Business Ideas - 2012

Board-Up Service

2011-12-07T18:49:00.000-08:00

Board-Up Service

Startup Costs: Under $2,000

Home Based: Can be operated from home.

Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No

Online Operation? No

Business Overview

We have all been witness to the changing global climate over the past few decades, which has noticeably increased the ferocity and frequency of hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, blizzards, and gales, resulting in millions of dollars' worth of property damage every time one of these weather disasters happens. While you might not be able to anticipate these weather patterns, you can, however, help home and business owners be more prepared when the weather does turn foul by starting a board-up service. Board-up work is actually quite simple; you go to your client's home or business and measure all windows, cut plywood panels to fit, label each panel for the corresponding window, install quick-assembly hardware on the exterior window trim, and presto! The next time the weather turns ugly, your customers can have their windows professionally boarded-up in a matter of moments. The boards can be stored when not needed, and when the need does arise, each is already sized and ready to install. This means no long waits at the lumberyard with hundreds, if not thousands, of other anxious people trying to buy plywood and fasteners to board up their windows before the storm hits.

[source]

Cosmetics Retailing

2011-05-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

Business At A Glance

Cosmetics Retailing

Startup Costs: $2,000 - $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.
Franchises Available? Yes
Online Operation? No

With even men and children becoming more interested in cosmetics, this large market is one worth considering.

Business Overview

The sales of cosmetics generate billions of dollars every year worldwide, and starting a business selling cosmetics is just about as straightforward as a new business venture can get. There are numerous ways to sell cosmetics and make a profit. However, in the spirit of being unique, we'll analyze one segment of the cosmetic sales industry that can generate huge profits in a few different ways. The business can be set in motion for less than a $5,000 initial startup investment. Locate a manufacturer of cosmetic products who doesn't have representation in your community, state or even country. Negotiate an exclusive contract to represent and distribute their cosmetic products in the desired area. Once the distribution contract has been secured, the cosmetics can be sold to retailers on a wholesale basis. Or you can hire a direct sales team whose main focus is in-home sales of the cosmetics. Both approaches have the potential to generate enormous sales and profits.

entrepreneur.com

Scratch Posts

2011-05-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Business At A Glance

Scratch Posts

Startup Costs: $2,000 - $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

Help save couch arms everywhere with scratch posts.

Business Overview

Scratch posts'cats love them, and cat owners love them even more. Starting a manufacturing business that focuses on building cat scratch posts is probably the easiest manufacturing business featured in this chapter to start. This enterprise requires virtually no special skills and only basic hand or power tools. Logically, the best venue for selling this type of product will be local pet stores and cat shows. Purchasing a few scratch posts can give you a good idea in terms of how this product is constructed and the various types of materials required. Once again, if possible try to incorporate recycled materials into the construction of the cat scratch posts, as it will serve as a good marketing tool and, of course, help the environment. This business venture is ideal for the person who is seeking a few extra dollars each month, earned by running their own homebased business.

entrepreneur.com

Ice Sculpture Classes

2011-05-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

Business At A Glance

Ice Sculpture Classes

Startup Costs: Under $2,000
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

It's very posh to see bars made of ice. If you have the skills, it's never been hotter to be surrounded by ice.

Business Overview

Who would possibly want to learn how to make ice sculptures? The answer is thousands of chefs and caterers. Providing you have the skills and abilities to produce ice sculptures and can teach other people, then you have overcome the first hurdle in establishing a new business venture that teaches students how to make ice sculptures. Ice sculpture classes are best suited to being marketed directly to restaurant and catering company owners by arranging a presentation appointment to display and demonstrate your service. The business does not require an operating location, as you can travel to your client's business location and teach the ice sculpting classes on-site. This is an inexpensive business to establish and there should be no problems charging clients $40 to $50 per hour for the classes.

Dance Studio

2011-05-04T15:40:00.000-07:00

About Startup Costs

The startup costs provided in this database include an approximate financial investment that will be needed to start the business. This is generalized information and should only be used as a yardstick to determine business startup costs. Your investment will vary based on factors such as equipment, transportation, licensing and permits, operating location, working capital and initial marketing and advertising budgets. Remember a successful entrepreneur is one who carefully researches and plans every aspect of a new business venture, including the financial investment needed to start a business and the working capital required to achieve positive cash flow.

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Business At A Glance

Startup Costs: $10,000 - $50,000
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

Dance your way to profits with a studio for lessons and rehearsals.

Business Overview

Starting a dance instruction school is a wonderful new business venture to set in motion, as dance schools have been proven financially sound for decades. The business can focus on dance instruction in general, or on specific dance styles such as tap or swing. If you aren't a dance instructor yourself, professional dance instructors can be hired on an as-needed part-time, revenue-sharing basis to conduct the instruction classes. The innovative entrepreneur who starts and operates a dance school can also increase revenues and profits by videotaping the instruction classes and selling the videos by way of mail order and the internet.

The Market

Your customers will vary depending on what type of dance studio you decide to open. You can have a studio strictly for adults, one that focuses on instruction for children, or a dance studio for all ages.

entrepreneur.com

Comedy Club

2011-05-04T15:38:00.000-07:00

out Startup Costs

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Business At A Glance

Startup Costs: $10,000 - $50,000

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

People can always use a laugh. Keep them smiling by giving comedians an outlet for their material.

Business Overview

Comedy clubs are a very popular entertainment venue, and there are a few approaches that can be taken in terms of starting a comedy club. The first and most costly option is to open a comedy club from a fixed location. The second and cheaper option is to establish a mobile comedy troop and book performances for the troop across the country for nightclub engagements, seminar performances, weddings, universities, colleges, and many other special occasion events. Regardless of which approach is employed to establish the business, comedy clubs and acts are extremely popular as more and more people are seeking to reduce stress in their lives through humor.

entrepreneur.com

Sports Team Uniform Service

2010-10-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: $2,000 - $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? Yes
Online Operation? No

Business Overview

Schools, sports associations, and sports clubs can all be potential customers for a business that specializes in retailing team uniforms. Millions of people across North America participate in amateur sporting events such as football, baseball, hockey and soccer on a weekly basis. Almost all of these sports teams have one thing in common: The members of the teams dress in a uniform that represents the team. Selling team sportswear with logos, names and numbers printed on the clothing items is a very easy business to get rolling. You can purchase equipment required to silk-screen and embroider the athletic wear, or you can subcontract this element of the business out to established silk-screen and embroidery companies and concentrate on marketing. Gaining customers can be as easy as creating a catalog of the team uniforms that you stock and setting appointments with decision makers representing the sports teams to solicit business.

Best Business Ideas for a Beginner in 2011

2010-10-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

2011 will bring new opportunities for low cost business ideas and small business start ups. What are some of your best business ideas for a beginner in 2011? If you were going to start a new business in 2011 what one would you start and why?

Often times fads and trendy business ideas motivate new start ups that never really produce much income and often times leave new entrepreneurs dumbfounded and in debt. So how do you pick the best business idea to start?

Over the years I've started several businesses and expanded many of the same. I do some stuff online and I've learned a TON about picking the best business ideas to invest time and money in and the ones that need to prove themselves before they'll captivate my time, attentions and start up capital.

It's easy to look at the upside when starting a business. But for a beginner looking to start a low cost first time business the down side is probably a more crucial area to be looking at. My advice to choosing the best business idea for a beginner in 2011 is to start a lowcost business idea that has very little downside, which also means very little risk.

Low cost online business ideas often cost nothing to start and can begin with starting a blog or creating other content. Affiliate marketing strategies that don't cost any money are plentiful and when investing some money in a start up it is usually best spent in solid education. There are some great programs to make money with a blog, I've written several posts about them on my network of small business idea blogs. Share some of your thoughts on the best business ideas for 2011.

2010-10-22T05:57:00.000-07:00

Can you suggest any business ideas for 2011?
Yes, check out the business ideas section of this website, it’s full of business ideas that you can implement in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and almost certainly even in 2015 and beyond!
Seriously, just because it’s January and a new year has rolled around, nothing has magically changed overnight. Business is still fundamentally the same. Sure each year some businesses become less relevant as they get left behind in the ‘gales of creative destruction’ that Joseph Schumpeter wrote about, but most don’t.
As always the right business for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and beyond is one that provides a product or service that a customer wants or needs at a price they can afford.
Sure by 2015 loading mp3’s onto iPod’s might no longer be a viable business (i.e. we all move to a new format and/or something else replaces the iPod) but people will still need the basic service, converting music from one format to another and loading it onto a storage device.
In other words, whilst the execution of a business idea might change from year to year, the business idea itself probably won’t change anywhere near as much.

My blog has moved to a new site

2010-10-22T05:45:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Thank you for visiting the site.
Please note that the blog has moved to a new site on its own domain.
You can get all the latest, greatest and hottest business ideas from http://www.business-trends.biz/

Evening Gown Rentals

2010-10-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: $10,000 - $50,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

Business Overview

Many designer evening gowns cost $1,000 or more, placing them far outside the financial reach of many customers. This creates more than ample opportunity for the determined entrepreneur to start an evening gown rental business, which can be easily conducted from a home based location. Marketing the business can be as simple as creating a full-color catalog that features pictures and descriptions of the evening gowns for rent and distributing the catalogs throughout the community where they'll generate the most interest in the service. Once established, an evening gown rental business should receive a vast amount of referrals from satisfied customers, not to mention a lot of repeat business.

entrepreneur.com

Auto Draft

2010-10-07T13:04:00.000-07:00

Online Recycled Renovation Products

2010-08-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: $10,000 - $50,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? Yes

Business Overview

Here is a unique business start-up for the savvy webmaster. Thousands of homes are demolished annually in the United States to make way for new houses and buildings. Many of these same homes have items like hardwood flooring, bathroom fixtures, and doors and windows that are of value and can be recycled. You can profit by developing a Web site where these valuable items can be listed for sale. The site should be indexed by product with a section for hardwood flooring, a section for windows, etc. This would enable visitors to easily navigate the site and find what they are looking for quickly. In terms of making money, there are a few options. The first is to charge contractors and homeowners a fee for listing the recycled building products on the site. The second option is to let customers list the items for free and retain a commission upon successful sale. Another option would be to make the site free to use for both visitors and people wishing to list items for sale and sell or rent banner advertising space to merchants and service providers seeking exposure to your Web site users.

Worlds BEST guide on how to make money online

2010-08-04T00:43:00.000-07:00

Brand new Ebook available!

Special features including:

Making money with social networks

Website tutorials

Free updates for LIFE!

