Brainstorm Your Way to Fantastic Business Ideas

Written on April 24, 2007 by Amanda M. Gladden

by Amanda M. Gladden

Often would-be entrepreneurs are unsure of what they want to do to make money. If you find yourself in a similar predicament, here are a few suggestions to jumpstart your brainstorm for business ideas.

Most start-up business books suggest doing what you know. Make a list of the things you know how to do i.e. your skills as well as your hobbies. Many people have been able to successfully turn a hobby into a money making venture.

Network both on line and off. Find mail lists relevant to small business, entrepreneurship, marketing, or a list focused on your hobby/skill. Search Google Groups, Yahoo Groups and AOL for like minded folks. People are surprisingly very open to sharing and helping each other on the Internet.

Find a need and come up with possible ways to fill it. This is the key to making your company indispensable. We have all heard the stories of people who came up with business ideas to fill a need; businesses that left us saying “why didn’t I think of that?”. A few years ago, an entrepreneur started a business he called Rent A Husband, a handyman service. Talk about filling a need! Many others have opened similar businesses all over the United States. You can come up with your own ingenious way to fill a need by thinking first like a customer. What would you want done differently? What are some things you wish you could find someone reliable to take care of for you? Perhaps others would pay for such a service as well.

Ask friends and family members for ideas. Several years ago when I made soap only for the family, friends and my co-workers soap as well. It never occurred to me at that time that I could be selling my creations. Everyone who tried the soaps always said the same thing to me-”you need to stop giving these soaps away and start selling them.” Finally one of my closest friends encouraged me to start researching the concept

Her advice planted a seed. I followed up by researching the feasibility of selling handmade soap, and turned it into a profitable home-based business. It did not happen overnight but with detailed research, networking with other soap makers online, and word of mouth marketing, I sold handmade soap and gift baskets for years.

What are some of the ways you have used to come up with your business ideas? Your suggestions are welcome. Please feel free to add to the above list.