Experiment #1: Starbucks Tech Support
by blogrdoc
I’m reasonably pleased with the progress of Experiment #1. It’s doing far better than Experiment #0 (this blog) in terms of earning money. And I have definitely put far less amount of time into it.
Here’s How I Set It Up:
Advertise donation based tech support on craigslist. The condition is that whoever wants the tech support must meet me at a Starbucks a few blocks away from my house. On top of receiving gigs this way, I check the gigs offered list from time to time. Frankly, it’s the higher dollar gigs that I get this way as opposed to the ‘donation based’ ones.
I specify when and where. When the kids go for a nap, I take off to Starbucks to make some extra cash. :)
Example Gigs
Here’s some projects I’ve had:
- Helping an Business senior college student with his statistics homework - $30
- Evaluating a laptop for sale and putting in craigslist ad - $10
- Teaching someone Frontpage - $100
- Teaching someone wordpress/css - $30
- Setting up someone’s wireless + giving them my old printer (had to drive out for this, but it was well worth it) - $90
These are just a few of my adventures. Every time I go to meet my ‘customer’, it’s a bit of an adrenaline rush. I love explaining things to people.
Why I Do It
I’ve found other benefits from this other than monetary: I exercise my people skills (which is “exercise” I don’t get as an engineer). Moreover, I actually enjoy the subject matter of these gigs and I’d practically do them for free anyway! This experiment is definitely a win/win/win.
Future Work
And this is just one of my experiments. I’ve come up with 5-6 different experiments, but this is one that is easiest to implement and already working for me. And I’m going to stick with it for a while. For some of my other experiments, I will need to learn a bit of web-programming, so it’s going to take a while. For another experiment (if I ever do it), I might need to travel to China and will probably need to file for a patent. :)
P.S. I did do the homework on this and, yes, I do realize that I will need to claim this as income when I do my taxes. Raising money is less tax-encumbered when it is given out-right.
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9 Responses to “Experiment #1: Starbucks Tech Support”
By Sam Crockett on Mar 12, 2008 | Reply
This is a great idea. Starbucks is always full of computer users, and many of them are likely novices that would be willing to pay for exactly this kind of help.
If I may ask, what is your experiment in China? I spent two weeks in China in the spring of 2005. It was my first time traveling abroad, and it now has me saving so that I can do some long term traveling after I finish university.
By blogrdoc on Mar 12, 2008 | Reply
Bingo, Sam. You nailed it! That is *why* this works, though I’ve never thought of it that way explicitly. I’ve even thought of just setting up shop in a Starbucks and put a sign up ‘Tech Support Available Here! Certified Genius.’
In my mind, I have a very clear idea of who my ideal customer is. With that ideal customer in mind, I can maximize the ‘win’ on both sides of the equation.
There is a very *tangible* sense in both Starbucks and Apple that knowledge is valuable. Apple has already cashed in on it, Starbucks just sells coffee. Apple should start selling coffee. :)
As for China, I have an invention and right now, I’m thinking it would be best to start pilot manufacture there. (I’m looking to knock one out of the park with this one.)
By Cat-Daddy on Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
Apple should sell coffee at the genius bar– imagine the money they’d make from all the liquid spill repairs. :)
Saw your post on the Simple Dollar, the -$476 net income! I guess you’re doing better with the other side businesses? Nice that you’ve set up a tutoring gig that can make money now, but if you set up a corporate structure you can grow it & knock it out of the park like your invention… and maybe get some tax benefits besides. You’re a sole proprietorship now?
By blogrdoc on Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
@Cat-Daddy,
First of all, that’s a +$476. I may have used a dash, but I didn’t mean for it to mean negative. Oops. Yes.. I suspect I will be filing Schedule C next year. I’ve read a little about incorporating and it looks very attractive. *But* - I’m taking baby steps. E.g. I started off downloading Quickbooks free version, but then I figured I was being silly. I am tracking everything now with a spreadsheet.
By Cat-Daddy on Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
Oh, congrats on the plus! On incorporating, I’d recommend the NoLo books, or maybe “Cash Machine for Life.” I’ve got a couple of reviews up if you’re keen. I’m on the same path myself, but my steps are baby too.
Best of luck–
By blogrdoc on Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
@Cat-Daddy,
I just checked out your site. I was just ruminating the other day about how lucrative the pet niche market could be. People treat their pets like people, especially in US. Seems like you’ve picked a good one.