Jingle Writer

2010-07-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Music & Jingles"][/caption]

Don't let a lifetime of watching and listening to commercials go to waste--use your knowledge to make money for yourself.

Startup Costs: Under $2,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.
Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

Business Overview

Do you have a musical talent for creating catchy little tunes and rhymes? If so, the time has never been better than now to start a jingle writing service, as advertising in all mediums are booming thanks entirely to the dot.com sensation. Potential clients for a jingle writing service can include radio producers, advertising agencies, and business owners. The key to success in this unique business is to go out and ask for business. Select local companies in your community that now have a radio presence, but not a catchy jingle for their advertisements. Next, simply create a jingle and set an appointment with the owner of the business to present the jingle, along with the reasons why a catchy jingle will benefit their advertising, and ultimately their business.

Online Factory Direct

2010-07-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: $10,000 - $50,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? Yes

Business Overview

In North America there are thousands of homebased manufacturing businesses. Two of the largest challenges facing these entrepreneurs are marketing and competing against much larger and better-financed competitors. Herein lies the business opportunity. Develop an online 'factory direct' Web site that features products for sale manufactured by these homebased entrepreneurs. Not only will you be giving these small manufacturing businesses a fantastic marketing and distribution channel, but you will also be giving them a chance to compete for business without having to blow a bundle on developing and marketing their own Web site. Products sold via the site can be shipped to purchasers directly from the manufacturer, thus eliminating the need for warehousing inventory. In exchange for providing manufacturers with a marketing channel, you can retain a portion of the sales that the site generates; in the range of 10 to 15 percent would be fair. This type of cyberventure could really prove to be successful, as 'factory direct' pricing attracts consumers and securing manufactured goods to be featured on the site would be very easy.

Coupon Books

2010-07-01T04:42:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: $2,000 - $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

Businesses want more customers, and customers want a bargain. Satisfy the needs of both groups.

Business Overview

Community coupon books are hot, and starting a business that designs and produces coupon books is a sensational new business endeavor to set in motion. The concept is very straightforward. Simply secure 50 to 100 businesses throughout the community that would like to be featured in the coupon book free of charge. Of course, the catch is they must be prepared to provide consumers with a discount on their products or service, either in the form of a percentage or fixed discount on a particular product or service. Revenues for the business are gained by selling the coupon books to consumers within the community, and the larger the advertised savings the better. Suppose the discounts offered in the coupon book add up to a total of $5,000. You would want to advertise that fact by promoting a coupon book that costs $10, but will save the purchaser $5,000 on products and services they purchase on a regular basis within their own community.

entrepreneur.com

Catalogs

2010-07-01T04:38:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: $2,000 - $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

If you've looked at your mailbox lately, you'll know catalogs aren't dead. Get in on this industry by helping produce them.

Business Overview

Millions of catalogs are designed and produced each year in the U.S., and securing just a small portion of this very lucrative market can make you rich. The key to success in this industry is not to have all the skills required to produce the catalogs yourself, but to have excellent marketing skills and a good contact base of professionals who can assist in the creation and production of the catalogs from start to finish. In terms of marketing the service, you first must produce sample catalogs to act as a marketing tools. The next step would be to simply show potential customers the sample catalogs whenever and wherever possible. Additionally, join local business associations in your community, as the members of these associations can be a great source of business for your service or as a referral source to lead you to potential business.

entrepreneur.com

Perfume

2010-06-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: $2,000 - $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? Yes

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Make the world a better-smelling place by making or selling perfume."][/caption]

Business Overview

Creating, packaging and distributing your own perfume line can make you rich. Developing your own perfume or perfume line will take some careful planning and research. However, the hard work could really pay off, especially if you can secure national accounts with well-recognized specialty retailers. In terms of the type of perfume your business develops, consider an all-natural approach to the ingredients, as all-natural products are the biggest trend right now. The perfume can be sold to retailers on a wholesale basis, directly to consumers via the internet, or by establishing a perfume sales kiosk set up in high-traffic community gathering places. For mail-order sales, advertise the perfume in specialty publications.

entrepreneur.com

Online Nanny Service

2010-06-27T22:59:00.000-07:00

Help busy mommies conveniently locate relief from the little ones.

Startup Costs: $10,000 - $50,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? Yes

Business Overview

Operating your own home based nanny placement service can be a magnificent way to build a prosperous business. Nanny services are in high demand, and busy parents often have no choice but to pay the costs associated with having a nanny care for their children. There are three major roles to be filled by a nanny service. The first, locating parents who are seeking the services of a professional nanny. The second role is that of an employment screener. You will want to carefully look at all the nannies resumes and carry out reference and background checks to make sure they're suitable candidates. The third role is simple: place qualified nannies with parents who seek their services. There are various ways to charge for nanny services. The simplest and most straightforward is a one-time fee paid by the parents. There are other options, such as a percentage of the nanny's wages, but this can be complicated and even lead to potential liability situations. Additionally, by far the best way to bring these parties together is to operate this business as an online venture. Nannies and parents seeking nannies would meet via chat rooms on the site and discuss their qualifications and needs. This service will require careful planning and research to develop a user-friendly site that can return profits.

entrepreneur.com

Sleepwear

2010-06-10T00:46:00.000-07:00

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="This huge market is one you should be able to cozy up to."][/caption]

Startup Costs: Under $2,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? Yes

Business Overview

It's a fact that more than six billion people inhabit this planet and the vast majority of people wear some sort of clothing to bed that was purposely designed for being slept in. That is one gigantic potential marketplace, thus creating an exciting business opportunity. There are various options available for starting this business, so consider these options:

-Purchase various styles of sleepwear on a wholesale basis and host in-home sleepwear parties that generate orders for your products.

-Design and manufacture your own line of sleepwear and wholesale your products to retailers.

-Create a sleepwear website that enables visitors to create their own sleepwear by selecting style, size and fabric.

-Design and sell patterns used for creating sleepwear and let consumers sew their own from the patterns.

-Secure the licensing rights to popular children's program characters or themes and incorporate them into sleepwear for kids.

Cruise Ship Travel Agent

2010-06-10T00:17:00.000-07:00

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Help cruisers connect with their perfect vacations."][/caption]

Startup Costs: $2,000 - $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? Yes
Online Operation? Yes

Business Overview

Working from the comforts of a homebased office, you can plan and book cruise vacations-of-a-lifetime for your clients. Travel consulting experience is recommended for this opportunity; if you do not have experience, I would advise you to contact the National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents to inquire about training courses in your area. You could also choose a franchise cruise agent business, which provides all franchisees with intensive training in the areas of marketing, administration and reservation booking. The cruise travel agent industry is competitive, but at the same time it is also the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry. Key to success in this business is marketing. You have to tap in to the demographic groups that are most likely to take a cruise'-which include the 50-plus crowd and newlyweds'-and target your marketing efforts to these groups. You might also want to consider specializing in a niche area of the cruise holiday industry, such as singles-only and alternative lifestyle cruises.

Make money online for FREE!

2010-06-02T01:12:00.000-07:00

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Make money online"][/caption]

If you are looking for a way to make money online without buying anything or paying any subscription fees, then this is it.
What co-owner, Riaan van der Linde, did here is to create a system which will help you to setup goals and to manage and maintain your goals.

We all know how crucially important well defined goals are in making a success.

But how will setting up your goals make you money?

De Lange based the membership on a MLM structure, thus you can refer people to the system. You and all your members can register for free.

In the members area of the site ads will be displayed, there is nothing funny about this,the ads are similar to what I have on my site. The only difference is that GoalsOnTarget will share the revenue they get from their ads with their members.

The reason you have to build a downline is because your percentage will be determined by your level of your activity, the level of activity of your members and the size of your downline.

In theory this can work. The only problem I have with these revenue share programs is the number of people registered. If Facebook earns $60 million per month from ads and want to share 40% of that with its 100 million users each guy will get less than a dollar. If you tell people they will share in $60 mil per month revenue it sounds great, until you figure out with how many people you have to share it.

BUT what makes GoalsOnTarget a bit different is the fact that your revenue share will be determined by your activity, thus those who register and do nothing will not share as much as those who are actively involved. The More people you refer and the more active you and your downline are, the more you will earn from the revenue pool.

You can check it out at http://www.goalsontarget.com/

This will nether cost you a cent, all you have to do is to refer new people and to use the system on a daily basis to setup and maintain your goals.

I cannot tell you whether it is working or not yet, the system is brand spanking new. It only launched at end of May 2010. I did register and I will keep you updated on my progress.
Give it a try, it is free to join after all.

http://www.goalsontarget.com/

Wedding Consultant

2010-05-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: Under $2,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No

Online Operation? No

Help make sure a couple's special day goes off without a hitch as a wedding consultant.

Business Overview

It's hard to plan those dream nuptials these days--both the bride and groom usually work, which leaves them scant time or energy for all the scores of details that go into planning the big event. But you can make dreams come true as a wedding planner (also called a bridal consultant). You'll work with the happy couple on an hourly basis, lending advice on a few issues, or you'll plan and orchestrate the entire event, from deciding how many guests to invite, to helping choose a site and someone to officiate on the big day. Wedding planning is big business these days and getting bigger. And because many couples are marrying later than ever before--having spent years as working singles--they've got the funds to put on major productions. That means lots of work with plenty of income for you. The advantages to this business are that you can start part-time without making a big investment, it's creative and challenging, and you get to be an active participant in one of the most glamorous, exciting and romantic aspects of anyone's life over and over again. This is a business where you've got to be extremely organized and detail-oriented. You also have to be creative and able to meet challenges, advising the bride and groom on what they can get for their budget and inventing ways to give them the wedding of their dreams even if they can't afford their original ideas or the site their hearts are set on is already booked solid. You'll need a good working knowledge of what goes into planning a wedding, including resources and price ranges for everything from invitations to photographers to orchestras. And since weddings are emotional for everyone involved, you have to be able to keep your cool, help soothe ruffled feathers and suggest compromises.

The Market

Your clients will be brides and grooms eager to make their wedding the event of a lifetime. Attract their business through ads in your local Yellow Pages, in the society or wedding section of your local paper and in special bridal supplements. Establish a relationship with local wedding-oriented vendors--florists, photographers, bridal shops, videographers, caterers, hotels and country clubs, bakeries and cake decorators, jewelers and musicians. Leave your brochures with them and ask for referrals.

Needed Equipment

All that's really necessary to get started is a calendar, a planning book, a phone and your list of resources.

entrepreneur.com

Dance Instructor

2010-05-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

Dance Instructor
Startup Costs: Under $2,000
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.
Franchises Available? Yes
Online Operation? No

Love to dance? Share the joy.

