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Self-employment has always been a goal of people in remote rural areas, homesteaders, and those trying to get off-grid. The freedom of setting your own hours and doing your own thing is very appealing to those with an independent nature.
Recently, due to Covid, more groups of people urgently need employment options beyond working remotely for someone else. Some are being given an ultimatum by their employer, where they will be terminated if they refuse to get a Covid vaccine. Those who are unvaxxed for medical reasons are being excluded from the workplace or forced to wear masks all day. Others have medical issues which make them more likely to experience severe cases of Covid, and they desperately wish to reduce their exposure to others in the workplace.
Some parents want to pull their children from public schools due to vaccine or mask mandates as well as objections to the curriculum. Some parents of medically fragile children wish to homeschool to lessen their children’s potential exposure. How to homeschool while still earning a living? That’s the big question for them.
And as more and more businesses close their doors forever, job loss is rampant. If you suddenly lose your job, you need to be able to start making money right away to keep afloat.
People need flexible self-employment options
What all of these people have in common, no matter which camp they are in, is the need to secure an income with flexible hours while reducing exposure to others. That’s where this list of self-employment ideas comes in. Most of these for-hire tasks can be done outdoors for an additional layer of security. None require going into someone else’s home or business, with the possible exception of teaching home-schooled children. Even then, a good portion of that can be spent outdoors, weather permitting. Self-employment is key here. This allows you to have more control over your income while overseeing your children’s home-schooling and reducing your exposure to the public.
Everyone in this situation brings a wide variety of skills, talents, and financial resources to the table. They reside in different parts of the country (or world), in different climates, with various populations and settings. Most will be rural or suburban, but those in more urban settings can also adapt many of the possibilities listed here. Some items only require a computer and reliable internet, making them perfect for city apartment dwellers. Some may be subject to rules or permits that restrict sales of home-cooked products, meat, etc. As always, check to see what your locale requires.
The best option is to piece together multiple smaller income streams so that you are unlikely to lose all of them at once. (Think traditional job). Some might be seasonal. Others will provide small amounts of income but add up over time. Let’s dive into the list that I’ve put together and see what this sparks in you. I’d expect that even with the 99 possibilities that I’ve put together here, you’ll still manage to think of others that might work for you where you live! I’ve deliberately not grouped them under categories such as trade or age group so that the process of reading through the entire list will help spark ideas for things you might not have ever considered.
99 remote self-employment options
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Online teaching – Languages or other academic areas either for colleges or private or small-group instruction
- Online tutoring – Think math problems, homework help, reading practice buddy, SAT prep.
- Free-lance writing – Think guest blog posts, magazine submissions, newsletters.
- Free-lance editor/copy-editor/proofreader
- Landscaping– Lawns, leaves, mulch, brush removal, hedge-trimming.
- Hauling – Truck required! – Post availability for removal of furniture, appliances, etc. If the items are metal, take them to the recycling plant and get paid twice!
- Garage workspace rental – People with no off-street parking often look for a short-term space to work on their car. Cities are a great place for this side business.
- Parking/storage for boats, cars, RV’s, motorcycles – Even if you only have room for one, it’s a great way to make a few bucks each month.
- Build and sell chicken coops, sheds, gazebos, wood sheds
- Split and sell firewood and kindling – by the bundle or the truck bed
- Arborist – People will pay you to advise them about tree maintenance – If you really are passionate about the subject, consider getting your degree. Online courses make it easier than ever!
- Gardener – Grow and sell fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Consider having customers pre-pay for ‘weekly shares’ of your garden harvest.
- Farming– Either increase your current production or turn an unused lot into a money-maker. Don’t have room to start your own farm? See if a local farmer needs help with planting, weeding, or harvesting. Get your exercise and some fresh air while steering clear of everything but the fields.
- Beekeeper– Sell honey and beeswax from hives you tend on your own property.
- Cidermaker – Use your fermenting skills to take advantage of apple season.
- Snow removal – Shoveling, snow-blowing, or plowing. Shoveling requires the least start-up money but uses the most energy. Consider both factors before deciding on this side-gig.
- Tilling gardens – If you have a tractor or rototiller, you can advertise your services for tilling gardens and/or fields in the spring and fall. Base your fees on total square feet and soil condition.
- Heavy equipment operator – If you own any equipment (front end loader, backhoe, post hole digger, ditch-witch), you can rent both it and yourself out by the job or by the hour. Don’t own it but know how to operate it? Advertise your services for customers who use equipment rentals. You can even offer to do the renting and add a small upcharge for our time and trouble.
- Custom furniture builder – Love woodworking? Now’s the chance to make money doing something you enjoy!
- Furniture refinishing – With a little patience and a lot of hard work, anyone can refinish furniture. Everyone loves giving an old item a fresh breath of life!
- Chair caning – Don’t start a chair caning business if you don’t know what you’re doing! On the bright side, once you know this skill, you can stay relatively busy because you’ll be one of a rare breed of caners.
- Blade sharpening – You keep your own knives sharp. Why not earn some income keeping them sharp for other people, too? Offer to pick up and drop off remotely if you’d rather not have people at your home.
- Dog walking – Lots of people are willing to pay good money to have their four-legged friends walked while they’re at work. Combine pets from the same neighborhood to really maximize your earning potential. Use your yard as a billable space for mid-day “free running and play time”.
- Start a kennel – If you have the time and space for it, offer to board pets for people while they are away. Offer different pricing structures based on the owner’s requirements.
- Sell items on eBay – Find items at yard sales, estate auctions, and close-outs. Research what each item is selling for (if at all!) before designing your ads.
- Yard sales – Organize a yard sale to help clean out your home while making some dough at the same time. If you hear other people talking about yard sales, offer to help them organize for a fee or a percentage of sales. This is also a great way to get ‘first dibs’ on local items for sale.
- Teach homeschooled children for other families
- Clothing repair/alterations – Can you rip out a hem, sew a button, and replace a zipper? Start a mending service!
- Teach yoga or other exercise classes on Zoom
- Write books– publish on Kindle
- Handmade bows and arrows – Are you a hunter who already makes their own bows and/or arrows? That’s a skill not many people have. It may be worth your time to make enough to sell, either locally or online.
- Make dog treats – Sell to small pet stores, neighbors, and online. Great gift idea as well. Money saved is money earned.
- Egg sales- Are your chickens producing more than your family can use? Consider selling your eggs, either by pick-up or delivery, depending on your preference. Don’t have chickens? You can try asking a local farmer if they need any help delivering theirs. Many times, this is a great opportunity to get paid in farm goods, which you should definitely consider to be a source of income.
- Etsy sales – Do you make something by hand? Let the world see it, and better yet, buy it, with an online Etsy store.
- Silk-screening business – This one requires an outlay of money for equipment to get started, but it will be well worth it if you can pick up some loyal customers.
- Online music teacher
- Breeder – Do your dogs have breeding papers? Is there a market for breeding rabbits in your area? Consider mating your animals and selling the offspring. As your reputation grows, so will your business.
- Computer repair
- Small appliance repair – Clients can drop off and pick up their items remotely. As new appliances – large and small – become harder to find, it will become more important to know someone who can repair existing items.
- Farmstand – Sell your garden bounty at a roadside honor-system farmstand. The end of your driveway is a great location for most people. Leave a basket or jar labeled for payments. The stand won’t need constant monitoring, but check often to keep potential losses to a minimum.
- Flower bouquets – Plant more flowers than usual and then bundle the blooms for sale. Advertise locally or add the bouquets to your roadside farmstand.
- Gutter cleaning – People hate cleaning their gutters! If you don’t mind it and have your own ladder, you might be able to drum up some serious repeat business in your neighborhood!
- Rain barrel and rain garden installation – Put your water collection skills to good use by helping others set up on their properties.
- Social media manager – Offer to handle the social media presence for busy, small, local companies.
- Raise poultry– Keep meat chickens as well as egg chickens. Pay yourself in freezer meat and sell any extra. Consider making barter arrangements with another self-made entrepreneur and swap your extra bounty.
