Small business ideas???

[Hellgate]

So the hand of fate was played for me last Friday and after 14.5 years I was laid off. Hummm....one year and two days after I came off of active duty orders. The law states that a Soldier who left their civilian job for active duty has stability at their employer for up to one year after they return. Well one year and two days....needless to say I'm looking for a good lawyer.

Regardless I've been ready to start a business of my own for the last few years and this is a great opportunity. My question to the board is, what needs do you see? Be it retail or professional? I preferance is to stay on the professional side.

I have looked into franchises but from what I can see a franchise is a great way to earn someone else money, but with a good one you get nice backing, at a price.

I am not a technical person however I am an excellent operations manager who can source very good technical tallent and get a job accomplished on time and at, or below budget. I am also very good at managing a budget an making the most of the resources I have.

So what do you all think? I was thinking a liquor store, that way if it want out of business I could drink the inventory!

Seriously though, ideas?

 

[sideshow_downs]

So what do you all think? I was thinking a liquor store, that way if it want out of business I could drink the inventory!

I support the liquor store idea :thumbup:

Sorry to hear about your layoff. Hope you get it worked out in a timely manner

 

[Hellgate]

I support the liquor store idea :thumbup:

Sorry to hear about your layoff. Hope you get it worked out in a timely manner

Well I've got three offers to go on active duty, however I want to do a good job search and see what I can find. thanks!

 

[keira]

if you really are looking for something entrepreneurial, try a coffee shop. you can get all the supplies you need at your local costco/bj's/sam's club...whatever you have out there....the capital is low and the reward is high, and there's many different levels you could start at. there's a guy here who has a drive-thru business and all he does is coffee, muffins, and packaged donuts. it's not rocket science.

 

[Hellgate]

if you really are looking for something entrepreneurial, try a coffee shop. you can get all the supplies you need at your local costco/bj's/sam's club...whatever you have out there....the capital is low and the reward is high, and there's many different levels you could start at. there's a guy here who has a drive-thru business and all he does is coffee, muffins, and packaged donuts. it's not rocket science.

The coffee shop was my original idea three years ago. Do you think there are too many already? And what do you think would be ways to make the shop unique from the big boys?

 

[sideshow_downs]

The coffee shop was my original idea three years ago. Do you think there are too many already? And what do you think would be ways to make the shop unique from the big boys?

You could give it a theme. Possibly a motorcycle theme or one of your other interests.

 

[Hellgate]

You could give it a theme. Possibly a motorcycle theme or one of your other interests.

Hummm....how about "Moto Jo"? Not sure is the soccer moms would care for that however.

 

[racerws]

Perhaps a motorcycle coffee shop that sells and installs tires while you wait and
drink the coffee????
Seems like cycle tire installation and flat repair is an underserved market.

 

[jlsmith411]

wow, that Motorcycle coffe shop is a good idea! I wish there was one in my area. I bet people who don't ride motorcycles would be attracted to it also. Merely because of the fact that it has coffee (who doesn't need coffee?) and it has a cool theme. You could make it with vintage style pics/ bikes/ decorations or make it more modern or even a mix. Anyway, sounds really cool. Ciao.

 

[Nelly]

So the hand of fate was played for me last Friday and after 14.5 years I was laid off. Hummm....one year and two days after I came off of active duty orders. The law states that a Soldier who left their civilian job for active duty has stability at their employer for up to one year after they return. Well one year and two days....needless to say I'm looking for a good lawyer.

Regardless I've been ready to start a business of my own for the last few years and this is a great opportunity. My question to the board is, what needs do you see? Be it retail or professional? I preferance is to stay on the professional side.

I have looked into franchises but from what I can see a franchise is a great way to earn someone else money, but with a good one you get nice backing, at a price.

I am not a technical person however I am an excellent operations manager who can source very good technical tallent and get a job accomplished on time and at, or below budget. I am also very good at managing a budget an making the most of the resources I have.

So what do you all think? I was thinking a liquor store, that way if it want out of business I could drink the inventory!

