How about some sort of business that caters to elderly who wish to stay in their homes instead of going to a nursing home. Demand for that should steadily increase as the population ages.
No barrier to entry or much capital outlay to get into landscape maintenance. Would require the willingness to begin by knocking on doors and distributing flyers. Once a book of business is built, work for references. I've know guys who have built up to multiple trucks and crews and making a very nice living. Or with a name like VanZandt, the kid could be a singer/songwriter....or alternately there is always plastics
No familial purpose to the thread. The VZ's are all already set. Purely hypothetical and just getting Baron's "Entrepreneur" sub-forum going. So that being said... another good one would be tree cutting. Between utilities, homeowners, and hurricanes.... great friggin biz. Plus you stay in shape. Buy a used bucket truck, some chainsaws,a grinder and a bond.... more biz than one can handle. Trees never stop growing and keeping the grid up and running is a top priority.
Best to think outside of the box and not get into a biz that goes up and down like the markets. The best parts of the construction business are the more specialized trades, HVAC is the best, least effort, Followed by Electric and plumbing. Everything else is a struggle. Suppliers in these businesses do well especially HVAC. They make 20 to 40% on parts.
govt worker who gets a strong pension after 20 to 25 years like they do in CA. Although I would look for a little less of a payout in a more stable state with a lower cost of living. Very few private sector opportunities let you save enough money to generate six figures for the rest of your life by the time you are in your early 40s.
I have 3 boys who played a baseball and other sports. I see a lot of blue collar types in their 40s. The govt workers are bar are the best off. The govt workers are better off than most lawyers. Cops who made it up the ladder and teachers scored big in California. Only doctors and a few business owners do better. Seems like the guys who owned gas stations in the path of progress did very well too. Some of the best off people I have met are married retired teachers. Close to 200 grand a year coming in for life until their city goes bankrupt. I have also seen a cop an teachers income. with over time 250 gs a year... and just about 5 years til retirement. If you really want a good run down in your area. Go talk to some successful mortgage brokers. they will tell you who makes what.
Public sector pension deals in the UK used to be better than they are now. e.g. my local government pension is a final salary deal, and these have been closed now I think. Things are still better than most private sector occupational pensions or off the shelf pension investments but public service jobs are usually mind-killing crap and the pension rights will continue to be eroded every time there's an election.
LoL, I laughed so hard reading it. True. What to tell my wife if I am to change my profession to be a plumber ? "Honey I will make so much Money touching shit. I will touch 10 shits/day which makes us 25k/week "
the parent should not try to live the life of his kid - never works it should be the kid not the parent asking those questions... if the kid is not asking them then he/she is not there ... yet. the parent can discuss options with kid... but the distribution center seems like an a choice for now.. until something in him, not in parent, will say it is not for me and start actively looking for options... and at that moment parent can help with advise or money