- Nov 29, 2008
- 25,786
- 11,295
- 940
I've been wondering how many people and what kind of businesses could be started on $25,000.00 or less. I can think of a few but then it would depend on what state and/or county you live in and what their regulations are too.
In 1981 when Rod got out of the Air Force no one would give him a job. He was a great mechanic though and he had on lay away a larger set of tools. A little under $400.00 was owed on the tools and my pickup had needs I could not afford to pay a shop for so I borrowed from some future cash I was supposed to get and invested in tools for Christmas that year. The apartment building I lived in had a nice size garage. A local friend of Rod's gave him a whole set of transmission books. Rod took to that like a duck to water and he was good at it. He rebuilt every transmission he could get his hands on.
About a year later I worked for a thrifty nickle advertiser part time. The job selling ads didn't pay much more than gas to drive around; the lady that owned the little advertiser gave me free ads every week as a perk for calling on customers in the area where I lived near. Rod started doing mechanic work out of the garage and I would write catchy little ads for him that would go into the advertiser each week where ever they needed some fill in ads. Before long he had a reputation as the best tranny guy to be found. He had people driving from up to 150 miles away to tell them what was wrong with their transmissions. I also advertised for hauling away unwanted cars. My old dodge pickup got several new to it engines from that. That old pickup had every big block Dodge made in it at one time or another through the years.
The little shop didn't last as Rod would not join the country club (local thuggery in a small town); anyhow after Rod told the club no thank you the electric company threaten to raise my electric all to commercial rates if he didn't close shop. All in all though it was a great experience.
What kind of business do you think could be started now days on a shoe string?
In 1981 when Rod got out of the Air Force no one would give him a job. He was a great mechanic though and he had on lay away a larger set of tools. A little under $400.00 was owed on the tools and my pickup had needs I could not afford to pay a shop for so I borrowed from some future cash I was supposed to get and invested in tools for Christmas that year. The apartment building I lived in had a nice size garage. A local friend of Rod's gave him a whole set of transmission books. Rod took to that like a duck to water and he was good at it. He rebuilt every transmission he could get his hands on.
About a year later I worked for a thrifty nickle advertiser part time. The job selling ads didn't pay much more than gas to drive around; the lady that owned the little advertiser gave me free ads every week as a perk for calling on customers in the area where I lived near. Rod started doing mechanic work out of the garage and I would write catchy little ads for him that would go into the advertiser each week where ever they needed some fill in ads. Before long he had a reputation as the best tranny guy to be found. He had people driving from up to 150 miles away to tell them what was wrong with their transmissions. I also advertised for hauling away unwanted cars. My old dodge pickup got several new to it engines from that. That old pickup had every big block Dodge made in it at one time or another through the years.
The little shop didn't last as Rod would not join the country club (local thuggery in a small town); anyhow after Rod told the club no thank you the electric company threaten to raise my electric all to commercial rates if he didn't close shop. All in all though it was a great experience.
What kind of business do you think could be started now days on a shoe string?
Last edited:
