Sales Trainer

If you have a knack for inspiring and motivating others, in addition to a sales or marketing background, becoming a sales trainer could be a fun and profitable business option for you. You will travel all over the country off ering high-paying workshops, seminars, and keynote speeches that energize sales professionals and motivate them to peak performance. Once you become better known for your motivational abilities, you will see that the largest part of your job is actually marketing your own best product—yourself—to other companies who might sponsor your seminars. Keeping the calendar full will insure that the money keeps rolling in, so don’t forget to get testimonials from each gig in order to continually gain more interest in your services. Forget the tired buzzwords of the past. Develop your own formula for sales success, and you can make yourself a valued resource among thousands of sales professionals everywhere.


Most sales trainers have also written books and produced a variety of spinoff products such as cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, or videos. Expect to spend between $1,000 and $5,000 for marketing materials, including brochures, business cards, and a Web site that is as dynamic as you are. Aside from your self-promotion tools, you really don’t need more than charisma and tenacity to get a business like this off the ground.


In this business, reputation is everything. Inspiring others to reach for their best is a noble profession, but it can only be successful if you constantly promote yourself to more prospects. Having a complete portfolio of “spinoff ” incentive products like books, CDs and self-assessments on your Web site is one way to keep customers coming back—and the money streaming in.

Approx. cost of start-up: $500 to $2,500 (for spinoff products, add another $5,000– $15,000)


Approx. potential earnings: $80,000 to $150,000+


Typical fees: $125 to $150 per hour plus travel expenses


Where to promote: Professional sales associations, networking, advertising in local business publications


Qualifications: Sales training or teaching experience


Things needed: Computer, printer, fax, high-speed Internet access, cell phone


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Liability insurance, travel expenses not covered by client, incentives to help secure new clients (CDs, books, consulting time, or other business-building freebies)

Property Management Service

This is the business for someone who likes juggling a thousand balls at one time, pulling many different pieces together, and keeping track of the people and data that go with the projects. If you’re good, you’ll become indispensable to the owners of the properties you manage, and you’ll have a well-established enterprise that will keep you busy and well rewarded indefinitely. Why are good property managers so valuable? You maintain all the financial records for each property, which include income and expenses, bills, and taxes. Skill at auditing bills is extremely valuable just by itself. The ability to keep repair and maintenance schedules up to date is essential, so you will need to be able to pay great attention to detail and also have the people skills required for relating to the individuals who carry out the work on your buildings. Collecting rents is another central piece of this puzzle.


Your own office needs to support you well, especially in communicating to building owners, repair personnel, and tenants. A cell phone will be handy as you travel from site to site. Your computer, which will cost around $3,000 to start, will be the tool used most for tracking all the financial information related to the properties. Depending on your location, you should make at least $25,000 annually.


The owners of properties—your clients—will need to place great responsibility on your shoulders. Things can degenerate very quickly in a poorly managed building. Once the financial records become tangled, it can be very difficult to bring them into order or even to learn if the expenses are exceeding the income. You are asking your clients to have a large amount of confidence in you, and marketing these services successfully may depend on how well you can engender that sense of trust. It may be, however, that you will only need a few clients. This is one small business where constant marketing may not be necessary.

Approx. cost of start-up: $3,000 to $6,000


Approx. potential earnings:$25,000 to $50,000


Typical fees: $25 per hour or a monthly retainer of $500 to $2,500


Where to promote: Classified ads, referrals, memberships in community and business real estate groups


Qualifications: Experience in the field, related degree helpful, outstanding management skills, good ability to communicate and work with people, knowledge of basic bookkeeping, understanding of building maintenance issues


Things needed: Office furniture, computer with Internet access, suite software and possibly specialized property management software, cell phone, printer, fax, business cards, letterhead, envelopes


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Insurance

Product Designer

Behind every good product is a strong design team. If you have a reputation for quality product design done quickly and within budget, you could off er your services to such a team on a contract basis. If you can accomplish all of that, you stand a very good chance of building lasting relationships with product manufacturers. They’ll depend on your ?air and expertise to pull off challenging products. Your experience in design for manufacturability (i.e., designing products with the manufacturing team’s constraints in mind) will be a valuable commodity among your clients. They appreciate working with professionals who understand that good design isn’t just artistic; it’s practical, too.


