The Filipino Entrepreneur

I thought the U.S. election was over. But there as still a commotion on what will be the first dog for daughters Malia and Sasha. Below are list of candidates for the Hypoallergenic Dogs:

Breeds that typically don’t shed

• Poodles
• Bichon frise
• Portuguese water dogs
• Maltese
• Schnauzers
• Westies (West Highland White Terriers)
• Scottish terriers
• Goldendoodles (a cross between a golden retriever and poodle)

(Read full story on Debate over ‘first dog’ dominates Obama Web site)

Here is another business idea I found in the internet. A live auction site where users pick up paddles, listen to auctioneers cry out and find out immediately if they have won. The site was owned by Donald Karr, a  73 year old retired antique and jewelry dealer which recently launched his 24-hour a day, old-fashioned, live internet auction called BlackwellsLiveAuction.com.  

So this shows that the internet is for everyone no matter what age group you belong. This contast to the usual young and energetic founders of successful websites like facebook and myspace and maybe there is a stereo type that the internet or building a business in the internet is only for the younger generation.

Yeah, it’s true that many young people and even teenagers have built a legitimate successful businesses in the internet. But there are still many opportunities waiting for older folks. It’s only the interest that matters.

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Talk about dirty business idea, but this is not a dirty as siphoning waste from a ‘poso negro’ where a truck siphons human waste and dispose it. As I’m browsing the internet I found a business idea that scoops dog waste and made it into a business. I’m not sure if this business will work in a third world country like us but I think there are places in this country that have a high standard of living like in some exclusive subdivisions.

As I was reading the article, I can’t help myself laugh on this kind of business but as long as it’s not illegal, why will I make fun of it? right? One reason I think why this is a good business idea is the answer on number 9 on the frequently asked question:

9) “Why would anyone pay you to clean up after dogs?” Busy dog-owners are delighted to pay someone to have this done! Many dog owners need a way to dispose pet waste that is both legal and practical. Some cities’ refuse departments prohibit the placement of animal waste in with residential refuse. Uncollected dog feces is a significant contributor to ground water pollution. Uncleaned back yards stink, they annoy the neighbors and attract flies that lay their eggs on the feces and then move on. Pets and people using dirty yards track poop into the house. You can provide simple, neat, and cost-effective solutions to all these problems and more. Lack of time; physical difficulty; and the “Repugnance Factor” mean many people are more than happy to pay someone to do this necessary chore. Some clients even tell us we are a “godsend” and credit us with stopping family quarrels!

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I’ve seen the topic in about.com regarding the 6 ways to make money this summer ( I only chose 5) . I’m not sure if all of them are applicable in this country but at least you will have some idea how to be your own boss this summer. The ideas are enumerated below and I made some changes to make it more confusing ( No, it’s only a joke) .

Go to public places where it is hot and help them to keep cool

There are many public places where there aren’t enough convenience store like beaches, resorts or other popular summer destination. You can try to sell cold bottled water, cold juice drink, sports drinks, cheap sunglasses, sun visors, fan or battery powered electric fan. Be imaginative and think of other things that people might need going to summer destination spots.

Lawn and Yard Care

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Sundried fish and fruits in the Philippines are common nowadays that is why Cebu has been famous for sundried delicacies like danggit and dried mangoes. But dried vegetables are not popular here maybe because we have an abundant supply of fresh vegetables. I’m not sure if it will be profitable selling dried vegetables because the time and materials spent on processing might not be feasible. But maybe with a little creativity by adding value to the product, you might sell it with a higher price than selling only fresh vegetables. For example, the food fish tilapia can be sold with a higher market value by converting it to marinated fish fillet, sausages or hamburger patties. Likewise you can also convert an ordinary vegetable like ampalaya or bitter melon into ampalaya chips by adding flavor like cheese or barbecue. Branding it as a healthy diet for diabetics, it might be a hit!

Sun drying of foods have been practiced by people since ancient times to preserve food in leaner times. There are many ways of food preservation like canning and pickling but solar drying is one of the cheapest way because you only need sunlight to petrify the food stuffs and a small investment in making the solar dryer. This summer is great for starting a sundried food business if you are thinking of having one.

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