|
Here is
an interesting business idea. Providing a much needed safety service
to families and elderly can be a great business idea. It is a sad
fact that most homes do not have a functioning smoke detector, or if
they do, they only have one for an entire house. Most
homes should be equipped with at least 2 smoke detectors. One close
to bedrooms to wake you in case of a fire and another on the other
side of the house. Installing a smoke detector is a 10 minute job
and is a great impulse buy.
Go to
your local home improvement store of even Walmart and buy 4-5 smoke
detectors. You can get them as low as $6 a piece. Maybe buy 2 low
end models and 2 high end models to take on your home visits. Mark
up the price at least $10 (you are providing a convenience service
by bringing a smoke detector to the home). You can charge an
additional $15 installation, which takes the $6 smoke detector and
turns it into a $30 sale, all for 10 minutes worth of
work.
All you
need are basic tools, screwdriver & hammer are generally all
they are needed and some extra batteries. You can markup the price
of the batteries as well, if the home simply needs the batteries in
their existing smoke detector changed.
Start
out by going door to door in middle income homes and retirement
neighbourhoods. You can typically find 5-6 homes that would like an
installation in just a couple of hours of door knocking. And at a
$24 profit per installation, that's an easy $125 in an
afternoon.
This
type of service sells well because it is typically one of those
things homeowners "think about doing", but never get around to. When
you show up with the tools and product in hand, $30 is a small
amount of money to spend on their families safety.
Offer a
free inspection of their current smoke detector. If it is working
ok, leave a business card or flyer with the homeowner. Explain you
do all kinds of home repairs and if they ever need anything, simply
give you a call. You will get calls not only from that homeowner,
but also from their friends and relatives who need simple tasks
completed.
If you
do not like the idea of going door to door, try mailing out
postcards to homes that match your ideal neighbourhoods. Or, you can
get door hangers made relatively cheaply that you can hang on front
door handles. Go through a couple of neighbourhoods in a day and get
ready to take orders the next few days!
| 
