Entrepreneurial Projects - Examples

Odd Jobs

Five hour/week commitment at $5/hour plus tips
Mostly in neighborhoods for relatives, friends, church members
Baby sitting, house sitting, yard and basement clean ups, pet care, errands, window washing, repairs etc. Youngsters, under the auspices of an adult volunteer leader, would help out in their own neighborhoods by cleaning garages, washing windows, scrubbing floors-things that are hard for an older person living on a budget to do. Many teens are talented carpenters and can repair almost anything. Gardening is labor intensive but the results are spectacular.

Services

Sandwiches

Set up VC concession to sell at schools ---estimate $1 profit on each sandwich. 5 youths or a commitment of 15/hrs per school might spend between 5-10 hours making 100 sandwiches 5 nights/wk Each volunteer takes one night and has additional lunch time tasks at the concession in order to meet 5 hr/wk commitment. For instance, in Fresno, California--a city of aprox 400,000 there are 7 regular high schools---17 middle schools---5 continuation schools-1 restart and 2 adult schools---For our illustration we will assume the participation of 25 client schools---some will have more than 100 daily sales, some less but avg 2,500 sales 5 days week but add also 7-11 type stores and larger grocery stores might offer space = $12,500/wk or $50,000/mos.

4 adults can help with transportation and getting donations from bakeries

and delicatessens and shelf space at retail outlets.

Baked goods

Might be sold at VC concessions at schools and retail stores as above but less of a market here. Estimate

Car Wash

VC concession. Estimate based on 4 youths at each of 5 locations---open 5 hours on the weekend---2 youths on a car = 15 minutes each car = 8 cars an/hour each location = bargain price $3 a car or reasonable between $4-$5 = estimated net of $500/wk

Lawn Care

VC concession Estimate based on 20 youths with 2 jobs each/week @ $15/job = $600/wk

Book keeping service

4 adults mentor 12 youths (3 each) who charge @ $10/hr----youths donate 5hrs/wk and bill for 4 hours = $40/wk x 12 = $480/wk income x 4 = $1,920/mos

Main purpose of this is training for job and life skills.

Creative Projects

Drama performances

Youths, in groups of 10-12, memorize and recite great inspirational documents in front of service club members, business groups, church gatherings etc. (Gettysburg Address, Preamble to Declaration of Independence, Martin Luther King "I Have A Dream", etc.) for minimum of $50 a performance. Assume 2 paid performances a month. Also perform for free at schools, shopping malls, fairs, etc. as public relations to recruit VC members and participation and awareness of the program by the general public. Would have VC songs, cheers and could perform relevant skits and wholesome performance. More than dollars, this and several other projects, are geared more towards enhancing self-esteem, educating children and the general public and for publicity for the Volunteer Corps.

Publish calendars

drawings by school children, photos of school children etc.
1,000 = $5,000 profit

Publish books

96 pg book = $7,000 for 10,000 copies = priced @ $5ea = $40,000+ profit per project
Estimate based on 4 projects with an adult advisor and 10 youth each 3mos period or round to $150,000 every 3 mos poetry--ideas-polls about what young people think--short stories--recipes

Errands for busy workers and the homebound

grocery shopping--laundry drop off-pick up---flower delivery---singing greeting card service---purchase tickets or retail items
$5/hr plus tips----10 youth = 50 hrs = $250/wk

Children's Theme Parties

$100 Up to 20 Guests--$5 each additional guest

cake
favors
games
SHOW puppets, magic, skit or group singing

10 parties a week---4 youth on a party = $1,000/wk gross $30 to $40 expenses (reuse crepe paper--purchase balloons in bulk) aprox $650/wk net