Choosing Your Business 6

But what about Internet newsletters? Can't they be started without much money?

If you already have a computer and an Internet connection, you can start a newsletter that is delivered via electronic mail for very little money. But you aren't likely to make much money directly from the newsletter. Because there is so much information available for free on the Internet, most people won't pay for subscriptions to an online newsletter unless it is information they can't get in any other way. As a result, most people who publish electronic newsletters do so as a labor of love, or because they use the newsletter as a tool to help sell other products and services. Some newsletters that are sent electronically contain paid advertising. But publishers need to have many thousands of subscribers before they can expect to make much money from ads in e-mailed newsletters.

I have a lot of expensive computer equipment. What would be the best computer business to start?

There are only a few true "computer businesses." These are businesses such as selling, programming or repairing computers, selling Internet services, and developing web sites. In almost all other businesses a computer is nothing more—or less!— than a tool to accomplish a specific task. If you used a typewriter instead of a computer to write letters, type spreadsheets, write legal contracts or books, you wouldn't consider yourself in the typewriter business. Using a computer is no different. You start with the skill or business and use the computer to help produce the work of that business faster or more efficiently.

I’m disabled. What kind of business could I start?

The answer will depend on your abilities and interests. Many people with physical disabilities use computers and the Internet to produce income. Other occupations that make heavy use of computers are equally suitable for handicapped workers. Among them are writing, computer programming, computer security, and word processing. If you need information about adaptive devices to help you work at home, contact your state office of rehabilitation or IBM Special Needs Systems, 800-426-4832 (voice) or 800-426-4833 (TDD). Or, visit their web site: http://www-306.ibm.com/able/.

Should I start several businesses at once to see which makes money?

I wouldn't recommend doing that. It takes a lot of time and effort to start one business. If you try to start several at the same time, you won't be able to devote sufficient time and attention to any one of them.

If you are seriously interested in two or more different businesses because you like the products and services of each, try this strategy: start one business, get it on its feet and running smoothly, and then start the second venture. If your second venture is in any way related to the first, your start-up will be easier, and you may eventually find that each business can feed customers to the other. If you start a lawn-care service, for instance, and later a pool maintenance service, your lawn-care company should be able to tell the pool service what homes in a neighborhood to target for pool openings, closings, cleaning, and repair. If you are a technical writer and are good at writing manuals, you might start a sideline business doing computer training. Training sessions at corporations may bring you technical or other writing assignments, or your writing may lead to training opportunities.

Be sure, however, to allow yourself time to establish customers and expertise in one business before attempting to start the next.

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