Business Ideas Q&A

Well, I can't answer this from a personal perspective yet (although my wife may get pulled into helping with my ventures at some point).

First, it is important to keep separate actions and attitudes. At work you must fill your role and do your part, but you can't take any attitudes from that into the personal relationship (at least not long term). At work they may be your equal, superior or subordinate, but at home you are equals and must treat each other as such.

From business that I know spouses have gone into:

• Creative Agencies
• Restaurants
• Law Firms
• Retail (specifically boutiques)

Why do I think the above types of businesses work for partners? Typically because the are more traditional small businesses (they aren't trying to be the next internet juggernaut at least from the ones I'm aware of). The roles they have are either equal or complementary.

Example 1 (Law Firm)

Husband is a Business Lawyer, Wife is a Family Lawyer

Example 2 (Creative Agency)

Wife runs business operations, Husband is a designer

Example 3 (Restaurant)

Husband cooks, Wife manages

Like all things, it depends.

I advocate talking to as many people as possible - that have the problem you are solving. So you can find out more about other people who are possible customers when you get your product sorted.

There really is no need to talk about the idea.

Yep great answers, passion and niche as already mentioned are key. You need to stand out from the competition and when you are niche you have less competition so easier to grow into that market. One more I would add is know your products and their market. Don't just sell camping equipment if you have never been camping for example.

It really is very easy to sell anything online, but knowing your products inside out is essential to be able to build confidence with your customers and allow you to sell the right products rather than the most profitable products.

A customer who spends $500 and gets something that perfectly matches their needs is much happier than a customer that spends $1000 which doesn't do everything they want. The $500 will come back and tell their friends.

Usually creative service businesses are quite cheap or free to start. Even if you own nothing but the clothes on your back, all you need is a computer and some software. You could even keep costs down by using Linux or open source software instead of licenced apps like Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Cloud.

That said, you're not only competing with people in your area, but the entire world. Graphic design isn't language dependent; so you will have to spend a bit of money marketing yourself.

If it is a business idea then I always say it needs to make money. You may have a great idea but if there is no market for your service or product then you could be wasting your time. You need to do market research. Will it sell? If there is a market the next thing you need to ask is if you are passionate enough about the product/ service to make it work.

To me, you're asking the wrong question.

The question should have been: How do I get people to write guest posts for my tour guide/bike hire/camping supply business?

The people who made money out of every goldrush in history were the merchants selling shovels, not the diggers and prospectors.

You start with a provisional patent. Then you have a year to think if you wanna file a non-prov patent out of that patent which is more complicated and needs more $$$. To learn more, check my free YouTube course -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJV8TrKV4-M&list=PLviabXoRMqnfI29AMVSEdbTs7LDXVN517

Most patent regulations and laws are generally the same across the world, so what works in US should work in AUS too. 

I think that Candice hit the nail on the head. However, I want to add that you should only start a business that you are personally passionate about. If you are not passionate, the business is not likely to succeed in the long-term because you need that passion to get through the ups and downs of business life. However, I think identifying gaps in your local market is a good starting point (only move forward with something you find interesting and/or exciting).