Unexpected jobs, person created a reminder by text message that notifies neighbors when they need to get the trash out and nada money of it: ‘Would you keep this extremely simple and sell it to more HOAs’

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Aug 4, 2026 6:00 PM EDT

Sometimes something you did for fun or to help out can become a great business idea

Business ideas are everywhere. You don't have to be a genius to find a living in something you created. Sometimes we think that the only way to get a living wage in the current state of the world is to find some corporate well-paying job, but that isn't necessarily true. Maybe your next job isn't as an administrative assistant at a company. Maybe that "dumb idea" you had turns out to be a business. A real one that actually provides you money to live and is something you really like.

Today we have one of those stories, a person who saw a problem and created a suitable solution for it. That's how businesses start. He saw that on his HOA's Facebook page, the neighbors were always asking what day to take out the trash so the garbage truck would pick it up. They had changed it, and it created a huge confusion among residents. It got to a point where the HOA was answering the same question every single day. This person saw that issue and imagined a really simple solution. To create a text message reminder that would be received by neighbors the day they had to take trash out.

It was something very simple, but very useful as well. The HOA was so grateful they didn't have to continue answering the same question again and again that they offered this user $25 a month for the service. But it doesn't end there. This system got people talking, which ended up getting this person several businesses. Other neighborhoods started to pay him for that same service, but not just for trash day, but for other things as well. This person is currently making $125, which doesn't seem like a lot, but they are saving this extra income and having a better financial situation than they used to due to something they didn't even expect to be paid for. So, if you have an idea, try to put it into practice. It may turn out to be a great business idea. 
 

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  • 01
    This started because my neighborhood changed trash collection from Friday to Thursday and people kept missing it. Our Facebook group was basically the same post every week asking if tomorrow was trash day. I made a really basic text reminder that messages everyone the night before and sends a second message when recycling is included. Our HOA offered me
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  • 02
    A cellphone showing the messages app and the keyboard.
    via Samuel Angor

    A cellphone showing the messages app and the keyboard.

     

  • 03
    $25 a month to maintain it because apparently they were tired of answering the same question too. I mentioned it to a friend who manages a few small apartment buildings and he wanted one for each property. I now have 7 communities paying between $20 and $35 a month. It costs me around $14 total for the texting service and I probably spend 20 minutes a month checking that
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  • 04
    the schedules havent changed. It only makes around $185 after costs, but I've just been putting it into savings alongside the Stake money since I never expected it to make anything. One property manager now wants me to add water shutoff notices, street cleaning reminders and package room updates. That sounds less passive and more like accidentally becoming their
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  • 05
    notification department. Would you keep this extremely simple and sell it to more HOAs, or add the extra features and charge more?
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  • 06
    Red, yellow, and green trash bins separated into categories for recycling purposes.
    via Nareeta Martin

    Red, yellow, and green trash bins separated into categories for recycling purposes. 

  • 07
    anonymously_ashamed Add extra features and charge more, if you have the skills to do so fairly easily. Yes, it's not as passive, but if your features allow them to request updates in a fairly hands off way, it's more passive income. If you don't, they'll eventually find a true alternative and you'll lose the money.
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  • 08
    granoladeer You just found a niche, now you have to continue digging and adding features and improving your product. This is absolutely not passive, but it can give you a good active income if you scale it right.
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  • 09
    MoxieGirl9229 If you don't want it I'll take it. You should keep it. Minimal effort and it's bringing in money. If you only kept making $185/mth, that's $2220/yr.
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  • 10
    Engrish Teach Keep it simple. Get more HOAs. Offer more options later.
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  • 11
    lockedoutagain1 Both. You have a loyal client base asking for some features that sound very easy to implement, but which you can charge more for (same monthly fee for each type of reminder, or a package deal of $X for 10 types of reminders). To me, the extra reminders sound super easy to do, but only you know that for certain. Great job starting up this money making gig!
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  • 12
    StrugglingRainbow Build a form for them to send out notifications using your service, basically make them a semi nice front end. Should be fairly easy to do with your existing tech knowledge plus an Al assist. Keeps it passive and makes scaling super easy from here - good luck!
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  • 13
    Cole Slawter I hate when people say it's "only" $185 a month. There's a giant chunk of our population that isn't saving any money at all. Every wealthy person I know in their 50s and 60s started by saving a little bit of money every month when they got out of college. Except Chad. He inherited everything. F Chad.
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  • 14
    erryerr18 Why not simply sell it to more HOAS and provide options to them to upgrade with more features for more money and try to upsell so you have to potential for more but can still offer basics if that doesn't catch traction
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  • 15
    The_Bestest_Me Work towards adding features, charging more (don't forget to ramp up the fees every other year). Then go for automating the schedules check in, and updates. Finally work on automated reporting, customer issue submissions... When you get this in order, talk to each customer to connect with other customers. You may be lucky enough to end up with a nice self running
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  • 16
    app that gives you a long term passive income stream. Bonus if you can sell for a bunch on moolah to a larger entity.
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  • 17
    kduncw If you don't have background in product management (which I'm assuming not because you're asking these questions) it would definitely help to connect with someone who does who can walk you through gathering the data to determine whether the demand warrants the amount of work. Many of them geek out on this kind of thing and would be willing to have a free conversation as long as there's a free beer or coffee involved.
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  • 18
    Persona27748 Sounds like a good opportunity to let things grow. You can always hire out someone else to do the extra work, or perhaps find a way to automate it more.
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