Recipes of earnings: online skirt store, landscaping of walls and a maze of fear

"We bring plastic boxes to the client, he fills them, moves them, and then calls the firm to take the boxes"

"Hello, FACTS." Writes your reader from Canada Paul Bergoyne. Our family is from Ukraine, so we, though we have lived in Canada for many years, never forget our roots and love our distant homeland very much. Almost all of us are engaged in the family business that my uncle Doug Bergoyne created. I think that his ingenuity and entrepreneurial talent will serve as an example for Ukrainian businessmen. Uncle came up with an original way, like on a penny goods, plastic boxes, to earn millions. Yes, yes, on simple boxes for relocations you can make a serious business.

So, he lived in Vancouver, Doug Bergoyne - an ordinary immigrant guy who dreamed of getting into people. But what can you earn on if all the niches are already occupied? The idea arose during the move, when you needed boxes for things. The arc just dawned: his firm would specialize in boxes. And plastic, reusable. And they will not be sold, but rented - for the time of moving.

Business turned quickly. Boxes Doug went with a bang. Today our company handles plastic containers in batches of 25, 35, 50 or 70 pieces for a period of one day to three weeks (depending on how long it takes to move). The principle of the service is simple: a person orders boxes through a website or by phone. A truck with plastic boxes arrives, unloads. The client fills them up himself, moves, and then calls the company to pick up their boxes.

Reusable containers will last a long time. They are convenient to fold one into another, they do not get wet, they do not need to be tied with a rope or wrapped with scotch tape. Boxes are easy to wash (if something is leaking), just transfer them, you can paste on them leaflets with information, for example, with a list of things. And most importantly - containers do not pollute the environment (as opposed to conventional cardboard boxes, which always have to be discarded after use). Moreover, our containers are made from recycled plastic. * Such reusable containers last long, easy to wash and easy to carry

Over a period of several years, Doug opened more than 20 branches in Canada and the United States. Firms operate on a franchise basis: each pays Arc of royalty - 7 percent of gross income per month. And now we consider: 20 branches multiplied by 7 percent. This is already a solid income, not a cheap local business. I will say about plans for the future: by 2015 we want to open branches in 150 cities of North America.

Of course, Canada or the USA do not look like Ukraine. But very many Western developments quickly took root in the CIS countries - payment terminals, postal machines, storage services ... That is, if you want, you can earn money on almost anything. Therefore, take a closer look at the plastic boxes. "

"I created a labyrinth of fear, where a person can experience real horror. The business turned out to be quite profitable "

"Fear is needed for people as air," says an entrepreneur from Kiev Igor Lazey. "And on this human weakness you can make good money." Note: all children adore different horror stories, horror movies and computer games with monsters and vampires. And all because in life they do not have enough adrenaline. Children are surrounded by the care of their parents, they are being watched, they do not take a step to the side, they do not stumble, they do not fall ... Meanwhile, for normal development, a person needs sweet, bitter, pleasant and terrible.

So I had an idea to open the attraction of fear. All 5D cinemas and other technological inventions were immediately swept aside because of the high cost. But remembered the amusement parks with fear rooms. Here it is, our fine variant, economical and at the same time giving free rein to the imagination, I decided and opened a labyrinth of fear where a person can experience a real horror, unexpected and unpredictable.

The business is inexpensive at the start and pretty lucrative. It is necessary to find a room (preferably a basement in the center of the city) - this will take the most money. Further equipping the labyrinth does not require significant costs. In the attraction are used dolls-monsters and if desired (but it is not necessary) are attracted by several people who run around the visitors and ... tickle them with a feather. The music, the croaking of crows and the roar of chains also create an atmosphere of fear. In principle, nothing complicated, and therefore the cost of tickets should be low - only 10-15 hryvnia. The profit depends on the number of visitors. The more of them, the richer you are. Be sure to complete all the documents, do not try to play Cossacks, robbers with tax, so as not to have future problems. At the initial stage, the income will be 7-15 thousand hryvnia per month, well, and then untwist, open a souvenir shop, something else you will think up ...

You can organize thematic excursions (tickets, of course, should cost more), for example, to Halloween. And you income, and at the same time you will earn money for local actors, artists and filmmakers. So act. "

"A year ago opened an online store of lush skirts in the style of the 50's. The demand for them is growing constantly "

"The idea for business was unexpectedly found on the Internet," writes Olga Pasko from Makeyevka. - I was looking for an outfit for my daughter and accidentally wandered to the site of a shop full of American skirts. What a beauty! These skirts are now popular all over the world, and we do not find them in the daytime with fire. So, we need to improve the situation. I went through the Internet, I learned the whole story of fashionable skirts. It turns out that they were invented in the USA in the 50s of the last century. Then such skirts were called poodle skirts. * Lush skirts today are happy to wear even the smallest women of fashion

Fashion for lush skirts returned to America in 2010-2012 due to designer Kendi Lightner. Skirts began to be worn by teenagers and even quite small fashionistas ... And most importantly - skirts began to sew tailor-made tailors. And what makes me worse? Yes, I'm better!

And for a year now I own an online store of lush American skirts and tutu-dresses (from French tutu - ballet tutu). Demand for these beautiful things is growing constantly, and proposals for Ukraine are still very few. Therefore, my business is developing. Skirts and dresses for the store under the order sew dressmakers (I found them too on the Internet - on the forums livemaster.ru and the network "VKontakte"). Dressmakers work in their cities, and finished things are sent directly to customers. Everything works very quickly, without spending on renting premises and courier delivery.

Here are ready-made mechanisms for remote business dealing: in my case, sewing and selling clothes. Under this scheme, you can bake cakes to order, write computer programs, sew shoes ... All successes! "

"In Moscow, I just two months was engaged in fashionable now greening the walls in offices and brought to Kiev 124 thousand hryvnia"

"I want to talk about a new perspective direction in floristry," writes Irina, a florist artist in Kiev. - Now the growing popularity of landscaping of walls in offices, shopping centers, hotels, public places, private homes. So-called phytostenes are ordered in large cities, where there are many shopping and business centers. For example, this autumn I was in Moscow and for two months I managed to earn 500,000 rubles on phytostenes! This is about 124 thousand hryvnia. Although the business started from scratch.

