part time business ideas – Top Business Journal

Looking to earn some extra cash in your spare time? We’ve got 25 great ways to get started!

Ever dream of running a part-time business while keeping your day job? Want to operate a sideline business along with your current business? Or are you simply curious about entrepreneurship, and want to test the waters before you commit to the world of commerce? Whatever your reason, here are 25 sure-fire ways to get started today with your own part-time business.

These part-time business ideas were compiled and published by Carla Goodman on Entrepreneur

Antiques
Make new money from old treasures and have fun doing it! Scout garage sales, estate auctions and flea markets for great buys on antique furniture, toys, clothing and other treasures from the past. Rent space at antique cooperatives, or set up booths at weekend fairs to sell your antiques.

Computer Tutor
Whether you’re an expert at Windows or Linux, desktop publishing or Web research, HTML or word processing, you can help anyone enhance their computer skills. Start promoting your computer-training services by teaching classes through organizations in your community which offer adult education courses.

Custom Jewelry and Accessories
Put your creative talents to work designing custom jewelry and accessories. Whether you work with sterling silver or recycled metals, clay or papier-mâché, there’s a market for your custom earrings, pins, bracelets, necklaces and belt buckles at art shows, crafts fairs and holiday boutiques.

Espresso Cart
Brew up profits day after day! Specialty coffee drinks generate gross profits of 55.1 to 61.5 percent per cup, says the Specialty Coffee Association of America. So brush up on your coffee drinks, buy or rent an espresso cart, and head for sporting events, concerts and farmers’ markets in your community.

Garage and Attic Cleaning/Hauling Service
Nobody likes to spend a weekend cleaning out the garage, attic or garden shed–it’s dirty and time-consuming, and when it’s done, there’s still the task of hauling off all that discarded junk. But if you don’t mind putting in the physical labor, a cleaning and hauling service can be a lot of fun. You can usually find a few treasures among the trash which most people are delighted to give away, and you can add to your income by recycling bottles, newspapers and metal castoffs. You’ll need a pick-up truck or other vehicle capable of carrying everything from cast-iron sinks to old timbers.

Handyman
If it’s broke, you can fix it. Your phone will ring off the hook with calls from homeowners, senior citizens and others who don’t want to fix it themselves. Advertise in shopper publications and on bulletin boards, and drop off fliers at real estate offices. Then start repairing everything from leaky faucets to broken windows.

Home Inspection
Buyers need not beware when they hire a home inspector to conduct a complete physical checkup on their dream home. You’ll inspect the house for structural problems and refer your clients to the contractors or handymen who can make the repairs. Knowledge of construction and your local building codes will get your business off the ground.

Medical Transcription
Work as an important member of a medical team without leaving your homebased office. There’s big demand by hospitals, doctors, dentists, chiropractors and veterinarians who need outside help transcribing patient medical records. Training in medical terminology and linguistic skills will keep your business healthy.

Mobile Home-Entertainment Service
When it’s dirty, disconnected or in need of repair, you’ll save the day for homeowners who want their stereo, compact-disc player or videocassette recorder in working order. Brush up on your electrical and wiring know-how. Door-to-door fliers and calls to retail-store managers about your services will get your business off to a great start.

Mobile Window Tint
With some training and basic equipment, you’ll be seeing plenty of green with your mobile window-tinting business. For best results, have a pager and van ready to help car, van and truck owners prevent heat damage to their vehicles’ interiors. Other hot markets: homes, high-rise condominiums and office buildings.

Office and Home Organizer
Attention all neatniks: Help packrats, overworked executives, and other organizationally challenged individuals clean out messy closets, straighten files, and throw out the excess clutter. Putting your knack for neatness to part-time business use is bound to arrange some tidy profits for you.

Personal Chef
What’s for dinner, honey? Great home-cooked meals for working parents and busy professionals who hire you as a personal chef. There’s plenty of demand for this specialized service. So plan your menu, make out your shopping list, and go to work to satisfy your hungry clientele.

Personal Trainer
Pumping iron; pumping profits. Americans of all ages, sizes and shapes want to keep fit, trim and healthy, and they’re willing to hire their own personal coach to exercise correctly. Spread the word about your physical-fitness expertise at health spas, running, swimming and biking clubs, and other athletic outlets.

Picture Framer
Get in the frame with a picture framing service. You can work with gallery owners, artists, portrait photographers and individuals who’ve purchased a print, painting or fine photo. If you aren’t already a framing expert, read up, take classes at a local college or community center, then assemble your tools–including clamps, saws, miter boxes, glue, and a pneumatic or hand stapler. Establish relationships with local artists’ groups, galleries, photographers and print shops that can give you their business or refer their customers to you.

