quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:
I'd get an 18 wheeler and a TransAm and convoy truckloads of beer to places that don't have it.

I'll sign up to be a customer. I need Russian River, Ninkasi, and Deschutes beer in Georgia.

Quite a few retired police officers start uniformed security firms, don't they?

Frame Nudging...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gYKSnYDyk0

I'm a few years from retirement. I want something to do a few days a week just for variety. Money is not a big issue.

I'm considering a knife sharpening business. A retired friend started one and among other clients, he does all the knife sharpening for the local Williams Sonoma store.

He's really good, never ruins a blade.

What other abilities do you have that you can leverage? Are you a people person or do you want to do something where you don't really interact with many folks in the course of your business?

What kind of hobbies do you have? Did you enjoy the police work? If yes, then maybe a repo-guy, or something along similar lines.

Do you envision this as something to run out of your home, or something you'd need to rent a store front/resturant/etc to run the business out of?

Watching an old episode of Star Trek, 2 characters were discussing becoming a parent.

The young guy was seeking tips from the older guy.

His comment on fathering applies equally well to running a small business IMHO:
"children are wildly illogical yet profoundly fulfilling.....expect paradoxes"

I'm not sure it would be the best plan business-wise, but would you consider becoming a gunsmith? I think it's something retired LEOs do. There's a scarcity of good 'smiths. The capital you're working with would easily cover trade school expenses, with plenty left over for initial tools and equipment. Additionally, it sounds like your spouse can already provide financial support during your education phase.

The downside is that even if you make it, you'll probably never get into big money doing gunsmithing. Despite the shortage, it's a profession that demands a broad range of specialized skills yet doesn't pay particularly well. Longish hours, always catching up on work orders, a fussy customer base. Probably like medicine, you have to love it and not be doing it just for the money. But, we do need you.

If you don't mind long hours and are able to be on your feet for hours at a time, and can contact people to gain entry to venues, one option is to look into becoming a food vendor at outdoor community markets and local fairs. Most people would be suprised at the income a vendor can make.

Silent

I know that you do not want to work for 'the man', but I'll mention this just because my uncle, who is a retired NYPD detective, who was also sick of working for 'the man', left the force and is now very happy working as an insurance fraud investigator for an insurance company.

Good luck!
__________

quote:

Originally posted by bryanZ06:

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:
I'd get an 18 wheeler and a TransAm and convoy truckloads of beer to places that don't have it.

I'll sign up to be a customer. I need Russian River, Ninkasi, and Deschutes beer in Georgia.

Can you bring some Coors to Atlanta by way of Texarkana?

I'd like to buy a mini-street sweeper with enclosed cab and get local contracts, like the ymca parking lot and such. I'd work at night when businesses are closed.

It would tow on my truck ... maybe, but a bigger truck would be better. And a garage.

quote:

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy.

Not trying to be a Grammar Nazi, but it is lobotomy.

My CPA once told me there was good money to be made in Donut shops. Certainly you have experience in that Department.

One lively old timer I met years ago was running his own popcorn popping business. From what he said at the time, that it was the best gig he had ever discovered.

Not only was his popcorn the best, he was running it in a very unique mobile popper: it was a Model A to the rear of the front door, and a special sort of spiffy brass/copper corn popper in the rear, highly visible and part of the draw for his advertising. He said he made enough in his season to take 'most of the year' off and go sailing or luxury cruises.

His authentic custom rig was small enough footprint to fit anywhere and jump the curbs as needed such as to pull into areas in front of venue entryways while being a welcome distraction for most of the crowd. He could travel neighborhoods and pull in at any convenient parking spot, ready for action.

One grannie I met in Vancouver BC had a little 1948 Morris ice cream bar van. Just big enough to stick her arm in from any side to get the order. We talked at length. She said in her then-27 year career she had bought & paid for 3 homes and sent her 7 children thru college.

They both seemed to enough what they were doing.

Two people I know come to mind:

1) Worked in financial services, made good money but hated the stress, hours and BS. He bought an established commercial window cleaning business, put some effort into it and now makes more money, has quality of life and is happy.

2) Worked in law enforcement, corrections I think and decided it was time to shift gears. He bought a nice, towable hot dog cart and faint some great locations and us making REALLY good money at it.

When I started my business 7 years ago my Dad told me he always wished he had sone something for himself but he chose the security of a job (bad when that was actually a real thing), I felt bad for him because I could tell it was something he really regreted and lives with that every day.

Good Luck!

quote:

Originally posted by Cookster:
I know that you do not want to work for 'the man', but I'll mention this just because my uncle, who is a retired NYPD detective, who was also sick of working for 'the man', left the force and is now very happy working as an insurance fraud investigator for an insurance company.

BAM, that's my kind of job. Maybe I will look into that.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
My CPA once told me there was good money to be made in Donut shops. Certainly you have experience in that Department.

Certainly.

Buy a nice string of ho's...

Sorry...just kidding...LOL

The money isn't a problem in and of itself. There are plenty of businesses you can start for far less.

Others have mentioned investigation work. Expanding on that, any service based business is going to tend to be easier financially than other types. What you're selling is yourself and you already have that. You'll simply need to acquire the associated tools of that trade.

You could also buy an existing business. There are many people who need to walk away for a myriad of reasons and I'm sure there are deals to be had. I have yet to do that, but have started several small businesses starting at the age of 15 legally, and going back to about 5 or 6 off the books.

I saw popcorn mentioned. One of my cousins was in the potato chip business and did very well for himself. He and his partner had a falling out and they had to sell. Their buyer is now doing very well all by himself.

quote:

Originally posted by Silent:
If you don't mind long hours and are able to be on your feet for hours at a time, and can contact people to gain entry to venues, one option is to look into becoming a food vendor at outdoor community markets and local fairs. Most people would be suprised at the income a vendor can make.

Silent

This is the route I'd pick. I love cooking and people. Work whenever you want, it's seasonal so you can mostly take the winter off. Is there such a thing as winter in Florida?

I'd buy a smoker, a grill, and a flat top grill and food truck, then sell cheesesteakes, burgers, and ribs at local and regional events.

I think lastmanstanding? or another member has a hobby business doing something similar.