glvsav37
Footballguy
Starting a second thread on creating a business. I already own and operate my own business, I run a graphic design studio. But since I went out on my own 4 years ago, I stopped my side gig (Which was the design while I was working at an advertising agency). I really miss the "fun money" b/c I was pulling in some serious money on the side gig while my full-time gig payed for the day to day stuff. I use to referee ice hockey a few games a month but that was more for fun and to get out in the last few years, not really to make money.
My challenges with a side gig, is that my FT gig gets busy in waves, so there are times that I am slow and others where I am working well into the night. So finding consistent time for that is tough. My kid plays travel hockey, so my weekends are shot during most of the fall and winter months as we are traveling with him. So I really need something that is spring and summer only, I'm hitting 50 in Oct, so don't want to do anything like construction or sprinklers where I doing physical labor. I am looking for something with a low barrier of entry and not a ton of expenses up front.
Enter the Lemonade Stand
No, not the one I set up on a card table at the end of my driveway. I mean a tent for festivals, carnivals, fair, youth sporting tournaments, etc.
I fell down a youtube rabbit hole the other night where I found a guy promoting them. for the main set up, I have most of the basics, a 10x10 tent, folding tables, coolers, etc. I would need slicers/squeezers, jugs for water, some banners, a menu board, and some other serving things like utensils and such.
I have a friend in a networking group that sells take out packaging, so I will get my 32oz deli cups, lids, napkins and such from him.
My DBA is set up, I took my food handlers course last week, with my final test on Tuesday, and then I can get certified by the health board. I'm not handling and food that needs to be cooked or spoils so there was a shorter course I could take, its mostly citrus which is pretty hardy.
As a designer already, signs and logo are easy for me to do.
I am a board member of my chamber of commerce, so I know many of the festivals planned for this summer. I have a friend who runs the local youth soccer club with over 400 families per weekend playing there. He said I could set up any weekend I wanted. I also have 3 other weeknight outdoor music events in July booked. I've stared reaching out to other sports with tournaments or large events happening this summer.
Now i'm testing recipes, and perfecting the drinks.
As for consumables, it pretty cut and dry....lemons, sugar, water and ice. 32oz deli cups/lids, straws, napkins, gloves. I'm playing with flavoring syrups and frozen fruit to make more exotic flavors (= more $ per cup)
I have it down right now as selling them for $6/cup with only about $0.65-0.80 cost per cup, netting at least $5 profit per cup. Flavored is $1 more but only cost about $0.20 each for the flavor squirt. I can also sell prepackaged foods like cotton candy tubs for a few dollars profit as well.
Event fees can get costly and the licensing is costing a bunch, so figure $100 for the training and license, then about $50-$80 for each event. I live in NY so my selling season is really just these next few months, then I can put it all away until next spring. I'd love to get a trailer or something more professional, but I'm not in a hurry for that yet.
I'll keep the thread updated
My challenges with a side gig, is that my FT gig gets busy in waves, so there are times that I am slow and others where I am working well into the night. So finding consistent time for that is tough. My kid plays travel hockey, so my weekends are shot during most of the fall and winter months as we are traveling with him. So I really need something that is spring and summer only, I'm hitting 50 in Oct, so don't want to do anything like construction or sprinklers where I doing physical labor. I am looking for something with a low barrier of entry and not a ton of expenses up front.
Enter the Lemonade Stand
No, not the one I set up on a card table at the end of my driveway. I mean a tent for festivals, carnivals, fair, youth sporting tournaments, etc.
I fell down a youtube rabbit hole the other night where I found a guy promoting them. for the main set up, I have most of the basics, a 10x10 tent, folding tables, coolers, etc. I would need slicers/squeezers, jugs for water, some banners, a menu board, and some other serving things like utensils and such.
I have a friend in a networking group that sells take out packaging, so I will get my 32oz deli cups, lids, napkins and such from him.
My DBA is set up, I took my food handlers course last week, with my final test on Tuesday, and then I can get certified by the health board. I'm not handling and food that needs to be cooked or spoils so there was a shorter course I could take, its mostly citrus which is pretty hardy.
As a designer already, signs and logo are easy for me to do.
I am a board member of my chamber of commerce, so I know many of the festivals planned for this summer. I have a friend who runs the local youth soccer club with over 400 families per weekend playing there. He said I could set up any weekend I wanted. I also have 3 other weeknight outdoor music events in July booked. I've stared reaching out to other sports with tournaments or large events happening this summer.
Now i'm testing recipes, and perfecting the drinks.
As for consumables, it pretty cut and dry....lemons, sugar, water and ice. 32oz deli cups/lids, straws, napkins, gloves. I'm playing with flavoring syrups and frozen fruit to make more exotic flavors (= more $ per cup)
I have it down right now as selling them for $6/cup with only about $0.65-0.80 cost per cup, netting at least $5 profit per cup. Flavored is $1 more but only cost about $0.20 each for the flavor squirt. I can also sell prepackaged foods like cotton candy tubs for a few dollars profit as well.
Event fees can get costly and the licensing is costing a bunch, so figure $100 for the training and license, then about $50-$80 for each event. I live in NY so my selling season is really just these next few months, then I can put it all away until next spring. I'd love to get a trailer or something more professional, but I'm not in a hurry for that yet.
I'll keep the thread updated
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