You’ll need to invest between $10,000 to $20,000 in a high-end computer with a large monitor and a computer-aided design (CAD) software package. Mac computers are superior to PCs for designers. Since most of the people you might work with probably use Macs, compatibility issues can be minimized. Your advertising budget will be virtually nonexistent, because your area of expertise depends heavily on word of mouth. If you are successful in building the kinds of contacts you’ll need to survive on your own, you’ll be making anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 or more. Obviously if you’re working for large, well-known manufacturers, your earnings will be on the high end because these companies are more apt to pay big bucks for quality design.


Your work will not always be your own. Since you’ll be working on a contract basis most of the time, you will often be brought in to solve design problems or pick up where another designer left off—not the biggest outlet for your creativity, but an opportunity to be a creative problem-solver nonetheless. The work is solid, it’s demanding, and it’s profitable for the talented.

Approx. cost of start-up: $10,000 to $20,000


Approx. potential earnings: $50,000 to $150,000+


Typical fees: Varied according to project; can be as low as $500 for a simple design sketch to several thousand for a complete design/technical layout with product specifications


Where to promote: Direct mail, Web site with photo gallery of your work and links to related services with whom you are affiliated


Qualifications: Degree in product design


Things needed: Computer, computer-aided design (CAD) software, digital camera or scanner


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Insurance, excessive changes in product specifications (make sure you’re clear on what’s expected—and get it in writing)

Marketing Consultant

Customers are the lifeblood of all businesses, and marketing is how companies attract them. Sales are the end result of the entire marketing process. Developing ads, writing printed materials and letters, gaining publicity, and designing sales strategies are all facets of marketing. Just developing a focused marketing plan is a demanding activity, let alone carrying out the plan. Most executives need the services of a marketing professional to produce eff ective results. Marketing consultants supply these services to small companies and fill in the gaps left by downsizing at big organizations. Even though this is the second largest category of consulting after management consulting, opportunities abound if you can produce results. If you’re a brand marketing specialist, you can virtually name your price.


Marketing materials require a sophisticated and ?exible computer setup ($4,000– $6,000). You’ll need to be able to produce drafts even if the client’s art department or an ad agency creates the final versions. You’ll spend an equal amount on marketing efforts of your own, including joining associations in which you can build a strong network. If you’re persistent and have the kind of personality that draws customers in, you can earn as much as $150,000 a year.


Above all, effective marketing takes imagination. What do potential customers want, and what kind of message will enable them to see that your client’s product is that very thing? Knowing how to create these interactions will make you a success as a marketing consultant, if you combine that expertise with an ability to scope out your client company. To prove your worth, try to highlight strengths that they may not have realized they had. You may need to structure the goals for the marketing plan and get buy-in from the executives before the ads, promos, or sales letters are developed. Be sure to get a contract with payment milestones in writing as these projects can take many months to come to fruition.

Approx. cost of start-up: $5,000 to $10,000


Approx. potential earnings: $60,000 to $150,000


Typical fees: $50 to $200 per hour; $2,000 to $4,000 to lead a workshop


Where to promote: Referrals; Web site with key marketing trends and links to related resources, plus testimonials and your client list


Qualifications: Broad expertise in marketing or specialization in one area, business savvy, high energy level, excellent written and oral communications skills, creativity, persistence


Things needed: Laptop, high-speed Internet access, laser printer, fax, copier, office furniture, business cards, letterhead, envelopes


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Membership dues, phone bills, Internet service provider fees

Engraving Service

For nearly every school, association, or organization, there is a trophy or an award to be given to its members. For many business, there are name badges to be made for the employees. Think of the potential, then, for your engraving business—it’s a bottomless cup, isn’t it? You’ll need to be a strong networker, as much of this business has already been soaked up by those established much earlier than you. But, to compete, you can set yourself apart by offering unique products to engrave or even by reselling recognition products from other sources, such as the retail shop and catalog outfit, Successories™. Sell people on your exceptional eye for detail and customer service abilities and throw in quick turnaround if you can. Your clients will often need an award or trophy to be made on a tight deadline, so you can reap an additional fee for 48-hour service.


You could spend anywhere from $40,000 to $70,000 or more on your engraving equipment, depending on how high-tech you get and how large a company you would like. Your best bet is to seek out good used equipment first. In terms of earning power, you could make between $40,000 to $65,000 if you work hard and build the right contacts.


You’ll be singled out as a winner yourself if you can keep up with your orders in an accurate, timely manner. The best thing you can do is to send samples to folks with their names or company logos already printed on it, nothing appeals more to a person than a little ego boost. Wasn’t it Dale Carnegie who said that there is no sweeter sound than the sound of one’s own name?

