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Apache is functioning normally

May 23, 2023 by Brett Tams

Whether you’re new to the state or a longtime resident, Michigan has plenty to offer. There’s also a wide range of financial institutions, from national banks with multiple branches to the small, independent bank that focuses on building community.

If you’re in the market for a new bank account, the options can be overwhelming. Here are some of the best banks in Michigan to help you find a bank that meets all your banking needs.

12 Best Banks in Michigan

Ready to start comparing banks? The below list includes some of the best banks in Michigan that offer checking accounts, savings accounts, and lending products.

1. Chase

With more than 4,700 branches and 15,000+ ATMs nationwide, Chase Bank is a great Michigan bank for those who frequently travel. Although the rates on savings accounts are low, Chase Bank has some impressive checking account options.

For many Michigan customers, Chase Total Checking will be the best deal. There’s a $12 service fee with that account, but it can be waived by either keeping a $1,500 balance, having $500 in direct deposit activity each month, or connecting a Chase savings account and maintaining at least $5,000 in combined balances.

Fees:

$12 monthly service fee (can be waived)
$34 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

No minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance requirements ($1,500 to waive service fee)

ATMs:

Fee-free at 15,000+ Chase bank ATMs nationwide
$3-$5 fee for each out-of-network ATM transaction

Interest on balance:

.01% APY on savings accounts
Up to 3.75% APY on CDs

Additional perks:

$300 bonus for new checking account
Autosave feature helps you quickly build savings

2. Fifth Third Bank

Regional banks are often a great compromise between a large, corporate bank and a small, local bank. Fifth Third Bank is a regional bank with branches in Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

You’ll get access to cash while traveling in those areas, as well as expanded access through Fifth Third’s partner ATM network, which has more than 40,000 ATMs nationwide.

Fees:

No monthly service fee
$37 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

No minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance requirements

ATMs:

Fee-free at 2,100+ Fifth Third Bank ATMs
Fee-free at 40,000+ partner ATMs nationwide
$3 for each out-of-network ATM transaction

Interest on balance:

.01% APY on savings accounts
Up to 4.75% APY on CDs

Additional perks:

Extra business day to resolve overdrafts
Early Pay gives you access to direct deposit two days early

3. Chime

Chime is an online bank with a full suite of banking services, including an online savings account that earns 2.00% APY. You’ll need direct deposit to qualify for Chime’s biggest benefits, including early access to your paycheck and SpotMe, a feature that covers you for up to $200 of overdrafts.

There are no monthly maintenance fees, and you can also withdraw money at more than 60,000 ATMs nationwide.

Fees:

No monthly fees
No overdraft fees

Balance requirements:

No minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance required

ATMs:

Fee-free at 60,000+ MoneyPass, Allpoint, and Visa Plus Alliance ATMs
$2.50 out-of-network ATM transaction fee

Interest on balance:

2.00% APY on savings

Additional perks:

SpotMe covers up to $200 in overdrafts
Access paycheck up to two days early

4. GO2bank

GO2bank is another online banking option with perks designed to compete with traditional banks. As long as you have at least one payroll or government benefits direct deposit monthly, the $5 monthly fee will be waived. You’ll have fee-free access to cash through Allpoint ATMs nationwide, as well as the ability to deposit cash at more than 90,000 retailers across the country.

Fees:

$5 monthly fee (waived with requirements)
$15 overdraft fee after 24 hours in negative balance

Balance requirements:

No minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance requirement

ATMs:

Fee-free at 53,000+ Allpoint ATMs nationwide
$3 for each out-of-network ATM withdrawal

Interest on balance:

4.50% APY on savings account

Additional perks:

5. Citizens Bank

Although it’s based in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens Bank has branches in Michigan, as well as Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Checking accounts come with a $9.99 monthly fee, but you can avoid it with at least one deposit a month.

Fees:

$9.99 monthly service fee (waived with requirements)
$35 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

No minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance required

ATMs:

Fee-free at 3,200+ Citizens ATMs
$3 for each out-of-network ATM transaction

Interest on balance:

.01% APY on savings accounts
Up to 2.75% APY on CDs
Up to 2.75% APY on money market account

Additional perks:

Citizens Paid Early gives you access to direct deposit two days early
Citizens Peace of Mind helps you avoid overdraft fees

6. Huntington National Bank

Another regional bank with branches in Michigan is Huntington National Bank. You’ll get fee-free ATM access at Huntington ATMs, which are located throughout Michigan, as well as in Ohio, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Customers who have recurring direct deposits coming in will qualify for perks like Standby Cash, which issues a line of credit as you need it. You’ll pay no interest on that loan as long it’s repaid in three months. After three months, the rate is only 1%.

Fees:

No monthly fees
$15 overdraft fee (waived up to $50)

Balance requirements:

No minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance required

ATMs:

Fee-free at more than 1,700 ATMs
$3.50 for each out-of-network ATM transaction

Interest on balance:

Up to .06% APY on savings accounts
Up to 5.13% APY on CDs
Up to 4.18% APY on money market account

Additional perks:

Standby Cash issues a no-interest loan as you need it
Early Pay gives you access to direct deposit up to two days early

7. Consumers Credit Union

If you live, work, or attend post-secondary school in the lower peninsula area of Michigan, Consumers Credit Union has plenty to offer. There are 26 offices in the area, as well as fee-free ATM access through the nationwide Co-Op Network. Consumers Credit Union has competitive rates on CDs, as well as great home and auto loan options.

Fees:

No monthly maintenance fee
$35 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

No minimum deposit to open

ATMs:

Fee-free at Consumers Credit Union ATMs
Fee-free at 30,000+ Co-Op ATMs nationwide
$3 out-of-network ATM fee

Interest on balance:

Up to .25% APY on savings account
Up to 4.50% on CDs
Up to .50% on money market account

Additional perks:

Competitive rates on home and auto loans
Purchase discounts when using Consumers Credit Union debit card

8. Ally Bank

Online banking can help save you money, as long as you don’t need a local branch. Ally Bank gives you everything you need to manage your money through its website and mobile banking app.

As with many online banks, you’ll get competitive interest rates on deposit and savings accounts, including 0.25% APY on your checking account balance. Ally offers cash access through more than 53,000 Allpoint ATMs nationwide, as well as up to $10 in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements each statement period.

Fees:

No monthly fees
No overdraft fees

Balance requirements:

No minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance required

ATMs:

Fee-free at 53,000+ Allpoint ATMs nationwide
Up to $10 in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements monthly

Interest on balance:

.25% APY on checking accounts
3.85% APY on savings accounts
Up to 4.80% APY on CDs
4.15% APY on money market account

Additional perks:

Robo Portfolios help you invest
Spending Buckets help you budget

9. Flagstar Bank

Although it’s headquartered in Hicksville, New York, Flagstar Bank has a regional headquarters in Troy, Michigan. One of the best things about Flagstar checking accounts is the 0.25% interest rates you’re offered on home and personal loans when your payment comes from your checking account.

Although Flagstar does have a high-yield savings account that offers 2.50% APY, there’s a $35 monthly service fee for balances under $50,000.

Fees:

No monthly maintenance fee
$36 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

$50 minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance required

ATMs:

Fee-free at Flagstar ATMs
Fee-free at 56,000+ Presto! and Allpoint ATMs
$2.50 for each out-of-network ATM withdrawal

Interest on balance:

Up to 2.50% APY on savings account
4.25% on CDs

Additional perks:

Discounts on loans when payments made from your Flagstar checking account
Robust business checking account options

10. Old National Bank

Based in Chicago, Illinois, and Evansville, Indiana, Old National Bank has branches in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky, and Illinois. Currently, you can earn a $300 bonus for a new checking account when you receive at least two direct deposits totaling at least $3,000 and enroll in online or mobile banking.