Business Overview
Providing you know how to dance, regardless of the style'-tap, highland, ballroom, ballet, swing, break, modern, disco, flamenco or line dancing'-there is big money to be earned by teaching people how to dance. If space is available, open a dance studio right in your own home. If not, operate your dance classes in conjunction with a suitable partner or partners who do have the space'fitness center, community center, music shop or a community college. Of course, you can also rent studio space, or even teach students right at their own homes. Expanding your business is as easy as hiring other dance instructors in the same or new styles to teach students and to work on a revenue-splitting basis. One-on-one instruction rates start at about $30 per hour, while group rates are less per student, but you can earn more by teaching numerous people to dance at the same time.

Top 10 Home Businesses with Rapid Break-Even Time

2010-05-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

Businesses are not created equal. Some businesses are easy to start while others are more complicated. Some businesses can make money fast, while others take a longer time to recoup investments. Here are 10 businesses you can start if you want to break-even as fast as two months to a year.

by Jenny Fulbright
PowerHomeBiz Staff Writer

If you are looking for a business that allows you to earn profits as soon as possible, here are some ideas you can try.

While the list is by no means comprehensive (and some people may even disagree), these businesses were chosen based on our own research, readings from various business ideas books, and interviews with entrepreneurs. Some of the businesses that we have featured before -- e.g. computer consulting, web design, catering, etc. -- were excluded from the list even though these ventures perfectly exhibit the characteristic. Of course, how short the period your business can breakeven will depend on various factors present in your venture, including demand for the business in your area, ability to market the business effectively, capital to start-up, and your management know-how.

1. Business Plan Writer. The business plan writing service is an exciting business that demands a combination of writing skill, business expertise, and creativity. Your task is to help new or existing businesses develop an overall blueprint that includes medium-term and long-term strategies, market positioning, financial requirements and start-up costs. This business is ideal for areas where many new businesses are starting and existing businesses are expanding.

However, not all new entrepreneurs prepare a business plan: many find the process too tedious or they lack the knowledge to make one. Your most probable clients will be those entrepreneurs who are seeking loans, attracting investors, looking for franchises, or businesses at the point of being acquired.To start in this business, you need a strong business background, good knowledge of financial statements, good business writing style and the ability to see a business both from the perspective of the owner and the financial source. It would help if you have already put together business plans before so you know what questions to ask and what information to find. Study the various business plan software available in the market, but learn to adopt it to your client's particular situation.

Start-up costs for this business can be low particularly if you already have equipment like computer, fax, and Internet access. Your biggest cost may be professional liability insurance to help protect you when your recommendations for the future direction of the business turn south. Earnings, on the other hand, can range from $2,500 to $5,000 per project depending on the time it takes to write the plan (usually three to four weeks) and the amount of research you need to do. Your price can increase to as much as $25,000 per project, particularly for big corporations seeking new funding. You can also supplement your income through business editing and revising existing plans because of the change in your client's circumstance.

Like any new business, finding the first client is the hardest. Networking and referrals are the most effective ways of finding clients. Join chambers of commerce and economic development groups. Make contacts with bankers, venture capitalists, angel investors and organizations that offer business mentor programs or entrepreneurship centers. Hone your skills by preparing business plans free of charge at the beginning, in order to have a portfolio of plans you can show to prospective clients.

Resources:
How to Write a Business Plan (5th Ed) by Mike P. McKeever
The Prentice Hall Encyclopedia of Model Business Plans by Wilbur Cross, Alice M. Richey
The Complete Book of Business Plans : Simple Steps to Writing a Powerful Business Plan (Small Business Sourcebooks) by Joseph A. Covello, Brian J. Hazelgren

2. Event or Meeting Planner. If you have excellent organizational skills and enjoy arranging and organizing formal events and happenings, this business could be for you. An event or meeting planner arranges and coordinates meetings and other events for companies, professionals, non-governmental organizations, associations and large international organizations handling everything from room reservations, airport pick-ups, dinner menus to entertainment. Meeting planners usually organize conferences, sales meetings, conventions, trade shows, fund-raising events, special banquets, hospitality events, shareholder meetings, international symposia, and other professionally oriented events.

The tasks of an event planner normally depend on the needs and requirement of the clients as well as on the planner's specialization. Your main tasks are to establish meeting design and objectives, select and negotiate with site and facilities, create the budget, handle housing and transportation, plan the program, establish registration procedures, prepare back-up contingency plans, manage food and drinks, produce and print meeting materials, schedule promotion and publicity, manage exhibits, among others. To start in this business, you need to have a perfectionist's attention to detail and a wide array of contacts in the travel, presentation, transportation and hotel industries. In addition to handling a wide array of elements needed for a successful event, you should be adept at negotiations and troubleshoot crisis situations.

This business is ideally suited for those with background in public relations, communications or travel. You can start by volunteering to coordinate an event for an employer, a friend's company, church or other groups. You can also start by working with a meeting planner in your area and taking on a portion of the tasks. This will allow you to gain skills in organizing events, and a first-hand look at what it takes to succeed in the business. The best ways to get ahead in this business is through networking in business groups and associations, contacting visitor's bureau and city's convention to learn of forthcoming events.

Typical annual revenues for this business ranges from $45,000 to $60,000. You can charge either by the hour, by the day, by the number of attendees, or by the project. The average hourly fee is $40 to $60 per hour, while daily fees can run from $400 to $500 per day. Or if you are expecting 50 attendees, you can price the event at $40 per attendee. Others may charge 15 to 20 percent of the projected total budget for the event.

Resources:
Meeting Professionals International http://www.mpiweb.org
Convention Industry Council http://www.c-l-c.org
Professional Convention Management Association http://www.pcma.org
Event Planning : The Ultimate Guide to Successful Meetings, Corporate Events, Fundraising Galas, Conferences, Conventions, Incentives and Other Special Events by Judy Allen (0471644129
Dollars & Events : How to Succeed in the Special Events Business by Joe Jeff Goldblatt, Frank Supovitz
Affairs of the Heart : How to Start and Operate a Successful Special Event Planning Service (3-ring binder) by Nancy DeProspo (0963808508)

3. Public Relations. A typical public relations specialist promotes people, products and events to the media or other resources in a variety of ways including press releases, special events and press conferences. However, according to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), there are fifteen elements of public relations: community relations, counseling, employee/member relations, fund raising or development, government affairs including lobbying, industry relations, investor or financial relations, issues management, marketing communications, media relations, minority or multicultural relations, public affairs, publicity, research, special events and public participation.

As a public relations specialist, you can specialize in a variety of ways. Some specialize in crisis communications, Web publicity, copywriting, annual reports, non-profit sector, or authors and writers. To start in this business, you need to gain training and experience. You may want to get professional accreditation as an APR or Accredited in Public Relations (in the U.S., check with the PRSA). You may start with your own business by developing a plan publicizing your new venture and credentials to the right market. You can also offer volunteer to do publicity for your favorite charity, your friend's business, or even a local candidate.

Earnings from a home-based public relations business can range from $65,000 to even as high as $175,000. Overhead expenses are low to moderate at 20 to 40 percent of income.

Resources:
Public Relations Society of America (http://www.prsa.org)
National Investor Relations Institute (http://www.niri.org)
Public Relations Kit for Dummies (For Dummies) by Eric Yaverbaum (Editor), Robert Bly

4. Computer Repair. As more and more households and businesses embrace computer technology, the demand for repairing broken computer hardware will continue to increase. As a computer repair technician, your job is to maintain and fix computers at a customer's business site or at home. Your service could include swapping motherboards, data recovery, disaster recovery, repairing network problems, removing viruses, installing software, troubleshooting modem and communication problems, repairing notebooks, and others.

To maintain and repair computers, you need first to know how they work and what to do when they don't. You need to know the mechanical workings of a computer, their interfaces and connections. If there are parts that need replacement, you must know where to get the components. You can develop your technical knowledge through reading books, taking courses on computer repair, videos and hands-on experience. Succeeding in this business, however, entails more than technical know-how. You need to have the personality and ability to provide a high level of service, as this is a customer-service oriented business.

Computer repair is one of the most lucrative home businesses available. You can potentially earn $48,000 to $60,000 a year, assuming your billable hours are about 1,200 to 1,500 a year at $40 an hour. Some computer technicians charge as high as $85 an hour. You can also charge for either travel time or a flat fee for a service call. Overhead costs for this business is moderate at about 25 percent or less.

Resources:
Start Your Own Computer Repair Business by Linda Rohrbough, Michael Hordeski
Upgrading and Repairing PCs Quick Reference by Scott Muelle
Troubleshooting and Repairing Computer Printers by Stephen Bigelow Troubleshooting and Repairing Computer Monitors by Stephen Bigelow

5. Medical Transcriptionist. If you love typing and the medical lingo, the medical transcription business is for you. A medical transcriptionist transcribes the medical records dictated by a healthcare professional, including letters, histories, physicals, progress reports, and chart notes. With the growing complexity of medicine, mounting threat of litigation and increasing demand on their time, the healthcare industry has relied on keeping dictated notes to document all aspects of their patient's history and pushed the medical transcription business into a $50 billion industry.

Superior listening skills, fast typing speed, and aptitude for science and language are required to succeed in this business. You need to have an understanding of medical diagnostic procedures and the medical specialties you work with, enough to know the medical terms and spell them correctly. This business is a good fit for those with medical background. If you have not studied or worked in the medical field before, you can take home-study course, correspondence course or classroom training in a vocational or technical school. To get clients, check with your existing contacts, other transcription services or solicit clients directly. You can also check out Internet sites that contract medical transcriptionists and use the Internet to send out documents.

You can charge for your transcription services in a variety of ways: number of lines (10-20 cents per line), number of characters, per page (typically around $5-$6 per page), minute of dictation (from $15 to $50 per hour depending on the level of difficulty to understand), or the number of kilobytes in a text file. While actual earnings depend on the type of work done and the equipment used, average earnings of a medical transcriptionist ranges from $30,000 to $90,000).

One downside, though: the emergence of voice-recognition technology where doctors could sit down on their computers and dictate their notes while the computer "types" may reduce demand for the medical transcriptionists. Nonetheless, even with the presence of this technology, medical transcriptionists will still be needed as it allows medical professionals to dictate notes on the tape recorder or over the phone while driving, walking or in the elevator. In addition, such technology can even be a boon for transcribers as it allows them to focus on their editing skills instead of typing speed.

