Instead of standing in an empty shop or office, waiting for that next customer, put your skills to use and earn some extra cash in the process. In addition, you may be helping the distressed economies in some hard-hit Michiana communities. There is more than one way to establish your expertise.
3 Reasons to Educate Your Way to Savings
Lend some of your talents to those looking to upgrade their career status. Community colleges like South Bend’s Brown Mackie College and the numerous Ivy Tech Colleges located throughout Michiana are inundated with new students in economic downturns. These institutions, in turn, look for professionals to teach some of the career development courses.
Now teaching a course on Quickbooks or using Microsoft Word may not seem like your cup of tea. However, you must look at the benefits. Instructors are paid around $1000 per month, cash that your slow business could use.
Another thing to think about is this: your classes will also be full of people who, when the economy picks up again, may need your business services. Who do you think they are more apt to turn to, the phone book or an old instructor?
Make a Trade to Save Some Cash
You are by no means the only struggling business in the area. The dry cleaner down block, accountant next door or contractor across the street may all be in need. Start a rapport with your fellow businesspeople and see if anyone is interested in bartering services for services.
There are many possibilities. Contractor may get dry-cleaning done in exchange for minor repairs in the dry cleaner’s shop. Plumbers can save on basic legal services in exchange for some pipe work. The possibilities are endless.
If free services aren’t feasible, offer one another deep discounts. The services you receive in return can match or outweigh the costs of the services that you are performing in return.
Give Back for the Big Pay Back
Give back to your struggling community, while introducing yourself and your services. Give a small course over a basic skill that you may take for granted in your field, but nonprofessionals would love to learn.
- Legal professionals can teach the recently unemployed how to effectively handle unemployement and insurance rejections.
- Cake decorating classes
- Basic plumbing workshop
- Bookkeeping tutorial and much more.
Just find one basic skill and take it to the community. An added benefit is that these people can become your customer base once the economy gets better. You may also be able to charge a small fee and gain some revenue in the process.
There are probably other ways to use your expertise to save money in this economy. When your shop or office is empty and doesn’t seem to be filling any time soon, take a hard look at your business and your skills.