- Freelance artist for books, brochures, posters, food products, etc.
- Graphic designer
- Website developer
- Specialty foods – Bread, cakes, pies, pickles, jams… whatever you are great at making, people will be great at eating. (Be sure to follow any local laws or restrictions)
- Jewelry maker– Sell online
- Create herbal salves, tinctures, etc.- Sell online
- Tax preparation – Were you a tax accountant in your office days? Offer to do taxes for friends, neighbors, family. Post signs, where allowable, at local stores and neighborhood gathering places.
- Build and deliver raised beds, compost bins – Most people who want to switch to raised bed gardening cannot make their own raised beds. Start advertising mid-winter for people looking to convert their gardens in the spring.
- Install fencing – Whether it’s a white picket fence or an underground electric dog fence, people need help with installation. Make it known to your neighborhood that you are the person to call for help.
- Painting – Fences, home exteriors, empty rooms. You decide your rate as well as which jobs you are comfortable with. Many times this is flexible enough to do while juggling a busy schedule at home.
- Driveway repairs – Been patching and resealing your own driveway for as long as you can remember? Make some nice money sharing that skill with others.
- Car detailing
- Tool Rental – Rent out any in-demand items such as floor refinishers, brush mower, rototiller, chipper, wood splitter, etc. Even your carpet cleaner can make a few extra dollars.
- Trailer / Camper rental – Lease your trailer, pop-up camper, or RV by the day, week, or month. Be sure to have a written contract with every customer.
- Create a website/blog/substack/you-tube channel etc.– Take donations or subscriptions. You’ll need to build up a following first, but some people make it worth the struggle long-term.
- Power wash decks, houses, pavements
- Compost service – Offer to pick up scraps from local restaurants and establishments. Sell the compost to gardeners in the spring and fall.
- Hand-crafted wood products – Think laundry racks, birdhouses, shelves, etc.
- Transfer old movies, photos, etc. to current storage technology – Have you already bought all of the equipment to turn your own slides, discs, and tapes into digital copies? Make some money back by using the same equipment to do the same for others.
- Build emergency kits and sell them online
- Dog grooming/bathing at your home or in your yard
- Rent out kitchen and seasonal items – Think cider press, apple picker, dehydrator, pressure canner, pasta maker
- Bicycle repair and resale
- Build and sell bike trailers
- Used car/truck sales – Pick up vehicles at a great price from local sellers, online deals, or auctions and sell for profit.
- Car mechanic– This skill can only become handier and handier as time goes on.
- Resume writing – Advertise at local colleges or where large businesses are planning hiring fairs and openings.
- Build and sell tiny houses
- Custom build campers for people out of regular trucks, cars, and vans
- Knit/crochet hats, blankets, or baby items for sale
- Quilting
- Heirloom seed company– Save the seeds from your garden produce and sell them online in small batches.
- Restore old cars or trucks, motorcycles – Take a hobby and turn it into a dream job!
- Sell services on FIVERR – This is a great website for getting hired for small tasks such as writing a blog post or designing inspirational graphics.
- Homemade maple syrup – Put your maple trees to work! Tap and prepare fresh maple syrup.
- Mushrooms – Grow and sell a variety of mushroom varieties. Not for the inexperienced!
- Animal trapping and elimination – Are you the person everyone calls when they have a bat in the house or an opossum in the garage? Make some money doing it!
- Create and sell gift baskets online
- Wreath making – Great for holiday and seasonal sales. Online craft fairs? Here you come!
- Drone operator– Put last year’s Christmas present to good use. Provide overhead pictures to realtors, landowners, FSBO home sellers, etc.
- Garlic sales – Garlic can be grown over and over. Sell the bulbs straight from the ground, or process the garlic and sell your finished product (where allowed by law).
- Fresh fruit sales – Purchase fruit wholesale from farms in a neighboring state or area and sell locally – Deliver at an upcharge to customers (For the time you spent bringing it to them fresh!)
- Archery instructor – Teach your bow hunting skills to those who want to learn. If you have property, set aside some land where people can pay to practice with targets.
- Swimming instructor – People are always looking for one-on-one instructors—especially adults who want to learn to swim. Use your pool or theirs!
- Candymaker – Peanut butter Easter eggs, chocolate-covered pretzels, and lollipops. People can never get enough.
- Clock repair – Use those tinkering skills!
- Stack firewood – Offer to stack firewood or other heavy outdoor tasks for neighbors and community members with less ability.
- Photography– Sell pics online for use by others – take custom assignments.
- Bait sales – Live near a popular lake, stream, or state park? Raise and sell nightcrawlers and other live bait. Create a stand-alone sales location or sell from your property’s driveway farmstand.
- Specialty cakes and cake decorating – Stock up on ingredients and decorating supplies ahead of time. This will be even more valuable if food shortages spring up from supply chain issues.
- Grow and sell houseplants – Do you have a green thumb? Are your aloe and spider plants constantly dividing? Do you have the knack for turning cuttings into thriving plants? Why not make money doing something you love?
- Grant writer – Do you have experience from your previous life in the corporate or academic world? Local business owners, small non-profits, and entrepreneurs would love to have your expertise available for hire!
- Virtual assistant – Perform needed clerical skills remotely for a small business. The best part is, they don’t need to be local!
- Translation services – Put your knowledge of a second or third language to good use!
Do you have any remote self-employment ideas that aren’t on the list?
Have you retired from the corporate world and started a business from home? What tips can you share with people who are just starting out?
7 thoughts on “99 Ideas for Remote Self-Employment”
Some possibilities for now:
Possible full-time business and part time businesses
A. Need a professional looking vehicle, might need a bond or license for some.
a. Bank messenger: money/papers transfers for businesses
b. Errand service: grocery delivery, laundry pick up, shopping, etc.
c. Business lunch delivery service: prepare food or arrange w/restaurant
d. Flower subscription service: pick up & deliver fresh flowers to businesses
e. Companionship service: elderly, disabled, special needs: talk, read to, help w/hobby, etc. (probably paid by relatives)
f. Messenger/errand service (grocery delivery, laundry pickup, shopping, etc.
B. In-home operations/businesses (need work/storage areas)
a. Catalog/internet order/receiving service: order items for people that don’t have credit card or want to remain anonymous
b. Assembly service for catalog/internet ordered items that come unassembled
c. House/apartment/condo/vacation home/houseboat/yacht sitting/caretaking
d. Lawn watering: turn on/off at night, and/or move sprinklers when needed
e. Yard/garden work: tree trimming, garden tilling, planting, weeding, etc.
f. Pet care services: sitting, walking, feeding/watering
g. Farmer support services: deliver lunch, run parts, etc.
h. Knife sharpening service
i. Gift basket service (standard items or custom creation & delivery)
j. Romance catering service
k. Clothes washing & drying (clothesline hanging for freshness extra)
l. Sewing & clothing repair (alterations, mending, custom made, hand work)
m. Dishwashing (for caterers or after parties, or in clients’ home for lazies)
n. Other house work: window washing, floor care, carpet vacuuming/shampooing)
o. Firewood/log splitting/newspaper logs (delivery & stacking available)
p. Make and/or teach arts and crafts that you know
q. Auto services: Jump starts/emergency services, oil change/tune-ups/maintenance, wash/wax/detail
r. Light carpentry services: construct wooden fences, build bookcases, repair/refinish/upholster furniture
s. Do berry picking, garden produce picking, hunt/fish
t. Do office work at home or on site (typing, word processing, data entry, etc.)
u. Make various types of products for sale
i. Make fancy or intriguing lamps and/or shades
ii. Make walking canes/hiking staffs plain to fancy
iii. Make candles
iv. Make sundials from small to large
v. Make fancy garden gazing ball stands
vi. Make fancy perpetual calendars
vii. Make fancy Solitaire card game boards
viii. Make fancy board game holders/layouts
ix. Make fancy game sets (chess/backgammon/etc)
x. Make/build-in secret compartments
xi. Make fancy boxes/boxes with hidden compartments (also hide-a-books)
xii. Make scarecrow kits (traditional, wind powered, solar powered animation)
xiii. Make Tandy Leather kits for various projects
v. Provide rental access to a freeze dryer, dehydrator, jerky maker, etc.