Old National’s free checking account requires at least $500 in direct deposit activity monthly. You’ll also have to maintain a minimum balance of at least $750 or maintain a $1,500 combined balance in all your Old National accounts. If you’re active-duty military, you can qualify for a free checking account without meeting any requirements.

Fees:

$6.95 monthly service fee (waived with requirements)
$36 overdraft fee (waived up to $25)

Balance requirements:

$50 minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance required ($1,500 to waive monthly fees)

ATMs:

Fee-free at Old National ATMs
Fee-free at 53,000+ Allpoint ATMs nationwide
$3 out-of-network ATM fee

Interest on balance:

Up to 4.85% on CDs
Up to 5.00% on money market account

Additional perks:

$300 bonus for new checking account
View all accounts, including those with other banks, in one dashboard

11. Diversified Members Credit Union

Diversified Members Credit Union has expanded over the years and now serves 25,000 members, with branches in Novi, Clawson, and Detroit. You’ll also get online and mobile banking options, as well as access to branches and ATMs through the Co-Op network.

Although DMCU’s checking accounts come with a $10 fee, you can avoid those monthly maintenance fees by enrolling in e-statements and online banking, as well as having at least 15 debit card transactions post each statement period.

Fees:

$10 monthly fee (waived with requirements)
$30 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

$25 minimum opening deposit
No minimum balance required

ATMs:

Fee-free at DMCU ATMs
Fee-free at 30,000 ATMs nationwide
$2 out-of-network ATM transaction fee

Interest on balance:

.05% APY on checking
Up to .35% APY on savings
Up to 1.15% APY on money markets

Additional perks:

Robust business checking account options
Competitive rates on auto and recreational vehicle loans

12. Comerica

Although it was founded in Detroit in 1849, Comerica is now headquartered in Dallas. But it still has branches in Michigan, as well as Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas.

Comerica’s basic checking package comes with a $13 monthly fee that can be waived by keeping a $1,000 balance or having at least one $250 electronic deposit each month. Full-time students up to age 26 and military members can also request to have the fee waived.

Fees:

$13 monthly fee (waived with requirements)
$34 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

$50 minimum opening deposit
No minimum balance required ($1,000 to waive service fee)

ATMs:

Fee-free at Comerica ATMs
$2.50 out-of-network ATM transaction fee

Interest on balance:

.01% APY on savings
Up to 5.00% APY on CDs
Up to 4.25% APY on money market account

Additional perks:

Earn up to $500 for referrals
Discounts on home equity lines of credit

Choosing the Best Bank in Michigan

When you’re in the market for a new checking or savings account, it’s important to recognize what’s most important to you. It likely will differ from what someone else finds important. Here are some features to consider when you’re comparing national, regional, and local Michigan banks.

Mobile Banking Features

These days, almost every bank offers mobile banking as a core feature. The best banks let you manage almost everything through either the app or an online web portal. Look for features that will eliminate your reliance on local branches and ATMs, including mobile check deposit and the ability to easily transfer money from your checking account to your online savings account.

That doesn’t mean you can’t choose a bank with branches in Michigan, though. You may like the features that come with a traditional bank account, including the ability to visit a local branch for in-person customer service. If a bank offers easy access to branches and ATMs, mobile banking will still give you the convenience of being able to manage your account when you can’t get to a bank.

Minimum Deposits and Balances

When searching for the best banks, you’ll notice that some come with requirements. Banks and credit unions may charge monthly service fees to access your account, and it can be tempting to go with a bank that advertises free checking. In doing that, though, it’s important to pay attention to the requirements that go with that account.

If you’re on a budget, the best checking accounts have very few fees while also refraining from requiring a minimum daily balance. That means you don’t have to stress about keeping a certain amount in your account. When looking at a bank or credit union, also look for the requirements to open the account. Some banks require a minimum deposit to get started.

Interest Rates

Saving money on fees isn’t the only priority when looking for a bank account. Your balance should earn interest, and the higher the annual percentage yield, the better.

It’s not unusual for a savings account and CD to earn interest, but there are also high-yield checking account options. An interest checking account will probably be a better fit for you if you routinely hold a high balance in your checking account. You can also find high interest rates on savings and CDs with online banks that might offset any out-of-network ATM fees you occasionally pay to access cash.

Michigan Bank Promotions

Whether you’re searching for a community bank or holding out for a great deal with a national bank, always look into any bank promotions currently going on. Typically, bank promos require that you maintain the account for at least a couple of months, as well as complete a fixed number of activities, such as electronic deposits or maintaining a minimum balance.

In some cases, promotions will be for specific product types, such as a business checking account. If you’re in the market for a new business bank account, you may get a better deal by going with a different bank than you use for your personal checking account.

ATM Access

Online banks, local banks, and credit unions will often increase their interest rates on savings and CDs to compete with bigger financial institutions, but there’s a downside. You might not get the cash access you’d find with a national bank. You may find a full selection of ATMs near your house, but when you travel, you’ll have to pay an out-of-network ATM fee to get cash from your bank accounts.

In recent years, though, online banking and credit unions have made this easier. Your credit union may be a part of a national co-op network that expands access to both branches and ATMs nationwide.

Online banks will partner with national ATM networks like AllPoint and MoneyPass to offer account holders cash. If you ever need to deposit cash, your online bank might let you take your debit card to one of many partner locations to add the funds to your app, although this usually comes with a fee.

In some cases, a small or online bank will offer ATM fee reimbursements. These may be limited to a small dollar amount per statement period. This could include a few banks who don’t offer fee-free ATM withdrawals among your options.

Our Methodology

Finding the right bank can be tough, so we took personal preferences into account. Here are some of the features we used to determine the best banks and credit unions in Michigan:

Variety of financial products: Checking and savings are typically the first features you look for in a bank, but there are other things to consider. We focused on banks that offer other accounts, such as money markets and certificates of deposits.
Local vs. online: Preferences can vary, so we chose a variety of account types, including small banks, credit unions, corporate banks with branches in Michigan, and online-only banks.
Interest rates: We noted the interest rates offered by each bank. If you’re hoping to save money, it’s important to get the best rates possible. We tried to include banks that offer an APY that’s above the national average.
Bank requirements: There are often minimums associated with an account, especially if you won’t pay monthly fees. We took a look at those requirements and disclosed them to make it easier for you to quickly identify what you’ll need. Those include the amount you’ll need to deposit to open the account and the minimum balance you’ll need to retain each day.
Other fees: You won’t just face service fees with a new account. If your checking goes into the negative, you’ll likely have to pay an overdraft fee. Some banks have a minimal out-of-network ATM transaction fee that’s in addition to any fees charged by the third-party bank. Check a bank’s fee schedule before signing on to make sure you know exactly what fees you’ll face.

Finding a new bank can be challenging. The good news is, once you’ve found the right fit, you probably won’t have to switch for a while. It’s important to take your time and compare as many banks as possible to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Source: crediful.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 23, 2023 by Brett Tams

Life insurance is an incredible investment. It allows you to get the insurance protection needed for your family, especially if an unfortunate event occurred. But, what if you end up with a chronic condition that drains your bank account?

