Starting our own businesses....

daughter wanting to get something that pays on line and it isnt going good at all . keep getting ripped off. Ya just have to have enough money to start up and get people to respond or buy

With "these hard economic times" it is very important to consider the massive opposing current you will face as a business startup. If there is a full-blown credit crunch/recession etc then you can expect the first hit to be small businesses. Services and industries where the products are luxuries rather than necessity can expect to feel the biggest impact.

It kinda depends on your circumstances. Here's some of the basic questions a person thinking about this should ask themselves: "Is their a demand for my business?" "Will this demand be affected if the economy gets worse and can I handle that if it does?" "Is this a sustainable idea? "Can I do this with the way my life is?" "Is it affordable?" ...just some basics. I'm going to attempt to do this myself. Micro-farming. I'll be selling fresh, frozen, canned produce. Along with deserts and jams. I know that actually, to become successful, in the world of farming...takes a couple years at least, but I will make a profit in the first year I'll be doing it. Just not AS GREAT of a profit as I'll probably be making in the second year...or all the years after the first two. And I know that this business is prone to all sorts of problems, like pests, drought, disease, weather. BUT, see, if I don't sell the food I will be able to feed myself and my family...which, in these economic times, is a definite bonus. And will save us lots of money. Then there's that little deal with transportation and keeping my costs low, but I feel that I can more or less tackle it better than the grocery stores, since I'll be small-scale...not large-scale and therefore have much more control over the results. (Though, again, this is not without its challenges) We're barely middle class, and we just landed ourselves a good deal with this new house (a flat trade). Plus, we might have to do without if bills get higher. But that's more or less how everyone is right now...so this doesn't exactly take away from what my idea, my plan. Which my parents think is a good idea, and I think it's got as good a chance as anything to succeed today. I just figure, when all else isn't profitable anymore...it's back to the basics. Food will always be in demand. If things get worse, food will be in even more demand. Like I said, it just really depends.

Hi again, I can see that this is one of your older posts...but it is something I have experience with so here goes. My hubs and I are partners in life and business and have been self-employed since shortly after we met in 1990. In regard to your first question: What a person needs to know before starting a business?[b][/b] In my view quite a few things. First up...being your own boss requires a confident attitude and a willingness to work long hours...at least in the beginning. Statistics indicate that most entrepreneurs put in 60-80 hours to get their business off the ground. When clients ask us to assist them in setting up their businesses we suggest that they choose something they like to do...because they will be spending a lot of time doing it. What should a person have prior to starting their business? Most important...a business plan. Without sitting down and writing a good business plan there is no real sense of direction, much less an understanding of how the business will be marketed, who the customers are...and how and what the owner will need to do to generate income. Projection sheets encourage realistic goal-setting and goal-getting. If a person has money problems in their personal life should they attempt to start a business? Hmmmm...probably not. If they cannot figure out how to be fiscally responsible personally it is unlikely that they will be able to do it professionally. However, it is possible to learn the ins and outs of running your own business...but they have to be willing to take a long hard look at what they are capable of doing. What businesses are good to start in this time period? Well with the changing economy that is a hard call. I think it would be advisable to seek advice from the many business start programs that the government sometimes offers. Not sure about American but Canada has a huge aspect of our government that assists new business with marketing, business planning, development, writing a business plan etc. Gathering information about who the competition is in any proposed business is always a good idea. What business are you wanting to start? [b][/b]Right now I do not want to start another business. I have a writing company and my husband and I have a personal development company and he does computers as well. We have more than enough "businesses" and we are happy with where we are. For all the "feast or famine" experiences we have had as self-employed business owners I prefer this over working for anyone else...ever again. Another interesting discussion...good one! Raia

If I will start my own business,i will chose my insterest business,many people hope themselves will become more and more beauteful,for example skin products,which brings the natural energy and improve the vitality for the skin .