Things People Dont Like To Do = Quick Money

jeffrey · #1 (**permalink**) 08-03-2004, 08:26 AM

It should make perfect sense. If other people hate doing it, they will be more than happy to pay you for doing it.

I have a friend now who makes about $150 a day working 5 hours at most a day. What does he do? He cleans up dog poop, changes rabbit cages, and the mess of any other pets that people have.

People love their pets, but they often don't like cleaning up after them and will pay you to do it for them. He stops by houses 2 times a week to clean up the mess dogs leave behind in the yard which takes a total of 10 minutes each day. For that 20 minutes he gets paid $25. He does 12 houses a day, spends 2 hours actually cleaning and another three driving around.

If you are willing to do a job that other people don't particularly like doing, you can make some quick cash fast.

sdc2027 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-04-2004, 07:28 PM

How much competition does he have? And does he provide something different than his competitors? How about a website if he has one...kinda interested. Thanks

jeffrey · #3 (**permalink**) 08-04-2004, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdc2027

How much competition does he have? And does he provide something different than his competitors? How about a website if he has one...kinda interested. Thanks

He doesn't have a website. He got started doing it as a dog walker, but blew out his knee in a skiing accident and can't walk long distances now, so he had to find something else. One of his dog walking customers had asked him if he would be willing to clean their back yard (this is while he was still walking) and he said he would. When his knee went, he wondered if he could do the cleaning instead since he couldn't walk thee dogs anymore.

I don't know what his competition is, but I don't think there is a lot out there. I don't think he offers anything extra from competitors, but he is extremely punctual and trustworthy. Most of his new business is now from referrals from current customers.

mbhunter · #4 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 08:47 PM

He might borrow a motto from a septic business:

"We're #1 in the #2 Business"

Other jobs that might fall in this category:

1) Cleaning gutters
2) Standing in line (errands)

Others?

John Wedding

luna-mia · #5 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 07:32 AM

Very interesting but good for him. I'm sure there's alot of things that people would rather pay someone to do than do it themselves. Another thing that comes to mind is our growing population of elderly that can't do alot of things for themselves such as shopping, driving, yard work etc.

krayziebone33 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 08:44 PM

This is an interesting thread. I'm currently looking for something that I can do on the side to supplement my wages. I'm not above or opposed to cleaning up animal "droppings" if I could make a good chunk of change doing it. I will definitely be revisiting this thread often for good ideas. Thanks to the OP for starting this thread.

threebeansalad · #7 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 08:58 PM

This reminds me of an article in yesterday's Washington Post about professional nitpickers (ie- de-lousers!): washingtonpost.com

If head lice struck my family, I would totally hire one of these pros! Typically I do anything I can do myself by myself, but this is a service I would pay top dollar for!

Coleroo · #8 (**permalink**) 12-19-2007, 10:28 PM

one of my good friends started a pet sitting / dog scooping business about a year ago - it went through the roof! i was a little jealous i didnt put it in action first since it was my idea (during a discussion at work) that led him to do it in the first place... haha

Scanner · #9 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 09:59 AM

Cleaning aquariums (fish poop) can be a good business as can window washing.

Window washing is particularly appealing because it's an "impulse sale", kinda like how Schwan's Ice Cream man works. You stop by a business and say, "For $1/window, I'll clean them. I'm just passing through today." If you do a good job, you get a "route."

Reminds me of the shoe-shine men who pull in $100,000/year.

bjl584 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 10:27 AM

I used to work for my neighbor when I was in college. He owned a landscaping and lawncare business, and he made a killing. Yardwork isn't that hard, but it is something that a lot of people either don't have time for or just dread doing themselves.

Joan.of.the.Arch · #11 (**permalink**) 12-20-2007, 11:02 AM

A police officer has a side business mowing and trimming lawns. He told me that he had a client with a dog. Client never cleaned up after the dog. They told him to just hit the stuff with the mulch-mower. Gag. He quit on them. I guess they figured why hire someone to poop scoop when the mower guy can just make the problem "disappear."

krayziebone33 · #12 (**permalink**) 12-23-2007, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scanner

Cleaning aquariums (fish poop) can be a good business as can window washing.

Window washing is particularly appealing because it's an "impulse sale", kinda like how Schwan's Ice Cream man works. You stop by a business and say, "For $1/window, I'll clean them. I'm just passing through today." If you do a good job, you get a "route."

Reminds me of the shoe-shine men who pull in $100,000/year.

The window washing thing can be risky in my opinion because "impulse sales" are the easiest to get rid of when cutting back.

Ima saver · #13 (**permalink**) 12-23-2007, 09:14 AM

I had my windows washed this past year. It cost me $1000.

Landwatch · #14 (**permalink**) 12-27-2007, 02:34 AM

A friend of mine runs a day care for pets. A few months back he got fired and then he didn't want to work again. He is making some good money this way but I have stopped going to his place, it looks like visiting a Zoo.

filifefc · #15 (**permalink**) 12-27-2007, 07:23 AM

cutting grass is always good money, especially in the Summer. No one really enjoys cutting their own grass

Joan.of.the.Arch · #16 (**permalink**) 12-27-2007, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filifefc

cutting grass is always good money, especially in the Summer. No one really enjoys cutting their own grass

....except me.

m3racer · #17 (**permalink**) 12-27-2007, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffrey

If you are willing to do a job that other people don't particularly like doing, you can make some quick cash fast.

Sorry but I draw the line at picking up other animal's krap.

rob62521 · #18 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:37 PM

I live in the Midwest and I live in a neighborhood with lots of kids. In the past 9 years, not one kid in our neighborhood or subdivision has rung our doorbell to ask if we wanted our snow shoveled. I would gladly pay for it -- I have asthma and my husband isn't in the best of the health. It's not like the kids are terrified of us -- they ring our doorbell to ask us to buy something for their school fundraiser. And, we don't have any pets so it's not a guard dog (or cat) keeping them away.

Russ G · #19 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 09:14 AM

Ironing clothes is another good one that people hate doing. I knew someone who would call and pick up a bag of clothes and deliver them back a couple days later, nicely pressed on hangers. She got a lot of work from personal recommendation. If you are reliable and trustworthy you can do well in this kind of work.

sweeps · #20 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ G

Ironing clothes is another good one that people hate doing. I knew someone who would call and pick up a bag of clothes and deliver them back a couple days later, nicely pressed on hangers. She got a lot of work from personal recommendation. If you are reliable and trustworthy you can do well in this kind of work.

Yes!! I HATE ironing! Can I ship my clothes to her?