Approx. cost of start-up: $40,000 to $75,000


Approx. potential earnings: $40,000 to $65,000


Typical fees: 40 cents to $100+ per piece


Where to promote: Direct mail, Yellow Pages, networking with business and civic organizations as well as schools, Web site


Qualifications: Training on the engraving equipment


Things needed: Engraver, molds, stencils


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Insurance

Electrical Contractor

Skilled electricians are always in demand, especially ones who can work with homeowners and small business owners. As the general population becomes less handy with tools and wires, your electrical knowledge and expertise will become more and more valuable. This is a classic one-person business, and you may find considerable competition. You will need good estimating skills to assess the cost and complexity of the work you are asked to do. Sometimes it seems as if electricians have to be part detective to interpret the hidden wiring in an old house or to trace the cause of a short “somewhere in the wall.” Of course, you’ll be familiar with code standards in all the communities in your service area.


Costs are relatively high as you must equip yourself to do whatever electrical job is offered. You’ll also need to secure certification; and your educational requirements to stay certified may demand that you take regular refresher courses. Set aside at least $5,000 for all of this, then add your equipment, liability insurance, and related costs.


Many electricians have made an excellent living by focusing on upgrading the wiring in old houses. If your area has a charming neighborhood of old Victorians, twenties bungalows, or quaint cottages that are being restored, you have a golden opportunity to build a client base. Other electricians work closely with an independent builder to install wiring in new structures. For these jobs, getting the work done according to the overall construction schedule will have a big in?uence on profits for the builder. Your planning and time-management skills can help build you a steady stream of referrals and repeat projects from these builders.

Approx. cost of start-up: $10,000 to $15,000


Approx. potential earnings: $40,000 to $60,000


Typical fees: $40 per hour for labor plus parts costs (varied)


Where to promote: Yellow Pages, classifieds, neighborhood flyers, community bulletin boards, radio spots, possibly a Web site in more competitive regions


Qualifications: Skill and experience as an electrician, ability to manage time and expenses, good people skills, license or certification and regular credit hours toward career development in most states


Things needed: Cell phone, tools, parts, and equipment related to the nature of the work, van, marketing materials


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Inventory of parts, vehicle maintenance, insurance

Accountant

This is a service that virtually everyone needs. The challenge is to show potential clients how you can improve their lives by helping them manage their financial affairs better. The two major approaches chosen by solo accountants are (1) to work with individuals on tax issues and personal financial planning and (2) to serve the burgeoning small business market with bookkeeping setup, payroll, tax planning, and all the other financial activities that an enterprise requires. You will need to be creative in distinguishing yourself from this rather crowded field. How are your accounting services better than those of the other accountants in town? How can you show an individual that you can serve him better than the big storefront operations that prepare taxes for low fees during the winter and early spring?


Will you meet clients in your office, or will you travel to their homes or businesses? These decisions will control your start-up costs (which could be as little as $3,000).


Being an excellent accountant and being able to create a profitable business are two different things. The people skills required have probably been completely neglected in your education and possibly in your experience if you have worked for a large firm. Gaining the confidence of potential clients is far more than simply having excellent accounting skills up your sleeve, which is why an informative company Web site might be advantageous for business-building, especially in the beginning. You’ll need to find a way to present your services in a way that appeals to people who want your help but don’t really understand how you can best help them find ways to save money. On the downside, your services will be particularly needed during peak tax preparation seasons; you’ll be busiest in December and March/April.


Personalized service and affordable rates are what set apart Kelly M. Zimmerman’s accounting business in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.“I take a genuine interest in my clients’ businesses. I really care about whether or not they succeed.”


Zimmerman says she couldn’t do without a computer, telephone, and calculator.


“Get involved in an organization that you believe in personally and where you can also promote your business. Marketing for accountants is basically word-of-mouth, so be sure to do everything you can to keep your current clients happy. They’ll send you more clients if they know you’ve gone out of your way for them.”


“I would try to be more organized and focused on the types of clients I really want to serve.”

