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    Adams Businesses You Can Start Almanac
    Adams Businesses You Can Start Almanac
    Adams Businesses You Can Start Almanac
    Ebook1,203 pages16 hours

    Adams Businesses You Can Start Almanac

    By Adams Media

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    500 businesses you can start!

    The time to start your own business is now! Whether you're a previously employed manager seeking new opportunities and greater job satisfaction, starting up a home-based business, re-entering the job market, or just looking to earn some extra cash on the side, this book helps you discover the business that's just right for you.

    This detailed reference provides more than 500 different business opportunities to choose from. Each entry features:
    • A description of the business
    • Start-up and hidden costs
    • Potential earnings
      • Qualifications and equipment needed
    • Marketing and advertising tips for the best results

    In addition, this book contains critical advice on:
    • Creating a business plan
    • Survival strategies
    • Legal considerations
    • Long-term growth strategies

    No matter what your criteriastart-up costs, skill sets, professional and personal intereststhe Adams Businesses You Can Start Almanac, 2nd Edition prepares you to take the most exciting step of your careerbeing your own boss!
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster
    Release dateSep 17, 2006
    ISBN9781440517563
    Adams Businesses You Can Start Almanac
    Author

    Adams Media

    Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, informs, instructs, and inspires readers across a variety of lifestyle categories by providing the content they’re looking for, from the experts they follow and trust. From New Age to Personal Finance, Cooking to Self-Help, Adams Media researches, identifies, creates, and distributes accessible content with implicit discoverability. Embodying a uniquely flexible “ground-up” publishing model, Adams Media navigates within or between consumer categories as market opportunity dictates. These are the books people are searching for. 

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    • 2/5
      This book is basically a list of ideas for businesses. There was very little information given and some was inaccurate. Many of the businesses listed require a degree and/or certification which is glossed over.

    Book preview

    Adams Businesses You Can Start Almanac - Adams Media

    ADAMS BUSINESSES YOU CAN START ALMANAC

    2nd Edition

    AdamsBusinessesYouCanStartAlmanac_fm_f001

    Adams Media

    Avon, Massachusetts

    Copyright © 2006, F+W Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

    This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

    Published by Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

    57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.

    www.adamsmedia.com

    ISBN 10: 1-59337-562-X

    ISBN 13: 978-1-59337-562-1

    Printed in the United States of America.

    J I H G F E D C B A

    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

    available from the publisher.

    This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

    —From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

    Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their product are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

    This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.

    For information, call 1-800-289-0963.

    CONTENTS

    Introduction

    Part One: Putting Your Business Together

    Legal Issues for Small Businesses

    Putting Together a Solid Business Plan

    Why Some Startups Fail (and What You Can Do to Survive)

    Part Two: 500 Businesses You Can Start

    Startups for Under $1,000

    Airbrush Artist

    Apartment Preparation Service

    Arts Festival Promoter

    Athletic Recruiter/Scout

    Auctioneer

    Auto Paint Touchup Professional

    Automotive Loan Broker

    Band Manager

    Bartending Services

    Barter Systems

    Blade-Sharpening Service

    Boardinghouse Operator

    Book Indexer

    Bounty Hunter

    Cake Decorator

    Calligrapher

    Candlemaker

    Caning Specialist

    Cartoonist

    Child Care Referral Service

    Childbirth Instructor

    Children's Party Planner

    College Application Consultant

    Comedy Writer

    Coupon Distributor

    Doll Repair Service

    Etiquette Advisor

    Feng Shui Consultant

    First Aid/CPR Instructor

    Garage Sale Coordinator

    Genealogical Service (Family History Writer)

    Gerontology Consultant

    Graphologist

    Handbill Distribution

    Handyman Network

    Health Insurance Consultant

    Homeschooling Consultant

    Horse Trainer

    Hospitality Service

    Housesitter/Caretaker

    Ice Sculpting

    Identity Theft Recovery Specialist

    In-Home Mail Service

    Incorporation Service for Businesses

    Interim Executive

    Jewelry Designer

    Knitting/Crocheting Lessons

    Lactation Consultant

    Laundry/Ironing Service

    Lawn Care Service

    Literary Agent

    Magician

    Makeup Artist

    Mall Promotion

    Merchandise Demonstrator

    Mobile Book/Magazine Distributor

    Mobile Notary Public

    Mortgage Loan Broker

    Motor Vehicle Transportation

    Movie Site Scout

    Multilevel Marketing

    Mystery Shopper

    Nutrition Consultant

    Packing/Unpacking Service

    Party Planner

    Personal Chef

    Personal Instructor/Fitness Trainer

    Personal Menu Service

    Personal Shopper

    Personal Weight Loss Management Consultant

    Petsitter

    Plant Maintenance Service

    Private Tutor

    Professional Organizer

    Real Estate Agent/Home Researcher

    Reminder Service

    Roommate Referral Service

    Scrapbooker

    Silk Flower Arranger

    Storyteller

    Stress Management Counselor

    Taste Tester for Food Companies

    Travel Consultant

    Vacation Rentals Broker

    Wellness Instructor

    Startups Between $1,000 and $5,000

    Abstracting Service

    Accountant

    Adoption Search Service

    Advertising Sales Representative

    Aquarium Maintenance and Setup

    Arbitration Service

    Art Broker/Corporate Art Consultant

    Association Management Services

    Audio Recording for Trade Shows and Seminars

    Auto Maintenance

    Boat Maintenance/Cleaning Service

    Bookbinder

    Book Packager

    Bookkeeping Service

    Broadcast Sales/Advertising Broker

    Business Broker

    Business Consulting

    Buyer's Information Service

    Calendar Service

    Carpet/Upholstery Cleaning

    Chimneysweep

    City Planner

    Clipping Service

    College Internship Placement

    Color Consultant

    Commercial Actor

    Commercial Photographer

    Construction Management Services

    Consumer Researcher

    Cooking Class Instructor

    Counselor/Psychologist

    Credit Consultant

    Custom Sewing/Alterations

    Dance Instructor

    Data Retrieval Service

    Day Care Service (Children)

    Day Care Service (Elder Adults)