Now about technology. The basis of the wall is the frame, on which the irrigation system in the form of tubes is placed. Also on the frame are fixed boxes with soil, in which plants are planted. To each such drawer is brought a pipe for irrigation. Water is supplied either from a water pipe or from a special container. For the success of the case, it is sufficient to master the technology of wireframe installation, to find suppliers of irrigation systems and to advertise on Internet search engines.

Agree, this is an interesting, simple and environmentally friendly business. And most importantly - very money, because the main customers of phytosten are legal entities. In my opinion, this is a promising direction for already existing flower companies, but perhaps the idea will help someone to start a business and earn their first million. "

"Left in a crisis without work, created a center for teaching needlework, where both children and adults can do"

"I've always been a practical person," writes Ivana Solasko, a Lviv woman. - Well, what should be the CFO of a large company? The working day flew by unnoticed - documents, figures, meetings, meetings ... And I liked it. Even on maternity leave with tears left, could not imagine myself a housewife. While engaged in a newborn daughter, my company closed, unable to withstand the upheavals of the crisis. And I was completely sad. I realized that everything would have to start from scratch - to look for work, to gain authority again ...

Once I got to an exhibition of a Kiev artist. And I really liked her work from felt. On the opening day, I learned that this masteress holds master classes, teaching all those wishing to felting technique. For the lesson you had to pay 200 hryvnia. For those times the amount is not small, but, it seemed to me, fair, because the participants of the master class were provided with all the materials necessary for the occupation. And I signed up. I not only liked the felting, at this master class I thought about my business. I realized that it was necessary to open a training center, where both needlework and children could learn handicrafts. I wrote a business plan, calculated everything, found the skilled workers and organized an advertising campaign. In addition, I downloaded from the Internet video tutorials on which I perfected my felting technique. I learned how to make bags and brooches, beads and covers for mobile phones, toys, shawls, napkins and even holders for beer mugs.

Today I continue to engage in felting and teach this technique in my center of creativity. We can also master decoupage and embroidery. These courses are conducted by two famous Lviv craftswomen. One lesson lasts about two hours. I do not make large groups, a maximum of eight people. Usually classes are held in a neighboring school, where I agreed to rent. Sometimes I invite students home, this gives the master classes a special atmosphere. I have children's groups, which visit costs 300 UAH per month.

In the near future I plan to expand my business and offer culinary master classes. Judging by the television show, it has become fashionable now to be able to cook. So, this can be earned. It remains to find a decent chef and negotiate with a cafe about renting a kitchen.

I deliberately do not write about my incomes. I will only say that everything is fine with me, which is what I wish for you. And yet, organizing your company, you must make all the documents.

"Once he offered a joke to his classmates:" Well, who wants to get married? I can help ... "Everyone wanted it!"

- I want to tell you how the habit of making fun of others made me head of the marriage agency, - says Igor Pavlyuk. - The story began four years ago, when I studied in one of the Kharkiv universities. At the faculty were mostly girls, and all my classmates dreamed of princes. Naturally, I with a few male classmates chuckled at them. Once I read in the magazine an article about how popular in the West are marriage agencies. They now allegedly do not marry without the matchmakers. Offered in jest to his classmates: "Well, who wants to get married? I can help ... "I did not expect such a stormy reaction: EVERYONE wanted it! Even those who were married. But a little nuance: they wanted an exceptionally well-to-do foreigner. They even promised to thank for mediation. Young ladies persistently besieged me. Directly the hunt was opened. That's when I realized that you can not joke with women.

Where can we find these foreigners? In our city, only Chinese people who trade at "Barabashka" (the wholesale market in Kharkov - Auth.). On the Internet, after three hours of searching, I found a site where I could subscribe to a printed catalog of Western men with addresses and telephones. I signed up and soon received a catalog. He brought them to classes and showed them to the girls. Furor! The catalog was almost ripped ... There are more than one hundred questionnaires. Quickly, and all you will not look through. The girls began to ask tearfully to make copies for them. For reward. And the price itself was set at 15 UAH.

For an hour I received about 20 orders. Each young lady wanted to have her own copy. The next day the headmen of the groups approached me and ordered at once 25-30 catalogs. And we have five faculties ... In the first month I got about 300 subscribers.

Why subscribers? It turned out that the catalog is updated weekly, and the girls want to receive fresh information. I already set the price myself - 25 hryvnia per month for updates.

Then the young ladies began to ask to help write and send their letters, and then get an answer, and then translate ...

By that time I already had money, and I was able to subscribe to the paid training course for owners and managers of marriage agencies on the same site. Officially, its duration is almost a month, but I had to quickly, and I managed to get the full course immediately as a file by e-mail.

Gave advertising in the newspaper. There were so many people that I had to rent an office and hire an interpreter secretary. I registered a marriage agency, opened an account, invited a good photographer to the partners, in general I did everything, as written in the manual ... There was a lot of work, and I was happy that everything happens in the summer, on vacation.

Now I have about 1200 permanent subscribers of the catalog ... I have long ceased to need money. Honestly, I even wanted to leave the university, but then I decided to get a diploma for prestige.

I give a brief breakdown of the cost of organizing such a marriage agency. My initial expenses: registration in the catalog - $ 5, subscription to the basic printed catalog of the grooms - $ 10, training course for business - $ 60.

Current costs: subscription for monthly updates (5-10 dollars), the cost of a copy of a printed catalog is about 2 dollars (I make at least 1500 copies), monthly advertising is almost 800 UAH, a small office rent is 150-200 dollars a month, secretary's salary -translator - 350-400 dollars, an accountant - 500 dollars, two agents - 200 dollars plus interest, for guarding crying 700 grivnas.