Plant Leasing And Maintenance
Got a green thumb and a delivery van? You’re all set to service corporations, home builders, health clubs and other businesses who want fresh greenery. Develop a steady clientele with a regular watering, pruning and fertilizing program and a full replacement guarantee.

Records Search
Using specialized databases, you’ll search public records on your computer to help your clients find lost loves, check out questionable suitors, track down debtors, verify a contractor’s track record, or dig up facts on a business opportunity. Clients include attorneys, businessowners and individuals.

Restaurant Delivery
Whether it’s macaroni and cheese or a five-course gourmet meal, at-home meal replacement is fast becoming the newest way to dine. When customers want their restaurant orders “to go,” you’ll be “on the go” with your restaurant delivery service. A great way to make your late afternoons and weekends extra-profitable!

T-Shirt Design
If you’re an artist in search of a medium, why not make T-shirts your canvas? Paint, draw, bead or appliqué your designs on plain T-shirts, and spend your weekends showcasing your art-to-wear at farmers’ markets and crafts fairs.

Wallpaper Hanging
Help residential and commercial clients turn drab walls into works of art with your wallpaper-hanging skills. Build a growing business with great referrals and repeat customers. Drop off fliers at paint and wallpaper stores; also, advertise in shopper publications, in homeowner-association newsletters, and on bulletin boards at local supermarkets and malls.

Yoga and Tai Chi Instructor
In today’s hectic, fast-paced world, parents, business owners and students alike can benefit from the deep-breathing, relaxation and centering techniques you can teach them. Get started by offering classes at health clubs, through your city’s recreation and parks department, or on your own.

Want to run a sideline business along with your current job or business? Or you’re simply curious about entrepreneurship, and want to test the waters before you commit wholly to the world of commerce. Whatever, the reason, here are 10 sure ways to get started today with your own part-time business.

Bakery

Baking is one way to add to your regular monthly earnings. Keep your day job and bake on weekends or early in the morning before you go to work. Make arrangements with your colleagues at work to sell them your products for breakfast. On weekends, you can bake and supply households in your neighbourhood in exchange for money.

Sales

Every business wants to sell. Selling is at the heart of every business. It is what keeps the business going. Without sales, businesses will collapse. It’s that simple. If you can sell, then you can build a business. Not that easy though, but it’s a good starting point. Assemble a sales team and approach the big companies to negotiate a deal. Sell products/services for businesses for a commission. Depending on the products/services and the volumes you sell, you can become a millionaire doing this.

Painting

People paint for lots of money. Paintings beautify homes, offices, hallways and everywhere. Paintings can cost a fortune. If you know how to, then you should begin to put your skills to work, right away. On weekends, you can spend some hours painting a portrait or something beautiful. Beautiful paintings, with meanings, can fetch you more money than your full-time job. Hotels, individuals homes, tourists, businesses are your major targets. Learn to sell your paintings as well.

Make-ups

Helping people make up for events is a great part-time job. You don’t need to invest heavily in it. The returns can be enormous and if you can increase your customers and sustain it, the income can surely compete with mainstream job.

Decorations

Interior and exterior decoration is a growing business in Ghana and Africa now. There are hundreds of events around you in the city, every weekend. Look for them and negotiate a deal. With exquisite work done, you’re sure to be referred to the next client.

Teaching

You can take up teaching at end of each working week. Teach on weekends and weekday evenings if you’re not tired, to rake in extra revenue.

Photography

Photography business is growing everywhere in the world. Social media is accelerating the growth of digital photography and there’s opportunity in it for everyone. If you love photos and also passionate about taking pictures then it’s the right time to invest in a good camera and make money.

Graphic Designing

The growth in digital advertising is one reason why graphic designing is a hot business. But to survive you have to be skillful at it. There are so many people involved in this business now because the tools (software) abound now. To make good money from it, you must show your quality and you must advertise your works.

Blogging

It’s a full-time job for some people, but you can take up blogging on part-time basis. Write about your passion. Relationships, politics, cooking, sports, and whatever you have interest in. You must impart something to your audience. Only then, will you be able to gather more and monetize your blog.

Performing Arts

If you feel you can sing or rap better than the high-flying music artiste, then you better write your lyrics down and hit the studios. Making music isn’t as difficult as it used to be. But making hits is quite difficult these days due to the numerous songs that are churned out each week. Good music however, would find it’s way to the hearts of the people. If you’re lucky you may become a star. And if it’s acting, then start.