Templates for Self Employment (a collection of excellent ideas for self-employment)
These templates are being developed in co-operation with staff from many employment centres in London.
Each template outlines -
2. Carer: Baby Sitting, Nanny, Au-pair
3. Construction: CSCS Labourer
8. Dog-Walker
9. Photography and Social Networking
10. Selling Refreshments on a hot summers day
15. Car washing
| Template 0 Index | Industry = Retail | Title = Big Issue |
| Description Many people sell the Big Issue magazine. You can contact the Big Issue on 0207 526 3200. To help increase sales of the Big Issue, you can offer freebies - such as Christmas Cards, or other items with the Big Issue, but you are not allowed to sell them. or charge for them. However, you are allowed to set the price of the Big Issue at what ever you want, to cover the cost of "freebies". You might consider making the cards yourself, so you make the maximum amount from each sale. Or you could get artistic friends to create them, and give them a cut of your daily money.. You can make up to £50 per day doing this. |
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| Template 1 Index | Industry = Catering | Title = Pizza-Maker |
| Description Disclaimer: There are many laws regarding Food & Hygiene that apply to making food for commercial purposes. Equipment: Here is an idea that anyone can do. All you need is a cooker and a fridge, something that most people have. You can buy pizza bases very cheaply from many stores. Then you will need to buy some basic ingredients, about 10 different toppings. All these ingredients can be obtained from a cash and carry warehouse. Marketing: With the help of a staff member, design an A5 sized leaflet on the computer and print it off. The leaflet should be black and white. The leaflet should list the pizza sizes and toppings that you offer, and what each costs. Also if you plan to offer soft drinks such as coke, orange, pineapple etc. You will need to put your contact number on the leaflets. Clients: Post the leaflets door-to-door on your estate, or just in your block to start with. People will ring you and make an order. Delivery: The cooked pizza should be delivered in a cardboard pizza box, and drinks with serviettes in a separate plastic bag. All these are obtainable from a cash and carry at trade prices. Profits Forecast: You can make a pizza for as little as £1 and it retails at £5. You only have to make 4 pizzas per evening and you have a nice income. Extras: You may wish to offer additional products with the pizza to make extra money, such as ice cream, film dvds, popcorn. All win no loose: What you don't sell you can eat yourself, so you wont be spending anymore on ingredients than you would on your weekly groceries. Unique Selling Points: Once you get going, you might want to specialize in healthy, organic pizzas, or pizzas for vegetarians. Because you are operating from home, you can eliminate most of the overheads that Pizza Shops have. So you will always be able to do it cheaper than them. That's why this business idea will work. Good Luck!
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| Template 2 Index | Industry = Care Work | Title = Child Care |
| Description Many people find self-employed work as carers - for example babysitting, nanny or au-pair. To increase your chances of obtaining such work, you can build a skills portfolio that includes -
These skills will certainly give you a VERY competitive edge over people who can only offer child care - which will help guarantee you regular work. Speak to staff about obtaining these certificates. Cleaning proficiency includes -
If you want a competitive edge over other carers, then definitely build your skills portfolio. You can find many vacancies for self-employed babysitting or au-pairs on the Gumtree website at http://www.gumtree.com/london/4745_1.html And you can also advertise your services there. In addition, you can advertise yourself at -
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| Template 3 Index | Industry = Construction | Title = CSCS Labourer |
| Description Equipment: Hard Hat and Steel-Cap boots
(Often a building site may be on government property, or working in schools and offices where security is an issue. They will usually require a CRB - Criminal Records Check)
These qualifications will also help you gain self-employment in related
industries such as gardening, and landscaping. Additional Skills Training: Any skills that you can obtain in a construction trade will enable you to obtain much more work, and also will be on a much higher pay rate. Skills such as plastering, and decorating , bricklaying and DIY are quite easy to learn, but once you have them, your pay rate will double. You can find out about local courses in your area here.
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| Template 4 Index | Industry = Transport | Title = Courier |
| Description If you have a provisional motorbike/scooter licence then you can obtain self -employed work quite quickly in -
A provisional licence costs about £100. All the meter reading companies need riders. Once you have a full licence, then other opportunities are available -
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| Template 5 Index | Industry = Marketing | Title = Leafleting |
| Description There are many leafleting companies in London, but most of the work usually is allocated to them by PRINTING COMPANIES. The companies who print the leaflets and fliers also deliver them. Leafleting is usually done in large amounts. Most companies would want 10,000 leaflets delivered rather than just 1000. So you will get more leafleting work if you can get a team together to deliver them.