w. Provide rental access to dry pack canning equipment & sell supplies
x. Provide rental access to pressure canning equipment & sell supplies
y. 3D printer production of small custom and replacement/repair items
C. Services run from home (need some product/equipment storage space)
a. Perform: sing, play instrument, juggling, magic, clown
b. Write a column for the local paper
c. Closet organizing service
d. Karaoke service
e. Searchlight service (mounted on vehicle/trailer w/generator)
f. PA service w/unique vehicle/PA equipment rental (can tow searchlight)
g. Mobile billboard trailers
h. Mobile electric scrolling signs
i. Outdoor party truck/mobile disco (has food service equip & sound system)
j. Utility pick-up: moving & hauling furniture, trash, garden supplies
i. QD mount snow plow
ii. QD mount deicer pellet spreader
iii. winch
iv. tilt PU bed w/bedliner
v. lift tailgate
vi. swing arm hoist
vii. platform hitch
viii. QD equalizer arms & brackets
ix. set of different size hitch balls on inserts
x. set of different light connections & adapters
k. Construction site services support trailer
i. chemical toilets
ii. lockers
iii. showers w/change rooms
iv. water storage tank
v. water pump & pressure tank
vi. grey water tank
vii. hot water heater w/solar collectors
viii. space heater
ix. propane tank
x. generator/power input panel
l. Scrap collection & sale
m. Salvage buildings slated for demolition
i. w/consent of owner/demolition company
ii. scrap, useable items & collectables
iii. obtain & keep lists of wants of antique/curiosities/collectables dealers
n. List broker
i. travel local area, note everything, compile lists & sell to businesses
ii. need: roof, siding, painting, lawn mowing, tree trimming, etc.
iii. own: boat, RV, dog, cat, old car, etc.
iv. event occurring: graduation, marriage, birth, moving out/moving in, etc.
v. any visible or researchable need for a service or possible sale
o. Own/place/service video games/vending machines
p. Teach/supervise types of work of which you have knowledge and experience (specialty tools supplied by you)
q. Vacation property maintenance and caretaking service
r. Some type of local festival/holiday service (rickshaw, decorating, clean up, etc.)
D. Operations/businesses when rural property is available
a. Honey production
b. Chicken & egg production
c. Rental garden plots/self-pick garden
d. Target range/ammunition reloading equipment & supplies
e. Reunion hall/business retreat/meeting facilities
f. Survival retreat area/facilities
Some Professions: (Make your own list of possibilities)
A. Massage therapist
B. Preparedness consultant
C. Courier
D. Author
E. Ownership & management of quadraplex rental units
F. Diamond & precious metal investment
Semi-silent-partner investments: (Make your own list of possibilities)
A. Bar & grill
B. Restaurant
C. Nightclub
D. Private club
E. Laundromat
Owned/operated businesses: (Depends on location, abilities, time, and available funds)
A. Motel & RV park aimed primarily at through traffic & people visiting area for funerals, weddings, reunions, and holiday visits. Located in/near small towns that have no existing facilities but cannot support full-fledged operations of the same businesses.
a. Features
i. RV mini-park (4 – 8 hookups)
ii. Mini-motel (4 – 8 rooms)
iii. Cafe/office
1. vending machines, self-serve coffee maker, microwave
2. serves only beverages, light breakfasts, other easy fix or pre-prepared meals/foods such as frozen microwaveable meals)
iv. Laundry room
1. 2 – 4 washers & dryers
2. serves motel & efficiency apts.
3. opens to office/cafe & outside
v. Owner’s/manager’s quarters
1. over mini-motel & café
2. front & rear outside entrances plus direct entry to office/cafe
vi. Efficiency apartments (2 – 4 units, over mini-motel)
vii. Mini-warehouse units (several sizes)
viii. Safe deposit boxes (room opens off office in cafe)
ix. RV storage area inside fenced mini-warehouse area (roofed storage extra)
b. Optional do-it-yourselfer’s auto shop bay
i. 1 or 2 bays
ii. separate or as part of warehouse/covered RV parking structures
iii. work bench
iv. air compressor
v. crawler
vi. tire changer
vii. trouble light
viii. oil changing pan
ix. protective pads & step stool
x. overhead hoist
c. Optional do-it-yourselfer’s wood/metal shop
i. separate or as part of warehouse/covered RV parking structures
ii. wood worker’s Shop-Smith tool w/accessories
iii. metal worker’s Shop Smith tool w/accessories
iv. jig saw
v. wood cutting band saw (vertical)
vi. metal cutting band saw (horizontal)
vii. woodworking bench w/vise
viii. metalworking bench w/vise
ix. cutting torch set
x. welder
xi. overhead hoist
B. Home business/entrepreneur/small business/self-employed support business
a. Client meeting rooms/offices
b. Part time office space (at least 1 with a crib/playpen)
c. leased single user offices & cubicles
d. hourly rental work offices & cubicles
e. Business library/reading room (and lounge w/food & drink)
f. Notary public/witness available
g. Business consultants available (as referrals)
h. Catering arrangements available for meeting room
i. Multiple phone lines with answerers/answering service
j. Secretary available
k. File space (fire resistant filing space extra)
l. Drafting table, equipment & supplies
m. Copy machine
n. Fax machine
o. Shipment receiving/holding
p. Computer time
q. Brochure/flyer/ad development
r. Mailing list maintenance & label printing
s. Spreadsheet/billing/word processing/desktop publishing/data base programs
t. Dispatching & referral service
u. Addressing & mailing service
v. Re-mailing service
w. Home designing/modeling table & materials
x. Selection of useful office supplies for sale
y. Affiliated/expansion businesses
z. In-house computer research/resource database system w/external database/service connections
aa. Rental lock boxes
bb. Rental mail boxes
cc. Rental safes (for brokerage type business – diamonds, antiques, etc)
dd. Professional office building (tax preps, accounts, lawyers, etc)
ee. co-located either next door or w/business on 1st or 2nd floor
ff. w/infant, child & adult day-care facility; health & fitness facilities
gg. Restaurant catering to business clientele (co-located)
hh. Lounge/bar catering to business clientele (co-located)
ii. Hotel facilities (perhaps co-located but probably not in same structure)
jj. Business retreat/meeting facilities
C. Fantasy/adventure/movie clothing/equipment/accessory/esoterics shop
a. feasible only in large metro area
b. high inventory/display costs)
c. would require good location and upscale decoration & employee appearance
d. Clothing, equipment & accessories recreating or based on popular movies, books, events, and historical periods
e. Similar to costumes, but of actual wearable quality
f. Includes equipment & accessories making one stop shopping possible, which will encourage purchases, since assembling the total packages from large numbers of sources is a major deterrent to individuals attempting the projects.
g. Equipment & accessories could, in some instances, be non-functioning recreations, or lesser cost alternatives to very expensive or unobtainable items.
h. Shop would require either a very large inventory of sizes of a large number of items, or have arrangements with a local clothing manufacturer for quick, quality duplication of items kept on permanent display.
i. ‘Real’ versions of often cheaply duplicated items and goods.
j. Recreations of classic items in original materials.
k. New items in classic materials.
l. High quality items of limited availability.
m. Embellished/decorated/fancy high quality versions of common items.
n. Natural materials such as cotton, wool, leather, fur, silk, linen rather than synthetics or blends.
o. Solid woods rather than wood products with overlays and creative finishes; and quality, high durability woods rather than cheaper, easier to work woods.
p. Stronger, more durable metals such as brass, bronze, copper, steel, iron rather than pot metal & cheap alloys, aluminum, plated synthetics.
q. Actual precious metals and gems rather than simulations.
r. Heavy duty, real use products rather than fragile, inexpensive versions or non-usable for-display-only simulations.
s. Simple, low technology/old method/hand made versions of currently produced items rather than mass produced, light weight, non-repairable, less useable versions.
