I've given a lot of thought to finding a way to earn money while full-timing. Early on I decided the best way to make money was to not "sell" anything to RV'ers. While there are exceptions, most full-timers are on a strict budget with very little disposable money. They also don't have storage room for much of anything. I would recommend trying to find something that doesn't rely on RV'ers for generating income. I include myself in this group...we tend to be tightwads with our money.

Just my opinion...

I'll second what Dan said. There are times we might need a pet sitter but we are pretty careful about where we leave him. Just can't think of much else needed.

There was a thread on here awhile back, women talking about coloring hair. That thread should give you an idea of how the women are dealing with hair issues.

Part of the problem you will run into is RV Parks that prohibit business in their park. I'm sure insurance is part of the problem. Another problem could be that if someone is not happy with your service it will cast a black mark on the RV Park even if they had nothing to do with it. I would be sure to ask the park before offering any on-site services.

I do have one idea that I think would work...when I was in Arizona at a SKP park, they allowed one guy into the park to wash/wax rigs. I never hired him to do mine, but I saw him in the park working all the time. I thought his price was extravagant, but apparently a lot of folks didn't think so. A 40' rig like mine would take him all day. He washed the rig from top to bottom, applied UV protector to the roof (as well as removed all covers on the roof and cleaned), then waxed the entire rig (including windows). IIRC he charged $4.25/foot, so for my rig it would have been around $180 (with tax).

Not that I want to pour cold water on your idea, but be careful considering anything that requires a license on some states.  For instance, Jo used to be a licensed cosmotologist (hairdresser) back early in her career and each state in this region required a license to be a hairdresser.

While it might be that no one in the RV park or campground would complain, if someone in a nearby town/city found out about it, there might be issues with the state if they complained.  In Jo's case, the only ones she can do hair work with is her family.

Now, if you want to "adopt" a 64 year old guy that eats a lot, I'd let you cut my hair.

Terry

Mooline,

With the aging rv population, any service that takes care of bending, stretching or strenuous activity should be in fair demand. 

I would certainly pay a reasonable sum for a haircut. 

I did just that Labor Day Sunday.  While the fleamarket was closed on Sunday, a lady was cutting hair for the vendors who camped there over the holiday weekend.  The normal "donation" was $10.  Her "net" on Sunday was more than mine for Saturday... or Monday for that matter!  The voluntary "donation", rather than payment for service, is intended to circumvent licensing requirements.  I don't know how legal it might be.  That could vary by state.  A local vo-tech school does the same thing with the hairdressing students.   I've also seen the same type of deal once or twice a month in an indoor fleamarket.  So the idea is workable because there are people doing just that. 

If you look very carefully a lot businesses, including many services, do require some type of state or local sanction.  Ohio's sales and USE tax covers a lot and many don't realize they should be paying it.  For instance there is tax on puppies and storage unit rentals.  Many localities require income tax filings for residents AND nonresidents who operate within their boundries.  There is really no way a transient can know if there is a little "extra" added by some silly city counsel looking for a cash cow.

Many (maybe most?) mobile folks just operate beneath the radar.  I have a transient sales tax "number" in 3 different states so I'm legal where I sell.  There are states where I don't go because of involved requirements.  Indiana comes to mind.  Some PA and IL residents don't sell in their home states because they feel the requirements are too complex to sort through.  And there are those, or so I've heard (third or fourth hand of course ), who do just fine not registering their activity with any government body.

With a bad economy many jurisdictions are looking to collect extra revenue by increased enforcement.  PA seems to be looking for money right now.  My PA registration certificate says the state may confiscate my goods and vehicle if don't have it clearly displayed.  I've never heard of that happening but I don't doubt it has occurred sometime.  I make sure mine is in plain view.

I don't know what "HR" might mean but my degree in English isn't useful per se.  Obviously I'm no Hemmingway either.  I don't read "blogs" so I can't comment on their usefulness as a source of income.  Several of us at different markets try to help explain official letters to those who's first language wasn't English.  That not a paying proposition, just a favor friends.