Approx. cost of start-up: $3,000 to $6,000


Approx. potential earnings:$20,000 to $80,000


Typical fees: $35 and up per hour


Where to promote: Membership and active participation in community groups, ads in newspapers and publications for local fundraisers, referrals, possibly your own Web site with tax preparation tips on it as a resource for potential new clients


Qualifications: CPA and some experience with services on which you choose to focus


Things needed:Office area, furniture, computer, suite software, printer, business cards, letterhead, envelopes, cell phone is optional but handy


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Errors and omissions insurance, subscriptions and membership dues, continuing education

Real Estate Broker

As a property broker, you will be focusing on only one part of the residential real estate agent’s job. You will be doing the basic research rather than carrying out the entire process through to closing. You will develop a range of choices based on the buyer interview. This gives the agent and the buyer an opportunity to plan, clarify wants and needs, and consider the financial implications. It is especially reassuring for families making transcontinental moves to know what choices are available to them within their price range, general preferences for neighborhood type, and so on. Your job, essentially, is to match your clients to their perfect home. You’re different from a relocation specialist in that your territory is limited to your own immediate community. You provide information on the homes in your geographic area as opposed to helping clients relocate elsewhere around the country.


Start-up costs could be as low as $500, but marketing efforts will be ongoing unless referrals or subcontracting can bring you adequate business. You could earn $25,000 to $100,000 annually.


You will need to continuously prove that your services add value and don’t threaten other agents but rather augment their services. Keeping good records of your effectiveness will support your marketing efforts. Projecting an enthusiasm for your local area, its different communities, and its varied attractions, will enhance your work. This is a good choice for someone who loves houses and enjoys thinking about what type of family would choose each one, but who finds the sale process unappealing. Not everyone wants to spend all weekend showing picky buyers house after house, only to see the sale evaporate. Acting essentially as a home researcher, you can create a service that suits you as well as it does your clients. You will send them links to online photos and tours of homes in their price range, and then connect them with either the listing agent or the Realtor of their choice.

Approx. cost of start-up: $500 to $1,000


Approx. potential earnings: $25,000 to $100,000


Typical fees: 20 to 30 percent commission


Where to promote: Yellow Pages, memberships in local business and charitable organizations, local newspapers, Web site with link to Multiple Listing Service and a showcase area for your own current listings


Qualifications: Real estate license


Things needed: Cell phone, computer with Internet access, printer, fax, copier, business cards, letterhead, envelopes


Required staff:No


Hidden costs: Travel, marketing, subscription to online Multiple Listing Services, franchise fees

Online Message Board Manager

More and more folks are seeking ways to communicate with others who have similar interests. If there is no official online message board or interest group on a subject such as iguana ownership or vintage jewelry collections, your business can provide one. You would advertise the availability of such a listserv, then post as many pieces of related information as possible to generate the number of users tapping into your service. The more information you have online, the more you’ll be able to charge individuals for getting to this data—or advertisers for the privilege of enticing your list members with banner ads of interest to them. Checking the messages frequently and removing outdated ones are important aspects of your service. You will need to make sure that messages are arranged neatly and that any inappropriate material is removed on a regular basis. Check with major carriers to familiarize yourself with their message board regulations and any possible charges you may incur from them for use of their online services.


All you will really need to start is a computer (about $1,000) and an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Online message boards are widely available; the more popular ones reside at Yahoo.com and Google.com. Be sure you can off er enough to generate a good audience as well as attract advertisers. Check carefully to avoid duplicating another service or you may have some problems. What you earn is directly dependent upon how many people use your service, so make sure your topic is of wide interest.


Selling skills and patience are the two vital ingredients here. To gain repeat business, you have to keep up with the message boards under your care. A large clientele is needed to make an adequate profit overall. Remember that some competing online message boards are offered for free. Keep your list updated often with fresh messages, and actively pursue related businesses to solicit banner ads.

Approx. cost of start-up:$500 to $10,000


Approx. potential earnings: $5,000 to $50,000


Typical fees: Monthly subscription fees typically start at $10 and annual fees at $20 to $50; most of your income will come from banner ad sales


Where to promote: Online directories and links


Qualifications:Online marketing skills


Things needed: High-power computer with fast Internet access, fax, printer, phone


Required staff:No


Hidden costs: Increased server space if your list becomes very popular

Mailing List Service

Although we all deplore the amount of “junk mail” that is dumped in our mailboxes each day, the amazing growth of direct mail is going to continue. Th e opportunity to succeed in running a mailing list service for the companies sending those materials is tremendous. Start-up costs are low, skills needed are easy to acquire, and money is there to be made. Your service can include list maintenance, mailings, creation of lists, list brokering, and even teaching others about mailing lists. Staying on top of the changing regulations of the U.S. Postal Service is perhaps the most challenging part of the job. However, software, pamphlets, and seminars abound to bring you up to speed.


