You may find that in order to get a good job, you will have to work 14 straight days and put in 16 hour days. The next week, you may not have enough work to stay busy for 4 hours a day. It”s a make it while you”ve got it business, very seasonal, and very unpredictable. After you”ve been in business for a while, you”ll be able to predict the really busy times (i.e., the end of the semester if you”re near a college); and the really slow times (i.e., the week between Christmas and New Years).
Start out with ads in your local newspaper. They should be short, direct and simple:
Save thousands on rent! We”ll find you the perfect roommate! Call: 555-5555.
When calls start coming in, ask for a $25 registration fee to get your cash-flow started right away.
If you”re serious, and get yourself properly organized, you can easily make $300 or more every weekend.
It would be advantageous for you to have a large sign on each side of your trailer, and on each side of the car as well. It might read: Paper Collection Service.
You may decide to stay at home and expand your business by using subcontractors. There are a lot of word processors who own their own computers who prefer to work strictly on a part-time basis, in their own homes.. they could be glad to take your excess work load on an as-needed basis.. As long as you can find an abundance of subcontractors, this may be the ideal way for you to increase your business. Using subcontractors eliminates the need to pay benefits and taxes, it keeps your overhead costs down, and essentially you will be garnering a profit from each page the subcontractor types.
Larger organizations save big dollars also by farming their work out instead of using temporary employment agencies. Unless the project cannot be taken off the organization”s premises, When they have an overflow of work. By using an independent, the organization gets the work done but doesn”t have to pay for the additional equipment, benefits and the fees charged by temporary placement agencies.
Be especially watchful for ways to profitably use every scrap of material and reduce the amount you spend for supplies.
And never forget the TREASURE OF TRASH. Start with the high-class neighborhoods. Often suburban towns may have a cleanup week in the spring and fall. Or check with the local sanitation department and look at the things placed at the curb the night before pickup. The again, there”s always the junk yards. A few hours in a good yard will produce lots of fascinating objects that can be put to good use elsewhere.
Some of the items to look for in the contract are hidden costs, clear title to the land, and a statement which gives you the right to start building on the land before it is paid for. Then make it your responsibility to record the contract in your name at the county clerk”s office.
Also, especially in the beginning, add that little extra touch to the affairs you cater. DON″T CUT CORNERS! Remember, your compensation will not always come in the form of dollars and cents, reputation is equally as valuable, perhaps more so in the long run. Remember — that little ‘extra touch’ is often more effective and sometimes cheaper than advertising.