Good luck,
Bob

edited to thwart some sneaky spelling gremlins

-- Edited by fleamarketeer on Monday 13th of September 2010 07:32:21 AM

I wasn't sure what "chair massage" was or why I might want to pay for it, but I just happened to notice this today. 



Neat idea.  The lady said she'd been doing this for about a year and was doing OK with it.  So another idea is workable.

fleamarketeer

Edit: another gremlin stomped.  Ewww, I need a boot scraper...


-- Edited by fleamarketeer on Sunday 19th of September 2010 04:07:26 PM

This is an old subject but just came across it.  Here are some random thoughts . . .

A camper in a Ft Lauderdale RV Park does haircuts every Friday.  She has a sign up sheet on her picnic table and you just sign up for the time slot you want and she'd show up at your door at the chosen time.  DHd had two hair cuts while we were there.  "Suggested Donation" was $12 and she said she averaged 6-8 hair cuts every Friday.  

While at an RV Resort in Las Vegas, there was a camper who gave massages in her motor home.  She had a sign posted on her windshield to advertise.  Her husband had to go to the pool when she had a client.  She charged $40 for a one hour massage.  Both my husband and I got massages.  We'd definitely pay for one of your chair massages.

Other services I would pay for:

1.  Someone to do alternations.  I don't sew and being vertically challenged I am always looking for someone to take up my hems.  Last time I had it done I paid the dry cheaners $12.70 to shorten a pair of jeans.  I would much rather have had a fellow camper do it for say $10.  Right now I have 5 items that need altering.
:(

2. Someone to cook a meal.  Nothing fancy but it needs to be healthy, hearty and homemade -- soup, spaghetti sauce, chile, stew, etc.  I don't need the side dishes, just the entree itself, I can boil pasta and make a salad easy enough. :)  Anyway,  I would pay $10 for a container that would feed 3-4.   It could just be what you are making for yourself and I'm just buying your left overs.  :) 

I would also pay for home baked goods -- like half a pie or cake, a dozen cookies, a loaf of banana nut bread.  

3.  I have paid someone to come in and clean the rig -- the inside I mean -- including windows and screens inside and out, plus cleaning out all of the cupboards.  Just once a year, as a treat to myself.  She charged $20 an hour with a 4 hour minimum.  I kept her busy for the full four hours.   She was not a fellow camper but a professional cleaner.

4.  I've also paid to have the carpet steam cleaned professionally.  Last time it cost $100.  My husband did do it once using one of those rented machines from the grocery store.  It was only $40 for the machine and the special soap, but it was such a pain to do that I don't want to ask him do it again.  

5.  We fly to various places a few times a year and I would pay a fellow camper to drive us to and from the airport in lieu of paying for parking at the airport.   Price would be determined by how far a drive it is and how much the airport parking would cost.

6.  More than computer repair, I think a computer tutor would be a service I'd want.    E.g. some one to help me if I wanted to put all of our financials on to Quicken and didn't know how, or I wanted to create a database in Access to keep track of all the many friends we've met on the road, or I wanted to create a really fancy annual Christmas letter with pictures and graphics.  At home I have a niece who would help me with things like this.  She has a masters degree and charges $25 an hour, though I do get a family or senior, I'm not sure which, discount.  :)   

At the KOA campground we are currently in, a fellow camper is offering to do various tasks.  Her flyer reads " I will clean your house, run your errands, rake your yard, take you to the store, wash your car, drive you to your appointments, walk and feed your dog, etc.  Very reasonable rates! "  The campground obviously has no problem with this as they put the flyers into our mailboxes. I'm going to call her to see how much she'll charge to take us to/from the airport as we are flying to DC for a week later this month and parking is going to cost $65.    

Anyway, I hope this helps.           

My wife and I plan to do a couple of things on the road. First of all I teach for a few universities online so I'll be concerned about getting a good Internet connection at the campground, via my smartphone or going into town a little each day. 

 

My wife currently does side jobs doing seamstress work and also cake decorating. So we plan on converting a small area of our RV to handle her various sewing equipment and to offer sewing repair services and basic cake decorating to RVer's. We are also going to open an "Etsy" account and sell some of the hand-made items online that she likes to create.

 

http://www.etsy.com/