Business Ideas From The “Underground Economy”

From the Lansing State Jounral Many would be entrepreneurs never make it out of the starting gate because they can’t figure out what to do to earn extra cash. Some feel that all the good ideas are taken, many believe that what they’re passionate about won’t generate any extra money.  While these are valid concerns they are obstacles that can be easily overcome.  An article posted on LSJ.com profiles entrepreneurs that have turned hobbies and passions into profitable side gigs. Local woman turns hobby into extra cash

Anita Civils teaches dance, without a teaching degree or a fancy studio. She turned a hobby into a side job. "I’m not going to get rich off of this," said the 48-year-old Lansing woman, "but I’m making enough to get me my playthings." Those playthings come in the form of vacations, usually to the Caribbean. The class is Basic Hustle 101, which she hosts once a week at Letts Community Center in Lansing. She also sells real estate as a way to diversify her income and not rely solely on her 30-year career with the state Department of Treasury.  The dancing started as exercise in 2007 and quickly turned from hosting classes in her home to accommodating up to 35 people per class.  The side jobs bring an extra 5 percent to 8 percent in income each year. "Almost everyone I know," she said, "has some side gig going on."

Salsa may become another sideline

Six-year-old Sophia Chevalier and her 3-year-old sister, Ava, get credit for their father’s emerging salsa business. But it is Dad, Lee Chevalier, who is really pushing to make fresh salsa his latest money-making venture. "That’s what got me going," he said, explaining why he is pursuing the marketing of his recipe. "They’ll sit down and eat two bowls full." The Chevaliers – Lee, 46, and his wife, Keri, 41 – are Lansing entrepreneurs. Keri, who describes herself as a stay-at-home mom, cleans houses, and Lee works for Gordon Food Service. In addition, he rents out slushy machines, does some handywork such as painting and minor plumbing and makes salsa. The salsa isn’t officially for sale, because he doesn’t have a commercial kitchen, but he’s in the process of finding a commercial producer to recreate his recipe. He already has willing buyers – a foods distributor and dozens of word-of-mouth customers. In all, the couple’s side businesses comprise up to 7 percent of the family’s income. "Today, a lady called about plumbing," he said. "Fifty bucks here; 50 bucks there. It will help pay a bill."

Writing skills bring extra income to MSU staffer

Trent Wakenight is in the news business – just not the traditional corporate type. There’s no sports section. He has created his own thing, which he calls "event journalism." The 37-year-old East Lansing man travels to educational and science conferences in places as far flung as Mozambique and provides summaries, in writing, as well as video and audio for paying customers. Wakenight estimates this year he’ll make up to 20 percent of what he currently earns from his day job at Michigan State University, where he works as a project coordinator with the National Food Safety & Toxicology Center. He said he invented his side job after seeing a need, not because he saw someone else doing it. "It takes a little recognition of what skills one has," he said, "but also what needs exist in the marketplace." He was trained as a journalist, having earned degrees in communications and public relations, but there’s a certain amount of re-inventing that an entrepreneur must do. "We always have to go through that process," Wakenight said