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Make Money Replacing Broken Window Glass

Owners or tenants pay you to replace broken window glass in their apartments or homes. This business idea can be either a part-time or a full-time way to make money, depending on the demand and your ambition. With the hard times we are having, people will be staying in their present homes longer, rather than trading up. This practice increases the demand for home repairs. (This is article #3 in a series of emergency handyman services.)
Requirements
This business idea is best suited for people who are physically fit and enjoy working with their hands. You must be able to remove and replace broken window glass and repair damaged window dividers. This refers to window panes held in wooden sashes with glazers’ points and glazing compound (putty).
You should own a pickup truck or van to haul equipment, materials, supplies, and trash. You need to own or purchase the equipment and protective gear required for this activity. You should set up a home office with the basic office equipment and supplies.
Getting customers
Since this is an emergency type service, you should be able to make money without much trouble. Use a simple classified advertisement in the local newspaper or on to get customers. Also, advertise in any property owner’s newsletter.
Preliminary job activities
After arriving at the job site and greeting the customer, inspect the damaged window(s). Use a tape measure to find the approximate inside width and height of the wood frame to receive the new glass. The customer may be in a hurry and want you to work on a holiday, weekend, or at night to get the glass replaced. In addition, you may be asked to come back later and paint over the cured putty bead to make it weatherproof.
You can use standard job bid forms to estimate your labor and the costs of broken window glass and any damaged window dividers. This bid should include the fees for any extra services to be performed, such as painting or staining, and hauling away any trash. If the customer accepts your bid, you both can sign the bid form.
Main job activities
Before starting work, put on goggles and heavy work gloves. Then use a wide trowel or shovel to pick up any visible pieces of broken glass inside and outside the damaged window. Place these pieces in a sturdy cardboard box. Then lay down a plastic sheet to catch any more pieces that may fall down.
After heating the old putty, remove all remaining pieces of broken glass. Place them inside a sturdy cardboard box. Then use a chisel, putty knife, or utility knife to remove all the old putty from the window sash. Replace any damaged window dividers. Use a whiskbroom or small paintbrush to clean the wood where you removed the putty. Then apply linseed oil to all the bare wood.
Use a tape measure to find the actual inside width and height of the wood frame to receive the new glass. Then deduct 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch from each measurement to allow for clearance when replacing the glass pane. If the wood frame is straight and square, use the 1/16 of an inch deduction. Otherwise, use the 1/8 of an inch deduction.
Have the glass pane(s) cut to size at your local glass shop, hardware store, or building supplies store. (Be sure the glass is the correct size before you leave the store.)
Roll lumps of fresh putty between your hands. Use these rolls of putty to form a thin bed all around the wood frame that will receive the glass pane. (If the putty is cold, warm it up first.) Then gently press the new glass pane into the wood frame. This should force some putty out behind the glass.
Use a putty knife to insert new glaziers’ points every six inches or so along the wood frame. Force the point straight into the wood. Don’t put pressures against the glass, or it may break. The points should not be visible from inside the house. Use at least two points for each side of the glass pane. Don’t put a point closer than an inch from a corner of the glass.
Roll more lumps of fresh putty between your hands. Use these rolls of putty to form a triangular bead against the glass and the exposed wood frame. (If the putty is cold, warm it up first.) Then use a putty knife to flatten and strike off the surface of the putty bead. Shape this new putty bead to match any old putty beads near it. Also, the edge of the putty bead should not be visible from inside the house. Dip the putty knife in linseed oil if needed to smooth out the new putty bead. Use the putty knife to scrape off any excess putty around the glass pane and wood frame.
Follow the directions on the putty container as to curing and painting. When painting the cured putty bead, let the paint extend slightly beyond it (onto the glass and the wood frame) to protect the putty edges from the weather.
Final job activities
Inspect the premises to verify you have finished all required tasks. Remove all your equipment and supplies. Clean up inside and outside around the damaged window. Make sure you have placed all pieces of broken glass inside a sturdy cardboard box.
Collect your agreed upon fee from the customer. Haul the trash away, if part of your agreed upon services.

