How: Perfect around the holiday season, but a good gig year-around nonetheless. You can offer shopping services for large items (far-away malls) or small everyday errands such as picking up groceries. If you have a large store such as Ikea near you, this can become a regular occupation, as many people do not want to invest the time to make the trip to the store themselves.
What you'll need: Time. If you have a credit card that offers money back for purchases, you can use it to pay for your client’s goods and keep the cash.
Estimated startup cost and revenues: Out-of-pocket expenses are negligible. You normally won’t be paid for gas mileage, though. To reduce costs, you can combine paid errands with your own, or use public transportation. Many errand services charge a flat fee per week, and it can become a significant income if you get a couple of regular clients.
Deliver new vehicles to dealerships
How: Although manufacturers usually deliver new cars themselves, some specialty vehicles, such as RV's and limousines are driven to dealerships. Craig Chilton, the editor of the Road Rat website, estimates there are 100,000 drivers who make a living delivering cars. Contact dealerships to inquiry about opportunities in your area.
What you'll need: Some states require a chauffeur's license, easily obtainable by taking a written test. You also need a clean driving record.
Estimated startup cost and revenues: Pays about 35 cents a mile, plus air transportation home if the drive takes you far away from your city.