Business Overview:

If you’re looking for a great part-time business that takes care of the heavy lifting for other businesses and homeowners, consider starting a hauling service. When an office changes locations or experiences downsizing, many items need to be disposed of like broken furniture, old file cabinets and outdated computers. A professional hauling service can take care of the moving, disposal or recycling of these items so the office manager can focus on his employees. Homeowners renovating their homes often have huge unattractive dumpsters sit in their driveways for weeks. Having an alternative like your business would be much appreciated by not only the homeowners but their neighbors as well. A hauling service is one of those business ideas that can go in many different directions so it’s important to accurately outline your service list before you start your business. You could focus on residential clients or corporate offices. You could specialize in recycling computers and other electronic items. Another option to consider is purchasing a franchise business. Although more costly than starting a business from the ground up, a franchise will come with branding, marketing, a proven system, training and quite possibly vehicles that will get your business going quickly. Once you’re ready to start going after clients, think about forming partnerships with relocation services or office managers in your area. Depending on your target market, these professionals can help direct business your way when their clients need some help with a move. Realtors will also be valuable contacts to have since they will likely need junk removal assistance when readying a home to sell. If they handle foreclosures or abandoned homes, typically there are a lot of useless items that need to be removed. Your trucks will also help get the word out about your new business. It’s a good idea to also have a website that explains exactly what you do and how much your services cost. Once you get your first few clients, your excellent work and customer service will get you plenty of referrals and even repeat business down the road. You may soon need to add to your fleet to handle the hauling demand.

A Day in the Life of a Hauling Service Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of any appointments. You and your team will meet your clients on site and haul off the items they don’t have use for. You will then properly dispose of or recycle these items. You will also take calls throughout the day from prospective customers with whom you will discuss your services and set appointments. At the end of the day you will ensure your trucks are clean and ready for work the next day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be homeowners, apartment managers, office managers or anyone who needs help hauling items away from a location and properly disposing of them.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan
• Financing
• Franchise (optional)
• Staff
• Trucks
• Equipment and supplies (dollies, trash bags, etc.)
• Website (optional)
• License and insurance
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• People will always need items hauled away and will gladly pay someone else to do it.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can easily run this business part-time.
• You can hire a staff to do the work for you.
• The right contacts can earn you repeat business.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• It can take some time to turn a profit.

Resources:

• National Recycling Coalition
• International Association of Electronics Recyclers
• Wikipedia on Electronic Waste

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Business Overview:

If you enjoy working with your hands and find satisfaction in making people’s memories last a lifetime, you should start a picture framing business. Picture frames are needed for everything from fine art and diplomas to posters and snapshots and can be made in any size. Operating a framing store that offers customers plenty of frame choices as well as excellent customer service can turn a hobby into a lucrative business idea. In order to have a large enough display area to properly show all your frame options, you will need to have a storefront. You should look for a location in a high traffic area, perhaps in a mall or outdoor shopping center. People love one-stop-shopping and if they can get a piece of art framed on the way to buy their child some shoes, they’re more likely to stop in. If you’re unsure how to start a picture framing business, you should look into purchasing a franchise. This will be a more costly investment but the benefits are huge. A franchise will come with training so you don’t need to have any prior experience in framing. You will also receive branding, marketing assistance, equipment and materials. Very few decisions need to be made when starting up a franchise which is great if you’re ready to get right down to business. However, if you’re interested in a more unique framing shop that perhaps caters to fine art, personally selecting each frame for your store would be important to your business model and a franchise wouldn’t be the best option. If you already operate an arts and crafts business, you could add framing to your services to bring in more customers. You can quickly learn this skill by reading a how-to book and practicing with a few pieces of your own before handling others’ art and photographs. Market your business by placing ads in the phone book and in magazines that cater to your market. If you specialize in framing large pieces, try to contract your services with a local art gallery so you can handle all of the framing for their business. They can also refer local artists to you for their framing needs. With excellent selection, skills and service, a framing business can be fun, exciting and quite lucrative.

A Day in the Life of a Picture Framing Business Owner:

Your day will begin by opening your store. You will help customers throughout the day with their framing needs. If you have a staff person helping you, you can work on framing during business hours while your employee mans the front of the store. You can also train your staff to do the framing as it’s a skill that many people are eager to learn. At the close of the day you’ll want to check your inventory and take of the finances to be ready for the following day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals who need excellent framing services for their art, documents and photos.

