An Idea for a Small Business You Can Start

Start-up costs range $50 to $500,000+, earnings $5,000 to $2,000,000++, skills from knowing nothing to running an airline. Bon appetit!

LAPTOP INVENTORY SERVICE FOR HOME OWNERS

Start-up cost: $5,000 - $8,000

Potential earnings: $25,000 - $50,000

Advertising: Referrals from insurance agents, business association groups; brochures and Internet Web site that explain your service and the need for it; exhibit at local home shows; direct mail followed with visits to insurance agents, real estate agents, appraisers, estate planners, and estate lawyers; Yellow Pages

Equipment needed: Laptop computer, disks, desktop computer, and business suite software; business telephone and answering system. Optional: video camera, in the even you would also like to offer a video recording of clients' inventories.

WHAT YOU DO
For insurance and assessment purposes, home owners need an inventory of their belongings to make sure they will be covered in the event of a disaster or theft. With this service you can bring your laptop computer to your customer's home and inventory each item they want listed. When you are finished, you can give them an itemized printout as well as a 3.5-inch disk or a CD-ROM that contains the list.

Much of your business will come from referrals, as people will be wary to have an unknown person come into their house; build your networking circle so you will be well known and trusted.

Excerpted with permission from "More 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women" by Priscilla Y. Huff. Published by Prima Publishing. For more on this and 100 other great businesses you can start, Buy the book now or ask for it at your favorite bookstore. You can also call (800) 632-8676 www.primapublishing.com

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