I had been pretty down in the dumps about the tutoring business. It doesn't help when "well-meaning" family members point out most businesses fail in the first year. Then again, if someone tells me I can't succeed, it lights a fire in me to prove them wrong!
Business has doubled in the last few weeks and the phone is still ringing off the hook. I have been working quite hard at marketing and it is paying off! It has definitely helped my mood.
I also have been doing a lot of mystery shopping. I have never stopped, but generally do about $100-150 a month in shops. This month I am at $368 (and I still have days to fill if I find the work). Not only am I/we trying to buy a home in the near future, but I desperately want to go visit my adult kids and my grandkids in Florida who I have yet to meet (19 months and 3 months). I finally felt I could justify the trip (Family is most important, but I did have to make enough to cover the bills first) and bought a ticket on Friday. I will be heading down for five days in June right when school lets out here, which should be a slow week for tutoring. I am super excited!
In the meantime, I am going to keep doing as much mystery shopping as I can to pay for the extras on the trip (not much as I am staying at my son's and will be using their car). Any extra will go to the home fund.
Business is Picking Up
March 16th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
March 16th, 2014 at 12:29 pm 1394972963
{I taught piano in college and I don't see why I couldn't just pick up the business where I left off. There's a need to fill, it doesn't take up any up front capital, and it's easy to find customers. I suppose it's a low risk endeavor, overall? As many services would be}.
Now, I have a friend who is opening up a store front. That is crazy risky, in my opinion. More what I would think of as far as businesses failing the first year.
P.S. Are there any mystery shop companies you recommend?
March 16th, 2014 at 01:17 pm 1394975852
March 16th, 2014 at 02:17 pm 1394979422
March 16th, 2014 at 03:32 pm 1394983930
Like MM, I'm interested in the mystery shopper companies too. Please share.
March 16th, 2014 at 03:53 pm 1394985219
You're smart. You'll figure it out, and plan ahead for the peaks and valleys.
I wonder how many businesses fail because the owners spend as if peak periods were sustainable? My husband makes over 75% of his profit during a 2-month window, and we just have to save like mad during those 2 months because we know the "dry season" comes every year.
March 16th, 2014 at 05:44 pm 1394991863
As for the mystery shopping, I would recommend two sites for finding legitimate companies and to learn all about it. The Mystery Shop Forum (mysteryshopforum.com) has a list of companies at the bottom of the page and tons of threads to learn from. Also, if you go to mysteryshop.org you can also find a list of more legit companies. I would highly recommend their silver certification (I can't speak for gold). It currently runs $20 and is good for life. I definitely get more shops being certified.
March 17th, 2014 at 05:32 pm 1395077540
March 17th, 2014 at 09:12 pm 1395090727