Need advise for a buddy

[captainsling]

I have a buddy and co-worker who is having his position eliminated. He has two weeks to find another job in the company. It is not looking good for him.

Question is: If you had $10,000 to invest in starting a business what would you do besides lawn care? He is not afraid of work, but needs work that is steady and is tired of the corporate rat race. Houston area.

Any advise is appreciated.

[klepdo]

I would not invest any money to help out a friend. I would invest in myself and if lots of work came in I would only hire someone that can pay for themselves.

[TxSuperDad]

Bad time of year to start one because its getting close to the end of prime time season.

But

If I had $5 grand id open a snow cone stand. With the right location it would be paid off in a month or so depending on how much you were paying yourself.

Other then restocking supplies the only overhead would be location rental and Electric costs if power is even available.

Of course start up cost is building the building yourself. You could build it on a trailer so you can pull it yourself. Or build the building and build to where a flat bed tow truck can hook up and pull it up and deliver it where you want.

Once 1 stand is paid for and turning profit. Take another 5 grand and open another one. If you can find someone you trust to run it. Or to run the one up and going.

Any event vending stand will make tons of money if you have a product that will sell.

The Stands at the stair fair make more then 5 of us put together in a year, in the two weeks they are there and dont work the rest of the year.


We went to the Great American Truck Show at the Dallas convention center on Saturday. Between 4 of us. We spent $51.00 on 2 hot dogs, a sub sandwhich, a chicken stir fry bowl, 2 cookies and 5 20 oz drinks

Think about what those items actually cost even with containers and you do the math.

Mad Money

[Chunky]

A guy started up a BBQ stand in my area with about that much starting capitol and did very well.

Or if you could find the right location for a Day Care, they seem to do well.

My last idea would be to go video events....like kids plays, sports, partys, and then edit and sell the DVDs. Low start up, plenty of events to attend. You would need some camera and editing skills.....but lots of up-side with low start up cost.

[captainsling]

I would not invest any money to help out a friend. I would invest in myself and if lots of work came in I would only hire someone that can pay for themselves.

I am not giving him any money. He is looking at starting his own business.

[KRF]

What are his skills?

[RiverRat1]

It needs to be something he either loves to do or is very experienced at IMO. Hard to just pick something and run with it. Will get boring.

What was he doing before?

[Cajun Blake]

I would seriously research a portable coffee trailer on a college campus near the busiest intersection

Serve fruit, bagels, yogart, and quality coffees .... The markup is insane and college kids are always jonesing for java

Something like this on campus

[captainsling]

He has owwned a restaurant, had an Ebay store, and last several years worked corporate retail.

[Cajun Blake]

Your friend will need to consult with the university and obtain a permit of some type

Put together a business plan and secure financing from a bank

This thing will pay for itself in no time, invest in a second trailer at seperate location on campus

[captainsling]

That is a good idea!

[TxSuperDad]

I would seriously research a portable coffee trailer on a college campus near the busiest intersection

Serve fruit, bagels, yogart, and quality coffees .... The markup is insane and college kids are always jonesing for java

Something like this on campus

Blake are they serving fancy coffee, Expresso and etc or just regular and flavored coffee.

This is a great idea, I have never seen one before. I always thought that hot chocolate stand would make a killing during winter in Texas.

[brushtrooper]

hotshotting, especially if he already has a late model pickup.

[captainsling]

hotshotting, especially if he already has a late model pickup.

This something I suggested but he has a half ton. Kind of limits what he can haul.

[Cajun Blake]

The trailers are outfitted with a quality , compact espresso machine (not cheap @ $3-5,000) and serve regular coffee, flavored coffee, iced coffee, latte, ..... basically anything you would order at Starbucks or a higher end coffee shop

I wouldn't charge Starbucks prices as you will make $$$$$ selling volume at reasonable prices.

These coffee trailers are on every college campus in Louisiana