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Make Money Working From Home – From a Hobby?

You will want to consider a few things before you start your own business. With some application, you will be able to make profits by doing things that interest you.
The first step is to evaluate whether or not making money from your hobby or interest will be profitable.
Where your hobby involves making a product, such as pottery, you may be able to sell your creations directly.
Remember, do not limit yourself, you may well be able to sell the services associated with your hobby, as well as the product itself.
For example, if you like mushrooms, get some spores and grow them in your shed from home, and sell them to your local greengrocer, or directly online.
There are unlimited possibilities, if you use your imagination., write an e book on how to grow mushrooms, and sell it online, or if you want to take it to an extreme, open a restaurant that specializes in mushroom dishes.
The point I am trying to make is that the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
It is important to accept that you will need to provide resources to turn your hobby or Interest into a sustainable business.
Is your idea sustainable?
The best way to establish this, is market research, talk to local business people, family, friends, experts in the field, and do some online research.
After you establish that your idea is a good one, use the power of the internet as an efficient tool.
You will be able to source articles and e books, that cover everything from how to start and develop your business, right through to production and marketing.
The internet is a powerful marketing tool, opening your business to a worldwide market, many people have had excellent success with the likes of Amazon, or eBay.
The idea here is not to limit your thought process to the fact that although your hobby or interest is something you love to do, does not mean you can not turn it into a sustainable business.
It is also important to start off small, so that your growth does not use up all your available cash, and that your supply can keep up with the demand.
The first act of changing a hobby or interest into a sustainable business, is to write a business plan to ensure that important elements are not overlooked, and that you establish clear goals. This will enable you to measure progress and clearly identify results.

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Plan, Plan, Plan, and Then Run a Business

Whether it is about starting a large-scale industrial business unit, or a small-scale home-based venture, a business plan would remain significant in ensuring success. It is said that one who fails to plan, actually plans to fail.
Planning gives a proper guideline, a roadmap, and an action plan to be followed. If planned, implemented, and controlled adequately; there’s no doubt that the business would flourish.
The biggest tool in this regard is a Business Plan. Although there is no standard format for a business plan because the contents depend largely upon the type of business it is written for. However, some major contents are found nearly in almost every business plan. This may prove beneficial for those who prefer to plan before jumping into an action mode.
Following is a business plan tailored specifically for small home-based ventures.
Cover Sheet
Executive Summary
Table of Contents
Body of the Document
Description
Marketing
Competition
Operating procedures
Personnel
Insurance
Capital investment and supply list
Financial statements
Legally required documents of business owner(s)
Crucial for Success
Many people have witnessed the disaster that no planning or poor planning brought over their business projects. No matter how great an idea may look before implementation, even a minor planning error may ruin the entire business concept.
A business plan possesses a critical role and determines the success of a business. It is important because it:
Clarifies direction
Provides future vision
Attracts financing
Attracts team members
Managing
Gives the business a proper structure
Question Yourself!
One of the most important contents from the above listed business plan is the ‘Business’ section. With reference to the business plan of a small home-based business, this section holds the highest degree of importance, as it sets the foundation stone of how the business would actually look.
This is the time to answer the 5 W’s and an H in order to get a clearer business idea and get ready to implement it. Answer questions like:
Why am I starting a business?
What kind of business do I want?
What products/services will my business provide?
What is my target market?
Who is my competition?
What is unique about my business idea and the products and services?
What type of suppliers do I need to contact?
When and where will I house my business?
How soon will it take before my products/services are available?
How will I price my product compared to my competition?
How will I manage my business?
How many employees will I need to start up?