Revenues are not cosmic, but business is developing: each catalog brings in $ 5 of profit, I earn $ 4-5 thousand more on translation services. Well and a minus of taxes, I work officially.

"Songs from cartoons help young children learn English, and me - to make money on an apartment"

- Today we are experiencing a boom in learning English. And it's simply sinful not to make money on it, "says Mikhail Kuryshov from Yampol (Vinnytsia region). - I'm a student, I'm studying in Dnepropetrovsk. I did not get a room in the hostel, so I had to rent an apartment. At once there was a question, where to earn money for payment of habitation. And then I gave the announcement in the newspaper, they say, I teach English children from five years and older.

Many adults want to learn English, but even more they want to teach their children foreign. With teenagers, as a rule, there are no problems. But how to get a child engaged in seven years? A five-year-old baby? Teach them in the usual way, like in school, not worth it. It's boring. I also developed my own method - song.

What child does not like to sing and dance to the disc of a fashionable singer! It's cool and fun! Therefore, in the first lesson, I ask the children what compositions they like, and then, based on the words of the songs, I build training. It can be cartoon characters (especially good Disney) or popular foreign performers. You understand the words and when the nouns come across, just translate them, and when the verbs, also tell how they change, and so on. The child is interested. And if suddenly he forgets a word, associations pop up in his head, and the phrase is remembered by itself. After a while (you need to look at the situation) add songs to watching movies in English.

So the songs from cartoons and movies help young children learn English, and me - to earn an apartment. I have been teaching for three years, and all this time my students (their 12 people) please their parents with excellent grades. And I not only solved the issue of paying an apartment, but I also send money to my family.

"This year, I expanded my business. Now I have a whole brigade that cleans roads and yards from drifts "

"Once Willy Tokarev sang the song of the cloakroom attendant, where were the words:" I love winter, like heat - Uzbek ". I also really like this time of year, because cleaning snow and icicles is my business, "writes Igor Gontar from Mironovka (Kyiv region). - The idea of ​​earning on snowdrifts arose accidentally. Not far from my house, wealthy people built a cottage and asked me to look after their house when they leave for Kiev. I agreed, it is not difficult for me. But one thing is autumn, and quite another is winter. Our neighbors decided to celebrate the New Year in their cottage, they arrived, but they can not enter the yard. Everything is swept up, the gates do not open ... I, of course, came to help. We quickly threw the snow back and freed the road. And then it was necessary to help with the inclusion of heating, and other work on the household was found. In a word, after the "subbotnik" the neighbor offered me a prize. As I remember, 800 hryvnia! For those times it was more than 100 dollars. But I refused money, because from the heart I helped people to get home as soon as possible ...

When the holidays were over and the neighbors zasobiralsya to Kiev, the head of the family invited me to work with him: to remove snow and icicles in the yard, to heat the house, to monitor the order. And a normal salary. So I had a second job. Then came the crisis, and this additional occupation became the main ... * For cleaning the territory (depending on the area) usually pay from 500 to 2500 hryvnia. Photo by Sergey Datsenko, "FACTS"

And this winter I expanded my business. When snowfalls began in December, he moved to Kiev, walked through garage cooperatives and offered his services for cleaning snow and icicles. And you know, I was happy everywhere, did not refuse in any cooperative. For the day I found seven objects! For cleaning the territory (depending on the area) agreed to pay from 500 to 2500 hryvnia. Agree, decent earnings. I returned to Mironovka, hired two more workers. Now we go to Kiev for three days a week, remove the objects, get money and - go home. The salary is divided equally, comes about 2 thousand hryvnia each.

So if you sit without hope for employment, it's a great way to earn decent money quickly and honestly. It's still necessary to come up with something for the summer ... "

"We cook on order sausages, homemade mayonnaise, cheese and butter. Everything - from eco-products And without any chemical additives »

"Dear" FACTS ", last year I read from you an article about a woman who salt cucumbers and tomatoes, sips cabbage and sells in the capital market. This story changed the life of our big family. And all the changes for the better, - says Anna Radzievskaya from Kalush (Ivano-Frankivsk region). - Almost a year we are engaged in environmental protection on order. We prepare absolutely natural dishes for our customers, without any harmful impurities and additives, dishes, and also we supply ecological grains, vegetable and butter, flour, sugar.

Our company works like this. The husband and the son-in-law are the earners. They go on farms and buy milk, cereals and meat. We cooperate only with eco-enterprises: now we have many farmers produce for export products without the use of chemicals.

From the delivered raw materials the female half of our family prepares different dishes. We specialize in the production of sausages and boiled pork, homemade mayonnaise and dairy products: cheese, cottage cheese, butter, sour cream and real condensed milk. We cook on weekends, and on Monday we deliver our customers orders. Prices at us are slightly higher than store prices: kilogram of boiled pork is 85 hryvnias, sausages are sold at 65-100 hryvnia per kilo, cottage cheese at 30 hryvnia, hard cheese at 80-100 hryvnia, a half-liter can of condensed milk costs 16 hryvnias for customers, and a 200- Gram jar of mayonnaise - 18 hryvnias. To produce products in demand, you need to cook even better than for home. After all, close people always forgive you for some mistakes, and the client - will leave.

For the holidays the daughter prepares different cakes, pies, rolls and gingerbread. Our traditional multi-layered cakes, pasterns and gingerbread are in great demand. It's baking that brings the biggest profits. Judge for yourself, the cost per kilogram of cake is about 25 hryvnia, and they are sold at 100-120 hryvnia per kilogram. Costs for gingerbread cookies - a maximum of 20 hryvnia per kilo, and before St. Nicholas Day "mikolajchiki" (150-200 grams) were sold at 15-20 hryvnia per piece.

