Ok, my husband and I want to start a business together to help us get more self suffecient, while I am in school. Here is the problem. One we are not sure what idea to go on. Next we can not afford to fail. It has to be a surefire thing, because we have limited resources to start with. The final question is that in this slowing economy is it safe to start a new business? I am worried that we are not going to make it. I guess I just need advice and reassurance.

Hello.

The best business for you to go into may depend on how much free time you have, what you're interested in, and whether you have any marketable skills. Typically, a service business would cost much less to go into than a bricks-and-mortar business or one that requires inventory, rental payments, or special equipment. For example, if you go into most kinds of freelancing, consulting, event planning, personal coaching, brokering, or sales, your biggest expense would probably be marketing -- making prospective clients aware that you exist (and that you're dependable, qualified, and easy to work with).

Sometimes an economic downturn creates opportunities. Businesses laying off full-time employees might find it affordable to hire independent contractors who will work on an as-need basis and not require benefits.

Here are two things to keep in mind as you proceed in the world of self employment:

1) Don't spend any money, time, or energy looking for a "sure thing". It doesn't exist. Starting any kind of business carries with it a measure of risk.

2) If you start a business with the apprehension that you're not going to make it, that fear will almost definitely become a self-fulfilling prophesy.

And at the risk of stating the obvious: "If you sounds too good to be true, it probably is!"

Best of luck!

Joel Sussman
Internet Marketing Specialist
Mountain Media
Search Engine Friendly eCommerce Solutions
http://www.mountainmedia.com/eCommerce-Solutions-c1.html

There is NO such thing as a "surefire thing" when it comes to business - did you just see Bear Sterns crash and burn -- and they've been around for 100 years!

If you need a surefire thing, then what you need is a job - that's a guranteed pay check. Starting a business is taking a risk and you have to be prepared to fail given that 95% of all businesses fail.

Sorry to be so harsh and I do not mean to burst your bubble, but these are things you need to really think about before you jump in and have to understand 100% that there are no guarantees.

If you do decide to go for it, make sure you pick something where you can start small - start from home and then you can spread as you grow. To figure out the business, check your local area - what is that your area needs that you don't have? Can you build websites for businesses? We have a few people who use our system to build and maintain websites for businesses in their area. There are lots of things you can do but again, it's not going to be easy - there's no such thing

Good luck!!!
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Sometimes the best time to start a new business is in a slower period because competition is less fierce. You can grow gradually and steadily. In regards to not failing that is really hard to say unless you actually put a business plan into action, nothing is guaranteed.

However, you may want to look at a small business opportunities magazine or entrepreneur magazine to look at low cost franchises, there are many small business start up franchises for less than a few hundred dollars.

Mail order is a good business if you find the right sources and buyers, also service business that you just need a few tools are great to start such as lawn care or house cleaning. There are many opportunities.

The biggest thing is to find a small cost start-up business that you can guarantee to spend 20 hours plus per week and schedule in consistently each week with a plan of how you are going to get customer, flyers, ads, markets etc.
Good luck!
Daryl Des Marais
www.businessgrowth.ca
contactus@businessgrowth.ca