For anyone with a terminal illness, an accelerated death benefit can be savior.

An accelerated death benefit is an insurance benefit that pays out while the insured is still alive.

Usually, only people who are suffering from terminal illnesses are eligible for accelerated death benefits.

This is also called a living benefit.

What Is A Living Benefit?

A living benefit can be added to an insurance policy before or after purchase. With this benefit, patients who have a terminal illness can access part of their benefits before their death. Initially, when this benefit was first created, it was offered only to people with HIV/AIDS.

Overtime, it was offered to people who suffered from kidney failure, cancer, and other terminal illnesses. Medical expenses for a terminal illness can be very expensive, and there are also living expenses that the terminally ill have to pay as well. A living benefit can aid with all of these expenses and can be of a great help to those who have terminal illnesses.

Many insurance companies offer a living benefit as a rider in some of their life insurance policies. It is commonly included in permanent life insurance policies. So many different packages and payment options are available for living death benefit. You can receive the death benefit if you already have a terminal disease or if you contract one in the future.

Not everyone wants to think of the possibility of contracting a terminal disease, but for some, a living benefit may be something they wish to add to their policy. You will receive a percentage of the death benefits depending on the insurance company. This company usually ranges from 25-95%. After death, the remainder of the benefit is paid out to your beneficiaries. If you should recover from your illness, then you will not have to repay the benefits you received.

How Do You Qualify For An Accelerated Death Benefit?

You qualify for a living benefit if you have contracted a terminal illness and are expected to die in two years, if you have been diagnosed with an illness that will reduce your life span, if you have an illness that requires an organ transplant, if you are in long-term care in a hospice, or if you need assistance with every day activities, like bathing or using the toilet.

The cost of a living benefit will vary depending on the company. Sometimes your policy might have the rider grouped in with your premium which would be ideal. Otherwise, you will owe a percentage of the benefit.

How Are You Taxed On Accelerated Death Benefits?

These benefits are not taxable. Normally if you were to pass within 2 years it would be exempt. Use the rider to supplement any costs that aren’t covered by your insurance company. If you believe you may be eligible for a death benefit, then talk with your insurance agent. Also, keep in mind that receiving a living benefit might change your chances of Medicaid or SSI in the future.

Accelerated Death Benefit Example

Here’s an example of how an accidental benefit rider might play out.

Client induces a qualifying chronic, critical, or terminal illness.
Client files a claim to accelerate all or a portion of the death benefit.
Our claims department and underwriters review the medical records and prognosis ratings and make a discounted offer, based on the change in life expectancy. The higher the change in life expectancy, the higher the percentage the client will be offered.
If the client accepts the offer, they receive the determined amount as a lump sum within two weeks. If the entire death benefit is accelerated, the remaining face is $0 and the policy terminates. If a portion of the death benefit remains, the client’s premium will reflect the new face amount. Below is an example:

Bill is 47 years old, preferred NT with a $2 million policy. He suffered a major heart attack and decides he wants to accelerate $1,000,000 of his face. The company reviews the claim and makes a lump offer of $500,000. Bob accepts and is mailed a $500,000 check in the next two weeks. His death benefit has now been decreased by the amount of face he accelerated ($1,000,000), so his remaining death benefit is $1,000,000. He will now pay premiums based on a $1,000,000 face amount, not the initial $2 million face.

Regarding the taxes: first and foremost, be aware of the fact that I or the insurance company can act in the capacity of a tax advisor or CPA. We always advise our clients to seek their own tax council. That being said, we have designed our ABRs to be within compliance with current IRS regulations. With regards to the terminal illness rider, the IRS has defined it to be an acceleration of the death benefits, and therefore it is not taxable.

What About Chronic Illness?

For chronic illness, they have proposed but not adopted the rider in the same light. The IRS has not provided any opinion on critical illness payments. With all of that in mind, I am not aware of any accelerated benefit that has been taxed by the IRS. This is, of course, under the assumption that the policy has not be turned into a modified endowment contract (MEC). Once a policy is MEC’d, it is always a MEC, and all benefits are taxable. But again, always involve a tax advisor or CPA when dealing with the IRS. They know the dark side of the force better than any of us.

Accelerated Death Riders and Life Insurance

Starting to look at the options associated with your life insurance policy can bring about tough conversations. It’s hard to talk about your death or the demise of someone close to you. But it is important because someone could be left with large debt and final expenses. Having to worry about those payments adds to a stressful situation.

It is common for people to putt off adding the accelerated rider is because they assume that it will be too expensive for their budget, but that is just false. In most cases, there are dozens of affordable options to give your family life insurance protection, and any additional riders that you need.

There are various ways of calculating premiums on their life insurance and riders and no company has the same value on these factors. To get the best rates, you’ll need to ask for many quotes until you find a perfect plan for your needs. Don’t waste your time calling all of those agents yourself. Let us do the searching for you. As independent agents we offer the best way to get the lowest insurance rates. Our appointments are with multiple carriers so we have expanded options which makes it easier to give you the best quote for your coverage.

Our years working in the industry have given us knowledge to answer any question you can think of. And if we don’t know it we will find the answer for you. Our main goal is to give your family the protection they deserve.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 23, 2023 by Brett Tams

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Guest Post Your mood rises as the heat of summer ease. Soon, green leaves will turn to fiery fall colors as crisp, cool air invades our fair city. For lovers of autumn, this is the best time of year to get outside. Exercising outdoors has many … [Read more…]

Apache is functioning normally

May 23, 2023 by Brett Tams

Could you pay your mortgage, groceries, rent, insurance, medical expenses, and other bills on $2000/month? If you could, what kind of lifestyle might you lead?

Millions of retirees across America live it every day.

The Social Security Administration reports that 50% of elderly married beneficiaries and 70% of singles rely on Social Security for more than half of their monthly income. Considering that the average Social Security check is around $1361/month, this is a really tough place to be in for so many of these retirees.

And I’ve met them. Many of them.

Every year at my insurance agency, we meet thousands of baby boomers aging into Medicare at 65. We often see their shock, dismay, and confusion when they realize that the cost of their healthcare in retirement will easily eat up at least 20% to 30% of that Social Security check every month.

No matter how you slice it, even the best of the retiree budgeters out there are likely to have trouble making ends meet on Social Security income alone.

Sometimes when it comes to personal finance, budgeting isn’t the problem.

Sometimes income is the problem.

Fortunately, there’s good news on that front, because we live in an age where there are more opportunities to earn extra money than ever before. Our digital world has made this possible, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

When you’re on a fixed income and struggling to make ends meet, a side hustle that pays you even a few hundred dollars a month can be a tremendous help.

At Boomer Benefits, we polled our Facebook fans – largely baby boomers and seniors – to ask what kind of side-hustles they are rocking out there in the real world. What we learned is that there’s a wide array of ways in which creative retirees are supplementing their Social Security income.

Today, I’ll share a few of their stories to give you some ideas for your own possible side-hustle that could potentially help to reduce financial worry and afford you a better lifestyle in retirement.

Teach From Home

Did you know that you can get paid to teach English without leaving your house? That’s right, and this is a perfect example of a retirement side hustle that exists today that would not have been possible ten years ago.

Valerie Heidel shared with us that she uses an online teaching platform called Cambly to teach English to students in Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, and even Brazil. She found this job opportunity by searching online for work from home part-time jobs. This work-from-home part was a must so that she could make her own schedule and work only when she feels like it.