Well, the chip of our company is diet food. The idea was seen in some program about Hollywood stars. There, the firms bring their food every morning to their wards. Everything is signed: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, kefir or yogurt for the night. This is very convenient and lunch on schedule, and health is normal, and no one is overeating. We have two families who order such a diet menu. To transport food, you will have to buy refrigerated bags (about 200 hryvnia per piece). As for the cost of lunch-dinner, look at the average prices in restaurants in your city.

In a word, it is always profitable to feed people, but it is also pleasant to work for oneself. Only, when organizing your food company, remember that it will be hard work. "

"Having sold two woven bead covers for a mobile phone on an Internet auction, I decided it was time to open my business"

"A few years ago, when I was still at the institute, I had to come up with a gift for my girlfriend on my birthday," Inna Pavliuk of Krivoy Rog writes. - I wanted to please her with something beautiful and exclusive, but there was no money. Casually on the Internet I saw a charming case for a cell phone, woven from beads. Decided to do something like that. I bought beads, from which I had not even one case, but three. One - the most neat and beautiful - gave a girlfriend, and the rest photographed and posted pictures on the Internet auction. By evening, handbags were sold at 50 hryvnia per piece. In my opinion, this is an occasion to establish domestic production.

Every day I do not work, but for a week I wove four or five handbags for phones. Finished products I sell on the Internet, and also I give for realization in a beauty salon (they have a small shop). In the future I want to buy a special bead machine, then I can produce three or four cases per day. In the meantime, I save money for the development of my business.

If you decide to do beadwork, then know that your income directly depends on the cost of raw materials. It is more profitable to buy beads not in stores where it is sold at 6-12 hryvnia per 100 grams, and for wholesalers at 4-5 hryvnia. And yet, of course, without waiting for problems, complete all the documents of a private entrepreneur. Good luck. "

"Flights with a transfer are usually 30 percent cheaper"

"Everyone wants to have a good rest, to visit different countries and at the same time not to overpay," writes the traveler with 20 years of experience Andrei Migunov from the Crimea. - From personal experience I know: everything is real. Everyone can minimize their expenses for flights and relocation, car rental, accommodation and communication to a minimum. If you plan a trip in advance, the savings will be at least 50 percent of the vacation budget. And sometimes even more.

So, we begin to optimize expenses. Everyone knows that on travel the biggest expense is associated with air travel. In fact, it's only in our country to fly expensive, and all over the world there are budget airlines. Therefore, if you are going to visit several European countries on vacation, your main task is to get into the EU. Next, we will move on low-cost airlines, which will allow you to pay 20-35 euros for each flight. To the price was so attractive, you need to book a ticket on the airline's website no later than a month before departure. In addition, almost all airlines periodically sell tickets at promotional prices. Go to www.anywayanyday.com, and you will see that it is possible to fly from Kiev to New York and back for $ 400, and the flight Kiev-Istanbul-Kiev will cost only 840 hryvnia.

You can save money if you fly with a transfer. Such tickets are always cheaper, because on long flights, airlines are reinsured from the uncompensated side and do it thanks to docking. Each company has its own hub (hub), from where its aircraft fly to all directions of the route network. The flight through the hub will reduce the ticket price by at least 30 percent.

If in the plans long trips with movement on trains, it is profitable to get a monthly ticket that operates all over Europe. The cost is about 550 euros. This ticket can be ordered on the site www.interrailnet.com, and redeemed at any station. Economy - 40-65 percent. You can get to Europe by bus. So, a ticket from Kiev to Warsaw will cost about 400 hryvnia (35 euros), and in Berlin - just under 500 hryvnia.

Also, you should take care of the connection with the house in advance, otherwise you risk spending huge sums on calls. To reduce the cost of communication abroad, first study what your operator offers. Today it is quite possible to find really economical tariffs. For example, this winter, some operators have discounted 2.5 times for their subscribers conversations with Egypt, Israel, Thailand, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, India, Sri Lanka. A good way to save on communication is sending sms messages, as well as communicating via the Internet.

These are just the basic rules. Once you start planning your trip, you'll see that the field to reduce costs is endless. For example, the highest prices for vouchers are set for periods of school and student holidays. Therefore, it's better to go skiing after March 10: prices are halved, and snow is enough. But on the sea (in Egypt or the UAE) it is desirable to go in February - early March: the trip will be more profitable at least 30, and even 50%. In a word, do not deny yourself travel, just make the right routes. "

"Write down all your expenses, and by the end of the first week it will be clear where the money is flowing"

"Many believe that their financial situation can be improved only by increasing their salaries. Believe me, this is a delusion, "writes economist Oleg Parakov from Simferopol. "Our ancestors also said:" They like money very much. " How right they were! Adhere to simple and reasonable rules of housekeeping.

First, learn how to write down ALL of your expenses. By the end of the first week it will be clear where the money flows.

There is another method of budget management, it is called the method of three (four, five, etc.) envelopes. For each category of expenditure - loan payments, utility payments, meals, clothes, daily expenses, inviolable stock - get a separate envelope. If during the trial month it turns out that one of the envelopes quickly "emaciated," then either it is worth allocating a large amount for these expenditures in the next month, or the expediency of spending in this category should be reconsidered. Separately, I will say about the inviolable stock: without this envelope can not do! Immediately after the salary, put in at least 10 percent of the money received. So you will create your own security fund.

You can also manage your home budget with the help of special computer programs or free online services. When choosing a suitable scheme, remember that the program should make life easier, and not complicate it.

Secondly, keep records of all your income. Yes, yes, it only seems that we live on one salary. In fact, we periodically receive bonuses, some have a part-time job, and someone receives income from a rented apartment. These "extra" money usually go "nowhere", so it's very important not to forget to include them in your budget.

Thirdly, really determine what you save money for and for how long you want to achieve your goal. For example, in three years I will buy a car of such and such a brand. It is important that the task should be difficult, but real. After you have decided on the purpose and timing, calculate how much you have to save monthly. Correct the list of your spending (for the embodiment of dreams from something you can refuse) and proceed with the accumulation of money.

