Next stage?

[greek302]

Hello I'm sixteen and live in a community of about 40,000 people. A while back i invested around 600 dollars in small bulk candy vending machines. With that I was able to make about 150 -200 a month. I've held it for about a year and plan on selling the business to people I know for 1k. That will mean, my net worth will be around 5k. A lot of people told me that the internet is the way to go, and have purchased a few domains and built a site, but I am not a internet wiz and am having problems with errors trying to get my site up, so I have kind of put that on hold. I have 5k that I would like to put into something. I have a few Ideas that i would like some feedback on.

1. Buy used sailboat 28 - 32 feet (Selling really cheaply where i live because of huge excess and everyone trying to get rid of luxury toys due to the economy). I would buy it with a partner of by myself then put a few thousand into fixing it up. Possibly live on it, or lease it to yatch club, someone who wants a boat or a charter company. Then after 5 or 6 years sell it.

2. Lease small two acre lot across the street and grow lavender. It needs almost no care and can bring profits of about 40 - 60 dollars a plant. Lavender is big deal around where i live. People manufacture all kinds of things out of it, it's a good cash crop. total cost about 1.2k

3. Buy property in Costa Rica. I have a friend down there who keeps telling me it's a great place to invest. Houses with water, power and good plumbing go for less than 30k. My dad started out in construction and has taught me a lot, so my partners in business and I could do renovation. Use it as a vacation rental under the supervision of my amigo down there. No secure title on property down there but friends family is very influential down there.

4. buy large vending machines, try to get into few few good locations left. and hop they don't break down because i have no idea how to repair some of the new ones.

[FormPay]

Honestly. Go with 3 or 4. and generally business sell for about 2 years profit so $1,000 is a ripoff, you should expect around 3k

[rogercbryan]

Honestly. Go with 3 or 4. and generally business sell for about 2 years profit so $1,000 is a ripoff, you should expect around 3k

Not sure where you are getting your info. Most small businesses are lucky to get one years worth of income as their asking price. Two years is almost unheard of. I'm basing my numbers on my experience buying and selling small web based companies and also on research that I have done in attempting to buy other companies. I think for a company that is only 1 year old if you can get a price based on one years worth of annual income you are in good shape.

[rogercbryan]

Greek- what area are you in? I have a ton of Sailboats for sail (sale... tried throwing a joke in there). I may have something I can discount for you. Or maybe a partnership if I supply the boat...

[RickyCeez]

Get out of the vending machine business, the truth is.. the mafia controlls it.. and one day will make it an empire. My father owns a garbage company, 30 years ago there were avg joes in the business... and now they have all been pushed out.

Think about it? What does the mob want?
Territories...even with vending machines..........

[RickyCeez]

My advice, is to buy property in costa rica....this ecomonmy is going down fastttttt... and the truth is people are getting so nervous they might even move withing the next 10 years... so buy some property and advertise it in america ;]