D. Custom production shop
a. could be at home, if shop space is available and production is limited, or some services are subcontracted
b. Small scale, small item, low production manufacturing facility using high quality materials
c. Produce specific items for Esoteric & Fantasy shops
d. Do custom work & one-offs
e. Produce commercially for limited distribution.
f. Shops
i. Woodworking, carving & finishing tools & equipment
ii. Metal casting, forging, machining & finishing tools & equipment
iii. Leather crafting tools & equipment (or subcontracted, in-shop or outside)
iv. 3D printing
E. Provide service assistance for other cottage industries
a. Consignment shop
b. Work space leasing
c. Warehousing
d. Item sales packaging
e. Equipment, tools & supplies bulk/discount buying arrangements
f. Distribution/delivery/shipping
F. For-profit activity/community center w/
a. optional open air facilities
b. optional indoor & outdoor sports facilities (basketball, tennis, etc.)
c. infant, child & adult care facility for activity participants’ dependents
d. commercial kitchen & dedicated lounge/dining room
e. A/V equipment w/locked storage room & checkout procedure
f. storage rooms for equipment
g. change rooms/locker rooms
h. individual dressing/preparation rooms
i. permanent stage/speaker’s platform
j. moveable wall/expandable meeting rooms
G. Event promotion (dances, performances, plays, tournaments, competitions, meetings, seminars, training sessions, etc.)
H. Charter service (work w/bus line, charter aircraft service & travel agent to arrange & provide group transport to & from regional events/attractions and from & to other areas for center events)
I. Emergency preparedness store (or expanded version w/self-sufficiency items)
a. Conversion of shipping containers into shelters
b. Installation of shelters (possibly subcontracted)
c. Make specialized emergency preparedness kits (exec, office, hi-rise, auto, medical, quake, flood, etc)
J. Used book store (and toys, games, magazines, records/tapes/CDs)
K. Garage/yard sale store/location/flea market (rented out to participants)
L. Resale shop stocked with items purchased from garage/yard sales (purchased at discounts since for resale)
M. General/specialty catalog ordering & receiving store
a. Selection of catalogs in store or customer may bring own for quick orders & shipping if no credit card or way to receive shipment
b. UPS/Fed-Ex/Parcel Post/Truck shipment receiving and holding
c. Assembler (of equipment/purchases from Sears, Wal-Mart, etc)
d. Finder/locator service (obtain products/services not available locally)
N. Do-it-yourself shop/garage (space to work w/tools & equipment available)
O. Artist’s/craftwork commission sales shop
Some things for the PAW (Post-Apocalyptic World):
My Thoughts On a PAW Business
I practice several of my selected trades to make a living in the PAW constantly. One is as a librarian, providing information to others. Another, closely related one, is information interpretation. That is, explaining the information the person is getting from me.
Very similar to a teacher, but not quite the same thing. Part of the training and prep, is doing posts on the forums using the information I have gathered, and the experiences I have had. Librarian tools (never let the media out of your control):
Reference/do-it-yourself library (books/magazines/CD-ROMs/DVDs)
1) Laptop Computer with electronic library
2) Portable Color printer/copier/scanner
3) Printer paper
4) Printer ink
5) Manual typewriter
6) Writing pads
7) Pencils
8) Pencil sharpeners
9) Magnifying glasses
10) Reading glasses
Those are just some of the on-going services I would like to do, and think would be doable in a post disaster/PAW situation. More are below.
Real-time information acquisition and dissemination. It includes medium and long-range communications to keep up with what is happening in other areas, a weather station I am planning so I can make basic forecasts, and a couple of different means of disseminating that information. Information broker/interpreter tools:
1) NOAA Weather Radio receiver
2) WWV/WWVH time standard receiver
3) Trunking multi-band scanner
4) Multi-band receiver
5) Amateur Radio HF transceiver
6) Amateur Radio VHF/UHF transceiver
7) AM/SSB CB radio
8) Semi-pro weather station
9) Laptop computer w/translation software
10) Portable printer/copier/scanner
11) Printer paper
12) Printer ink
13) Bulletin board
14) Markers & eraser
15) Chalkboard
16) Chalk & eraser
Yet another business will be that of miller, when I get the grain grinder and associated equipment I want (Diamant #525 grain grinder with spare grinding plates and parts and/or Grain Maker #116 with spare grinding plates and parts) to grind grain for those that do not have a grinder, but have grains available, and for people whose selection of the grain grinder they got before the PAW turns out to be a bad choice.
I also plan to be a purified water supplier for special needs, such as medical and for herbalists needing pure water for their compounds. And for simply drinking in cases where the water is not yet back to general good quality. (Katadyn Expedition water filter to make clean water for customers, with spare elements, several Sawyer Zero Point Zero Two purifiers, and a couple of Crown Berkey water purification systems to supplement the Katadyn, with spare elements
If I can develop the sources, I plan to have an essential oil production still, as well as a gathering and processing facility to produce the raw ingredients needed by herbalists and pharmacists.
Also, if I can arrange it, I plan to be a special goods broker, buying and selling high value items bought in bulk and traded away in small quantities when things settle down, plus some items to make it easier to do so. Items such as blank barter slips to record transactions, especially those with future delivery dates. Commercial scales to get agreed upon weights of items. (Troy weight scale; 16-ounce scale; and 1#+, 10#+, 100#+, & 500#+ scales)
Containers will be needed for those that do not have their own.
1) Small containers for measured out items (spices, meds, etc.) (really small zip-locks and envelopes)
2) Set various scoops, funnels, etc. For measuring & transferring goods
3) 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, & 7-gallon dispensing containers (to hold filtered water)
4) 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, & 7-gallon buckets w/lids for water (deposit)
5) 1-gal zip-lock bags/cloth bags (deposit)
6) 1-quart zip-lock bags/cloth bags (deposit)
7) Medium paper sacks/cloth bags (deposit)
8) Small paper sacks/cloth bags (deposit)
9) Pint cans w/screw lids (deposit)
The items would include cases of:
1) #2½ cans baking powder
2) #2½ cans cream of tartar (for regular use and to make baking powder w/baking soda)
3) #2½ cans baking soda
4) #2½ cans corn starch
5) #2½ cans or vacuum-packed spices (cream of tartar, allspice, season salt, pepper, mild chili powder, cinnamon, ginger, Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, nutmeg, spaghetti sauce spice, taco mix, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, clove, BBQ mix, basil, cumin, oregano, paprika, anise, cayenne, garlic, curry mix, mustard, celery seed, turmeric, chives, tabasco, caraway seed, cardamom, dill, fennel, tarragon, coriander, Worcestershire sauce, spearmint, peppermint, savory, mace)
6) 2-ounce bottles of extracts (vanilla, mint, peppermint, butterscotch, maple, almond, anise, etc.) (or equivalent powdered versions)
7) 1-lb packages yeast
And buckets of:
1) Wheat
2) Rolled oats
3) rice
4) Small red beans
5) Pinto beans
6) Great northern beans
7) Cornmeal
8) Sugar
9) Olive oil
10) Coconut oil
11) Shortening powder
12) Iodized salt
13) Kosher salt
14) Powdered milk
15) Vegetable stew mix
16) Dried eggs
17) Nutty granola
18) Butter powder
19) Cheese blend
20) Tomato powder
21) Macaroni
22) Noodles
23) Spaghetti noodles
24) Peanut butter powder
25) Honey
26) Beef bouillon
27) Chicken bouillon
28) Hard candy
29) Large containers of simple homemade cleaner ingredients (baking soda, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, washing soda, borax, mild dish detergent [castile soap], cream of tartar, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, sodium percarbonate, salt, corn starch, olive oil, calcium hypochlorite)
I plan to be a warehouseman and broker for other types of lower value, but necessary goods.