What was also important to Valerie in finding a side hustle was the sense of purpose and productivity. And, because she has quite a few repeat weekly students, the job gives her spending cash. She earns $0.17 per minute that she is online with a student, which comes out to $10.20/hour.

Not bad for a job that doesn’t require her to leave her house. And this part-time gig doesn’t require a degree either. You can be approved for teaching gigs like this one in as little as two days (although for some applicants it can take up to two months).

Another retiree we spoke with shared how she used her part-time teaching income to transition into retirement. Our client Nancy was teaching full-time at one college while also teaching health courses part-time online as an adjunct instructor. When she was laid off from her full-time job unexpectedly, she was able to transition into semi-retirement by keeping the part-time health teaching.

J.D.’s note: When Kim’s father retired from teaching high-school English, he too picked up some extra cash by teaching college-level English classes online.

Nancy shared that she has a physical disability which would make it difficult for her to teach in a classroom or report to an office for work. The ability to teach right from her laptop through the school’s Learning Management System has even allowed her to work when she was hospitalized. Once the courses are created, her main duties are to respond to emails and grade assignments.

She loves that it keeps her active and says that she would be bored without this job, so she plans to continue teaching for as long as she possibly can.

Nancy shared that she and her spouse currently use her part-time income to supplement their Social Security income benefits so that they can avoid dipping into their retirement savings for as long as possible.

Takeaway: Nearly everyone has a skill that they could turn into a tutoring, teaching or mentorship position. In addition to Cambly, you can check for opportunities that fit your skills at sites like Tutor, Skooli, and Yup.

Turn Your Passion into Part-Time Income

Jeanine Handley has been a creative artist all her life and worked in graphic design. Now that she’s retired, she does remote graphic design work for clients out of her own home.

She’s also managed to turn this passion into a business right in her own neighborhood. Several years ago, when she relocated to Florida, she moved into a 55+ community. Many of the residents there are active seniors who want to learn and explore new things in their own retirement.

Jeanine noticed that many residents didn’t know how to use the camera and editing features on their smartphones. She helped one woman in her eighties with picking out a new smartphone and iPad and began weekly lessons to show her how to use both.

This blossomed into a course there in the community in which Jeanine helps to introduce other folks to smartphones and smartphone photography. She can communicate and teach these skills in a manner that other seniors understand and appreciate.

Jeanine charges a small fee for this and the money she earns helps to supplement her income and be able to afford some of the extra things like travel, entertainment, and dining out.

As an artist at heart, she doesn’t plan to ever retire this side hustle. Think about your own hobbies and passions. Could there be a way for you to turn that into an income-producing side gig?

Another side-hustler who plans to never retire is our client Billy who is a professional Santa Claus.

That’s right. Santa Claus! How cool is that for an income booster?

As a member of three professional Santa Claus organizations, Billy appears everywhere from schools and restaurants to big city events to spread the holiday cheer. He stresses that this side-hustle is one that really comes from your heart and not from the boots and suit that you wear.

He enjoys talking to children of all ages and listening to their needs. Sometimes the job can require emotional fortitude as the requests aren’t always about gifts or toys but sometimes may include a plea that Santa helps a child’s father find a job.

Yet even so, Billy admits that what he enjoys most is visiting homes of children who are either chronically ill or home-bound. These visits fulfill his heart while the side income he earns helps he and his wife to pay some of their expenses in retirement.

Being Santa can be a serious business both emotionally and professionally. Billy must pass a criminal background check each year and has regularly attended schools and seminars to perfect his craft. He’s also a member of three professional Santa Claus organizations.

Takeaway: Think about the things in your life that you absolutely love to do. Could your passion benefit someone else? How could you monetize that so that you can earn some income while performing activities that hardly feel like work at all?

Become a Contractor for Your Former Employer

When Roberta Baciak retired from working in a local school lunchroom, she felt so bad about leaving them that she volunteered to be a fill-in worker whenever they are short-staffed. They were quick to take her up on her offer, so now she works one day a week every week and sometimes gets called in on other days.

She also works from home 15 hours a week as an administrative assistance for a coffee shop and roasting company owned by her daughter and son-in-law. She takes care of their invoices, payroll, entering expenses into Quickbooks, sending statements and things like that.

Her side hustles have afforded her the ability to pay off some medical bills and to have some pocket cash to spend on little things her grandsons. She also loves the honor of helping her family with their growing business.

She plans on working as long as she can for her family and probably another year or so at the school lunchroom because she enjoys seeing her co-workers and the kids at school.

Roberta recommends that other retirees looking for side-income check with their local schools because lunchrooms are often looking for people who are willing to fill-in on an on-call basis.

Takeaway: Consider negotiating part-time employment with your last employer before retirement. You never know when they might agree! If that’s not an option, who do you know that has a business? Are there any part-time services that you could offer to them with your skills?

Get Financially Fit with Furballs

I honestly can’t think of a side gig I would enjoy more than getting paid to hang out with some fur kids. Busy working professionals are using pet sitting services more than ever – J.D. tells me he frequently uses Rover to book walks for his dog — and what’s great about this particular job is that you could work contract though a pet sitting service, or you could just post your services in neighborhood sites like Nextdoor.

This side hustle is really flexible because you can work only when you want to, and you can pet site in your own home or in someone else’s home for a little more cash.

I myself am a busy entrepreneur, working long hours at the office and frequently traveling for business. When I’m going to be gone overnight, I pay a friend’s mom, who is retired, to come and spend the night with my fur babies.

It helps me sleep at night to know that someone is caring for them, but I also know love that my pet sitter is a retiree who can really use the money to help her make ends meet. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Not sure about overnights? You could start with some day visits or dog-walking, both of which are other pet services that many working people willingly pay for.

Takeaway: This one is possibly the easiest side gig of all to get started in. Post on your favorite neighborhood app or sign up as a pet sitter or dog walker with sites live Rover or Wag.

What Will Your Next Side Hustle Be?

These are just a few of the fun and creative ways to earn extra retirement income that some of our own social media followers at Boomer Benefits have shared with us. No matter what type of work you used to do, there are endless opportunities for new things that you can do once you are retired to supplement your income from Social Security and investments.

If teaching or pet sitting aren’t your thing, check out our post on 50 Ingenius Ways to Earn Money in Retirement for additional inspiration. You might also check out Ryan Helms’ Hustle to Freedom podcast, which is one that I’ve referred dozens of people to when they’ve shared that they want to work part-time but aren’t quite sure doing what.

The key is understanding that our digital world really does make it easier than ever to put a few extra dollars in your pocket each month and sometimes just that little bit makes all the difference.

Happy Hustling!

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

May 22, 2023 by Brett Tams

“REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.“

Article 10, REALTOR® Code of Ethics

During Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s thirteen years as leader of the American Civil Rights Movement, the U.S. made more genuine progress toward racial equality than the previous 350 years combined.

From the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the March on Washington, Dr. King’s contributions have reshaped the American society and inspired a country once divided by hate and ignorance to set aside its prejudice to build a more unified nation — at a time when the country needed it most.

And while his role in establishing core legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Voting Rights Act of 1964 is well known, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for housing equality is often overlooked.

But the Baptist minister and activist had a massive impact in shaping current practices and key industry legislation that made homeownership and tenants rights available to all.

How Martin Luther King Jr. championed housing equality

In the last years of his life, between 1965 and 1968, Dr. King shifted his focus toward economic justice – which he highlighted by leading several campaigns in Chicago, Illinois.

