Business Idea - Mirror Art

Create cool works of art with mirror pieces that you can get for free.

Can be operated from home. Can be operated part-time.
Start-up cost: less than P,2000

Business Overview

Mirror art is simply small pieces of mirror in varying colors and shapes that have been assembled together to resemble a picture, landscape or even abstract design. In most cases a trip to your local glass shop will result in all the mirror you will need for this new venture, and usually at no cost. Why? Most glass shops dispose of mirror cutoff pieces that are too small to sell, but these same pieces of mirror are perfectly sized to create mirror art. The equipment needed to create the art is inexpensive and includes a few hand tools and a glass grinder. Also, patterns are available to make the mirror art or you can create your own. Once completed, the art can be sold via flea market booths, online or by renting a sales kiosk in malls.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/582.html

Business Idea - Dollhouse Making/Manufacturing

Can be operated from home. Can be operated part-time.
If you enjoy small-scale construction, you can make kids' dreams come true by building and selling dollhouses.

Business Overview

Manufacturing custom designed dollhouses is a great part-time home based business to set in motion. The dollhouses you build can be sold through retail accounts, flea markets, craft shows, mail order, the internet and mall kiosks. The only requirement for this business to succeed is you ability to manufacture a good, high-quality dollhouse. Design plans are available at any hobby shop for dollhouse construction, or you can create your own custom designs. The potential profits this business can produce are varied. However, a well-established dollhouse manufacturing business should have no difficulty generating annual sales in excess of $500,000 per year.

Business Idea - Garage Organizers

For some, the garage has become the holding place for all their junk. If you like organizing, there's a lot of garages that need your help.

Business Overview

Millions of people can no longer fit the car into the garage because of the treasures (junk) that the garage seems to magically collect. This strange, but true force of nature can make you rich. To start your own garage organizer service requires no special skills or equipment other than some basic hand tools. Ideally, you can start close to home by providing the service to family and friends, while building a sound referral base. Home improvement trade shows will also be a valuable source of leads, and a “before and after” display can generate an enormous amount of interest in your products and services. The display can be designed and built for less than $1,000. The lack of competition in this industry should allow you to mark up your products such as shelving and storage cabinets by at least 40 to 50 percent, while maintaining an hourly rate for installations in the range of $25 to $30.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/939.html

Business Idea - Doll Making

Hand-crafted dolls can bring joy to children and profits to your business.

Business Overview

It may not seem like it, but doll making and repairs is a giant segment of the craft and toy industry. To reinforce this, simply visit an antique shop that specializes in antique dolls or a retailer of new custom "one of a kind" dolls, and you'll soon see that the prices are out of this world. A doll-making business can be started from home on a part-time basis. You can sell the dolls you make through retail accounts, kiosks, mail order, craft shows and the internet. This is an enterprise that requires very little in the way of startup investment, and the ongoing monthly overhead is also very small. Once you've sharpened your skills in doll making, you can proceed to antique doll repairs. Some of the antique dolls can sell for as much as $500 for the "real" thing and $300 for replicas. To get started, find out if doll-making classes are available in your local community. If they're not readily available and you master these skills, you could also begin holding your own how-to classes to earn additional income. Don't forget that in the doll world, all of these creations need accessories, houses, cars, clothes and other doll friends, so your only limit is your imagination.

The Market

Doll and antique collectors
This can be operated from home and can be operated part-time.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/342.html

Business Idea - Magnetic Signs

Want your success to stick? Try magnetic signs.

Business Overview

Magnetic signs are an incredibly handy advertising tool, especially for the business owner or sales person that uses their automobile for both business and pleasure, as the signs can be quickly installed or removed for storage in the trunk. Magnetic signs are also very easy to design and produce, making this an ideal business venture for just about anyone seeking to start a homebased business enterprise that requires little in the way of start-up capital and experience. The signs are actually manufactured from a vinyl material with a magnetic backing, which enables the signs to be lightweight and pliable. The signs are simply cut to size and shape, and vinyl letters are placed on them to finish the sign making process. The only equipment required for manufacturing the signs is a computer, page layout and design software, a vinyl printer, and a plotter that cuts the letters. Required equipment can be purchased used or new in most communities through printing and sign supply companies. Currently, small to medium magnetic signs are retailing for $30 to $60 each and cost about $8 to $12 each to make.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/1027.html

Business Idea - House Painting

Get out your old painting jeans and ladder to start a house painting business.

Business Overview

One of the hallmarks of a well-kept home or prosperous business is a fresh, professional coat of paint. But most people hate painting--it takes a lot of time and skill to do the job right--plus you have to spread drop cloths over everything, climb around on ladders or scaffolding, and hope you don’t get paint in your hair. But if you like painting--you love the transformation as a dingy room or building becomes clean and new--and you’ve got the talent and experience to deliver a first-class job, then this could be the business for you. The advantages to this business are that you can work from a home base, your startup costs can be relatively low, and if you like the feeling of accomplishment that comes from a good day’s physical labor, it can be both rewarding and lucrative. You’ll need experience in painting interiors and exteriors and in working with different types of paints and primers. You’ll also need some people skills in dealing with various personalities and the ability to estimate a job and come out on the winning end.

The Market

Your targets will be homeowners, apartment buildings and condominium complexes, businesses large and small, interior designers, and real estate agents who may need help with a vacant property. You may want to specialize in certain types of painting--homeowners and interior designers will go for decorative treatments like sponge-painting, faux aging or stenciling--or, if you live in a historic area, you can specialize in “painted ladies,” those glorious, gaudy Victorians, Colonial homes, or whatever suits your neighborhood. Using authentic historic colors for antique homes is very popular these days, so you can offer color consultation and expertise as part of your historical service. To sell to this type of client, send brochures to historic home associations or introduce yourself to homeowners and contractors. To target other types of prospects, send brochures; leave fliers on homeowners’ doorsteps; and network with interior designers, contractors and real estate agents. You can also place ads in local papers. If you specialize in decorative-painting techniques, get your company written up in local publications, give talks to local groups and volunteer yourself as a guest on a local radio chat show.

Needed Equipment

You can start off with a couple sizes of ladders, an assortment of brushes, rollers and paint trays and perhaps a sprayer and a breathing mask. As you grow, you can branch out to heavy-duty sprayers and compressors and a set of scaffolding. You’ll also need a pickup truck to carry you and your equipment to jobs.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/99.html

Business Idea - Bookkeeping Service

Business Overview

Use your accounting and financial experience to start a bookkeeping service.

Bookkeeping is simply the procedure of recording financial transactions, or put differently, a record is made every time money changes hands. Providing you possess accounting or bookkeeping experience and skill, a substantial income can be earned by running a bookkeeping service. Clients will largely consist of business owners that either do not have the time or ability to set up and manage a bookkeeping system for their business. Recent technological advancement has made operating a bookkeeping service very straightforward, as there are many types of small business accounting software available that will not only make your job easier, but also enable you to service many clients at one time. Typically, bookkeeping services charge clients a monthly fee to record and update their financial records on a regular basis. Averaged, this fee translates into $25 to $35 per hour.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/543.html