Turn $500 Into $5K with This Simple Power Grid Failure Kit Side Hustle

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Let’s be honest—2024 has had its fair share of chaotic moments, and power outages aren’t exactly on anyone’s wishlist. But here’s the thing: when the lights go out, people panic, and that is where opportunity strikes.

Introducing your next side hustle: Power Grid Failure Kits. With just $500 or less, you can source bulk supplies for emergency kits, and with a little hustle, turn that small investment into a $5,000/month business.

Or you can get some dehydrated water for anyone making fun of your prepping! 😆 

The MVP (Getting your first customer)

Step 1: Build Your Kit for Under $500

To start small, you’ll want to put together around 10-15 Power Grid Failure Kits for your Minimum Viable Product (MVP). These kits should include all the essentials for surviving a power outage: LED flashlights, portable battery packs, emergency blankets, waterproof matches, mini first aid kits, and a solar/hand-crank radio (optional).

Cost Breakdown:

• 10 LED Flashlights: $20–$30

• 5 Portable Battery Packs: $25–$40

• 10 Emergency Blankets: $5–$10

• 5 Waterproof Matches or Lighters: $2.50–$5

• 5 Mini First Aid Kits: $10–$20

• 1 Solar/Hand-Crank Radio: $20–$30

Boom—you’re in business for under $500.

Step 2: Get That First Sale
Start local and small. Spread the word through Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or local community groups. Offer your kit to neighbors, friends, or anyone who likes the idea of being prepared for a blackout. Set your initial price at $75–$100 per kit, depending on your total costs and how fancy you want your branding to be.

With each kit priced around $100 and costing you about $35 to put together, you’ll make $65 in profit per kit. Sell 10, and you’ve already covered your initial investment.

Getting Your Next 100 Customers

Step 1: Expand Beyond Your Immediate Circle

Once you’ve sold your first few kits, it’s time to widen the net. Set up a simple website with a free tool like Wix or Squarespace—you’ll want an online presence so people can find you. Start promoting your kits with catchy taglines like, “Be Ready When the Lights Go Out” or “Don’t Wait for the Next Blackout to Panic.”

Facebook Ads: Consider running some low-budget ads targeting your local area. Ads can cost as little as $5 a day, and if you target people who are into prepping, survivalism, or even those who have lived through recent power outages, you’ll see some conversions.

Nextdoor: It’s a goldmine for neighborhood-specific sales. Post about your kits and highlight the convenience of having everything you need during a blackout.

Step 2: Niche It Down
Identify specific groups who would be interested in your kits. Some ideas:

• Families with kids (because what’s worse than a power outage with children running wild?)

• Apartment dwellers who can’t store a generator but want peace of mind

• Preppers who are always looking for ways to expand their emergency supplies

You can even offer customized kits for different customers—bigger battery packs, more first aid supplies, or added extras like power banks. Set yourself apart from the generic kits people can get at big-box stores.

Building to $5,000 Per Month in Profit

Now, you’re ready to take things to the next level. To hit $5,000 per month in profit, you’ll need to scale up.

Step 1: Diversify Your Product Line
Start offering different tiers of emergency kits. Here’s an example of how you can structure it:

• Basic Kit ($100): Includes LED flashlights, battery pack, emergency blanket, matches, and a first aid kit.

• Deluxe Kit ($150): Everything in the basic kit, plus a solar/hand-crank radio, a larger battery pack, and extra emergency blankets.

• Premium Kit ($200): Fully loaded with everything, plus more durable flashlights, additional first aid supplies, and a multi-tool for extra convenience.

The more options you provide, the more you can upsell and increase your average order size. Customers love variety, especially when it comes to feeling safe and prepared.

Step 2: Boost Production

You’ve been selling locally, but it’s time to bulk up production. Look for even cheaper sources for your supplies. Alibaba or AliExpress are great for buying in bulk, but with larger orders, you can also negotiate discounts with your suppliers. Aim to bring your cost per kit down to $25-$30. That means your profit per kit will be even higher when selling them at $100-$200.

Step 3: Affiliate Programs and Partnerships

Once you’re generating some traction, explore affiliate marketing by partnering with blogs or influencers in the survival and prepper niche. You could offer them a small commission for every kit they help sell. Alternatively, work with local stores to stock your kits on consignment.

Scaling to $100,000 in One Month: The Ultimate Play

Let’s be real: Making $100,000 in a month will require a serious scaling strategy, but it’s not impossible. Here’s how you could take it big:

Step 1: Build a Killer Website
You’re going national now. Create a website with e-commerce capabilities (think Shopify or BigCommerce). You’ll want a smooth checkout process and a professional look. Make sure it’s optimized for mobile because—newsflash—that’s where most sales happen now.

Step 2: Go All In on Ads
Facebook, Google Ads, Instagram—you’ll need them all. You’ll run highly-targeted campaigns focused on emergency preparedness, recent natural disasters, or news of power grid instability. Start with a small daily budget and scale as you see what works. Each kit sold at $150-$200 means you can afford to reinvest profits into more ads.

Step 3: Secure Bulk Orders

Pitch your kits to corporate clients, schools, or community groups who want to keep emergency supplies on hand. Offer discounts for large orders. Imagine landing a deal with an apartment complex or a school district that needs dozens or even hundreds of kits.

With each kit netting you $65-$175 in profit, selling 500-1,000 kits in a month puts you on track to make $100,000. It's ambitious, but hey, so is making a living from power failures!

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Viability:

1 [building spaceships] 🚀 to 5 [easy peasy] 😊 

There you have it: a foolproof way to build a Power Grid Failure Kit business from scratch, turning $500 into $5,000 a month—and potentially even more! You don’t need to invent the wheel here, just tap into a growing market and provide value with minimal upfront costs.

What’d you think of this hustle? If you’ve got other ideas for simple, weird businesses, hit reply—I’d love to hear them! Stay lit (even during a blackout).

(As usual each business will have it’s own setbacks, and it’s all about the execution and consistency rather than just having the idea)

It’s a great day to be great!

Love, Mike 👋