🎯 Pick a Service People Already Pay For

Start from demand

The best service business solves a problem people already pay someone for. Look at your parish: what do people complain about not finding? Who is booked out?

Skill × access × margin

You can do it well (or learn fast), you can reach the customers (your network, your area), and the price leaves money after costs and travel.

Test before you commit

Do three paid jobs for people you know at a fair price. Their reaction and your margin tell you more than any plan.

Homework

Write three services you could start this month; do one paid job for each this week.

✅ Do this now — step by step

1. List three services people already pay for in your parish that you could do well or learn in a month.
2. For each, do the maths: price × jobs per week you could realistically do − costs − travel = weekly profit.
3. Do one paid job for each this week for someone you know, at a fair price. Note which felt good and paid.
4. Ask those customers one question: 'What was hardest about finding someone for this?' — that's your marketing angle.
5. Pick the one with demand you can reach and margin you can live on.

⚠️ Mistakes to avoid

• Choosing by passion alone — passion without demand is an expensive hobby.
• Underpricing 'to build a portfolio' — start fair; discount only the first three, and say so.
• Five services at once — one done well builds the reputation the others will ride on.

🇯🇲 How it plays out in Jamaica