He rallied alongside the Chicago Freedom Movement — also known as the Chicago Open Housing Movement, asking local politicians and business leaders to end discriminatory housing practices.

“We are here today because we are tired,” Dr. King said. “We are tired of paying more for less. We are tired of living in rat-infested slums… We are tired of having to pay a median rent of $97 a month in Lawndale for four rooms while whites living in South Deering pay $73 a month for five rooms.”

“Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy,” he added. “Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children.”

To translate the claims into policy, Dr. King supported The Fair Housing Act — now also know as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 — a federal legislation that later on passed to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status, and national origin.

^{President Lyndon B. Johnson meets with Civil Rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr., Whitney Young, James Farmer. Photo credit: Yoichi Okamoto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons}

First brought before Congress in 1966, as a response to the many instances of racial discrimination in both buying and renting houses, The Fair Housing Act was often overlooked in the following two years, failing to garner enough support for it to pass.

This in spite of mounting pressure not only from Dr. King, but from numerous equal rights organizations.

In the 1960s, many of the families of African American soldiers who had been killed in Vietnam were facing heavy discrimination when trying find a home, sparking outrage in the community and heavy criticism of how the matter was being handled by the authorities.

It was Dr. King’s death that gave Congress the last push needed to pass the Fair Housing Act.

On April 11, 1968, seven days after the assassination, President Lyndon Johnson signed Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 — which now protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities.

And while we may be a long way from reaching Dr. King’s vision, the Fair Housing Act remains the linchpin of the fight for equitable housing and we are grateful to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his contribution in making it a reality.

Source: fancypantshomes.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 22, 2023 by Brett Tams

Are you looking for the best small business ideas?

Whether you are looking for an online business that you can start and do from home, an in-person business, or something else, there are many different businesses that you can start.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are 31.7 million small businesses in the U.S. And 81% of these small businesses (25.7 million) have no employees.

If you’ve dreamed of being one of those 30 million plus people who work for themselves, then this list of small business ideas is for you!

Many of the businesses on this list are affordable to start and require minimal equipment. And you will probably be surprised that you already have what you need to start many of these top small business ideas.

I have been running my business (this blog!) for a little over 10 years now, and I am extremely grateful for it. Even though I’ve made seven figures from my blog over the years, it’s still a very small business overall.

What I love about my business is that I don’t have to commute, I get to be my own boss, I can decide how I earn a living, I am able to create a flexible schedule, and I can travel whenever I want.

There are many other small business ideas on this list that offer the same positives I have experienced from blogging.

Many small business owners I talk to will tell you about benefits!

Today, I am going to talk about the many different small business ideas that you can start this year. I hope you are able to find the perfect one for you and your liking and needs.

36 Small Business Ideas

1. Blogging

Like I said above, out of all of the small business ideas on this list, blogging is my favorite.

This can be a great online option for beginners, as you don’t need previous experience, and the majority of bloggers are brand new to blogging.

I was completely new when I started my blog, and I learned everything I know along the way through trial and error (I’ll be honest, I made a lot of mistakes!), by reading free resources, and by networking with other bloggers.

Since I started Making Sense of Cents, I have earned over $5,000,000 from my blog through affiliate marketing, sponsored partnerships, display advertising, and online courses.

Blogging allows me to travel full time, have a flexible schedule, and I earn a great income doing it.

You can learn how to start a blog in my free How To Start a Blog Course.

Here’s a quick outline of what you will learn:

Day 1: Why you should start a blog
Day 2: How to decide what to write about (your blog niche!)
Day 3: How to create your blog (in this lesson, you will learn how to start a blog on WordPress)
Day 4: The different ways to make money with your blog
Day 5: My advice for making passive income with your blog
Day 6: How to get pageviews
Day 7: Other blogging tips to help you see success

Other similar small business ideas online include starting a YouTube channel and creating TikToks.

2. Selling printables from home

If you’re looking for small profitable business ideas that have low startup costs, then selling printables on Etsy may be a good fit for you.

Creating printables can also be quite passive because you just need to create one digital file per product, which you can then sell an unlimited number of times. Because you only need a laptop or computer and internet connection, it can be quite affordable to start.

But what are printables?

Printables are digital products that customers can download and print at home. Some examples are bridal shower games, grocery shopping checklists, budget planners, invitations, printable quotes for wall art, and patterns.

You can sign up for this free ebook that helps you figure out where to start when it comes to selling printables on Etsy.

You can also learn more at How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy.

3. Litter cleanup business

If you’re a business owner, having trash and litter on your property isn’t the best way to welcome people to your business. That’s why some business owners are willing to pay to have their property cleaned up before open hours and make it more presentable to customers.

This is a small business idea you can start on your own, and you can get paid $30 to $50 an hour.

You will need a broom, dustpan, and grabber tools, and you can have a fairly flexible schedule with a litter cleaning business.

You can learn more at How I Started A $650,000 Per Year Litter Cleanup Business.

4. Virtual assistance

A virtual assistant is someone who works for a person, company, or business owner to do administrative and business tasks to help a business run smoothly. Think of them like in-person assistants, except they work at home and online.

Becoming a virtual assistant is one of the most popular small business ideas at home.

In fact, I used to work as a virtual assistant!

I worked for several startups and small business owners. I did not have previous experience, and I simply learned the skills as I worked. It allowed me to earn a great income, plus I was able to work from home.

This is one of several small business ideas on this list that is growing quite quickly, and more and more people are in need of virtual assistants.

Virtual assistant (VA) tasks may include:

Social media management
Managing a person or company’s calendar
Formatting and editing content
Scheduling appointments or travel
Creating or assisting with slideshows or presentations
Email management
Communicating with clients or customers

And so much more.

The type of work you do depends on the needs of your employer.

Usually, you can start out as a virtual assistant earning at least $15 to $20 per hour, but sometimes you may be able to start at double or even triple that depending on the field you work in and the services that you offer.

As a full-time virtual assistant, you may be able to earn over $10,000 a month.

You can learn more at How I Earn $10,000 Per Month From Home as a Virtual Assistant.

If you are interested in finding virtual assistant jobs, I recommend signing up for the free workshop 5 Steps To Become a Virtual Assistant. There, you will learn how to become a virtual assistant, even if you have no experience.

5. Selling stickers from home

Creating stickers to sell on Etsy is one of the most fun low-cost and small business ideas for creative people, and stickers are really popular.

My friend Mim started without any graphic design skills, and she didn’t know how to create stickers when she first started. It’s something she learned as she went, and she has now turned this into a $100,000+ yearly business.

I interviewed her here on Making Sense of Cents and asked her:

Does someone need to be a graphic designer to make and sell stickers?
Why do people buy stickers online?
Do stickers sell well online?
How much money can you make selling stickers as a small business idea?

And more!

You can head over to How To Make $1,000+ A Month Selling Stickers Online to read more.

6. Pet sitting and dog walking business

Yes, you may be able to start a part-time or full-time business pet sitting or walking dogs.

You may be watching pets in your home or going over to the pet owner’s home to take care of the pets.

As a dog walker, you can earn $20 an hour or even more.

For pet boarding, you can make around $25+ per day for watching someone’s dog or other pet in your home. This is a great service to offer, and if you love animals (which you should if you are going to do this), then it could be fun as well!

Rover is a company you can sign up with and list your dog walking and/or pet sitting services.

7. Bookkeeping

A bookkeeper is someone who helps manage and track the financial side of a business. They typically keep track of sales, expenses, and produce financial reports.

This is a skill you can learn from home.