    Direct Marketing/Sales

    Disability Consultant

    Dog Trainer

    Economic Development Consultant

    Employee Harmony Consultant

    Environmental Consultant/Contractor

    Errand/Messenger Service

    Exterior (House) Painting

    Factory Site Location Consultant

    Fan Club Management

    Farmsitting

    Farmer of Fruits or Vegetables

    Feed Consultant/Broker

    Financial Aid Consultant

    Flea Market Organizer

    Food Delivery Service

    Food Manufacturing Consultant

    Forensic Consultant

    Freelance Illustrator/Artist

    Freelance Writer/Editor

    Fundraiser

    Government Contract Consulting

    Grants/Proposal Writer

    Herb/Flowers Farming

    Image Consultant

    Interior Designer

    Interviewer

    Invention Consultant/Broker

    Investment Club Organizer

    Jewelry/Clock/Watch Repair

    Labor Relations Consultant

    Licensing Agent

    Liquidator

    Lobbyist

    Manufacturer's Representative

    Massage Therapist

    Medical Practice Management Consultant

    Meeting Planner

    Mobile Hair Salon

    Money Broker

    Motivational Speaker

    Mover

    Murder Mystery Producer

    Newsletter Publisher

    Newspaper Delivery Service

    Novelty Message Service

    Oil and Gas Field Services

    Online Auction Sales

    Online Job Search

    Paralegal

    Parenting Specialist

    Payroll Administrative Services

    Personal Coach

    Personality Analysis/Testing Service

    Personnel Safety Consultant

    Pharmaceutical Returns Consulting

    Political Campaign Management

    Pollster

    Printing Broker

    Product Developer

    Profit Sharing Plan Consultant

    Property Management Service

    Recreation Activities Consultant

    Recycling

    Referral Service

    Reflexologist

    Relocation Consultant

    Respiratory Equipment Repair

    Resume Service

    Retail Bakery/Specialty Desserts

    Retirement Planner

    Reunion Organizer

    Sales of Novelty and Promotional Products

    Secretarial and Office-Support Services

    Sign Painting

    Software Conversion Service

    Specialty Food Production

    Speechwriter

    Standardized Test Preparatory Services

    Stenciling

    Stenography Service

    Systems Integrator

    Taxidermist

    Time-Management Specialist

    Trademark Agent

    Translation Services

    Travel Agent

    Tree Service

    Upholsterer

    Vending Machine Owner

    Wallpapering/Interior Painting

    Water Pump Repair Service

    Webmaster

    Wedding Planner

    Welcoming Service

    Window Treatment Specialist

    Window Washing Service

    Startups Between $5,000 and $15,000

    Accident Reconstruction Service

    Acoustical Services

    Advertising Agency

    Agricultural Marketing

    Ambulatory Services

    Animal Broker/Dealer

    Archaeological Services

    Architect

    Art Restoration Services

    Art/Photo Representative

    Auditing Specialist

    Auto Swap Meet Promotion

    Automobile Window Stickers

    Automotive Marketing and Training Services

    Bicycle Rental

    Boudoir Photography

    Bridal Show Promotions

    Business Plan Writer/Packager

    Career Counselor

    Carpet Installation

    Casting Director

    Classified Advertising Newspaper

    Collectibles/Memorabilia

    Collection Agency

    Computer Consultant

    Computer Repair and Maintenance

    Computer Software Sales

    Computer Trainer

    Construction Services

    Corporate Insurance Broker

    Corporate Trainer

    Cost Reduction Consultant

    Costume Design and Construction

    Database Consultant

    Decks/Outdoor Furniture

    Designer/Retail Items

    Doula/Midwife

    Draftsman/Blueprinting Service

    Efficiency Expert

    Electrical Contractor/Electrician

    Employee Benefits Consultant

    Executive Recruiter

    Expert Witness

    E-Zine Publisher

    Fabric Wallcoverings

    Facialist

    Financial Planner

    Firewood Service

    Flowerscaping

    Franchise Idea Center

    Furniture Refinisher

    Gardening Consultant

    Gift Basket Business

    Graffiti Removal

    Graphic Designer

    Greeting Card Sender

    Hardwood Floor Refinisher

    Hauling Service

    Herbal Products Distributor

    Home Entertainment System Installation and Service

    Home-Based Business Consultant

    Human Resources Services

    Importing/Exporting

    Incentive Programs/Promotional Material

    Information Consultant

    Insurance Agent

    Inventory Control

    Invisible Fencing Sales/Installation

    Irrigation Services

    Lawyer

    Legal Cost Control/Litigation Management Services

    Lock Box Service

    Locksmith

    Maid Service

    Mailing List Service

    Management Consultant

    Manicurist/Pedicurist

    Market Mapping Service

    Marketing Consultant

    Mediator

    Medical Billing Service

    Medical Claims Assistance Professional

    Medical Coding

    Medical Transcriptionist

    Middleman

    Mini-blind Cleaning Service

    Mobile Automotive Detailing

    Mobile Disc Jockey Service

    Modeling School/Agency

    Monogramming Service

    Motion Picture Research Consultant

    Networking Services

    New Product Researcher

    Newspaper Features Syndicate

    Noise Control Consultant

    Online Internet Researcher

    Outdoor Adventures

    Packaging Consultant

    Patient Gift Packager

    Personalized Children's Books

    Pet Breeder

    Pet Grooming/Care

    Photocopying Service

    Political Marketing Consultant

    Portrait Artist/Photographer

    Private Detective/Intelligence Specialist

    Professional Rescue and Recovery Diver

    Public Relations

    Public Speaking Consultant

    Rare Book Dealer/Search Service

    Real Estate Appraiser

    Recreational Coupon Distributor

    Restoration Services

    Rubber Stamp Business

    Sales Trainer

    Security Systems Consultant

    Seminar (Speakers) Service

    Shipping/Customs Consultant

    Sightseeing Excursions

    Small Business Consultant

    Snow Plow Service

    Software Development/CD-ROM Packaging

    Surveyor

    Talent Agency

    Tax Preparation Service

    Technical Writer (Documentation and Onscreen Text)

    Telecommunications Consultant

    Telemarketing Service

    Television Program Distributor

    Textile Broker

    Theatrical Lighting Service

    Traffic Control Consultant

    Trophy/Engraving Service

    Used Industrial Equipment Sales

    Vacuum Cleaner Repair

    Video/DVD Transfer Service

    Virtual Assistant

    Water Quality Analysis

    Web Site Designer

    Wilderness-Based Therapeutic Programs

    Word-Processing Service

    Workers' Compensation Consultant

    Startups Between $15,000 and $40,000

    Antiques Dealer

    Art Gallery

    Automotive Parts Rebuilder

    Banquet Facility

    Biofeedback Therapist

    Boat Operation Instructor

    Building Maintenance Service

    Bungee Jumping Instructor

    Business Form Sales and Service

    Catalog Retailer

    Caterer

    Child ID Products

    Coffee Bar/Tea Salon

    Commercial Fisherman

    Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Service

    Computer Composer

    Computerized Special Effects Designer

    Concert Promoter

    Consulting Engineer

    Custom Carpentry/Furniture Maker

    Damage Restoration Service

    Dating Service

    Desktop Publisher

    Desktop Video

    Digital Imaging Service

    Educational Product Development

    Employee Leasing

    Entertainment Directory Publisher

    Fish Restocking

    Floral Shop

    Health/Fitness Centers for Corporations

    Home Inspector

    Horse/Cargo Trailer Service

    Hot Air Balloon Rides

    Hurricane Products/Services

    International Business Consultant

    Landscape Designer

    Message Retrieval Service (Answering Service)

