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that Aussie rent-a-cops working in a US Consulate can be real dicks

This line gives a great idea for a startup. Rent-A-Person for specific occasions or tasks. I mean rent a cook, cleaner, professional trainer, swimming instructor, basically anyone who's willing to show up in exchange for money.

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A temp agency?

One built from the ground up with the idea that people can hire online. Can I rent a clown for my kids birthday party through a temp agency? Can I hire someone to clean my house from that same temp agency? Can I hire someone to detail my car?

It's interesting, but you're going to get a lot of human complication involved. You'll need administrators with the expertise to vet all those types of people. If money is flowing through you, customers will expect you to guarantee quality. And guarantee you don't send a criminal into their house to entertain their kids. I did essentially this just for math tutors for the math portion of the SAT for high schoolers. By far the most work was in hiring and managing staff.

If money is not flowing through you then the product is Angie's List.

taskrabbit, exec, craigslist, etc.

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