What You Need to Start:

• Picture framing business plan
• Marketing plan
• Storefront
• Frames and mattes
• Framing skills (or you can hire an experienced framer)
• Equipment and other supplies
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• The demand for custom frames will always be high.
• You can charge top dollar for excellent framing services.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You get to work with interesting people and unique art pieces.
• Excellent service will earn you repeat business.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• It can take some time to build your client base.

Resources:

• New England Professional Picture Framers Association
• Professional Picture Framers Association
• Bureau of Labor and Statistics Article on Framers
• Wikipedia on Picture Frames

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Business Overview:

If you’re looking for a business in the transportation industry that offers a useful service to your community, learn how to start a shuttle service. A shuttle service, also called a share taxi, is a mode of transportation that falls between public and private transportation. Shuttles can run on a semi-standard route, like an airport shuttle, or they can be hired to make pick-ups and drop-offs at any location, similar to a taxi service except customers need to make reservations for these services. When looking into how to start a shuttle service business, you’ll see that financing is necessary to pay for upfront expenses such as your shuttle vehicle(s) and driver(s). A solid business plan will not only help you secure funding, it will also help you focus your business and determine whether you will invest in a franchise, who your target market will be, how much you will charge, when you expect to turn a profit, etc. Research what types of permits and licenses are required in your area for starting a shuttle service as a special commercial vehicle license may be necessary for your driver(s) to have. You’ll also need business insurance that covers your vehicle(s), drivers and passengers. Selecting a niche is perhaps the most important aspect to starting this business since the best plans can fall flat without any customers. Study your competition and find the niche that’s not currently being served. There are likely plenty of airport shuttles but there might not be a shuttle service for the elderly. Other groups to target include college students who don’t have vehicles of their own and working parents who need after-school transportation for their children to sports practices and tutoring appointments. Also, consider pursuing contracts with local hotels to provide shuttle service for their customers to areas of interest around town (mall, zoo, museums, etc.). You’ll find that this is one of the most scalable business ideas you can launch because you can start with one van that you drive yourself and add vehicles and drivers as your business grows.

A Day in the Life of a Shuttle Service Business Owner:

Your daily schedule will depend on your business model and the number of vehicles you operate. If you do all the driving, you will likely have some appointments scheduled and will take calls throughout the day for additional pick-ups and drop-offs. If you have a fleet of vans, you will act as a dispatch of sorts, coordinating your drivers and setting appointments. If you hire your vehicles out to hotels or stick around college campuses, you will probably not have set appointments but your vans will be on site and available for customers to hire when they need transportation.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals who need transportation services.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing materials
• Vehicle(s)
• Permits and licenses
• Driver(s)
• Website (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Shuttle services are in high demand especially to those who don’t have transportation of their own (college students, the elderly, tourists, etc.).
• You can start this business with one vehicle and add more as your business grows.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You get to meet lots of interesting people.
• You can hire drivers to work for you while you concentrate on the marketing and management of the business.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• It can take some time to spread the word about your new business and turn a profit.

Resources:

• North American Transportation Association
• Airport Ground Transportation Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs
• Wikipedia on Shuttle Service (Share Taxi)

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Business Overview:

Starting a designated driver business is a smart way to be your own boss while providing a much-needed service to your community. A designated driver is typically the one person in a group who refrains from drinking alcohol and whose responsibility it is to drive everyone home. This is a great plan, in theory, but usually the designated driver ends up being the person in the group who’s had the least to drink—not someone who has completely abstained from drinking alcohol. Obviously that is not safe and there needs to be an alternative to leaving your car at the bar or club and taking an expensive cab ride home. Your designated driver business offers clients the freedom of going out, having a good time and not having to worry about who will drive home. When called, your business will send out two drivers. One will drive the customer and his car home, the other will follow in another car to pick up the other driver at the client’s home. This gets your customer home safely with his car in the driveway ready for the next day. If you are unsure how to set up a designated driver business, there are franchises available to help. A franchise will be more expensive up front but will come with training, marketing, advice on hiring drivers and much more. You can start a non-franchise designated driver business for much less if you prefer. If you print up some business cards and distribute them to area restaurants, bars and clubs, you’ll find you have enough business to fill your nights and weekends. This is a part-time business that will typically be slow during the day so you can focus on other business ideas and marketing. If you run a personal assistant business during the day, adding a designated driver business at night would be the logical next step since you are likely already familiar with your city and could easily navigate to pick-up and drop-off destinations. Consider creating a website and listing your services and pricing so that you can market your business to other businesses like event planners who could recommend your services for weddings, birthday parties, retirement parties, etc. Their clients may even choose to offer designated driving services to all their guests. Offer both individual rates and group rates and have some extra staff on hand for large events since you’ll likely need to drive several people home around the same time. Other than large group events, bartenders and club managers will be your best referral tools, so spread the word to them and they will pass business on to you.