    Mobile Car Inspection/Repair

    Mobile Paper-Shredding Service

    Multimedia Service

    Nanny Service

    Occupational Health Care Services

    Office Equipment Leasing

    Outplacement Services

    Pest Control Service

    Pet Taxi Service

    Pool Maintenance

    Power Wash Service

    Recording Studio Rental

    Rental Business

    Residence for the Elderly

    Security Systems Design/Installation

    Short-Term Auto Rental Service

    Software Engineer/Computer Programmer

    Television Repair

    Ticket Broker

    Transportation Provider (Limousine/Van)

    Used Boat Sales

    Venture Capitalist

    Videotext Service

    Voice-Activated Home Automation

    Winery

    Startups Over $40,000

    Aerial Applicator

    Air Charter Service

    Arcade/Party Rentals

    Assembly Work

    Audiobook Producer/Distributor

    Automotive Testing Equipment

    Bed & Breakfast

    Beer Brewery

    Boat Tours

    Canoe Livery

    Car Wash

    Child Development Center

    Coin-Operated Laundry

    Color Separation and Film Assembly Services

    Commodities Broker

    Creative Arts Day Camp

    Custom Embroidery

    Day Spa

    Demolition/Wrecking Contractor

    Diaper Service

    Distributor

    Drug Testing Service

    Dry Cleaning Service

    Earthquake Products/Services

    Fiber Optic Transmission Systems

    Fitness Rental Equipment

    Framing Service

    Franchisee

    Freelance TV Producer

    Funeral Home

    Geologic Drilling Service

    Ground Water Assessment

    Health Club

    Home Health Care Service

    Indoor Playspace

    Instant Signs

    Key Control Systems Manufacturer/Distributor

    Leak-Detection Service

    Machinery Rebuilding/Repair

    Mailbox Rental Service

    Manufacturer of Licensed Products

    Manufacturer of Self-Adhesive Printed Labels

    Manufacturer/Retail Item

    Map Publisher/Distributor

    Medical Products Manufacturer

    Messenger Service

    Miniature Golfcourse

    Musical Instrument Leasing

    900-Number Service

    Pilot/Flying Lessons

    Pinball/Electronic Game Arcade

    Prefab Home Sales/Construction

    Real Estate Investor

    Repair Shop

    Resale/Consignment Shop

    Restaurant

    Restaurant Equipment and Supplies

    Retailer

    Satellite Equipment/Systems (Wholesale)

    Segway Rentals

    Shipping/Freight Forwarding Service

    Specialty Paper Producer/Distributor

    Sports Equipment Sales/Service

    Stock Photo Service

    Storage Service

    Tanning Salon

    Taxi Service

    Temporary Employment Agency

    Tow Boat Operator

    Trucking Broker

    Underwater Adventures/SCUBA Instruction

    Uniform Service

    Used Car Leasing

    Video-on-Demand

    Video Production Company

    Weight Loss Center

    Wholesaler

    X-Ray Inspection Service

    Part Three: Business Tips

    Business Basics: Words of Advice for Business Owners of All Types

    Marketing: Promoting Your Business Effectively and/or Economically

    Growth: Thinking Ahead and Planning for Success

    Management: Leading Your Employees to Greater Productivity

    Personal Concerns: Striking the Right Balance Between Business and Home

    Part Four: Appendices

    Listing of Businesses by Category

    INTRODUCTION

    There has never been a more exciting time to start your own business! New businesses are springing up every day all across the country. Whether these new ventures are inspired by women re-entering the job market, young people starting their careers in home-based businesses, previously employed middle managers seeking new opportunities and greater job satisfaction, or just regular folks looking to earn some extra cash on the side, more and more people are finding themselves caught up in the entrepreneurial spirit.

    What has led to this entrepreneurial boom? First, there has been a sharp increase in downsizing at both large and medium-sized businesses. In recent years, many of the larger corporations in the United States, like IBM and General Motors, have been laying off workers in record numbers, and it appears the end is not yet in sight.

    As companies are learning to be leaner and meaner, career-minded professionals cannot expect job security the way they could in the past. In today's economy, chances are good that the average individual entering the workforce today will not stay at one company throughout his or her professional career. And a growing number of people feel that the best way to prevent an almost inevitable layoff is to take the skills they have and open up shop for themselves.

    Changes in government programs and tax benefits for minority-owned businesses provide still more clues why entrepreneurship is on the rise. Despite affirmative action programs, it is still a statistically proven fact that there is a lack of opportunity for women and minorities within medium- to large-sized companies. Thus, thousands of women and minorities are recognizing that their earning potential is much higher on their own than it would be in the corporate world, and that there is no glass ceiling to block your opportunities when you are your own boss. In addition, it is now easier for minorities and women to get financing to start new ventures, either through local banks or government programs.

    The success rate is good for new minority and women-owned startups. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2002 Survey of Business Owners, more than one in four owners of U.S. businesses with paid employees are women, and nearly two-thirds of them are at least forty-five years old. And minority-owned businesses are doing particularly well, growing more than four times as fast as U.S. firms overall.

    Other population groups are jumping on the entrepreneurial bandwagon as well. Burgeoning technological advances have opened up new opportunities for the physically challenged. In the past, persons with disabilities were limited in their professional choices by their physical handicaps. Affordable computers, the Internet, and greater public acceptance of home offices have opened up a wide range of opportunities for those with physical limitations, and many have launched successful ventures as a result.

    The concept of the home office continues to rise in popularity. Many entrepreneurs have even been able to start new ventures while still employed at another firm, thus increasing their capital and minimizing their day-to-day financial risk. With an answering machine, a cell phone, a computer, some letterhead, and business cards, many home-based businesses can literally run themselves while you keep your day job, leaving you to fill orders or talk to clients on your off time. A few years ago, this type of business practice would not have been acceptable. But now, many new businesses are getting off the ground just this way. And if you do choose to quit your day job and work at home full-time, a fax machine and high-speed Internet connection can help you stay in touch with the outside world during business hours, too.

    All of these cultural changes working together have created an atmosphere of opportunity in the entrepreneurial environment. The rest is up to you. Making the decision to become an entrepreneur is the hard part. All you have to do now is choose the type of business that best meets your financial, emotional, and intellectual requirements, and get going!

    WHY THIS BOOK?

    The Adams Businesses You Can Start Almanac is unique among the plethora of business ideas books. The majority of businesses highlighted here are based on the assumption that you already have some area of interest, or skill, that you would like to apply to your own business. Most of the businesses here are considered white collar, but there are also plenty of ideas for the person looking to work with his or her hands. All of the businesses are significant and realistic ventures; the majority of them can be started right in your own home.

