2009 Top 10 Small Business Ideas

With the highly possible increase in downsizing trends, more and more people are made redundant.

The next logical step for those people are: looking for another job and starting a business.

The former is more desirable for those who place income security high in their list, but the latter is more desirable for those who are being fed up with all the corporate politics and seemingly unfair downsizing.

Whatever step you want to choose, I recommend you to consider the latter for two reasons:

1. Throughout the history of small business, being downsized is one of the most successful life changing experience in born new, thriving, entrepreneurs.
2. Getting back into the workforce with the standard you had before is not as easy as you think - businesses cut costs, and one of the area that are being heavily cut is payroll - bottom line, businesses want more for less these days.

Without further adieu, the following are the top 10 small business ideas for 2009 that might entice you to plunge into entrepreneurship:

1. Do-It-Yourself business
   Most of the case, DIY reduce costs. If you can provide products and services that allow people to DIY something, such as creating your own home cleaning products, you are on a roll.
2. Energy saving business
   This idea is definitely hot in the past few years, and in 2009 the emphasis on energy cost-cutting regimes will push any energy saving businesses even further. Producing or distributing LED lightings will be the right business this year.
3. Online business
   Ah, my favourite small business idea. The wonder of the Internet is this: For as low as $50 (a domain name + affordable web hosting fee) or even for free, you can start a lucrative online business and shoot for a chance to create a six figure business before this 2009 ends! Of course, one key factor: your competitiveness in a low-cost, high-competition market.
4. Baby boomer-related business
   The highlight of the year: Baby boomers are retiring from the workforce, creating a mega-problem to the economy - thanks to the flawed MediCare, Social Security and retirement funds. Creating a business that act as a safety-net for those baby boomers will boom your business sky-high. One example of such business is entrepreneurship training business for baby boomers.
5. Cheap and/or recycled product business
   “Turning trash into cash” type of business is very, very lucrative this year. With the increase in material and production costs, making use of ‘useless’ materials and create something out of them will proved to be a thriving business. One example: Creating Converse-like canvass shoes out of wastes - the scrapbooking style.
6. Home based business
   The best cost-cutting innovation of all - work from your home! With the ever-presence of the Internet, working at home
7. Charity and philantropy
   Giving as a business? Never - However, you can be a business that match recipients and givers, such as the web-based Kiva.com that match small business borrowers with lenders.
8. Outsourcing
   There is a better solution in your cost cutting campaign - outsourcing. Outsourcing main benefit is leaning your company so you are more nimble and resposive to changes. The key in outsourcing is finding the right companies to outsource to. The business idea: outsourcing company that manage service buyers needs.
9. Mobile business
   No longer a trend for road warriors out there, but a growing trend for new entrepreneurs who envision themselves as location independent business owners. Again, the Internet plays a major role in mobile business, as well as the more powerful and cutting-edge mobile technologies and gadgets. Your iPhone and MacBook Air will enable you to run your business wherever you are.
10. Bootstrapping and cost-cutting consultancy business
    As every business owner aim to be leaner and more responsive, bootstrapping and cost-cutting consultants will have their moments this year - roles, such as energy consultants, Internet startup consultants, and similar others will enjoy substantial growth this year.

That’s it for my version of top 10 list. ‘Care to share yours?

Ivan Widjaya
Business ideas
Image by normanack.

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