Resources:
The American Association for Medical Transcription http://www.aamt.org
Transcription Test http://www.gn-t.com
Comprehensive Skills Assessment http://www.meditec.com
MT Daily http://www.mtdaily.com
How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist by Gordon Morton

6. Carpet Cleaner. Carpet cleaning is one of the most popular home businesses today. As the name suggests, your job description is to shampoo and clean carpets for homes and businesses alike using special equipment. You can initially focus on cleaning homes or apartments, and then grow to service commercial establishments such as office spaces, restaurants and retail stores that could offer bigger contracts and higher percentage of repeat business.

A carpet cleaning business has a low entry cost. You can start as low as $1,000 if you initially lease your cleaning equipment and already own a vehicle to transport your equipment. As your business grows, you can find used or new professional carpet cleaning equipment at wholesale janitorial suppliers. To reduce cost, purchase industrial-grade cleaning supplies at wholesale prices. Before you start, however, you must have some skills required for efficiently cleaning carpets and knowledge of the equipment and supplies to use.

Consider the number of trips you need to make (one to estimate the job, and the other to do the job), the size of the carpet cleaned and the need for cleaning in pricing your services. You can charge your customers either a flat hourly rate or a room rate. Hourly rates can range from $25 to $50 per hour. On the other hand, a 10 x 12-foot room of 120 square feet can range from $18 to $30, at 15¢ to 25¢ a square foot. If charging by the room, most require a minimum number of rooms to clean, typically three. You can charge additional fees for moving furniture to clean the carpet. Potential first year earnings for this business can reach $35,000, and breakeven can come one month to six months. To augment your income, you can also clean upholstery, cars and full houses.

There are various ways to reach your clients and market your business. Word-of-mouth is the fastest and most effective, although many carpet cleaners spread the word by placing classified ads in the local paper, distributing flyers and business cards.

Resources:
Carpet and Rug Institute (http://www.carpet-rug.com)
Carpet and Fabricare Institute (http://www.carpet9.org)
Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (http://www.ascr.org)

7. Financial Planner. A financial planner guides clients in making sound, informed decisions on the risks and rewards of specific financial investments and opportunities. As a financial planner, you look into all aspects of the client's financial life, including income from all sources and financial commitments. Unlike a broker which looks only in stocks, you choose from a wide variety of financial instruments, such as bonds, mutual funds, real estate, venture capital opportunities, and others to help your clients reach their financial goals. Your tasks can range from providing consulting services to businesses on pension plan investments to as simple as helping individuals manage their bank statements.

Demand for this business continues to grow as investment vehicles become more complicated and the tax implications increasingly become pervasive. To start in this business, you need to have an extensive knowledge, training, and experience working for the finance industry. While no state or federal legislation define the qualifications of a financial planner, you need to decide how you will function as a financial advisor and get the appropriate certification and license. Many either register with the Securities and Exchange Commission to become a Registered Investment Adviser or take specialized training and pass exams to become a Certified Financial Planner. To become a CFP, you need to pass exams in six areas: tax management, investments, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and estate planning. You also need to complete 45 hours of continuing education every year. Other organizations that issue financial planning credentials include the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (for Accredited Estate Planner), Institute for Investment Management Consultants (for Certified Investment Management Consultant), Association for Investment Management and Research (for Chartered Financial Analyst), and American Society of Certified Life Underwriters and Chartered Financial Consultants (for Chartered Financial Consultant).

A financial advisor can expect to earn anywhere from $40,000 to $90,000 per year. You can charge by the hour (typically $50 to $150 or more per hour), a percentage of the assets managed in the portfolio, or commission from investment products sold. If you are working on a $1 million portfolio for a client, your 2 percent commission could give you $20,000. You can justify your costs by showing clients how to increase return on investment by an amount greater than the commission.

Resources:
The Financial Planning Association (http://www.fpanet.org)
Wealth Management: The Financial Advisor's Guide to Investing and Managing Your Client Assets (The Irwin/IAFP Series in Financial Planning) by Harold R. Evensky
The Wealth Management Index: The Financial Advisor's System for Assessing & Managing Your Client's Plans & Goals (Itwin/Iafp Series in Financial plan by Ross Levin
Best Practices for Financial Advisors (Bloomberg Professional Library) by Mary Rowland, Michael R. Bloomberg

8. Image Consultant. As the world turns more competitive, the question of "looking good" in the eyes of an increasingly demanding customer could spell the success or failure of a person's business goals. From finding a job to landing a contract, impression and image counts. As an image consultant, your job is to enhance a client's image by improving personal appearance, diction, clothing, and professional etiquette. You will offer clients advice on wardrobe planning and personal shopping; analyze their coloring and advice on make-up, hairstyle or coloring; coach clients on effective speech techniques; or offer corporate clients with workshops and seminars on personal grooming and professional etiquette. Think of your job as "impression management" and "strategic corporate dressing."

Given people's desire to look good, everyone can be your potential client. The bulk of your customers, however, will be individuals, mostly professionals and corporate executives needing guidance on how to look best as they climb up the corporate ladder, self-employed individuals who must market themselves effectively, people seeking employment or changing fields, and those in specialized occupations such as television. To get clients, network extensively and build a referral base. For this kind of business, clients want assurance that you can deliver what you promise, and may be less inclined to check out the Yellow Pages. If you have successfully consulted people, ask for a letter of recommendation or other references. Establish yourself as an expert in your field by writing a book or articles for magazines and newspapers. Get your name out to a wider audience by speaking to social and civic groups.

One-on-one wardrobe consulting can bring you $25,000 to $40,000 a year in gross earnings, with hourly rates ranging from $50 to $250, with $125 the average. You can expect higher income if you do speech coaching, where you can charge from $75 to $300 an hour. Seminars, however, produce the biggest income potential as this can give you fees ranging from $750 to $5,000 a day, depending on the number of participants and the nature of the workshop. The more corporate work you do, the higher your income potential. Overhead costs for this business can be as low as 20 percent of gross earnings.

Resources:
Association of Image Consultants ( http://www.aici.org )
Image Consulting in the 21st Century by Brenda York-McDaniel (0970359500)
Professional Presence : The Total Program for Gaining That Extra Edge in Business-By America's Top Corporate Image Consultant by Susan Bixler
Attention to Detail: A Woman's Guide to Professional Appearance and Conduct by Clinton T. Greenleaf III, Stefani Schaefer, Patti Schaefer, Holly Strawbridge (Editor) (0966531930)
The Etiquette Advantage in Business: Personal Skills for Professional Success by Peggy Post, Peter Post (0062736728)

9. Personal Chef. This is one of the fastest growing home businesses with great income potential, minimal start-up costs, and allows for flexible schedule. Entrepreneur Magazine calls it "one of the hottest trends in today's marketplace" while the U.S. World News and World Report called it a "hot track career." In 2000, this business was estimated to reach over $100 million and is one of the rapidly growing segment of the home meal replacement market.

As a personal chef, you prepare meals one or two times a month in your clients' homes, providing enough food for two to three weeks. Given the shortage of time and increasing level of activity, more people are paying $7 or $8 a meal per person to a personal chef to come to their homes, prepare several dinners and leave them in the refrigerator or freezer. When they come home, they have several choices of tasty and nutritious meal to choose from, instead of fast food fare or TV dinners.

To become successful as a personal chef, you need to prepare customized and personalized menus that allow you to make profit while making your services cost-effective to clients. If you prepare 10 meals to a family of five costing them $340 per visit, each dinner costs around $6.80 apiece an amount lower than the $12 to $15 per person a family would typically spends in a restaurant. However, you have to be careful that excess costs do not devour your bottom line. Personal chefs can make monthly income of $3,000 to $4,000, while potential annual revenues can $40,000 to $50,000.

While you can get clients through advertisements, this business primarily thrives on word of mouth. Since you will be working in your clients' homes, they need to be comfortable and familiar with you (although it helps to get theft and liability insurance in the event an untoward incident occurs in your clients' homes). You can also do cooking demonstrations and write articles in magazines and other publications.

Resources:
United States Personal Chef Association (http://www.uspca.com)
Hire-a-Chef (http://www.hireachef.com)

10. Real Estate Appraiser. Real estate appraisers determine the value of property and structures. Real estates need to be appraised prior to its sale, when refinancing or getting a home equity loan, when getting insurance, in the event of foreclosure or bankruptcy, for investment decisions, and for other decisions needed on a property. Your tasks include checking real estate records, inspecting and measuring property, and calculating value based on local and industry guidelines. Potential customers for this business include banks when they grant a mortgage or foreclose on a home loan; lawyers in estate distribution or dispute cases; individuals prior to selling or buying a home or contesting real estate taxes, government when it condemns a property or reassess taxes; and insurance carriers prior to agreements on property damage settlements.

To start in this business, contact your state licensing division for the licenses and certifications needed to become a real estate appraiser. Credentials through training and experience are very important in this business. To help you get some idea of what licenses and training to get, study the ads for appraisers in the local telephone book and real estate sections of newspapers. The association where they belong to is usually listed. You also need to create some samples of your work to show to prospective clients of your business, to help establish that your estimates are not wild guesses. As with any other business, networking with the right group of people is essential, and in this case you need to develop personal contact with mortgage companies, savings and loans, and banks to get on their list of approved appraisers. Joining national associations can also give you some referrals.

Potential earnings in a year could reach from $35,000 to $75,000 for residential appraising, while commercial appraising could bring you $100,000 per year. Appraisers normally charge by the hour at a rate of $40 to $80 an hour. Overhead expenses for a home-based operation are moderate at about 30 percent.

Resources:
American Society of Appraisers (http://www.appraisers.org)
Appraisal Institute (http://www.appraisalinstitute.org)
The Foundation of Real Estate Appraisers (http://www.frea.com)

15 Predictions and Trends for 2010

2010-05-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

Scott Steinberg: Shiny Objects
In 2010, expect to see small-business owners becoming more tech-savvy, and increasingly going mobile, virtual and viral as a result. Not only is it now possible to tap into the power of smartphones, netbooks and
online services or cloud computing apps to slash overhead drastically and take your office wherever you go. It's also viable to use social networks, microblogging applications and all-purpose multimedia devices'
to build buzz for products and brands, connect directly with consumers and source real-time customer feedback that allows you to optimize any sales effort or marketing campaign.

Allen Moon: E-Business
I see 2010 as the year when even the most low-tech online businesses see possibilities in mobile marketing. The vast majority of small businesses see "mobile" as the domain of larger companies and tech-savvy entrepreneurs, but there's a lower barrier to entry than ever before. Every website needs to be mobile-friendly, at the very least. This way, you stand to benefit from geo-locating features on smart phones, and "recommendation apps" that send folks to your business. If you never get further than that, you've still come a long way.

