Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi all,

I have a business idea and I wanted to know what you think. I was thinking about creating a community/networking/directory/resource site for parents who have businesses. This site would educate, connect, and promote a parents` business. Kind of like parents supporting other parents by buying from other parents...if that makes any sense.

Any way, that`s the jist of it. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

It`s an interesting niche idea, but it would have be clearly focused on businesses that specifically connect parents to the business world.

For example, parents might start a daycare center business, or they might start a scrap-metal recycling business. In the former, there`s a stretch...but we could say the business is "parent oriented." The latter, however, could be started by anyone and has no particular meaning to parents.

Another parent-specific business might be homework tutoring. So the question is, how many people believe that a key part of the business mission requires them to be parents? Following that, how many parents believe that they`re restricted or have other particular problems starting a business only because of the fact that they`re parents trying to run a business?

I don`t know what you mean by it would have to be focused on businesses that specifically connect parents to the business world. I`m talking about creating a site where parents who also own businesses could connect and network. They could also advertise their services and products to  other parent business owners. The idea would be parent business owners helping other parent business owners. Does that make more sense?

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Oh and I`ll check out that women business owners site... thanks!

That`s what I was talking about---having a "specialty" connection that particularly focuses on the connection between parents and business.

In other words, right now Kathy and I are starting a business, and we get a lot of support and help from Startup Nation. Our problems involve business issues, process problems, and putting together systems. Oh!....by the way, I happen to have an adult daughter.

I wouldn`t have any particular interest in your site, mainly because the fact that I have a daughter (or child) means zero impact whatsoever to the business, its development, and the problems or successes we`re having as we build that business.

However; in your above example, the fact of being a parent has a tremendous impact on developing and running the business. THAT would be your target market--not people like me and Kathy.

You`d want to find ways to specifically connect with people who a) are parents, b) are starting a business, and c) who are being heavily impacted by balancing both parenting and entrepreneurship.

The problem will be how to find those people, then how to make a site that`s interesting, useful, attractive to them, and eventually becomes very important.

Steve, I`d also suggest that you`re clarifying your target market in your UVP by stating it`s designed around Baby Boomers. That carries with it an age group, a generational culture, a mindset, and a demographic trend towards aging. So just by using two words, you "shorthand" a tremendous amount of specific information.

"Parents," is too broad a scope. However, "Working Parents" would very definitely start to clarify a niche, and bring with it a common perception of not having enough time to be with the kids.

Using language, particularly since the Web is a text-based world in so much of the content, can help in lots of ways. So "A social network for working parents starting their own business" would provide a pretty narrow definition, right? And it wouldn`t set an age limit, either.