With the economy as it is I’ve noticed that the newsstands have ordered more than the usual number of small business opportunity magazines. In some instances they have doubled their orders.
From the cover lines in these magazines, it’s clear that people who want to start a business of their own or who are looking for a ready-made biz-op are keen to find start-ups that are recession proof, allow the owner to work at home, run the business full or part-time and desire businesses that pay off big.
These biz-op magazines cover ways to make money from pet stores, forex, DVD rental machines, fish and chip outlets, mobile food businesses and renewable energy opportunities.
The articles show people who have lost their jobs and have launched consulting businesses at home, stay-at-home moms who have made it big in on-line auctions and even a business person who is doing great in the sandwich chain business.
It’s heartening to read these success stories where business people are persevering against the odds in a difficult economy. The entrepreneurial spirit is a wonderful thing in times when large businesses and even governments are floundering.
Business opportunities, the small start-up kind, are plentiful and may not cost an arm and a leg. If your interest lies in starting in owning one of these businesses, what’s there to stop you? Go for it. Try one out. You’ll never know how well you’ll do until you try. The things you try that do not work will always show you what does work, said Syd Field.
But here’s the thing: why can’t you come up with your own business based on your local marketplace and your experience as well as skills? You’ve got a heads up on others in your local community because you know the people, their needs, wants and desires.
How do you take the first step in coming up with your own business idea?
The first thing is to do some market research. By this I don’t mean hiring a professional market researcher.
No, you can do it much more informally. Take a walk down your main street. Notice which bricks and mortar retailers are doing well despite the economy. Visit shopping centres. Drive around your neighbourhood and observe what people are buying – spot deliveries, boxes with new appliances waiting to be removed by the refuse collection service. Speak to people in your community.
Before you realise it, you will start to think about ideas for businesses that you could start. Don’t stop here: evaluate your idea, test something small, revise your idea and introduce it.
All it takes is the first crucial step – looking closely for opportunities.
Stay inspired.
Chesney Bradshaw