You will spend from $5,000 to $9,000 on the equipment and supplies needed for this business. Depending on your specialty, you may be able to begin for less, especially if you lease a postage meter machine and some of the other equipment. Charges will vary for your services, but you’ll need to set two rates from the get-go: a per-entry fee (usually 15 to 25 cents per name and address) and an annual list maintenance fee of $1 per entry.


Mailing list businesses are relatively easy to start and to promote. You can have as large a customer base as you wish, rather than relying on just a few key clients. The actual work of creating and maintaining the lists is routine, although it does require attention to detail and great accuracy. A thorough understanding of postal regulations is vitally important, and the regulations are constantly changing.

Approx. cost of start-up: $5,000 to $9,000


Approx. potential earnings: $40,000 to $100,000


Typical fees: 15 to 25 cents per entry (name, address, city, state, zip); about $1 per entry per year to maintain the list. Mailing 10,000 pieces of mail could cost your client $800 to $1,200


Where to promote: Contacting local stores, associations, churches, clubs, etc. to offer to maintain their lists for them; networking in business organizations; Yellow Pages; direct mail; banner ads on entrepreneurial Web sites; your own Web site with testimonials and e-commerce capability (so that customers can purchase and download lists)


Qualifications: Detailed knowledge of postal regulations for bulk mailings, computer expertise, fast and accurate typing skills, ability to meet deadlines


Things needed: Computer, printer, specialized software, database, post office permits, office furniture, business cards, letterhead, postage machine


Required staff: None


Hidden costs: A backup for your computer system in the event of a disaster

Licensing Agent

The licensing agent acts as a go-between, helping a technology-driven company find a manufacturer for its invention. In addition, you help manufacturers or service companies find organizations that offer the technology they need. Th e service provided by a licensing agent is often transnational. For example, you may be fi nding technology for Chinese companies that cannot develop it locally. Licensing agents usually specialize in one industry—shoe products, electronic products, and so on—in which they have developed extensive experience and contacts. Th is way they already know many people on both sides of the street before they start. Some technical competence in the field is required, but this can be gained through experience. The other important quality for a licensing agent is patience. You may work for a long time on several deals, only one of which may pay off .


Equipping your office to produce professional-looking reports and to keep in touch with the rest of the world is the main start-up cost; expect to spend at least $3,000 on that alone. However, considering that your 15 percent is spread across a wide range of potential projects, your earnings could be as high as $100,000.


Becoming a licensing agent is an excellent way for a new entrepreneur to use his or her contacts from a previous line of work. If you have the sales skills, the contacts, and the ability to communicate with the “techie” dreamers as easily as the hard-nosed business types, you can build a successful enterprise. Keep in mind that you will be paid a percentage of the final deal. This can take a long time to bear fruit, and it is essential to have the agreement in writing from the start. There tend to be a lot of disputes if that percentage turns into big money.

Approx. cost of start-up: $3,000 to $6,000


Approx. potential earnings: $50,000 to $100,000


Typical fees: 15 percent of the deal


Where to promote: Association memberships, networking, Web site with client list and testimonials


Qualifications: Sales ability, outgoing personality, confidence, ability to communicate with technical people, the business types, and the manufacturing specialists; extensive experience and contacts in the field


Things needed: Computer with Internet access, fax, copier, laser printer, office furniture, business cards, letterhead, envelopes


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Insurance, attorney’s fees to draw up contracts

Jewelry Designer

For those who like to create intricate detail with their hands and have an artistic ?air, this business is ideal. Some people just jump into this with their natural ability; others who really make it big have some form of formal art training and have also been picked up by a major distributor. Hit the jewelry trade shows, craft shows, and antique shows with a vengeance and take a lot of business cards with you. Having earned a GIA certificate will be helpful in that you’ll have studied different types of precious and semiprecious stones and you’ll be able to price your pieces appropriately. This certificate also allows an additional income potential as a licensed jewelry appraiser, where you assist jewelry owners in assessing their collection’s worth for insurance purposes.


Jewelry has one of the highest markups in the retail world at 100 percent, minimum. So with a $500 investment, a lot of imagination, and some smart marketing, you could be well on your way to a first-year income of $25,000. Try to get noticed by the press, and you’ll nab more business than you can handle because people really appreciate having one-of-a-kind jewelry.


