40, no college, no longer home w/kids, what/how to make the most money with the least education/investment?

So.Cal. area, & I have thought about home appraisals, home inspection, pumping concrete, dental lab tech (2yr, cert.)...

Knowledge is key, there must be much more out there.

is money your key driver? pursue what you truly love to do (work with people, teach, work with your hands, give advice, detail work, etc). You're a blank canvas! Paint a beautiful future!

Become a real estate agent. The market is very hot in S. CA.

Long-term, your best bet is probably college. I started back at 38. Good luck.

all those jobs you mentioned will require investment of both your time and money. licensing and education will be necessary. none of those except may home inspector will make you any real money.

Check this out: http://www.marykay.com/cryshodges/starta...

Do carpet cleaning, lawn care, or housepainting.. you can make alot more than you think!

Sales - most lucrative career for someone without a college education.

It is important to sell a product or sevice that you know and like well enough to promote.

Second requirement - You must have a decent appearence or the motivation to make over your looks and maintian them. You do not have to look like Brad Pitt, but you must look presentable.

Most money with least education and investment?

Prostitution.

You already have all the, uh, equipment you will need. The hours are flexible, word of mouth and regulars will get you a lot of business and if you have a special skill you can really rake it in.

http://www.tastingwinesathome.com

OK, I know your age and approximate part of the country, but not a lot else to go on.

In general, jobs that are UNPLEASANT in one way or another tend to be easy to get and/or high-paying.

For example it is not hard to get a job in a nursing home or in home health care taking care of senile and/or incontinent patients. If you are a big strong man (can't tell from the question) who can lift patients they really like that (because too many of the staff can not lift the patients). A CNA certification is really easy to get; if you can read a pulse and decide if it's within normal range, figure out normal body temperature, and accurately describe how to clean up a female patient you're in. If you don't know those things it should take all of about 1 day to figure them out. The pay-to-skill ratio is usually not bad, and once in the door you can learn procedures that can lead to higher-paying jobs in hospitals.

Hospital runner pays well compared to the negligible skill set.

Taking in boarders is an old-fashioned way for empty-nesters to take in some money, and there is still demand if you live close to colleges or universities. There is some (minor but not negligible) security hazard so don't do this if you are not able to physically defend yourself. My wife and I make money this way, among others. We have lots of small income streams.

Home appraisal and home inspection are probably getting stale, as is real estate brokerage.

Medical billing doesn't take much training but it is risky due to possibility of getting outsourced to India, and need to work with at least a few partners to cover for each other during illness or vacation. It also has some startup costs to buy computer(s) and software.

Vending machines take some capital but not that much up front. Placing them is the tricky thing and will cost some advertizing money. (hint: sell discount long-distance phone cards)

Cleaning other people's homes, or offices, is low-capital and low-skill. In general there are a number of "doing chores for other people" type services for which there is some demand. Deliver groceries to elderly (there is a lot of competition for this from welfare agencies), or pick up other people's kids after activities and drop them off at home along with hot meal. They work better as employee owned and operated to reduce overhead expense of hirelings.

This is for people that are serious and who don鈥檛 want to be misled as we have tried many things and have found a company that has been around for 21 Years and pays you to advertise for them. My wife and I just started and are doing well. It is not an MLM company and no selling, no deliveries or stocking product. My wife鈥檚 aunt has been working with this Company (Melaleuca) for a little over 3 years and home schools 3 kids and makes $9,000 a month. It is a 500 Inc company and the CEO is on the U.S. Chamber of commerce board. I can arrange a web cast with my wife鈥檚 aunt for you and you can decide by yourself and WE WILL help you be successful. It is an honest Win Win.
If you want to see a web cast (presentation) from your home let me know and I will arrange it as that truly is the way to see all about Melaleuca. Have you heard of it. We have just gotten started with my wife's aunts help as it is a team effort and it is fun. Just a quick F.Y.I. 8 out of 10 people that see the web cast join the company and 95% of the people that join re-order product each and every month. Let me know when you are ready and we will set up the web cast.
e-mail: cleanandsafehome@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Rich & Teresa