides. Make contact with the travel planner for companies in your area. List your services with business associations and in newsletters. Establish contacts at local senior citizen centers, hospitals, and doctors’ offices who may recommend your services to clients.

Up-front Expenses

You will need a clean, reliable sedan or small van. Other expenses include a commercial or limousine driver’s license, appropriate vehicle plates, and commercial insurance. Some localities require car services to obtain a permit, and you may need to pay for the right to pick up or drop off passengers at airports, convention centers, and other government-owned or -licensed facilities.

You will also need a cell phone to accept bookings while you are on the road, to call airlines to check on schedules, and to keep in touch with clients who may call to advise you of delays.

How Much to Charge

Most car services charge an hourly rate for transportation around town, generally in the range of $35 to $50 per hour for a sedan or minivan; limousines may charge $80 to $100 per hour. Calculate your hourly rate on the basis of the operating cost for the vehicle plus fixed expenses such as licenses, insurance, and a profit for your time. Services also commonly offer fixed rates from a particular region to an airport, bus terminal, or other popular destination. Some services charge for time spent waiting for delayed flights, lengthy doctors’ office appointments, and so on.

Customers must pay any tolls and entrance fees. It is also customary for customers to give a gratuity, usually about 15 percent. Regular accounts are usually given a discount on hourly rates or a percentage off the monthly bill for service above a certain level.

Description of Job
• Advise individuals and small companies in making computer purchases.
• Assist with setup of hardware and installation of software.
• Help install telephone, DSL, or cable modem connection to the Internet.

The Need

For some people, buying and installing a computer is a terrifying prospect. They fear buying the wrong equipment, paying way too much for it, and then being totally unable to figure out where to plug in which end of the cable. Other people may throw up their hands at the prospect of figuring out how to connect to the Internet or how to set up a small wireless network in a home or office to share printers, modems, and other devices.

The computer buying consultant is like a contractor for the construction of a house: someone who arranges for delivery of all of the pieces and services and makes sure everything is working properly. Then he or she fades away (heading for the bank), leaving the operation and maintenance of the house to others. The job of the computer buying consultant ends once the computer system is up and running properly. If a client runs into problems with software or if a piece of hardware fails six months or a year later, the client should be referred to a computer repair or software consultant.

We recommend separating the jobs of a computer buying consultant and a repair service because the level of complexity is vastly different. Once the computer is up and running, you will have no control over what the user does to it.

Challenges

Make sure you understand the needs, wants, and technical abilities of your clients. You don’t want to specify a machine that is beyond the needs (and budget) of your client, yet you don’t want to recommend a cheap and underpowered or poorly assembled machine just because the price tag is low.

The vast majority of computers in homes and business are based on the PC design and are intended to work with the Microsoft Windows operating system. A small portion of the computer industry is devoted to the Apple Macintosh design and its operating system. The two universes are relatively similar to each other, but you will need to be well educated about the differences.

Learn the various Internet connection options available in your area. Telephone dial-up service is the most mature and usually the easiest to set up, but it is the slowest system available. Cable modem service, where available, is usually the fastest for residential and small-business use. In between is DSL service via telephone cable; setup can sometimes be very complex and problematic, and connection speeds are faster than dial-up but generally slower than cable. Be sure the client understands the brick wall you will erect between consulting on the purchase of a system and its later operation. Establish relationships
with computer repair services and software consultants who will be available to your client if needed.

Know the Territory

You need to be the sort of person who can quote prices and specifications from memory, someone who reads computer ads and web sites for enjoyment. You should be familiar with the offerings of the major online vendors of computers (including Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM) and the web sites and catalogs of direct sellers of other machines. Make regular visits to area computer retail stores to see the range of offerings and understand their sales and support procedures.

How to Get Started

Place flyers and ads in community centers, schools, and retail stores. Advertise in community newspapers, shopping guides, and school newspapers. Ask satisfied customers to recommend your services to friends and acquaintances; offer a bonus or discount for business they refer.

Up-front Expenses

Build up a library of technical manuals and computer magazines to keep current on the latest technologies and products. Consult web sites of manufacturers of hardware and software and be a regular visitor to Internet homes for companies
that sell computers, peripherals, and services.

You’ll also need a basic tool kit containing screwdrivers and nut drivers for installation of systems.
Other expenses include advertising and promotion.

How Much to Charge

Charge by the hour for your services, or offer a package rate for a set number of hours for buying consultation and installation of equipment. To offer the most independent and unbiased service to your client, you should not ask for or accept commissions or other payments from the sellers of hardware.

Description of Job

• Perform short-term, temporary secretarial or clerical assignments.
• Assist with special projects using computer or secretarial skills.

The Need

You’re tapping into the fact that it is almost always considerably less expensive for a company to hire short-term or temporary workers for special projects and seasonal work. Hiring temporary workers generally relieves companies from the expenses for medical insurance, paid leave, and other benefits. Small firms such as medical offices, accountants, and construction companies may need coverage to fill in when their only clerical person is on vacation or called away for an emergency.

Challenges

You must have up-to-date office and computer skills and be flexible enough to adapt to various assignments. It is also critical for you to be able to work professionally with a changing cast of supervisors and coworkers. You must be a quick learner, and you must be able to follow instructions exactly. Most of the time you will be hired to help out during times of stress; you
have to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Although your work will be short term and temporary, you have to demonstrate that you are dependable, that you will be at the job on time, as required, and that you will not walk away for a vacation or a better offer during the term of your commitment. As a temporary worker, you will be expected to act and dress as professionally as full-time staff.