Ever hear of the expression the “small but mighty”? Jewelry has been known to bring in thousands of dollars for a single piece. Here’s your opportunity to cash in on your oneof-a-kind creation. Since not everyone’s tastes are the same, you can create until you’re out of ideas (which, hopefully, will never happen). The only problem with the GIA certificate is that it’s a six-month program and offered only in New York and California.

Approx. cost of start-up: $500 to $1,000


Approx. potential earnings: $25,000 to $75,000


Typical fees: Some pieces sell for $50 to $75; others for thousands


Where to promote: Jewelry trade shows, newspapers, jewelry retailers, craft shows, Web site with e-commerce capability, online auctions such as eBay and Yahoo


Qualifications: Geological Institute of America (GIA) certificate may be helpful but not required; some formal art training and knowledge of jewelry


Things needed: Vices, pliers, jeweler’s loop, magnifying glass, molds, melting equipment


Required staff: No


Hidden costs:Travel expenses

Feng Shui Consultant

A feng shui consultant uses the ancient Chinese art of feng shui (which means “wind and water”) to help businesses and homeowners recognize the most ideal directions and placements for items in their personal space. The thinking behind this is that if your belongings are in perfect alignment with unseen forces of nature, allowing the positive ?ow of life-giving “chi” energy throughout, then you will have a healthy and prosperous life in that space. To achieve the most positive ?ow of chi, you’ll need to first help your clients identify and remove clutter, so that you can actually see where the best locations are for the remaining “intentional” possessions. This can be a fun and very challenging business for those who enjoy improving other people’s lives. You can really make a difference in the way they live, simply by advising them on the best confi gurations for their meaningful possessions, as well as the virtues of a clutter-free life!


You really don’t need much to be a good feng shui consultant, since most of your trade depends squarely on your knowledge and ability to convey that wisdom effectively to clients. You might benefit from having a computer to help you stay on top of feng shui news and trends. If you follow the traditional school of feng shui, you will be using a compass much of the time to determine ideal directions for furniture placement.


Referrals will be a significant source of income for you, especially in your start-up phase. You would do well in the beginning to network as much as possible with architects and interior designers, but you may also consider offering yourself as a speaker at local libraries and events as a way of getting your name out there. Many feng shui consultants are also teachers of this ancient art, so you should definitely consider offering courses through community centers or adult education programs.

Approx. cost of start-up: $500 to $1,500


Approx. potential earnings: $40,000 to $65,000


Typical fees: $100 to $150 per hour consultation fee


Where to promote: Local business and real estate publications, networking with interior designers and architects, Web site, referrals, teaching community college courses


Qualifications: Training and certification from a bona fide school of feng shui would be helpful


Things needed: Compass, cell phone, possibly a computer for research if desired


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Subscriptions and membership dues, continuing education

Party Planner

A party planner tends to all the details for any given social function, from hiring the caterer, ?orist, and musician(s) or entertainer(s) to addressing and sending invitations. Planners should have a creative ?air and be able to suggest a variety of party themes to fit the occasion. For instance, you could come up with a Caribbean theme where all the party-goers must dress in tropical attire, all the music is calypso-inspired, and giant papier-mâché palm trees sprout from the corners of the room. Or plan a party that is a surprise for your client’s family members, with a little Sherlock Holmes–style caper for guests to solve upon their arrival. Whatever your plan, you’ll need to be extremely well organized to maintain a good reputation, and since your business will grow primarily based on referrals, you’ll need to keep this uppermost in your mind. More than likely, you’ll put in way more hours than you should for each job, but the return will be worth it if your ideas are exciting or innovative and your execution of those ideas is first-class. In other words, the payoff will be directly related to what you put into it.


It’s a good idea to purchase some party planning guides from a bookstore (or borrow them from the library) and build yourself a Web site that showcases your themes and talents. Advertising costs will be your biggest start-up expense. Be sure to get a Yellow Pages ad ($30 to $100 per month, depending on ad size) since this is where many people who don’t know you personally will be apt to look. You can charge either on a percentage basis (15 to 20 percent of total party cost) or a ?at fee of $300 to $500 per party.


While getting started, you might want to plan some friends’ parties for free. Th is will give you valuable experience and build a portfolio, so to speak, of your successes and innovations. Keep at least a photo album if not a video of your parties so that you have something to show potential clients when you meet them in person or participate in local trade shows. Nothing sells better than demonstrated success. On the downside, expect there to be difficulties in dealing with the personalities involved in planning a party. Remember, too, that even though your tastes may be better than your clients’, they will not always be the prevailing ones.

