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!

WAKE-UP AND REMINDER SERVICE

Start-up cost: $500 - $700

Potential earnings: $25 - $100 per client; $12,000 - $75,000+ per year

Advertising: Classified and small space ads in large-city magazines and newspapers, and Yellow Pages. For national coverage, use Internet ads.

Equipment needed: Desk, phone, fax, typewriter or access to a typist. A PC can help you get your dates and calls better organized.

WHAT YOU DO
You call people in the morning (or other pre-arranged times) to wake them up. You can also include a service in which you remind your clients of important birthdays, anniversaries, meetings, etc. You do wake-ups by phone; birthdays and meetings can be done by phone, e-mail, or fax; anniversaries are best done by phone so your client is forcefully reminded of the importance of the date. And you'll find that satisfied clients will suggest other ways in which you can help them remember.

Excerpted with permission from "199 Great Home Businesses You Can Start (and Succeed In) for Under $1,000" by Tyler G. Hicks. Published by Prima Publishing. For more on this and 198 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

Ideas for a Small Business You Can Start Classics