A Day in the Life of a Designated Driver Business Owner:

If you have a large event, you will need to coordinate your “stand-by” staff and have them on call for when the party ends. Otherwise, you and your partner will be on call during your set hours (8:00 pm – 2:00 am, for example) and respond to calls throughout the evening. When you’re not making pick-ups, you will go to various bars and clubs distributing business cards to customers and bartenders.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals who have had too much to drink and need to get home safely. Your customers may also be responsible people who throw parties or large events who want to hire you to ensure their guests get home safely after they’ve had a great time at the event.

What You Need to Start:

• Two-person team
• Proper insurance
• Vehicle
• Marketing materials
• Method of accepting credit card payments in your vehicle
• Website (optional)
• Extra staff (optional but necessary if you market your services to large parties and at certain times of year like St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• This business provides an invaluable service.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• It’s rewarding to know you’re keeping intoxicated drivers off the road and getting them home safely.
• The start-up investment for a non-franchise business is low.
• You can easily run this business part-time.

The Bad:

• The hours are late.
• Some customers may be so intoxicated they are difficult to work with.

Resources:

• Designated Drivers Foundation
• Wikipedia on Designated Drivers

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Business Overview:

If selling sweet treats sounds like your dream business, opening a candy store can be your ticket to success while doing what you love every day. Starting a candy store business is the perfect way to take a home hobby like baking and making chocolates to the next level. Since this is will be a pricey investment, it is wise to draw up a business plan before you go too far. Decide what type of store you will open, where your shop will be located and how you will market your business. You could open a candy store with strictly pre-purchased items or you could offer only homemade candies—or a combination of both. You could focus your business on chocolates, hard candies, baked candies, etc. Offering personalized treats for special occasions will help boost your business too. If you’re still unsure of how to start a candy store business, there are plenty of franchises available to help you get started. A franchise will be a more costly route than going it alone but you will get assistance with inventory, marketing, staffing, branding and ongoing support. If you’re looking to sell homemade items, a franchise might be too limiting for your inventory goals. However you decide to set up your business, it’s important that you have a high traffic location and distribute marketing materials around town. If you decide to make and sell your own candies, you could also set up a relationship with local restaurants and coffee shops that would sell your items in their establishments. Leave business cards that will lead their customers to your shop for specialty items. With high quality goods and excellent customer service, you’ll find this is one of the more enjoyable business ideas out there for a candy-loving entrepreneur. In fact, if word spreads quickly, you’ll have to ramp up production to meet the needs of your customers.

A Day in the Life of a Candy Store Business Owner:

Your day will begin well before your store is set to open as you will need to prepare and display your candy for the day. If you buy your candy products you’ll want to check your inventory and make sure the stock is full. If you decide to go the homemade route, you’ll need to be sure you prepare plenty of goodies to sell. Once your store opens you will spend your day helping customers and taking phone order for specialty items. You will also spend some time, perhaps on days you’re closed, marketing your business around town and online.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for delicious candy treats for themselves or for a special occasion.

What You Need to Start:

• Candy store business plan
• Storefront
• Candy preparation area (if you decide to make, not purchase, your candies)
• Candy making equipment (pots, pans, thermometers, etc.)
• Recipes
• Ingredients (chocolate, nuts, sugar, etc.)
• Display cases
• Other items (coffee, sodas, etc.)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• With a good location, a candy store can be very profitable.
• If you enjoy making candy, you get to do what you love every day.
• If you decide to purchase your candies, you will still be very rewarded by seeing people so happy to purchase your goods.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.

The Bad:

• The start-up costs are high.
• It can take some time to turn a profit.