    This book emphasizes the potential for many businesses to become offshoots of others. Not every business can exist on its own as a full-time enterprise, although many can be used as opportunities for supplemental income. Check the index for companion-type businesses—two part-time opportunities that can be merged into one full-time profitable venture.

    Most importantly, this book provides a view from the trenches. In researching this book, we spoke with business owners across the country about how they did it, why they did it, and what they would have done differently. And we were amazed by the frank and honest answers we received. Many business owners were quick to tell us about their mistakes, and even more willing to talk about what they would have done differently if they knew then what they know now. Many of their interviews, and all of their advice, are included in full detail.

    Lastly, there's the emphasis on your bottom line. Aside from a brief description of five hundred businesses, there is a thorough analysis of what it will take in terms of money, equipment, and personal qualifications to get each new venture up and running, as well as the kinds of profits you can expect. We've made an attempt to consider the hidden costs for each business, too, so that you can make an educated decision as to which venture is truly the best match for your interest, abilities, and financial resources.

    HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

    There are three ways you can use this book to find a business that is compatible with your background and interest level. First, you can choose the kind of business you want to launch based on the amount of money it will take you to do so. The five hundred businesses profiled are categorized into five startup cost categories:

    Under $1,000: These businesses can be started with very low out-of-pocket expenses. They require no more capital than you probably already have in savings or could raise using credit cards, if you had to. Generally, these are businesses that can turn a profit in a hurry, to keep funding the costs you'll be incurring.

    $1,000–$5,000: These businesses require some preplanning. The necessary startup capital might come from your prior savings or through creative personal financing (for example, a home equity loan). The financing for these businesses would probably not require—or qualify for—a small business loan. Many of these are excellent part-time opportunities that can be turned into full-time careers once your business is established.

    $5,000–$15,000: You might be able to call on relatives and friends to help raise the necessary capital for these businesses. Otherwise, you will definitely need a significant savings cushion before you embark on any of these opportunities as full-time endeavors.

    $15,000–$40,000: You would probably qualify for a small business loan or second mortgage with any of these opportunities. At the very least, you will need to line up a few firm commitments from clients before quitting your day job. Putting together a thorough business plan is essential, so that your financiers can gauge your potential success level.

    Above $40,000: At this startup level, you'll usually need to obtain a bank loan or look for investors just to get the business off the ground. The businesses in this category usually require the purchase of large machinery, specialized equipment, sizable inventories, or warehouse space. As with the previous category of businesses, you'll definitely need a thorough business plan.

    Another way to use this book is to consult the category index to search for your area of interest. You might get some ideas for jobs in a field related to yours, or find a niche for something that you've always wanted to try

    Lastly, you can simply flip through the pages at your own pace to learn more about all of the different types of businesses out there. Who knows—you might just stumble onto something that addresses a lucrative skill or interest you didn't even know you had.

    As you read each business description, you'll notice some specific statistical information at the beginning of every entry. It is organized as follows:

    Startup costs: These costs are calculated by adding together all equipment, advertising, and operating capital costs. We tried to consider every possible cost, and then asked the question: What's the least amount of money you would need to start this business?

    Potential earnings: This range is calculated by multiplying typical fees by the 2,080 billable hours in each year (40 hours a week for 52 weeks). This is a gross figure and does not account for costs and overhead.

    Typical fees: We researched each field to determine the average hourly rate or per-project rate. For many entries, you will see a range instead of one flat fee. This is because your geographic location may dictate the demand for your goods or services, and demand is what drives prices up.

    Advertising: Here, we rounded up all of the possible ways you could promote each type of business, from methods that cost nothing, such as networking, to long-term media contracts that cost several thousand dollars. The advertising costs are built into the startup costs.

    Qualifications: This category contains everything you need to know about professional certifications, personality requirements, and other information pertinent to what it takes to run your business.

    Equipment needed: We researched and surveyed the equipment purchases you'll likely need to make to run your business effectively. You may need anything from a basic home office setup to specific industry-related machinery.

    Home business potential: Many of the businesses can be launched and run out of your own home. We've also identified those that really need more space (such as a manufacturing facility), and those that you can run from your home even if you are not actually doing a lot of the work there.

    Staff required: A high percentage of the businesses profiled can be one-person operations, but those needing additional staff are identified, often with a suggested number of employees.

    Hidden costs: This is probably the most important element of each entry. The costs that you don't think about are often the ones that can drive your business into the ground. We've tried to uncover costs you might not have thought of when developing your business plan or strategy. They include insurance coverage, workers' compensation, and even fluctuating materials costs. Many of these are costs you simply cannot predict—or might not have realized will be incurred as you work to abide by state and federal government requirements.

    The balance of each entry, divided into three sections, provides a comprehensive guide to each individual business. With each, you'll get a total picture of what's involved in successfully running the business in question so that you can zero in on those which best match your background and expertise.

    Lowdown: This section supplies the details of exactly what each type of business demands of its owner, what your day-to-day activities will be, and who your customers are. This section also includes information on specific marketing opportunities.

    Startup: Here, you'll find an in-depth breakdown of your startup costs, including everything from office furniture and computer equipment to advertising costs. You'll also find valuable information on how to arrive at specific earnings goals for each business.

    Bottom Line: This section points out the positive and negative aspects of each business, so you'll know exactly what you're in for. Remember, no business is perfect; there are pluses and minuses to every opportunity.

    BUT WHAT IS RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS REALLY LIKE?

    One business owner answered that question pretty eloquently when he said that the best thing about owning your own business is that it's your own business, and the worst thing about owning your own business is, well … that it's your own business. While owning your own business is the opportunity of a lifetime, you may come to find out that the opportunity to work—or worry—24 hours a day is not one worth having. But you'll never know until you try. And what might be one person's burden is another person's ticket to financial independence and personal fulfillment.

    The trick is to manage your entrepreneurial journey well enough to expect the good with the bad—and not pressure yourself to perform flawlessly every time. After all, this is new ground and no one expects you to be perfect. While this book certainly does not provide all of the answers, it does address several issues you'll need to think about to determine if owning your own business is really right for you.

    As a potential new business owner, the most important place you can start is with a solid idea of what you want to do, and what it will take to achieve your goals. We wish you good luck as you embark on what will surely become the most interesting journey of your professional life!

    PART ONE

    PUTTING YOUR BUSINESS TOGETHER

    LEGAL ISSUES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

    Many startup businesses do not have a lawyer, and some companies operate for years without ever needing legal advice. The owners have done their homework and understand the legal situations likely to arise in their areas of business. They know which of the government's rules and regulations affect them and have set up systems to insure that they dot their is and cross their ts consistently, keeping accurate records to prove it.

