17 Great Business Ideas for 2012

By: Jeanette Mulvey, BusinessNewsDaily Managing Editor

Intro

Think you need a long time to plan a new business idea? Not quite. As the founders of Startup Weekend can tell you, it doesn't take as long as you might think. The organization conducts 54-hour events where developers, designers, marketers and startup enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, build products and create startups. 

"Filing an LLC, pitching to an investor, and creating a 20-page business plan is absolutely the wrong way to go about launching a startup," said Marc Nager, who, along with his co-founders, Clint Nelsen and Franck Nouyrigat, has written the book "Startup Weekend: How to Take a Company From Concept to Creation in 54 Hours" (Wiley, 2011).

Nager told BusinessNewsDaily that the first step toward starting a business is having an idea.

"The first steps are finding a team and validating your idea. Without these two things, you just have dreamers. The definition of a startup is entrepreneurs with an idea in search of a business model. Once you have a team and confirmation that you are solving a real problem and creating real value, then the longer road of building your business begins. The process of actually starting can happen in a matter of days."

Here are a few great business ideas for 2012 that might get your entrepreneurial juices flowing.

Home day care

In most places, you don't need a license to run a babysitting service from home if you keep your child headcount below a certain number. With more parents needing to work, offering a home-based child care situation can be a great way to start a business and stay home with your own kids, too.

Yard work

Got rake, will travel? Most landscapers will cut grass, but they don't necessarily do the stuff that most homeowners don't have time to do themselves, such as weeding, planting, leaf raking, snow shoveling, hanging or removing holiday decorations. With little more than some work gloves and a ladder, you could be in business in no time.

Errand service

In some ways, the recession has made people busier than ever. Between working long hours, cooking more at home and juggling responsibilities, there's a lot that gets left undone. A service that runs errands (including dropping off dry cleaning, paying bills, etc.) requires just a car and cell phone. Start small, do a good job and word of mouth will spread quickly.

Computer maintenance

Got a tech background? With the proliferation of tablets, smartphones and laptops for every member of the family, there are lots of opportunities to provide private computer services such as anti-virus software installation, desktop cleanups, software downloads and printer hookups.

Cleaning service

Are you one of those people that love to clean? If so, you may be sitting on a gold mine. Cleaning people who work for themselves can make $30 to $40 per hour. Recession or not, there are plenty of people still looking for a little domestic assistance.

Energy efficiency consultant

Homeowners and businesses are looking for any way they can to cut costs, but figuring out how to lower energy expenses isn't as easy as you might think. Anyone who has a background in utilities or construction and can advise homeowners or businesses on how to better insulate, install smart meters, reduce water usage, etc., has a valuable service to offer.

Recycler

Your laptop could be a gold mine. Steel, copper and computer components are all worth more than ever. But, your average homeowner doesn't always know where or how to recycle the stuff they've got. A good local advertising campaign and a pickup truck are all you'd need to start buying or simply offering to remove scrap metal, old computers, electronics, ink cartridges and other recyclable materials. You'll be making a profit and doing the Earth a favor, too.

Pet sitter

Recession or not, pets are people, too (or so many a pet owner believes). If you love animals, are reliable, organized and trustworthy, there's no shortage of work for you. The more satisfied customers you have, the more quickly your business will grow. Nothing soothes an antsy pet owner more than a good recommendation from another animal lover.

Organizer

If there's one thing to be learned from the glut of reality shows dealing with hoarding, it's that Americans have too much stuff. And, many junk collectors don't have the time or skills required to organize it all. If you like to organize and create order out of chaos, then starting an organizing business could be for you.

Virtual assistant

Virtual assistants are all the rage. All you need to get started is a laptop and a good website. A social media presence doesn't hurt, either. If you've got a background in administrative work but want to work for yourself, this might be a perfect opportunity for you. Virtual assistants work remotely and do all the things a business owner or manager doesn't have time to do, such as open and answer emails, follow up with customers, invoice customers or pay bills. All of these tasks and more can all be done from your own home via the cloud.

Remote bookkeeper

During the recession, many companies cut their employee headcount to the bare minimum. Very few businesses, however, can live without a bookkeeper. But, that doesn't mean they have to have one on staff. If you've got a background in accounting or bookkeeping, you can offer remote bookkeeping services and, in many cases, do most of the work from home.

Translator

Most businesses can't afford to keep a translator on staff, even though they may need one from time to time. As America becomes increasingly multilingual, everyone from doctors to insurance companies find themselves in need of foreign language speakers to help interact with their customers. If you can speak a foreign language, are organized and can come up with a good marketing plan, you may find you have more work than you can handle.

Cost cutter

Ever notice how your phone bill seems to creep up ever so slowly and before you know it, you're paying $50 more a month than you agreed to? So does everyone else. The problem is, few people have time to go over their bills with a fine-tooth comb and call and argue with the provider. A cost cutter does this for businesses and can help them save thousands. Cost cutters need an eye for detail and a good sales pitch. Once you've proven your worth to a client, word of mouth will spread quickly.

Social media consultant

If you're one of those Gen Y types to whom using social media comes as naturally as breathing, you may have a career as a social media consultant . There's no doubt that social media presents an unprecedented marketing opportunity for businesses, but only if they know how to use it. If you can help existing businesses integrate social media into their other marketing campaigns, you should have no trouble making a go of it.

Copywriter

Anyone with a website will tell you they have one constant need: new content. Search engines favor websites with new, relevant and constantly updated content and most businesses don't have time to devote to generating copy all day. If you've got a background in writing, English or journalism, you might find there's a lot of demand for your services. Between Web content, blog entries and press releases, there's lots of writing to be done.

Health insurance consultant

Health care reform means that most businesses will have to offer health insurance in the near future. The problem is that many companies can't afford a full- time human resources person, and dealing with the complicated nuances of health insurance is more than most administrative assistants have time to deal with. That's why more and more companies will be looking for outside services to help them wade through the minutia of health plans and premiums. If you have a background in human resources or insurance, healthcare reform could present big opportunities for you. You don't need to be licensed if you're not selling insurance. A health insurance consultant can simply help wade through the details.

Elder assistant

You don't need to be a nurse to aid the elderly. Many older folks would like to keep living on their own, but need a little assistance with daily chores, bill paying, grocery shopping, etc. With just a little outside help and a daily visit from a friendly caregiver, many can maintain their independence. Families are also happy to find a responsible, reliable person in whom they can trust.

Small Business Resource Center

If you're thinking about starting your own business, there are lots of decisions to be made. What kind of accounting software will you use? Will you do your own payroll our outsource it? BusinessNewsDaily's Small Business Resource Center will help you sort through the choices. Visit it here.

 SOURCE: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com