Fourth, be sure to reserve some amount of money for rest and entertainment. It's not waste, but care about the quality of your life. The main thing - do not confuse planned events with so-called spontaneous events, such as gambling, taxi rides, lunches and dinners in restaurants ...

Savings help and cash. Try to take away a bank card (especially if this card is a credit card). Electronic payments create the illusion that you have money. But when in the store we need to give the cashier a specific note from his wallet, we always think about and thereby control our costs. By the way, about the shops. Always make a shopping list in advance at home, and go to the store full. At the beginning of the month, you can write down the names of people you wish to congratulate on your birthday or on other holidays. This will allow you to pick up good gifts in advance at reasonable prices.

And the last: live your life, not being equal to the boss, neighbor, friend, relative ... You are no worse than all these people. It's just that everyone has his own level of income, and most importantly his own idea, which is expedient to spend money. "

"I noticed that the gas meter remains stationary, if only one burner is in the middle mode on the plate"

"Dear edition of the newspaper" FACTS ". Writes you a pensioner, and in the past, an engineer and teacher, a resident of Kiev, Pavel Kochetkov. At one time in your newspaper, I read advice on saving. I also have some experience in this matter. For example, our frosty winters pushed me to the idea of ​​how to optimize the operation of the refrigerator and reduce power consumption.

In the summer I equipped two tightly closed closets on the balcony. When in autumn the temperature on the street dropped to plus five degrees, I turned off my home refrigerator and transferred all the products that did not require freezing to the new closets. In the apartment I have a modern (and therefore economical) and compact freezer. In it, I store meat and fish at minus five degrees. When I turn off the refrigerator and leave only the freezer, it helps to reduce the monthly electricity consumption in the apartment from 70 to 50 kilowatt-hours. In severe frosts, I turn off the freezer and use only cabinets on the balcony. Thus, in winter, my electricity consumption does not exceed 30 kilowatt-hours per month.

In addition, I upgraded the lighting: in the bathroom and corridor, instead of conventional light bulbs, the LEDs work. By the way, I did not buy them, but pulled them out of the old Christmas tree. To these diodes soldered transformers (this is a force for any engineer), and now in the apartment festive illumination for a penny.

Well, my last, almost scientific, invention makes it possible to reduce the cost of paying gas. Recently, a gas meter was installed in the apartment for free. And that's what's unpleasant: in the first month we paid more than usual. Where is it good ?! I looked at the device and found out that the counter remains stationary, if only one cooking zone operates on the cooker in the middle mode. Super! My wife and I bought dishes that allow us to cook several dishes at the same time (pots are put one on top of the other like the rings of a pyramid). Now you can live with a counter. So be careful, and then you will not be strangled with utility payments. "

"I buy used cars and cars that have been in the accident in Moscow, but I repair them in Belarus"

"Hello, FACTS!" Write to you an entrepreneur from Belarus Denis Smirnov. I came across your site accidentally, but now I read the newspaper almost every day. I like articles about small business very much. Well, our people can not win! Despite all the reforms, both in Ukraine and in Belarus entrepreneurship lives. I want to talk about my international business.

Two years ago I created a small company for the sale of used cars. It would seem nothing special, but my company is different from other similar ones. The fact is that I buy old and broken cars in Russia, or rather, in Moscow. I'll explain the scheme. In the white stone cars after the accidents are often sold for a penny, as their repair pours out into a round sum - much more expensive than the marketable serviceable car in the market. Here, for example, the beaten old "Audi 100" in 1994 in Moscow is sold for 1 thousand $ 100. His repair in Moscow would have cost the owner $ 2,800-3,780. And to sell the repaired car it will be possible a maximum for 5 thousand 600 dollars. Obviously, the owner is unprofitable to repair the car in Moscow.

In Belarus, the repair of this machine can cost up to $ 1,800: $ 950 - parts, and about $ 850 - installation, adjustment, polishing, dry cleaning. Delivery of the bat machine to Belarus and its transportation (already repaired) will cost $ 380. So, if you buy this car in Moscow and repair it from us, it will take 3 thousand 280 dollars. Having sold an already updated car in Moscow for 5 thousand 600 dollars, we receive a profit of 2 thousand 320 dollars. Not so much, but if you put the case on the flow ... For example, five cars a month - is already decent. And when you modernize the workshop, you can easily repair 10-15 cars per month. With such turnover, production becomes less expensive, hence, incomes grow. So I advise everyone to use the advantageous geographical position of their country and different prices for the same services from neighbors "

"I photographed the caloshash, which he made himself, published pictures on the Internet auction and received 12 orders for the evening"

"Many have a hobby, and we can earn on our hobbies," says Igor Andropov, a master of all trades, who lives in Kiev. - For example, I was always interested in carpentry. At school I learned to make stools or shelves at school, I stayed after class and helped the teacher repair the desks and chairs, cabinets and hangers in the wardrobe. Well, when he grew up, he began to design unusual furniture.

First, the main customer was his wife. Then make her a wardrobe, as in the American movie "Man Overboard" - with a mechanism that allows you to bring different shelves to the forefront. Smasteril, everyone is happy. Then the wife dreamed of a dressing room, like the heroine of the series "Sex and the City." Поскольку в квартире мало места, пришлось искать компромисс. К 8 Марта я сделал для любимой небольшую вращающуюся калошницу — удобную тумбу для обуви. Какой был восторг! Жена похвасталась подружкам, и вскоре посыпались заказы.

Сегодня я называю калошницу кормилицей. Смастерить ее совсем несложно (всего несколько кусков фанеры и никакого клея или гвоздей), все детали входят в пазы. А продается она просто на ура.