    DO YOU NEED A LAWYER?

    It costs money to hire a lawyer, but, as a general rule, entrepreneurs find that working with an attorney who specializes in small business issues is worthwhile for the time, worry, and (possibly) large sums of money it can save them over the long run. If you are wavering in your decision, it may be helpful if you think of your attorney as one of many business advisor relationships that strengthen your organization rather than simply deplete its resources. You will definitely need to work with an attorney:

    1 If you decide to incorporate or form a partnership.

    1 When you need to sign a contract or agreement (an attorney can help you understand the legal language so you know exactly what you are committing your business to do).

    1 Whenever you prepare a contract or agreement for others to sign.

    1 If someone brings a lawsuit against you.

    FINDING AN ATTORNEY

    To find a good attorney, start by asking friends and business associates for recommendations. Then, before committing to anyone, check each lawyer's business experience and learn about his or her general approach to working with clients. You are looking for direct, no-frills service that provides substance at the least possible cost. You will need to find an attorney who is willing to be part of a real relationship—someone who responds to your calls within a reasonable period of time, answers your questions in plain English, and takes an active interest in the success of your business. Most attorneys are willing to provide an initial consultation at no charge. Take advantage of this free time to get all your questions answered, especially the ones about fees. Once you have chosen a lawyer with whom you can be comfortable, develop a fee or retainer plan that fits your budget. Finding a compatible attorney can be a somewhat lengthy process, but it is time well spent. And don't wait until a crisis hits to begin your search. In fact, having an attorney you can call on before you take an action might just save you from tedious, expensive trouble later on. What are your chances of being sued? If you know the danger is high, in addition to keeping an attorney on retainer, you might want to also consider insuring your business against potential legal costs.

    AVOIDING LEGAL TROUBLE

    Most businesses never get sued, and clearly you want to do everything you can to be in that category. Establish and conduct your business with the aim of keeping legal troubles from arising. Get business agreements in writing, and maintain clear, organized records of each transaction. Add to the files your notes on what is said during any subsequent telephone calls or meetings in which expectations, promises, modifications, and other issues are discussed.

    Know and follow the laws and regulations that apply generally to businesses, as well as those that apply specifically to your business type. Make sure your employees and customers know what your policies are, and set an example by following them yourself. This is an area where your leadership will have a more powerful effect than all the memos and employee handbooks in the world. When you do what you promise and follow through immediately to resolve complaints, you create an atmosphere of trust. That's the best legal protection your business can have.

    AGREEMENTS

    New business owners may not recognize that many situations are considered agreements or contracts, even though no official piece of paper has been written to label them as such. Do you get paid in advance for a service or product to be delivered later? Do you send payment to a supplier and receive delivery of the materials at a later date? These constitute agreements: Money is exchanged on the expectation that a desired result will occur.

    As you become more experienced, you will no doubt discover the same painful truth many slightly more experienced business owners have come to appreciate: Agreements aren't always honored by the other party. Suppose you provide a service that requires you to lay out money, to buy the paper to produce a catalog, hire an associate, or accumulate travel costs, for example. You intend to send a bill when the job is complete, but the client keeps asking for one small change after another. You finally send the bill—but it never gets paid. Unless you have kept excellent records of what the client asked for, what you promised up front, and what you actually delivered, you may have no way of recovering this loss. One situation like this can destroy a fledgling business. For safety's sake, ask your attorney to set up a formal agreement procedure that you can follow before you do any business. That's the best way to make sure your fingers do not get burned.

    CONTRACTS

    If written contracts are part of your business, you will need to work with your attorney to draft the kind that will protect you. Getting all requests, plans, and promises down on paper is actually a good selling technique: Your customer knows exactly what to expect, and you have a checklist to make sure that you perform the work to expectations. When you put everything in writing, there will be no gray areas that could lead to discomfort, disagreements, and disappointment later. You protect your business, while at the same time, you guarantee customer satisfaction. It's a win-win situation.

    Contracts tend to be more formal than agreements. If you prefer to write your own, have your attorney create the first one as a model, then ask him or her to check any major variations that you may make in later versions. If you are asked to sign a contract prepared by another organization, READ EVERY WORD OF IT. Have your attorney read it, too, and ask him or her to explain the murky parts. Again, you can't provide complete customer satisfaction if you don't have a clear understanding of what you're supposed to do. Renegotiate whatever provisions you do not wish to meet. The other party has the option of doing this as well. Carrying out this process in a positive manner can be a key to selling successfully. Think of it as the first step in simply building a satisfactory working relationship: providing your products or services to meet your client's needs in a mutually agreeable way.

    PROTECTING YOUR GOOD NAME

    Copyrights and trademarks are tools you can use to protect your rights to intellectual property, that is, ideas, words, names, and so on. These two types of protection are very different in their ease of use, and they have different effects. Neither is a guarantee of anything. They simply give you the right to try to enforce your ownership. Major legal cases involving copyright infringement occasionally receive national attention in the news media, but the day-to-day application of copyright and trademark protection, regardless of the size of the case, is extremely complex.

    Copyrights

    The copyright symbol © is familiar to almost everyone. You can simply apply it yourself to the beginning of a literary, musical, dramatic, choreographic, or visual work you have created and the work is automatically protected. Typically, a copyright claim takes this form: Copyright © 2006 by Mary Smith. You can't copyright an idea or a title, but you can use a claim to protect an article, photograph, painting, record, or tape. The copyright gives the creator the sole right to copy or reproduce a work; anyone else who tries to do so is in violation of the copyright. Registering a copyright with the federal government costs $30. Registration is not a requirement; it merely establishes a public record of your copyright claim.

    Copyrights, even those that are formally registered, do not guarantee that your work will never be used without your permission. Anyone who works with business material knows that copyrights are regularly infringed upon. Sadly, people steal or borrow the work of others all the time. It's a frustrating situation, and there is no squad of government enforcers riding out from Washington, D.C., in defense of the injured parties. By all means, claim any copyright you deserve, but be aware that you will have to shoulder the burden of proof if you suspect an infringement. It can be hard to distinguish what is original and therefore protected, from what is only a slight alteration of your work or simply common knowledge and therefore not considered original at all.

    Trademarks

    Trademarks apply specifically to business situations. You may trademark your business name, product name, symbol (logo), or combination of symbol and name so that no other organization is entitled to use it. A trademark helps protect the reputation for quality and service attached to your business name from use by unscrupulous persons who might seek to ride on your coattails.