Nina Kaufman: Making It Legal
I see a rise in collections problems. With the economy still in tight straits and a very likely (substantial) tax increase to fund the bailouts/stimulus packages/healthcare programs, small businesses will find cash flow even tighter in 2010. Entrepreneurs will be chasing after their clients to get paid, other companies will be chasing after them to get paid and the IRS and Departments of Labor will be chasing after everyone to get their hands on income and employment taxes (to replenish the depleted treasuries)--whether or not the amounts are actually overdue.

Brad Sugars: Startup Basics
2010 will be a big year for people starting their own businesses, both out of necessity and because confidence will start to build and people will be ready to make the leap. With so many companies going out of business, and the employment market full of great new people looking for work, the level of opportunity to fill the gaps with quality people is vast coming into 2010. The dollar is down; international markets have come through the recession in many cases stronger than the U.S., so overseas expansion has never looked better.

Jeff Elgin: Buying a Franchise
As we look to 2010, the markets are recovering, unemployment is going down (though slowly) and the people seem ready to start taking action to make their situation better. During the coming year we will see and hear more bad news but we will also see more new business startups, we'll see increased consumer spending and we'll see increasing amounts of lending to small businesses. It's an election year so the politicians are going to try hard to make the situation better, perhaps even by letting capitalism work as intended, because if they don't they might just all get voted out.

Elinor Robin: Conflict Management
In 2010, as resources become tighter, we will encounter more conflicts in our personal and professional lives and this trend will be mirrored on the local, national and international stages. The new economy will continue to foster the creation of innovative services by entrepreneurs who are able to side-step the traditional attorney-driven model of conflict management. The majority of these services will be technology-based, allowing people to access information that they will use in DIY models or with reduced fee
service providers.

Penny Morey: Human Resources
Business owners and HR reps will have to continue to deal with cutbacks in staff, reduced or eliminated salary increases and/or benefits programs and the overall general business malaise that many industries experienced in 2009. Most employees not directly affected observed co-workers, spouses and other family members struggle to make ends meet. While some business sectors are beginning to rally, no sensible person is overly optimistic about the speed of our economic recovery. Those in charge of HR will be working with smaller budgets and less staff, as well. So, as usual, a primary responsibility will be to lead by example regarding exhibiting a steadfast positive demeanor and showing innovative ways to do more with less.

Michelle Dunn: Credit and Collections Specialist
In 2009 the economy gave us all many lessons, some of which we are still dealing with and will be for years to come. It is my opinion that in 2010 and the coming years we will see the credit and collections management profession growing like never before and more businesses hiring credit personnel to handle checking credit and references for new customers, dealing with customers who get past due, and implementing and enforcing credit policies like never before. When I owned my collection agency, approximately 70 percent of my clients did not have credit policies and I see that changing as we move forward. Businesses can no longer survive without limiting their credit risk.

Bonnie Lee: Tax Tips
I predict that taxes will go up next year. We are looking at increased spending programs, an expensive health care bill and an escalating war in Afghanistan. Someone has to pay for it and I believe it will be the wealthy. I also predict a major backlash as a result.

Paul Spiegelman: Corporate Culture and Customer Satisfaction
As we move into 2010 and unemployment remains high, company culture will continue to be challenged. The best way to preserve and enhance the culture is complete transparency and an adherence to a set of visible core values. Employees will help you with the challenges of business if you are open and honest with them. It will also be important to resist the temptation to diversify products and services for short-term revenue gains. Focusing on what you're best in the world at is never more important than during challenging times. Stick with the basics and we'll all get through this together.

Joseph Benoit: Small Business Finance Strategist
Many of our entrepreneurial clients continue to ask where to find credit, how to get approved and what to do when a bank freezes their credit. It will become more critical during 2010 for business owners to keep organized financial records and diligently document their successes, and of course, continue to pay bills on time. These are all factors financial institutions may consider when reviewing your case for access to credit.

Michael Port: Sales Talk
If you are in business or sales, you're going to have to prove you are trustworthy. Sure, that's always been the case, but 2010 is going to put sales professionals under a microscope. Customers are going to be
far more discerning in the trust department. The New York Times called 2009 the Year of the Bamboozle. Trust has been compromised by a good portion of the private, public and entertainment sector. So, now it's
even more important to listen first and build trust based on your clients' needs. When you talk about your products and services, listen for immediate reactions. Do your customers think you can deliver what
you say you can? Be acutely aware of how you continually build trust and how you are going to prove you can deliver what you promise.

Tim Berry: Business Plans
People are going to do more and better business planning, but not more full formal business plan documents. This is the year for getting key planning elements defined and understood, for regular plan review and course correction, and more focus on the planning process. Form follows function, and people are getting used to that in planning context. It's not a document, it's a plan. It's going to be wrong, but that doesn't mean it isn't vital. You'll use that difference between plan and actual to steer your company better.

Mikal Belicove: Build a Website
While 2010 appears to be a turnaround year for the economy, entrepreneurs and start-ups alike will continue to spend cautiously and push hard for measurable returns on every dollar invested; and when it comes to the Web, designers and programmers will be pushed to the extreme. As a compromise to satisfy tight budgets calling for immediate results, look for 2010 to be the year we finally get back to basic and streamlined Web design. The one-page website, a favorite among busy Web designers and programmers for showcasing their own services and related data, will emerge as a trend that’s difficult to ignore. Cost efficient, scalable, and search engine friendly, I predict the one-page website will be the darling of the Web in 2010.

Domenic Rinaldi: Buying and Selling a Business
A slight recovery will see small and mid-size businesses return to profitability quickly. This will be followed by large numbers of baby boomer-owned businesses for sale. The recession caused many of the baby boomer business owners to delay their retirement plans. Their primary focus was to retrench and save their companies so when this recession ends, they can salvage a nest egg. The smart boomers will not wait to capitalize on the upward swing in business, realizing that the best time to sell is when things are going well. In addition, many are just flat out exhausted by the amount of effort and energy that was required to salvage their businesses during this downturn.

Small Business Trends for 2010

2010-05-11T04:53:00.000-07:00

The Trends in a Nutshell

No. 1: Human-Centric Businesses

Business used to be about companies. Now its about people.

No. 2: Collaborative Markets

Markets are no longer about selling to buyers, but collaborating with them to develop better and more sustainable solutions.

No. 3: Sustainable Communities

Organizations of people are evolving from exclusivity to inclusiveness. This creates more sustainable communities where members place their trust in each other.

What do you see for your business?

The Evolution of this Perfect Storm

All of these trends are simultaneously converging to create a perfect storm of opportunity for businesses, especially small or entrepreneurial business that are characterized as having personal relationships with customers.

If you go back to the late '50's and early '60's, there was an emerging technology that changed the world of marketing. That technology was television. In the midst of an expanding post-World War II economy, middle class consumers embraced television. Television had reach. People had discretionary income. And all of this created a new era of consumerism that helped make many brands household names.

Television was a marketing technology that made everything more expansive by bringing it to a larger stage, and that fit perfectly with the growing economy. What followed was a love affair with the automobile, highly stylized fashions, and countless consumer products guaranteed to make your life a dream! Those companies were at the right place at the right time to capitalize on the converging trends of the day. Needless to say, some of those industries and companies are faltering today.

Human-Centric Business is Local

If you are an entrepreneur, YOU are now at the right place at the right time.

The technology that is transforming the business environment in your favor is social media marketing. It is giving everyone a voice at a period when people have gone through some tough experiences. They want to move forward, but it is still uncertain where this economy is going. Until that happens, they are looking for people to trust. This means they are going to be doing business in their local communities.

This is why every Fortune 500 corporation has a presence on social media. They know that business is going local. They are seeing how social media is leveling the playing field to create equal opportunities for every company. In a nutshell, they want to be more like you.

Your challenge is to be who you are, a human-centric business that is willing to reach out even further than you already have. Social media is a tool that is ideally suited for that, and most significantly, it's influence is sustainable.

article by jeffkorhan.com

Home Made Dog Treats

2010-05-02T23:17:00.000-07:00

You'd be surprised that if you Google "home made dog biscuits" there will be hundreds (if not thousands) of entries. Home Made Dog Treats are a much sought after item by pet owners these days. So why would people want to buy Home Made Doggie Treats when they can get loads of them from their local supermarket? The same reason you'd prefer to bake your own cookies at home for your kids - store-bought Doggie Treats can be filled with lots of empty carbs and chemicals that might eventually cause your furry friend more harm than good. People who buy Home Made Dog Treats are likely to be serious pet owners looking for hygienic, healthy, nutritious titbits for their pets.

The baking part is easy - just Google "Dog Biscuit Recipes" and you'll find more recipes than you can handle. There are all sorts of recipes for flavored treats and even ones for keeping your dog's breath fresh and clear. Remember what I said in the previous para - pet owners buy Home Made Dog Treats because they want quality, clean treats for their pets. Avoid going overboard with the grease and flavoring. When you first start out, orders will trickle in so you can bake to order - making batches in your own kitchen oven. But if business picks up, you might need to consider getting a separate heavy duty oven to handle bigger volumes. Although the rules and regulations governing food preparation for pets are not as strict as for human consumption, there may still be laws governing this business. If you intend to do this on a larger scale, check with your local business authorities and local councils to see what licenses or permits you may need.

The good thing about starting this business on a small scale is that you can work out of your own home. To market and promote your Home Made Doggie Treats, here are some suggestions :

Create a website and take orders online. This is a great way because you can bake to order and ship out your Home Made Dog Treats oven fresh. You would need to be able to accept payments online though, so you will want to consider setting up a payment processor - either credit card or PayPal. The good thing about websites is that they reach out to the whole world 24/7.

Bake samples and offer them to your local pet store or grocers to give to their clientele as free gifts. Make arrangements with them to place your Home Made Doggie Treats on sale at their premise. Give them a commision for every sale.

Place ads online, in your local newspaper or local pet-owners magazines.

A simple startup will not require much investment. You can use your existing oven. You will just need to buy your ingredients as and when you need to bake a batch of treats. Additional costs may include website setup costs, payment processor setup costs and advertisements. But even these can be kept low to suit your business goals. You can expand as and when your Home Made Dog Treats become more popular. Making Home Made Dog Treats is a great business to run from your home. You don't have to keep stock and you're helping pets stay happy and healthy while making extra money for yourself.

Ink Cartridge Refilling

2010-05-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

You're at home working at your computer. You need to print a document urgently and what happens? Your printer runs out of ink! It happens to everyone some time or other. When that happens you basically have only two options - buy new ink cartridges or if you're on a tight budget, get ink refills and try re-fill your ink cartridges. The first option is obviously more expensive but it's quicker and cleaner. The second option - well... those of you who have tried to re-fill your own ink cartridges know that it can be cheaper AND very messy if you don't know what you're doing!

