If start-up money was available, would you start a business of your own?

What kind?

28 responses total.

Mobile bicycle repair and computer consulting.
(MBRCC)

If I had a product or a service that I belived in I would worry about the
money.

but right now with no product or service, the money wouldn't help much.

I could really enjoy a mobile bike-repair business...
maybe after I put in some years in computer stuff, I can get some savings...

I'd like to start a magazine.  Having been an editor for two and a half
years now, I'm sure I could handle the editorial side.  What I need to
do now is find a publisher, who is the person that handles the business
side, i.e. advertising and finance, side.

What kinda magazine?
HArd-core, tiny-but-dependable market EE stuff?
Freeform poetry?

Well, one idea would be a product tabloid covering high-tech in Mich-
igan or the Midwest.  Another magazine that might make it is a trade
magazine covering automotive testing -- everything from materials test
to full-vehicle tests.

Folio, which is a trade magazine for magazines, says that the hot
markets for new trade magazines are computer software services,
medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals.

Well, if you do a computer software services one, hire me, okay?
 :)

I was discussing this item with the weekly walkers today, and I mentioned
that upon trying to answer this question, I was stunned to realize that
if I had a lot of money, I would *not* start my own business.  In fact,
if I had a lot of money, I probably wouldn't do anything any differently
than the way I am doing things right now.

I wouldn't want to take the responsibility for a business.  I'd rather
hole myself up in a library, thank you!  :-)

re #8:  That's fine -- owning a business is not for everyone.  If you
reread #0, I asked if you *would* start one, not which one you would
start.

Yeah, I jumped in with the wrong answer...
I think I would, if I knew someone who wanted to assist with the business
aspects, or if I was either A)in okay shape even if it failed, or B)able
to spend some time in classes or whatever so I felt confident I wouldn't
screw myself, business-wise.

Hm...that's a toughie.  Probably a restaurant, though a) I'd want to get
professional restaurant management/culinary arts training first, and
b) somewhere NOT in the AA area.

Heh.  I've thought about publishing a restaurant *guide*, but it's already
been done around here.  Of course, my approach would be radically different:
one major focus would be data from health department inspections.

My own Custom Dressmaking shop (though I am interested in things other than
just dresses such as home furnishings, toys, etc; and other forms of
needlework than just sewing - crocheting, knitting, embroidery, tatting, if
it uses thread or fabric I do it or am interested in learning/using it).  I
would like to have a business where I get paid doing needlework (I have done
some on consignment and will continue to do so, but would like to do it on
a more regular basis).

RE whatever..
 
Is "Folio" related to "port Folio" of Norfolk, VA?

If you need a programmer... give me a ring...
 (not that you'll need a programmer, but if you do...)

re #14:  I doubt it.  FOLIO is a trade magazine for magazines.  I
believe it is published in NY.  The word folio is magazine jargon
for the total number of pages of editorial and advertising in an issue.

Travel Agency (Specializing in solo journeys)

        Maybe.  I've thought alot about it and I agree with whoever said
that they would only do it if they had a fair assurance that they'd be in
OK shape if the business failed.

        As to what kind of business, I think I'd go in for specialty
retail.

        Then again, I'd want a partner with excellent business sense: I have
serious trouble handling family accounts.

The only way I would want to start a business would be with enough independent
income not to care if my business made money.  The I would probably also
like to start a travel agency and design custom made trips for individuals
based upon their interests, styles of life and financial resources. The main
reason for a travel agency would be because I would have to research the
areas my clients would travel to and, boy would I love to do that.

If I had a lot of money I would make a donut shop and try to make mine has good
then  Others.

Old items never die.  They just lurk until someon has something new to
say. :)

My sister and I started a business, R-Squared Press, in January.  We
hope to have our first book in print by the end of April.

I'd probably do a coffee shop or a resturaunt, if i did anything.

Actually, I am in the process of stocking up enough money so I can go into
business for myself.  I am doing it purely largely because I want to set my own
hours, and partially because I want to be able to tailor what I do to what
I enjoy doing (as I discover it).  Right now, For starters, my primary focus
will be on a market niche which I know I can fill - typing, resumes adnnd
transcription. I will be specifically aiming myself at medical
transciptiription for small doctor's offices, hopefully breaking in by offering
faster rturnaround times and lower total cost then an they are poaaying now. 
(Specifically, they do not need to pay me benefits, just a per amount
transcription a per volume charge for the transcription itself.)  I plan to
augment this in whatever ways I can to make it workable .

I am planning on doing this because of my preferred work style.  I like to
provide a service, and provide it well and professionally, but I like to
be product-driven, not schedule-drivenand not tied down to specific hours which
I have to work. I also like to be the final arbiter of whether I am doing a
good job.  I have had too many supervisors who messed with my head by telling
me overtly or covertly that I was doing a bad job when I knew I was working to
the best of the resources I had at the time.  I just have, among other things,
the misfortune of having one of my worst production periods, approx 1-4 PM,
fall in the middle of an 8-5 job.  The customers will give me more than enough
feedback as to the quality of my work, I don't need a boss for that.

You will never be the final arbiter of wheether or not you are doing a good
job.  A supervisor is just a customer who can't go anywhere else to
get the job done.  That said, medical transcription out of the home is an
excellent choice for self-employment.  Wanna buy a memo-scriber cheap?:)

I often joke that I'm going to quit my job and open a plant store...
We already have some decent florists and some large nurseries
in my area, though...and even without doing the necessary
advance study, I don't think it would fly in a tourist town...
too much trouble to transport the plants home.

I haven't done any heavy study yet, but I've also wondered
whether a franchise might be good for me.  I might go to the next
convention they have at the civic center to find more about it.

RE #24:  I might well be willing to take a transcriber off your hands, if
thatis whatyou mean.  I've got to gi

figureout what really is my backspace key, since my text indicates it is
not the key I think it is.

And as for the differences between supervisors, and customers, a csut  
customer can only take away their individual business.  A supervisor can
makeyour business, i.e., your job, go away.

Heh. Good point. Just wanted to speak from experience; customers can be
very demanding.  I'll mail you about the transcriber.

Great.  You might actually want to send it
to my primary account, tracy.worcester@med.umich.edu

Response not possible - You must register and login before posting.

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss