In any economy there are people who struggle. They have little job experience and work low-wage jobs. Many are on government assistance just to put food on the table.

They know more money is the solution but how? Find a second or third job?

Getting a second or a third job is the wrong way to think about it. We only have 24 hours each day.

We need to earn more money in the same amount of time, but again, how?

Simple. Start your own business. I’m sure you’ve heard that before but it’s true.

Now, before you start thinking that you don’t know how or that you could never start your own business let me assure you that it is actually a lot easier than you think, especially my type of business.

I am going to let you in on a little secret. Millions of people in the United States are making an extra $1,000 to $4,000 each and every month with their own small business… selling at flea markets and swap meets on weekends.

I know because I do. I make money at flea markets.

Before you dismiss this as a bunch of hooey, did I mention $1,000 to $4,000 each and every month? I’m not exaggerating.

Many people have bought things at flea markets but have you ever considered getting yourself on the ‘other’ side of the table and becoming the person who sells it? Have you ever thought of selling things at a flea market?

Making money at flea markets is a very simple concept, so simple I have seen 10-year-old boys and girls running their own successful small flea market business. Rent a space at the flea market (as little as $5 a day!), set your items on the table and set your prices higher than what you paid for the items. The difference between your cost and your selling price is your profit.

You do NOT need any sales experience. In fact, it’s better if you don’t have any sales experience. Few people enjoy being ‘sold to’, that’s why they avoid the stores and shop at the flea market. Just smile and say a cheery “Good morning!” or “Good afternoon!” to people as they walk past. Many people will stop and look and they will find something they need. Just chat with them, be friendly and before you know it another sale is made.

But where can you find things to sell?

Most people begin by gathering the items at home, items that they no longer use. That could be clothing that you have outgrown, clothing your children have outgrown, that old rototiller that you no longer use, virtually anything that is lying around taking up space. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure – you’d be surprised what people will buy. Children even buy broken toys. People will buy old, rusty shovels just to use as a decoration in their yard.

The money made by selling those no-longer-needed items can be the ‘seed capital’ you need to buy more and more things to sell at the flea market, so you can make more and more money.

People will often rummage through garage and yard sales in their neighborhoods. They can often find deals on items they can sell at the flea market. Stopping by when the sale is almost over is a good way to get a deal on nearly everything that hasn’t sold. The sellers will be tired after a long day and you might make them an offer to buy everything that is left so they don’t have to pick it up and take it back inside the house.

Thrift stores can be another good place, especially when they are having an ‘inventory-reduction sale’.

Some flea market vendors make a good living selling ‘other people’s stuff’. They started by letting their friends know that they sell at the flea market and can sell stuff for them, too. They charge a small fee to sell their friend’s items for them. It’s a win/win situation – they make money helping their friends make money on items they no longer use.

Many big flea market sellers know where to buy brand new merchandise at super-low wholesale prices, often in the very same packages you’ve seen on shelves at Walmart and Target. The wholesale prices they pay are so low they can sell them for more than they paid and their prices will still be lower than Walmart! Everything from DVD’s and electronics to garden items, sporting goods, gas-powered generators, bicycles, binoculars, clothing, just about anything you could imagine.

But let’s get back to that extra $1,000 to $4,000 a month and more. How could that be possible just selling at flea markets on weekends?

As an example, you can easily make a $1 profit by buying something for $1 and selling it for $2. You get your original $1 back plus an extra $1 in profit.

If you buy something for $1 and sell it for $3, you make $2 in profit.

Imagine doing that hundreds of times a day like I do…

Making a $2 profit on each sale, 100 sales would earn you $200 and that is very easy to do in one day at a busy flea market. Flea markets are open on Saturday and Sunday. $200 a day X two days = $400 per weekend.

Every month has four weekends. $400 per weekend X 4 = $1,600 per month.

How would your life become easier if you had an extra $1,600 per month?

Would you like to double that? Instead of making just 100 sales per day, make 200 sales per day, or make more than $2 in profit on most items. That is more than possible: when I buy an item for $10 I don’t sell it for less than $20. If an item cost me $50 I don’t sell it for less than $100. I always double my money at the very least, and in many cases I sell it for three and even four times more than what I paid for it.

Since flea markets are open on weekends a person could continue to work at their regular job during the week as they get their small flea market business going. As they continue to earn more and more profit at the flea market they can eventually get to the point where keeping their job is holding them back. Many flea markets are also open one or two days during the week.

Are you beginning to see the possibilities? It’s not necessary to struggle to earn a living, even if you have few job skills or training in a trade.