Re-filling ink cartridges is a quick and easy money maker you can run from home. It helps if you live in a busy area with lot of offices. What you need is the basic equipment to re-fill ink cartridges - syringes, ink-refills and standby cartridges. Your customers could bring in their ink cartridges and wait while you have them filled or if you already have re-filled cartridges ready, just exchange them with your customers for a fee. If you can let the offices near you know that you are providing this service, they will be flocking to you every time they need to re-fill their ink cartridges. Alternatively, with a little bit of investment, you could set up a small kiosk in your local mall where customers can easily walk in, deposit their ink cartridges and have them re-filled. Once you get the hang of it, it's not that messy a way to make money!

Electronic Scrapbook

2010-05-02T23:14:00.000-07:00

We all have old photographs and videos of the past that we keep (scattered) all over our homes. Not that these items mean any less to us - just that most of us are too busy to bother organizing them. Another reason why we don't do it is probably because we lack the skills and resources to create something beyond the ordinary physical scrapbook. One good way of dealing with this problem is to have all our precious photos and videos digitized and organized into an Electronic Scrapbook.

This is a good money maker for the avid home-based multimedia genius. Using your skills with various computer software and your technical expertise, you will convert your clients collection of photos and videos into an electronic scrapbook. Turn all these memories into a video production of sorts, you will add music and visual effects. That way, when your client won't have to mess around with boxes and boxes of photos. All they need to do is pop in a CD into their DVD player or computer, sit back and relive fond memories. Before you begin your project, it would probably be a good thing to go through the materials your clients hands over to you. That way, you can sort of get to know the background of the photos and when it's time to assemble your electronic scrapbook, you will have a good idea of the mood your music needs to set, or any color preference your client may have. It is after all, THEIR electronic scrapbook. Good way to help people preserve and re-live their happy memories and make money at the same time!

Top 10 Hot Technology Trends for 2010

2010-04-18T05:01:00.000-07:00

Verizon Business Identifies Top Technology Trends That Will Support Business Expansion as Economy Recovers

OVERVIEW

Companies around the globe are positioning themselves for growth as the economic recovery takes hold.

Verizon Business has identified 10 business technology trends that will help companies grow their business in 2010.

Kerry Bailey, chief marketing officer, Verizon Business:

“As economic conditions continue to improve, we are ready to help our client partners take advantage of pent-up growth opportunities. Whether it’s enabling digital medical records, supporting smart grid energy-conservation initiatives, helping retailers secure transactions, or creating new opportunities for global financial trading, our global solutions can provide a solid foundation for business innovation and success in the coming year.”

Enterprise Social Networking
Social networks will spread further in the workplace, taking collaboration to a new level. As the lines between professional and personal communications become increasingly blurred, IT leaders will need to incorporate enterprise social networking into their overall unified communications and collaboration strategy. Enterprise-grade versions of Facebook, Twitter and Wikis in the workplace will begin to be as common as e-mail and will change the way business is conducted. As a result, the decision-making process will be accelerated, customers will receive immediate answers and workers will be more empowered.
Aiming for the ‘Clouds’
Cloud computing – whether public or private – is enabling businesses to move to a new and more efficient IT model. It is allowing enterprises to use computing resources (network, server, storage) on–demand and to serve applications centrally. With security and performance enterprise-ready, the ‘cloud’ is enabling businesses to be more agile, more productive and more flexible. Businesses also benefit from lower IT, energy and real estate costs through data center virtualization.

360 Security
“360 Security” will become a well-known term as businesses and government agencies apply security across the cloud, the edges of their networks and for specific devices whether over the Internet or via a private network. A 360-degree focus on security requires more than just securing applications or corporate networks. It’s a continual process that includes doing lots of little things well to protect information from being compromised. Also essential is the need for enterprises to factor in risk management and to understand where their data resides whether in motion or at rest, inside or outside of the corporate network. In short, IT leaders must have the answer to this question: “Do you know where your data is?”

Mobilizing the Workforce: From Telework to Telepresence
From telework to telepresence, the ability to collaborate via wired and wireless technology embodies the modern workplace. According to a Forrester Research report, “Enterprise Mobile User Forecast: Mobile Wannabes Are the Fastest-Growing Segment,” 397.1 million workers will be enterprise mobile users by 2012. More companies will deploy mobile applications in a structured, secure environment to help companies spur productivity and innovation.

Borderless Business
The extended enterprise – which consists of a business and its employees, customers, suppliers and partners – is a growing trend requiring an IT architecture that enables companies to deliver services and applications to anyone, anywhere, on any device, at any time and to do it seamlessly, reliably and securely. Borderless businesses are embracing the use of video, collaborative applications and other networked services and delivering them across the enterprise, using technology that can more easily be managed and scaled.

High IQ Networks Fueling a Smart Economy
As Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg recently observed, “The key to a smart economy is smart technology that can change business models and society.” Smart networks – featuring classes of service and application-aware capabilities – will be a platform for business growth in 2010. Businesses will adopt more cloud-based technologies, enabling them to provide functions ranging from automated supply chains that speed purchase-to-pay cycles, while reducing the environmental impact of paper bills to Web-based contact centers that enable customers to “tweet” in real-time with online service agents. Businesses will employ smart networks to their competitive advantage by utilizing on-demand bandwidth as a way to allocate resources where and when needed to operate more nimbly and cost effectively.

The Focus Will Be on Green
Businesses and consumers will continue to embrace energy-efficiency in the workplace and at home. Green supply chains will be enabled by supply chain automation – eliminating the need to produce and transfer paper bills, and businesses will choose their partners more selectively as more companies set carbon reduction goals. As businesses and consumers become more conservation conscious, home energy management will become an important area of opportunity for utility companies to employ smart grid technology. Advanced communications and information technology will provide the underlying foundation for a more eco-friendly society by contributing to smarter grids, enabling telework to reduce traffic and decreasing the need for energy-hungry facilities and helping local, state and federal government agencies to better manage scarce resources.

Seeing is Believing
The advent of more visual communications in the workplace will drive greater return on collaboration investment, higher productivity and improved overall business performance. With more companies conducting IP-based video meetings via telepresence and on the desktop, organizations will be able to enhance decision-making to improve results. This technology will fuel a culture of collaboration as workers increasingly meet face-to-face with their executive leadership, peers, customers and business partners. Video will continue to gain popularity as a vehicle for two-way communications as companies continue to embrace the cost-savings, productivity and environmental benefits of virtual meetings. In addition, video will also play an important role delivering “on-demand” content that can be viewed anywhere, anytime.

More Wireless Apps, Especially Machine to Machine
As organizations continue to embrace wireless, businesses will be empowered by the wireless technology that offers higher and higher speeds. Using wireless, companies can develop innovative new applications that get them closer to their customers, employees and partners. Machines will be better able to communicate with each other and make “smart” decisions – such as redistributing energy resources or alerting a bottling company warehouse to refill a soda machine as specific brands become depleted. Other examples: a waiter taking a diner’s order and simultaneously sending it to the kitchen, a physician electronically sending a patient’s prescription to the pharmacy or a store clerk who instantly checks the inventory for a customer.

20/20 Vision
In addition to planning for short-term expansion, businesses will make decisions in 2010 that will fuel their future growth. IP-based investments – such as unified communications, cloud computing and software as a service – that will continue to provide the platform to enable successful business practices. In 2009, businesses learned how to do more with less. Applying 20/20 hindsight vision and lessons learned will inspire the 2010 technology decisions that will help businesses work harder and more efficiently for the next decade. In the process, businesses will work better and more effectively together to create a positive impact on the global economy and society.

vartips.com

My Home Based Business|How I Make Money Online

2010-04-18T04:16:00.000-07:00

I often get asked how I make money online when I tell people about my home based business, it is the next logical question I suppose. I mean friend asks what I’ve been up to and I answer, ” I’m doing some stuff to make money online”….

Oh?… Like what?…. Is usually how the conversation goes. It’s funny, I can say I make websites, which is true in a sense. Or I could say I’m a web publisher, which is also true in a sense, but seems a bit professional for my taste. Do you see what I mean? And the thing is when I tell them how I make money I get kind of a confused look accompanied by a slow head nod. So like I said in a previous post I’m going to start telling people I sell coffee, give them a card and provide the state of Michigan gourmet coffee.

Most successful small business ideas or start ups are common in a few general ways and starting a home based business or making money online is really no different. If your going to have a money making home based business you have to get a few things right to be a successful entrepreneur:

Add Value to the Marketplace.

Offer an in Demand Product People Will Pay For.

Create a Loyal Following.

That’s about as simple as it gets, of course getting these three things right and building a successful small business is far from easy. Simple and easy are two different things. The nice thing about starting a new business online today is the wealth of information available and the number of successful and profitable small business start ups you can pull knowledge from. One of the things I offer on a limited basis is online start up consulting, go to the contact page if you have questions, I answer them from there. Wading through this wealth of information online is almost as bad as not having access to it. Its kind of like a man dying of thirst being dropped from and airplane into a salty ocean… Know what I mean?

Making money online is just like making money off line with a few twists in the “how” of it. The basics are the same. I’ve shared and continue to share why I love the home based business model and use it today in every business venture I get involved with. I have and will consider a more traditional business model if it makes sense.

How I Make Money Online With My Business

My success story is not shocking or all that exciting. My success online has been rather quiet, and I’m fine with that. I had a good and loud business before I started my new business online and frankly, I had my fill.

There are only a few ways that I make money online, I’ll list them and then talk about the basic way I have been able to earn money by implementing them. The exact ways I have made money online are:

Selling Ad Space

Adwords Adsense

Consulting

Marketing a Turnkey Home Based Business

Writing Posts

Twitter

Affiliate Marketing

Make Money By Selling Ad Space

One of the best home based business ideas is to build a loyal following to a website and then sell ad space. Obviously your loyal following is the value you offer and get paid for. If you intend to make money online selling ad space on you website or blog the pick you loyal following or “targeted audience” accordingly. Check into the commercial value of the audience you intend to create.

Making Money With Adsense

Adsense is another form of selling ad space and very passive way to go about the whole thing. You can learn more about it by visiting googles adsense blog. I have a few sites that do well with this method of monetization one example is my making money ideas website.

