If you had 50k to start a business, what would you do and why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rooms separated by a really nice coffee bar with big windows so parents can continue watching kids - I envision cafe with room for parents to get on their laptops and work or hang out with other parents. Also has a totally separate cafe for parents with kids. Playspace also has classrooms for art and gym classes and membership or single entry is available. Also has a good children's bookstore.

I totally agree with this and have often thought the same thing. Chuck E Cheese is just so awful. It smells bad. It feels.... sticky. The food stinks. The noise is awful. But if the kids could get the CEC experiene while the parents had some degree of peace, quiet, computer use, palatable food, and good service, it would be awesome.

[Anonymous]

a nursery
Would like a nice greenhouse
I would provide plants to whoever sells them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Food business is a risky business. I'm guessing the numbers wouldn't work either. However, a huge need for moms with tots in seats is more drive-thru services. I want a place, close to home, where I can pick up a healthy lunch on the go from point A to B without unstrapping three kids. I would pay a bit more for this convenience. McDonalds healthy options are not this. It would be tasty, fresh food made somewhat to order but fast enough that we wouldn't be tempted to route over to the evil arches.

Actually I asked one of the truck guys one day about his business. He said he would sell 300-400 meals that day at $15 a pop. I figured if he works five days a week, 52 weeks a year, that's over 1.3 mil in income. Overhead is probably minimal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rooms separated by a really nice coffee bar with big windows so parents can continue watching kids - I envision cafe with room for parents to get on their laptops and work or hang out with other parents. Also has a totally separate cafe for parents with kids. Playspace also has classrooms for art and gym classes and membership or single entry is available. Also has a good children's bookstore.

Similar idea--I would do a kid's play area. We just visited one near a relative in NJ and it was phenomenal. It wasn't a play gym, it was a cross between a small play museum and indoor playground. It was just great and I don't know of anything like it here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would buy a rental property - small 1 -2 bedroom apartment in a desirable location either locally or at a beach. put 20% down with the money and then rent it out.

from what I hear it isn't worth it between tenant hassles and paying for upkeep.

[Anonymous]

an adult toy website-oh wait, I already run one

[Anonymous]

food trucks themselves (as in the actual truck) are more than 50k i believe.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps paying down the mortgage would be smarter choice. The interest you save will be way more "profitable" in the long run.

9 years ago, my husband and I put down $40K - everything we owned in the world - to start a small retail flooring establishment. That $40k was much more well-spent in starting the business than it would have been in paying a downpayment on a house.

[Anonymous]

Food truck? That's like the old B&B fantasy. Romantic from the outside. Go work in one for two weeks, and help with the prep, too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Food truck? That's like the old B&B fantasy. Romantic from the outside. Go work in one for two weeks, and help with the prep, too!

After being a devoted "Gilmore Girls" fan for years, part of me will always want to move to a tiny town like Stars Hollow and run my own version of the Dragonfly Inn. *swoon*

[Anonymous]

OP here! Thanks so much for the thoughtful replies. I sort of love the food truck idea. How could you make it a drive-up/thru-optional sort of experience I wonder?

What kind of food trucks would be most in demand I wonder? I like the coffee idea plus decent, healthy, simple lunch foods. Maybe do the prep work in a professional kitchen on a Monday when they are closed? Hmmm....this is fun!

[Anonymous]

I want to open a kosher bakery/grocery store in Shepherd Park. It would also have a cafe and occasionally do programs and have speakers...kinda like Broad Branch market. There's absolutely no retail in Shepherd Park, and there is a huge movement of young families up there. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here! Thanks so much for the thoughtful replies. I sort of love the food truck idea. How could you make it a drive-up/thru-optional sort of experience I wonder?

What kind of food trucks would be most in demand I wonder? I like the coffee idea plus decent, healthy, simple lunch foods. Maybe do the prep work in a professional kitchen on a Monday when they are closed? Hmmm....this is fun!

Depends on where you plan to park your truck. When I was in grad school there was a row of trucks doing stir-fry Chinese. But if you're going to park on K-Street, some simple and decent healthy foods, maybe with a fusion or other twist, or even sushi, might be better. Check out what other food trucks are offering, there's an app that helps you locate them in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

My friends in SC have a local bar/restaurant that has a huge kids playground and bouncy house (with teenaged workers) and a large patio/bar for the parents to sit and drink while they watch their kids play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here! Thanks so much for the thoughtful replies. I sort of love the food truck idea. How could you make it a drive-up/thru-optional sort of experience I wonder?

What kind of food trucks would be most in demand I wonder? I like the coffee idea plus decent, healthy, simple lunch foods. Maybe do the prep work in a professional kitchen on a Monday when they are closed? Hmmm....this is fun!

If you are really interested, check out some the food trucks roaming the area to see what they offer: http://foodtruckfiesta.com/