Resources:

• National Confectioners Association
• International Association of Candy Manufacturers
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Candy, Nut and Confectionery Stores
• Wikipedia on Candy

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Business Overview:

If you are looking for an excellent mobile business with plenty of potential, consider starting a leather and vinyl repair business. If you have experience with leather and vinyl repairs, you know that the possibilities are endless as far as items that are in need of repair. All sorts of industries use leather, vinyl and plastic in their goods – furniture, automobiles, restaurants, airplanes, boats, specialty health related items like dental chairs and physicians’ tables are just a few examples. Leather and vinyl items like these are sizeable investments that cannot simply be replaced when they start to show wear and tear. A professional repair technician is an invaluable asset to businesses in industries like those mentioned above as well as for fashion items like leather jackets, boots, handbags, etc. And depending on your area of expertise, you might be able to secure a repair contract for an entire medical building or pre-owned car lot. If you’re not trained in leather and vinyl repair, there are plenty of franchises available to help you get started. A franchise will be more expensive up front but the advantages typically outweigh the cost issue. As a franchise owner, you will receive training, equipment and supplies, ongoing support, marketing assistance and, in some cases, a vehicle. If you’re looking to take your window repair business to the next level, consider a franchise that includes vinyl siding repair. If you own a car detailing business, imagine the boost to your profits if you were also able to offer automobile leather and vinyl repair. As you can see, there are a number of items that need this type of repair so this could be one of the most profitable part-time business ideas out there today. Since you will be in your vehicle during your working hours, large magnetic advertisements will spread the word around town of your new business. A website will be a good marketing tool as well as you can post before and after pictures to show potential clients the quality of your work. Distribute business cards to those in your target market (auto dealers, medical offices, boat owners, etc.) and in no time, you will have enough work to explore the option of hiring a staff and transitioning to full-time repair business.

A Day in the Life of a Leather and Vinyl Repair Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your appointments. You will perform repairs on site during the day and you will distribute marketing materials anywhere you go. If you have a staff working for you, you will coordinate with them throughout the day while concentrating on marketing your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be auto dealers, office managers, medical professionals or anyone with a leather or vinyl item that is in need of repair.

What You Need to Start:

• Leather and vinyl repair skills
• Repair supplies and equipment
• Vehicle
• Marketing materials
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• There is no end to the number of items that need this type of repair.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can easily run this business part-time.
• With excellent repair skills, you can scale this business up to full-time.
• If you contract your services with an office manager or auto dealer, you will have plenty of repeat business.

The Bad:

• Franchise fees are high; you will need to have financing set up.
• It can take some time to build your client list.

Resources:

• United States Hide, Skin and Leather Association
• Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
• Bureau of Labor and Statistics on Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
• Wikipedia on Leather
• Wikipedia on Vinyl

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Business Overview:

If you’re an experienced limousine driver or just looking for a good business opportunity, you should learn how to start a limousine business. If you already have training in limo driving, going out on your own and being your own boss is the natural next step. You can continue to do the driving yourself or you could hire other drivers to drive for you. Knowing the ins and outs of the limo business from auto mechanics to customer service and taking reservations will go a long way in making this business idea a success. Starting a limousine business will take a large investment so you’ll need to line up financing to help you purchase your car(s). This means you’ll need to have a solid business plan to present to your lenders. Have a good idea of what your target market will be and how you will advertise. A business plan will help you determine how long it will be until you turn a profit which is important information to have. If you do not have any experience driving a limousine but you recognize the profit potential of a business like this, you can hire professional drivers. This would free up your time to concentrate on marketing your business. Consider contracting your services with area businesses who need executives transported to and from the airport and to various meetings and events around town. Also contact hotel concierges and try to get on their list of limo companies they call when a customer requests limousine service. You should also find the event planners in your area and let them know your service is available for weddings and other events they may be hired to produce. It’s important that when you start a limousine business, your drivers (whether that’s yourself or your staff) are properly licensed. Limousines are larger than regular cars and that typically requires having a special license in order to properly operate them. Building your business will take some time but with a solid business plan, great drivers and excellent customer service, you will benefit from repeat and referral business.

