Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

We`ve had a lot of people pass through these forums asking for an idea. They`re asking what sort of business to start, or what`s the best online business. There`s even been a discussion about whether or not it`s even possible anymore to start a successful business online.

Lots of people have said that there are two basic platforms to use when starting a business:

• Save someone time
• Save someone effort.

I`ve gone along with that, not really thinking much about it, because it`s true and makes sense. But the other day, listening to another radio show about small business, I got to thinking. There are OTHER basic platforms too, that we haven`t really listed.

I`m asking for a few words---key phrases---that describe an essential concept for various businesses. What can we list, or what list can we compile that would offer general ideas for business? For example, "vanity" doesn`t save time, nor does it save effort.

Here are a couple I was thinking about. The question would be, "What can I use to start a business; what can I sell?"

• Vanity -- from makeup to hair growth, plastic surgery to dieting
  
• Health -- anything from pharmaceuticals to herbals, to snake oil
• Food (including spices and herbs)
  
• Transportation
• Clothing
• Accessories (adornment)-- like jewelry or watches, functional or decorative
• Beauty products -- soap, perfume, hair, skin, nails, etc.
  
• Communication -- cellphones to television, books to signs
• Information
• Services -- cleaning, cooking, caregiving, homes, lawns, cars, etc
• Animal companionship -- pet stores to pet supplies, training, etc.
  

Yes, these are sort of the main categories we see in any job listing or marketplace set of categories. What I thought was that perhaps we might build a thread that would bring together areas where anyone might start a business. Not specific businesses or business ideas, but "What can I sell?"

You forgot a fairly major category.

Recreation.

I`ve got a startup that is based on this.  The core concepts of the business don`t really solve much of a problem or save effort.

Design might be another category.  Sometime the aesthetics of a product are enough to sell it.

Services - providing something that someone can`t or won`t do for themselves.

Yah, got "services," but CampSteve`s right....totally forgot:

• Recreation -- games, leisure time activities
  
• Entertainment -- music, theater, parties
  

That`s the thing, the major categories. :-)

Hi guys,
This is my very first post.  I just joined the site today.  Let me give it a shot.  How about manufacturing?  For example, building shelves, exotic wood turning for pens, auto/motorcycle parts building..etc


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Hi there, Rhung. :-) Welcome to Startup Nation

Your suggestion is a good one, but I`m having some second thoughts about it. Suppose you asked your friends for their opinion about "What kind of business should I start? What should I get into? What can I do that people would buy?"

They say, "Well, you should get into manufacturing."

Wouldn`t you then say, "Manufacturing what?" And then you`d be back to the starting point, looking for an area of life where people want to satisfy a need.

Maybe that`s a beter way to ask how to categorize new business ideas. What do people do in life, where they`d be willing to spend money to do it better?

"Manufacturing" isn`t something people do as they live their life outside of work. Instead, manufacturing is a type of work people do so as to support their life. Make sense?

On the other hand, people like to ride bikes, or they need shelves for their books. Hm.....how about "storage?" The bikes would fit under Transportation.

• Storage & Organization -- Containers: shelving, boxes, closets, bags, warehousing, inventory, etc.
• Shipping & Delivery -- mailing, parcel delivery, getting product to locations
  

Also forgot:

• Transaction processing -- accounting, bookkeeping
• Financial investment -- counselling, fund management, banks, securities
  
• Charity -- organizations, not-for-profits, social help

Another thing you have to determine is what people want.  At first it seems like a backward way to look at things but when you really analyze things it makes a lot of sense.  When you buy a drill what you really want is a hole, not a drill.  So start by doing some research about what people want, force yourself to think out of the box and I believe you`ll soon find your answer.  You`ll also find yourself sitting on a pot of gold as you have discovered a product or service that people want to buy instead of having a product that you`ll have to sell them.

Rochelle

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Sell Beef Jerky

They can open a "low start up cost" Jerky Store.  Excellent business in a high traffic area. .

:-) Yes, given that the world does run mostly on two things, oil and beef jerky, it would be a good business to get in to!

As for figuring out what people want, that`s the basis for this list. What are "human activities," and "human desires" as they go through life. On a general, categorical basis.

One reason for the thread is as a quick way to "refer" people who join the community wondering about what sort of business they might try and start.