When I look around the world I see opportunities to build wealth everywhere. I have ideas pouring out of my, well, pores. Maybe that's the problem, too many opportunities and not enough time to do them all.
Making extra money is always in the front of my mind and I can see how others can make money from their talents and skills, but it is harder for me somehow. Right now, off the top of my head I can think of five ideas for my dad to make money. He is a mechanic and has been for 25 years, so he's an expert, right?
Being an expert is moneymaking opportunity in itself because people come to you for advice all the time. So back to my dad; he knows things about cars that the average person will probably never know. He has what we all need at some point in time, knowledge about how to fix cars. So he can take his knowledge and make money in the following ways:
1. Write a book
2. Teach a class
3. Start a Blog
4. Sell parts
5. Consulting
It was easy enough for me to think of these ideas, now the hard part is expanding on them implementing a plan of action. All of the ideas mentioned above can be done at the same time all it takes is organization.
Write a Book
As an auto mechanic with so many years of experience, my dad can write a book or two about cars. He is particularly fond of muscle cars, the old Plymouth and Chevrolets that are big and sleek, yet super fast. He could write a book about where to find them, how to restore them, and how to resell them. He had two Plymouth Dusters in his driveway that people were always stopping to inquire about. They wanted to buy them so badly that they were practically drooling over them.
Every year millions of teenagers get their driver license. They are dying to have their own ride but their parents are not always too sure about the best kind to get. It is easy to research the best kind of cars but to have all the information in one place is priceless. Parents of teen girls are especially cautious and concerned with the safety features and handling of the car they will buy for their precious daughter.
When my dad bought me my first car, he was less concerned about how it looked, but rather how safe it was. Since he’s into classic cars he bought me a 1971 Dodge Dart. It was a beautiful gold color with impeccable interior. It was also as big as a boat and made of steel. I was in an accident one time in it and all I got was a small ding on the corner of the fender. The other car was completely totaled. When I told him about it he was concerned that I had been in an accident, but he was thrilled that the car he purchased for me kept me safe.
Another idea for a book could be what to look for in a car repair center and/or mechanic. Every year thousands of car owners get ripped off by unscrupulous mechanics. With timely tips about how to choose an honest mechanic, concerned consumers can be more confident in choosing an honest and reliable automotive specialist. The best kind of book or eBook would be one that lists the top 10 tips or 7 easy methods for finding a reliable mechanic.
Teach a Class
To capitalize on his expertise as a mechanic, he could teach classes to two groups of people. The first group is individuals who want to learn the auto repair trade. There are many people who want this knowledge to either learn how to repair their own cars or learn auto repair to become a paid professional.
Classes can be taught in private small group settings or as an instructor at a high school or community college’s vocational arts program. Through collaboration with a neighborhood auto parts store, my dad could teach men and women alike basic maintenance skills. A class for women that is sponsored by a women’s organization or club is another avenue for teaching.
Blog
Considering that blogs are a normal part of life it is only natural that my dad starts blogging. There are a vast number of topics to cover in a blog from how-to’s to product reviews to advice. There is no limit to what he can talk about in a blog. Personal experience, humor, and the hundreds of stories he can tell about life as a mechanic are also great content he can create.
As his reader base grows he can begin to accept advertising. The automotive industry has thousands of wholesalers and retailers of auto parts, car manufacturers, and products to make the car pretty on the inside and out. Paid reviews, banner ads, and Adsense are all a part of the blogging world. It would not be hard to start seeing a nice bundle of money coming in from a blog like this.
Sell Auto Parts
Everybody who has a car needs parts at some point in time. The fact of the matter is that all car parts wear out sooner or later. There are hundreds of auto part stores, in fact in some places there is one on every corner, kind of like all those CVS and Walgreens stores. Parts can be sold in one of three ways. He can buy a franchise, buy some land and start a junkyard, or buy parts for cheap at the local junkyard and resell.
Buying a franchise can be expensive with the hefty start-up fees and monthly or yearly franchise fees. Buying land, in reality, is not cheap. He will also need seed money to buy junk cars from individuals and a tow truck to haul them away. His best bet would be to buy parts cheaply from a salvage yard and resell on EBay, Craigslist or any other online classified ads website.
I heard of a man who only sells spark plugs he collects and cleans at one of the largest flea markets in California. He sells them for $1 each and regularly makes $300-400 before noon. Specializing in one or two parts may yield the same results but it will take testing it out to see what works.
Consulting
The final way that my dad or any other experienced auto mechanic can make money is by consulting. The clients he could serve are those people in the market to buy a car, particularly a used car. When the car is sitting on the lot looking pretty and the interior is immaculate it’s easy to forget about what’s under the hood.
Having worked around cars for over 25 years he can distinguish between normal and abnormal sounds. During a test drive he can know if the car needs an alignment or if that knocking sound is the sign of big trouble in the future. The sights, sounds, and smells of a used car can never be taken for granted so having a knowledgeable mechanic around can save the consumer money and headaches.
Knowing the true value of a used car is another area that a mechanic can advise a consumer about. Too often the unassuming buyer pays too much for a car. The way it looks and the features drive them to overpay for what could be a lemon. They don’t take into consideration the mileage, maintenance reports, or blue book values. They may not even know that those factors influence the cost of the car they have fallen in love with. An automotive consultant can be the voice of reason at this very important time in the consumer’s life.
These ideas can be used for any professional with years of experience in their field. What you know is valuable because you have spent the time to learn everything there is to know about your industry. As retirement nears or the economic crunch begins to change and challenge your level of income, it becomes necessary to think outside of the box and create alternative ways to produce income.
© 2009 Samantha Gregory
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