Work at Home

99 Businesses for New Americans

A collection of businesses especially selected for newly arrived
people or immigrants who want to increase their income and build
security in their adopted country.

These are businesses that can be started with minimal training
and investment and do not require a high level of English
language skills. They are almost certain to produce extra
income. Most can be operated by one person or family. These
businesses can usually be sold for extra profit when the
operators are ready to move on.

This listing is most valuable when used in conjunction with your
imagination. Only you can possibly know your special desires,
your capabilities and your particular situation. For this
reason, you are encouraged to substitute products and services
listed here that may be more suitable for your environment. Read
over a few ideas at a time and make notes of those that interest
you. Include any additional ideas that pop into your mind -
these can be valuable!

Review your completed list from time to time and eliminate those
that sound less promising. Keep narrowing your list to things
that you think have a good potential. Meanwhile, consider your
surroundings. What products or services can you supply that are
needed and that people will pay for? When you find just the
right combination for your personality, finances, talents and
the needs of your area, start preparing for your successful
business!

99 BUSINESSES FOR NEW AMERICANS

01 - ADULT DAY CARE CENTER. Operate a center to look after
elderly and/or handicapped people. Offer refreshments, games,
activities and assistance, but not health care.

02 - AUTO TOUCH-UP. Repair minor dents, cover rock chips, remove
rust, polish, clean tires. Renew rubber and plastic, deodorize
to help bring the best price or trade-in.

03 - BOTANICA. Stock "magic" potions, roots, powders, candles,
good luck charms. Print (buy) and sell related instructions and
lore. Careful not to guarantee cures or results!

04 - COSTUME RENTAL. Make (buy, sell) and alter costumes for
parties, halloween, promotions, school plays. Expand to formal
clothing rentals (tuxedos, gowns).

05 - DANCING SCHOOL. Instruct others in your dance specialty in
group or individual classes. Be sure to "showcase" students to
encourage them and publicize your business!

06 - JACK REPAIR. Repair hydraulic jacks in your garage shop for
individuals, garages, mechanics and retail stores. Buy, sell,
take in trades and rebuild all kinds.

07 - PAPIER MACHE SCULPTURE. Create a selection of your
"standard" caricatures, pinatas and offer custom versions.
Assemble do-it-yourself kits with full instructions.

08 - SALAD SERVICE. Make and deliver, fresh daily salad packets
to small stores, lunch counters and cafes. When ready, submit
bids to larger serving operations.

09 - MAIL ORDER SALES. Find the right product, "showcase" it,
advertise it, and sell it by mail (ads and/or mailing lists).
Caution: heavy competition and many "sharks"!

10 - WINDOWS AND SCREENS. Repair windows (replace glass, repair
frames). Renew or rebuild screens. Offer different screens, and
package prices for all new screens.

11- ACCUMULATION SALE. Gather items from job lot purchases or
any source. Clean up and store until you have enough to hold a
sale from your home. Then arrange and sell.

12 - AWNINGS, WINDOW. Design, sell and install permanent and
fold-up fabric and or metal awnings for storefronts, patios,
house windows, trailers and mobile homes.

13 - BUILDER'S CLEAN-UP. Work with contractors to clean up
during and after construction jobs. Sweep out building, haul
away all debris. Salvage leftovers as bonus.

14 - COUNTER REFINISHING. Refinish, repair damaged counter tops
in homes, businesses and for rental or housing agents. Advertise
and list your service with hardware stores.

15 - FURNITURE MAKING. Start with one or two popular items that
you can "mass" produce easily and sell well such as bunk beds or
patio chairs. Gradually add other products.

16 - INSULATION SERVICE. Start a service to install roll, foam
or bat insulation, or use your truck or trailer mounted blower
to install blown-in attic and wall insulation.

17 - MARBLE CASTING. With "synthetic" marble, cast, finish and
market figurines, ashtrays, office (pen bases), home (door
plates), commercial (trophies) items to order.

18 - PILLOWS. Make and decorate designer, fancy, or "down home"
pillows to sell in boutiques, fairs, party plans, sales catalogs
and/or advertisements and mail order.

19 - SECURITY PATROL. Contract with neighborhood residents to
provide security patrols (car, foot) in areas needing additional
protection. Notify and work with local police.

20 - WALKWAYS. Specialize in walkways and sidewalks of brick,
stone, wood or cement. Bid on complete jobs, including
materials. Expand to ramps for the handicapped.

21 - LIMOUSINE SERVICE. Provide a chauffeured limo for special
occasions and prestigious business situations. Take kids to
prom, newlyweds to their hotel, meet visiting VIP's.

22 - OIL RECLAIMING. With a mechanical filtering system, collect
used oil from service stations and mechanics. Purify (strain),
bottle and market as reconstituted oil.

