Best Business Opportunities 2007
Part 1: The Best Business Opportunities for Starting a Small Business
When it comes to the best business opportunities, contradiction is the key word for 2007. While we’ll see ever-increasing conspicuous indulgence, buying patterns will also reflect more of an emphasis on health than ever before. The same people going out for cheesecake will be picking up more yogurt on their way home from the gym.
The best business opportunities of 2007 are those opportunities that meet people’s needs on one end of the scale or the other. Here, in no particular order, are my predictions for the best business opportunities for 2007, business opportunities with the best potential for profit and growth.(For more of what I consider to be the best business opportunities, have a look at the sidebar; the More Business Opportunities box lists articles that present some of my past predictions for the best business opportunities of the year.
Note that many of these business opportunities will work as home businesses. If you are particularly interested in starting a home-based business, you may also want to read
http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/homebusiness/a/homebizopp.htm
The Best Business Opportunities for 2007
1) Nutraceuticals
Consumers want more than just nutrition from their food – they want health benefits, too. We don’t just eat tomatoes because they’re tasty, but because we know they’re filled with lycopene which helps fight prostate cancer. The market for nutraceuticals and functional foods, says Agriculture Canada, is “large, global and growing”. In 2004 Canada's functional food market was estimated to be worth $2.7 billion.
2) Agritourism
Agritourism is another rapidly growing industry; there’s more interest in farm vacations and farm-related activities than ever before. If you have a farm, it’s easy to get in on this best business opportunity. Add a picnic site and playground to your farm and open a booth for on-site sales or create an event such as a hay ride or artist’s retreat. There’s also a great opportunity for tourist agencies in creating agritourism packages. The fastest growing part of the industry? Winery tours.
3) Human Resource Professionals
One of the predicted problems of the future is already here – a labour shortage. In fact, the CFIB (Canadian Federation of Independent Business) calls this the number one problem facing SMEs this year. Headhunters, recruiters, employment agencies - turn this top problem into a top business opportunity by being the person or people able to solve staffing problems for small and medium-sized businesses.
4) Personal Memoirs
I don’t think many of us spend much time thinking about writing our life stories. But the life stories of our parents or grandparents – now that’s another story. Many of us would appreciate having a record of our loved ones’ lives before it’s too late, but don’t have the time or talent to do it ourselves. Enter the memorialist, who will interview the subject and craft those stories into a handsomely bound book. Memoir companies also prepare all kinds of other personal stories, from pregnancy memoirs through pet histories.
5) Renovation Management
You already know that trades people are going to have another superlative year as the renovation boom continues. Conversely, this means that many consumers are going to have bad years (or at least extremely stressful, irritating ones) as they struggle to get through whatever renovation they have planned. If you’re a super-organized person who can get the right trades people to show up to work on time and finish their work by set dates, this could be a golden business opportunity for you.
Part 2: More of the Year’s Best Business Opportunities
What other business opportunities are excellent choices for those interesting in starting a business or investing in one this year? Here are five more of what I consider to be the best business opportunities of 2007:
6) Care Consulting
A parent has gotten to that certain age and stage where he really shouldn’t be living on his own anymore. But what are the options available and how much do they cost? Busy children don’t have the time to investigate them all or even know where to find out. Providing the answers and helping with the arrangements is an excellent business opportunity.
7) Baby gear
We may have a low birthrate but we sure do love to lavish attention and money on the children we do have. From cute togs through designer strollers, baby gear is big business.
While the obvious business opportunity here is the retail storefront, there are all kinds of permutations that could also be profitable, such as an eBay business or a consignment store for used baby gear.
8) Doggie daycare/hotels
And then there are the non-human children, also known as pets. Many of us obviously feel that our pets should be treated just as well as people and are willing to spend the bucks to ensure that this is so. Cash in on this best business opportunity by opening a doggie daycare that lets busy dog “parents” work without guilt or by opening a doggie hotel that offers pampering for traveling pooches. Fashion inclined? Go to the dogs and create a line of doggie duds that owners won’t be able to resist.
