I would love to start my own business, but I would like to have an original idea in order to do so...?

Question

I know a lot of talented people, like me that I trust. We used to work for the same company that laid us all off. Why are we putting our talents to work for someone that gets paid millions, while we didn't get raises for 3 years? I want to start my own company but my problem is not in the start up costs, or people to work with, but in the idea of what to do in the first place.
Anyone know what I'm talking about? Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can go about figuring this out?

Answer 1

Think of all your interests & ask yourself if any of those could be expanded into a business. Just keep in mind...what's your expertise? What are your interests? What could you imagine yourself doing?

By researching the prospect of starting your own business -- what it entails, what you need to know, helpful hints, etc -- you'll feel better prepared to take that plunge.

I found some book titles that are relevant to your specific question:

* 101 Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home by Susan Sweeney
* The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century by Paul Edwards
* Selling Online: How to Become a Successful E-Commerce Merchant by Jim Carroll
* I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It by Barbara Sher
* I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work by Julie Jansen
* The Best Internet Businesses You Can Start by Marian Betancourt
* The Shoestring Entrepreneur's Guide to Internet Start-Ups by Robert Spiegel
* Making a Living Without a Job : Winning Ways For Creating Work That You Love by Barbara Winter

I also posted some article links in the source box.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 2

When starting a business, you want to find a demand which has been ignored by others. In other words you don't want to start a business supplying goods or services in which the competition has already saturated the market. One of the worst things you can do is start a business by trying to steal the customers from your previous employer. Look for the unfilled demand. Here is an example of two I can think of which would be relatively easy to get into.
Mobile lawn mower repair service.
What a pain in the butt it is to drag your lawn mower down to the repair shop for a tuneup and service. And in the middle of mowing season, you can lose you mower for a couple of weeks while the shop works on it. By the time you get it back, you need a reaper to mow the lawn. Some one with knowledge of small engine repair, a small van, and some tools could cruise middle class neighborhoods on the weekends when people are mowing and offer tuneups on the spot for $30 or $40. If you get 20 jobs on the weekend, you could earn $800 a week for 2 days work.
Another business to consider is restroom cleaning for small businesses. Businesses with 5 to 15 employees have a difficult time keeping their restrooms clean. Most often, the boss has to clean them himself and would greatly appreciate a service that just keeps the restrooms clean. Businesses that fit this range are moving companies, auto repair shops, auto body shops, roofing companies, oil change shops, mom and pop gas stations or stores, small tool and die manufacturers, etc. These companies would likely also buy supplies--toilet paper, paper towels, air fresheners, hand soap, etc--from you. The markup on the sale of these items adds icing to the cake.

Answer 3

You can start yuour business at home. . Go for the internet business, which requires less of your time and the one that will not make you feel headache with web designing, or which require IT knowledge. Second, choose the internet based company which offer you the opportunity and at the same time giving you the convenience to start the business. Third, choose the business, which does not require big money to start it.

All the above is only available from: http://www.website.ws/cybalgua
Honestly, I tried so many opportunities offered through the internet and this is the only one that really works.
PLEASE NOTE: You only will understand the whole marketing concept if you read every details & the trial period is FREE!

General Information:
COMPANY NAME: Global Domains International Inc
LOCATION: CA, USA
CORPORATE INFORMATION : Login here: http://www.freedom.ws (YOUR ACCESS CODE IS: cybalgua)

Remember, You CAN'T guarantee whether you will get many fish or not by spreading your net into the sea, but u CAN guarantee that there is no fish at all if you never spread your net into the sea.

Answer 4

I'm sure you don't live in my town so I don't care if you take my ideas and roll with them if you want to.
1) If you live in or near a larger town, then there are companies there that go 24/7. A night time child care business might work. The children are dropped off between 5pm to 9pm and picked up between 7am and 9am. You fix up rooms that are the size of a (forgive the analogy but it's the right size and style) prison cell. There is a bunk bed and a couple of desks for studying. There would be a curtain instead of a door. The boys in one dorm and the girls in another with a chaperon sleeping in the dorm also.
The kids arrive, are fed dinner, watch TV or play in the yard or do homework, then shower and go to bed at 9:30pm. In the Morning they are fed cereal and toast and they are dressed and sent to school. You clean up and you have all day to work on some other projects.