Making Money With Consulting

One of the new business ideas I’ve been able to earn money online with consulting. I know more than most people about some things, just like you. The things I know about have some commercial value, that is they can help people make more money either directly or indirectly. Many small business owners are trying to use the Internet to improve their business, get more clients, or start a new business and learning how this is done is expensive. By hiring someone to show you the ropes, you save a ton of cash and a ton of time so I offer consulting on SEO, starting a business online, and other stuff. I’m an entrepreneur and enjoy talking with other entrepreneurs about their business, we are a unique breed and have really cool conversations. It’s fun and I can earn some money doing it.

Money Making Home Based Business Ideas

What originally got me started into making money online, home based business and learning about how to start a small business on the Internet was marketing an easy to start turnkey home based business. I learned a TON from this experience, didn’t make a lot of money, but learned a ton about Internet marketing, online commerce, websites, pay per click, lead generation and many other things. I’m currently putting together a group of entrepreneurs who want to create another income stream online. Visit the successful home business page and get some details, if your interested fill out the form.

Writing to Make Money

I’ve made some money of writing post for people, not a ton, but it is consistent. I do a few every month. I post some of them here on this blog and some on others in my small network. I could write many more and maybe I will at some point. The best business to start or the best way to make money from your business is to do the things that work and the things you enjoy, hopefully you can find a few where both are true.

Make Money With Twitter

I’ve also made some money with twitter. I suspect twitter will become a decent revenue stream for my work at home online business in the future. I have made very little with twitter, but continue to build a following and learn how to use it to my advantage.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing has been a challenge for me. It seems space is always an issue on a website and affiliate marketing is always taking a back seat on my websites. I make a few hundred dollars a month with affiliate marketing and will likely continue to increase this over time. Making money online with affiliate marketing is one of the most populars ways to create income with a website and many home based businesses use the affiliate marketing business model to earn a large portion of their income. Affiliate marketing is basically promoting or referring a visitor to someone Else’s product or service and getting paid a commission. It is pretty straight forward.

What do you think is the best business to start for a beginner? What are some of the ways you have made money online? Are you planning on starting a small business from home this year? If you have questions the comment section is a great place to get them answered.

createliberty.com

Best Online Businesses For a Beginner

2010-04-18T04:06:00.000-07:00

Understanding online businesses and how they make money can be difficult for a beginner who can’t see the real workings of the best online businesses. In general I think people, especially beginners, have a misconception of what an online business really is. In my mind a business is a simple concept and means nothing more than:

A system of adding value and Getting paid for it.

So if you own a business, you own a system of adding value that people pay for. One step further for the purposes of this article would leave us at a point like this: An online business is an online system of adding value that is paid for by customer or clients.

For example, creating a website that adds value to readers or advertisers (or both) is one way of creating a systems that adds value and makes money, which makes it an online business.

Best Online Businesses

Some of the best online businesses are quite simply just a website that helps to connect certain people with certain products. Usually the people or companies with the products or services that appeal to your audience are the ones who will be paying. Sometimes the audience pays too.

There are sites called membership sites where visitors or the audience actually pays for the content or access to the content on the sites. Some examples of membership sites would be:

Online Dating Sites

Internet Marketing Training Sites

Vehicle Repair Sites

Gaming Sites

These sites have proven over time to be some of the best online businesses as they are some of the most scalable online businesses around. Adding the content only takes x amount of work/time and the only thing that needs to be done to increase revenue is to add more members, that is what I mean by scalable.

I have been working online and creating profitable online businesses for several years now and have watched many businesses start up online and have seen many online businesses grow. Personally I like online businesses because they are usually home based business ideas and I like the freedom that comes with not being tied to an office or a shop. I do some consulting that requires me to be in a certain place at a certain time but I can choose how that happens and I like that.

Most successful small businesses online take some time to become profitable. The more service oriented online business are usually started with venture capital and often times reap the greatest profits. Its tough to determine the best online businesses because they are so varied and the person who is going to be investing the time and money to start the online business really needs to determine this for themselves.

I’ve been evaluating online business ideas for several years and it seems that most successful businesses are started by someone who is passionate about one of two things; Making money or creating a better business model that is currently available. Both of these are critical factors in creating a successful business and the best online business entrepreneurs know this.

Some online businesses are more passive than others, some online start ups cost more money to get started initially. Choosing the best online business to start should include taking into consideration the following ideas:

Required start up capital, if any.

Time commitment required to start and operate.

Skill set required.

Demand in the marketplace.

Can you afford to fail?

Can the business expand and innovate quickly?

These are all good points to ponder when determining the best online business to start or the best way to go about starting it. Business ideas are great, but remember your ideas are only part of the equation. Let the marketplace tell you what they want and what they are willing to pay for and you will have success much faster. Starting your own business is a great way to create a more secure financial future and you can get started without having everything you need.

createliberty.com

Garage and Estate Sale Promoter

2010-04-14T01:14:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: Under $2,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

Help clients promote their garage and estate sales.

Business Overview

Weekend profits await entrepreneurs with good marketing and organizational skills who become garage and estate sale promoters. Garage, lawn and estate sales are hugely popular events in every community across North America. In fact, it is estimated that more than 60 million people go garage-sale-shopping annually, generating billions in sales. As a promoter, you can provide clients who do not have the time or gumption to hold their own sale with the service of organizing and conducting the sale for them. Duties include promoting, organizing, selling items and cleaning up after everyone has gone home. In exchange for providing this valuable service, you retain a percentage of the total revenues generated'25 percent for larger sales and up to 50 percent for smaller ones. Once you have found a client, be sure to canvas the immediate neighborhood and solicit for additional items. Why hold a small sale if you can increase revenues and profits by enlisting neighbors to provide items, too? Promote the sales with professional site signage and in community newspapers that do not charge for small classified ads or for garage sale postings.

entrepreneur.com

Litter Cans

2010-04-14T01:09:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: Under $2,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? Yes

You can clean up with a business selling advertising space on litter and recycling cans placed in highly trafficked areas.

Business Overview

Purchasing 200 commercial-grade litter cans and securing high-traffic indoor and outdoor locations for the litter cans to be installed can potentially generate advertising revenues of $6,000 per month. For this very unique advertising business to succeed, the following two aspects must be considered. First, secure highly visible locations to install the litter cans such as in front of retail stores, inside malls, and inside community and recreation centers. Additionally, the property or business owners must agree to maintain the litter cans in exchange for a portion of the advertising revenues generated. Next, aggressively market the advertising service to local companies who want to participate in a highly effective advertising campaign that costs only $30 per month.

Magazine Rack Manufacturing

2010-04-14T01:06:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: Under $2,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

Rack up sales by giving customers a place to display their magazines.

Business Overview

Starting a part-time, home based business that designs, manufactures and markets magazine racks is not only an easy business to get rolling, it can also be set in motion for less than a $1,000 initial investment. The key requirements to make this business successful are to have a workshop and tools available, as well as basic woodworking and construction experience. Once the magazine racks are completed, they can be sold to retailers on a wholesale basis or directly to consumers via craft and trade shows. Be sure that the designs and construction materials used in the magazine racks are unique. Consider using recycled materials, as this will not only save money on material costs, but it can also be used as a terrific environmentally-friendly marketing tool.

entrepreneur.com

Used ATM Sales

2010-04-12T05:31:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: $50,000 - $100,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

Since the ATM biz has been deregulated, you can now freely buy and sell them.

Business Overview

A few years ago, laws governing ownership and operation of ATMs were deregulated, paving the way for entrepreneurs from every walk of life to own and operate ATMs as a business concern. Since deregulation of this industry, millions of new ATMs have been sold, and a secondary market is now emerging, which is the sales of secondhand ATMs. While a very lucrative income can be earned by purchasing ATMs and reselling them for a profit, the gigantic profits are made by purchasing secondhand ATMs, locating the machine in a public place where it can generate revenue, and then selling the secondhand ATM as a going business concern. The potential to earn $250,000 per year is attainable for the determined entrepreneur who initiates this very basic business concept.

entrepreneur.com

Maternity Clothing

2010-04-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: $2,000 - $10,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? Yes
Online Operation? No

Moms-to-be don't want to give up looking good. Cash in on this strong demographic.

Business Overview

Celebrity moms like Cindy Crawford and Kelly Ripa aren't the only ones who know that muumuu-style maternity clothes are so last century. Today, pregnant women are all about celebrating their style and looking sexy. From high-end maternity designers like Liz Lange and A Pea in the Pod to midpriced maternity wear newcomers The Gap and Old Navy, clothing designers are on to the potential of this growing market. With more than 4 million babies born annually, it's easy to see why the maternity clothing market is buzzing Assuming the average expectant mother purchases only five new maternity garments while pregnant adds up to a whopping 20 million maternity garments sold each year in the Unites States alone. There are a few ways to cash in on this very large and lucrative market. The first is to design, manufacture and sell the maternity clothing, and the second is to purchase maternity clothing on a wholesale basis and resell the clothing for a profit. While both options are viable in terms of generating profits for the business, the first option has the potential to generate more sales and profits as well as providing more options for the operator in terms of marketing methods. Profit potential will vary, however, markups of 100 percent are not uncommon in this industry.

Needed Equipment

It depends on your focus. If you're going to create the clothing yourself, you'll need a sewing machine and other tools of the trade. Once the orders start pouring in, you may want to contract with a manufacturer. If you will just be selling them, you'll need storage and transportation. For both, you'll need a computer to keep track of orders, accounts and contacts.

http://www.entrepreneur.com

Inventory Liquidation

2010-04-12T05:21:00.000-07:00

Startup Costs: $10,000 - $50,000
Part Time: Can be operated part-time.

Franchises Available? No
Online Operation? No

Every cloud has a silver lining. When other stores close shop, you can buy their products wholesale.

