High barrier to entry startup ideas?
Discussion
Quite regularly see low cost startup ideas. Arguably a much more difficult task when you don't have capital behind you so I always applaud people's efforts to see how hard self employment is!
I'm someone who has successfully started up and sold 2 businesses previously currently run a day to day business which I've decided I want to keep small. Really enjoy it (see profile not looking for advertising Im already busy enough!) Good lifestyle business.
I'm in the fortunate position that due to some long term projects coming to fruition we have a decent sum to invest in something new. I've posted previously about diversifying into commercial property (have decent experience with domestic) which there are some good albeit rare opportunities up here in Yorkshire. We are currently taking to a neighbour about buying a large unit that would split into smaller very rentable ones. This might not come off so I've been on the lookout for something else.
I have experience with sales so selling stuff is no problem
Would like it to be interesting but something that doesn't require too much time
Angel investing locally is something I've considered but seems probably a bit beyond my risk appetite
Wouldn't be averse to funding sales for other people (plant/vehicles/property/etc)
The other obvious route is property development or just playing it really safe and doing a load of buy to lets.
Just fancy something new really. Open to suggestions!
I'm someone who has successfully started up and sold 2 businesses previously currently run a day to day business which I've decided I want to keep small. Really enjoy it (see profile not looking for advertising Im already busy enough!) Good lifestyle business.
I'm in the fortunate position that due to some long term projects coming to fruition we have a decent sum to invest in something new. I've posted previously about diversifying into commercial property (have decent experience with domestic) which there are some good albeit rare opportunities up here in Yorkshire. We are currently taking to a neighbour about buying a large unit that would split into smaller very rentable ones. This might not come off so I've been on the lookout for something else.
I have experience with sales so selling stuff is no problem
Would like it to be interesting but something that doesn't require too much time
Angel investing locally is something I've considered but seems probably a bit beyond my risk appetite
Wouldn't be averse to funding sales for other people (plant/vehicles/property/etc)
The other obvious route is property development or just playing it really safe and doing a load of buy to lets.
Just fancy something new really. Open to suggestions!
I would have thought that you could build on your classic car storage, £25 week each in an industrial unit, soon adds up and then you can upsell with servicing, valeting, weekly starting etc etc.
A decent unit with a big yard also allows for caravan & motorhome storage, hardly any movements just invoices!
Another good earner is storage containers, cost for a single use one in excellent condition is about £1500 each and they rent at £25 week, thats a 60 week payback on an asset that will easily do 10 years, probably 20.
I have always found it easier to make money doing something you already know about.
A decent unit with a big yard also allows for caravan & motorhome storage, hardly any movements just invoices!
Another good earner is storage containers, cost for a single use one in excellent condition is about £1500 each and they rent at £25 week, thats a 60 week payback on an asset that will easily do 10 years, probably 20.
I have always found it easier to make money doing something you already know about.
Edited by classicaholic on Tuesday 17th September 08:49
Hoofy said:
What about something environmental? Whether you believe in CC/MMGW or not, there's probably a few opportunities for a shrewd businessman. If you're up north, perhaps wind power?
I don't think that would be my bag really. Maybe slightly hypocritical when I sell sportscars for a living? 
classicaholic said:
I would have thought that you could build on your classic car storage, £25 week each in an industrial unit, soon adds up and then you can upset with servicing, valeting, weekly starting etc etc.
A decent unit with a big yard also allows for caravan & motorhome storage, hardly any movements just invoices!
Another good earner is storage containers, cost for a single use one in excellent condition is about £1500 each and they rent at £25 week, thats a 60 week payback on an asset that will easily do 10 years, probably 20.
I have always found it easier to make money doing something you already know about.
We have advertised storage in our existing business for cars but there's not a lot of demand around here for it. Maybe closer to one of the bigger cities Like Leeds or up in Harrogate where the money is that could be a possibility. There are a lot of caravan and motorhome storage places I store my trailer for £300 per year currently so I don't think it's a money spinner. A decent unit with a big yard also allows for caravan & motorhome storage, hardly any movements just invoices!
Another good earner is storage containers, cost for a single use one in excellent condition is about £1500 each and they rent at £25 week, thats a 60 week payback on an asset that will easily do 10 years, probably 20.
I have always found it easier to make money doing something you already know about.
mbwoy84 said:
In what way?
I'm sure there must be a lot of people that deal in say "widgets" in their day to day and might spot an opportunity but don't have the capital. I have done it back in my very early days of car trading where I would borrow a sum to buy a car with and pay out a fee on sale of the car and return of the funds. It was very helpful to me and helped me to grow far quicker than I could have done otherwise. The same principle could be applied to widgets/building or property development/imports anything really.
An obvious thing for me to do would be to fund a regular car sales pitch for someone I just haven't come across anyone I'd entrust 100 grand to yet! In the car trade it's an odd mix of proper grafters who probably would only need help temporarily as I did and family money types who just don't need the cash.
ETA: And toe rags that would run off to Spain with the cash!
fridaypassion said:
Hoofy said:
What about something environmental? Whether you believe in CC/MMGW or not, there's probably a few opportunities for a shrewd businessman. If you're up north, perhaps wind power?
I don't think that would be my bag really. Maybe slightly hypocritical when I sell sportscars for a living? You could still invest in a green company, call it offsetting. If it's good enough for the Royals...
fridaypassion said:
I'm sure there must be a lot of people that deal in say "widgets" in their day to day and might spot an opportunity but don't have the capital. I have done it back in my very early days of car trading where I would borrow a sum to buy a car with and pay out a fee on sale of the car and return of the funds. It was very helpful to me and helped me to grow far quicker than I could have done otherwise.
That's potentially a good idea and I've been looking myself for a finance company as such that would be willing to invest in some stock on an "asset finance" basis. Could work and could be relatively quick returns, but not sure if there is a potential for large returns. 
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