Как я решил делать такую мебель на продажу? Everything is very simple. Денег постоянно не хватало, ну и стал думать. Прошелся по магазинам, там таких вещей нет, но спрос ведь существует. Сфотографировал свою полочку и опубликовал снимки на интернет-аукционе. Цену поставил невысокую — 340 гривен. Эффект превзошел все ожидания: только за один вечер получил 12 заказов!

Сегодня у меня целый цех. Я делаю полочки для косметики, «домики» для книг, скамейки, кресла и детские столики...

Многие скажут: «Да в каждом городе есть такая услуга — мебель на заказ». На это у меня есть ответ: покупатель хочет сразу получить нечто красивое и недорогое. Предоставьте ему выбор, он купит. Так что если вы любите и умеете работать с деревом, то изготовление недорогой дизайнерской мебели может стать неплохим бизнесом. Нет собственных идей? Загляните в интернет. Сегодня сайтов мастеров просто тысячи, вот где нужно искать вдохновение«.

«В моем фитнес-центре для полных людей нет зеркал, а все стекла в окнах матовые»

«Проблема избыточного веса становится международной, — утверждает тренер по фитнесу из Харькова Елена Павлюченко. — И на исцелении тучных людей сегодня зарабатывают многие — производители разных низкокалорийных продуктов, спортивной одежды, тренажеров, таблеток... И вы тоже можете это сделать. Например, откройте спортивную студию для полных людей. Причем исключительно для о-о-очень толстых, чей вес превышает норму на 20–30 килограммов.

Идею создания такого специализированного зала я подсмотрела в США, когда гостила у своей школьной подруги. Там огромной популярностью пользуются залы Фрэнсиса Вишневского — выходца из Польши, в прошлом тоже тучного человека, который сумел за год сбросить 24 килограмма. Организуя бизнес, он исходил из личного опыта. Например, Фрэнсис знает, что толстяк не может зайти в обычный тренажерный зал, потому что ему стыдно и страшно. Когда все вокруг стройные, подтянутые, накачанные, ты чувствуешь себя полным лузером, который никогда не сможет догнать этих атлетов. А значит, остается только развернуться и уйти.

При этом полным людям нужно больше двигаться и еще им важно общаться с такими же борцами с лишними килограммами. Значит, нужен специализированный фитнес-клуб для толстых людей, чтобы ни одна худышка не испортила его участникам настроение. Собственно, такой зал я и открыла в Харькове. В моем фитнес-центре, как и в американских, нет зеркал, а все стекла в окнах матовые (для того чтобы тренирующимся не мешали прохожие). Установлены специальные тренажеры, которые выдерживают нелегкий вес членов клуба.

Наша цель — помочь полным людям не только сбросить лишние килограммы, но и научиться жить по-новому: говорить о проблемах, а не утаивать их и потом «заедать», выбирать правильные продукты и всегда двигаться.

Конечно, создание фитнес-центра — дорогое удовольствие. Поэтому я начинала с так называемых групп по интересам. Сперва для тренировок арендовала зал в школе возле моего дома. Ведь полному человеку не сразу нужно взбираться на тренажер, достаточно начать с упражнений. А когда появятся первые результаты, месяца через три, можно будет усилить нагрузки. Первые победы ваших подопечных привлекут на тренировки больше людей. Ваши заработки увеличатся, и можно будет инвестировать в модернизацию своего зала.

Что касается цен, то это личное дело тренера. Сегодня у меня одно занятие стоит 70 гривен, но при покупке месячного абонемента стоимость тренировки уменьшается до 50 гривен. Это средняя цена в Харькове, а вы старайтесь быть на уровне своего рынка. Для рекламы и популяризации зала введите подарочные сертификаты и бесплатные гостевые билеты. Так что вперед. И пусть в вашем городе станет больше подтянутых людей, для которых вы откроете новые залы!«

«Спрос на „научные“ праздники постоянно растет, а стоит одно представление от 800 до 1600 гривен»

«Предлагаю свою идею создания оригинального бизнеса, — пишет Владимир Падалка из Ивано-Франковска. — Вместе с женой мы открыли фирму по организации детских праздников. Но у нас не традиционные клоуны-индейцы, а яркие научно-познавательные шоу — со взрывами, ракетами, мыльной пеной, бабочками, летающими фонариками и прочими необычными фокусами.

Современные дети хотят учиться. И не верьте тем, кто говорит, что ребятам кроме интернета ничего не нужно. Еще как нужно! Дети в восторге от занимательной физики и химии, они умные и пытливые. А за стремление детей к знаниям родители готовы платить приличные деньги.

Так, наши научные шоу для малышей и школьников начальных классов длятся от 30 минут до часа и стоят 800–1300 гривен. Представления для детей постарше несколько дороже — около 1600 гривен. Это вполне приличный заработок, ведь на покупку реактивов и различных расходных материалов уходит от 150 до 300 гривен, так что каждый праздник приносит живые деньги.

На сегодня у нас разработано 12 шоу-программ, и мы постоянно придумываем что-нибудь новое. Темы будущих программ подсказывают сами дети. Они хотят знать все: как сделать «шашлык» из воздушных шаров, можно ли обнаружить в комнате привидение... Просят объяснить «устройство» вулкана или рассказать, почему сталактиты растут вниз, а сталагмиты вверх. Малыши просто в восторге, когда видят, что прозрачная жидкость в колбе резко меняет свой цвет на малиновый. Очень нравится опыт с несгораемой бумажной коробочкой. Она стоит на спиртовке и не боится огня, так как в нее налили воду. * Такая веселая наука — прекрасная возможность пробудить у ребят интерес к учебе.

Спрос на «научные» праздники постоянно растет. Нас приглашают на выпускные, «тематические» дни рождения... В сезон (сентябрь, январь и май) у нас бывает до 200 представлений в месяц.

Бизнес можно развивать. Фокусы, представления с животными (будет очень похоже на маленький цирк), мастер-классы, кулинарные программы... Когда работаешь с детьми, новые идеи приходят постоянно. Школьные уроки — это, как правило, утомительно и скучно, а вот такая веселая наука — прекрасная возможность не только пробудить у ребят интерес к учебе, но и проводить со своими детьми больше времени, получше их узнать«.