Bulk trade goods
1) Chicken wire
2) 10-lb bags charcoal briquettes
3) 5-gallon buckets of Sodium hypochlorite to make bleach (pool shock)
4) Rolls of toilet paper
5) Bundles of red shop rags, white cleaning rags, etc. as reusable TP substitute
6) 100# bags fertilizer
7) 100# bags non-iodized canning salt
8) Firewood (Using firewood purveyor’s tools listed below)
9) Ice (Using Ice making tools listed below)
10) Propane (Using equipment listed below)
11) Ammunition (Using equipment listed below)
Here are some examples of Tradesman’s Tools that could be stockpiled and either used and the product/service bartered, or their USE bartered out. One WOULD NOT barter away the tools that bring in the food. (Again, I Do Not have all the items or skills. I do have a few of them, however.)
1) Information broker/interpreter:
a. NOAA Weather Radio receiver
b. WWV/WWVH time standard receiver
c. Trunking multi-band VHF/UHF scanner
d. Multi-band HF receiver
e. Amateur Radio HF transceiver
f. Amateur Radio VHF/UHF transceiver
g. AM/SSB CB radio
h. Semi-pro weather station
i. Laptop computer w/translation software
j. Portable printer/copier/scanner
k. Printer paper
l. Printer ink
m. Bulletin board w/plenty of pins
n. White board
o. Markers, eraser, cleaner, and magnetic pins
p. Chalkboard
q. Chalk & eraser
r. No-Ink, No-Chalk, Non-Electronic Note Board w/extra hard tip pens
s. Well-guarded list of drop locations for informants to leave information about situations when they cannot or will not go to the authorities themselves
t. Informant ‘gifts’ to encourage people to turn in those that are planning to harm the group in some manner
u. Information agents ‘rewards’ to encourage people to provide useful information not already know
2) Librarian tools (never let the media out of your control):
a. Reference/do-it-yourself library (books/magazines/CD-ROMs/DVDs)
b. Laptop Computer with electronic library
c. Portable Color printer/copier/scanner
d. Printer paper
e. Printer ink
f. Manual typewriter
g. Writing pads
h. Pencils
i. Pencil sharpeners
j. Magnifying glasses
k. Reading glasses
3) Specialist Cartographer for National/Regional Resources Maps of:
a. Natural sources of salt (and commercial plants producing and/or using salt)
b. Natural spring water
c. High production natural food plants
d. Coal (and lignite) (including places that use coal)
e. Natural gas wells
f. Helium wells
g. Crude oil wells (especially light crude)
h. Oil wells with natural gas engine powered pumps
i. High quality/high quantity specialty plants (bamboo, black walnuts, white oak trees, persimmon trees, rosa Ragusa roses, etc.)
j. Ice caves/extremely cold water springs
k. Hot springs
l. Mineral springs
m. Ghost towns (especially with known resources such as water, a mine suitable for shelter, rock and/or other impact resistant construction buildings, water tanks)
n. BLM and ranch land water tanks
o. Wind mills (water and power)
p. Springs
q. Animal watering installations (common in some western states)
r. Road and rail tunnels
s. Long/wide span overpasses/game paths
t. Caves
u. Rock tanks
v. High points with good visibility
w. Long lingering snow spots
x. Natural water catchments (especially protected ones with overhangs, heavy growth, etc.)
y. Ambush points on roads, rail tracks, streets, paths, and trails
z. Dead-end roads that can block vehicle movement
aa. Choke points
bb. Blind alleys
cc. Blind canyons
dd. Areas where orienting oneself is difficult
ee. Areas with natural traps and easy to increase effectiveness trap spots
ff. Natural fish pools/fish traps/easy to make fish trap narrows
gg. Good natural animal ambush and trapping spots
hh. Growing areas with good amounts of rushes, cattails, cordage and fabric plants, medicinal plants, plant & animal produced materials for making various items
ii. Large landfills and recycling facilities
jj. Locations with the high likelihood of finding fuel other than fuel stations
kk. High value salvage locations (medical equipment and supplies, firearms/ammunition/reloading and other weapons items, alcohol suppliers, alcohol/biodiesel/methane production equipment and supplies sources, alternative energy equipment and supplies sources, etc.)
ll. Other resources that could be important in the PAW and in recovery activities
4) Acquire or make a variety of metal templates for:
a. Marking and cutting structural elements such as for Starplates
b. Marking and cutting frames for structures without using Starplates
c. Marking and cutting timbers for construction of timber frame buildings such as notching, joints, etc.
d. Layout, marking, and cutting templates for things such as stairs, roof trusses, etc.
5) Acquire or have the parts needed to make gear boxes in addition to any of the tools one might need to assemble and use. These would be small enough and light enough to transport fairly easily:
a. Wood lathe
b. Metal lathe
c. Drill press
d. Windmills
e. Winches
f. Etc.
6) Stock precision parts for various types of tools:
a. Structural rails
b. Linear bearings
c. Lead screws with attachments
d. ACME thread rods and attachments
e. Bearings
f. Drive motor, print head, spindle, and other components
g. Assembly fittings so lathe ways, guides, and various other items can be assembled for use, or existing machines dismantled for using the parts for something else.
7) Project materials:
a. A large variety of threaded and unthreaded pipe and tubing of various materials, in a variety of lengths, and multiples of each. Both unthreaded and threaded.
b. Male fitting on one end and a female fitting on the other end of those that cannot be threaded so units can be joined to extend length.
c. Large selection of fittings for the above pipe and tubing for project use.
8) Large supplies of traditional pipe, tubing, and fittings for normal use. With the new(er) types of push on fittings available for various types of pipe and tubing, these would also be a good option. Have several disassembly tools though, so the fittings and pipe/tubing can be reused for other things.
9) Acquire the parts to assemble a chainsaw lumber mill, and a buzz saw lumber mill, as well. Parts to make guides, slides, and other handling parts for a decent home lumber mill.
10) Tailor/Seamstress tools:
a. Sewing machine
b. Serger
c. Sewing basket (needles, thimbles, thread, measuring tape, seam ripper, scissors, shears, marking chalk, straight edge, pins, neck magnifying glass, etc.)
d. Bolts of cloth, patterns, spare needles, pins, chalk, thread, buttons, zippers, snaps, etc.)
e. Treadle type sewing machine (Janome 712T)
f. Weaving looms
g. >1,000-watt generator
11) Food processing tools:
Grain grinders, grain hullers, sorghum/sugar cane presses, solar dehydrators, butchering tools, manual meat slicer, manual meat grinder, sausage stuffer, stuffing tubes, jerky shooter, meat smoker, water purifier
12) Barbers tools:
Scissors, combs, hair brushes, dusting brush, broom, dust pan, chair, neck apron, razor, shaving cup, shaving soap, towels
13) Ammunition re-loader’s tools:
a. Corbin Bullet swaging equipment
b. RCBS Bullet casting equipment
c. Ten-X TX-50 progress press for up to .50 BMG w/conversion sets
d. Dillion Super 1050 progressive press w/Caliber kits for Super 1050
e. Spolar Gold Premier hydraulic progressive press w/gauge conversions
f. Progressive reloading press dies
g. lead
h. black powder making tools & screens
14) Laundry tools:
a. Water tank
b. Water heater (kettle w/tripod)
c. 12v pump & battery & hoses
d. Drain lines
e. Fels-Napth Laundry soap
f. Washing Soda
g. Borax
h. Bleach/sodium hypochlorite
i. Staber washing machine
j. >1,000-watt generator
k. James washer w/wringer
l. 2+ washtubs
m. Rapid-Washer plunger type agitator washers
n. 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, & 7-gallon buckets
o. Clothes lines/poles, tensioners, prop poles, stakes & clothes pins
p. 5-, 6-, & 7-gallon buckets
q. clothes lines/poles, stakes & clothes pins
15) Entertainment tools:
a. Band instruments
b. Projection TV
c. TV projector
d. Lap-top computer
e. CD/DVD/VHS/Blu-Ray players
f. Chairs/movie room recliners
g. Karaoke machine w/CD-G karaoke disks
h. Lighting system
i. Sound system
j. >1,500-watt generator
k. Battery bank, solar panels, and inverter
l. Protective bullet resistant face for TVs if used
m. Classic books for storyteller to read
16) Ice making tools:
a. High capacity water purification system
b. Water tank
c. Water pump
d. Counter-top clear-ice ice maker
e. Small commercial block ice maker
f. Small commercial ice cube maker
g. Insulated storage containers
h. Reusable transfer containers (deposit)
i. >1,500-watt generator
j. Ice house (for large scale storage) w/rubber block ice molds (for winter use)
17) Small scale propane supplier:
a. Large home/commercial propane tank with wet leg
b. Tank scale
c. 20#, 30#, and/or 40# propane tank(s) on inverting stand
d. 1-pound propane standard bottle refill fitting
e. Small freezer
f. <1,000-watt generator
g. Special refillable 1# propane bottles w/special refill fitting (definitely deposit and may be hard to get back)
h. Large home propane tank with wet leg for refilling smaller tanks, bottles, and cylinders
18) Printed parts manufacturer
a. 3D Printers (plastic, resin, metal, ceramic, etc.)