So, you can obtain leafleting work by
You can also obtain leafleting work by going directly to companies that use leafleting to market themselves. Look at the leaflets that come through your door. They are mainly for taxi, pizza, estate agents, building services. So, for example, you can find work by contacting all the estate agents in your area, and asking if they need leafleting done. You might even consider designing their leaflet and getting it printed as part of your service. By leafleting for more than one company at the same time you can multiply your income. Leafleting is just one way by which a company markets their products. Other ways include -
If you can combine some of these additional services with your leafleting service, then you have a very attractive package that will get you more work. For example, I did leafleting, and combined it with a service that offered mass emailing and web design. The leaflets told people about the website that I had created for them. Offering leafleting as part of a marketing package can really work.
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| Template 6 Index | Industry = Cleaning | Title = Window Cleaning |
| Description The tools you will need for this job are -
You can obtain these items from Homebase or most builders merchants such as Leyland SDK So for about £40 you will be fully kited out, and will be able to go out and start earning straight away. Of course - nearly all your earnings will be cash in hand - especially with domestic customers. I calculate that you will cover the cost of your equipment in the first day. To find clients, simply walk from door-to-door and ask people if they need a window cleaner. To begin with offer to do the windows for £5 per flat or £10 per house. With the equipment above you will be able to do all the ground floor windows and most of the first floor windows without needing a ladder. The extension pole means you can clean first floor windows while remaining safely on the ground. I have personally tested this template out. In 1 hour I found 3 new clients and earned about £20 - so it is a nice scheme. It is also nice because it keeps you very fit, and you will meet lots of interesting people each day. If you are fed up of being unemployed or want to earn some extra cash, then this template is ideal. Later on you might ask your existing clients if they need any gardening work done - especially in the Summer months - or any painting work, or even any domestic cleaning work. You will be surprised how much work is available if the price is right. Start now with the window cleaning, and watch how things develop. |
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| Template 7 Index | Industry = Hairdressing | Title = Hairdresser |
| Description Are you a skilled hairdresser? Do you like working with the elderly? Many, many old people are unable to travel to a hairdressers. They spend most of their time at home and receive home-help from the social services. Other elderly people are cared for in homes for the elderly. They too, may find it difficult to travel to a hairdressers. How nice it would be for them if they could have a haircut in their own home. If you have the hairdressing skills and some basic tools, then you have a big market of customers who need your services. Start by contacting the old peoples homes and organisations for the elderly. Or just go door-to-door. You will soon have plenty of clients - and you will be a welcome visitor for people who can get quite lonely at times. Later on you might add additional services such as a personal shopping service - or wheelchair trips outside. For people who find mobility a problem these kinds of services can offer a delightful break from the monotony of being trapped indoors. |
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| Template 8 Index | Industry = Animals | Title = Dog walking |
| Description We live in a nation of pet lovers. But most of those pet lovers have to be at work all day. And pets get very lonesome when left all day locked inside a room. They need exercise. They need to be outside enjoying the parks and the grass. Dogs are pack animals - so they are social by nature - and it is good that they can get out and meet other dogs. For these reasons it is quite easy to find clients who need their dogs walking. Just create a simple leaflet saying what you offer, and drop it through each letterbox along your street. In a nation of pet lovers you are bound to get a response. This is an enjoyable job and can provide additional income for unemployed people and good exercise for both yourself and the dog. If you like animals this is a great idea - and you could even do this while looking for other work. Just give it a go - and help cheer up an animals life. You might start by charging £5 per time to walk a dog and going perhaps twice or three times a week. If you do two dogs at a time then that's £30 extra a week. Nice. In preparation for this self employment you might do some voluntary work for Battersea Dogs Home. They have volunteers and you will learn all about caring for animals, feeding them, and walking them. Also Battersea Dogs Home may provide a valuable reference that will really help you acquire customers. In the short and long run, doing a stint at Battersea Dogs Home will really help your business take off. |
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| Template 9 Index | Industry = Media | Title = Photography |
| Description What is the most popular thing that people do on the internet? Answer - SOCIAL NETWORKING. There are hundreds of social networking sites such as Bebo, Twitter, Facebook etc. Never before has it been so important to have really good profile pics of yourself. People judge you by your picture. And most people have very poor quality pics. That's why a trained photographer can make excellent money by advertising on the social networking sites. Typically a photographer can earn £30 + per customer + travel costs. You don't need a studio - you just need a camera and a good knowledge of how to capture the best look. A knowledge of Photoshop is also required, so you can make people look even better. Life will be full of fun - meeting new people - taking interesting shots - and making money. I don't think you will ever look back.
