Seth Grodin’s book The Wealthy Barber offers some fascinating insights into how to create wealth and avoid debt by focusing on what we already have instead of buying more stuff. He also advises against starting new ventures if you haven’t got any capital or experience—you should go work in an industry that someone else wants done first before trying to start up your own venture. And he says it’s not necessary to buy expensive equipment when you can make do with free software. So, what kind of business will give us the best return while being the least risky? Let me run through my top three picks based on his criteria.
First off, there’s something I want to get straight. There is absolutely nothing wrong with owning multiple businesses at once. In fact, this may be one of the smartest things you could ever do as a small investor. If you’re investing your savings then diversifying your portfolio makes perfect sense but if you’re borrowing from other people (like banks) then they will require you to prove that you know exactly which business interests them the most. They need to see your track record so that they feel comfortable lending you money. This means that having too many different types of ventures under your belt isn’t necessarily ideal because you won’t be able to show them all.
But even though I think that starting several projects simultaneously is smart, I am going to focus only on one project here. As Seth points out, it doesn’t matter whether you choose to invest in a franchise or a startup because both offer similar returns. What does differ is their risk level. Franchises are easier to understand than startups since they’ve been around longer, whereas startups are newer and less predictable. But regardless of where you decide to invest, you still have to answer the question “which business is best with low risk?”
The best choice would probably depend on where you live. For example, if you were looking to open a restaurant in New York City, you might consider starting up a fast food joint like McDonald’s or Burger King. These restaurants are known quantities and can provide consistent profits year after year. However, if you were considering opening a coffee shop in Los Angeles, then you might look towards a much higher risk proposition like Starbucks. Both these companies have proven themselves in the market over time, however, they each face major challenges such as competition and rising costs.
If you wanted to take advantage of the growing trend toward healthier eating options, then you could also consider opening a juice bar. Juice bars aren’t well established yet so you wouldn’t have any direct competitors, nor would you have to worry about changing tastes among consumers. It’s also possible to sell healthy meals made entirely from organic ingredients, without needing to purchase specialized kitchen equipment.
Another option is to invest in a company that sells health supplements. Although this requires significant research into the quality of various brands available, it shouldn’t be difficult to identify reputable sellers who can help you select the right ones. A quick search online reveals plenty of reviews for popular brands such as ProSource Nutritionals, MuscleTech Labs, and USP Labs.
Now let’s move onto another part of the equation. Which type of business is the easiest? Well, according to Seth, there really isn’t anything particularly easy about building a successful business. Instead, you just need to keep your head down, stay focused, and follow through on everything you set out to accomplish. Of course, this sounds simple enough but it takes real discipline to maintain that attitude day after day.
One way to ensure that you always have a clear vision of what needs to happen next is to write down every single task that needs doing. Then prioritize those tasks based on importance. Make sure that you assign yourself the biggest chunk of important tasks first, followed by medium-sized chunks and finally the smallest jobs. Once you complete that first step, you can move on to the next thing. Eventually you’ll build momentum behind your goals until you achieve success.
This strategy works perfectly well for entrepreneurs who wish to start their own businesses but it’s equally applicable to anyone whose job involves repetitive tasks. Whether you’re working as a clerk in retail or an accountant for a big corporation, you’ll likely encounter situations where you must repeat certain processes repeatedly throughout the day. By breaking down these routines into smaller steps, you’ll be able to tackle them faster and improve the overall speed of your workflow.
Finally, remember that you’ll never succeed unless you put forth 100% effort. Sometimes you’ll hit a dead end and fail to reach your goal. That’s okay, just learn from your mistakes and try again! Remember that failing is simply a temporary setback along the road to success. When you lose hope, remind yourself why you started in the first place. After all, success comes from persistence.
When you’re thinking about creating stability within your business, you should definitely consider setting aside some funds for retirement. According to the National Institute on Retirement Security, Americans need to save $1 million dollars by age 70 to retire comfortably. Unfortunately, saving this amount of cash is extremely challenging for most individuals. Fortunately, by taking advantage of tax benefits offered by governments across the world, you can greatly increase your chances of retiring early.
For example, in the United States alone, you can deduct half of your employer contributions to a 401(k). To receive this benefit, you just need to contribute 10 percent of your income for two years, then 20 percent for four years and 30 percent thereafter. If you plan ahead, you can significantly boost your retirement fund by making annual contributions now rather than waiting till later.