b. Control Computer
c. Computer 2D & 3D drafting software
d. Replacement print heads
e. Spare parts
f. Large quantities of feed materials
g. Large sets of digital designs
19) home canning equipment & supplies
20) firewood cutting tools
21) edged tools & saw sharpening tools
22) chainsaw chain sharpening/repair tools
23) printer’s/newspaper publisher’s tools
24) butcher/meat cutter’s tools
25) meat processors tools (sausage, etc.)
26) tanner’s tools
27) milk processors tools (cheese, etc.)
28) baker’s tools & supplies
29) bath house/shower room tools
30) candle maker’s tools & supplies
31) gardener’s tools
32) mechanic’s tools
33) machinist’s tools – Smithy Granite 1340 Industrial Max metalworking all-in-one machine
34) woodworker’s tools – Smithy Supershop 220 woodworking all-in-one machine
35) blacksmith’s tools – Oxygen accumulator, acetylene generator
36) plumber’s tools
37) lumber making tools – portable sawmill
38) electrician’s tools
39) carpenter’s tools
40) roofer’s tools
41) stonemason’s tools
42) primitive building tools
43) cobbler/shoe maker’s tools
44) soap maker’s tools
45) brewer/wine maker’s tools
46) distillery tools
47) miller’s tools
48) spinner & weaver’s tools (looms)
49) teaching tools and supplies K-12
50) smelter/foundry/metal worker’s tools
51) sheep shearing tools
52) papermaking tools
53) rope, cordage, and net making tools
54) millwright’s tools
55) farm tools (prepare, sow, cultivate, harvest)
56) biodiesel equipment & supplies
57) wood gas generator equipment & supplies
58) charcoal making tools
59) black powder making tools
Skill sets most likely to be needed
1) Accountant
2) Active military
3) Administrator
4) Alternative energy specialist
5) Alternative HVAC specialist
6) Ammunition re-loader
7) Appliance repairman
8) Assayer
9) Baker
10) Banker
11) Barber
12) Barterer/flea market operator
13) Basket maker
14) Bathhouse/shower room operator
15) Beekeeper
16) Bicycle Repairman
17) Biodiesel maker
18) Black powder maker
19) Blacksmith
20) Botanist
21) Brew master
22) Brick maker
23) Bullet caster
24) Butcher/meat processor
25) Candle maker
26) Carpenter
27) Cartridge maker
28) Cartwright
29) Chainsaw chain sharpener
30) Chandler
31) Charcoal burner (collier)
32) Cheese maker
33) Chemist
34) Chimney sweep
35) Cobbler/shoe maker
36) Coffin maker
37) Contractor
38) Cook
39) Cooper (barrel maker)
40) Coppersmith
41) Dentist
42) Distiller, drinking alcohol
43) Distiller, fuel alcohol
44) Distiller, essential oils
45) Distiller, water
46) Doctor
47) Dog trainer
48) Edged tool & saw sharpener
49) Electrician
50) Electronics tech
51) EMT/Paramedic
52) Executive
53) Factory worker
54) Farmer
55) Farm hand
56) Farmer
57) Farrier
58) Firefighter
59) Firewood purveyor
60) Fisherman
61) Food canner/processor
62) Furniture maker
63) Gardener
64) Gatherer of wild plants/useful minerals
65) Glass maker
66) Goatherd
67) Goldsmith/silversmith
68) Gravedigger
69) Gun dealer
70) Gunpowder maker
71) Gunsmith/gun maker
72) Handyman
73) Harvester/picker
74) Heavy equipment operator
75) Herbalist/mineralist/apothecary
76) Horse trainer/wrangler
77) Hunter/trapper
78) Ice purveyor/harvester/maker
79) Inventor
80) Janitor
81) Knife maker
82) Knife sharpener
83) Knitter/crocheter
84) Laundress/laundry room operator
85) Leather worker
86) Librarian
87) Locksmith
88) Logger/forester/sawyer
89) Lumber maker
90) Machinist
91) Mechanic
92) Metal worker
93) Metallurgist
94) Midwife
95) Milk maid
96) Milk processor
97) Miller
98) Millwright
99) Miner
100) Mulcher/composter/manure collector
101) Net maker
102) Nurse
103) Nurse's aid
104) Optician (eyeglass maker)
105) Orchardman/arborist
106) Orderly
107) Paper maker
108) Police/Law enforcement officer – Sheriff/Marshal/Deputies
109) Pedi-cab driver
110) Pest control specialist
111) Pharmacist
112) Plumber
113) Postman
114) Pottery maker
115) Pressure canner food storage specialist
116) Primitive building specialist
117) Printer/newspaperman
118) Psychologist/Psychiatrist
119) Quilter/Quilt maker
120) Radio Operator
121) Radio/tv repairman
122) Rancher
123) Ranch hand
124) Repairman
125) Roofer
126) Rope/cordage maker
127) Sail maker
128) Sailor (Boatswain)
129) Salesman
130) Salt maker
131) Salvage specialist
132) Sanitation worker
133) Secretary
134) Security guard
135) Shake/shingle maker
136) Sheep sheerer
137) Shepherd
138) Shipwright/boat builder
139) Shoemaker
140) Skill At Arms instructor
141) Small engine mechanic
142) Smelter/foundry-man
143) Soap maker
144) Soldier
145) Spice purveyor
146) Spinner/Weaver
147) Stonemason/brick layer
148) Student
149) Sugar maker
150) Surveyor
151) Tailor/seamstress
152) Tanner
153) Teacher
154) Thatcher
155) Tinker
156) Tire repairman
157) Tool & die maker
158) Trade maker
159) Trader/Wagoner
160) Trapper
161) Truck driver
162) Undertaker
163) Veterinarian
164) Watch/clock repairman/maker
165) Weaver
166) Welder
167) Well driller
168) Wheelwright
169) Winemaker
170) Wood gas equipment maker
171) Woodworker
Skills that will not be in high demand, but might be a good secondary skill
1) Artist
2) Author
3) Beautician
4) Bookbinder
5) Book keeper
6) Candy maker
7) Clerk
8) Comedian
9) Dye maker
10) Entertainer
11) Entrepreneur
12) Government official
13) Historian
14) Industrialist
15) Ink maker
16) Judge/arbitrator
17) Karaoke operator
18) Lawyer
19) Maid
20) Massage therapist
21) Musician
22) Physicist
23) Scribe
24) Secretary
25) Storyteller
26) Teller/cashier
27) Toy & game maker
Between them, I should be able to support myself, even if one or two are not accomplished by the time the PAW develops.
These are just some of the on-going services I would like to do, and think would be doable in a post disaster/PAW situation.
Just my opinion.
And a Prep Supply Business I would like to do:
Emergency preparedness store details
This is a little of the information from a business plan I did in 1978 for a Prep Store w/a few new items.
The store should be decorated and well lighted to give a light, airy appearance, with plenty of bright colors, with somber colors used sparingly, and only to enhance specific displays where appropriate. The store will cater to the general public and include businessperson, home owner, apartment dweller and single parent family needs. Sensibility, safety and affordability will be stressed. Mercenary, "Rambo", and "Road Warrior" type displays and products will not be used. The crowded feeling and appearance of cheapness often associated with military surplus and many camping supply stores should be avoided.
