Starting all the business

Adebisi · Sunday at 2:26 PM

I think I'm pretty good at a few things. Some I think people may even pay for. So I think "what if I did x as a small business side hustle"

Let's say: snow removal in my immediate area. Nothing crazy, me and my snow blower.

Okay but that's very seasonal. Let's do basic lawn mowing in the summer. But what if I don't get enough business to fill my time. I also like doing picture framing. But can I justify doing that as a side biz.

So here's where I'm at: why can't I do all those things. Not in a massive scale. Just create small businesses that advertise cheaply and locally. Manage time efficiently... Good scheduling and communication. Why can't I run like five businesses at once doing little things I like or I'm good at? Am I crazy?

Residential snow removal
Residential lawn mowing
Picture framing
TV wall mounting lol
Driveway Oil changing
Shelf building
Porch to porch large item delivery
Basic junk removal

Control · Sunday at 3:36 PM

Adebisi said:
I think I'm pretty good at a few things. Some I think people may even pay for. So I think "what if I did x as a small business side hustle"

Let's say: snow removal in my immediate area. Nothing crazy, me and my snow blower.

Okay but that's very seasonal. Let's do basic lawn mowing in the summer. But what if I don't get enough business to fill my time. I also like doing picture framing. But can I justify doing that as a side biz.

So here's where I'm at: why can't I do all those things. Not in a massive scale. Just create small businesses that advertise cheaply and locally. Manage time efficiently... Good scheduling and communication. Why can't I run like five businesses at once doing little things I like or I'm good at? Am I crazy?

Residential snow removal
Residential lawn mowing
Picture framing
TV wall mounting lol
Driveway Oil changing
Shelf building
Porch to porch large item delivery
Basic junk removal

For straightforward stuff that you don't need any equipment or practice to do, the only downside is going to be marketing. Could also start with a general handyman service and list all that those things as examples, though that's not as strong of a marketing position as "your grass too tall? i fix!".
Try it both ways. Start throwing shit at the wall and see what sticks. If you hit the right one, you won't have time to do any of the others. And if you're crafty, that's when you start hiring people.

TheBeagle · 2026-06-29T07:36:29-0400

In my personal experience, finding the work is the easy part. Its the whole "running the business", i.e. invoicing/billing/taxes/payroll part that intimidates me and keeps me from making that leap.

Fucker · 2026-06-30T00:13:52-0400

Adebisi said:
I think I'm pretty good at a few things. Some I think people may even pay for. So I think "what if I did x as a small business side hustle"

Let's say: snow removal in my immediate area. Nothing crazy, me and my snow blower.

Okay but that's very seasonal. Let's do basic lawn mowing in the summer. But what if I don't get enough business to fill my time. I also like doing picture framing. But can I justify doing that as a side biz.

So here's where I'm at: why can't I do all those things. Not in a massive scale. Just create small businesses that advertise cheaply and locally. Manage time efficiently... Good scheduling and communication. Why can't I run like five businesses at once doing little things I like or I'm good at? Am I crazy?

Residential snow removal
Residential lawn mowing
Picture framing
TV wall mounting lol
Driveway Oil changing
Shelf building
Porch to porch large item delivery
Basic junk removal

No clue on any of this. A few guys started a lawn service this spring, and got almost the whole neighborhood, as there was no one to do it before. They probably take $600 a week just here. Small lawns, so a fast $40, and there's a local spot to dump clippings so they don't have to drive far and it is free.

As for snow blowing, get a big blower. Anything small and all you will be doing is busting your ass. I've had a few, and settled on

Professional 28 | Professional Series | Snow Blowers | Ariens

See details of the Professional 28 snow blower from Ariens. Designed and built for professionals, but also used by homeowners who don’t mess around. The 420cc engine blows snow up to 60 feet.

www.ariens.com

Big diameter auger, huge internal chute, good torque. I get fucked by county plows burying me in my driveway. This thing chews right through it. I had a smaller one and all it did was give me angina. My neighbors have small ones, smaller driveways than mine, and I get done 2x faster and not have to kill myself doing it.

As for lawn mowers, get a zero turn if you get to that point. Anything else is a PITA and a waste of time.

Crisco · 2026-06-30T08:50:51-0400

Setting up the business, getting all the approvals, paying taxes, employees (if needed), is the true hard part but it's not really hard just can be confusing and government paperwork.

As said finding business should be the easy part, at least at the start. If you want to grow more than a side gig with employees then the stress comes of payroll, all those taxes. Always remember local taxes aren't income and never be tempted. Lots of people think that is income and dig a hole they can't get out of.

If your sole proprietor, personal taxes are much easier. Just keep an excel sheet with revenue and expenses and use the final profit (or loss) as a line item on your income section.

Obviously there is a bit more but easily a good decision if your committed.

Good luck!

Cad · 2026-06-30T13:39:20-0400

TheBeagle said:
In my personal experience, finding the work is the easy part. Its the whole "running the business", i.e. invoicing/billing/taxes/payroll part that intimidates me and keeps me from making that leap.

You're a good salesman, there is a whole other type of person that hates doing sales and views doing the books/accounting/admin stuff as easy paperwork. Ideally you want to partner someone like you that is great at sales with the other person thats great at admin work and you both take up where the other falls off.

Seananigans · 2026-06-30T16:23:51-0400

Crisco said:
Setting up the business, getting all the approvals, paying taxes, employees (if needed), is the true hard part but it's not really hard just can be confusing and government paperwork.

As said finding business should be the easy part, at least at the start. If you want to grow more than a side gig with employees then the stress comes of payroll, all those taxes. Always remember local taxes aren't income and never be tempted. Lots of people think that is income and dig a hole they can't get out of.

If your sole proprietor, personal taxes are much easier. Just keep an excel sheet with revenue and expenses and use the final profit (or loss) as a line item on your income section.

Obviously there is a bit more but easily a good decision if your committed.

Good luck!

I don’t understand what you’re saying about local taxes being considered income or not. Can you explain more?

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Starting all the business

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Control

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TheBeagle

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Fucker

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Professional 28 | Professional Series | Snow Blowers | Ariens

Crisco

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Seananigans

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