Another photography application is passport photos. All students need them, yet all that is available is the photo machine - that produces low quality, unflattering photos. Students have to live with their student card pics for the rest of the year, so having a good photo is important. That's where you come in. If you can do good portrait photos then why not approach colleges and universities and propose this service. Even if you charge only as much as a photo machine, you could still make enough to be financially independent. And the job would be quite enjoyable. |
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| Template 10 Index | Industry = Catering | Title = Selling Refreshments |
| Description Have you ever been stuck on a bus on a really hot day. It's like an oven. Or have you been stuck on a tube during the sweltering summer heat. You know how it feels. Imagine you had a portable "Cooler" bag that was filled with ice and cans of ice-cool Coka Cola. I think people would be happy to buy a can for £1. You might also sell portable hand held fans - either paper fans or battery operated ones. When motorists are stuck in traffic jams there is an opportunity to sell refreshments to them. In fact, anywhere where people are stuck in transit is ideal. I knew a couple of students who used to sell hotdogs at Wimbledon each year. They made thousands. |
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| Template 11 Index | Industry = Media | Title = Video Making |
| Description Nearly every company has a web site nowadays, but hardly anyone has video on their website. If you know how to make and edit film then you can offer to make a video film of a companies products or services to go on their website. The market for this kind of service is very big. A course in film making and editing is the place to start. |
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| Template12 Index | Industry = Mechanical | Title = Push Bicycle Maintenance |
| Description
Bicycles are more popular now than ever before because of the Congestion charge, high parking charges, and time saved in travelling. Also they are popular because they maintain health. However, most push bikes require maintenance checkups about once every 3 months. Cycle shops charge about £40 for the checkup and extra for parts and work done. The problem with cycle shops is that they are usually booked out at weekends, and it can be quite hard to get a push bicycle MOT at the weekend. This is where any capable pushbike mechanic can make a regular income. You would need to complete the Bike Maintenance course run by BikeWorks - see here - http://www.bikeworks.org.uk/ . Then you need to get your set of tools - costs about £50 (Bikeworks may help you with this cost, or St Mungos can help you - 0207 902 7951) Then you would simply create a small leaflet and attach it to each pushbike that was chained up outside. Every bike needs regular maintenance. If you can offer it at a competitive price, at weekends and do home visits, then you will make a regular income. Think about it - you only have to do 2 checks a week to earn £60. You can find details of the BikeWorks Course by ringing - 020 8980 7998. |
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| Template13 Index | Industry = Recycling | Title = Oil Agent |
| Description
Essentially for motivated people with a strong will to earn commissions, to operate as independent vegetable oil agents. The job breaks down as follows: Agents will contact any catering establishment in their areas and offer fresh vegetable oil at market leading prices. The requirement for a caterer to get this great price is that they recycle their waste cooking oil with us also. We recycle the waste oil into biodiesel which we sell to taxis, so we can subsidise the price of the fresh oil with the revenue we earn from the biodiesel. This allows us to undercut most of the fresh oil market and makes it easy to sell. Therefore no real sales experience is required. However the Agents must be: 1) Presentable and personable 2) Honest and with integrity 3) Have computer and email access 4) Have a telephone Uptown Oil provides everything else they need. Names and addresses of caterers, a service description, oil delivery and waste oil collection service, website, email address etc. All agents will initially be paid cash, however we are looking to recruit a permanent team so the stars amongst them will be offered full time permanent jobs in a growing company in a n industry of the future. The job takes a few weeks to get up to speed because the commission builds up as each caterer continues to buy and recycle, however after 12 weeks the target earnings for each Agent is between £1500 and £2000. To achieve this, each Agent must acquire and maintain 200 accounts (chip shops, restaurants, schools, pubs etc). With 39’000 such caterers in London, there is real potential to make good money here. Download an application form here .
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| Template14 Index | Industry = Printing | Title = Business Cards |
| Description
How many times have you thought that it would be nice to have business cards, but printing firms take weeks to make them and can be expensive. What's more, you cannot normally order small numbers. Many people want business cards at short notice - same day, and they don't necessarily want large numbers of cards. Often they just need a few cards for a special occasion. If you can offer a service where you design and print cards on a same-day, small number basis, then you will certainly get business. All you need is a computer and printer. Customers are charged £30 per hundred. Card costs £2.50 for 10 sheets, and you can print 10 business cards on each sheet. Special delivery of 100 cards to anywhere within the London area would cost about £5. So your profit on each customer would be £22.50. With only 3 customers a week you would be financially independent of JSA. If you don't have a computer or printer, but like this idea, then find out if you could use a client computer at your local training centre - eg St Mungos, Bridge etc. |
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| Template15 Index | Industry = Cleaning | Title = Car Washing |
| Description
Car washing is best done in a car park, where car owners leave their cars for a few hours. All day public car parks are best. You approach the car as soon as it is parked and the owner gets out. You ask them if they want a car wash for £5. Ask them how long they will be. Money is normally paid upfront. The equipment you will need include -
You will need access to a water supply, so may have to strike a deal with a local business or home to get this. This business idea is very easy to set up and you can start making money straight away. The total equipment cost for setting up = only £2 You can expect to make £50-£100 per day in cash |
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