    In order to enjoy legal protection, it is essential that your trademark be registered, and the process is complex enough to require the assistance of an attorney who specializes in this area. The first step will be an extensive search to be sure that no one else has used the name you have decided on. Given the size and dynamics of the U.S. economy, it can be quite a challenge to come up with a business name that is not already in use. A national trademark search serves two purposes: to make sure, prior to launching your business, that you are not about to unintentionally infringe on the trademark of an established business, and, later, to make sure no one else has infringed on yours.

    Again, there is no guarantee that a trademark will protect your business, but it will help prevent accidental use of your name by another organization. And it will at least discourage flagrant copycatting. To a great extent, your good name conveys the value and quality your customers have come to expect from your products and/or services. Your customers find you by your name, and they use your name to spread the good word to others. Your business or product name is far more than just a phrase you print on your business cards; it is a symbol of all that you stand for. Trademarking helps protect it.

    PUTTING TOGETHER A SOLID BUSINESS PLAN

    A business plan is a detailed document that describes the vital elements of your enterprise, outlines the basic assumptions you are making as you develop the organization, and details your financial projections. The plan establishes your goals: What are you trying to achieve? What specific steps will you take to achieve these goals?; What resources will be required? A well-thought-out, well-written plan is essential for gaining funding from banks and other investors. More importantly, however, putting together the plan forces you to think through your business concept in a systematic way.

    Think of your business plan as a living document. Every six months, you should take the opportunity to reassess the effectiveness of the strategy you have laid out in the plan. How accurate were your assumptions? What do you now know that you can use to help your business grow and prosper?

    Business plans may vary depending on the type of business, geographic area in which it is located, and the audience you wish to address. If you are submitting your plan to a bank in the hopes of securing a loan, obtain a model plan from the loan officer for guidance. Read as many other plans as you can, and work with your business advisors as you write. The Small Business Administration Web site (www.sba.gov) has some helpful tips, too. Keep your readers in mind, and be sure to address their concerns. Do not assume that your readers will be familiar with the jargon and technical terminology of your business. Above all, state the assumptions behind your financial projections. Offer evidence to support each claim you make. Why is your market attractive? What information supports your projected sales figures for each of the next five years? How have you calculated your materials costs?

    While business plans differ in terms of specific goals, strategies, and financial projections, they all should include the same basic elements: an executive summary, a company profile, a product or service analysis, a market analysis, a marketing plan, a financial analysis, and a description of your management team.

    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    The executive summary is critical because most investors will read it first to gain a sense of your business as a whole. (Note: Even though the summary will be read first, you should write it last, only after you have worked out all the details of your plan.) Within a few pages, you should:

    1 Define your company and describe the management team—their expertise, management ability, and experience with startup businesses.

    1 Outline your products and/or services and highlight the benefits they offer to your target market.

    1 Show evidence that your product or service is accepted by your market.

    1 Describe your target market.

    1 Analyze your competition.

    1 Summarize your financial prospects.

    1 State the amount of money you need to launch the business.

    1 Show how the money will be used.

    1 Explain why your business will be successful.

    COMPANY PROFILE

    This is where you have the opportunity to describe your planned company in detail, to outline the products, markets, and history of your business. The goal of this section is to convince your readers that you will be able to achieve the results you are projecting. Here is where you establish your competitive edge—the factors that make you stand out from the competition and appeal to your target market. This section also contains your general, long-term business goals.

    PRODUCT OR SERVICE ANALYSIS

    In this section, you will establish exactly why and how your product or service is different from what other businesses already make available. What do you offer that your target market can obtain in no other way? The features of your product are important, but the benefits customers will derive from your product are what you must emphasize here.

    1 Outline the resources you will need to deliver the product or service: raw materials, skilled technicians, packaging, office space, etc. Discuss availability and cost.

    1 Describe your facility and delivery methods, equipment needed, utility costs, and other factors that influence the day-to-day operations of the business. Transportation, suppliers, and manufacturing issues must be outlined here.

    1 Explain why your product or service is unique. What value will it add to your customers' lives? Is your technology legally protected? How will you keep what you offer up to date?

    MARKET ANALYSIS

    A market analysis supports all successful businesses and requires a great deal of research. Consult the library, local trade associations, and business groups such as your local chamber of commerce to obtain the necessary data. The point of your market analysis is to illustrate the potential demand for your specific product or service. What needs are currently not being met, and why? How does your product address them? What trends affect your market area? What changes are occurring in the business climate that will affect your company in particular?

    Describe your competitors: the products or services they offer, the market segment to which they appeal, and the reasons why their customers buy from them. Describe your likely customers: number, demographics, trends, location. Clarify the pluses and minuses of your products versus those of your competitors: price, quality, market appeal.

    MARKETING PLAN

    The marketing plan shows how you will reach your target market(s). How will those who need your product or service come to understand that it is available from your business? This plan covers pricing, and the relationship of your prices to those of similar products and your competitors. It also covers distribution, delivery, returns, and replacements.

    Here is where you will outline your plans for the sales process and the methods of payment you will accept. You will describe your promotions and advertising approaches. Most importantly, you will project your sales, month by month for the first year and, more generally, for the four years after that.

    FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

    Investors with a serious interest in your business will read this section in detail. It's the heart of your business plan. The financial analysis describes where the money will come from and how it will be spent, with projections for cash flow, income, and debt. This section includes:

    1 A balance sheet, in order to provide a snapshot of your company's assets, liabilities, and net worth;

    1 An income statement, comparing your revenues and expenses over a specific period of time in order to demonstrate your net profit or loss;

    1 Projected income statement, which estimates income and expenses at a future period;

    1 Projected cash flow, which shows how you will manage the most difficult problem for many businesses (spending and collecting cash);

    1 A break-even point, the date at which your company will begin to make a profit!

    MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY TEAM

    Potential investors will want to know how your company is organized and who fills each role within it. In this section, you will need to outline the responsibilities planned for each position. It is customary to also provide biographical information about each member of the management team, either in narrative form in this section, or by including detailed resumes in an appendix.

    Include enough details on key people to allow for a formal background check. Describe their experience and highlight the strengths they bring to your specific business. Describe the amount each person has invested in the business and how much they will be compensated for their services and expertise. Include here the names of outside owners and such business advisors as your attorney, your accountant, and other people important to the enterprise.

    WHY SOME STARTUPS FAIL

    (AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SURVIVE)

    Figures compiled at the Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Bureau of the Census, show that a third of new businesses fail within two years; half close their doors within four. It goes without saying that you don't want to be one of them. So how can you protect yourself when you think you're hitting hard times? Start by knowing what causes businesses to fail and some strategies you can use to address those challenges.

    PRIMARY REASONS BUSINESSES FAIL

    Here are some major reasons that businesses don't succeed:

    1 Undercapitalization. You don't have enough to pay the bills and keep the creditors off your back. The phone is ringing, but you hate to answer it because it's more likely a creditor than a customer. The problem is pretty basic: You're spending more than you're taking in.