«Демонстрируем бабочек в павильоне, установленном прямо на пляже»

"Не понимаю людей, которые вечно жалуются на нехватку денег! — возмущается пенсионерка Нина Сергеевна Хмара из Кировоградской области. — Ведь заработать в наше время несложно. Да, олигархом не станешь, но на питание точно хватит. Я покажу на своем примере, как можно в любом возрасте и с минимальными денежными затратами открыть фирму. Мы с внуком-студентом уже второй месяц ездим по курортам и с пользой для кошелька развлекаем отдыхающих.

Remember, once upon a time, towns and villages were ridden by so-called mobile zoos - a few wooden animal cages with animals? It is this idea that formed the basis of ours with the grandson of the summer business. However, we immediately refused from the zoo, as this is too expensive and troublesome business. Purchase wild animals, the costs of their maintenance, risk (suddenly someone from the zoo visitors shoves his hand into the cage to the bear), and most importantly: what to do with animals in autumn? After all, the guy needs to go to class, and I'll need rest. Therefore, all arranged much easier: organized a mobile exhibition of butterflies.

To begin with, I bought a doll of butterflies through the Internet. They are sold in a worldwide network of 7-35 hryvnia per piece. I am responsible for planting butterflies. Everything is simple. The main thing is to follow the instructions. For example, that no butterfly does not damage its wings, do not lay out the pupae, but hang them on a string. Then the grandson borrowed a car from his father and began to plan our route. We decided to take a ride around the Crimea, where each village is a resort, which means that there is an opportunity to earn money. As for the premises, it is enough to rent a small room in a crowded place in the town. But we still got a folding pavilion in which right on the beach and we organize an exhibition of butterflies. To show beauties, three or four tables are enough, which are filled with glasses with sugar syrup and plates with apples.

So, the grandson sells tickets, butterflies present themselves and at the same time eat sweets, well, I tell visitors how our insects are called, what they eat, how many days they live ...

"With a light hand" FACTS "I sold my first marble table ... Arab Sheikh"

"Hello, dear editorial staff! The Transcarpathian businessman Constantine Mayboroda writes to you. Once I read your story about a man who was engaged in the furniture business, and thought: "And what's worse?" I decided to turn my hobby into a salary. In my spare time I make unusual tables with a marble countertop. The "chip" is that I decorate the countertops with a multicolored inlay. He used to make tables for himself and his relatives. But after reading in the newspaper that this can be earned, my life has changed. Congratulate, with a light hand "FACTS" I sold the first marble table ... Arab sheikh! * The cost of a table with an exclusive marble countertop is 6-8 thousand hryvnia, and it can be sold for 9-15 thousand hryvnia

But it all began with an ordinary handicraft. I always liked marble and wood. So, I "panned" the Internet and found out that we have a lot of companies that sell ready marble slabs for countertops. Moreover, at the customer's request, the company processes the edges of the stone. I invented a special technique for applying marbles to drawings: with the help of several apparatuses, depressions are made on the stone, which are filled with specially prepared colored mastic. Then you need to polish the whole table top and polish it.

And the finishing touch - to install an exclusive table top on the table, which you can do yourself or order in the workshop. Next, you need to sell this furniture. I posted pictures of my tables on international online auctions, so one of my offsprings turned out to be in the sheikh.

Now about the prices. Marble countertops of medium size can be purchased for 3-4 thousand hryvnia (depending on the company, as well as quality and type of marble). To process the countertops in the evenings (I do not quit the main job yet), it takes me a week. The cost price of a coffee table with an exclusive marble counter top makes 6-8 thousand hryvnia. And you can sell a thing at an auction for 9-15 thousand hryvnia. Agree, a good extra earnings for a week. "

"A friend buys old TV sets, washing machines and vacuum cleaners, repairs them, and then offers those who can not afford the new equipment"

"Recently I learned that my neighbor and former classmate Igor Vasyuta (a young guy with disabilities) earns far more than his able-bodied parents," writes Andrey Vybornov from Dnepropetrovsk. "Do you know what?" Practically on garbage!

A few years ago, when we were still at school, we were told that in tsarist Russia there was such a profession - an old junkie. These people bought up unnecessary things for pennies, put them in order and resold. Well, we all forgot about this instructive story, but Igor did not forget. And in the summer after school he, to my surprise, got a good motorcycle with a sidecar. On own money. It turns out that during the holidays Igor bought up old defective irons in the nearest houses, vacuum cleaners, washing machines (for pennies, and even did take nothing for nothing), repaired and sold.

Now that we have grown, Igor continues this business, but at a new level.

In the country, despite all our troubles, a layer of the population has already formed, which can afford to regularly update household appliances. The old one is either thrown out or stowed away so that it does not interfere. But it does not. For example, until recently, two TV sets on the balcony stood. It's these things that Igor is buying. Produces proper repair and sells. There are many buyers. These are people who can not afford to buy a modern thing, but they have enough for used money. Irons, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, phones Igor repairs himself. Refrigerators, televisions, tape recorders, gas stoves transmit to their partners. It's going, it seems, not bad, is going to open a firm. "

"Right on the opening day of the gallery, our two paintings were bought by Italian diplomats"

- Hello, Ukrainian friends! - writes the private entrepreneur from Bulgaria Beads Tsankov. - With "FACTS" my wife and I met this summer, your site for us was opened by tourists from Chernivtsi. The newspaper was loved, we read it, like the Bulgarian press, almost every day.

Bulgaria is also in crisis now. Almost every month, tariffs for electricity, telephone, and prices for all goods are rising. My wife and I have to look for additional earnings. This is the kind of production we have established. In 35 kilometers from our city there is a factory which sews on export to Macedonia clothes from a natural leather. At the enterprise it is possible to buy at a low price scraps - quite large pieces of colored leather.

