Episode 274: The $50k/month "Old School" Business You Can Start for Next to Nothing⏐Ep. #274
10 business ideas · 5 case studies · Aired
Listen to EpisodeBusiness Ideas from this Episode
Tiny Farmers Market
A community-driven market concept where individuals sell homemade goods in a neighborhood setting, fostering local connections and community spirit.
Revenue can be generated through vendor fees, sponsorships, and possibly a small percentage of sales from vendors.Farmers Market Vendor Support
A business that provides resources and support for new vendors at farmers markets, including workshops, starter kits, and business coaching.
Workshop fees, subscription services for ongoing support, and sales of starter kits.Flower Letters Expansion
A subscription service that offers narrative-driven letter series in various genres, inspired by the existing Flower Letters concept, allowing subscribers to experience stories delivered through beautifully crafted letters.
Subscription fees for monthly letter deliveries, with potential for tiered pricing for different frequency options.Community Connection Newsletters
A service that collects stories, events, and updates from local communities and sends them out in a newsletter format to foster community engagement.
Subscription or sponsorship model, where local businesses can pay to be featured in the newsletter.Chunky Mailers
A unique direct mail marketing service that sends marketing materials in envelopes with small tangible items to increase engagement and open rates.
Charge businesses a fee per mailer sent, with potential for subscription packages for regular marketing campaigns.Tiny Post Snail Mail Club
A subscription service that sends curated envelopes filled with art, recipes, and personal letters, promoting creativity and connection via traditional mail.
Monthly subscription fee of $11 per envelope, with potential for tiered pricing or special editions.Junk Journaling Supplies
A business focused on selling specialized supplies for junk journaling, including journals that open fully, washi tapes, and other paper goods designed for creative expression.
E-commerce sales of products, possibly with a subscription box model for regular delivery of new supplies.Artisan Subscription Boxes
A subscription service that curates and sends handmade goods from local artisans, providing subscribers with unique, locally-sourced products each month.
Subscription model with varying tiers based on the number of items received, or a one-time purchase option for special boxes.Snail Mail Pen Pal Network
A platform that connects subscribers with pen pals, enabling them to exchange letters and foster friendships through written correspondence.
Subscription fees for access to the pen pal matching service, with potential for tiered pricing based on number of connections.Archive Letter Service
An archival service that allows subscribers to access past letters from a subscription service, helping them reminisce and engage with content they may have missed.
Subscription or one-time access fees for archived letters, possibly bundled with current subscription offerings.Case Studies from this Episode
The Tiny Project
A community-driven business started by Hannah in Austin, where she sells homemade jams and organizes a neighborhood farmers market in her yard, fostering local connections.
Hannah initially made about $30,000 a month in profit from her business, with minimal startup costs. The Tiny Post, a snail mail subscription service she started, reached 4,100 subscribers, generating approximately $11 per month per subscriber.
Flower Letters
A couple from Utah that writes historical fiction books in letter format, delivering stories through letters to subscribers.
They are reportedly doing over $10 million a year.
Oven Love
A baking business started by a family to sell baked goods at a local farmers market.
Not mentioned in the transcript.
Tiny Farmers Market
A local farmers market that supports small vendors and encourages community engagement.
Not mentioned in the transcript.
Poem Club
A subscription service offering tangible pieces of poetry through the mail, allowing subscribers to receive personal artistic expressions in a physical format.
Subscribers pay around $8 to $9 a month, and the service reportedly has several thousand subscribers.
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