Clerks should be presentable, wear casual clothing, never cammies or biker type clothing. Denim jeans/skirts and nice sport shirts or khaki work clothes are acceptable. If there is more than one clerk, one may wear casual slacks/skirt and a sport shirt, if desired. If handguns are worn in the store for security (weapons, gold & medical supplies can be tempting for a thief), they should be worn either fully concealed and never flashed, even accidentally (showing off, or poor concealment techniques that show carelessness present a very poor picture to the customer, especially anyone that is marginally pro-gun or actively anti-gun) or worn casually visible. A small-of-the-back holster or an inside-the-pants cross-draw holster is acceptable. They allow the gun to be visible in an apparent, safe and responsible manner, but do not appear flashy. Visible shoulder holsters tend to look "gangsterish" and hip holsters give the appearance of a "Wild West" mentality. Both of which will upset many customers. Clerks should never show or demonstrate their carry gun to a customer, even if asked. Only those weapons in the display case may be shown and demonstrated.
Small item how-to demonstrations, samples/giveaways and simple instruction to be done regularly as appropriate to season, local situations, current news items and expressed interests.
There are extensive and appropriate information displays within each area.
In order to maximize use of showroom space moderate numbers of an item will be on display, with the bulk in the storeroom/warehouse. Where this situation exists this sign will be displayed: "More stock is available – Ask clerk for assistance"
In cases of related items not stocked but available locally, pictures or illustrations and this sign will be displayed: "We do not stock . They are available at ”
In cases of related items not stocked, but which can be ordered, pictures or illustrations of the items and this sign are displayed: “available by special order – Please see clerk for information”
In cases of related items in stock but not on display, pictures or illustrations of the items and this sign are displayed: “Also available – Please see clerk for information”
Display and use areas with traffic spaces indicated. Turning left as you enter the store:
Area # 1 (From outside): Window display area with external view & internal view notice boards for training sessions, meetings, next display/demonstration times/dates, free sample notices, etc.
Area # 2 Door/Entry
Area # 3 Window display area
Note: Actual window and door layouts subject to building design.
Area # 4 (Left hand wall): Safety equipment: First aid kits, other medical equipment, fire & smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, burglar alarms, security locks & devices, gas masks, radiation monitors & meters
Area # 5 (Left hand wall): Racks for small area #4 items
Area # 6 (Left hand wall) Sanitation equipment: Porta-potties, porta-sinks, sun-showers, pest control items, chemicals & supplies
Area # 7 (Left hand wall): Racks for small area #6 items
Area # 8 Utility (Rear wall): Generators, water pumps, ventilators & filters, other large equipment
Area # 9 (Rear wall): Racks for small area #8 items, tools, long items
Area #10 (Rear wall): Shelves for bulky items, cots, chairs
Area # 11 Restrooms (in stock room/warehouse)
Area #12 Door to stock room/warehouse
Area #13 (Right hand wall): Field & wilderness equipment
Area #14 (Right hand wall): Racks for small area #13, #15, & #16 items
Area #15 (Right hand wall): Lockable display & storage for weapons, ammunition, gold & silver, dangerous medical items, other high value & dangerous items
Area #16 (Right hand wall): Lockable display case for knifes, handguns, gold & silver, other small high value & dangerous items
Area #17 (Right hand wall out from the wall): Sales counter
Area #18 (Right hand wall): Literature counter – Large shelter plan display book & special order catalogs on counter, literature & catalogs in racks on front
Area #19 (Right hand wall): Racks for small area #20 items
Area #20 (Right hand wall): Communications & Electronic equipment
Area #21 (Center section – farthest from the door)) Floor stack area for storage containers – Water cans, fuel cans, dry
storage containers, cache containers
Area #22 (Center section – between door & Area #21) Counter height shelves – Item displays on top – Food, water, cooking, lighting equipment & supplies
Note: Need mannequin display space.
Note: Can have purified/drinking water machine to fill customer’s containers as well as having 1, 3, & 5 gallon containers of several types co-located for sale for filling at machine.
Note: Containers for water machine, as well as several other products can have logo/store name imprinted.
All areas are highly flexible in size, subject to actual building size and layout. Some areas are subject to specific equipment requirements with the utility equipment area the most likely to need more room than indicated. Other areas can be adjusted by display design and numbers of items stocked at the display versus items kept in storage.
Reasoning for specific layout:
Communications equipment is put near front. It is flashy and generally intriguing. National Weather Service and Police, Fire, & Civil Defense monitors will be on at low volume to attract attention and interest. Several items are low or moderate cost with some fairly expensive. But there are clear low cost acceptable alternatives to the higher priced items which allows the possible sale of the higher priced items with minimal chance of discouraging sales of less expensive items, but uses the attraction of the expensive items to help sell the less expensive.
Safety equipment also goes up front with the first aid kits prominent. There tends to be a strong perceived need for safety items. Several items are low or moderate cost, therefore sell easily.
The center shelving unit has lighting products at the door end on the counter side, and cooking equipment at the other end. Food items on the opposite side at the door end and water purifiers and related items at the other end. These items are also perceived as highly needed. They are easy to demonstrate, some are inexpensive enough for occasional free samples/giveaways, and many are very low to moderate cost. Space is left on the top of the shelves for various displays of these items which are for the most part small. This will not interfere with the view from the counter to the opposite wall.
Weapons and items perceived as potentially dangerous, such as syringes, scalpels and sutures are kept locked in a display case behind the counter for safety, access control, and to give a strong perception of responsibility. Handguns, knives, gold coins, silver coins, other small high value items and other small items perceived as dangerous are kept in removable trays in a locked glass display case in the counter. (The trays are placed in the locked storage cabinet behind the counter at night.) Since some of these items are somewhat objectionable to some people this display case is on the side away from the door. But it is adjacent to the field and wilderness equipment area, thereby association the two, which can tend to lessen the negative impact. The gold & silver coins are at the front of the split display case, exposing them to good view, but separating them with a partition shields them from the weapon without the need for another display case, or putting them in a less secure location on top of the counter. (Though this is an option.)
The sanitation equipment is placed along the wall since a tiered display can be used effectively to display these bulky items. These are moderate priced items, though accessories are inexpensive. But the placement keeps a somewhat embarrassing item away from the front of the store, but instills the idea that it is an important item by linking it to the safety equipment display and putting it opposite the food & water displays.
The utility equipment is placed next to the sanitation equipment since they are somewhat related and to place them near the back of the store. Many of these items are very bulky and heavy, therefore need room for display. They are not very flashy or glamorous and also tend to be somewhat expensive. Keeping them near the rear allows the customer to be exposed to less expensive items first, reducing the impact of the higher prices, which often means the customer will buy some items, even if not a high ticket item. Many illustrations are needed since it is impossible (financially and due to space restrictions) to display/stock all the various
possibilities available.
Tools and utility related items are placed at the back corner. These are non-glamorous and low to moderate priced for the most part. Anyone interested will have a specific need so exposing them to the utility display will not inhibit a possible sale and may generate interest in the utility items. These racks also hold long items that may not be storable at the appropriate display.
Again, if the customer is already interested, exposure to the utilities is a positive.
The bulky items are placed at the back of the store for stocking convenience and appearance reasons.
The storage container display is near the back because it is a non-glamorous item. Individual items are stacked in a display. They can be moved fairly easily if necessary to give room to move a utility equipment display item. They are close enough to link the water cans to the other water products, the fuel cans to the utility display (generators), and the waterproof containers to the tools and field & wilderness equipment. The stack is kept fairly low for safety, appearance and to allow clear view of the back corner of the store from the counter.