In addition to contributing to a traditional retirement account, you should also investigate Roth IRAs. Unlike regular IRA accounts, Roth IRAs allow investors to withdraw earnings tax-free provided that they meet certain requirements. Furthermore, unlike 401(k), you cannot claim deductions for contributions to Roth IRAs. Therefore, if you believe that your future self deserves a break, then you should strongly consider setting aside funds for retirement using either of these methods.
There are lots of ways to build financial security into your life besides saving for retirement. One idea would be to become a landlord. Renting out space allows you to earn passive income while allowing you to enjoy lower living expenses and greater flexibility. Another possibility is to buy rental properties outright. Owning property gives you full control over your finances and lets you reap the rewards of renting out unused spaces whenever needed.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, you can also turn your hobby into an investment opportunity. Take photography for instance. Many photographers love capturing images on film and selling prints, but they often overlook digital cameras. While you can’t expect to double your profits overnight, you can easily grow your bank balance by offering customers access to photos taken on their smartphones. Just upload pictures to a website, add a few lines of text explaining what each photo represents, and voila! Your customers will pay you handsomely for the chance to own exclusive rights to your artwork.
Lastly, if you’d prefer to stick with something tangible, then you could opt for stocks and bonds. Investing in shares helps you gain exposure to the stock markets while paying dividends can generate additional revenue streams. With the right broker, you can even trade in foreign currencies. Stocks and bonds usually involve a larger upfront cost than other strategies but they tend to yield better long-term results.
I mentioned earlier that startups carry a higher degree of uncertainty compared to large corporations. It turns out that running a business with little overhead can actually lead to catastrophic failure. If you’re planning to launch a brand new business, then you’ll obviously want to minimize your risks as much as possible. Thankfully, these days you can use crowdfunding platforms to raise seed funding for almost any type of enterprise.
Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter have helped countless creative individuals realize their dreams of becoming famous authors or musicians. Meanwhile, websites like Fundable provide opportunities for budding entrepreneurs to attract crowdsourced donations via microloans. If you’re interested in turning your passion into a profitable endeavor, then it pays to explore the numerous resources available today. All you need is a good idea and a little bit of creativity.
Everyone wants their business investment to be safe and profitable. There are lots of different ways to do this but one thing that will guarantee you failure is starting in an industry where there are plenty of competitors. If you want to build a thriving company then it’s vital you choose an area where there aren’t many other people doing similar things or at least not enough competition so if you fail, you won’t have much trouble recovering from it. In fact, it may even help your reputation as someone who knows how to make something work!
But choosing which areas to invest in isn’t always easy because we all know that some sectors offer better returns than others. For example, when it comes to property investing, there are certain types of properties that pay out more cash than others. But if you buy the wrong kind of property, you could end up losing everything rather than making a fortune. It’s important to understand how these markets operate before deciding on whether they’re right for you.
In today’s article, we’ll take a look at three key questions about launching any new business venture. These include: What is the cheapest business type to start? What business can I start with no skills? And finally, what businesses are most likely to fail? We'll also explore four common myths surrounding each of them – including the idea that ‘anyone can start a successful online store’.
It turns out that the answer to the first question depends entirely upon who you ask. While some experts say that retailing is the lowest risk sector to begin a small business in, others claim that manufacturing offers the greatest chance of success. The truth is that nobody really knows for sure and you should never base your choice purely on financial factors. After all, it doesn’t matter how little money you need to get started if you can’t afford to lose it. Instead, consider both the risks involved and the potential rewards.
The second question relates to the importance of marketing yourself and finding good suppliers. As well as having the ability to grow into a larger operation, a great business plan means you can avoid being swamped by bad debtors and struggling vendors.
Finally, we’ll address the myth that anyone can succeed with internet sales without proper knowledge. This isn’t true – although it does mean that you can easily create a website and sell anything from clothes to books to electronics. However, once you reach a certain scale, it becomes increasingly difficult to run a viable ecommerce business. That leaves room for unscrupulous companies to exploit consumers, leaving everyone worse off for it.
As usual, however, there are exceptions to every rule. Some people are able to turn an offline hobby into a full time career while others use their skillset to provide services that would otherwise go unfulfilled. Still, if you’d like to learn more about the opportunities available in any given field, why not check out our list of the top 10 jobs you can earn online now? If none of those appeal, perhaps you might consider becoming a personal trainer instead? No matter what your dream job is though, it pays to research the market thoroughly beforehand.
This is probably the biggest misconception around. Many people believe that starting a restaurant is the easiest way to make money and it certainly sounds simple enough. All you need is a kitchen and a place to serve food, right? Not quite.
