Free chalkboards for restaurants paid by local advertisers

The idea

A restaurant needs somewhere to show its daily specials. You supply a good-looking chalkboard or whiteboard for free. Along the bottom you add a row of small ad panels, which you sell to local businesses such as plumbers, dentists, estate agents or a nearby gym. The venue gets a useful board at no cost, advertisers get steady eyes from diners, and you collect the advertising fees.

In the US, John Schierman of MegansDailyDish.com has placed more than 200 boards in restaurants and other busy venues. He says each board brings in around $3,000 a year. That is his figure for a mature board with its ad spots filled; a beginner should expect to build up slowly.

Who it fits

This suits someone comfortable talking to shop owners and happy to walk in and ask. No special skills are needed beyond basic sales and neat handling of a design. It works well beside a job, because most of the work is visits, a few calls and occasional board refreshes. A car helps for delivery and installation. The model should travel to any town with busy cafés, diners, barbershops or waiting rooms, especially where people stand in queues or wait for tables.

Costs and revenue

Expect roughly $150–$600 to start: a few boards, printed ad panels, simple mounting hardware, business cards and a one-page agreement. Boards cost more if you want a framed, durable look.

A common logic is to split the board into several small ad slots and charge each advertiser a flat yearly fee. If a board has, say, four to six slots, the total can reach the figure the source mentions. As a rough estimate, five placed boards with most slots sold could add $800–$1,250 a month, but the first months will be much lower while you find your first advertisers. These are editorial estimates, not guarantees.

Risks and pitfalls

• Empty ad slots. A board with no advertisers earns nothing. Sell the first slots before you install, or offer a launch discount.
• Venue turnover. Restaurants close. Use a simple written agreement that lets you move the board.
• Advertiser churn. Small firms drop out when results are unclear. Pick high-traffic venues and send short check-ins.
• Poor upkeep. Faded or messy boards hurt everyone. Visit regularly and replace damaged panels.
• Local rules. Check whether signage in your area needs permission or has size limits.