The store room/warehouse door should be large enough to allow easy access with the larger items. Signs should be posted for the restrooms. They should be near the showroom door and if possible, screened from the actual store room/warehouse. They must be kept presentable since from time to time, customers will need to use them and it is easy to lose customers, especially women and anyone with children if restrooms are dirty or smelly. Almost as bad is the refusal of clerks to allow a customer to use the restroom. Though, if the restrooms are not presentable it is better to deny access, since a bad restroom will be more likely to drive off business than not giving access, since that is not uncommon.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
Additional Prep Store ideas and information:
Custom Advertising systems for display when on camera during disasters (banners/ panels/ signs/ etc.)
Safety equipment: First-aid Kits, Trauma Kits, Kit refill items, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, burglar alarms, security locks & devices, respirators, radiation monitors & meters
Sanitation equipment: Chemical toilets, porta-sinks, sunshowers, pest control items, chemicals & supplies, James Washer, clothes washing plunger
Utility equipment: Generators, water pumps, ventilators & filters
Camp equipment: Ice chests, cots, chairs
Field & wilderness equipment: Maps, compasses, packs & bags, etc.
Communications equipment: FRS, GMRS, MURS, CB, Business Band, Public service band scanners, Amateur radio gear, antennas, towers
Storage containers: water cans, fuel cans, dry storage containers, cache containers Drinking/purified water machine w/1, 3, 5, 6, 7 gallon containers available
Food, water, heating, cooking, lighting equipment & supplies: Candles, kerosene lanterns, kerosene heaters, Mountain House, Provident Pantry, Sam Andy, Alpine Air, Healthy Harvest, Auguson Farms, Thrive, Abbey’s Best, Freeze Dry Guy foods, flashlights, batteries, Country Living Grain Mill, Diamant 525 Grain Mill, Sawyer, MSR, & Katadyn water filters, canners & canning supplies, dehydrators, Freeze Driers, mylar sealers, dry pack tin can sealer
Other items: PRI products (PRI- G, PRI-D), gold coins, silver coins, books, specific tools, off grid power systems & components, non-hybrid/open-pollinated seeds, manual gardening equipment
Services:
1) Canning station for #10 cans, #2 ½ cans, Super pails
2) Conversion of shipping containers/culverts into shelters
3) Installation of shelters
4) Custom communications systems
5) Custom clandestine communications systems for use during kidnapping/ hostage/ hijack/etc. situations (hand signs, eye/ head/ hand movement signals, etc.)
6) Custom specific situation kit development
7) Custom storage/use kit/product containers
8) Periodic check & repack emergency kits & replace dated items
9) Creation of custom household utilities shut off instruction cards
10) Custom Freeze-Drying/dehydration
11) Organized group canning sessions during harvest season
12) Evaluation and recommendation of procedures for specific disasters & events
Many of the products can have company/store logo/name imprinted when ordered/ made
Preparedness manuals
Created on desk top publish system and printed at commercial printers
1) Complete specific situation manuals using plastic comb bindings
2) Basic/limited information manual in three ring binder
3) Situation specific additional sections sold separately for insertion
4) Updates to replace existing sheets
5) Phone list/contact update sheets to replace existing sheets
Some additions:
1) Pen flare launchers & flares
2) 12 gauge flare launchers & flares
3) 26.5mm flare launchers & flares
4) High quality fire starters like Lightning Strike and Allweatherfirestarters.com
5) Quality tinder like fat wood, Lightning Strike Napalm tinder
6) Open fire water still
7) Reusable diapers
8) Manual baby food grinder
9) Reusable feminine hygiene items
10) Open fire spits w/supports, grilling baskets, fire grates, fire tripods, fire tongs, cast iron cauldrons, large kettles, large solar ovens, cast iron Dutch ovens and pans
11) Manual blender & manual mixer
12) Collapsible evaporative cooler shelf unit
13) Plastic garden layout stakes, layout twine, planting dibbles, manual wheeled garden seeder, manual high wheel garden machines w/attachments, scythes, sickles, scythe/sickle peeing kit, gathering baskets/buckets/pouches, bee head nets (other garden tools or let them go to the hardware store)
14) Game snares
15) Fish/frog replaceable tip gigs w/poles & spare tips, fish traps, gaffs, cast/gill nets w/line, weights, & floats
16) Meat smokers, meat grinders w/sausage stuffer & tubes, crimper, & ringers, jerky shooters, cloth smoked/dried meat storage bags
17) Reusable toilet wipes, toilet wipe rag containers, toilet wipe soaking containers, toilet wipe washing container, plunger type clothes washer, laundry tongs
18) Laundry ladles, stirring paddles, laundry tongs, clothes line posts, anchors, line, clothes pins, Fels-Naptha laundry soap
19) Hand sewing kits, Janome 712T treadle sewing machine w/custom stand, bobbins, needles, thread, scissors, scissor sharpener, bobbin winder, set of sewing machine accessories, straight pins, safety pins, spare parts, basic patterns for men, women, children, in several sizes, bolts of cloth (denim, khaki, etc.)
20) Dickies khaki work pants & shirts
21) Carhartt winter clothing
22) Propper Public Service line of khaki cargo pants & field shirts
23) Silk/wool long johns
24) All leather suspenders
25) 1 3/4″ leather belt with zippered money slot
A custom line of medium weight wool field clothing in khaki/ coyote brown/ medium gray/ brown herringbone/ medium gray herringbone
1) Long sleeve shirts with neck and yoke lining with two button down flap pockets with pencil slots, button down collar, 8-button placket, long tails, sleeve pockets with pencil slots, and epaulets.
2) Long pants with waist to knee lining with button down rear flap pockets, two-slash front pockets, 2 watch pockets, 2” belt loops, blousing tapes on leg hems, and 8 suspender buttons.
3) Bibs and jacket for severe weather
4) Hooded Great Coat for extreme weather
Just my opinion.
Hey, Jerry. You should turn this into a book and publish it. Titled: How to Work from home when the SHTF (or any other time)
WTL;dr
Jerry, get an editor. I’ve been a technical writer for 35 years. Let me know!
Thanks for this information Daisy. Several people I know who have refused the jab that work remote, and have been for years, have been fired due to not getting jab. This list is a lifesaver. I may be on the chopping block soon myself so I’m going through this list. Thanks again.
I would re-consider breeding dogs and cats. The animal shelters are full, people are abandoning the “ugly”/unsold puppies and kittens along the side of the road,in dumpsters or left outside the shelters in cardboard boxes in the heat. Some white dogs and cats are deaf and others are both deaf and blind,which makes them unsellable,more likely to be dumped at the animal shelter,if they are lucky.
I would offer a Pet Taxi service to take pets to the vet or to the groomer. Even a mobile pet grooming service,for both dogs and cats,would be a good option.
Great ideas. Lots of them. If if if I weren’t so tied to caring for my husband day and night I’d seriously consider some. If the economy keeps sliding downhill I might take on simple mending or things I can work into my busy life anyway. I used to make custom bags for gig musicians. Men’s pants often need hemming. Those are good handwork and can be set down and picked up in odd moments.
I love writing. I know I’m verbose. I used to write online political opinion pieces.
I’ve taught everything except high school chemistry. Yes even trigonometry. I ran an entire K-12 school for 22 1/2 school years. Most of the time I taught 7th to 12th grades.
Here at home I teach foraging and simple shelters to neighbors. I’ve even taught art classes for “wanna be” painters. Low cost per person but for groups of 5 or 10. My neighbor was doing airbnb for artists. It tied in together. Simplified brush sketches were a popular way to make area painting notes for painting when they get home. Watercolor or acrylics work well for that. I do that to catch quick inspiration for compositions in true color.
I’ve been a small business owner for 30+ years of a Mom & Pop Video Conversion Shop. Think LegacyBox but on a local scale. My county and the neighboring county has roughly 800,000 people. Most people don’t want to mail off their Videos/Photos Memeories and come to me. Being in business for so long, I’m now the only one who does what I do locally. I have physical Business building and my wife does the books and edits videos for our Corporate Clients from home. My office space runs me $503/month with electric, water and trash included.
Now, are my wife and I rich? Nope. Sorry, no secret safe stuffed with money in back. Just middle class like most folks.