My friend Ben, from Bookkeepers, helps people start their own bookkeeping businesses even when they don’t have any experience. Ben is a CPA who founded his business after realizing that many business owners needed better bookkeepers.

I interviewed Ben and asked:

What exactly is a bookkeeper?
Who are the typical clients of a bookkeeper? How can I find clients?
How much money do new bookkeepers make?
How can a person learn how to become a bookkeeper without previous experience?

You can read all of his answers to these questions and more in our interview Make Money At Home By Becoming A Bookkeeper.

Plus, you can sign up here for a free resource that will teach you more about starting and running one of the most profitable business ideas as a bookkeeper.

8. Reselling items

Finding items to resell may be one of the best small business ideas on this list because we all have things in our house we could probably sell.

Plus, there are always things that you can buy for a low price and possibly resell for a profit.

This is such a profitable idea that Melissa’s family earned $133,000 in one year through buy-and-sell flipping, and they were working only 10-20 hours per week.

Since then, they have turned this into an even bigger and more profitable business!

Some of the best items they’ve resold include:

Something they bought for $10 and flipped for $200 just 6 minutes later
A security tower they bought for $6,200 and flipped for $25,000 just one month later
A prosthetic leg that they bought for $30 at a flea market and sold for $1,000 on eBay the very next day

If this is one of the small business ideas you’re interested in, learn more at How Melissa Made $40,000 In One Year Flipping Items.

9. Freelance writing

Freelance writing is a business idea that doesn’t require a background in writing or a degree in English or creative writing. Some people are naturally good writers, but you can also develop the skills to become one.

A freelance writer is someone who writes for a number of different clients, such as websites, blogs, magazines, advertising companies, books, and more. They don’t work for one specific company, rather they work for themselves and contract out their writing.

If you are interested in learning more about how to become a freelance writer, please head to the article 14 Places To Find Freelance Writing Jobs – (Start With No Experience!).

10. Selling items on Amazon

Selling items on Amazon is another one of the most fun small business ideas.

Even if you have no experience selling on Amazon, you can earn money selling household goods, books, electronics, and so on.

My friend Jessica Larrew and her family started selling things on Amazon FBA without any experience, and they made over $100,000 profit in their first year! And they were working less than 20 hours a week total.

Jessica has a FREE mini course that will teach you everything you need to know in order to start selling on Amazon. You will learn how much it costs to start an Amazon business, the supplies you need, how to find inventory, and more.

11. Proofreading

Proofreading is an in-demand job, making it one of the best small business ideas if you’re good at catching and correcting writing errors.

To become a proofreader, you simply need a laptop or tablet, an internet connection, and the skills to proofread.

Proofreaders look for punctuation mistakes, misspelled words, lack of consistency, and formatting errors. They edit blog posts, articles, website copy, advertising, books, academic papers, emails, and more.

In one year, my friend Caitlin made a little over $43,000 as a freelance proofreader.

I interviewed Caitlin on what it takes to become a proofreader, and she explained:

What proofreaders do
How much money proofreaders make
The steps to become a proofreader

You can learn more at How To Become A Proofreader And Work From Anywhere.

Also, Caitlin created a FREE 76-minute workshop where she answers all of the most common questions about becoming a proofreader, and she even shows you how to use the most popular tools used by proofreaders around the world. You can sign up for free here.

12. Creating and selling Canva templates

Creating and selling Canva templates can be a great way to make extra money because you just need to create them once, and you can sell them an unlimited number of times.

Working just a few hours a week, my friend Maliha is able to earn $2,000 each month selling Canva templates online.

I interviewed Maliha about this topic and asked:

What exactly is a Canva template? What is Canva?
How do I sell my designs on Canva?
Why do people buy Canva templates?
Can someone with no tech skills create a Canva template?

Please head over to the article to learn more at How I Make $2,000+ Monthly Selling Canva Templates.

13. Podcast virtual assistance

There is currently a large demand for podcast virtual assistants.

Even though there are over 2,000,000 podcasts, that number continues to grow – why it’s one of the best small business ideas!

While the podcast host can record themselves, other tasks like editing and publication take time, so many podcasters outsource work to virtual assistants. It’s a more efficient use of their time, and they can focus their time on other areas of their business.

Some of the different podcast services you may provide include:

Editing audio
Marketing and promotion of the podcast
Publishing the podcast episode
Show note creation

If this is one of the small business ideas you’re interested in, learn more at How I Make $1,500 A Month As A Podcast Virtual Assistant.

14. Freelancing

Freelancers own their business and contract out their services to other business owners or individuals. A business may hire you for one-time gigs, or you may get a long-term freelancing job with a company.

In addition to some of the freelance jobs I’ve already mentioned (writing, proofreading, and bookkeeping) there are even more freelance small business ideas, including:

Graphic design
Web design and development
Personal training
Consulting
Search engine optimization (SEO)

This is one of the best small business ideas because you can use a skill you already have and start finding work on job platforms like UpWork and Fiverr.

15. Help Google evaluate search engine results

A Search Engine Evaluator (also known as a Google Rater) is a person who rates websites based on their quality and usefulness.

You are rating websites to help Google improve their search engine results.

This can be a good beginner online job idea to start because you don’t need previous or technical experience. Google wants average people rating their sites.

And because Google operates in nearly every country, you can work on sites that are in your native language.

Learn more at How To Become a Search Engine Evaluator.

16. Voice over acting

A voice over actor is the person you hear but rarely see on YouTube videos, radio ads, explainer videos, corporate narration, documentaries, e-learning courses, audiobooks, TV commercials, video games, movies, and cartoons.

This job doesn’t require previous experience or special skills – you just need to have the voice the company is looking for.

In 2014, Carrie replaced her salaried day job to become a full-time voice over actor. Because people are constantly asking her how she got her start and how they can too, Carrie created a six-week online course, which sold out! Several of her students booked voice acting jobs before the class was even over!

You can read my interview with her at How To Become A Voice Over Actor And Work From Anywhere.

17. Managing Facebook ads for small businesses

By managing Facebook ads, you are helping small businesses expand their market and find new customers, and you can make around $1,000 to $1,500 extra a month per client.

Companies spend tons of money every day on Facebook advertising. But most small business owners don’t really know how to create Facebook ads, which is where you get involved.

My blogging friend Bobby knows a lot about this topic, and I interviewed him about running Facebook ads for small businesses. In our interview, you will learn:

Why do small businesses pay for Facebook ads?
How can a person find their first paying Facebook ads client?
How much can you earn doing this type of work?

Also, Bobby has a free webinar on this topic (you can sign up here), which will teach you how to start this business even if you’re brand new, how to find paying clients, and more.

18. Transcribing audio or video files into text

Transcription is when you turn audio or video content into a text document.

There are many businesses looking for transcriptionists too – since general transcriptionists convert audio and video to text for virtually any industry, there really isn’t a typical client. Some examples of clients include marketers, authors, filmmakers, academics, speakers, and conferences of all types.

Beginning transcriptionists earn around $15 an hour to start, and this is one of the small business ideas on this list that doesn’t require previous experience.

You can learn more about how to become a transcriptionist in the interview Make Money At Home By Becoming A Transcriptionist. The interview covers topics such as:

The steps to become a transcriptionist
How much money you can expect to make
The type of training you need to become a transcriptionist

19. Scoping

Scoping is when you are editing legal documents for court reporters. This is different from proofreading for court reporters.

Scopists who are working with an average court reporter tend to make around $30,000 to $45,000 per year working pretty much full time.

