Results: Ideas for making money with small investments
Published on 07/13/2024
I spend way too much time online, but in general I watch things that provide me with information that could potentially be useful. This survey is inspired by things I've seen out there & could be done pretty easy by anyone. They could potentially be done as a side gig or even scaled to a full business. Bottom line, if you're looking to make money and have next to nothing, these are starter ideas.
QUESTIONS
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Comments
1.
1.
Probably the simplest and most profitable idea I've seen was for making wooden coasters. Basically you'd buy 4' by 4' lumber and start cutting it at half an inch thickness, sand them, stain/paint them and sell in pairs of 2, 4, 6 online.
Would you:
try making some coasters for yourself/friends?
14%
359 votes
take this idea and try it as a business?
8%
211 votes
buy wooden coasters from anyone making them
13%
336 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
41 votes
Not Applicable
68%
1688 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.84% | 8 | |
| I already have made some | 0.11% | 1 |
| already have enough coasters. | 0.11% | 1 |
| I really don't know yet | 0.11% | 1 |
| Not a good business to get into. Who uses coasters? | 0.11% | 1 |
| wooden coasters do not suck up the moisture so are kinda useless | 0.11% | 1 |
| You need a good table saw to do this and experience with it. | 0.11% | 1 |
| would be no good at making them | 0.11% | 1 |
| Those tings are sold on Etsy, e-Bay etc. Their making is demonstrated by DIYers on Youtube and other places. People have already done this to death, do your homework before you invest dime #1 on this one. | 0.11% | 1 |
| Yeah, my bro tried this and cost me a lot of money | 0.11% | 1 |
| Not do any of these ideas | 0.11% | 1 |
| Undecided | 0.11% | 1 |
| Buy absorbent ceramic coasters | 0.11% | 1 |
| Prefer stone coasters | 0.11% | 1 |
| Who would buy this? | 0.11% | 1 |
| No | 0.11% | 1 |
| Tell someone else of this idea | 0.11% | 1 |
| NO ! | 0.11% | 1 |
| Not a good ROI | 0.11% | 1 |
| Sounds like n overrated and over supplied product | 0.11% | 1 |
| all ready did that | 0.11% | 1 |
| I would make coasters out of various semi-precious stones, as that suits my interests and abilities. | 0.11% | 1 |
| Already did | 0.11% | 1 |
| who knows | 0.11% | 1 |
| Je bricole d j | 0.11% | 1 |
| i'd not buy coasters from just a n yo n e making them, but from Nic? Likeiler! | 0.11% | 1 |
| I have no tools | 0.11% | 1 |
| I WANT SOME WOODEN TOASTERS CARVED WITH #1 PRESIDENT BIDEN FACE........VOTE BLUE!!!! | 0.11% | 1 |
| I make coasters from plastic canvas | 0.11% | 1 |
| Already do that | 0.11% | 1 |
| Would buy them; can't find them. | 0.11% | 1 |
| I prefer sandstone coasters. | 0.11% | 1 |
| Too lazy to care. | 0.11% | 1 |
| NONE OF THE ABOVE | 0.11% | 1 |
2.
2.
3D Printing business. 3D printers have gotten a lot cheaper lately and have started sparking ideas for small businesses. Printing with plastic, chocolate, resins, metals and all sort of materials is now a reality one can enjoy at home. Yes, 3D printing is slow and printing large objects can get expensive, but for small items, it is actually fairly great of an idea.
So my take on this would be to print chess pieces. There are design files available online for free for a lot of types of chess sets and printing them with metal or resin would make for a fairly luxury style chess set. The boxes/chess boards are best hand made from wood/metal sheets.
Would you...
make this at home for myself/friends
11%
273 votes
build it as a business
7%
179 votes
build it as a business but sell different product
6%
141 votes
buy things off others making them.
10%
251 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
18 votes
Not Applicable
71%
1767 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.58% | 5 | |
| not sure | 0.12% | 1 |
| I like ivory chess sets. | 0.12% | 1 |
| I'D PAY TRILLION DOLLAR FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN CHESS BORED PIECES ......VOTE BLUE!!!! | 0.12% | 1 |
| I would like to use a 3D printer for a personal project I have in mind. | 0.12% | 1 |
| if needed I would try my local library first to see how well it works | 0.12% | 1 |
| printing in metal is not realistic without big bucks. | 0.12% | 1 |
| More of a creative hobby with little ROI | 0.12% | 1 |
| Sounds too complicated for my liking. | 0.12% | 1 |
| Unless you run this plan by Shark Tank and a heavy weight decides to deal themselves in big for prototype, manufacturing and promotion, not to mention R&D, hard pass. | 0.12% | 1 |
| Not do at all | 0.12% | 1 |
| Undecided | 0.12% | 1 |
| Tell someone else | 0.12% | 1 |
| NO ! | 0.12% | 1 |
3.
3.
