Disclaimer

This is NOT a job offer, NOT an employee position, NOT a sales pitch, NOT a multi-level anything, and NOT an affiliate program. It's simply an offer for an office-sharing arrangement between two independent business owners.

The Problem I Want to Solve

I'm 70 years old and have been the owner/operator of Allied Hearing Aid Specialists for 36 years. My front office sits underutilized most of the day while I work in the back office next door. I don't need a full-time or even part-time receptionist, but it would be cool to have someone sitting in the front office to cover for me if I leave early, go on vacation, or just don’t want to come in today. And, without hiring an office employee, to have someone I could contract with to do some of my daily work if I choose to.

So it occurred to me that someone might want to build their own business using that front office while at the same time being available to sell me some of their time to work on my stuff.

The Offer

The amount of work from me alone wouldn't be nearly enough to make it worth it to you — so this opportunity is ideal if you want to build your own client base and grow your own business while having a professional office to work from.

What you get

You get a rent-free office to operate your business out of. If you've looked around town, you know that office spaces typically start around $1,000 per month, and most require a 2-year lease — meaning you're on the hook even if your business doesn't work out.

With this arrangement, you pay nothing for rent, you're not locked into a lease, and you can walk away anytime for whatever reason.

And just to be clear: you're not trading work for rent. Any work you do for me is invoiced at full price, just like any other client you take on.

What I get

I get someone in the office each weekday to greet patients if they walk in. My own office is next door — connected by an interior door and only about ten steps away. The hearing aid office has a camera monitor and a doorbell that rings directly into my personal office, so the moment someone arrives, I know it and come right in.

Your role is simply to welcome them until I step through the adjoining door. It's straightforward, low pressure, and predictable.

I typically see two or three patients a day, and your part in that adds up to maybe 15 minutes total per day. For that time, you'd be fully compensated.

You would have to learn a little bit about the hearing aid business so you could help my patients when I’m not there, but it’s easy and you could learn everything you need to know in a week.

The rest of the time is yours to run your own business, meet your own clients, or work on whatever you're building.

What About Your Time?

One of the biggest attractions of owning your own business is flexibility — the freedom to set your own hours. Kids get sick, life happens, vacations come up, and sometimes you just need a personal day.

Since I’ll be on-premises 90% of the time (not in your space, but next door), I'm not rigid about you being here every minute. In fact, if you need to step out, I can even cover your business while you're gone. And it's not critical that the hearing aid office be open every single day if both of us have to be gone. When I'm out, I just put a note on the door — it's that simple.

So no, you don't have to be here constantly. It's generally good to be available for your own customers as much as is reasonable, but this arrangement is meant to give you freedom, not take it away.

Of course, the flexibility can't be abused — we both need the arrangement to work for the reason it exists.

Termination of Agreement

Either party may terminate our agreement at any time — so if it's not working out for one or both of us, we can just unwind the deal.

This Might Be Perfect For Someone Who:

• Wants to start or grow an office-based business
• Needs a professional office but can't justify the cost
• Needs a flexible schedule
• Is reliable and comfortable being present in the office during the day

Small Business Facts

Owning your own business can be exciting and rewarding, but the reality is that 59% of small business startups in Washington don't make it to year five. One of the biggest reasons is simple: overhead stays constant even when business is slow.

For most small businesses, the major overhead costs are:

1. Employees — payroll is the biggest expense.
2. Needing to make a full-time living from the business — pressure that most startups can't support.
3. Rent — commercial space in Washington is expensive and usually requires a long-term lease.

In the scenario I'm proposing, those three major risks are removed or dramatically reduced.

• You won't have employees. The office is small, and another full-time person simply wouldn't fit.
• You won't be depending on this as your primary income. If you need a full-time income right away, this isn't the right opportunity. Businesses don’t usually bring in a lot of cash at first. They start small and grow.
• You won't pay rent. That eliminates one of the biggest cash drains that kills most startups.

You'll still have normal small-business expenses like insurance and taxes, but the big financial pressures — the ones that sink most new businesses — simply aren't there. That means most of what you earn stays in your pocket, and your chances of building a successful, sustainable small business go way up.

What If You Don't Already Have a Business in Mind?

The business you start will come from the gifts God has already given you. Look for a need in this town that you can meet using those gifts.

For example, many small businesses in Longview — mine included — have been priced out of hiring because Washington has the highest minimum wage in the country. I'm not suggesting you work for less than that. But when you offer high-value services on a piecemeal or project basis, you can outbid the big temp agencies and still earn good money.

There are plenty of small businesses that need help but can't justify hiring an employee. That gap is an opportunity for someone with initiative, integrity, and a service-minded heart.

Business Ideas That Work Well in an Office Setting

Still Interested?