Fellow Arfcom members:

Maybe this has been discussed, but I never see any threads on the home based business after the apocalypse. Has anyone given any thought to this? If so, what is your plan? I was thinking about the Rawles book Survivors and the female charactor who started a general store from her collection of seed packets. Please don't start a rant about how Rawles sucks or his books are crap, etc. I was also interested in ideas for living in the suburbs (I live 30 miles from DC) so things like farming are out.  Has anyone here made plans to open a general store, be armed security, gunsmithing, etc.?

Jeremy S.

There have been threads about this before.
Most people have stated they would use there skills such as (carpentry,Gunsmithing,farming etc) to barter or earn money in a post SHTF world.
To be honest I don't dislike Rawles or his books I just get sick of his constant preaching.

Online trading is no good?

Some friends and I have often wondered about a small clinic type place.  We are all surgery nurses, surgical techs, anesthesia providers, recovery room nurses and such.  Medicines would be tricky, but dressings can be easily stored or even improvised.  Many of us are very pro 2A, have taken classes etc so all the "raid the clinic" folks would have a hard time (or so we hope).  Honestly it would depend on what we could get our hands on, but the idea is pretty plausable.  

Hmm... guess that reminds me to bring this up at work again...


jim

Jim, sounds like you and your friends need to be storing a lot of basic and even advanced medical supplies. Bandages, splints, braces, cast materials, suture kits and of course gloves, mask and gowns. I think you get the idea, something more than a band-aid.

I'd patronize you now.
I was trying to get my dentist to remove a mole so I could just pay him $75 and be done with it like I do for my teeth.

Jajajaja!! Thanks for the lols, great way to start the day.
Yes, that has to be one of the most stupid ideas I've read in a while. Exactly were has something like that worked before is a mystery to me.

Listen, it basically comes down to two things regarding making money after SHTF.
1) Provide something (goods and services)  that is no longer working well or being offered after the collapse.
2)Provide something that niches created by the crisis itself are demanding.

The doc who posted about the clinic idea, not a bad idea at all, I can say I've seen it work both in run down parts of town and rich areas.
For the poor or low middle class, if you offer a somewhat acceptable service for a modest sum of money, you're looking at doing this as a clinic where people get cover for monthly payments, that might work well. Even if you cant compete with big hospitals, you dont have to if those same people cant afford it either. as obamacare goes to hell theres a good chance of a demand for good and affordabel medical care. If it costs a thounsand buck to get a broken arm fixed or a few stiches done, then a basic meidcal cover for a reasonable fee makes a lot of sense.
Same happens with security, educaiton, transport.
On the other side of the spectrum of possibilities, maybe you focus on those that sill have money and offer esthetic treatments as botox and such. It works like crazy, yes, even after shtf.
Then the financial services, all across the world you see these microlons, from South America,to USA and Europe. why do you think it is? Its because its a good way of makign money. A decade ago it woudl have seem insane to take up a loan to buy a TV or some other appliance, or to get your car fixed. Today, ti happens all day long and those loaning the money are making a killing on it.
Think of small luxuries poor may go for, just so as to feel less miserable. These usually work very well. Guys that have a hard time making it to the end of the month will still buy fancy cell phones and other gadgets. Sam for clothes, and cheapo jewelry.
FerFAL

I buy and sell things for a living.

If I were living in some TEOTWAWKI type situation, I doubt that would change much...





Speed


 

I have my own machine shop. Also about a hundred fifty 'trading guns' and multiple thousands of rounds of ammunition in addition to my personal stash. I'm set.

Interesting ideas so far.  I def. like the medical set-up mentioned above. As long as you have large quantities of medical supplies, you guys could be filthy rich in a post-apocalyptic world.

Depends on how dirty the fan gets...

My job is pretty stable, currently.
If things went kind of bad, I could probably find some sort of aviation job, or maybe teaching position.
If things went very badly, I might team up with a couple firearms gurus and get into instructing for security, etc.

My machine shop will do well to help me make a living. Hopefully I will have my new gunsmithing lathe before things go south.

I'll  come in  w/  a  backhoe  and  perform  mass  burials  @  $100  a  whack ( per   bod ) , discounts   for  20  and  up .

Wife is in the medical field and I am an electronics and communications technician. Both of us have building skills with wood and I can work metal. Both onus also have a mechanical background so I am pretty sure we can trade skills and talents with others if need be. It is good to have a diverse skill set.

Contracting.     People need stuff now and people will need stuff after

I was leaning towards TEOTWAWKI as opposed to a localized or temporary SHTF environment. Basically no or limited regulations for businesses that are heavily regulated (Security and the medical idea listed above) in a normal world. So things like IT in a grid down world wouldn't get you anywhere.

Are we talking mad max surgery clinic?  Or great depression surgery clinic?  LOL most Anesthesia I know couldn't keep someone indebted w/o the machine.  That art has been lost by most.

Biere got me thinking- what about a copy machine?  If you had the ability to "print" books, prayer books, newsletters, etc.  I not suggesting you buy a copy machine, but if you had a good solid one, a few cases of paper, and some toner might make you some money for a while.

My buddies plan for the apocalypse is to make beer. He makes real good beer now but it is just for friends and coworkers. When the SHTF  he says he plans on trading beer for whatever he needs. I know I would trade some bullets for a couple gallons.

My machine shop will keep me working.

Jerky.

Lots of jerky.

Grave digger. People will be dying to use your service.

Physical therapist, can diagnose and provide treatment in the event the regular doc has more pressing issues, help rehab those that lost mobility, limbs and/or injured themselves in the mass panic that ensues under either circumstance.  Doesn't sound like much, but considering just how many tendons, ligaments and muscles there are just in the shoulder joint. being able to have a full range of motion and useability can and will affect how you fit in society.

My Lady works in cardio-pulmonary, assisting Doc's during procedures, so she has her uses too ;)

I'm ex-infantry with plenty of experience, and she's pretty well trained, so we have our uses beyond the medical side.