Research & field observation / Local
Household inventory documentation
Create an authorized photo-and-description inventory without valuing or certifying the property.
What to price before starting
Price camera access, secure storage, transport and privacy protection.
Use your own written quotes, including recurring costs and the cash you could lose. Owning equipment does not establish customer demand.
Skills you must be able to demonstrate
Careful labeling, observation and reliable record organization.
Before the first payment
Agree owner authority, excluded items, access and file custody.
Keep the deliverable, exclusions, approvals and payment responsibility in writing. Do not treat a lead, an invoice or a promised reimbursement as money received.
Where this can go wrong
Images can expose valuables and security details; descriptions can be mistaken for appraisals.
Requirements and refusal boundaries
State that this is documentation, not appraisal, legal evidence certification or insurance advice.
Confirm the exact activity with the relevant authority and insurer. The references below explain general issues; they do not approve this individual service in your jurisdiction.
A lower-risk validation step
Build a private sample inventory of ordinary items you own.
Set a stop condition before spending: what evidence would make you decline, change scope or stop? A practice sample should never expose another person's confidential material.
Primary checks
- SBA: licenses and permits
Activity and location determine permits; contact the issuing authority.
- IRS: self-employed tax center
US self-employment tax, return and recordkeeping guidance; no tax calculation is supplied here.
References reviewed for this publication in November 2026. Rules can change. This entry contains no earnings estimate and makes no assurance of demand.