Are you looking for ways to start a business but don’t know where to start?

Well, the good news for you is that business ideas are all around you.

Frequently, the best business ideas are staring you straight in the face and you may not even realize it.

You don’t have to be a Harvard grad or a genius to turn these ideas into successful businesses. You just have to be able to identify problems and find a way to solve them or figure out a way to turn a hobby or interest into a business.

Let’s take a look at some ways you can start a business:

Do what you love.

If you are passionate about something, you are much more likely to succeed at turning that passion into a business. Your passion will lead you to be dedicated, knowledgeable, creative, and persistent. So, think seriously about what it is you are passionate about.

Don’t reinvent the wheel.

It is rare that you will be able to develop a truly new concept or product. Instead, focus on tweaking an already existing idea. An example might be finding a new way to market a commonplace product. Take flowers, for instance. Florists have been around for years, but there are now businesses who specialize in allowing customers to order flowers online. The trick here is to think about what people want to buy and how they want to buy it and shape your business model around meeting that need.

Be boring.

Sometimes boring is best. Many people have created successful businesses by offering mundane or boring everyday services. Window washing, dog walking, house cleaning, and plumbing are just a few examples. The key to turning a profit with your boring services it to offer those that the customer can’t do, won’t do, doesn’t have time to do, or can’t have done somewhere else.

Look to your hobbies.

Are you a great baker? Maybe a whiz at planning kids birthday parties? Look for ways to turn those hobbies or skills into a business. Maybe you can sell your baked goods to restaurants or bakeries, or you could offer your party planning services to others. The possibilities are endless.

Teach.

If you have skills that other people may want to learn, why not offer to teach them (for a fee, of course)? You can even make some extra money by selling supplies that your students may need to complete the course. Even better yet, turn your skills and materials into a booklet or computer program that you can mass produce and sell to a much larger audience. If your skills or expertise are more business-oriented, consider offering your services to companies or corporations for a substantial hourly fee.

Buy a business.

You can skip the headaches of starting a business from scratch and buy an existing business instead. This way, you avoid having to find and train employees, build a customer base and find suppliers. Much of the infrastructure should already be in place. Be sure that you find out why an owner is selling. Also, do your due diligence and hire an attorney and an accountant to research the company. You don’t want to become captain of a sinking ship!

A variation of buying an established business is to buy a franchise. If you have the capital up front you are basically buying a build-your-own-business kit. You will certainly have to do a lot of work, but you will at least have a solid framework to get started.

These are just a few ideas that you can use to start a business of your own. If one of these doesn’t work for you, don’t worry! There are hundreds of more ideas out there. A little brainstorming and research can lead you to the best option for you.

photo credit: Ponderosa Saloon & Mine