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I have no idea what business to start

dokuladokula subscriber Posts: 2
edited January 2009 in Selecting a Business
I just turned 19. I`ve been dreaming of being a business owner since I was 12. I`ve had a little bit of online success when I was 14 but that fell off. It was continued by a lot of failed ventures. I am looking to start something long term and something that I can grow on my own. I`m looking to sell a product or provide a service, anything as long as I`m my own boss.My Skills:
- Program in PHP
- Design in HTML and other languages
- I can basically create a fully funciton website with PHP and mysqlMy passions:
-Money
-Poker
-Traveling
-College
-Being a good person
-Running a business
I know that this is very vague, but I`m just trying to catch a direction. No, I am NOT interested in MLM or anything of that sorts. I want to create and develop a regular business. Any suggestions ? I know you guys are geniuses!
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Comments

  • JmesJmes subscriber Posts: 4
    I`d try to think of what`s important to others, and that could just be what`s important to you
    Normally I`d suggest to think of something that would make other people money. For instance, making a website that has an X step program to be good at poker. That`s helping people, running a website and associating it with poker together.
    If you like helping people, others might too! How about something innovative that will help you help others to help others still? (though I fail to see how this will pay the bills
    Try and be creative, think outside the box, shed light on old ideas... You`ll find what you`re seeking eventually
    Just keep your hopes up, and your spirits high
    Good luck
    Jmes
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  • MattThomasMattThomas subscriber Posts: 2
    Two thoughts, maybe an ecommerce site selling poker supplies (since you know database programming). There is some still competition here...so you would have to do something significant to set yourself apart. It certainly can be done, but you would need to brainstorm on ways to differentiate yourself.
    Also, maybe selling high quality poker supplies at premium pricing. Use Google AdWords or something like that to automate the marketing for you, and the premium pricing strategy will allow you greater profit margins, and thus a larger margin of error if your AdWords campaign gets a little expensive. Similar to what Eric recommended, targeting business people who enjoy poker may be a good niche to target.
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  • dokuladokula subscriber Posts: 2
    Thanks guys, these are all great suggestions! My buddy had another suggestion that can work. Let me know:
    Create a site where you can create all kinds of contests or tournaments. IE: Have a bracket style format like the NCAA and do it for the "Prettiest Face", "Prettiest Anything", you can do it for anything. You can make it so others can make their own tourney or they can participate in the tourneys. We can charge an entry fee for each tourney and depending on the tourney size, there will be top 3 or top 5 people that get paid out.
    Advertising will be tough in the beginning, but as more people are on it, they will advertise their own entries and it can be a snowball effect.
    How will money be made?
    You can pay a couple of bucks for your entry, or you can do CPA forms and earn "credits" that way and take a % or a flat fee out of the payment of the entrant.
    Let me know what you guys think.
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  • tunnatunna subscriber Posts: 1


    First, find a company with a solid product.  Make sure
    it’s a product that people actually need and not just
    another product thrown on to make a compensation plan
    legal.



    Second, find a company with a compensation plan that
    will actually benefit you.  This is important.  Don’t
    join a company that puts most of the compensation on
    levels you will never reach.



    Lastly, find a company that offers good training and
    support.  You need great training to start working from
    home.  Don’t settle for joining an opportunity that
    doesn’t provide you with this training.



    tribhuvan

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  • MattThomasMattThomas subscriber Posts: 2
    Create a site where you can create all kinds of contests or tournaments. IE: Have a bracket style format like the NCAA and do it for the "Prettiest Face", "Prettiest Anything", you can do it for anything.
    Its an interesting idea...I`m just concerned that this type of thing can be made into a facebook application much more easily and have more traffic right off the bat.
    Actually, that might not be a bad way to test out your idea to see if it catches on.
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  • JenniferKimJenniferKim subscriber Posts: 1
    Don`t ever forget that you are only 19 years of age.  Your next business venture does not have to be your last.  Try as many things as possible.  You will undoubtedly fail but you will learn the lessons you need in order to succeed when you do find your passion.  Good luck! =)
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  • WebJunkyWebJunky subscriber Posts: 8 Member
    jennifer brings up a very true point.  from personal experience i can tell you that 9 out of 10 entreps i know have gone through failures and smaller successes before hitting the jackpot.  it reminds me of one of my favorite entrep quotes:  "all successful people have something in common, they all fall multiple times but none not lack the determination to get back up and keep moving forward"
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  • profits4idiotsprofits4idiots subscriber Posts: 0
    "Being a good person"... great trait! How about a site that teaches techniques on not making "poker faces" so that opponents will know if the player is lying or not?
    Kidding!
    Try working on a site that sells poker items. With your knowledge on PHP, you`d be able to make a good site in no time (just make sure you get a good graphics guy).
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  • buswriterbuswriter subscriber Posts: 1
    I have a book coming out in March 2009 called, "The Baby Boomers Guide to Small Business Success", which lists many businesses to start based on current and emerging trends in the marketplace. Please email me at [email protected] for more information.
     
    Thanks,
    buswriter
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  • MattTurpinMattTurpin subscriber Posts: 22
    You like being a good person. Maybe something humanitarian is for you. You could sell something where X% of the proceeds support a cause. A good website is a component of any successful business, so rather than make that the focal point of your career, I`d just call it a tool in your entrepreneurial toolbox. It`s a good one to have. I was trying to fit poker into all of this, but I think online poker is an over saturated market. Everyone that can run an online casino already does, and the rest fight for scraps. I don`t think you`d make money on it. I`d focus on the "being a good person" aspect. People like good people. People like being good people. I think if you sold something people liked, and buying it would make them good people to boot, you might have something going.
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  • jwatkinsjwatkins subscriber Posts: 11 Bronze Level Member
    Start a business offering to put on poker tournaments for non-profits and charities. You supply everything and do the set up and collect a % of the take.
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  • MattThomasMattThomas subscriber Posts: 2
    Agreed. Before thinking about your interests and hobbies, consider what work related tasks you enjoy.
    You may love playing poker, but poker might not translate well into work related tasks you enjoy.
    For example, I suggested before selling poker supplied online. However, if you don`t like retail or online retail, you shouldn`t pursue this type of business.
    In other words, considering your interests is important, but considering the WORK that comes with it is even more important.
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