23 - CO-OP STORE. Form a co-op business to display and sell
member products (crafts, produce, merchandise). Members share
expenses, ownership, work and profits.

24 - BEAUTY AIDS. Sell general or specialized beauty (or ethnic)
supplies in your home salon or by appointment. Represent
established lines and/or sell your own brand.

25 - APPLIANCE LEASING. Buy (new or used) and lease appliances
to individuals, landlords, rental agents and commercial
operations. Service your own equipment while leased.

26 - BOOKKEEPING SERVICE. Provide (even beginning) bookkeeping
services to (especially one-person) small businesses in your
area. Expand to complex systems and computer.

27 - CREDIT CLINIC. Advise and assist people who have gotten
into debt. Contact creditors to set up a repayment schedule.
Show clients how to avoid future problems.

28 - HOUSE CLEANING. Offer one-time or periodic house cleaning
services. Perform the heavy tasks (shampoo rugs, clean stoves,
wash windows, wax the floors, defrost, etc.)

29 - ROOFING. Repair, replace or rebuild roofs on homes and
commercial buildings. Buy materials wholesale and charge retail.
Subcontract some jobs for a commission.

30 - TREE TRIMMING. Trim and shape trees and shrubs for private
and commercial clients. Be sure to learn proper trimming,
pruning and sealing (against pests) methods.

31 - LUNCH WAGON. Drive your lunch wagon to
business/construction/public sites to sell hot food, snacks,
drinks. Work with management for parking and customer dining
space.

32 - FURNITURE RESALE. Select promising articles of furniture
cheap at garage sales and auctions. Clean up, do minor repairs
and sell from your home for a nice profit.

33 - COOLING SERVICE. Prepare complete meals at home, from your
traditional or customized (gourmet, ethnic, traditional) menu to
be delivered and served hot, or picked up.

34 - BONSAI PLANTS. Grow (or buy) and arrange into attractive
pots or arrangements. Retail from your home, shop or wholesale
to flower shops, greenhouses and nurseries.

35 - COLLECTION SELLING. Collect prints, recipes, hobby objects,
relics, etc. to buy and sell by mail. Accumulate a supply. Learn
subject well enough to trade and advise.

36 - GARAGE CLEANING Contract to clean out garages, sheds and
attics for individuals, rental agents and absentee landlords.
Get paid for the work AND keep things of value.

37 - ICE CREAM ROUTE. With portable refrigerator, sell ice cream
on a daily neighborhood route. Include cold (hot in winter)
drinks and other snack foods for variety.

38 - METER REBUILDING. Buy surplus water and electrical meters
from utility companies. Use special equipment to test and
rebuild them for resale to RV parks, apartments.

39 - RENTAL PREPARATION. Prepare apartments for occupancy:
paint, do minor repairs, cover scratches, remove stains, replace
bulbs, mow lawn, check faucets and drains.

40 - TRANSLATION SERVICE, If bilingual, offer your services for
verbal translations or do paper (letters, advertisements,
instructions) translations in your "home office."

41 - GARDEN PREPARATION. Dig (Rototill), treat, fertilize
gardens for customers. Plant, cultivate, weed, maintain (water,
spray), even harvest for extra charges.

42 - COMPOSTING SERVICE. With your portable composting machine,
go to client locations and reduce their brush and trimmings to
compost. Charge to clear AND to compost.

43 - CATERING SERVICE. Prepare old fashioned, gourmet or
special occasion meals for clients to pick up. Use insulated
canisters to keep the food hot (charge deposit).

44 - BLACKSMITHING. Operate a small blacksmith shop in your
garage or shop. Do repair and custom work. Make things to sell
(weather vanes, railings) between orders.

45 - AUTO PARTS REBUILDING. Work with garages and mechanics.
Specialize in rebuilding one or more parts (carburetors, master
cylinders) for one or several makes.

46 - CHAUFFEUR SERVICE. Use your "1imo" (van, station wagon) to
pick up people at airports, shopping tours, to/from games,
parties (check insurance, license needs).

47 - DAY LABOR AGENCY. Specialize in providing mostly unskilled
workers for short-term jobs. Keep list of workers. Be able to
deliver them when, where they are needed.

48 - HERBAL AND SPICE TEA. Blend and sell different blends of
herbal teas. Include leaflets with history and folklore in each
package. Use uniquely decorated containers.

49 - JOB HUNTER COACH. Provide brush-up or short-term
specialized training for job hunters (new equipment, latest
programs, skill enhancement) as long school alternative.

50 - NAIL POLISH MANUFACTURING. Buy red lacquer in bulk and
bottles in bulk. Mix in various colors, bottle and sell. Add
your own nail polish remover (acetone mixture).

51 - TILE WORK. Specialize in ceramic tile: install in
bathrooms, sinks, floors. Work by the hour or better still,
submit bids for jobs, including the tile (at retail price).

