To Start a Business for Under $500

BUSINESSES TO START FOR UNDER $500

There are some of you out there that will scoff, "What kind of
business can really start with $500?" Well, consider the fifty we
present here.

When most of us here phrases like "Start a New Business" or
"start-up costs," our minds picture figures with a lot of zeros
in them. While it is true that most businesses do require several
thousand dollars to start up, there are certainly some that
don't. They exist; it's just a matter of focusing in on them.

The businesses listed here range from computers to consulting,
from accounting to auto repair, and many more. All can be
operated from your home, eliminating the need for expensive
formal office space. They are quite diverse; the one thing they
have in common is that they can be started for $500--and
sometimes less.

As you are thinking about what kind of business to operate,
consider where you live, your job skills, hobbies, the equipment
you own, the needs of your community, and certainly, the work you
enjoy doing.

Some people operate small manufacturing businesses out of their
garage or basement while others set up service-oriented
businesses in their kitchen or truck; some have discovered the
lucrative field of importing goods, and others have tucked mail
order companies into spare rooms, since they don't need a store
front but only a mail box and space for inventory for this type
of business.

Naturally, you shouldn't expect these ventures to make you
millions, but if you take them seriously enough you'll be able to
do well at them. Some of these businesses might be better suited
for a part-time endeavor, while others (with a little luck and a
lot of hard work) will allow you to devote yourself to them
full-time.

And who knows? Maybe they will make you millions. In any case,
here are fifty opportunities.

ACCOUNTING. The "simplified" tax code has the public more
confused than ever. If you are an accountant for a company, you
can earn excellent part-time profits by offering tax consultation
and tax preparation in your community. If you're not trained as
an accountant, you can receive education from various sources
including: H&R Block, 1-800-7taxlaw; National Tax Training,
Monsey, NY 10952 (their home study course costs$175.75);
Federated Tax Service, 2021 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60618
(free info). For other information about this business, write:
National Association of Accountants, Small Business Advisory, 10
Tarragon Drive, P.O. Box 433, Montvale, NJ 17645.

BUSINESS CONSULTING. Consulting is a fast growing small business,
and potentially one of the most profitable. If you have worked in
a particular field for many years, and feel that you have some
expertise, that you can share with other businesses, you can
demand respectable fees for that knowledge. Consider starting a
newsletter. Advertise via direct mail to potential business
customers. Explain your background, what you have to offer, and,
most important, how your knowledge can increase their profits or
efficiency. get more information from: Consulting Opportunities
Journal, published by Consultants National Resource Center, 500
Kaetzel Road, Gapland, MD 21736.

COMPUTER CONSULTING. As the computer pervades almost every aspect
of our daily lives, people need to become computer literate--or
at least know how to work things. If you have basic computer
knowledge as well as specific expertise with popular software
(Word Perfect, Lotus 1-2-3. etc.), individuals and other
businesses will find your help worth paying for. You can have
clients come to your home, but they might feel more comfortable
if you came to their offices or homes to work on their particular
machines. Of course if you consult for business, you must go to
them. Advertise in the Yellow Pages or send direct mail queries
to various business offices that you know use computers. Check
your local computer dealers and ask about businesses that have
just bought computer systems--you KNOW they'll need help, and the
dealer usually isn't interested in helping customers work the
things once they've made the sale. In fact, you might be able to
enter into a deal with the computer dealer in which he recommends
you as a consultant. For further reading: The Computer
Consultant, Schueler Communications, Inc., 208 N. Townsend Street, Syracuse,
NY 13203.

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING. No software package right now out of the
box is going to work for a business exactly the way they want it
to, so custom computer programming is often needed. Your
programming ability can create a custom applications for
retailers and other businesses. If this idea interests you but
you don't know programming, a home study course available from
International Correspondence Schools, 925 Oak St., Scranton, PA
18508-9989.

CLOWNING. This business is no laughing matter. decent profits can
be earned from doing your funny business at children�s parties and
schools. Contact nursery schools, pre-kindergarten classes, and
day care centers and offer your services. The schools may not be
able to pay much, so birthday parties are probably your best bet.
Advertise on community bulletin boards and in local shopper
papers. Two publications worth getting are: Creative Clowning,
Java Publishing Co.,6510 Lenham Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
($16.95); and Start A Clowning Business by Donna Huff, 203 State
Rd.,Sellersville, PA 18960 ($5).