Approx. cost of start-up: $500 to $1,000


Approx. potential earnings: $20,000 to $40,000


Typical fees: $300 to $500 per party or 15–20 percent of total cost of party


Where to promote: Yellow Pages; direct mail; ?yers; networking; banner ads on community Web sites; your own Web site with photos, party themes, and online booking capability through secure server


Qualifications: Resourcefulness, creative ability, exceptional organizational skills


Things needed: Planning system (hand-held PDA or a good planning book), cell phone, fax, camera or camcorder (to record parties so that other potential clients can see the results of your work)


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Travel expenses, spending too much time on each project for the amount being paid

Mobile Paper-Shredding Service

Mobile paper-shredding services are quite popular in major U.S. cities. It has always been important to certain types of businesses to maintain security; but this is becoming increasingly difficult to accomplish as valuable information becomes increasingly easy to access. Some banks, for example, have suff ered great losses when criminals obtained and analyzed their discarded paper trash. Computer codes, product information, even customer records are essential to keep confi dential. The value of your service is that it guarantees security; shredding is completed on the client’s premises so that no possibility exists for loss of data and information. Shredding can be done by staff, but it is time-consuming and messy. You are saving time and trouble by bringing your shredding machine to your client’s site on a regular schedule to perform this necessary but tedious task.


You will need a heavy-duty shredder as well (about $300). Charge $30 to $50 per office visit; offer a monthly rate to more regular clients, such as attorneys and government officials.


Try to get into this business fast if you intend to do so at all, before the crush of competitors limits your opportunity to make a fair profit by your labors. Marketing will need to include considerable education so that your potential clients become aware of the advantages to their organization of this service.

Approx. cost of start-up:$15,000 to $18,000


Approx. potential earnings:$20,000 to $40,000


Typical fees: $30 to $50 per office visit


Where to promote: Local business periodicals, direct mail, possibly a Web site that details the geographic area your services cover and that includes tips on how to avoid identity theft


Qualifications: Marketing skills, excellent time management and scheduling ability


Things needed: Paper shredder, computer, printer, fax, cell phone


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Vehicle maintenance and repair

Homeschooling Consultant

Communication, organization, and the ability to juggle several things at once are needed in this field. Your job will be to set up the school curriculum and schedule classes for parents who seek to teach their children at home instead of in public or private schools. You could consult for a parent who doesn’t want the child in the school system for religious or intellectual reasons or whose child has to be out of school for a long period of time due to illness or injury. If you are establishing a new curriculum, you will need the ability to evaluate the child’s skill level. If you are helping the student who will be out for a long period, you will have to communicate with her school on a regular basis.


Start-up is low after you have obtained your degree. Be prepared to buy books up-front and be reimbursed for them later. Charging $45 per hour on a regular basis could earn you up to $45,000 per year.


You may need to join a national, state, or local education association program in order to get a job. This business allows for excellent, high-standard teaching without all the hassles of dealing with a classroom. You don’t have to answer to a boss and if you fi nd you don’t care for the environment, you can quit. Networking is a definite necessity, but with enough contacts, you could find yourself with year-round work.

Approx. cost of start-up: $300 to $1,000


Approx. potential earnings: $15,000 to $45,000


Typical fees: $25 to $45 per hour


Where to promote: School boards, Yellow Pages, local newspapers, Web site with links to resources


Qualifications: Degree in education, teaching certificate


Things needed: Books, teachers’ guides, monthly planners


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Mileage What You Do

Music Instructor/Professional Musician

Moved by Mozart? Driven by Dvorzak? Whether you specialize in teaching piano, voice, cello, violin, ?ute or any other musical instrument, you will enjoy filling your home with the sound of music when you are a professional music teacher and/or musician. Students are always plentiful, especially when you live near a lot of elementary, middle, and high schools with music programs. Often, there aren’t enough good teachers to go around, so when you become known for what you do, your appointment book will fill up rather quickly. Still, the young are fi ckle, and there will always be lots of turnover with your student roster due to lack of commitment, moves to other cities, or just plain lack of eff ort. Particularly with the younger set, you will need to work hard to encourage your students to stick with it, to learn how to discipline and “fine-tune” themselves into good musicians. Offer incentives (such as free movie tickets or a free video of their latest recital) to keep your students happy and motivated.


