Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › The Kitchen Sink › Work at home moms › Could I turn this skill into a business?
New Posts  All Forums:
 

Could I turn this skill into a business?

post #1 of 20
10/6/10 at 2:57pm
Thread Starter 
Even a teeny tiny one?

I meal plan...the whole month at once. I've had a few friends ask me for advice on getting started and whatnot. I don't have many (any? lol) skills as far as making things goes (no jewelry or anything) and I can't blog enough to really make that lucrative. I'd love to be able to make some money on the side doing something else besides surveys I get in my email...and meal planning is a skill I just happen to have.

Thoughts? Feel free to be honest! You won't hurt my feelings! (I did theatre...strong feedback is what I live for!)

You may also like:

Sitting or Squatting: What's Really Best in the Bathroom?
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby
post #2 of 20
10/6/10 at 3:46pm
I think there might be potential to start a service where you help people meal plan with their food needs in mind, and help them make grocery lists. I have a friend who really struggles to meal plan for the month and then make a grocery list that has all she'll need. I have bragged that on a good week I'll meal plan to for example buy a big package of mushrooms, and use a few on a pizza, a few in an omlett and the rest in a sauce, so I have no waste- she can't do that.

I think the key would be personalization- that people can tell you what foods are off limits to them, or that they could pick from a list of reicpes you provide. Oh- that would be interesting- you could have some kind of list of meals linked to recipes, and then you put all the person needs together- a list of meals for the week with recipes, and a grocery list (or the month). Like I said, I think being able to personalize it, like people who want no mushrooms, or can't eat diary or have really picky kids and don't want anything super intersting on their list.....

Good luck!
post #3 of 20
10/6/10 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, it would definitely be personalized. When we self-diagnosed DS with a dairy intolerance when I was BFing I had NO idea what to make and spent literally hours finding recipes that were dairy free or that could be made dairy free. (and finding recipes that are dairy free but still veggie-hating-DH friendly is NOT easy) It would have been a huge help for someone to go "Hey, based on what you've told me your family eats here's a plan for next week" or whatever.

A shopping list would totally be included. I'd probably offer it in weeks because making a list for the whole month is hard because veggies don't always last that long!

I'm struggling with how to promote this and what to charge...
post #4 of 20
10/6/10 at 3:56pm
how much do you charge? I"m struggling with this so badly right now.

BTW, you might Google Leanne Eli? I think and that chick who advertises on Dave Ramsey-- I'll try and remember the name of her company. They sell books with recipes plus grocery lists, and/or seasonal emails that tell you what to buy and what to cook.
post #5 of 20
10/6/10 at 3:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by texmati View Post
how much do you charge? I"m struggling with this so badly right now.

BTW, you might google leanne eli? I think and that chick who advertizes on dave ramsey-- I'll try and remeber the name of her company. They sell books with recpies plus grocery lists, and/or seasonal emails that tell you what to buy and what to cook.
I'll do some Googling if my son ever takes a nap!

Let me PM you...
post #6 of 20
10/6/10 at 4:00pm
found it! and here's the DR one.

Definitely a market for this.
post #7 of 20
10/6/10 at 4:07pm
I think it defiantly has potential! I would even say (maybe for an extra fee) give the client a meal plan, grocery list, and the recipes. I would love something I just have to shop for and cook, no thinking required!
post #8 of 20
10/6/10 at 4:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RachelEve14 View Post
I think it defiantly has potential! I would even say (maybe for an extra fee) give the client a meal plan, grocery list, and the recipes. I would love something I just have to shop for and cook, no thinking required!
Yeah, after a while recipes wouldn't be needed for everything (especially favorites!) but I would include a shopping list each time unless otherwise asked...


Still trying to figure out money and promotion...
post #9 of 20
10/6/10 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 
I'm thinking $15-$20 a week depending on the amount of work on my part (like, if you have a ton of restrictions or something that makes it harder on me to find meals)

Things I would need to know:

- Number of people eating
- Any dietary restrictions (allergies, veg*n, etc)
- Basic food budget (cheap, moderate, endless)
- Food likes and dislikes

What else?
post #10 of 20
10/6/10 at 5:18pm
skill of cook?

whether they prefer quick (ie 30 minute meals?) or can do longer preps?
post #11 of 20
10/6/10 at 5:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by texmati View Post
skill of cook?

whether they prefer quick (ie 30 minute meals?) or can do longer preps?
Good thinking. I knew I'd forgotten something.
post #12 of 20
10/7/10 at 7:38pm
i would love to do something like this, too!! where would you advertise this service?
post #13 of 20
10/8/10 at 7:45pm
I think that is an excellent idea! You could offer a variety of premade lists for cheaper as well... like no restriction weekly ones that can pay and download, or GFCF ones etc. And then charge more for personalized ones.
post #14 of 20
10/9/10 at 1:14pm
Would you kinda do it like Rachael Ray does in her magazine?

If you haven't seen it in each month there is a pull out thing for a week worth of meals. Check it out. It might help.
post #15 of 20
10/12/10 at 12:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfunk98 View Post
i would love to do something like this, too!! where would you advertise this service?
I have no idea. I think it would mostly be word of mouth and/or a link on my blog...


Quote:
Originally Posted by Kristine233 View Post
I think that is an excellent idea! You could offer a variety of premade lists for cheaper as well... like no restriction weekly ones that can pay and download, or GFCF ones etc. And then charge more for personalized ones.
That's a great idea (and it would save me work)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dakotablue View Post
Would you kinda do it like Rachael Ray does in her magazine?

If you haven't seen it in each month there is a pull out thing for a week worth of meals. Check it out. It might help.
I haven't seen it. I'm not a RR fan so I don't pick up the mag...I'll check it out.
post #16 of 20
10/12/10 at 1:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AFWife View Post
I have no idea. I think it would mostly be word of mouth and/or a link on my blog...
And Facebook! Never underestimate people "sharing links" on Facebook. One friend announced her blog on FB and within a month had 225 followers. Mainly from FB.

I hate meal planning...I always intend to do it...but never do. And I need to do this with 3 kids and twins on the way...yikes!
post #17 of 20
10/12/10 at 2:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfunk98 View Post
i would love to do something like this, too!! where would you advertise this service?
You should advertise in those free Mommy/Parenting/Kids magazines that can be found everywhere like grocery stores, YMCA, etc.

I would have paid for this as a working mom. Your $20 is VERY reasonable. Maybe that is the basic, and customizations are a few more dollars.
post #18 of 20
10/13/10 at 5:10pm
are you shi**ing me? I would pay you right now if you could meal plan and write up a grocery list for my family. My hubby may want to marry you
post #19 of 20
10/15/10 at 5:35pm
Yeah... I think this is a very profitable skill, you just have to know how to market, I used to do it and I'm trying to market it again with my current work. I combine services as much as possible and offer other similar offers, and I've written a guidebook for a specific area, as well as specific issues/concerns with planning meals, as well as actually planning meals and preparing meals in bulk, or staples, sauces, snacks or sides in bulk for people.
post #20 of 20
10/15/10 at 9:38pm
I hope you are busy making up plans! lol. I think you would have a large following if you did. I have to say, we do a monthly meal plan and grocery list and not only does it make each evening easier with less fights over whats for dinner, but it saves us money too!
New Posts  All Forums:
 
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Work at home moms

You may also like:

Sitting or Squatting: What's Really Best in the Bathroom?
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby
Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › The Kitchen Sink › Work at home moms › Could I turn this skill into a business?