52 - QUILTING. Make and sell beautiful homemade quilts from
"scraps" in your "spare time." Take color photographs of each
quilt and make a "catalog" to show them.

53 - PLANT SCULPTURE. A profitable specialty: braid trunks,
shape into interesting forms. Trim, bend, graft, to create
valuable sculptures that bring premium prices.

54 - LAPIDARY (GEM MAKING). Operate a "rock shop" in your
garage. Cut, polish facet, shape and mount gems in findings.
Sell mounted, unmounted gems and jewelry.

55 - HOME HANDYMAN. Perform handyman services for those who
can't or don't have the time. Make good money and save customers
the cost of an expensive technician.

56 - FLOWER DRYING. Raise or buy dryable flowers and shrubs for
retail and wholesale customers: one kind packets or
arrangements. Sell kits with complete instructions.

57 - DUMP TRUCK. With your own truck, take orders from your
"home office" to deliver loads of fill, topsoil, sand, gravel
etc. to homeowners, landscapers and contractors.

58 - BREAD SPECIALTIES. Bake and sell unusual varieties of home
made breads: low calorie, ethnic, etc. Take orders for loaves
fresh from your kitchen, deliver to stores.

59 - ADULT MERCHANDISE. Specialize in sale of adult literature
and merchandise. Sell from your own stock or have materials
drop-shipped directly from your suppliers.

60 - CEMETERY CARE. Contract with cemetery associations,
authorities (or families for small plots) to provide care for
grounds, or specific services for individual graves.

61 - DELIVERY SERVICE. Contract with local markets, drug stores
and pizza parlors to deliver to their customers on a retainer
basis. Call in for orders or use car phone.

62 - GOVERNMENT AUCTIONS. Go to major auctions and bid on items
for subsequent resale. Take the time to learn and follow the
rules to avail yourself of excellent bargains.

63 - IRON CHAIRS. Locate and restore old iron chairs and tables.
Remove rust, re-weld as necessary, sand and apply quality primer
and rustproof paint. Sell and guarantee.

64 - LAWN MAINTENANCE. Contract to mow lawns by the job or
season. Charge extra to edge, rake (or blow), collect and remove
clippings. Refer related jobs for a commission.

65 - CEMENT JOBS, SMALL,. Contract small jobs with your mixer,
equipment and truck. Haul your own materials. Do small
profitable jobs big companies can't afford to bid on.

66 - MOVING ASSISTANCE. With your truck, HELP clients move (vice
"move" them - to stay legal). Have standby crew ready to assist.
Charge for your time and "expenses."

67 - PICTURE FRAMING. Make unique picture frames for stores,
artists and clients from driftwood, scraps and unusual fabrics.
Set up jigs in your shop for standard sizes.

68 -TAlCHAN or OIGONG CLASSES. Specialize in leading and
teaching Asian aerobic exercises. They should be especially
attractive to office workers and the elderly.

69 - AIR DUCT CLEANING. Contract with restaurants (mostly) to
perform this necessary service on a one-time basis, or to clean
and maintain them on a scheduled basis.

70 - BAIL BONDING. Establish a bail bonding service in your
community AFTER checking on state and local laws. Place your
phone number and name on a BIG sign near the jail!

71 - CARPET REPAIR. Repair burns, tears, bad and worn spots in
carpets for individuals, rental agencies, businesses, hotels.
Good sideline for carpet cleaners, dyers, installers.

72 - TREE FARMING. Start from seed or obtain seedlings (liners)
from large growers. Plant, provide minimal care and wait for
market size growth, then dig up and sell.

73 - FIREWOOD. Contract to clear land with trees. Compost the
brush, cut and store the logs for firewood. Cut to standard
lengths, stack by size and type for winter sales.

74 - JANITORIAL SERVICE. Contract to clean business and
institutions on regular basis. Find out exact requirements and
submit your bid on each contract. Bond all employees.

75 - METAL CASTING. Operate a metal foundry in your garage
workshop. Cast parts to order and/or make things to sell. Buy or
pick up scrap metal to melt down or re-sell.

76 - SURPLUS SALES. With a secure storage area, buy bargain
priced items at auctions and sales. Store and advertise for
buyers who want them and will pay you a good markup.

77 - APPLIANCE REPAIR. Repair household and light commercial
appliances in your shop or on service calls. Sell parts and
replacements, take in trades; fix and resell them.

78 - FLEAMARKET BOOTH. Buy one or more categories of merchandise
from closeout suppliers and operate a flea market booth. Keep
stock in a van and drive to and from.

79 - JICAMA FARMING. Grow and market the delicious (and
expensive) water chestnut-like jicama (heck'-e-ma), a sweet
potato related climbing vine that likes long, hot summers.

80 - PRIVATE USED CAR LOT. Rent space to private owners to
display their "for sale" cars, etc., on your car lot. Put up a
sign, take calls, sell placards to sellers.

