What kind of business can I open up while working full time?

Biomedical Engineer

Hi guys,

I'm looking to open a business part time. I can probably do some work while working full time. I just won't be able to go out of work, but can make call, research, etc. I can work during the weekends and evenings and can get a loan of up to 10k. What do you guys think?

Djeet

1st look at your contract and make sure to CYA with respect to what you're doing. I'm in software development and there can be some pretty onerous stipulations as to IP and what you develop being owned by your fulltime employer. My sister is in the financial industry and her contract specifically forbade her from promoting/developing business outside of her employer. Not sure how enforceable non-competes and other contractual obligations are, but it's something you should be aware of.

Not being very available during 9-6 killed several promising options for me. Specialized software development has been the only side-action I've gotten that's been worthwhile for me. All the work can be time-shifted. As long as deliverables are received before deadlines close no one cares when I do the work.

An ex-coworker of mine started up a successful event planning/coordinating business while working fulltime at the company I fulltime for; I helped him out some evenings and weekends. That said, the company is pretty flexible and forgiving w/r/to late coming in and taking off for a couple hours in the middle of the work day. Don't think he would've been able to swing it if that weren't the case as his new business requires a fair amount of phonetime and some facetime for customers and vendors during business hours.

zepherin

I have a friend who started a dog walking/house sitting business during lunch hours and on the weekends. If your more handy than that, you can do summer landscaping on the weekends, or house cleaning during the weekends and at night.

GnomeTank

Can you program?

I work full time and also run a small consulting firm where I do side-projects for people who just need a quick infusion of expert development talent, usually to do small one offs they don't want to hire full staff for.

I work evenings and weekends, and I'm always very up front with my clients that this is a side business. It's worked out well for me so far. I'm not sure how I would move the process along to it becoming a full fledged business, but I'm not sure I care either.

In months where I really don't want the extra work, I just don't take anything on. In months where I need extra money, I can take on more of a work load.

Bowen

I do what Gnome does.