A Day in the Life of a Limousine Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of any appointments on your schedule. You or your drivers will pick up customers at their homes, hotels or offices and drive them where they need to go. You will take calls throughout the day and set appointments. You will spend some time contacting area businesses marketing your limo service.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals or groups needing transport via limousine. You may contract your services with area hotels and businesses.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan
• Financing
• Limousine(s)
• Driver(s)
• Licenses
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• You get to meet many interesting people.
• You don’t have to work in an office.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can charge top dollar for excellent limousine services.
• You can hire drivers to do the work for you.

The Bad:

• Start-up costs are high.
• This is a luxury service that may not be as popular during difficult economic times.

Resources:

• National Limousine Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs
• Wikipedia on Limousines

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Business Overview:

If you take pride in creating the perfect sandwich and you’re considering starting your own business, you should learn how to open a sub shop. Sandwich shops are popular for the lunch crowd as well as other meals of the day. If you find the right location and make delicious food, you’ll be busy before you know it. Since this is not a cheap investment, it’s important that you have a business plan in place. Having this plan will help you determine if you want to purchase a sub shop franchise or if you want to go it alone. They both have advantages. A franchise will be pricier but it will come with name recognition, branding, decorations, uniforms, marketing and a food supplier. Starting a sandwich shop without a franchise means you’ll have to make more decisions up front but you will have the freedom to create your menu and change it at any time. You can set your own prices, set up your store however you like and make your own business hours. If you already have food service experience, whether in the restaurant business or even street vending, you will have an advantage over someone with no food experience. However, you have to know how to start a sub shop from the business perspective as well. Having a great menu in place and a well thought out business plan can help to ensure the success of this business idea. Once you have the business framework in place, you need to find the right location. Get the health inspector’s approval before buying or leasing the space and get started on any renovations that will be necessary to make it a dining establishment (stainless steel sinks, walk-in refrigerator, etc.). When your space is ready and you have your menu set, you need to plan your grand opening. You should probably wait to hire a staff until you see how busy you will be. A sandwich shop can usually be run by just a couple of people until word spreads. Post flyers about your grand opening around town and distribute coupons to get your first customers in the doors. Once they try your amazing and unique sandwiches, they will tell their friends and you’ll have to hire a full staff to handle the demand.

A Day in the Life of a Sub Shop Business Owner:

Your day will begin early as you will need to chop veggies and arrange meats and cheeses so they are easily accessible during busy mealtimes. Throughout the day you will prepare sandwiches and help your customers have a pleasurable experience. On days your shop is closed, you will distribute flyers and coupons around town and tell everyone you know about your new business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be hungry sandwich lovers looking for a new and exciting place to get a delicious sandwich.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan and materials (flyers, take-home menus, coupons, etc.)
• Storefront with tables and chairs
• Sandwich items (bread, meat, cheese, vegetables)
• Other food items (chips, soups, etc.)
• Beverages
• Service items (plates, baskets, cups, napkins, etc.)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• A good sandwich shop is always very popular.
• Sandwiches appeal to health conscious eaters.
• Franchises are available to get you started.
• A casual sub shop is a fun and exciting work environment.
• You get to spend your days making delicious food and making people happy.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• It can take some time for your marketing to produce customers.

Resources:

• National Restaurant Association
• Bureau of Labor and Statistics on Food Service Managers
• Wikipedia on Submarine Sandwiches

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Business Overview:

Learning how to become a personal chef is a great way to put your skills to use while helping your clients to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you are a trained chef, your options are plentiful when you graduate from culinary school. You could go to work as a chef in a restaurant, open your own restaurant or, if you prefer a smaller kitchen and a closer relationship with your clients, you could become a personal chef. Starting a personal chef business does not require a lot of start-up capital and you can do it part-time. A personal chef typically prepares meals for clients in their home kitchens then stores the meals in containers so the clients can heat and eat them at a later date. Personal chefs may visit their clients once a week and prepare a week’s worth of meals or they may be asked to visit everyday and prepare fresh meals. How much you charge will be determined by the level of service you provide your clients. You could choose to only offer weekly visits or be available as much as your clients are willing to pay for you to visit their homes. As a personal chef, you also may be asked to cater parties and events for your clients. When you begin to research how to start a personal chef business, you may find that selecting a niche will set your business apart from others in your area. Specializing in vegetarian, vegan or organic meals will give your clients an option they may not have with other personal chef businesses. Other areas to concentrate on include gluten-free meals, special diets for diabetics or those with certain food allergies. You’ll find that this is one of the most rewarding business ideas available to a trained chef looking to help others maintain a healthy lifestyle.