9) Financial planners
I know I listed this as a best business opportunity last year, too, but this is such a growing market. Boomers seem to have an almost insatiable appetite for financial advice, perhaps because so many of them are about to retire and have a real need to get their financial houses in order. Financial planners, retirement planners and investment advisers who are good at what they do will find that this year is very good to them.
10) Personal Catering
Business opportunities abound for meeting the catering needs of busy professionals and families. Relieving people of some of their daily meal preparation chores while ensuring that they have nutritionally healthy but tasty meals is sure to be a hit. Think along the lines of what the daily housekeeper used to do. You could offer pre-packed lunchboxes or a week’s worth of entrees delivered, for instance. And then there’s catering for special occasions.
Continuing Trends - Medical tourism and construction trades continue to be stellar opportunities this year
Sunday, June 3, 2007
The Best Summer Job Is Your Own Business
Looking for a summer job? Why not start your own business instead of working for someone else? Besides accomplishing the main objective of making money over the summer, when you start your own business you'll have the satisfaction of being your own boss and of creating something yourself. Another great advantage of starting your own business is that you won't have to waste time looking for a summer job - you'll already have one.
When you're choosing a small business idea for your summer job replacement, there are two approaches you can take. You can plan to start a seasonal business that you can pack up and close down at the end of the summer when you go back to school, or you can choose a business that allows you to continue running the business (on a reduced scale) throughout the year.
There are some of both in this collection of the best business ideas for students.
1) Lawn Care/Landscaping
This is a great small business idea for students because it's seasonal and is greatly in demand throughout the summer season - and almost anyone can do it. Another great thing about this small business idea is that it’s easily expandable; add landscaping and/or gardening services if you have the knowledge and abilities.
2) Sports Equipment Rental
Summer is the season to get moving and there's a big appetite for wheeling around - on bikes, rollerblades, skateboards or scooters. The right location and the right weather could make this small business idea a real money maker.
3) Guided Tours
If you live in an area with historical/cultural/scenic attractions, why not start your own business offering guided tours? Don't despair if you don't live in a place with spectacular scenery or historical chops; ecotours and guided hikes are becoming increasingly popular. Taking people on tours of the local flora and fauna has the added bonus of getting outside in the sweet season.
4) eBay Selling
This is a small business idea that could have real potential. Find the right product to sell and build a good reputation as a seller and selling on eBay could be a bonanza. The downside is that doing these two things takes research and time. On the upside, however, this is certainly a business that would be easy to continue on a part-time basis.
5) Vegetable Delivery
People are paying more attention to what they eat and where it comes from than ever before - and are more willing than ever before to pay a premium to eat “better”. A summer business such as preparing and delivering boxes of fresh vegetables and fruits (organic or otherwise) could be very profitable.
6) Exterior House Cleaning
Window washing, gutter cleaning, power washing exteriors - start your own business doing the home care chores that others hate to do and you can clean up during the summer clean up season! And once you’ve established this business, it should have great carry-over potential, giving you a list of repeat clients summer after summer.
7) House/Pet Sitting
Many people travel during the summer and need someone to look after their houses and/or pets while they're gone. Making the rounds and taking in newspapers and mail, checking the house and feeding or walking “Sweetie” could be a great “summer job” business for you and it could even have the added bonus of giving you a place to live over the summer.
8) House Call Geek
If you're technologically savvy, you have expertise that a lot of people still don't. Start your own business making house calls troubleshooting computer problems and/or showing people how to do what they want to do with their computers. This is another small business idea that would work well as a part-time business post-summer, too.
9) Rubbish Pickup
There are lots of people with lots of junk that they would like to dispose of, as the success of 1-800-GOT-JUNK testifies. And late spring/early summer is the season of the highest demand as people do their spring clean ups. If you have access to a truck, this could be a money making small business idea for you.