    1 Poor leadership/direction. Your staff is running around in circles, and nothing seems to get accomplished. You spin your own wheels trying to assign blame rather than solve the problem. Maybe you just weren't trained to be a good manager; get training now.

    1 Shaky business plan. Remember that all-important document you were supposed to work on—the one that answered all the questions about where your money would come from and how you would keep it rolling in? Maybe it's time for a look back; rereading your business plan a few months down the road can often provide important clues to what's happening and what's not in your business. Come to think of it, you should have been looking back and updating your business plan every few months all along, or you might have avoided the mess you're in now altogether.

    1 Miscalculated market potential. Your marketing strategy should have pointed out all of your areas of opportunity, but what if you were flat wrong? What if your idea was a good one for New York City but not for Boise, Idaho? Let's face it: When first working on a marketing plan, we all tend to be a bit overly optimistic. That's why it's a good idea to have another (more cynical and objective) person look over your marketing data; that person can play the role of devil's advocate, and you'll thank him or her for it later.

    1 Ineffective marketing. You've spent tons of money on advertising and wonder why it isn't paying off. Could it be that you were advertising in the wrong place—or, worse yet, to the wrong people? Once you've committed advertising dollars to one or more media, it's hard to admit you might have been wrong and pull them out when you get no response. Test your markets, and don't commit to long-term contracts until you've gotten at least a 15 percent return on three consecutive ads.

    PRIMARY STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL

    To avoid that fate, follow these steps:

    1 Take a hard look at your debt. Too many of us shy away from what we fear most. Have the courage to get it all out into the open—and, if you don't have any courage left, call a professional bookkeeper who can help put everything in the right column again.

    1 Work out alternative payment plans wherever you can. Often, all you'll need to do is tell your creditors you're thinking of filing bankruptcy. The word alone makes them jump at accepting payments that are significantly less than they would have gotten otherwise (to them, some money will be better than no money).

    1 Sell whatever you can, if you can. If you have equipment that's worth something and you can do without it, put it on the market as soon as you can. If it's critical to your business, you obviously can't sell it; however, if it's a piece that you could just as easily lease, think of the money its sale might bring in.

    1 Don't think of expansion as the answer. Too many entrepreneurs think that if one aspect of their business isn't working, they should add another (rather than subtract the one that's not working). Don't make the mistake of growing bigger to avoid problems; you're only distracting yourself from the real issue at hand and possibly postponing the inevitable.

    1 Cut expenses across the board. Some entrepreneurs get narrow-minded about controlling expenses; you'll lose your business for sure if you're not flexible in where you can save money.

    1 Consider the worst thing that could happen. In your survival plan, you'll need to picture the most terrible thing that can happen in order to be able to work back to the most positive. Know it, face up to it, and then work your plan accordingly.

    1 Maintain a positive attitude. It's hard to remain positive when you feel as though you're losing control of your business, but you need to remember that all businesses go through trying times. Moreover, you'll need to be positive for your employees and your customers, so that they don't lose faith in you during what might wind up being only a temporary problem. If you are to survive, you can't afford to lose their confidence.

    PART TWO

    500 BUSINESSES YOU CAN START

    STARTUPS FOR UNDER $1,000

    AIRBRUSH ARTIST

    LOWDOWN:

    Airbrush art is found in many different places, such as on billboards, and T-shirts, even pickup trucks and motorcycles. An art background is a must for this job. It's essential that you can separate colors as well as mix them. The ability to think in fine detail and visualize is also essential. Build your reputation as an artist wherever you can find work. For broad exposure, try magazines, ad agencies, and public relations firms, but don't neglect local opportunities either. Restaurants and retail shops, for example, sometimes display the work of local artists free of charge. Galleries are another route, but keep in mind that you will have to give up a percentage of any money you make on the sale of your work at a gallery. You might also try entering a contest or displaying your work at an art fair or craft show. The icing on the cake, of course, would be to get your work commissioned for private or public display. Either way, this shows that someone (hopefully with big money) has noticed your work and is willing to pay for it. You're well on your way.

    STARTUP:

    Most of your initial investment will be entry fees for contests and art fairs or craft shows. And because you are working in a visual medium, you will probably, at some point, want to invest in a Web site and/or some type of promotional piece, such as a brochure or postcard for a direct mail campaign. This is not a field you can enter without a good deal of practice, which means you should already have the tools you need because of your background training (startup could be as little as $500). Be prepared to start out slowly until you build your reputation. If you hit some craft shows and are lucky enough to get into an exhibit, your monthly income could soon be approximately $1,000–$3,000. But don't quit your day job just yet, since your income is bound to be unpredictable. It's the nature of the creative beast to live paycheck to paycheck.

    BOTTOM LINE ADVICE:

    If you live for creativity, the sky is the limit. You can airbrush on all types of materials: wood, fabric, brick, film, metal, glass—you name it. Sure, it will take a while before you'll make really big money, but in the meantime you can console yourself with the fact that this is a growing industry and you will have repeat business once you've completed at least a few good projects and the word gets around.

    APARTMENT PREPARATION SERVICE

    LOWDOWN:

    You pick up where the vacating tenants leave off by adding the finishing touches to apartments before the next tenant moves in. To increase your marketability, offer several services, including carpet cleaning, wall washing, painting, and wallpaper repair, as well as overall cleaning services. Set fee schedules appropriately depending on individual services (or offer an all-inclusive package price). Advertise your services to many apartment complexes and landlords. To cut down on driving, try to get a contract with a multiunit apartment complex offering short-term lease options.

    STARTUP:

    Invest in good quality cleaning equipment, including a vacuum and carpet cleaner. Startup costs can be as low or as high as you want, depending on the services you offer and the quality of the equipment you purchase. This business can be started for a relatively low cost with high return on investment; you can always upgrade your equipment, even add staff, as your business grows.

    BOTTOM LINE ADVICE:

    This business is not for someone who is afraid of good old-fashioned elbow grease. Even the tidiest tenants often fail to clean adequately, so be prepared to encounter some messy situations. You may be spending quite a bit of time on your hands and knees cleaning baseboards and floors—consider the health of your back and always wear a back corset. In addition, invest in good pairs of knee pads and rubber gloves.

    ARTS FESTIVAL PROMOTER

    LOWDOWN:

    Annual arts festivals abound in nearly every community, and you could cash in on the public's interest in the arts by sponsoring or promoting your own group of arts festivals. Give your events a flashy name so that you can win instant recognition with your buying public and among artists (many of whom get barraged with requests to appear in shows all over the country). You'll need to promote your festivals two ways: first, to artists who might like to participate; second, to folks who might like to attend. So, your advertising budget must be split in order to reach both sets of customers. Find a way to set your festivals apart, perhaps by inviting only particular types of artists/craftspeople or by attaching your festivals to some sort of theme (such as an Oktoberfest or Independence Day arts festival). That way, you've set an approximate annual date for the show to recur so people can start looking forward to it. Build your mailing list for subsequent years by requiring attendees to sign in (or, better yet, by offering a drawing for an exquisite work of art).

