Did you know that one of the first things you need for a successful business is a good idea?
Note that we didn’t use the word great. If we were investing in a business we’d far prefer to be putting money into a good idea with a great team and plan than a great idea with a rotten team and plan. Graveyards are full of businesses with great ideas and rotten execution.
In fact Venture Investors (VC’s) have told us that it’s really all down to 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
At WDTD our goal is simple. We’ll help you take your inspiration and make the perspiration easier.
Back to those ideas. let’s help you get inspired!
One of the great benefits of working out of home is the flexibility and convenience. Combine this with the very low cost of starting out. It’s no wonder that 1.4 million women every year will start their own business.
We often get asked “I want to start my own business, but I’m not sure what I should do?”
Here are six trends that we are seeing
1) Consulting
This is the classic example of using your prior experience and contact list. Our businesses use many consultants because it’s cheaper to pay someone for a few days or weeks than go through the process of hiring someone. Outsourcing is a huge trend and you can take advantage of it. This area is vast.
We have two consulting businesses. One works with Fortune 500 type companies on major strategic issues. The other is focused on internet start ups. the reason we can do this is because of our experience in both fields and specifically Angelique’s years of consulting all over the world. It’s an example of what we have previously talked about. Using your experience.
2) Freelance
Take your skills and your contact list and start out at home. A great example of this is our book keeper. She manages our basic accounting work out of her home for all our businesses and does it for several other companies as well. She makes more money than she did in her previous job, works less hours and her time is totally flexible.
Another lady we know well does company business report writing. The ideas here are almost endless. We have also worked with a lady who is setting up an admin service for other small companies who don’t want to pay for a full time secretary. She’s building a network of women who are at home and passing them work based on the number of hours each women wannest to do per week.
3) Online marketing
Women are leaving previous jobs and becoming on line marketers. Working a few hours a day they are quickly building incremental income. We helped one lady do this as she was planning to have a child in 18 months and wanted to move her job to her house. She just had her first daughter – congratulations Lara!
Another area that women are actively involved in is using their experience in software like Adobe to start website development business. If you have a computer and an internet connection, you’re half way there. The cool thing here is that the start up is low cost and very quick. We have often hired a woman who turns round photoshop projects at high speed and creates beautiful work. Thanks Stephanie!
4) Food, catering & event planning
You don’t need a big business here. We’ve seen women making great money out of starting selling food they have cooked at home. The profit margins here are excellent. If you have a good set of contacts at companies you could start a catering business.
5) Health and fitness
Fitness training, exercise studios, and many more ideas. We worked with a lady who has started several specialist exercise studios. She was previously in the world of food products but had a passion for this. Liz is doing spectacularly well. Niche health and fitness is one of the top trends for small business. Don’t just think of humans. Pet related wellness is another growth area.
One of our friends came to us. She was frustrated at work, bored and becoming disillusioned. She and her husband agreed that she’d transition to a work at home mom. She was personally into physical therapy and started a massage business. Again, very low cost start up and a steadily increasing list of clients. She’s been amazingly innovative in growing her business to the point where she has now taken on a 2nd women to cover her demand. She’s happier and making decent money that is paying for all sorts of extras for the family.
Remember that your business idea does not have to be a multi million dollar monster. If it strikes the right personal and financial balance it can quickly change your life.
6) Interior design and staging
We know several businesses run by women doing exactly this. Even with the slump in home sales there is a constant demand for staged houses and there is a segment of the market that is always looking to improve their home space. Talk to a few realtors about staging. We know one lady who runs a staging business out of her apartment and keeps all the staging products in a pair of rented garages.
We wanted to give you a flavor of the ideas what we are seeing women using to change their lives. Remember that most of your best ideas will come from your experience or your hobbies and passion. Just make sure you plan your moves carefully and get the right support.
Be successful
Rob & Angelique







Ha!
I’ve been reading your articles and downloaded your start up guide (nice job). Number 6 is exactly what I’m panning to do. I’m into interior design and very creative. My friend is a realtor and is pushing me to get into staging. She thinks that my personality and experience are perfect for this. Even with the housing market down, the realtors I’ve talked to all need this.
I’m excited by your site as I understand design, but am not great at setting up my business. Thanks
Lorrie
Hi Lorrie,
Thanks for the nice words. Good luck with your new business. Sounds fun!
We have a friend who does staging in our area.
Glad you liked the guide and the articles Angelique and I have developed.
Rob
OMG – I’m thinking about starting a business at home. I have lots of contacts at small and medium companies and they always need admin help. I’m looking to build a network of moms who could do a few hours a week. Now I know I’m a trend, yay!
Hi Kathy
We know a lady who does exactly what you are planning. She quit her job and used her contacts to build a network of customers which she started by serving herself. She added resources as her client demands increased. When I last spoke with hr, she was doing great!
Good luck
Rob
Thanks. The sites I’ve seen for women are terrible. Do they think that because we’re female we’re stupid? Does everything have to be pink?
Firstly, thanks to you Claire & Jon for writing something for women. I had no idea that so many women were starting their own business, but i’d not thought that much about it.
Good news for me too as we’re starting a small catering business. I love cooking!
TraceyD
Nice to see other women here. This stuff always seems to be guy oriented. Glad it’s not pink here too.
Kathy
Pink? Angelique would shoot me :-)
Rob
Just saw this. Nice. J
I’m thinking about trying to earn extra money from home. had kids 2 years ago and now have a few hours each week. Can’t face the old office!
Funny! Nice to see that you read what we write and post here.