Business Start up Ideas....

Updated on January 11, 2012
T.C. asks from Gilbert, AZ
5 answers

I have worked for Corporate America for quite a few years and during that time, I raised my 4 boys and managed to obtain an Associates and a Bachelors degree. I am done working for other people and need some ideas that can make good money. I am not looking for MLM, Primerica, etc types of work. I am looking at more of a consulting or actual business of products/services....I am very business savvy and thank fast on my feet and know how to run a business.... just no ideas.... anyone?

This is a great board and i love it!!

Thank you
T.

1 mom found this helpful

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So What Happened?

I have been an Executive Assistant/Office manager for over 20 years and was thinking of consulting for streamlining business processes or writing the processes. Alot of people do not have any sort of idea on how to do this type of thing. Basically what steps do i need to take in order to accomplish this.... example... I need to buy something....what steps do i need to do this. Who does what at what company etc... does that make sense?
So I am big into sports with my boys was thinking of starting a nonprofit. etc... also love animals... but if I find horse property when I move, I wanted to start a horse rescue. I was raised around them and wanted to get back to helping those amazing creatures.... so much that i want to do..but those two are the biggest.

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

What is your professional background? That's what guided my decision to become a consultant. I was a public relations manager and writer in the corporate world, and became a freelance public relations writer.

You can't go into this hoping for good money. The goal at the beginning is to find something that taps your expertise and makes you happy. The money will follow if you're great at what you do.

2 moms found this helpful

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

Do you have a passion? If I were going to start a business, I would have an upscale food truck. I'd park downtown during the week to feed the hungry execs, outside differant clubs and events in the evenings. We'd be totally green with 100% recycled materials and reduced packagin. I'd hire culinary school students to insure top quality food and use only local and organic suppliers and home owned business. I like to support the local economy and mom and pop shops. Now that's passion!

If you were handed 100k to start any kind of business, what would you start? If money were no object, and you were doing purely what you loved and would be making a differance, what would you do? Would you start a charity that matched needs with donors? Would you like to make 1,000 batches a day of grammas famous peanut brittle? WHat could you do all day every day, eat sleep and breathe?

2 moms found this helpful
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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Finding a specific niche/customer base is the key.
Have you read Guerrilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson?

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

What are your strengths? What do you love?

We are in our 3rd yr of completely living off our company we run from home, however, we established it in 2005 as a back up plan and it ended up being a $3 Million dollar company last year with sales up 17% over 2010. 2012 is looking fantastic right now... we are sold out for January and purchasing materials for February and March. Who would have thought!

We are in a niche market with raw materials (plastic) and we broker/consult with manufacturers. My husband has been in the industry 20+ yrs and in 2005 when he left a sales job to go to another sales job, the products were limited in the new job, BUT his customers kept calling him for references of where to purchase products, consulting regarding temps to run their machines and how much additives were needed, etc.. He was giving them info because they were good people and had been good customers. Then, we had to establish our company because they started sending him commissions, etc for his work. Fast forward until 2008, we had the opportunity to start full time on our own. Hubb knows this business inside and out, we are both numbers people, very detailed and it works for us.

We drew up a formal plan, consulted the tax and legal counsel on our team. We proceeded to fund thie company 100% with our money and opted not to go through banks, etc. WE wanted to run the company, not have the bank tell us what to do.

Hubby does all the selling/brokering/consulting and I manage all the financials, Quickbooks, travel, etc.

This sort of fell into our lap but we are glad we moved on it when we did and have now established great working relationships with manufacturing companies all over the US.

Remember to start slowly and let it grow. As CAWriterMom said.... the money does not come in the beginning, it follows if you are a success at what you are doing. You sound like you'd be a great business owner.

SO... bottom line would be what would you be consulting about? What is the industry, who would be your market?

Good luck!!

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M.C.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Have you considered writing a book (or ebook), starting a blog sharing your ideas, or somehow getting your name out there that way? The internet is a huge resource these days. You could have a membership only website with your consulting. Or, you can write short articles, but also sell more personalized services, at a certain amount per hour. You can start this now and build your business as you continue to work and earn an income. Or, some people find that the fire is lit more brightly when they just jump into the deep end and have to succeed to pay the bills. Have you googled these things to see what all is out there? You may find a new niche for yourself. Also, look around (in person and online) for people who need your services. I would think you have a much better idea of where to find these people than I ever would.
Please, let me know what you end up deciding to do. I am very intrigued. We are a family of entrepreneurs. We have 3 businesses that we run. I have one, my son has one, and my husband has one. We make them fit into our lives, not the other way around, and we love it. I am always curious about how people are making this work.

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