Simple business Ideas Even Your Mother Can Start (and make $120/hr)

Chris recommends starting a business by reselling Costco or government liquidation items. He personally bought $7,000 worth of washers and dryers for $250 each and sold them for $750-$900 each on Facebook Marketplace. Ideal products include large appliances and outdoor furniture, avoiding electronics due to high failure rates. The key is to obtain a resale certificate to avoid sales tax and use platforms like GovDeals and BStock. Demand can be validated by listing items on Facebook Marketplace before bidding on them.

Guest Chris Corner's personal experience with reselling washers and dryers, and his strategy of pre-listing on Facebook Marketplace to gauge demand.

A significant opportunity exists in implementing AI for small businesses, particularly through voice agents and chatbots. Voice agents can answer phones, book appointments, and handle customer queries, syncing with calendars. The guest suggests offering free AI tutorials at local Chambers of Commerce to generate leads for AI audits, positioning oneself as an 'AI god.' A specific example is an AI voice agent for barber shops, charging $2,500 upfront and $250/month, allowing barbers to make more money without answering phones.

Guest's suggestion of free tutorials and AI audits. Example of a barber shop AI voice agent charging $2,500 upfront + $250/month, and the med spa AI tool concept.

Snail mail subscription businesses are experiencing a boom, driven by organic TikTok content. Hannah, who runs 'The Tiny Post,' sends heartfelt letters, stickers, and handmade artwork to 6,000-7,000 women monthly for $10, achieving 70% gross margins and 60k MRR in seven months. Her viral TikTok video, explaining the business to her skeptical husband, garnered 2 million views and 1,500 customers. The appeal lies in the desire for physical, personal mail over digital overload.

Hannah's 'Tiny Post' business, specific revenue figures ($10/month, 6-7k women, 60k MRR in 7 months), and organic TikTok strategy.

Inspired by working undercover at an Amazon warehouse, Chris identified a massive unmet need for quality food options for the 3-4 million warehouse workers. Warehouses are often in remote locations with only vending machines or fast food. The idea involves partnering with a catering business to deliver pre-ordered, healthy meals (e.g., $8 lunch club) during synchronized lunch breaks. This model benefits from high volume and could potentially integrate robotic food production for efficiency.

Chris's personal experience at an Amazon warehouse in Irving, Texas, and the observation of limited food options for thousands of employees.

Renting out durable, stackable plastic totes for moving is a growing trend. One tote can replace 400 cardboard boxes over its lifetime, offering an eco-friendly angle. The business can be started for around $1,000, with totes paying for themselves after 3-4 rentals. A successful strategy involves partnering with real estate agents who can offer tote rentals as a moving-in/out gift to clients. David Stilson's 'Totes on Loan' in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is an example, generating a few thousand dollars a month by delivering and picking up totes.

Google Trends data showing a spike in 'tote rental' searches. Example of David Stilson's 'Totes on Loan' business and his strategy of approaching Keller Williams offices.

Wall printers, resembling 3D printers on rollers, can print large images or murals directly onto walls from a JPEG file. These machines cost $4,000-$16,000 (or finance for $50-$150/month). A 5x8 ft wall print costs $8 in ink but can sell for $800, yielding 99% gross margins. This service replaces manual artists and is suitable for corporate offices, restaurants, and retail. Marketing can be done through organic short-form videos (e.g., TikTok) showing time-lapses of prints, offering free prints to generate content, and then using paid ads.

Cost of wall printers, ink cost ($8 for 5x8ft wall), potential selling price ($800), and marketing strategy through organic video content.

Renting out RVs, particularly Class C motor homes, on platforms like RV Share or Outdoorsy, can be a profitable side hustle. RVs can be financed for 20-30 years like a home ($250-$600/month for a $40k unit) and rented for $150-$400/night. The average RV owner uses their vehicle only 5-15 nights/year, creating a strong rental market. Market research involves comparing current availability to year-out availability on rental platforms to identify high-demand unit types and locations. The guest warns against owning 2-4 units, as it creates a 'messy middle' of high effort and low scalability.

RV financing details, rental rates, average RV usage, and the guest's market research method on RV Share/Outdoorsy.