The basics: I have $100,000 (USD) and ~60 hours a week to invest. My emergency fund is separate from this proposed investment and covers my living expenses for 2-3 years. Within a year and half or so, the chosen venture needs to be producing a livable income.
More details: I am willing and able to work FT to grow a business. My skills include business administration, marketing and technology, but I don't have the experience or level of specialized skills required to translate any of these into a consulting gig or otherwise sell one of these services as a business. I tend to be more of a "jack of all trades" type. My best personal assets are resourcefulness, good management skills and the ability to learn quickly.
I just left my FT corporate job and would ideally like to never have to work for a for-profit (other than my own venture or partnership, of course) again. I am interested in returning to non-profit or public sector work, but in my personal experience this work pays terribly and is often unstable. Starting a business or investing for income is something I've thought about a lot about for at least a year. Unfortunately, I've been unable to come up with a good idea for a profitable business working with my available funds. The area I'm in currently is low COL and, thus, relatively low income.
My basic yearly expenses are under 10k. I would like my business/investment to be returning at least 20k annually by year two. I am debt-free and would prefer to stay that way. In addition to the funds available for investment, I have a 30k emergency fund, 30k in retirement funds and own a home outright (jointly with my husband).
Currently this is anticipated to be a solo venture. There is a possibility that my husband would partner with me if the business plan was solid. (Yes, technically our funds are all communal property, but we maintain separate finances.) If he would agree to a partnership, he would bring 50k and a second FTE with a variety of practical, hands-on skills. His key skills are mechanical maintenance and repair, basic carpentry, woodworking, equipment operation, auto body work and nearly everything handy. Double the numbers for necessary returns if considering a partnership. He also has a separate emergency fund. Together we would need the venture to be producing at least 40k in annual profit by its second year.
Ideas that I've already ruled out: Owning and operating a restaurant or bar, anything involving childcare, multi-level marketing scams, owning/operating a garden center and green house, anything involving a tractor trailer, owning a gym or other high liability business