Seriously though, ideas?

Pete,
What can I say, actually sweet FA that is going to make a difference to you at the moment. I am so sorry for you mate. Do you get an redundancy package?
Options:

How about a liquored store Internet café. Its got to have a catchy name, I like the name "WIRED" myself. I know every one has Internet at home, what they don't have is your Internet. Make the place like a speak easy. You don't just walk in you have to be invited in. Steph can arrange the scavenger hunt for the clues, capitalise on the recession.

You have spent alot of time sorting out logistical problems for the military. Have you seen anything that you could develop as a civilian service that the Army could buy back?

I am SH1t at stuff like this mate, I am not one of those outside the box thinkers.
All of us I guess feel that we are secure in our jobs. We all need to think of an exit strategy.
I know its grim but in my case people will always have accidents and be sick so I may be more secure than others.
Chin up fella, a guy with your experience and ability will not be out for long. On the plus side you have met a beautiful woman through your work so it has not all been to bad.

Nelly

 

[Nelly]

The coffee shop was my original idea three years ago. Do you think there are too many already? And what do you think would be ways to make the shop unique from the big boys?

Mate, Coffee shops are all the same as you point out. If I want to drink my coffee I want a comfy sofa, the broad sheets and a nice place to read. The best coffee shop I go to is inside a book store.

I like the cycle shop idea to, the seasons may be against you depending on weather etc.

Nelly

PS still trying the crap ideas.

 

[ArmyDocInTraining]

Just go on active duty SGM! :thumbup:

 

[Scab]

Dang, sorry to hear about the job. I have some choice words for them, but I think they'd get me banned here. They don't appear to be very appreciative, but let me say thank you for your service. I enjoy my free life and I know how I got it!

As for the coffee shop... Hmmm. You know, the town I live next too is not that big, but it was actually ranked as #5 in the nation for best places to start a restaurant. So, with that in mind, we see a lot of stuff around here. We have a Starbucks, but it is actually our only coffee shop. They are surviving fine, but most folks around here just get their coffee when they stop for breakfast. That, is mostly biscuits from the various fast-food joints.
Themes, I think, are a must. But, you've got to hit your market. For instance, we have a "Mellow Mushroom" pizza place that opened a few years back. Pizza is great, and it's one of the few places to get some of the more exotic beers. Problem? They themed it with bicycles. The two owners of the franchise are cyclists, so that's what they liked. Now, we have a bunch of pictures of dudes we've never heard of, wearing speedos.
Needless to say, we just ain't big on bicycles around here. The folks around here are Nascar fans, or College Football fans, or are motorcycle fans, or, are outdoor sportsmen. (hunters)
So, next to the pizza place, a guy put in a Sports Bar. Called it "Rookies." BIG screen TV's all over the place, Chicken wings, sandwiches, waitresses dressed like referees, (with cleavage hanging out), and the exotic/regular beer collection.
The poor pizza place is crying. I don't expect them to last much longer. It's a shame, the food is better. ...But there's pictures of guys in speedos...

Oh yeah, Rookies has the occasional "Bike Night" also. All the bikers are welcome to show up and basically take-over the place. They all spend money on food and beverage, talk smack in the parking lot about bikes, and get a chance to win some stuff. Several of the biker organizations have taken to attending these. I works out pretty well.

 

[Scab]

If you get into the restaurant biz, see if this fella will give you permission to make this: http://www.600riders.com/forum/bar/10024-my-life-has-just-changed-forever.html
I'm telling you, that thing will rock with the country-boys!

 

[Hellgate]

If you get into the restaurant biz, see if this fella will give you permission to make this: http://www.600riders.com/forum/bar/10024-my-life-has-just-changed-forever.html
I'm telling you, that thing will rock with the country-boys!

I'll open the restuarant next to the Austin Heart Hospital! :thumbup:

 

[fz6nick]

I always wanted to have my own custom furniture/cabinat company. Even tho I am only 19, I have a good amount of experience building things. In highschool, I took 2 shop classes all 4 years.

