Three unusual and creative startup ideas
Are you tired of working for someone else? Wish you could call the shots more? Do you have the drive and passion to create your own success? If so, you may be better suited to entrepreneurship.
That said, owning your own startup business isn’t for the faint hearted. And certainly, especially in the early years, it will probably require harder work, longer hours and less pay than working for someone else.
But what drives entrepreneurs, and fuels them through the tough and long days, is a desire to succeed; to build something that is all theirs, and feel the deserved pride as a result.
Of course, knowing the life of an entrepreneur is right for you, and coming up with a business idea that makes sense in today’s market are two totally different things.
To help kick-start your creative thought process, here are three unusual business ideas you may not have thought of yet and that could be perfect for you.
1) A taxi or private vehicle hire company
With the ever-increasing number of people living in cities across the UK, the need for transportation options continues to grow. Owning your own taxi company or private vehicle hire company could end up being a wise business to get into – you can even specialise in such routes as airport transport (to and from).
While you won’t have to worry about a traditional office space or store front, you will need a communications/booking centre for your fleet. You’ll also need employees who will help with the bookings and to drive your cars.
Ask yourself also if you’d rather be a taxi service or a private hire vehicle service. Taxis are most common in cities, and have the right to pick up people off the street without a booking required. The taxi industry is very highly regulated with fares controlled by the local councils rather than you setting your own. Private hire vehicles require bookings.
Keep in mind that any time you own a fleet of three cars or more, you will also require fleet insurance, which can get a bit pricey. However, comparison sites like Quotezone allow business owners to find fleet insurance by comparing policies from a range of providers. You simply fill in one quick form, and then you can find the perfect policy for your business.
2) A home staging company
Do you have an eye for detail? Has decorating always been a passion of yours? If so, then you may have what it takes to be a home stager.
Home stagers are hired by those looking to move house. A home stager will come into the home and set everything up in a way that will be attractive to potential buyers. This can result in the home selling faster and at a higher price since it is so appealing.
As a home stager, you’ll need to have your own supplies on-hand that will be temporarily used in the homes that you are staging. This includes furniture, artwork, décor, lamps, rugs, dishes, linens, and so forth. You are essentially creating a model home, so you need a full supply of items at your fingertips. This also means you’ll need the proper vehicle(s) for transporting the various items from home to storage unit or office space.
This can be a really fun and creative business for the right person, and it can also prove to be incredibly busy, especially during peak sale times of the year.
3) A catering or cake decorating company
If you’re the type of person who loves whipping up delicious and healthy meals, or has a real knack for cake baking and decorating, then why not play to your skills and turn it into a successful business?
Catering services have really taken on a whole new look, with the emphasis on healthy dishes, menus that fit dietary restrictions and needs, and plenty of variety.
As for cake decorating, all you have to do is take a look at the many television programmes dedicated to outrageous cake design and it’s clear to see that people are no longer satisfied with an average and typical cake. This type of business requires tons of creativity, patience, and an eye for detail.
No matter which of these businesses you have your eye on, it’s a good idea to find a niche that you can specialise in. That will help with your marketing/advertising efforts and branding.
Bonus idea: online reservation system and booking software company
If you’re familiar with the ins and outs of booking systems, then you may have what it takes to create a multi vendor booking system. This type of system would allow multiple businesses to use the same software in order to streamline bookings and make things more efficient.
For example, if you owned a hair salon, a spa, and a nail salon, you could use a multi vendor booking system that would allow customers to book appointments at all three businesses from one central location. This would save time and be much more convenient for customers.
As the owner of such a system, you would take a percentage of each booking made through your software. This could prove to be quite profitable if done correctly.
The path to entrepreneurship success
This is just a very small look at some of the more unique and creative businesses that you can start on your own. Of course, it’s always best to think about what excites you, what you feel passionate about, and where your skills would best be put to use.
Photo by Tina Dawson