For starters, restaurants require large amounts of capital upfront and ongoing running costs. Then you’ve got staff to manage, suppliers to deal with and rent to cover. And let’s face it, opening your very own eatery is going to involve dealing with a lot of people over the long term. That’s why many restaurateurs prefer franchising. They can focus on providing quality meals while letting another person handle the day-to-day operations.
So, the bottom line here is that owning a franchise may sound attractive, but it’s still a risky proposition. Sure, you can save a bit of money upfront, but it requires a significant amount of commitment too. Just think about how often you eat out in comparison to cooking at home and you’ll see just how unlikely it is that you’ll actually spend as much time preparing your meal as you would sitting down to enjoy it.
While we’ve already touched on the benefits of buying franchises, it’s worth mentioning that there are various different options. If you’re interested in learning more about the pros and cons of different kinds of franchises, you might want to read our guide to the best franchises to buy.
Many people assume that setting up a business involves nothing more than getting together a few friends and brainstorming until something sticks. Unfortunately, that only works in TV shows and movies. Real life entrepreneurs usually have to bring years of experience to bear on their ventures.
That’s especially true for those looking to launch a startup. Most people tend to underestimate the level of skill required to set up a successful enterprise. Entrepreneurship takes hard work and dedication, but it also demands creativity and innovation. If you’re planning on hiring employees, you’ll need to build a team capable of delivering excellent results under pressure.
And speaking of employees, you’ll need to ensure that they stick around for the long haul. People rarely change careers unless they feel motivated to do so. A solid employee retention strategy is therefore crucial if you want to keep your workforce happy and productive.
At the same time, you’ll almost definitely need access to funding. Starting a company without funds in hand is incredibly tough and it can put you in danger of failing. That’s why it makes sense to approach investors early on. They can give you a helping hand and allow you to concentrate on growing your business.
A final point worth emphasizing is that it’s impossible to predict exactly what will happen next in terms of technology. Even if you’ve done your homework and chosen a niche that’s ready to explode, it may simply fizzle out before you can capitalize on it. By staying flexible and remaining open minded, you stand a far greater chance of achieving real success.
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a guaranteed win. When it comes to building a sustainable business, you’re bound to encounter obstacles along the way. Fortunately, if you prepare properly, you can reduce the chances of disaster occurring. Here are five tips that can help put you ahead of the game.
1) Have a clear vision of your goals. Setting realistic objectives ensures that you stay focused and committed throughout the process. Without knowing what you’re aiming for, it’s extremely difficult to achieve anything worthwhile.
2) Set appropriate expectations. Being realistic sets you free to pursue whatever opportunity strikes your fancy. On the other hand, expecting unrealistic outcomes can lead you astray. Know what you’re willing to accept and what you’re prepared to sacrifice.
3) Build strong relationships. Building a network of contacts allows you to tap into advice and support whenever needed. Remember, you can rely on others to fill gaps in your expertise when necessary.
4) Make smart decisions. Avoid wasting resources like energy and money. Do your research and weigh up the pros and cons of any decision you come across. Only commit to projects that seem promising after taking stock of all relevant information.
5) Be patient. Successful entrepreneurs recognize that progress doesn’t happen overnight. Rather than rushing headlong towards a destination, they adopt a gradual approach that builds momentum slowly.
No doubt you’ve heard variations on these points before, but they deserve repeating nonetheless. With practice and patience, you’ll soon discover that it’s possible to overcome almost any challenge thrown at you.
Some people mistakenly believe that starting a business automatically guarantees you wealth beyond your wildest dreams. Others worry that they’ll struggle to survive financially if they ever hit a rough patch. Both of these beliefs are false.
To understand the difference between low risk and high profit, think back to the last time you bought a lottery ticket. Did you expect to strike it rich immediately? Of course not. Like most people, you were hoping to increase your odds of winning through repeated purchases. Once again, the goal was to improve your chances of hitting the jackpot.
Starting a business operates in a similar manner. Your aim shouldn’t be instant riches, but rather improving your odds of making decent profits. In order to accomplish this, you must identify the most lucrative niches within your target audience and develop strategies to capture the lion’s share of revenue.
There are many types of business you can start. Some are very risky and others are low-risk but potentially lucrative. The question here is how do we know when it’s time to think about starting our first or second venture into entrepreneurship? And more importantly, what kind of business should I choose if I want something that’s safe and offers an above average return on investment?
The answer is really simple, in fact so simple that most people overlook this option altogether. It doesn't matter whether you're looking at small businesses or large corporations. The key factor is having a good idea backed up by actionable plans. If you have both then you've got yourself a winner.
