In times of recession there are certain types of businesses that thrive. Many of them involve making people feel better, others take advantage of the fact that there’s less money to spend. Good food and drink make people feel better. So do cosmetics. And when there’s less money around people don’t waste their hard-earned cash. This is why repair businesses do well in recessionary times.
There are other opportunities too. Straightforward entrepreneurship in a sphere that suits the times can make you good money. You need a good idea that will work when times are tough. Another way is to piggy-back on someone else’s good idea and get involved in the right kind of franchise.
OTHEROPTIONS.IE is run by knowledgeable business people who can steer you towards the opportunity that is right for you and advise you about grant-aid and other financial incentives for new business start-ups.
Franchising
BE YOUR OWN BOSS
There is something for every interest and budget in the mega-successful world of franchising.
According to the International Franchise Association (IFA), ‘Franchise systems continue to provide the widest possible entrepreneurial opportunities for everyone. The mutually beneficial relationship that exists between franchisors and franchisees makes franchising unique in the world of business. It provides entrepreneurs with an affordable means of accelerating expansion and achieving development goals more quickly than might otherwise be the case, and with far less risk. Similarly, franchisees have a head start because of the support provided by the franchise system. Franchising means being in business for yourself but not by yourself’. Today, more than 75 industries operate within the franchising format, and IFA’s membership and network encompass some 1,000 franchisors, 350 suppliers, and over 7,000 franchisee members.
No Experience Needed
No Experience needed businesses you can start right away:
If you are one of the many hardworking people who have lost their jobs in the last few months, take heart. You can earn an income in a way you might not have considered: start your own business. Your former type of employment might not be available. This is the best time for you to act on your entrepreneurial dream In purchasing a business opportunity, you will be buying all the elements and tools you need to start the particular business. Here we look at some moneymaking options: (The businesses are listed in no particular order and will be updated regularly)
Blog or Website
You don’ t have to be a technical wizard to launch your own money-making blog or website. Thanks to the experts at Google, Yahoo, etc. you can use their templates and easy, easy, easy design tools to get your blog or website up and running in 15 minutes with no hassle. There are 115 million blogs in the world right now with thousands added everyday. Blogs are fun and informative and if you find the right niche for your interest and passion you can have a great time working on your blog, promoting it and selling ads on it. Consider all options.
Go to blogger.com and look at the options. It is completely free to launch your blog with this tool from Google. Google’s AdSense will have you posting ads immediately and Google will track and send you a cheque every month as your audience clicks on to the relevant ads that Google will post on your site. You don’t have to do a thing
You can also work to develop a following and by using Google analytics to demonstrate how many people are visiting and lingering on your blog. You can get a sponsor for your blog
For example, if you are obsessed with golf. Start a blog about all-things-golf and as the golf buying public beats a path to your blog, you can contact golf equipment manufactures and sports shops and ask them if they would like to sponsor your blog for a week, a month, or if the price is right, a year.
There are similar programmes online you can use to launch your website. You will have to pay to get them hosted but prices are low for this. Go to yahoo.com and look over their programmes for small businesses. They have many templates available for both PC and Mac users and you can design and write the web content yourself. YES, YOU CAN!
Use the various Social Media (facebook, twitter and My Space) to drive audiences to your blog or website. Promote, promote, promote. If you enjoy writing and have a passion for a particular niche (golf, fashion, bird watching etc.,) this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Online Auction Sales
More than 2 million auctions end each day on eBay alone in this multi-billion arena of online bidding and selling. If you enjoy the thrill of counting down seconds, while people increase bids on your Elvis collectible or vintage toy, this is the perfect business for you to consider. You will need a steady stream of inventory to sell. We know of many individuals who emptied their wardrobes, attics and garages and make a mint in the process.
Go to ebay.com and set up an account if you have not already done so. You can make money by accepting credit card payments at PayPal.com. Ebay and PayPal are the same company so they make it easy to sell using PayPal.
To find inventory, go online and check out manufacturers in other countries. What can you buy cheaply and sell for a profit?
Look at eBay to get ideas. Scan the categories. Will you specialise in watches or handbags? Or will you pick an era that you love such as the 1960’s and sell everything from furniture to record albums from that period.
Have fun with your online auction business. You can develop a following for your products and your goods will be in demand if you prove to be a reliable, honest seller with a good’ ‘feedback’ rating from eBay buyers.
Ebay will help you establish your own ‘store too. Look into all options.
Gift Baskets Business
Gift baskets do will in good times and in hard times. When people are down and out and suffering from an illness or bad business deal, gift baskets have the power to bring cheer and good will.
There are so many different types of gift baskets to consider these days. Everything from sweets and chocolates to sports related gear to flowers with gardening tools, and even edible gift baskets of fruit or vegetables. To start this business, you will need a dedicated work area such as a spare room or use the dining room and you’ll need a fast and reliable way to deliver the baskets. Develop your website and set up a facility for accepting payment via credit cards, (this you would discuss with your bank)
The website is a good tool to post photos of your work. You can also promote your business at crafts shows and fairs by availing of exhibition space. You will make a nice mark-up on the gift baskets, as you will be purchasing everything at wholesale rates.
