Micro-Enterprises for the Gamefully Unemployed
Lately I’ve been thinking about ways I can leverage things that I am already doing for my family for the benefit of others. Specifically employed “others” who might be willing to exchange a few dollars for a beneficial service. Full time employment is an enormous commitment of time and energy and it does not leave a lot of time to prepare healthy meals from scratch. I know because I used to try to do both. Thankfully I gave up conventional employment but I continue to create high yield and healthy dishes. None of it is gourmet but I do receive positive feedback on dishes I bring to gatherings.
My theory is that the time, effort and cost to make a few extra servings of these dishes is incremental. So I’m in the early stages of a micro-enterprise I’ll call Lunch for Friends. Lunch seems to be the meal that many struggle with as time is limited, sandwiches get boring and eating out is expensive and not usually as healthy as you’d like. I’ll structure it as a private club and invite a few friends to ‘œbuy in’ the cost of 2 reusable, sectioned food storage containers, one to return each time and one for me to fill with lunch.
I really want this to be a winning scenario all around so I’ll do some beta testing with a few close (honest!) friends who can give feedback as to taste, portion size and a price that would feel like a good deal to them and will cover additional food costs plus a little for effort. The target price in my mind is around $5. It’s hard to get a healthy meal for that amount and they’ll know the source of the food and the care that went into making it.
The creative challenge for me will be to offer sufficient variety, make interesting and balanced combinations, keep overall costs down and improve efficiency in food prep and the logistics of getting the lunches to participating friends. Luckily a lot of them live close by. I’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that people I care about are eating at least one healthy meal a day!
Another idea in micro-enterprise I thought of is dog walking. If you have one and regularly go out for a walk, how much more time and effort would it be to pick up a couple of working neighbors’ dogs for a much needed midday break? I would have loved this when I was working full time and had a dog. Let’s say each neighbor pays $2/day and you’re able to walk 2 dogs in addition to yours. $4/day x 20 weekdays = $80/month. That’s not going to pay the rent but in combination with other micro-enterprises, freelance work, etc it could be something that helps you AND your time constrained neighbors. Those gifted with the talent for sewing could mend a few clothes for friends without too much additional time or effort. And so on’¦
Are ideas coming to you even as you read this? I’d love to hear them’¦
Photo credit: stock.xchng.
Carol, the “bag lunch” idea is a really good one, and it’s actually how Paula Dean got her start. Have you read her book “It Ain’t All About the Cooking,” where she talks about her life as an agoraphobic and now a huge TV star? It’s an inspiring read. Just make sure you avoid her big mistake – get a food handler’s card and cover your bases on that end.
I’d really love to hear about your successes with your lunch business. You’ll have to keep it posted.
When I was pregnant, I had a friend come over twice a week to cook. She’s a massage therapist by training, but a good cook by hobby. In 2 afternoons, she could make enough food for dinners for the week, plus some rice salads, tea biscuits etc. for lunch and breakfast. Well worth the pay, plus she’d also do the occasional massage. Now that’s a winning combination. I’ve encouraged her to start a business, since if it’ll get a skinflint like me to shell out money you know other people will want to.
There are many personal chefs out there doing high end work, I think lunch is a great idea. The delivery is going to be the tricky part. Maybe treat it like a bi-weekly subscription plan and assign area A to Mon and Wed. delivery, area B to Tues and Thursday drop-offs etc. It won’t be quite as fresh, but most meals will keep for 2 days.
That’s a great idea! I was tossing up something similar but my full time-edness means I wouldn’t be reliable enough to do so successfully unless I supplied things frozen.
Were you going to do it at home or rent a commercial kitchen?
What an awesome idea about the lunches!
For what it’s worth if you still might consider the dog business- I used to dogsit and also took a couple of occasional weekend jobs doing just the walking. You could definitely make more than $2/dog. In the Wilmington, DE area, I was paid $10 per visit to walk and feed them and clean up the cat box. Since you’d be walking multiple dogs at a time, I bet you could charge $5/dog/day. And dogsitting can be a good assist too if you don’t mind being away from home ($15-$30 a day depending on the responsibilities). And I always enjoyed the opportunity to read different books or see different movies from what I have at home.
Thank you all for your great comments. They are especially helpful as the idea is taking shape. I did not know that about Paul Dean, Serena, and I appreciate the tips. Regan, I think I could learn a thing or two from your massage therapist. Three days a week in total seems like a safe start. Dylan, I was planning on operating from home for 3-5 friends or so but maybe it will become more than that. Thank you all again.
Carol: I love your idea about Lunch for Friends. When your micro-enterprise is big enough, you should look into an “incubator” kitchen. Good luck with getting your friends to buy in! It sounds like a fantastic idea.