Step One: What do I Want to Sell?

The first thing an entrepreneur needs to determine before starting a business is: What do I Want to Sell?

If you have already decided what you are going to do, click here to skip this section.

Look at your interests, your past experience, your skills. For example, if you spend your weekends taking car engines apart and putting them back together, perhaps you could operate a successful auto repair shop. If your whole family raves about your cooking, you may want to consider opening a catering business. If you have a knack for creating beautiful flower arrangements, consider becoming a florist.

If you need help coming up with ideas for your business, you may want to visit your local library. Ask the librarian for assistance in finding a helpful book or magazine.

Here are some ideas for books:

201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business: Revised & Updated Edition
by Jane Applegate

Turn Your Talents into Profits: 100+ Terrific Ideas for Starting Your Own Home-Based Microbusiness
by Darcie Sanders and Martha Bullen

What Color is Your Parachute
by Richard Nelson Bolles

The 100 Best Businesses for the 21st Century
by Gregg Ramsay and Lisa Rogak

Here are some Web sites that might help you come up with ideas for your small business:

http://www.entrepreneur.com
This is the web site for Entrepreneur magazine.

http://www.sba.gov/tools/resourcelibrary/index.html
This site will take you to the U.S. Small Business Administration's on-line reading room. Peruse this site for articles related to developing an idea for a business to start.

http://www.sbomag.com
This is the web site for Small Business Opportunities magazine.

http://pandecta.com/index.html
This web site contains ideas for starting on-line businesses.

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