I need business ideas doing part time hours

[Sam84x]

I started my own dog walking business in February but I’m getting tired of it. It’s exhausting, it’s a lot of driving around to pick up & drop off the dogs and some of them are complete nightmares 🙈
I really only have time to work a couple of hours a day what with school & nursery runs, trying to keep on top of the housework etc. I just need some ideas, I did think maybe I could do cleaning but it doesn’t pay very well does it? 🤷🏼‍♀️

What industry have you previously worked in? Qualifications? Skillset? If you want something that pays well you need to have some credentials.

I've had several discussions recently with fellow crafters who run their own businesses and the one thing we all agreed - it's not a Mon-Fri 9-5 role, more a life style. Running your own business is time consuming and respectfully I would suggest to try and run a business on the basis of a couple of hours a day is unrealistic and certainly wouldn't earn a proper income. I think that where a lot of people become unstuck when trying to set up, run and make an income with their own business. You have to live eat and breathe it to make it work. If you really only have a couple of hours a day, it would be better to seek employment for those hours, and planning your own business for when you do have more time.

My first business was as a T'ai Chi instructor: I was training a couple of hours a day for my qualification and teaching about 5 hours per week. I earnt just enough to pay for the 2 year instructors course plus business costs. In addition to training and teaching, there's all the admin, marketing, chasing leads for new classes and venues. So I was probably working about 4 hrs a day, 5 days a week, plus some weekend training for me. And I didn't pay much tax, because I didn't earn a lot. It was a very simple business model - probably simpler than dog walking.

Oh a word to the wise - never, ever under-estimate the ability of the paying public to be complete nightmares. They are in every walk of life, every field of business and every element of human endeavour.

I used to work as a dancer pre-marriage and children, obviously I couldn’t do the late nights now. Other than that I’ve mostly done admin roles. I don’t think you necessarily need qualifications to make good money, just a good business idea which is what I’m looking for.

I was thinking of maybe running a baby class of some kind, I’ve looked into a certain musical franchise but they charge almost £14k to start! Which I find unbelievable 🙈

What do you need to earn OP

You think that if someone has a good business idea that allows you to work for just a couple of hours a day and earn good money they’re going to share that idea for free?

It does sound like you want the ease of a business handed to you on a plate with minimal work, so a franchise would probably be your thing. Even then you’ll still need to put in more than a couple of hours a day. 14k isn’t unbelievable. You’re buying a safe, tried and tested business model usually including a website, training and support, logo, advertising and marketing materials, session plans, all the kit you need, branded uniform, etc etc, the list goes on. Why would someone give you that for buttons?

Dog walking fits your hours requirement. Are you in a position where you can be more selective about the customers you take on to shorten the driving time and choose better behaved pooches?

Would you consider a sideways move into something like dog grooming? - if you have the space to do this, as you already have a potential client list.

Do you have an early years qualification that would allow you to do a baby class?

Good franchises charge what they do because there's a significant effort and commitment to support a new franchisee. And to be honest, you've started a business and got tired of it at the 10 month mark, and you're only looking to commit a couple of hours a day. You're not prime franchisee material.

Have you considered freelance service provider website such as Fiverr and Amazon's Mechanical Turk? You can pick up small tasks when it's suitable for you.

You don't need qualifications but experience helps.
If you believe all you need is a good business idea to make good money you had better get your thinking hat on because no one who has a fantastic business idea to make good money for a couple of hours a day is going to share it with you.
If you've given up after just ten months in your current venture because it's too much like hard work, I would suggest that being a business owner is not for you.

I've recently done an eyelash extension course. I'm practising on friends and family for a few months to get faster at it and am then going to work from home in our spare room. Would something like that be suitable for you? A set takes 1.5 - 2 hours and can be very profitable and has a very good margin.

Or EBay selling? I have an ongoing eBay business that I literally started with £10 10 years ago. Very well paid in terms of hours worked if you know what to look for to sell

Also a friend has recently started up an outdoor toddler/preschool group. A bit like a forest school I guess. She is not qualified in childcare but the parents stay at the session anyway. She's a very 'arty and crafty' person so focuses on nature based arts and crafts. She gets people to sign up and pay for a half term in advance. I think it's £5 per session per child. So if you were looking to do something child related something like this could work?

A few other ideas;

House cleaning
Ironing service
Making balloon arches and decor for parties
Kids dance classes
Childminding
Forex trading

Thank you, that’s really helpful :)

Have you looked into any network marketing businesses? I joined body shop at the start of 2022 but have just joined a new to the UK jewellery company & going well so far. There's so many different ones out there, you might find one that clicks. Good luck

Please don't go down the multi-level marketing route. They're the perfect way to lose all your friends and break your family relationships. Everyone will hate you for the person it will turn you into. The latest one I've come across is 'life coaching' that will enable you to 'retire in five years'.

How about pet visiting or a small animal hotel? Dog boarding?

Decluttering service