DJ SERVICE. Good disk jockeys are still in demand for large
parties of all kinds: birthdays, anniversaries, small weddings,
office parties, dances, etc. You'll need a large selection of
popular dance tunes that covers a wide variety of tastes and
styles, and quality sound equipment that is both portable and
powerful enough to project throughout a large auditorium. You
might consider staging your own dance weekends at a resort,
charging per couple. Place ads Yellow Pages for this service.

GARAGE SALE ORGANIZER. Sure you can make some money with your own
garage sale, but you can make much more by becoming a
professional. You can organize and run garage sales for dozens of
households in your town. Your sales pitch is that you know what
sells and what doesn't, how to price objects, how to attract
customers and what to serve (such as free coffee). As the
organizer, you can either charge a flat fee for your services or
accept a percentage of the total take. But you must insist that
you run the show, and that your decisions on pricing and display
are not questioned. Look for The Garage Sale Book, $7.95 from
E.A. Morgan Publishing Co., Dept IO-10, P.O. Box 1375,
Huntington, NY 11743-1375. Or How To Profit from Garage Sales,
$5.95 ppd. from Income Opportunities Booklets, P.O. Box 40,
Vernon, NJ 074672.

HAULING, LIGHT. If you have a pickup truck, there are numerous
tasks you can undertake for customers: hauling trash, dirt,
appliances, lumber, etc. Advertise your services on bulletin
boards and in the local Pennysaver. Suggested reading: How To
Earn $15 to $50 an Hour and More with a Pickup Truck or Van by
Don Lilly; available from Darian Books, 4909 W. Joyce Circle,
Glendale AZ 85308; $14.45 ppd.

HOUSE SITTING SERVICE. When families stayed put, it used to be
possible for some member of the family to feed the pets, water
the plants, and take in the mail on those rare occasions when
someone was absent from home. But in today's mobile society, a
homeowner will often have no family member living in the same
town and won't even know the neighbors. So the need for
house-sitters keeps growing. You can provide that service, either
as a sitter yourself, or as a manager of a group of house
sitters. For a comprehensive manual on how to start and operate
this business, write for How to Run A House-sitting Business by
Jane Poston, 1708 E. (th St. Tucson, az 85719; $36.

LAUNDRY SERVICE. There are many services you can provide for the
modern single or couple, both of whom work, and laundry is one of
them. You'll need a large capacity, heavy duty washing machine
and the inclination to wash, dry and fold clothes all day. But
substantial profits are there for the taking. this service might
be perfect in an apartment building where the tenants must share
washers and dryers. The apartment dwellers (most of who dread
doing the laundry anyway) will pay for the coin-operated machine
PLUS your fee. As and added service, you can offer to take
clients suits, dresses, and coats to be dry cleaned, and deliver
them when done.

AEROBIC INSTRUCTION. There is no end in sight to America's
penchant for fitness. If your finished basement is large enough,
you can hold exercise and fitness classes for men and women in
your community. If you don't have the space, see about leasing
space at local YMCA, YWCA or other such facility. Study nutrition
and offer a complete package of nutrition and exercise guidance.
To find out about aerobics certification, contact the Aerobics
and Fitness Association, 15250 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 310,
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.

MUSIC INSTRUCTION. Whether or not rock and roll is to think,
today's kids are interested in music as much as ever. And they'll
always need lessons in piano, guitar, clarinet, etc. Schools
usually provide some basic instructions, but instrument-specific,
one-on-one instruction is always necessary. Your proficiency with
a particular instrument and provide your home-based business. If
your instrument is a popular enough lessons to keep you busy
practically all day every day. Advertise everywhere: school and
community bulletin boards, local shopper papers, and Yellow
Pages.

APARTMENT RENTAL LIST. Put your home computer to use and become
an apartment broker finding renters for empty apartments. Allow
the apartment owner to list his rental free; your profits come
from the renter who pays you for finding the space. Add a printer
to your computer and you can publish a local paper of available
rentals. On the flip side, you can also be an apartment locator.
Students and other individuals looking for apartments can come to
your for help. Apartment buildings and homes with rooms to let
will gladly place their names what you.

ROOMMATE SERVICE. The growing number of unmarried Americans has
led to the development of this matchup industry that is easily
run from one's home. You'll find roommates for people who prefer
not to live alone or can't afford to. The high cost of rents and
mortgages, the soaring divorce rate, and the inability of
salaries to keep pace with inflation are sending more and more
singles in search of roommates. For assistance in starting this
type of business, contact: Roommate Referral, 8139 S. I-35,
Oklahoma City, OK 73149.

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