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Earn Extra Income – Where to Find Business Ideas That Make Easy Money

The intricate of coming up with a business idea and then turning it to become a successful venture has greatly contributed to many people settling for the easy way out, that is seeking for employment. But it is important to understand that for you to realize financial freedom you must push yourself beyond your normal limits. Research has proved that only one percent of people who are employed ever become millionaires. In short, business is the only way out.
I am addressing people who want to positively impact their own lives as well as those of other people. “Money makes the world go round”, someone once said. Therefore, making money is the key to positively influencing your life. It’s not that am against employment, but am seeking to make you realize that coming up with a business idea is the only way of becoming a millionaire unless you are thinking of illegitimate ways of achieving the same.
The internet is rich with wealth generation business ideas which if you choose to ignore, means you have attained financial freedom. When I first started doing online business, I didn’t think much of it until I meet a friend who was making real money from Google AdSense. This opened my eyes to other business opportunities, and here I am today ready and willing to share the secrets I’ve acquired in my six years in online business.
Your boss is not ready to loss your services just yet but it is time you start working for yourself. Start your small business on the internet and begin generating extra income that will supplement your salary. I assure you, within a year’s time you will be writing that resignation letter as make your way towards achieving financial freedom.

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Small Business Idea – How to Start a Translation Service Business

Although the United States does not have an official language, the vast majority of the population speaks American English. However there are an estimated 337 other languages spoken by the population. Spanish is the second most common language in the U.S. with it being spoken by over 12% of the population. The Chinese languages, French, German, Tagalog (of the Philippine’s), Vietnamese, Italian, Korean and Russian round out the top ten languages spoken in the United States according to the 2000 census.
As we move towards a more culturally diverse country, coupled with the impact of globalization on our economy – the need for translation services will increase. Most, if not all major corporations offer a Spanish language translation to their customers via telephone IVR systems, marketing materials and other customer promotional items. It’s easy for them to do this because they have the budget and manpower to put into it, but this isn’t the case for the small business owner – and this is where you come in!
If you are fluent in multiple languages, consider putting that highly valuable skill to good use by starting a Translation Service business. The Internet book of the last 15 years has had a tremendous effect on marketing, for the first time in history the small business owner can reach a global audience with just a few clicks of the mouse. The unfortunate thing is that most of them are not capitalizing on this wonderful advantage due to fears of language and cultural barriers. If a Translation Service sounds like a business that you’d be interested in keep these things in mind:
1. What are the set up costs of a translation service business: For the price of marketing materials, a website, and the cost of your business license – you can start a translation service business. The main component of your business model is the ability to speak another language(s), however it is important that you are fluent and well versed in the proper spelling, grammar, tenses, etc. If you need to brush up on those things, we suggest making the investment in Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone language courses. Remember that your clients are business owners and professional so their documents must reflect that no matter what language they are written in.
2. How much money can I expect to make?: The going rate for professional translation services is 0.15 to 0.30 per word, however the larger companies tend to pad this amount with minimal requirements and other processing fees. It’s not uncommon for a 75 word document to run the neighborhood of $100 if not more. Considering the fact that the average email sent in the United States contains 50 words, paying $100 for translation is not cost effective.
Your competitive edge will be found in your price point. By keeping your minimum requirements low coupled with a wide range of services, you will make a name for your business.
3. How can I market my translation service business?: The first thing you’ll want to do is establish your online presence. This will allow you to reach a global market. Your marketing efforts however will begin on a more local level until you can build the revenue to advertise on a broader skill. Your target demographic will be businesses that while they attract a culturally diverse client base, they have no materials available in the language(s) you specialize in. Offer to, for a free or reduced rate – translate one page of their brochure, website or other important documents in exchange for their testimonial or reference.
Don’t limit yourself to brick & mortar businesses, reach out to online businesses as well.
When approached with professionalism, the possibilities of the translation service business are endless. As your client base grows, you may also consider hiring employees who are fluent in other languages as well. This will expand your reach and give you a leg up on the competition!