10) Instructor
If you have a particular skill and the necessary certification, teaching can be a very satisfying and lucrative small business. Music lessons spring to mind, but there are myriad other possibilities, from yoga and aerobics through mountain biking and horse riding. Tutoring in the traditional school subjects is another small business idea with an instructional theme.
So consider the possibilities and start your own business this summer, working for yourself rather than working for someone else. While some people are still looking for a summer job, your own business will already be up and running - and making money.
By - Susan Ward
Looking for a summer job? Why not start your own business instead of working for someone else? Besides accomplishing the main objective of making money over the summer, when you start your own business you'll have the satisfaction of being your own boss and of creating something yourself. Another great advantage of starting your own business is that you won't have to waste time looking for a summer job - you'll already have one.
When you're choosing a small business idea for your summer job replacement, there are two approaches you can take. You can plan to start a seasonal business that you can pack up and close down at the end of the summer when you go back to school, or you can choose a business that allows you to continue running the business (on a reduced scale) throughout the year.
There are some of both in this collection of the best business ideas for students.
1) Lawn Care/Landscaping
This is a great small business idea for students because it's seasonal and is greatly in demand throughout the summer season - and almost anyone can do it. Another great thing about this small business idea is that it’s easily expandable; add landscaping and/or gardening services if you have the knowledge and abilities.
2) Sports Equipment Rental
Summer is the season to get moving and there's a big appetite for wheeling around - on bikes, rollerblades, skateboards or scooters. The right location and the right weather could make this small business idea a real money maker.
3) Guided Tours
If you live in an area with historical/cultural/scenic attractions, why not start your own business offering guided tours? Don't despair if you don't live in a place with spectacular scenery or historical chops; ecotours and guided hikes are becoming increasingly popular. Taking people on tours of the local flora and fauna has the added bonus of getting outside in the sweet season.
4) eBay Selling
This is a small business idea that could have real potential. Find the right product to sell and build a good reputation as a seller and selling on eBay could be a bonanza. The downside is that doing these two things takes research and time. On the upside, however, this is certainly a business that would be easy to continue on a part-time basis.
5) Vegetable Delivery
People are paying more attention to what they eat and where it comes from than ever before - and are more willing than ever before to pay a premium to eat “better”. A summer business such as preparing and delivering boxes of fresh vegetables and fruits (organic or otherwise) could be very profitable.
6) Exterior House Cleaning
Window washing, gutter cleaning, power washing exteriors - start your own business doing the home care chores that others hate to do and you can clean up during the summer clean up season! And once you’ve established this business, it should have great carry-over potential, giving you a list of repeat clients summer after summer.
7) House/Pet Sitting
Many people travel during the summer and need someone to look after their houses and/or pets while they're gone. Making the rounds and taking in newspapers and mail, checking the house and feeding or walking “Sweetie” could be a great “summer job” business for you and it could even have the added bonus of giving you a place to live over the summer.
8) House Call Geek
If you're technologically savvy, you have expertise that a lot of people still don't. Start your own business making house calls troubleshooting computer problems and/or showing people how to do what they want to do with their computers. This is another small business idea that would work well as a part-time business post-summer, too.
9) Rubbish Pickup
There are lots of people with lots of junk that they would like to dispose of, as the success of 1-800-GOT-JUNK testifies. And late spring/early summer is the season of the highest demand as people do their spring clean ups. If you have access to a truck, this could be a money making small business idea for you.
10) Instructor
If you have a particular skill and the necessary certification, teaching can be a very satisfying and lucrative small business. Music lessons spring to mind, but there are myriad other possibilities, from yoga and aerobics through mountain biking and horse riding. Tutoring in the traditional school subjects is another small business idea with an instructional theme.
So consider the possibilities and start your own business this summer, working for yourself rather than working for someone else. While some people are still looking for a summer job, your own business will already be up and running - and making money.
By - Susan Ward
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