81 - TAMALES AND TACOS. Take orders for tamales, tacos (or other
specialties) in your kitchen for customer or pick-up (or
delivery to restaurants). Freeze leftovers.

82 - POOL TABLE REPAIR. Recover and refurbish pool tables for
businesses and private parties, sell materials, buy and sell
used tables. Sell and/or repair accessories.

83 - JEWELRY BOXES. Make fine jewelry boxes (lined, lacquered,
inlaid, shell covered) for gift stores, catalog sales and retail
sales. Add music works for extra profits.

84 - HOUSE PAINTING. Contract to paint houses and apartments by
the hour or job. Pay high school or college kids a percentage or
hourly fee to help, provide the paint.

85 - FLOOR REFINISHING. Sand, bleach, repair and refinish wood
floors. Refurbish linoleum with your own or rented equipment,
install new linoleum and baseboards.

86 - CUT FLOWER BUSINESS. Grow and supply freshly cut flowers to
markets and florists. Offer seasonal or specialize in one or two
greenhouse/shade house varieties.

87 - BAR-B-QUE. Set up a portable meat smoker to take to fairs,
parades and festivals. Have a supply of meat ready, but keep
AROMA going to attract more business.

88 - AUTO THEFT PROTECTION. Offer a variety of devices, systems
and price ranges that you can install and maintain to prevent
your customers' cars from being stolen.

89 - CONCRETE MOLDING Cast cement statues, birdbaths, waterfalls
and lawn ornaments. Offer texture & color variations, custom
finishing, water and lighting kits.

90 - CROSSWORDS, FOREIGN LANGUAGE. Design and market crossword
puzzles: words in one language, definitions in another. Sell to
language schools and by mail order.

91 - RECIPE SALES. Perfect your favorite recipes. Promote and
sell them individually, in small sets, or collections. Sell
something that will make the cook look great!

92 - SNOW CONE STAND. Sell shaved ice cones from your stand or
van: as many flavors as possible. Include other products to
increase sales: hot coffee on a cold day.

93 - PRODUCT REPACKAGING. Buy bulk products (nails, beans,
vinegar) by the ton or barrel. Re-package into neatly labeled
packets, pints, boxes and sell for much more.

94 - MUSIC, LIVE. Arrange for live music for weddings, parties,
festivals, banquets, even club dates. Have several types of
groups, styles and price ranges on call.

95 - DEHYDRATING BUSINESS. Build your own (solar?) drier to dry
in-season fruits and vegetables. When cured, package for retail
and/or wholesale customers.

96 - CUSTOM CLOTHING DESIGNS. Paint, block print or transfer
unique designs on clothing for smocks, aprons or fabrics to be
used for clothing, curtains or upholstery.

97 - CUSTODIAL SERVICE. Contract to maintain office buildings
and warehouses: change light bulbs, fix windows, oil fans, fill
cracks, fix leaks, replace locks, replace tile, etc.

98 - CONSIGNMENT SALES. With a display area, accept and
tastefully display interesting items (only) to sell on
consignment. Have forms for written sales agreements.

99 - SELFMADE OPPORTUNITIES. Find a "deal" on a piece of new or
used equipment (watch the paper; go to sales). Learn to operate
it properly and start your business!

AND, A FEW EXTRAS...

100 - CEILING RENEWAL. Clean (renew) walls and acoustic ceilings
in homes, offices, condos, stores. Save customers the price of
new paint or ceiling. List with hardware stores.

101 - CONCESSION BOOTH. Operate a booth or stand at a recreation
area, shopping mall or parking lot. Sell your products plus
others that will help attract more customers.

102 - CEMENT BLOCKS. Mold small orders of standard or custom
blocks (building, stepping stones, curbs) in all colors. Take
orders, sell from your "yard" and through nurseries.

103 - BEAN SPROUTS. Grow fresh bean sprouts on a rotating basis:
have new crop every week or as needed to supply restaurants,
vegetable markets and retail customers.

104 - AUTO UPHOLSTERING. Install auto and truck headliners, side
paneling and seat covers from your garage or workshop. Offer a
choice of material and color combinations.

105 - MIDNIGHT SNACKS. Prepare and deliver hot coffee,
sandwiches and other snacks to night shift workers, night owls
and late parties. Advertise on all night radio.

106 - BATIK CREATION. Learn this ancient process: dip fabric in
wax, crinkle, scratch or melt design into the wax, then dip into
dye. Clean, stretch, dry into a valuable decoration.

107 - BALLOON STAND. Set up your booth or table with an air tank
(helium) and supply of balloons and accessories. Sell at
parades, fairs, flea markets, wherever kids are!

108 - JEWELRY CREATIONS. Use your talent and ingenuity to mass
produce or individually create exquisite jewelry -- from
virtually anything from diamonds to sliced bamboo.