    STARTUP:

    You'll need $500–$1,000 to launch this interesting and artistic enterprise; your seed money will primarily cover the cost of your desktop publishing software, plus out-of-pocket expenses for materials related to set-up, security, and advertising. Once you have a couple of shows under your belt, you can begin to use your profits to pay for subsequent events. Within a year or two of staging several successful events, you will have established a name for your arts festivals that will guarantee annual repeat business in certain areas and begin to make you $45,000 or more per year doing something you truly enjoy.

    BOTTOM LINE ADVICE:

    You love the arts. So what's the downside? It takes real effort and dedication to get this business off the ground; you can expect to work long hours to ensure the success of your first few events and to get your system down. And, of course, there are bound to be things over which you have no control, namely the weather. You're out of luck if it rains on your parade of artists. Of course, you can always avoid weather mishaps by holding all of your events indoors; that will raise your costs, but, in the end, the payoff may be worth it.

    ATHLETIC RECRUITER/SCOUT

    LOWDOWN:

    You do this anyway, right? Every game you go to, you notice the players who stand out, who make the great catches, who come through in the final minutes with the setup that leads to the winning score. You see the unsung heroes who support the stars, and you have a sense for the kids with commitment. You can turn these interests into a business by contracting with a college athletic team or teams as a scout. As a recruiter, you will establish the initial contact with the player and his or her family. You will acquaint them with the opportunities that may be available for scholarships and for participation in a sports program with spirit and great coaching.

    STARTUP:

    All you really need to do is get yourself to the games (not much more than $1,000 will be needed initially). You can use your home computer to write reports, or, if your spelling's not so great, dictate your thoughts into a tape recorder and hire a secretarial service to type them for you. Depending on how much time you put in and the budgets of the colleges you work with, $15,000 is an achievable annual figure for part-time work. If you're good at what you do and the players you recruit turn out to be stars, you might consider expanding your services to pro teams.

    BOTTOM LINE ADVICE:

    You'll need to be the kind of person in whom athletic directors, coaches, players, and parents feel confident. You'll need the patience to sit through the games that lack excitement and the games that are played in bad weather. Transforming yourself from an ordinary amateur sports fan to a professional scout means losing some of the spontaneity of just watching and enjoying the contest. Instead, you'll be analyzing all the time: How is this player progressing? Who was able to spark the team to greater effort in the second half? Will this player look so good at the next level of competition? But if you enjoy watching sports anyway, why not make a little money at it? This is not a way to get rich, but it gives you satisfaction in knowing that you're bringing out excellence and helping young people find opportunities.

    AUCTIONEER

    LOWDOWN:

    Auctioneers speak a language all their own … at such a rapid rate, it's a wonder that those bidding can even understand or hear themselves think. As an auctioneer, you'll auction off everything from fine china to farm animals; much of your work, however, will entail auctioning off the remains of estates. You'll need to work with the executors of wills, attorneys, and others when participating in an estate auction; often, you'll be paid a small fee ($35 to $75) in addition to a commission (usually 10 to 15 percent of total sales). Generally speaking, you'll get better pay when handling estates than when working with smaller auctions such as those involving animals. However, don't rule out auctions of individual items, especially those with big-ticket prices such as farm equipment or real estate; 10 percent of a used combine that goes for $28,000 is nothing to sneeze at … and it's just one piece of equipment you might sell that day! Sometimes, particularly when dealing with antiques or fine art, you may have to appraise each item for its value; if you aren't trained as an appraiser, you'll need to hook up with a good one (and maybe trade referrals with each other).

    STARTUP:

    Your startup will be relatively low ($500 to $1,500) and will mostly cover the cost of certification and/or training, plus business cards. Twenty-seven states currently have certification requirements for auctioneers, so you'll need to check whether your state is one of them. Since the only equipment you really need is a phone so potential clients can get in touch with you, your overhead will be extremely low. All you have to do is get out there and sell, sell, sell—and in a few hours of auctioning off big-ticket items on a Saturday afternoon, you could easily make $5,000 to $10,000.

    BOTTOM LINE ADVICE:

    This is a fun, fast-paced occupation, but to make a good, strong living at it, you'll need some training or an apprenticeship with an experienced auctioneer. Once you have a little experience under your belt, you'll want to position yourself in the more affluent neighborhoods. In other words, you'll need to be where the rich folks are, since their toys are the ones that will bring you the most in commissions. If you don't know how to smell money a mile away, you probably won't do very well as an auctioneer.

    AUTO PAINT TOUCHUP PROFESSIONAL

    LOWDOWN:

    It's not the big things that drive us crazy, it's the little ones—the dings in our car doors and the chips off the hood. For an entirely new paint job, or the replacement of a crumpled fender, plenty of sources are available in most communities. But how can people keep those little scratches and chips from slowly widening and ultimately ruining the appearance and resale value of their cars? That's where your service comes in. You can fix the small stuff, which is important nowadays just to keep a car's body panel warranty in effect. Your business meets the need for a smaller, less expensive way to maintain the smooth surface that your customers' vehicles had when they were new.

    STARTUP:

    Costs are low (about $500 for materials); your skill in doing neat-looking paint touchups is both your product and your main selling point. On a part-time basis alone you could earn in excess of $15,000.

    BOTTOM LINE ADVICE:

    Your customers are everywhere; always be on the lookout for new opportunities. Could you fix the scratches on every car in the parking garage or lot of a huge company? Can you supplement the services provided by a local detailer, car wash, or used car lot? What about those MG owners who gather at the park once a month to swap parts and stories about their cars? You decide—and market yourself accordingly, perhaps offering group discounts.

    AUTOMOTIVE LOAN BROKER

    LOWDOWN:

    A loan broker brings together the people who need money with the institutions that are in the business of lending it. As an automotive loan broker you will be specializing in a type of loan applicable to almost every household in the country There are roughly 1.8 vehicles per household in the United States., and most of the new vehicles sold are purchased with loans. That's a huge potential market. How can you become a part of this picture? You have a list of lenders, hopefully a long one. You have obtained their trust with a well-organized business plan. You advertise for borrowers, and maybe work with local auto dealerships to obtain referrals. And you don't have to restrict yourself to your own geographical area either; much of your business can be conducted by phone or online. Be sure to have a written agreement before you begin the loan search process; most of the clients who use your service instead of approaching a bank directly do so for credit reasons (i.e., they've been turned down for a loan in the past or have had trouble

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