My wife is an artist and in general a very creative person. So, we bought a different skin and began to experiment: burned, smoothed, cut and glued. Finally we learned how to create relief paintings. When there were more than twenty works, we ordered wooden frames and we got ready for sale products. In the summer everything was fine: they were selling paintings on the embankment of St. Vlas (a resort town in Bulgaria - Auth.), They were well disassembled by tourists. And in the winter, when they returned home, in a small town to realize such work, there was practically nobody.

The output was unexpected. I learned that in Bulgaria there is a representation of an international organization that deals with the problems of home-based workers and helps them in the sale of products. I went there for help and sent pictures of our paintings. The organization looked at the pictures and invited us to participate in the exhibition organized by their representative office. The conditions were not the best, but we agreed and sent four samples measuring 85-42 centimeters.

Already on the opening day of the exhibition, two paintings were bought, they were acquired by Italian diplomats. Success inspired us, and we quickly prepared three more works, which also found their owners.

Now we mainly work for the order, although we do not cease to cooperate with the exhibitions. The production of one painting costs an average of 10 euros. At the exhibition we sell work for 85-100 euros. The organizers of the exhibition receive 25 percent of our income. Maybe in Ukraine our experience will be useful.

"Having lost my job, I opened a jewelry shop and now I can adequately support my family and indulge my grandchildren"

- Three years ago I was left without work, - Victor Konko from Pavlograd (Dnipropetrovsk region) remembers. "We have a small town, and no one needed an older engineer. But do not die of hunger! So I decided to open some sort of a booth. I will sit there like a shoemaker and repair everything that will be brought in: electric kettles and irons, belts and bags, photo frames and children's toys ... I found a suitable stall near the house, I arranged with the owner about renting a corner and went to work . To be honest, I did not imagine when I would have clients, what they would bring me, whether I could fix the proposed item and how much I would be paid for it.

The first visitor asked to solder the silver chain. I was delighted, it's a trifling job. Quickly did everything and got 10 hryvnia. From this chain it all began. Most of the customers have been asked to repair jewelry or alarm clocks. To be competent, I read special literature. Especially I liked the book by Erhard Brapol "Theory and Practice of the Jewelcrafting". There everything is very well described and shown. He began to undertake more serious orders, and then began to make jewelry himself: rings, earrings, bracelets. The model chose simple, but paid special attention to quality. And very soon the customers who brought shoes to the cobblers neighbor began to stare at my work. There were first orders, and went-went.

By the way, if you want to be engaged in jewelry business, do not save on tools. Get a strong table with wooden stands. Also you will need a set of hammers, various pliers, forceps, tweezers, files, vice. It is very useful to have an alcohol or hydrogen burner and an oven, which, by the way, can be made by yourself (drawings are available in old magazines "Young Technician", "Modelist-designer").

Now, two years later, I can call myself a jeweler. And since the sale of precious metal products is licensed, be sure to complete all the documents. The jewelers do not talk about their incomes, but they can adequately support the family and indulge grandchildren.

"And I could not imagine that intimate haircuts would increase the income of a family hairdresser"

"Our family business is the services of a hairdresser at home," says Igor Sirota from Dnepropetrovsk. - Together with my wife Natalia, I have been provided with stable and well-paid work for two years already. Of course, the idea of ​​going to clients, cutting them, doing manicures, pedicures, increasing eyelashes and nails is not new at all. But I want to talk about an exclusive service that will significantly increase your income.

If you have not guessed it, then we will talk about intimate haircuts. Do not laugh, but until recently, I myself did not suspect how much this service is in demand! Intimate haircuts substantially increased the income of a family hairdresser. Our personal experience shows that the market is simply huge. We do not take into account minors and elderly people, divide the male population into two (men are still conservative), all the rest are potential customers.

In Dnepropetrovsk in beauty salons, an intimate hairdress costs about 160 hryvnia, our prices are much lower - from 60 to 80 hryvnia. The cost of the business is minimal, especially for the hairdresser. You just have to buy a good set of shaving tools - it's 800-1400 hryvnia (the coolest option), plus foam (from 14 hryvnia per bottle).

You can cut out hearts, diamonds, butterflies ... There are a lot of photos on the Internet. By the way, to fasten your hair, use sugar syrup instead of hairspray. When you are confident in your skills, offer a new service to existing customers. In your success I have no doubt!

"Recipes of economical dishes peep through books, modify, and then invite children to literary feasts"

"It's so interesting to read newspapers," writes Anna Viktorovna Pasechnik, a retired woman, a retired education worker from Kharkov. "Some are struggling for power, while others are simply trying to survive, support old parents, learn children, feed and dress their families ... Because I'm already a middle-aged woman, I have practically no opportunity to earn money." I have several students, but these are children from ordinary families, and therefore I take a fee from their parents rather symbolic. But I like to cook and do needlework, which helps me and children significantly reduce everyday expenses. Recipes of economical dishes pee in the books, I modify it a little, and then I invite my family - children, grandchildren, sisters and nephews - to literary feasts.

Bean salad from Georges Simenon You will need: 1 cup of beans (soak overnight), 1/2 can of olives (can be replaced with pickled cucumbers), 1 clove of garlic, 2-3 slices of any bread, mayonnaise. Beans boil, mix with sliced ​​olives or pickled cucumbers. Bread cut into cubes and make a dry skillet of crackers. In the beans squeeze out garlic, add crumbs, season with mayonnaise. Very tasty, satisfying and cheap. By the way, this salad is decorated with any vegetables lying around in the refrigerator: pepper, radish, corn, peas ...

Hepatic fritters from Nikolai Gogol : You will need: 200 grams of chicken liver, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of flour, 1 medium onion, salt, pepper. Raw liver to grind with onions, add egg, flour, salt and pepper to taste, as well as slightly quenched soda. Fry the pancakes in a skillet. Serve with sour cream and dill.