A Day in the Life of a Personal Chef Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your appointments. You will stop by the grocery store on the way to your client’s house and prepare meals for them. You may have other chefs working for you in which case you will review their appointments and ensure they arrive on time and prepare the appropriate recipes. You will spend some time marketing your business by posting flyers in area grocery stores, health food stores, weight-loss centers, fitness centers, etc.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals or families who need the help of a personal chef to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle. Or they may not have time to prepare appropriate meals for themselves and their families.

What You Need to Start:

• Personal chef business plan
• Chef training
• Marketing materials
• Staff (optional)
• Transportation
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• It’s rewarding to use your skills to help others become healthier.
• Start-up costs are low.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You can easily run this business part-time.
• You can charge top dollar for delicious food that meets your clients’ dietary requirements.
• Your clients will likely need your services on a regular basis, which brings in a regular income.

The Bad:

• It can take some time to build up your client base.
• Some clients may be difficult to work with.

Resources:

• American Persona and Private Chef Institute and Association
• United States Personal Chef Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Cooks, Private Household
• Wikipedia on Personal Chefs

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Business Overview:

Attention foodies: if you love to cook and enjoy teaching others your craft, you should learn how to start a cooking school. Learning to cook is very popular today as seen by the boom in television programs that teach the inexperienced home cook how to cook like a restaurant chef. You don’t have to have skills of a restaurant chef to run a successful cooking school, however. You only need to have a passion for food and a love for passing that passion on to others. Being able to cook a lovely meal for a friend or loved one is an empowering and rewarding skill to have. Individuals take cooking classes to learn proper techniques and gain knowledge they can take back to their own kitchens so they can cook for themselves and others. Couples enjoy taking cooking lessons so they can share a hobby and have more fun in the kitchen. When starting a cooking school, you should consider what type of school you will operate. There are so many choices, it’s important to have a business plan to help you focus your efforts. You could choose to run your cooking school out of your home and just offer classes to a few people at a time. People will pay extra for these “private” lessons and they will enjoy the personalized attention. You could hold your cooking classes at a local established business like a specialty grocer, gourmet shop or wine store. If you enjoy teaching a large group, you could lease out the commercial kitchen of a catering company or college during their slow time of year. You should research cooking classes that are already offered in your area then figure out a specialty that is not currently available. You could offer classes in a certain ethnic fare, baking or grilling. Before you open for business you need to be sure to have the proper certification for the safe handling of food and beverages. Neglecting to get this certification can result in huge fines. Next you’ll need to market your business around town. Advertise with flyers posted at grocery stores, specialty food shops, wine stores, in parks, etc. You may find that this is one of the most popular business ideas available and with great skills and a fun teaching environment, you might soon have to find a larger space and hire a staff to help handle all your students.

A Day in the Life of a Cooking School Business Owner:

You will begin your day by checking your schedule and appointments. If you hold classes at your home, you will go to the store, buy items you’ll need for class and return home to prepare your kitchen for your students. If you hold classes away from home, after your trip to the store, you’ll set up in the wine shop, culinary school kitchen or where ever your classes are being held that day. You will greet your customers, collect payments and proceed with the class. At the end of the class you and your students will enjoy a meal to taste all the recipes you made during the cooking session. At the conclusion of the session you will distribute business cards and encourage your students to spread the word about your business and to come back themselves for another lesson.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking to gain cooking skills they can take home to their kitchens.

What You Need to Start:

• Cooking school business plan
• Marketing plan and materials
• Cooking skills
• Kitchen (home or elsewhere)
• Cooking materials (pots, pans, utensils, etc.)
• Ingredients
• Food handling certification
• Business license
• Insurance
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Cooking classes are fun and exciting.
• Start-up costs are relatively low.
• You can choose to offer classes for as many people as you choose (and have room for).
• You are likely to get repeat customers and referrals.
• It is rewarding to pass along your passion to someone else.

The Bad:

• There are likely plenty of cooking schools in your area so you’ll need to offer something unique to set your business apart.
• If you are not properly certified to handle food and beverages, you could be fined.

Resources:

• International Association of Culinary Professionals
• American Personal and Private Chef Institute and Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Teachers – Self-Enrichment Education
• Wikipedia on Cooking Schools

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