Believe it or not, there is a market for wishing people happy birthday in less than traditional ways. I've seen a company in Africa (don't remember which country they were from) where a group of guys or girls would sing happy birthday on different tunes and dance around. They'd print a picture of the person celebrated and name the person as they sing. Various outfits (can chose from), various tunes, and choice of things in the video. Sure, the guys were ripped and the girls were gorgeous so maybe this doesn't really work for everyone (i'm certainly not the person you'd want to see signing, but hey!). I just find it as a super simple idea, fairly easy to execute and uplifting. Would you:
do this as a business
8%
211 votes
order this service for friends/family birthdays
18%
441 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
24 votes
Not Applicable
75%
1864 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.63% | 11 | |
| not sury | 0.15% | 1 |
| Are you talking about "singing" or "signing"? | 0.15% | 1 |
| I CANT SING. ME AND MY PRESIDENT GOT IMPARTIAL LOBOTEMYS.....CUZ HE HAD A STROKE & I'M A ADDICT.......VOTE BLUE!!!! | 0.15% | 1 |
| Maybe will be interesting- need more information | 0.15% | 1 |
| pinterest! | 0.15% | 1 |
| I would get a group of family or friends together to send a special birthday message and maybe a silly dance. | 0.15% | 1 |
| Don't waste your time, poor ROI | 0.15% | 1 |
| Hire a funny 'singing telegram' for someone... | 0.15% | 1 |
| NO THANKS I WILL PASS ON THIS ONE | 0.15% | 1 |
| watch video | 0.15% | 1 |
| I already use an English company that designs gorgeous cards to e-mail on birthdays or other special occasions | 0.15% | 1 |
| Cost of finding customers too high | 0.15% | 1 |
| NO ! | 0.15% | 1 |
4.
4.
Gift baskets are nice, but recently I've seen more and more people going for cheese or fruit boxes. Yes, they need to be made fresh, but if you have an eye for colors and a bit of a playful nature, the results can be spectacular. The idea is simple: make a cheese platter (various cheeses, meat cuts, fruits, jams, and nuts) or a fruits & nuts platter (you can guess what goes in here), box it in a way that looks awesome (and is easy to travel with without destroying the design) and sell it. Of course, customization is key in this business, so get ready to align with various customer allergies, diets and so on.
Would you:
make it for yourself/friends
20%
503 votes
do it as a business
8%
212 votes
buy it off someone who can make it for me
15%
363 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
21 votes
Not Applicable
61%
1534 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.91% | 10 | |
| Just be sure to use fruit and cheese that won't spoil in transit. | 0.09% | 1 |
| I NEVER LIKE TO CUT THE CHEESE & I SECRETELY HATE FRUIT PEOPLE.......VOTE BLUE!!!! | 0.09% | 1 |
| Give a basket to a charity | 0.09% | 1 |
| Gift it | 0.09% | 1 |
| Already in over supply | 0.09% | 1 |
| Don't bother, people are too picky, not a good ROI | 0.09% | 1 |
| I alway purchase goid board | 0.09% | 1 |
| Need to develop a customer base and that takes advertising and that is costly. | 0.09% | 1 |
| Already make gift baskets to raffle off for non-profits. | 0.09% | 1 |
| Store items to purchase | 0.09% | 1 |
| NO! | 0.09% | 1 |
5.
5.
On the topic of food, making certain high-price food items at home is quite easy. - Kefir & Yoghurt are easy to make from milk and a starter culture (which you can get from any kefir/yoghurt at the store).
- Kombucha is also pretty easy to make and if you add a soda machine you can even make things a lot faster/less risky by skipping the second fermentation step.
- Cheese making is a bit more complicated, but some cheeses are really simple like cottage cheese, ricotta or paneer.
All of these are things that can be sold locally at higher price then what you'd pay to make them so they could potentially raise a good buck.
Would you...
make these things at home for yourself & family
17%
435 votes
do it as a business
8%
190 votes
buy them from trusted sources vs from a shop where i don't know how they're made.
12%
288 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
19 votes
Not Applicable
67%
1665 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75% | 7 | |
| buy from store | 0.11% | 1 |
| Freeze dry food and sell | 0.11% | 1 |
| No. They spoil too quickly. Once bitten, twice shy. | 0.11% | 1 |
| I DON'T EAT HIGH PRICE ROTTED FOODS.....VOTE BLUE!!! | 0.11% | 1 |
| May try to make a recipe at sometime | 0.11% | 1 |
| Too many food allergies, not a good idea | 0.11% | 1 |
| You need to get licenses & such in most states to legally make & sell food items from your home. | 0.11% | 1 |
| I make different breads - but I give them to friends and neighbours | 0.11% | 1 |
| Very little turn around time to sell this and where is the customer base? | 0.11% | 1 |
| I have made cheese and yogurt. | 0.11% | 1 |
| I am lactose intolerant so no cheese | 0.11% | 1 |
| NO! YOUR NOT Practical . | 0.11% | 1 |
COMMENTS