Page 176 - One Thousand Ways to Make $1000

Good Profits from a “Sale Barn”

I

N EVERY farming community there is an opportunity to conduct a sale barn
and earn regular profits the year round. If there aren’t now too many in your
community it is worth trying. You don’t even need a barn, although you can
conduct the business better if you have a large lot and a building. You can, of
course, rent one for the purpose.

These sales are conducted in the following fashion: The operator of a sale
barn advertises that on regular dates he will conduct a sale of any and all
property brought to the barn. Usually the sales are held regularly, once a
week, or twice a month. Saturday is frequently the day selected, although one
of the most successful operators of sales conducts his sale at a farm near
Washington Court House, Ohio, every Tuesday.

Horses, mules, pigs, cattle, sheep, vegetables, seed, shrubbery, fruit and all
kinds of farm equipment as well as furniture, stoves, and similar articles are
in demand. In fact, almost anything you can name is sold regularly at these
barns. Sales are for cash and the auction plan of selling is followed.

At the S. F. Snider Sale Barn, at Washington Court House, Ohio, each seller
pays the operator of the barn a commission on all sales. The customary figure
being 3 per cent on live stock and 10 per cent on miscellaneous equipment.

One of the contributors to this book attended a sale one afternoon at which a
wagonload of grapefruit, a disc plow, cattle and several horses were sold. A
six-year-old gelding brought $215.

The way to start is to select a good location. This may be a vacant lot, close
in to the business section, or if you think you need more room for the buyers
and sellers to park their cars, select a larger lot on the outskirts of town. It is
better, of course, if there are sheds, an empty barn, or some kind of shelter.

When you have selected your location, visit the farmers of the community