BUSINESS IDEAS

Child Care Service

2009-11-27T19:51:00.000-08:00

Business Overview

If you love kids, you're a Big Wheels and Barney fan, and you've got patience to spare, then you can help parents in your area hit the workplace with easy spirits with a child-care service. You'll care for kids in your home, providing a safe and loving environment as well as snacks and meals. Some child-care services offer child development activities; others provide extended or 24-hour service for parents who work the late shift. Still others combine senior care with the tot set, giving both generations the chance to enjoy and learn from each other. The advantages to this business are that you can work at home; your startup costs are low; if you have kids of your own, you can work and care for them all in one; and you get the joy of watching little people grow. You'll need a genuine affection for the crayon set--if you haven't got it, you'll burn out quickly--as well as patience and the mind-set to enjoy being at home all day with only tots to talk to. You should also have a good working knowledge of child care, child development and psychology. (You needn't be a trained pediatrician, but you'll have to know the basics, things like the difference between teething and an illness-induced fever and at what age children learn to share.)

The Market

Your customers will be working parents and grandparents with preschoolers to be cared for. Post fliers on church or temple bulletin boards and place ads in their newsletters. Network among friends and neighbors; have your spouse or significant other spread the word at work and at professional and civic organizations. Place an ad in your local newspaper. You can also target local businesses. Send letters extolling the benefits of paying for employees' child care with you--you're close at hand so employees won't be late arriving or early leaving work, and with your exceptional care, there's no lost productivity worrying about Junior.

Needed Equipment

Depending on your locale, you may need licensing, certification, inspection or some combination thereof. Be sure to check before embarking on your business. Even if it's not required, you should take courses in CPR and pediatric first aid. You'll need to install safety devices in your home, including smoke detectors (if you don't already have them); fire extinguishers; first-aid kits; gates around pools, spas or other hazards; stairway gates; outlet covers; and safety latches on cabinets and cupboards containing any potentially dangerous substances or materials. Once safety's accomplished, you'll want to think entertainment. Stock up on development-oriented toys, kid videos, tot-sized tables and chairs, and arrange adequate sleeping quarters for your prospective charges.

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Business Plan Service

2009-11-27T19:48:00.000-08:00

Business Overview

Your Ad Here

Did you know that a recent survey of new business owners revealed that less than 25 percent of the 250 owners surveyed had created a business plan for their new venture? When asked why they hadn't created a business plan for their new venture, the No. 1 reason given by the business owners was simply that they didn't know hot to create one. Approximately 700,000 new businesses are started each year in the U.S., and this creates an outstanding opportunity for the ingenious and determined entrepreneur to capitalize by starting a business that creates business plans for the owners of new ventures. Marketing this type of specialized service will take some clever planning, in terms of promoting the service and getting work out. However, consider the following marketing methods: Join local business associations and attend networking meetings to promote your service; attempt to obtain a list of all new applicants for business licenses through your local business service center; and build alliances with business training schools to market your services to the students.

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Community Restaurant Guide

2009-11-27T19:43:00.000-08:00

Business Overview

Starting a business that creates and publishes a monthly community restaurant guide is a very straightforward business venture to set in motion. The guide can feature information and articles about community restaurants, restaurant specials and coupons, as well as forthcoming community event information. Furthermore, the restaurant guide can be distributed throughout the community free of charge, and revenues to support the business can be gained by charging the restaurants featured in the guide an advertising fee. Additional income can also be earned by providing restaurant owners with menu printing options, as well as paper placemat advertising and printing options.

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Business Idea Center: Coffee Service

2009-11-27T19:40:00.000-08:00

Business Overview

Billions of cups of coffee are sold annually in the United States, and securing just a small portion of this very lucrative market can make you rich. We are a nation of coffee drinkers, and to reinforce this statement you do not have to look further than any commercial district to realize there is a coffee shop on every corner. However, a coffee service is not to be confused with a coffee shop, as a coffee service is a mobile business that supplies medium- to large-size companies with free coffee-making equipment in exchange for the company purchasing coffee and coffee filters from the coffee service. The profit potential for a coffee service is outstanding, providing the service operates on a large volume basis.

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2009-11-27T00:24:00.000-08:00