 

[mstewar1]

Given the direction the country is heading -- into a recession -- I'm thinking that opening a place where you'll need folks to spend "discretionary" income may not be the best decision. If I have to decide between buying groceries or a "retail" cup of coffee, I'm voting for groceries.

What sort of residential services are lacking service providers in your area? Are there unique issues in your area that folks need help with? You're in Texas. You guys get horrendous rains and floods and such..? Tornadoes?

A bit of a tangent, but not really: I read an article recently about folks working remotely, working from a home office. Given the price of fuel and the need/desire for employers to streamline and reduce costs, maybe helping employers to set-up employee home offices? The employee saves money not having to commute. The employer can reduce overhead by reducing the amount of office space they require.

My other thought is that there are going to be more and more people such as yourself -- skilled, smart, capable. But there is going to be a lack of positions to fill. Short of opening a general, temporary staffing organization, ala "Manpower", are there jobs or functions related to your specialty, main field, the training or skills you've amassed, around which you might sell yourself, and possibly create an organization into which, over time, you hire others who find themselves similarly displaced? If you were to establish yourself, your reputation, as one who provides your service with quality, speed, efficiency, professionalism, etc. you'd have your brand built upon your good name.

So what, exactly, can you do? If I were interviewing you and asked you, "What can you do better than anyone else?" What, specifically, would you say? No speaking in generalities, we're talking specific, tangible skills.

 

[grommit]

Motorcycle Instructor...Advanced

Internet Cafe

 

[Hellgate]

Just go on active duty SGM! :thumbup:

If push comes to shove I will, the problem is one year from now I'll be in the same situation, looking for employment. Also I'm looking at a 50% pay cut, granted 50% of nothing is better than nothing.

 

[Hellgate]

Given the direction the country is heading -- into a recession -- I'm thinking that opening a place where you'll need folks to spend \"discretionary\" income may not be the best decision. If I have to decide between buying groceries or a \"retail\" cup of coffee, I'm voting for groceries.

What sort of residential services are lacking service providers in your area? Are there unique issues in your area that folks need help with? You're in Texas. You guys get horrendous rains and floods and such..? Tornadoes?

A bit of a tangent, but not really: I read an article recently about folks working remotely, working from a home office. Given the price of fuel and the need/desire for employers to streamline and reduce costs, maybe helping employers to set-up employee home offices? The employee saves money not having to commute. The employer can reduce overhead by reducing the amount of office space they require.

My other thought is that there are going to be more and more people such as yourself -- skilled, smart, capable. But there is going to be a lack of positions to fill. Short of opening a general, temporary staffing organization, ala \"Manpower\", are there jobs or functions related to your specialty, main field, the training or skills you've amassed, around which you might sell yourself, and possibly create an organization into which, over time, you hire others who find themselves similarly displaced? If you were to establish yourself, your reputation, as one who provides your service with quality, speed, efficiency, professionalism, etc. you'd have your brand built upon your good name.

So what, exactly, can you do? If I were interviewing you and asked you, \"What can you do better than anyone else?\" What, specifically, would you say? No speaking in generalities, we're talking specific, tangible skills.

I agree fully, fancy coffee is a nice to have, not a need to have. Don't know if you've noticed but Whole Foods is now rated a "sell". The reason is people will shop genaric instead of organic when it is time to pinch pennies, remember the '80's and the "Black and White" brands?

The work at home support idea is a great one. Where I worked we had about 20% of our EEs working where ever they wished. I even had an EE in Oregon and she called San Jose her work place. All of our support for them was in-house unless it was IS&T and that was already outsourced.

I do like the idea of a professional temp agency. The flexible workforce is very important for businesses needing to quickly scale, up or down.

As far as local stuff there is a fairly good sized mold remediation business but what I'm seeing is people fixing their homes on the side so their house is not declared a "mold house", which must be declared at the time of sale. But I suspect there may be room in that space, great idea!