So let's take a look at some of the safest types of businesses to invest in. We'll also explore the different ways entrepreneurs make their dreams come true. There will be plenty of tips along the way too!
Of course there is! But it might not be one that you'd expect. In fact, it could be anything from a hobby (like making jewelry) to a service like dog walking. A low-risk business means minimal financial investment needed upfront. For example, you may need to buy materials only once and pay them off as soon as they become obsolete. Most other expenses would include utilities, rent/mortgage, insurance, employee salaries, etc. Of course, all these items vary depending on the nature of your chosen enterprise.
But here's another thing worth mentioning - while it isn't easy to go through life without risking anything, it is possible to build wealth without taking any risks whatsoever. All it takes is sticking to a plan and then executing it. Many successful investors started out with nothing and had to work hard to get where they are today. They were willing to put in the effort because they knew exactly what they wanted and weren't afraid to chase after it.
Let me tell you right now that just because it sounds great, it probably won't pan out in reality. Just ask anyone who tried to launch a website business before Google existed. Or someone trying to sell T-shirts online to millions of people via social media channels. These ventures didn't pan out due to lack of proper execution. Even though they sounded pretty cool in theory, they failed miserably in practice. That being said, there are certain things you can avoid doing even if you fail to succeed.
For instance, it's much better to stick with a proven formula rather than inventing new methods every single day. You can always adjust later on. However, if you jump headfirst into something completely unknown, you'll end up spending countless hours figuring out why it went wrong instead of getting back to building your empire. Not to mention the potential damage done to relationships with friends, family members, and colleagues.
One thing to keep in mind is that sometimes failure is part of success. Remember that saying “failure is feedback"? Well, it applies to everything including your career. By failing you learn the lessons you need to improve your next attempt. This is especially important if you're thinking about starting a business. What works well for one person may not work well for another. For example, my friend Steve runs a network marketing company. He made his fortune selling nutritional supplements. He invested thousands of dollars into training seminars, hiring managers, websites, ads, and billboards. Yet he still ended up losing over $1 million. Why? Because his "product" was actually worthless. His entire system depended upon people buying in bulk and reselling it at higher prices. People simply refused to buy his stuff because it wasn't necessary. As a result, his income dropped dramatically.
On the flip side, you may be able to capitalize off of a niche market nobody else seems interested in. Your goal should be to create products that solve problems for consumers. Then convince people to spend hundreds of dollars on your solution. Once you achieve that, you can charge whatever price you want and watch your profits soar.
This is similar to the previous section except that you're creating value instead of offering solutions to existing issues. Let's say you decide to open an ice cream parlor near a university campus. You purchase ingredients such as milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate syrup, and so forth. Now you must figure out how to prepare the food and serve it to hungry students. How would you begin? First, you'd study the area and see where demand exists. Next, you'd determine how much you need to produce each batch to cover costs. Finally, you'd hire employees to help you run the place efficiently.
Once you've successfully built your business model, you can add extra features like catering services, delivery options, and special promotions. At the same time, you can continue working on increasing sales volume by improving customer experience. When you combine these factors together, you'll notice a significant increase in revenue.
Now that you understand the basics, you should consider setting up shop somewhere that already has a captive audience. After all, college campuses tend to attract young adults who enjoy eating ice cream. Also, colleges often offer discounts for students. Plus, they love freebies. Students are used to receiving perks and incentives so offering these benefits makes sense.
Lastly, remember that starting a business is not necessarily a long process. It usually only requires a few months of planning and preparation followed by several years of steady progress. With patience and persistence, your dream will eventually turn into reality.
If you can afford to lose a little bit of capital and aren't afraid of failure, owning a franchise may be the perfect choice for you. Franchises provide access to established brands, economies of scale, and expertise. While franchises typically require a substantial initial investment, the returns can be astronomical. One common franchise provides an annual percentage yield of 10% per year. On top of that, you'll earn royalties based on the number of units sold. Furthermore, franchising allows you to leverage the experience and resources of the parent corporation. And finally, the franchise industry enjoys tremendous growth potential.
Another popular alternative is opening your own store. Depending on the local economy, you can either lease space or buy land outright. Either way, finding a location that fits your needs shouldn't pose too much trouble. You can also negotiate favorable terms that allow you to deduct business expenses and generate tax savings. Lastly, you'll benefit from professional support services provided directly by the owner.
Of course, there are numerous advantages to becoming self-employed. For starters, you control the entire operation. No middleman involved. You can set your own schedule and work whenever you feel productive. Additionally, you can save money by investing your earnings into your future endeavors. You can use these funds to expand your business further down the road.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.