Know the Territory

Learn as much as you can about businesses and stores in your area. Check web sites to learn about each company’s operations.

How to Get Started

Advertise your availability in newspapers. Send letters, with a resume and summary of your qualifications, to the human resources departments of companies in your area. Notify the companies you already deal with about your availability. Tell your
personal doctor or dentist that you are available, and submit your qualifications.

A number of small companies rent space in large professional buildings. Visit them and leave your business card, resume, and references.

Up-front Expenses
The primary expenses are for advertising, promotion, and business cards. You’ll also need an appropriate wardrobe for professional settings.

How Much to Charge

Temporary work is paid on an hourly basis; state laws usually dictate higher rates of pay for nights or weekends and set a multiplier for overtime.

Description of Job
• Help homeowners and renters conduct a successful yard sale, tag sale, or garage sale.
• Manage the organization, promotion, and sales of such events.

The Need

We’re not sure which is more satisfying: clearing out your attic, basement, and closets or recouping some of the money you spent on dust magnets and clothing you can’t believe you ever thought looked good on you. You know the stuff we’re talking about: that exercise bicycle in your bedroom that hasn’t been used in two years . . . plus half the clothing hanging on its handlebars and all the shoes stacked behind the rear wheels. As your children grow older, you’ll have a nice collection of clothing, toys, books, and sporting equipment ready for a new home. Not everyone knows how to set up a sale and how to make it successful.

As a yard sale organizer, your emphasis is on the organization. Among the skills you’ll
bring are:

• Understanding local ordinances about signs, hours of sale, and other matters
• Knowing the sort of items that sell well in your neighborhood
• Knowing the value of stuff around the house
• Cataloging the items for sale
• Knowing how to set up a display of items
• Knowing how to manage the cash box

Challenges

Some towns and community organizations place regulations on yard sales that limit hours of operation, posting of signs, and parking. In some states and municipalities, the law may require collection of sales tax.

It would be polite to notify neighbors in advance of the sale date; if the sale attracts a large number of cars, it might interfere with their ability to get in and out of their own driveways. Devote as much attention to taking down your signs after the sale as you do to putting them up beforehand.

Expect early birds to attempt to grab bargains before the official starting time for the sale; in fairness to all, most yard sale pros will ask them to wait until the posted time. Consider what you will do if it rains on the day of sale; you might want to list a rain date in ads and on signs.

You have to organize the wares for sale. Use tables (which could be old doors propped on sawhorses) or blankets and painter’s tarps on the grass to display items. Place similar items together. Clean all clothing before sale, and neatly fold
items so they can easily be seen and not wrinkled or damaged. Place your most expensive items in a location where you or your client can keep a close eye on them. If you have antiques, works of art, or collectibles, do some research or hire an appraiser. You (or your client) should pay heed to the stories of yard sale buyers who have found paintings worth small fortunes or original documents of treasures such as the Declaration of Independence that sold cheaply and then earned a fortune for the “finder.”

Mark items with labels that indicate the asking price or with a color code that corresponds to a price chart. Although many buyers will give you the asking price, others consider it part of the game to haggle a bit. Using color codes allows the seller to play the game, too: Price an item at the high end of its price range if you are willing to accept less; adjust prices downward if sales are slow or to clear out items you don’t want to lug back inside at the end of the day. Another advantage to hiring an organizer is that some people are not comfortable dealing with friends and neighbors on a cash basis. In addition, the organizer
will be less emotionally attached to items; his or her goal is to help clear out the merchandise, even if it requires cutting the price. (As an organizer, be sure you understand your client’s bottom-line price for expensive items.)

Finally, an experienced yard sale organizer knows how to keep the books, manage the cash box, and keep an eye on the merchandise—all while handling a wave of customers.

Know the Territory

Attend garage sales or tag sales in your area to see what sorts of items they are selling and at what prices. Make note of the kinds of signs posted and ads placed. Most yard sales are held on the weekends, and certain times of the year are better than others. In a vacation area, the best time may be in the late spring or early summer, when people are furnishing their summer residences. In a college town, students may want to buy furniture and furnishings in September and sell them off in May.

How to Get Started

Advertise your availability as a yard sale organizer in shopping guides and newspapers; post flyers in supermarkets, home supply centers, and community centers. Make contact with professional housecleaning companies and ask them to recommend you to their clients in return for a referral fee.

Up-front Expenses

You’ll need to make your services known through ads in newspapers and shopping guides and by distributing flyers and business cards. Any expenses related to actual yard sales will be billable to your client.

How Much to Charge

Yard sale organizers can charge an hourly fee or ask for a percentage of the proceeds. Plan on several hours of organization, advertising, and setup, plus three or four hours for the sale itself and two hours for cleanup afterward. A typical job, then, might require 8 to 10 hours of your time. If you charge a percentage of sales (perhaps 15 to 20 percent of the take) do so only if you have a reasonable expectation that sales will total more than a few hundred dollars. Any out-of-pocket expenses to advertise the sale or for supplies should be reimbursed by your client.

Legal and Insurance Issues

Special notes: In dealing with your client’s property, seek to limit your liability for damage or loss to the actual replacement value of items in your possession. You should protect yourself against claims for sentimental value or loss of use. Consult your town clerk for information about local ordinances. Ask an accountant or your tax office for advice about sales tax collection; although it may be common for homeowners to ignore tax laws for yard sales, we are not going to endorse that practice in this book. First of all, sales tax is not an expense to you; however, if you or your client are fined for ignoring the law, the expense is quite real.