The 1980s turned everyone into an entrepreneur whether they wanted to be or not.
Your cousin sold Amway. Your aunt hosted Tupperware parties. That guy from church kept talking about real estate seminars on late-night TV.
The decade didn’t just debate side hustles. It invented the awkward dinner conversation where someone pitched you a business opportunity between bites of casserole.
1. Amway Products
Amway dominated dinner table debates in the 80s with its multi-level marketing model.
Distributors sold cleaning supplies and vitamins while recruiting new sellers under them.
The company avoided being labeled a pyramid scheme in 1979 by requiring distributors to sell 70 percent of monthly purchases and make sales to at least 10 customers per month.
Why It Made People Talk: Friends and family members often found themselves on opposite sides of whether this was a real business opportunity or just a way to lose money and relationships.
2. Mary Kay Cosmetics
Pink Cadillacs became the ultimate status symbol for successful Mary Kay consultants in the 1980s.
Women hosted home parties where they demonstrated makeup and skincare products to friends and neighbors.
The party plan sales strategy let consultants work from home instead of going door-to-door like earlier direct sellers.
The Debate: People argued whether Mary Kay truly empowered women with flexible work or just encouraged them to buy more inventory than they could sell.
3. Tupperware Parties
Tupperware parties turned kitchen storage into a social event throughout the 80s.
Hostesses earned free products by gathering friends to watch demonstrations of burping bowls and airtight containers.
The company pioneered the party plan in the 1950s but reached peak popularity decades later.
Why People Disagreed: Some saw it as easy extra cash while others felt pressured to buy plastic they didn’t need just to support a friend.
4. Real Estate Investment Seminars
Infomercials flooded late-night TV with promises of buying property with no money down.
Gurus like Tom Vu advertised luxury lifestyles and claimed anyone could flip houses for massive profits.
The seminars taught loan tactics that were often shady, outdated, or only worked in rare situations.
The Controversy: Critics said these programs set people up to fail, then blamed students for not working hard enough when the strategies didn’t pan out.
5. Newspaper Delivery Routes
Paper routes gave kids and adults steady income, often earning 30 to 50 dollars weekly.
Carriers woke before dawn to deliver papers on foot, by bike, or from cars in all weather conditions.
December holiday tips boosted earnings significantly when customers received free calendars.
What People Debated: Whether paper routes built character and work ethic or exploited young workers with difficult hours and low pay.
6. Flea Market Vending
Weekend flea markets exploded in the 1980s, with vendors renting spaces in parking lots and empty buildings.
Sellers camped overnight in vans to secure prime spots and unload merchandise early Saturday mornings.
Popular items included watches, jewelry, t-shirts, and discount goods that attracted bargain hunters before the internet existed.
Why It Sparked Discussion: Some made serious money while others barely covered their rental fees and gas, making success unpredictable.
7. VHS Video Rental Stores
Video rental stores popped up everywhere in the early 1980s as families discovered affordable home entertainment.
Entrepreneurs bought VHS and Betamax tapes to rent at stores, often doubling as equipment rental spots.
The affordability of renting versus buying was astronomical since VHS tapes cost significantly more to purchase outright.
The Debate: Independent shop owners worried about competition from chains like Blockbuster while questioning whether the business model would last.
8. Home Daycare Services
The Reagan administration shifted federal childcare funding in the 1980s, stimulating growth in for-profit childcare.
Women ran daycare centers from their homes, caring for neighborhood children while raising their own.
Voluntary and for-profit childcare expanded but much of it remained beyond reach for low-income families.
What Sparked Arguments: People debated proper regulations, safety standards, and whether home daycares provided adequate early childhood education.
9. Avon Sales Representatives
Avon ladies went door-to-door selling cosmetics, fragrances, and jewelry throughout the 1980s.
Representatives earned commissions on direct sales without the heavy recruitment focus of newer MLM companies.
The company built on decades of direct selling experience and maintained strong brand recognition.
Why Opinions Differed: Some valued the flexibility and established brand while others saw diminishing returns as competition from mall cosmetic counters increased.