I interviewed an expert on the topic – Linda from Internet Scoping School. She has been scoping for over 35 years and has taught scoping online for nearly 20 years.

She also has a free course that will introduce you to scoping so that you can decide if it’s one of the small business ideas you want to pursue. You can find the free course by clicking here.

You can learn more at How To Become A Scopist.

20. Starting a home dog bakery

Do you love dogs? If so, this is one of the best unique business ideas. No previous baking experience is needed, as this is a skill you can learn.

You can make dog treats, cupcakes, cookies, cakes, and more.

With a dog treat bakery business, you may be able to earn an extra $500-$1,000 a month or more.

You can learn more at How I Earned Up to $4,000 Per Month Baking Dog Treats (With Zero Baking Experience!).

Plus, you can sign up for this free training workshop that teaches you the small business plan for starting your own pet bakery.

21. Food photography

Did you know you can make money taking photos of food for bloggers, websites, and more?

Bloggers often hire food photographers to recreate recipes and take pictures of them so that the pictures can be shared on their blog.

Many food photographers are making $50,000 a year – some making over $100,000 each year – by working for bloggers.

You can learn more at How To Become a Food Blog Photographer And Earn Over $50,000 Each Year.

22. Start an online store

Yes, you can start your own online store, and you don’t need to have tons of experience or a lot of money to do so. Many people even start with no background in retail management.

I had the opportunity to interview Jenn Leach of E-commerce and Prosper, who explains how she started an online store, determined inventory, and saw lots of success with it.

Since she started her small business, she has developed and grown three successful online e-commerce stores earning an average of $19,000 per month.

You can read our interview at How Jenn Makes Over $10,000 A Month With Her Online Store In Less Than 10 Hours Per Week.

23. Social media management

With a social media management business, you are managing the social media accounts for a business.

As a social media manager, you may be managing a company’s TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and so on. You may specialize in one platform (such as TikTok), or you may help a company in more than one area.

Social media can be a great way to bring new customers to a business, which can help a business grow.

24. Real estate agent

A real estate agent is someone who helps people, like you and me, find real estate to buy or sell. This may be a storefront, a home to live in, rental real estate, land, and more.

A real estate agent is typically paid by commission of a percentage of the property’s sale price.

To become a real estate agent, you only need a high school diploma and a professional license. The 2021 median pay according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is $23.45, or $48,770 per year.

However, there are many, many real estate agents who earn much more money than this.

25. Event planning business

Do you enjoy planning events? Do you want to become a wedding planner or plan other types of events?

With an event planning business, you may specialize in planning weddings, birthday parties, corporate meetings, conventions, reunions, parades, fairs, product launches, and so much more.

Event planners are responsible for completing tasks related to designing the event, finding event space/location, deciding and planning on food, arranging transportation for attendees, coordinating the events for the day, and more.

Your attention to detail is greatly needed in this position, as you don’t want anything to be overlooked.

26. Airbnb Experience host

An Airbnb Experience is an activity that you host for travelers and list it on Airbnb. The events can be in person or virtual.

Here’s the official description of Airbnb Experiences:

“Airbnb Experiences are in-person or online activities hosted by inspiring local experts. They go beyond typical tours or classes by immersing guests in a Host’s unique world.”

There are many different experiences that you can host such as:

Astronomy tours
Cooking classes
Walking tours
Bike rides
Pub crawls
Hikes
Kayak adventures

And more.

If you’re wondering “What unique business can I start?” then this is it, and you can learn more at How to Make Money as an Airbnb Experience Host.

27. Vending machine business

Have you thought about starting a vending machine business?

You may be able to earn $1,000+ a month by running a vending machine business.

You can learn more at How To Start A Vending Machine Business – How I Make $7,000 Monthly, including:

Is there room for new people to have a vending machine business?
How much does the average vending machine make in a day?
What type of vending machines make the most money?
How much does an actual vending machine cost?
How many hours does it take each week to run a vending machine business?
What are the negatives of owning a vending machine business?

28. Rental real estate business

What small businesses are most profitable? Real estate is one of them!

Rental real estate is when you own a property and you rent it out. You may be renting it out to a long-term renter who is looking for a home to live in, a short-term Airbnb rental, commercial real estate, and more.

Some helpful blog posts that you may enjoy about this topic include:

29. Rent out your garage

Yes, you can earn an income by renting out your garage.

Neighbor is the Airbnb of storage space.

Instead of hosting guests, you are hosting storage!

You can use this website to list your unused space for rent and make up to $15,000 per year by doing so. With Neighbor, you can rent out your garage, driveway, basement, or even a closet.

You can set your own prices and decide for yourself which reservations you want to approve and host.

You can sign up for Neighbor for free here and list your space.

30. RV rental business

If you have an RV you aren’t using, then you may be able to make $100 to $300 a day, or more, by renting it out to others through RVShare.

There are some people who make this a full-on small business, and they buy several RVs for the sole purpose of renting out and making money too.

RVshare is one of the best money-earning apps because it helps travelers save money by cutting out the middleman and offering RV rentals directly from RV owners.

Think of RVshare as Airbnb for RVs.

You can rent all kinds of RV on RVShare, such as:

Class B camper van
Travel trailer
Fifth wheel
Pop-up trailer
Class C Motorhome
Class A Motorhome
Toy hauler

RVshare also securely handles all payments and releases funds to your bank account one business day after the start of each rental.

You can learn more at How To Make Extra Money By Renting Out Your RV.

31. Affiliate marketing business

Affiliate marketing is when you earn money by placing a referral link on your website, blog, Instagram, and so on and have people purchase a product or service through your referral link.

An example would be Amazon book sales, where you link to a specific book on your blog and try to get people to purchase the book through your affiliate link. Amazon and other companies want quality affiliates under their belt because they want all the help they can get to promote the products and services they are selling.

If you get someone to sign up through your affiliate link, the company rewards you for promoting their product.

You can share an affiliate link with your audience in many different ways, such as:

By adding an affiliate link to your blog (you can do this by inserting a link within a blog post, page, email, etc.)
Sharing it on social media

If you want to learn more about affiliate marketing, I recommend signing up for Affiliate Marketing Tips For Bloggers – Free eBook.

32. Selling an online course

I created Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing in July of 2016 as my first online course. Since then, I have earned $1,000,000 from that single course.

You might not realize it, but you probably have a course in you too!

There are successful courses covering all sorts of different topics, such as:

Parenting
Woodworking
Dog training
Playing an instrument
Teaching a language
Traveling
Watercolor painting
Gardening
Calligraphy
Business

And so much more!

Creating an online course is one of the fastest ways to leverage your time, increase your earning ceiling, and help more people.

Learn more at How I’ve Made Over $1,000,000 From My First Course Without a Big Launch.

33. Writing a book

Writing your own book is a great way to make money from home, and there is probably something super helpful that you could write about (even if you think otherwise!).

In fact, my friend Alyssa self-published her first book and has sold more than 13,000 copies.

She was able to earn $6,500 in one month alone!

Learn more at How Alyssa is making $200 a DAY in book sales passively.

Another great article to read on this small business idea is How I Made $2,000 in 1 Week by Writing an eBook.

34. In-home daycare small business

This is one of the best small business ideas for parents because it allows you to easily stay home with your kids while making money.

Even if your kids are grown up and out of the house, your experience as a parent will go a long way with this job.

Depending on where you live, there may be some special licensing required. However, you may be able to start with just one or two children and not need to do any extra legal work. Just make sure you check with your city or state first.

