Many people are searching for opportunities to earn extra money and need small business ideas to help them find the perfect business, that is a business which will fit in with their lifestyle and help them achieve that goal.

This is particularly urgent now that governments are making big cuts, household bills are going up and jobs are being lost.  In fact, these days there are thousands of people who not only need some extra money now, but are looking for a way to earn that extra cash which will allow them to build a full time income to replace their current job, which they are in danger of losing. And others need to generate an income for retirement because the state pension simply won't cover their day to day needs.

Knowing how to make extra money is one thing, but finding a way to earn extra cash which you actually enjoy and can do in your spare time - without burning out - is another. And realisticall,most people need to start their business in their spare time. Unless you have a lot of capital you will need to keep your current income going until your business takes off.

• How quickly do you need to earn money?
• What skills do you already have?
• What type of business interests you?
• Do you want to offer goods or services?
• Do you want to employ others?
• Have you an idea in mind? If so, do you have all the necessary skills?
• How much time and money can you put into your business in the first year?
• Do you need premises? If so, what will they cost?
• Do you need specialist equipment? If so, what and how much will it cost?
• Do you need training before your start? If so, how will you get it and what will it cost?

 Realistic Guidelines for Choosing Small Business Ideas

Most of you reading this will not have much money to invest and will be staying in your full time job for the time being. So here are a few guidelines to apply to possible businesses:

• You can start slowing and build the business gradually. It should be both manageable and scalable in other words, it must be possible to start in a few hours a week and have the potential to grow steadily without your having to work 24/7.
  
• Your small business must be something you enjoy. To start with you will have to do everything yourself and although you may not enjoy everything, you will need to feel good about the products or services you are offering.
  
• It must be based on growing demand. There are some things you can't predict, but there are many goods and services which are always going to be needed and some trends are here to stay, while others will be gone in 6 months.
  
• It must be a year-round business. If you sell only goods which are bought at Christmas,, you will do very well for a couple of months and the rest of the year will be very lean. However, if you are passionate about Christmas gifts and decorations, you could build a year-round business by adding in other holidays and celebrations. So gift baskets could be for birthdays, anniversaries, halloween and so on, as well as Christmas.
  
• It must be something which can be outsourced easily. As your business grows, it won't be possible to do everything yourself and so you will need to be able to outsource some of the work. Outsourcing usually involves paying an hourly or daily rate to someone who does some of the work for you, usually on a needs basis but as the business grows, this could be for a number of hours or days every week or month. The people to whom you outsource are also self-employed and so you don't have to worry about their taxes.

Depending on the nature of the business, you may decide to employ staff once it takes off,

Small business ideas range from low-cost startups which focus on a skill you already have such as language or maths tutoring, business consulting in an area in which you have expertise, catering for parties, entertaining children or looking after them after school, dog walking or pet grooming, housesitting or cleaning.

This site will give you some business ideas, suggested resources and help you write your business plan.

On the right, you will see links to Navigate Your Way to Home Business Ideas.