1. Find a public restroom. Ideally in a restaurant, night club, or Apple store.
2. Grab all of the paper towels, toilet paper, and soap dispensers.
3. Stand near the exit, which is usually the same as the entrance.
4. If you are dressed like a butler, or wearing a tuxedo, this might work better.
5. When someone enters the restroom and needs one of the items that you've snagged, offer it to them for a low price, such as 35 cents. Or give it to them but act like you expect a tip. I'm sure you've encountered people who have expected tips from you before, so you should know what to do.
6. To enhance your money making opportunity, have some other items ready to offer your "clients", such as warm towels, hand sanitizer, or gummy worms.
7. If someone gets angry at you for hoarding the toilet paper, flee. Find another restroon and start over.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, December 14, 2009
How To Make Money By Bottling Bog Water
Consumers have already been conditioned to buy something they can get for free (water) by concluding that having it bottled is somehow safer than the retrieving it from the tap. Clever marketing and common perception have created an extremely profitable industry. Studies have recently shown, however, that this perception may not be entirely accurate, and according to "government and industry estimates" up to a quarter of all bottled water is actually bottled tap water! (see the planetgreen.discovery.com story here) If people are already willing to pay money for a perceived health benefit that may not exist, perhaps some will be willing to pay money for a rumored health benefit that definitely does not exist. Yes, I'm talking about the rumor (started here) that bog water has antioxidant properties and enhances libido (not true). This has been demonstrated repeatedly (never) by diligent (dubious) scientific (imaginary) research. So, spread this rumor as fact, and head to your local bog to be the first to start selling the miracle swamp tonic known as bottled bog water!
Friday, December 4, 2009
How to Make Money By Organizing Races
Business Idea: Organize local races and competitions
Business Description: Every summer you will see signs advertising some sort of race, usually it is a 5k or a marathon. Most of these races require contestants to pay an entrance fee of $15 to $50. Yes, thats right. People pay money to run even though they can run for free whenever they want to. All you have to do is plan some sort of course. I recommend a 5k, which is just over three miles. You should pick a somewhat scenic route, and you will probably have to get permission from your town. Once you get permission, just give the race a name and market it.
Business Expenses: Your town may make you pay some sort of fee to run on the course. Your other costs will be advertising, giveaways, (you should provide snacks, Gatorade, and T-shirts to your runners) and prizes.
Business Logistics: You will have to start work on this at least a year before your target race date because there are several steps, and all of them can take significant time. The more time you have to market your race, the more contestants you will get. Start by mapping out a scenic course through a local historic area or park. Once you have a good course in mind, go to the local authorities and ask for a permit. Pay whatever fee they charge, as long as its reasonable, like $100 or less. Then go find local businesses who will sponsor the event. To entice sponsors, you should offer to put an ad for the company on the back of the t-shirts you give out. Once you've collected enough money from your sponsors to pay for your expenses, you should start advertising. Put signs on nearby street corners, post bills on any kind of public bulletin board, and put an ad in the local paper. If possible, write an article for the paper. Get a free website that provides all the information. You should give your race a memorable name. The registration fee should easily pay for the t-shirts, and you should be able to pocket about $10 per runner. On the morning of the race make sure the course is well marked, make sure there are tables full of snacks and drinks, and prizes. There should be age groups, and prizes for the top three finishers in each age group. I recommend participating in a few races before you actually host your own. These races get more and more popular every year, so make it a regular event.
Related Business Ideas: Triathlons, Wife Carrying Contests, Polar Bear Clubs
Business Risks: If you don't get enough contestants to cover your costs, you could lose big time. Try to spread out the risk by getting local business to partner with you.
Feasibility Quotient: 74



