What type of business should I start?

I'm 40 y.o., have extensive sales and mktg background, am pretty creative, sometimes too detail-oriented and decent at engineering and building things. I live in an area with a strong tourism industry and am sick of working for the man. No wife and kids, so couldn't hurt to do my own thing. Any ideas appreciated!

The best home business will depend on what you want, how you define to be interesting. A person may consider a pet sitting business to be the most exciting work in the world, while you would rather watch TV than take care of dogs. Or some may say start a coffee shop but if you have no capital, then it may be hard.

The key is to determine what your interests are, what you want to do, what is suitable for your lifestyle and your overall goals, and what can fit with your resources.

Dan Ramsey in his book "101 Best Home Businesses" has a chapter on how to find YOUR best home business. He suggests these 10 steps:

1. List 5 things you do best
2. List how others would benefit from what you do best
3. Find out how to give people what they want
4. Learn the value of your services to others
5. Find out who else offers similar services
6. Learn from the successes of others
7. Learn from the failures of others
8. Plan your own success
9. Make low cost mistakes
10. Enjoy what you do and how you do it

He then made suggestions on the best home businesses according to type. Here are a few of them:

Best Businesses Using Craft or Physical Skills
- antique restoration
- auto detail service
- carpet cleaning business
- errand/delivery service
- housecleaning business

Best Service Businesses
- bed and breakfast operator
- caregiver
- catering service
- senior day care center
- tutoring service

Best Professional Businesses
- desktop publisher
- magazine writer
- import/export service
- income tax preparation service
- event planner

Some other home business ideas:

Top 10 Home Businesses with Rapid Break-Even Time http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol33/breakeven.htm
10 Profitable â€œGo-Out" Home Businesses http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol31/goout.htm
Low Cost Startup Businesses http://www.entrepreneur.com/lowcostbusinesses/0,6617,,00.html
6 Hottest Businesses on the Web http://www.powerhomebiz.com/052006/web.htm

You can also check out the following books:

Turn Your Talents into Profits: 100+ Terrific Ideas for Starting Your Own Home-Based Microbusiness
The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century
121 Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home
The Best Internet Businesses You Can Start
101 Ways to Make Money at Home

Think of all your interests & ask yourself if any of those could be expanded into a business. Just keep in mind...what's your expertise? What are your interests? What could you imagine yourself doing?

By researching the prospect of starting your own business -- what it entails, what you need to know, helpful hints, etc -- you'll feel better prepared to take that plunge.

I found some book titles that are relevant to your specific question:

* 101 Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home by Susan Sweeney
* The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century by Paul Edwards
* Selling Online: How to Become a Successful E-Commerce Merchant by Jim Carroll
* I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It by Barbara Sher
* I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work by Julie Jansen

I also posted some article links in the source box.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Take a look at this site. They offer some things you may be interested in doing. Good luck.

Since you're detail oriented and good at building things and you live in an area that already has tourists, could you build some sort of tourist attraction? I'm not talking about something as complex as a theme park. Maybe you could a restaurant with live shows like The Medievel Times. Maybe you could do a wax museum. Think of something you'd like to do on vacation and build a place to do it. Even if there's already something similar nearby, just your version unique and better and you should do ok. Good luck.

what about a small coffee shop to start? You'll be your own boss and will meet tons of people -- ie: possibly a future wife?!!!

Move to Costa Rica,buy a few fishing boats and rent them to tourists. ( You can live like a king in the process)

Hi! I would recommend you start most profitable LEGITIMATE internet business which is fully automated. It is very simple to start just sigup and you are ready to go. No experience required, you should have Computer and internet connection to check you e-mails. This system is very much different from other business which requires lot of time,energy and money. This incredible system allows you to earn fortune without selling, advertising, prospecting, closing or answering questions. It works 24/ 7 and you can earn profit for each automatic sale, sitting in your home, enjoying life with family and friends or on vacation. . This system allows you to earn $3000 everyday.
This business can be done Globally.

You could start a business from home that will supplement your income until you are ready to do it full time. I have become involved in a home business that is poised for hyper-growth so the time to get involved is now. Sales and marketing would be a great asset to you, and you could use these skills to build your own business rather than lining the pockets of "the man". This one is fun, it's easy and being it is consumable, there is a huge market out there for it...I know because my business is gaining momentum every day as people realize what an incredible product is out there!

a business that helps people save on their everyday Energy and communication needs

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