[caption id="attachment_595" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Inventory"][/caption]

Business Overview
Every year thousands of retail merchants and corporations across North America go out of business
, move, reform, and amalgamate, and often this results in billions of dollars worth of stock and inventory becoming available at bargain basement prices. Purchased right and this same inventory can sometimes be bought for as little as five cents on the dollar. Later this can often be resold for as much as five times the purchase price on a wholesale basis, and as much as ten times on a direct-to-consumers retail basis. A good starting point for purchasing bargain inventory (at least until the business builds a reputation and contact base as a liquidator) is to establish alliances with trustees that deal in commercial bankruptcies. Generally the trustee appointed will either arrange to auction off the inventory assets of clients, put out a tender, or offer to purchase the inventory, which usually goes to the highest bidder on a cash basis. Reselling the inventory can be accomplished in a few ways including selling the inventory to retailers on a wholesale basis or selling the inventory in smaller quantities to other inventory liquidators. On a direct-to-consumer retailing basis, the inventory can be sold through a company-owned liquidation store or stores, or monthly inventory liquidation sales can be advertised and held over a few days in short-term rental premises. However, there is a down side to this business, which is purchasing inventory that is difficult to sell regardless of price. This is a very common mistake for first timers in this industry. Traditionally, the best type of products to purchase under inventory liquidation conditions are power and hand tools, nonperishable food items, books, music CDs, toys, building materials, and electronics. Always stay clear of products that have a limited shelf life, or that have special warehousing and transportation requirements. Once again, this is the type of business where the ability to profit will greatly depend on a number of factors such as sales volumes, markups, and product costs. Having personally dabbled in this industry in the past, I can assure you that it is possible to make $10,000 per month or more, providing a carefully planned and well-researched approach to the business is executed.

http://www.entrepreneur.com

10 Tactics For Finding New Business Ideas

2010-04-06T01:01:00.000-07:00

1. Expect to have ideas . If you believe you’re incapable of coming up with ideas then you won’t come up with any. Put aside any negativity about yourself or you creativity and expect to have ideas.

3. Keep a written record of your ideas, ideas that inspire you or ideas that are new to you – When you write things down you are more likely to remember them and if you don’t you’ve got a record to refer back to. I keep a record of all the ideas I see, read/hear about or have and I review it regularly. My written record has also evolved into this blog full of ideas.

4. Try to learn something new every day. Talk to other business people, talk to your friends and neighbours, talk to anyone that looks interesting and will talk to you. Read websites, magazines, books whatever medium you prefer try to read something that will expand your knowledge everyday. I enjoy business/entrepreneurs biographies and histories especially those that explain where the business or idea for it came from.

5. Talk about your ideas. Talk about your ideas to anyone who will listen, more often that not it’s my wife who has to listen to my ideas, if she’s not around however I’ll talk to myself! Failing that write down what you’d say to someone to explain the idea. The point is that in explaining the idea you’ll usually spot flaws or areas for improvement thus making the idea better.

6. Ask questions and listen to peoples problems, hopes, dreams and aspirations. As a small business consultant I always ask people what problems, issues or challenges they face in their business (or job), there are often good business opportunities in solving those problems. Peoples hopes, dreams and aspirations can provide ideas for example a business like Red Letter Days helps people fulfil their dreams by providing experiences such as driving a supercar or flying a plane. Weight Watchers appeals to those hoping to loose weight.

7. Research see what else is out there that is similar. Evaluate potential competition and keep notes on what you find. Use the search engines to look for similar ideas, businesses or products and take notes on them.

8. Draw a mind map. A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing.

9. Synthesise ideas. Put two or more unrelated ideas together. One way to do this is to brainstorm with your team. You’ll get the best results if you’ve followed steps 1 – 6 first as you’ll have a larger pool of ideas to combine.

10. Sleep on it. Go away for a while and think of something else, often your subconscious mind will continue to work on the problem and will come up with new ideas or refinements on the ideas you already have.

http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.com

171 FREE Marketing Ideas

2010-04-06T00:57:00.000-07:00

I’ve been collecting together marketing ideas for small businesses in a file for several years. The intention was to write a series of posts on free/cheap marketing ideas. That list has now grown to 171 marketing ideas and I’ve included it below.

Some of the ideas are new, one or two are fresh and innovative, all of them are relatively low cost – ideal for a small business. However not all of the ideas will suit every businesses. A good marketing idea for a restaurant, hotel or bar might not suit a retail business or a law firm and the ideas that suit b2c companies aren’t always going to be as effective for a b2b business.

Researching, Planning And Monitoring

These marketing ideas relate to planning your marketing so that you know what you are marketing, who you are marketing it to and why – market research in other words. That feeds in to developing, monitoring and fine tuning your marketing strategy.

Define your market.

Research your market – establish who, why and what.

If it is big enough, segment your market and target each segment appropriately.

Define the benefits your product offers the market/each market segment.

Focus on your customer.

Create a marketing plan.

Allocate a sensible (big enough) budget to marketing – don’t make the mistake of having no marketing budget.

Tie your marketing budget to sales forecasts – don’t rely on the idea of an average marketing budget.

Monitor your results regularly – at least monthly. Adjust your plan based on the results.

Monitor and study your competitors.

Monitor and study successful businesses that target the same customers as you.

Learn from your mistakes and your successes.

Keep an ideas file and add all new marketing ideas to it.

Read about what others are doing on marketing/business blogs and in marketing books. Start by visiting the top 100 business blogs.

Your Product

The next set of ideas focus on your product and how to maximise it’s contribution to your overall marketing strategy. Marketing strategy should feed in to product development.

Create a Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

Make it remarkable.

Ensure the packaging sells – focus on benefits, not features.

Use the price to create a message – value versus premium.

Make it exclusive – limited editions.

Customer service matters.

Offer a guarantee.

Consider using the freemium business model.

Consider focusing on a niche market.

Offer what your competitors do not, but that customers want.

Create special offers by pairing related products.

Give away or discount slow moving products when sold with popular ones.

Refine your product based on feedback and sales figures.

Inbound Marketing

These inbound marketing ideas focus on how to position yourself and your business as the solution to a customer’s wants and needs. The emphasis is on building your brand recognition and positioning your business so that customers come to you. A lot of inbound marketing is Internet based, focusing on driving customers to your website or other online assets as the first point of contact.

Create a brand (look, attitude, values and actions) and use it throughout everything you do.

Get listed in the search engines / online directories.

Optimise your website for the search engines.

Create an authoritative and informative website about your product, industry and company.

Write a blog about your industry.

Contribute to blogs about your industry.

Contribute to forums about your industry.

Write articles for e-zines that reach your target market.

Create videos and post them on YouTube.

Create podcasts.

Use LinkedIn to network in your industry.

Create a Twitter account.

Create a Facebook account.

Use Social bookmarking sites such as Digg, Del.icio.us and Stumbleupon

Write for the local/national press.

Write a white paper about the problem your product solves.

Conduct and publish research related to your market.

Run a competition.

Write a book about your industry/the problems your product solves.

Publish an informative newsletter (either online, offline or both).

Get listed in industry directories.

Get to know the journalists that cover your industry and offer to be a source.

Campaign for something.

Offer useful information in your advertisements.

Get people to review your product in the press and online.

Conduct a webinar.

Offer a free trial.

Create an affiliate scheme.

Submit articles to article directories.

Join and participate in relevant professional organisations.

Become a public speaker, speaking about your market/expertise.

Do some pro bono (volunteer) work.

Join a referral marketing organisation.

Publish case studies.

Run a workshop.

Organise a networking event.

Become an expert and speak with authority.

Disagree with someone, making a good well reasoned argument will reinforce your position as an expert.

Create an elevator pitch.

Tell everyone you meet about your business – using your elevator pitch.

Add social bookmarking links to your site.

Create a Squidoo lens.

Try buzz marketing.

Create some viral marketing.

Outbound Marketing

These outbound marketing ideas focus on reaching out to new customers. They directly target those you have no relationship with.

Send out press releases.

Do at least one marketing activity EVERY day.

Make at least one sales call EVERY day.

Create and host an award.

Create a press kit, send it out with press releases and make it available on your website.

Open unusual hours, especially if your competitors don’t.

Advertise on the side of your car / vehicles.

Advertise in your shop window or on your building.

Advertise in other local shop windows.

Advertise with businesses who offer products that yours complements.

Sponsor relevant events.

Sponsor relevant people.

Do something (an activity) for charity – and publicise it.

Advertise on local radio.

Advertise in the local press.

Advertise in industry magazines.

Offer businesses that have a similar customer base as yours a discount/gift voucher to give their customers.

Stage a flashmob event.

Get testimonials.

Get a celebrity to endorse the product.

Get an expert to endorse the product.

Sex sells – use it.

Create an emotional attachment to your product.

Seek out feedback on your products.

Give people a reason to act on your marketing.

Make it easy for customers to talk to you.

Answer your emails.

Provide live online chat.

Use search engine marketing to target customers.

Use email marketing.

Advertise on your clothing and on the staff’s clothing.

Give away promotional items to your target market.

Visit trade shows.

Advertise in your email signatures.

Advertise on TV.

Make your business card sell.

Get accredited.

Support a cause.

Tell a story.

Hold a sale.

Use classified advertisements.

Advertise in the Yellow Pages.

Partner with other related businesses.

Create a strategic alliance with a related business and undertake joint marketing.

Telemarketing.

Brochures.

Use special offers.

Host a challenge.

Picket yourself – hire someone to picket your business complaining about something funny or different.

Donate to charity and shout about it.

Carry out a publicity stunt.

Go on Dragon’s Den or similar.

Be different – dress differently.

Put on an industry event.

Host a discussion panel about your industry.

Advertise on a billboard.

Hold an event in, or outside your shop.

Invite a local group to collect in or outside your shop.

Use Craigslist, Gumtree and the like.

Do a give-away, where entry requires customers providing contact details.

Identify your worst trading times and have a happy hour then.

Do a press release about a customer.

Direct mail.

Give out flyers.

Leaflet drops.

Use Guerrilla marketing tactics.

Pay for someone else – buy the person queuing in front of you at the coffee shop their coffee and given them a flyer.

Get an 0800 number.

Relationship Building

It is easier and cheaper to sell to someone that you already have a relationship with so these marketing ideas focus on building on the relationship you already have with your leads, prospects and customers. Relationship marketing is increasingly important and may well soon overtake the 4P’s (Product, Price, Place and Promotion) as the standard marketing mix model.

Create a database of prospects, leads and customers.

Use your invoices to build the relationship and sell.

Use your stationary to sell.

Keep in touch.

Send out customer newsletters.

Send special offers to customers.

Put on workshops for your customers, leads and prospects.

Create a referral programme.

Network with your customers – turn customers into fans.

Network with your suppliers.

Network with your competitors.

Network with businesses that sell to the same customers as you.

Send cards to your customers – thank them for their custom, wish them a happy birthday or send them holiday (Easter/Christmas) greetings.

Give customers discount cards.

Offer a discount for regular business.

Make your answer-phone message useful and sell with it.

Be consistent, but refine.

Be remarkable.

Treat customers as fans.

Be personal – people buy from people.

Text your customers.

Ask for referrals.

Give customers lottery tickets as a thank you – low cost to you, but massive potential benefit to them.

Show up in person – visit your customers.

Create a customer advisory panel with your best customers.

Ask your customers for feedback and advice.

Offer customers reminder for their next purchase.

Train your staff to delight customers and empower them to do so.

Train your staff to cross sell.

Make your marketing recent and frequent.

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