2) Coffee delivery service. Work for a gourmet coffee shop for a while and learn the ropes to making great coffee. Then get your own machine and set it up to work out of a modified van. You deliver Cappuccino to people at work and pots of coffee and tea to businesses. You can stop and get fresh bagels and muffins to sell also.
In the afternoon, you can deliver iced tea and sandwiches.

I hope those ideas help. If they don't and you want to go into another business, then talk to people already in that business. They are usually happy to give advise and what to look for when starting up. Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 5

Wow, that's a tough question but I'll take a stab at it. First, you need to take an inventory of your skills and of those who are really, really willing to join in with you. Find out what goals you and others have for life. Maybe have a Brain storm session and see what comes of it. You don't need an original idea, but what you need is a desire, a hunger, and burn, a love of something that YOU want to do, I mean REALLY want to do.

I don't know the friends you talk about but I'd recommend striking out on your own. There is nothing like having only one level of organization to get things done and solve problems for customers. You'll probably have to be everything for a bit until you get your cash flow going and can hire help or subcontractors. That's when you hire your past co-workers.

Here's an idea that almost anyone can learn to do.. anyplace. Full-time, part-time, as a group or solo, and the startup costs are considered low for a business.
http://www.virtualtoursummit.com

...and here are two tests to see if you have what it takes!
http://www.fortytwodegrees.co.uk/issue-2/test.html
http://marriottschool.byu.edu/cfe/startingout/test.cfm?format=print

Entrepreneurial skills can be learned, so don't let a bad score on either of these fun tests discourage you.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

i understand exactly. You need a basic biz idea - something that people want or need or have trouble getting where you are, or that you can provide cheaper/better/faster than the current businesses.


One easy place to look is - what is being done inefficiently (or poorly or wastefully) at your company NOW, that you and your friends could do better if you were OUTSIDE the company ? That would give you an automatic first customer - if you worked it out properly.
your current company would be outsourcing that work to you.

Answer 7

We have tried many things and have found a company
that has been around for 21 Years and pays you to
advertise for them. My wife and I just started and are
doing well. It is not an MLM company and no selling,
no deliveries or stocking product. My wife's aunt has
been working with this company for a little over 3
years and home schools 3 kids and makes $9,000 a
month. It is a 500 inc company and the CEO is on the
U.S. Chamber of commerce board. I can arrange a
web cast (Presentation) with my wife's aunt from the privacy of your home
for you and you can decide for yourself and WE WILL help you be
successful. It is an honest Win Win.
e-mail: [e-mail]
Thanks,
Rich

Answer 8

Hello,
I would recommend checking out www.score.org
It is comprised of retired executives that give free advice in many different areas of business.
I also have an idea for a business I would like to run by someone such as yourself but it is to difficult to explain through typing here. I know that sounds a bit suspect but i feel it could be very beneficial for you to hear about it. Should you be interested please contact me at [e-mail] and I will provide you with my phone number to explain and discuss this idea with you.
Once again i understand this must sound strange but this is a business opportunity that's just to hard to explain other than verbally.
Best Wishes,
Dave

Answer 9

first you need to decide what type it is going to be a service business or manufacturing business can you start up something similar to what you were doing that you have knowledge of
whatever you decide should be used by a large percentage of the population check with Bruce Williams on line not sure
of the web site URL but just put Bruce Williams in search bar he gives some of the greatest advise i know of

Answer 10

Hi,

It would greatly help if you start with the things that you're good at and also like to do. They can be your hobbies, etc. That will ensure your success since you already like it and will work hard to grow it etc. But one thing is that you have to see if there's actually a high customer demand within that market. Just think about it. Set aside like 2 hrs. a day thinking about the things you would like to do then list them down. Then you can start planning on how to go about starting it. It took me a couple of months of thinking and planning before i started my business. Just listen to your heart.