10. Computer Consulting and Repair
Personal computers became commonplace in homes and businesses during the 1980s, creating massive demand for help.
Consultants taught people how to use new systems while repair technicians fixed hardware problems and software conflicts.
Apple, Commodore, and Tandy computers needed specialists who understood the rapidly evolving technology.
The Discussion: People wondered whether computer skills would remain valuable or if technology would become simple enough that repair services would disappear.
11. Wedding and Event Photography
The 1980s saw photography shift from large studios to independent contractors working weekends.
Photographers invested thousands in camera equipment, lighting, and darkroom supplies to process film themselves.
Wedding packages ranged from basic coverage to elaborate albums with multiple photographers and video services.
Why It Was Debated: The high startup costs and unpredictable bookings made people question whether part-time photography could pay off consistently.
12. Aerobics and Fitness Instruction
Jane Fonda videos sparked an aerobics craze that created opportunities for certified instructors.
Teachers led classes at gyms, community centers, and even living rooms filled with enthusiastic students in leotards.
Instructors earned per-class fees that added up when teaching multiple sessions weekly.
The Catch: People argued whether fitness instruction was a sustainable career or just a trendy hobby that would fade.
13. Catering from Home Kitchens
Home-based caterers prepared food for parties, weddings, and corporate events throughout the 80s.
Entrepreneurs tested recipes in their own kitchens before scaling up for larger gatherings.
Word-of-mouth referrals drove most business since online advertising didn’t exist yet.
What People Questioned: Health regulations varied wildly by location, making some wonder if home catering was legal or safe enough.
14. House Cleaning Services
Professional cleaning services shifted from live-in maids to independent contractors serving multiple households.
Cleaners built client bases by offering reliable weekly or biweekly service at affordable rates.
The work required minimal startup costs beyond supplies and transportation.
The Debate: Some viewed cleaning as dignified entrepreneurship while others saw it as undervalued labor without benefits or security.
15. Craft Fair Selling
Handmade crafts found buyers at weekend fairs where artists sold ceramics, quilts, woodwork, and jewelry.
Vendors traveled circuits of popular fairs, paying booth fees and hoping for good weather and crowds.
The best artisans developed followings and took custom orders between events.
Why Opinions Varied: Success depended heavily on talent, location, and luck, making income wildly inconsistent from one weekend to the next.
16. Shaklee Nutritional Products
Shaklee distributors sold vitamins, supplements, and eco-friendly household products through direct sales.
The company emphasized natural ingredients and environmental responsibility before those became mainstream concerns.
Distributors earned through personal sales and building downline teams of other sellers.
The Controversy: People debated whether Shaklee offered better value than store brands or just cost more because of the multi-level structure.
17. Lawn Care and Landscaping
Suburban homeowners paid neighbors and professionals to mow lawns, trim hedges, and maintain yards.
Operators started with basic equipment like mowers and trimmers, gradually adding services and clients.
Regular weekly accounts provided steady income throughout growing seasons.
What Sparked Discussion: Whether lawn care was respectable small business ownership or just manual labor without real growth potential.
18. Typing and Word Processing Services
Students, authors, and businesses needed documents typed professionally before computers became standard.
Typists worked from home offices, producing resumes, manuscripts, and business correspondence.
The introduction of word processors made corrections easier but required expensive equipment investments.
The Question: People wondered how long typing services would survive as personal computers became more affordable.
19. Herbalife Products
Herbalife launched in 1980 and quickly became one of the decade’s most debated business opportunities.
Distributors sold weight-loss shakes, supplements, and wellness products through personal networks.
The company faced criticism about product claims and whether distributors could actually make money.
Why It Made Headlines: Aggressive recruitment tactics and income claims led to investigations while some distributors defended their earnings.
20. Car Detailing Services
Mobile car detailing brought professional cleaning directly to customers’ driveways and office parking lots.
Detailers waxed, shampooed interiors, and restored shine using specialized products and techniques.
The service appealed to busy professionals who valued convenience and quality results.
The Discussion: Some saw mobile detailing as innovative customer service while others questioned whether it could compete with established car washes.