Large workshop. ideas to make money?

greenbean · #1 02/01/15, 09:52 AM

I have a large shed dont know what to do with it.
I have homesteaded a couple of months now, some acres, 12 miles from the closest town. old farm. weed covered, but lots of potential.
Has an old fixer-upper house with well, septic etc, But also a
very large separate empty "workshop", which is in better shape than the house, that I need ideas for income generating. I have limited capital, so I have to make the right decision the first time.

For some folks it woud probably be a Godsent, but I am at
a loss for good ideas. there were several previous owners working
it, maybe a garage, but the only one I know of, is it was a T-shirt silk screening shop. via the internet. Too far out for town business.

It is 1100 sq. ft. concrete walls,. windows all round. a full bathroom, storeroom, office. full electric including 220v outlets, large sliding door big enough for a truck, 2 workbenches and a huge I-Beam running the length of the 12 foot ceiling. I am not a mechanic, but not entirely helpless with my hands. I was thinking of perhaps some kind of product or produce to make and sell on the internet via UPS.

Do of my fellow Homesteaders have any ideas for me?

Dixie Bee Acres · #2 02/01/15, 10:03 AM

Any number of things, but, outside the box thinking, how well would your area support a meat rabbitry? Thinking you might be able to use the shed as a bunny barn.

**Roadking** · #3 02/01/15, 11:05 AM

Sandblasting, welding, furniture making / restoration, partition it off into storage units, partition part of it into a garage to rent, small engine repair, worm farming...

Endless possibilities. Your lucky, your place came with a shop...I had to build mine for auto restoration and customs.

Matt

Chucknbob · #4 02/01/15, 12:30 PM

What are you good at? I could tell you to open an auto shop, but if you don't know about cars it's not the best bet for you.

cc-rider · #5 02/01/15, 02:23 PM

What is your passion? Do you enjoy doing things with your hands? Would you rather rent it out and let someone else use it? A flea market space? Can you make it a commercial kitchen area and sell product yourself (or rent the space)? Do you like making furniture? Raising puppies? Teaching something? Lots of options! You are lucky. If you could do ONE thing that you love, what would you do?

bolophonic · #6 02/01/15, 02:41 PM

Prosthetic fabrication.

**Roadking** · #7 02/01/15, 03:14 PM

Just came in from my shop.
First a question...do you have heat? A/C? Water? Sewer?
I just spent 3 hours in the shop with my outdoor furnace running (it's 12 degrees here with snow on the ground and on the way), working/playing with my wood lathe and other items and was thinking of your post, and the questions of others.
We can toss ideas out until the cows come home (and probably will...LOL!), but without knowing your interests, they are all just shots in the dark. Not that that is bad...might strike a chord you didn't think of.
Will be following this thread.
Oh, I was out there building a 12' shuffle board table...the lathe is for turning shuffle disks. Just a side venture that makes a buck or two.
See below in "Work at Home Business" forum. Lots more ideas.

Matt

cc-rider · #8 02/01/15, 04:19 PM

Corn hole games are huge around here. Fairly easy to make.

Oldhat · #9 02/01/15, 05:15 PM

a butcher shop?

**Roadking** · #10 02/01/15, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

Corn hole games are huge around here. Fairly easy to make.

Not familiar with that...please elaborate.
Thanks.

Matt

Snowfan · #11 02/01/15, 05:30 PM

Sasquatch traps?

fixitguy · #12 02/01/15, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadking

Not familiar with that...please elaborate.
Thanks.

Matt

I believe he is referring to the bean bag toss games, with the plywood boards. Here in Wisc, the bars have night leagues in the summer.

The term cornhole, has a WAY different meaning in here. LOL

cc-rider · #13 02/01/15, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadking

Not familiar with that...please elaborate.
Thanks.

Matt

Hahaha. I thought corn hole was a HUGE thing everywhere. They have tournaments around here...everyone plays it.

It's a yard toss type of game. Here's a website that explains it all:

http://www.cornhole.com/

Lots of people are making the boards and painting them with sports team logos or whatever. And women are making the corn bags. (They have to be a regulation size and weight, but are basically bean-bags)

**Roadking** · #14 02/01/15, 06:38 PM

Okay, thanks. Had me a bit nervouse as corn hole has different meanings...lol!
My WEBELOS just built one of those bean toss games for our Blue and Gold Banquet...Never heard it called a corn hole game.

Matt

cc-rider · #15 02/01/15, 06:46 PM

Now I'm curious as to the other meanings!!!! LOL

Hahaha....I looked it up on Urban Dictionary. Yuck. I'll never look at the game the same way again.

TRellis · #16 02/01/15, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenbean

It is 1100 sq. ft. concrete walls,. windows all round. a full bathroom, storeroom, office. full electric including 220v outlets, large sliding door big enough for a truck, 2 workbenches and a huge I-Beam running the length of the 12 foot ceiling. I am not a mechanic, but not entirely helpless with my hands. I was thinking of perhaps some kind of product or produce to make and sell on the internet via UPS.

Do of my fellow Homesteaders have any ideas for me?

If it had running water to the building I would not so sarcastically suggest growing medicinal marijuana. That is if it is legal to do in your state. There is big money in that these days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadking

Okay, thanks. Had me a bit nervouse as corn hole has different meanings...lol!
My WEBELOS just built one of those bean toss games for our Blue and Gold Banquet...Never heard it called a corn hole game.

Matt

Matt,

If you ever make it south of the ridge separating Monroe county from North Hampton county you will be in corn hole heaven!!! Everyone down there plays corn hole. Especially at drunken parties.

TRellis

farmmaid · #17 02/01/15, 11:24 PM

A living space to rent.................

greenbean · #18 02/05/15, 05:00 PM

Actually that's not a bad idea. Chupacabra and Snipe traps too. People will buy them.

Rustaholic · #19 02/05/15, 08:22 PM

1100 square feet?
I would have all of my hit-n-miss engines, corn shellers, feed grinders and such in there on shelves then open my small engine repair shop in a building like that.
12 miles to town?
I really do not know what would work for you.

ldc · #20 02/07/15, 09:32 AM

Post #17 by farmmaid says it all; rent it out as a dwelling til you and your farm are in a more stable situation.