Bootstrap businesse $
We'd been renting a converted barn?located in the Catskill region of New York state?from absentee owners who were based in New York City. And?since the proprietors weren't in a position to maintain the property themselves?Loretta and I had been working as
Issue # 60 - November/December 1979
If you now operateor have ever operateda successful home business that was inspired by an article you read in MOTHER, tell us (in 500 words or less) when and whereand with how much seed moneyyou started your venture. Because if your story can be fitted into an upcoming installment of BOOTSTRAP BUSINESESSES, youll receive [1] the warm satisfaction of knowing that you helped someone else find the happiness you enjoy and [2] a free two-year new or renewal subscription to THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS .
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My wife Loretta and I recently got a push toward self-sufficiency... when we read " 'Landlord' Doesn't Have to Be a Dirty Word" in MOTHER NO. 47, page 98.
We'd been renting a converted barnlocated in the Catskill region of New York statefrom absentee owners who were based in New York City. Andsince the proprietors weren't in a position to maintain the property themselvesLoretta and I had been working as unofficial maintenance people for our landlords' Catskill farmhouse, apartment, and barn. We were in the process of buying our first home at the time and were, therefore, in desperate need of an extra source of income. MOTHER, of course, came through for us: Her article on landlording gave us the confidence we needed to propose that the proprietors of the property we were living on hire us to manage their buildings... andlo and beholdour offer was accepted and we were in business!
The total initial investment in our enterprise was $100... the amount of our lawyer's fee to draw up the lease which rented us all three of the Catskill structures on 50 acres of land. My wife and Iin turnsublet the buildings and became responsible for maintaining all the property. Before long, we'd moved out of our converted barn apartment in order to sublease it, too... because our little sideline business was netting us enough monthly cash profit to make the mortgage payments on our new home!
Loretta and I have had such success with our first attempt at landlording that we're currently looking for additional property to manage. There are lots of city dwellers who own country homes and cottages, but have neither the time nor the inclination to take proper care of their holdings. The land and the buildings are out there waiting... for MOTHER-type do-it-yourselfers to step right in and take 'em over!
Dan Dooling WestShokan, N.Y.
I'm a 36-year-old family man who was raised in the "old school" of new cars, fancy houses, and the nine-to-five grind. But (like most folks) although I enjoyed the luxuries that money could buy, the workday drudgery eventually got me down. Then one day I was introduced to THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS (and to a whole new way of life). As a result, I was prompted not only to quit my backbreaking and ungratifying employment in a slaughterhouse, but also to establish a succession of bootstrap businesses.
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