I just came across this site and think it is great.
So here is my story. I am currently working overseas on a contract. I will return home (small town Iowa)with $10,000 saved and not a whole lot of job prospects. I have worked as a contractor for Dept. of State, Department of Defense, and the United Nations working bomb dogs or as an instructor for police K9 handlers (Bosnia, Iraq, Kosovo). I have been a cop for 21 years. In other words not a whole lot of marketable skills and returning to the street as a 40 year old rookie isn't appealing.

I would like to use the money I have saved to start a business, but being a cop, I am skeptical about alot of the "business opportunities" out there. It is not a whole lot for start-up but Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

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HI,
Sounds like you have great experience that would be in growing demand as a dog trainer for police & sheriff departments, etc. Contact people in your local law and security agencies and organizations to research how your local departments find this type of training now.

If there are companies in place, why don't you start working for them first, so you can get a feel for how the business side works, then you can determine whether you want to start your own -- maybe there's a specialty you know that others with less experience can't offer.

Or, if there's a need that's not being met, just get started. Try to find out how you should price, etc. from others doing it in other geographic areas... there's probably an organization of people in this field you could/should join... now. Ask around, if you aren't already a member of it.

With your kind of experience and the credentials you list above, you just need to get the word out that you'll be offering your skills in the US. Once you get set up, agencies from other geographic areas will probably send you their dogs, so you are not limited to your small town in Iowa.

You can also do some training for regular people with their pets, if you need to augment or fill in between government contracts.

Your story about where you've been and what all you've done working with dogs will make great PR, so you should be able to get great press.

Cheers,
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