Man – or – Woman with Van
If you have a van or an SUV, you can start a business using that vehicle to make deliveries, pick up items for both residential and commercial customers, deliver food for restaurants, etc.
Many small to medium sized businesses do not have a person on staff to make deliveries, pick up packages and act as a general gopher with items that need to get from point A to B. You can be this person and work on a steady basis for your clients.
Tutor – Coach
If you have a talent or skill for a particular subject, you can start a tutoring service. Tutors come in all categories: sports, language, English for non-English speaking students, piano lessons, even cooking. Your target markets are parents, adults who want to broaden their horizons, students and companies who want to have their employees brush up on skills. It’s a big market. Go online and read about how to become an effective tutor. If you are good with people and have a talent or skill to share, then this could be a great business for you to consider.
Market your Specialty Food.
Do you have a specialty food product (such as pasta sauce, a special loaf of bread, BBQ sauce, biscuits, or cakes) that people tell you is out of this world? Then consider marketing it.
There are plenty of books written on the topic (at amazon.com) that can guide you through the maze of creating food labels, finding a manufacturer and distributing your product.
If you have such a product, consider turning it into a money-making operation. For rules and regulations on food handling, check this with the Food Safety Authority.
Cleaning Service
There are many ways to start a cleaning service but one that saves you money is to launch your very own independently owned cleaning business. You can cater to residential and commercial customers, office cleaning, or you can specialize in one sector of the market, hospitals, hotels etc.
So many couples today work a lot of hours and they do not want to spend their precious weekend time cleaning their homes and apartments. You can help, making money in the process.
Target single professional people, working couples, senior citizens, people moving into a new house or apartment and who need a move-in cleaning, to get set up on the right foot.
Home Helper for Senior Citizens
Older people need help for any number of jobs, cleaning the house, doing shopping, cooking meals, washing clothes, driver etc. This sort of role can present many opportunities
An Online Store
You can open an online store and sell goods ranging from bath and body gifts, candles to bird feeders to flat screen televisions. See www.ECXStores.com
Temporary Tattoos
Many TV personalities are displaying tattoos making them very popular at the moment. With temporary tattoos, they fade after a number of weeks. TAT International will sell you the tools and stencils to airbrush incredible images, you do not have to be an artist See www.TatStore.com
Inflatable Rental Business
You can purchase fun inflatables and rent them out at corporate and community events, birthday parties or set them up at local field days. See www.herecomesfun.com
Decorative Landscape Curbing:
Tygar can help you start a business providing walkways, curbing options, landscape, accents and even curb lighting. You don’t need experience, they will show you how. See www.tygarmfg.com
Concrete Into Art
CTI Concrete Technology Incorporate can help you start a business turning patios, walkways etc into works of art. It’s an easy-to-apply formula to enhance the look of concrete and repair the surface. See www.flycti.com
Paintless Dent Repair
We all have those annoying dings and scratches. You can start a business repairing them with help from Paint Bull. See www.paintbullplus.com
E-BUSINESSES FOR RIGHT NOW
If you are thinking of starting your online enterprise, here are a number of suggestions for business start-ups.
Conduct Internet tutor workshops for students, other small business owners and anyone who wants to become a ‘webizen’ if not a webpreneur.
Write articles for companies that need to create material for their websites that change frequently.
Launch your own service as a website designer
Sell services and products related to online ventures. Sell them over your own website.
Select a topic you are very interested in and launch a website about it. It can be your online ‘zine’ and you can make money selling ads.
Put together e-mailing lists for other small business owners
Start your own business as on Internet business development manager and help other small business owners investigate possibilities for money-making options online
Visit existing businesses in your area and ask them if they have a website. If they don’t invite them to piggyback on your website, for a fee, of course.
Sell your product via an online cyberstore.
Host discussions and/or Q and A sessions with guests on your website. Banner advertisements that scroll through the conversations could be worth a nice income.
Start your own research service for customers who don’t have the time or the inclination to use the Internet. Book travel for clients, order books they need, organise data and information.
Become a web editor and manage the website of a company or individual.
Start a website service that contains listings for events, concerts and other activities that will attract a dedicated group of followers. Sell ads to firms that are compatible with your products and service listings.
Start a data tracking venture for online businesses.
Launch your own business in data mining. You will analyse sales information to increase effectiveness of your client’s website.
You can start your own import shop online. Find a product from another part of the world that you want to import from and sell via your website. You can specialise in one type of product or develop a whole online catalogue.
Start a translation service for companies that want to have their website in a variety of languages. You can be the translation agent hiring others to do the actual translations if you are not proficient in the language.
Build an online store and sell products from other entrepreneurs.