You should also make sure your home is safe for kids and be CPR certified. Remember, safety is extremely important in this field.

35. Cleaning houses

Cleaning houses isn’t one of the most glamorous small business ideas, but you can make anywhere from $25 to $50 per hour cleaning for other people.

There are cleaning businesses you can work for, but you will make the most money if you work for yourself.

This is a very affordable business to start because you probably already have the cleaning supplies you need, and you can list your services on Facebook, tell your friends and family, or create an account on Care.com.

36. Handyman services

Busy people are always paying handymen to take care of small household tasks, like hanging new light fixtures, installing a new doorbell, fixing grout, or painting.

Most charge between $60 to $100 per hour. Listing your services on local social media groups or using word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to find your customers.

If this is one of the small business ideas you’re interested in, see what your state’s rules are regarding licensing. Some states have strict rules, while others don’t.

What else can I do to make extra money?

There are many different things that you can do to make extra money, in case you are wanting something other than to start a small business.

Some of the different ways to make extra money include:

Which business is best for beginners?

The best small business ideas for beginners are the ones that are flexible and have minimal startup costs. Freelancing, where you can leverage existing skills, can be a great place to start.

What small business ideas are successful?

If you want to become an entrepreneur and start your own business, there are many ideas that you may be interested in pursuing.

This may be dependent on your current expertise, what you are interested in learning about, your passions, whether you want to work full-time or part-time, and more.

Some of the best business ideas include:

Blogging
Selling printables from home
Litter cleaning business
Virtual assistance
Selling stickers from home
Pet sitting and dog walking business
Bookkeeping
Reselling items
Freelance writing
Selling items on Amazon
Proofreading
Creating and selling Canva templates
Podcast virtual assistance
Freelancing
Helping Google evaluate search engine results
Voice over acting
Managing Facebook ads for small businesses
Transcribing audio or video files into text
Scoping
Starting a home dog bakery
Food photography
Starting an online store
Social Media Management
Real Estate Agent
Event planning business
Airbnb Experience Host Business
Vending machine business
Rental real estate business
Renting out your garage
RV Rental business
Affiliate marketing business
Selling an online course
Writing an book
In-home daycare small business
Cleaning houses
Handyman services

And, the list doesn’t end here. There are many, many other small business ideas that you can start.

Are you interested in starting a small business? What is your favorite small business idea?

*Small business statistic from the U.S. Small Business Administration

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May 21, 2023 by Brett Tams

Summer is almost officially here, and with it comes bathing suit season (eep!). Whether you want to get in shape or just look good lounging by your apartment community’s pool, exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle — and your apartment can help you attain it.

If your community offers apartment fitness amenities that can help you get in shape, use them! It’s way cheaper than joining a gym, and you don’t have to travel far from home to get your workout in. Apartment Guide data has revealed the top five areas where renters can get fit right in their own communities, whether they choose to play basketball, play tennis, go swimming, go hiking, lift weights or just play on the playground.

Apartment Guide obtained this data from all the apartment communities that list on the site for May 7, 2014. The data reflect the areas that have the most fitness amenities to offer renters.

So what is America’s top fitness area?

That crown belongs to our nation’s capital: Washington, D.C., made the top 5 list for each of the six fitness amenities we researched. Of the 839 listings on ApartmentGuide.com that included at least one amenity in the Washington metro area:

559 communities offer a fitness center
65 have a basketball court
135 have a tennis court
167 are in close proximity to hiking and jogging trails
379 have a playground
592 include a swimming pool

You hear that, Washington? You’ve got plenty of amenities to use, so get out there and enjoy them!

Other top metros include Phoenix, which ranks in the top 5 for all fitness amenities except tennis courts, and Atlanta, which is great for pools, playgrounds, tennis courts and fitness centers. Two of Texas’ major metro areas ranked highly as well – the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area and the Houston area both have a lot of pools and fitness centers. More about fitness on the AG Blog:

Pick your passion

So where will you find the most apartments with basketball courts, fitness centers, etc.? Here’s how the Apartment Guide data shakes out:

	Basketball Court	Tennis Court	Fitness Center	Nearby Trails	Playground	Swimming Pool
1	Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
2	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta	Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale
3	Salt Lake City	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach	Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
4	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	Baltimore-Towson	Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown
5	Indianapolis-Carmel	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta	Sacramento-Arden Arcade-Roseville	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta

More fun with data on the AG Blog:

Methodology

Apartment Guide identified the top five areas with the most apartment communities that offered at least one of the following fitness amenities as of May 7, 2014: Basketball court, tennis court, playground, swimming pool, fitness center and nearby trails. The apartment communities were grouped by core-based statistical areas (CBSAs, also known as metro areas) and Apartment Guide identified the top five CBSAs that offer the most apartments with each kind of fitness amenity. Communities that did not include any fitness amenities were omitted from the total number of listings.

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12 Best Banks in Michigan

1. Chase

2. Fifth Third Bank

3. Chime

4. GO2bank

5. Citizens Bank

6. Huntington National Bank

7. Consumers Credit Union

8. Ally Bank

9. Flagstar Bank

10. Old National Bank

11. Diversified Members Credit Union

12. Comerica

Choosing the Best Bank in Michigan

Mobile Banking Features

Minimum Deposits and Balances

Interest Rates

Michigan Bank Promotions

ATM Access

Our Methodology

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How Are You Taxed On Accelerated Death Benefits?

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Apache is functioning normally

Apache is functioning normally

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Apache is functioning normally

12 Best Banks in Michigan

1. Chase

2. Fifth Third Bank

3. Chime

4. GO2bank

5. Citizens Bank

6. Huntington National Bank

7. Consumers Credit Union

8. Ally Bank

9. Flagstar Bank

10. Old National Bank

11. Diversified Members Credit Union

12. Comerica

Choosing the Best Bank in Michigan

Mobile Banking Features

Minimum Deposits and Balances

Interest Rates

Michigan Bank Promotions

ATM Access

Our Methodology

What Is A Living Benefit?

How Do You Qualify For An Accelerated Death Benefit?

How Are You Taxed On Accelerated Death Benefits?

Accelerated Death Benefit Example

What About Chronic Illness?

Accelerated Death Riders and Life Insurance

Teach From Home

Turn Your Passion into Part-Time Income

Become a Contractor for Your Former Employer

Get Financially Fit with Furballs

What Will Your Next Side Hustle Be?

How Martin Luther King Jr. championed housing equality

36 Small Business Ideas

1. Blogging

2. Selling printables from home

3. Litter cleanup business

4. Virtual assistance

5. Selling stickers from home

6. Pet sitting and dog walking business

7. Bookkeeping

8. Reselling items

9. Freelance writing

10. Selling items on Amazon

11. Proofreading

12. Creating and selling Canva templates

13. Podcast virtual assistance

14. Freelancing

15. Help Google evaluate search engine results

16. Voice over acting

17. Managing Facebook ads for small businesses

18. Transcribing audio or video files into text

19. Scoping

20. Starting a home dog bakery

21. Food photography

22. Start an online store

23. Social media management

24. Real estate agent

25. Event planning business

26. Airbnb Experience host

27. Vending machine business

28. Rental real estate business

29. Rent out your garage

30. RV rental business

31. Affiliate marketing business

32. Selling an online course

33. Writing a book

34. In-home daycare small business

35. Cleaning houses

36. Handyman services

What else can I do to make extra money?

Which business is best for beginners?

What small business ideas are successful?

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