You will, of course, need a performance-quality instrument. Some music stands, instruction books, and maybe even a tape recorder would be a good idea as well. Your students may purchase their own instruction books or purchase them directly from you (if you have the space to stock some). A good tuning fork and a metronome to help keep a steady rhythm are the only other items that you will absolutely need to get started. If you already own a good instrument, you won’t spend more than $150 to get this business off to a quick start. Just make sure you bill your students for a set number of lessons upfront and at the beginning of each month, as music lessons are often the first thing to be cast aside by busy families or students with wavering commitment.


Advertising your teaching and performing abilities in community newspapers is often the best way to generate a strong client list in the beginning, along with off ering your services through schools and universities. But don’t forget to do a little schmoozing with party, wedding, and event planners to get the higher-paying gigs. And always take a full stack of ?yers or business cards with you to each performance. Referrals can get you everywhere in this business, and that is a Bach you can bank on.


Approx. cost of start-up: $150 to $25,000 (depending on whether you already own a professional-quality instrument)


Approx. potential earnings: $15,000 to $70,000


Typical fees: $15 to $25 per class per week $150 to $500 per event


Where to promote: Community newspapers, bulletin boards at local schools and universities, wedding directories


Qualifications: Experience as a professional musician; music degree a plus


Things needed: Performance-quality instrument, a piano or tuning fork, music stands, a metronome, and a room dedicated to musical instruction


Required staff: No (but you could partner with others for a chamber group or quartet and split the take)


Hidden costs: Travel expenses, extra strings and related musical supplies

Management Consultant

The Institute of Management Consulting has members handling more than 250 specialties. Professional consulting is a fast-growing field that is only going to increase in size, and management consulting is the biggest segment of that field.


U.S. companies rely heavily on management consultants, especially in the areas of compliance (with many government agencies), the introduction of new technologies, and to take the place of permanent staff as companies become leaner. Consultants provide many services, from strategy-planning and implementation to analysis and problem-solving. Many who choose to become consultants are those with top-level skills and experience. They want the freedom and greater variety of working for themselves and recognize the world of opportunity that exists in assisting small, entrepreneurial companies get their businesses off the ground—not to mention the opportunity to work as a consultant for much larger companies.


Start-up costs will vary according to the requirements of the specialty you choose. No matter what you decide, however, you will require the basic office and computer equipment, which could cost as little as $2,500 or as much as $12,000, depending on the quality and extent of computer equipment needed. You will also need to budget between $800 and $1,800 for continuing education, association dues, and reference books.


To succeed in this business, you must first analyze yourself; decide what sorts of problems you can solve for a client based on your experience and expertise. Research the companies or types of companies to which you want to off er your services to help you discover needs you can fi ll. Network with every contact you have in your target areas. Remember, though, that not everyone with good technical skills can be a successful consultant. You need excellent listening and counseling abilities as well as patience. Not only does it take time to grow your business, but often it takes considerable time to determine if your efforts have paid off for the client. Meeting the challenges of working as a consultant can be financially rewarding. You will have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects and enjoy helping clients find creative, successful solutions to their problems.


Norma J. Rist, owner of The Boardroom Group based in Akron, Ohio, says her business assists women business owners to become clear about their goals and to achieve them in a shorter period of time and in an easier way than they otherwise could have by providing resources and business information in a group setting.


“A business phone line, fax, copier, and personal computer. Also, a meeting/ conference room is useful for generating group discussion and participation.”


“Segment your niche . . . I started ‘Spirit Groups’ for home-based business owners at the same time so that I could serve a broader population of women owners and generate more income potential simultaneously.”


“I would have segmented much earlier.”

Approx. cost of start-up:$5,000 to $15,000


Approx. potential earnings: $30,000 to $60,000 (average); some make as much as $300,000


Typical fees: Varies by market and client needs; average of $500 to $1,500 per day (can also charge by hour or job)


Where to promote: Networking, referrals, creating audio- or videotapes and CD-ROMs showing your skills, ads in professional organizations’ magazines and newsletters, brochures, direct mail, Web site with forecast of future business trends or free management tips


Qualifications: Technical knowledge, expertise, and experience in business management and operations, good problem-solving skills, good people skills, excellent communication skills (written and oral)


Things needed: Computer with Internet access, printer, appropriate software, fax, phone, office furniture, reference books


Required staff: No


Hidden costs: Possibly special insurance, such as errors and omissions coverage; continuing education