Editor’s note: This article was first published in December 2010; it was written in late December 2010 as a list of ideas for 2011, and its forecasts about high demand during 2011 and a year without jobs refer to that year and the Spanish crisis.
Without forgetting the most profitable businesses we looked at in “The most profitable businesses of 2010–2012“, where we talked about renewable energy and businesses related to new technologies, this time we’re suggesting a different kind of low-investment business, based on consumer needs.
With the new year and the end of the Christmas season, there’s demand for services such as personal training, or simply more people wanting to get in shape with summer in mind. January and February are the boom months for gyms and dietitians. Losing the weight gained over Christmas is a priority for many.
If we also consider people’s New Year’s resolutions, number one is quitting smoking. Tobacco is a business even when it comes to giving it up, so why not seize the opportunity to build our profitable business around helping people kick the habit?
No doubt a high percentage of people will sign up for services such as acupuncture to stop smoking, sales of plants that help people give up tobacco will rise, and there will even be alternative approaches such as group therapy, where group support and willpower are our allies.
Yoga, sport and anything to do with relaxation will be in high demand in 2011, so that’s another field to keep in mind if you want to combine your passion and knowledge and turn them into a business.
Another New Year’s resolution is finding a partner or, unromantic as it may sound, changing partners, so don’t forget that love is big business. Here are some business ideas related to love.
See also: Coworking: a way to make your business more profitable by cutting fixed costs
Businesses based on home services and services for companies will remain in demand, although companies will also have new resolutions of their own: cutting costs and increasing sales. Cost-cutting opens up a business opportunity for virtual assistant companies, since they let a company have certain areas covered without hiring staff.
These are some business ideas for 2011, and I’ll take this opportunity to remind you that this year isn’t going to be the year of jobs, so you’ll probably have no choice but to start your own business.
Further reading
- How to start a business with no money
- How to find business ideas
- How to run a business in times of crisis
- Why new businesses fail
Featured image: Samson Ssemakadde, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
