Entrepreneurial Ideas?

[jimmygu3]

EJ says a recession is a great time to start a business. This thread is intended to be a collection of ideas for those wanting or needing to start a new small business. It's very possible that one iTuliper's business model in their own city could be used and improved upon by another in another part of the world. Sharing ideas could help us all. In the spirit of 'brainstorming', let's try to keep the tone as positive as possible.

My first idea is based on the energy initiatives Obama is proposing, which include subsidies or tax credits for solar. Solar manufacturers are getting killed due to expected demand falloff in Europe, and US unemployment is rising, especially in construction. Pricing should be good for materials and labor. A business owner with the right knowledge and a crew of 3 could stay busy and likely expand quickly if the subsidies are attractive enough.

Please post your entrepreneurial ideas. Thanks.

Jimmy

[phirang]

Re: Entrepreneurial Ideas?

A method of extracting, risk-free, economic rent and achieving negative interest financing... wait, someone already does that.:rolleyes:

People in America are getting poorer and poorer: open a restaurant that focuses on healthy, cheap food: it'll be marketed to the erstwhile bourgeoisie.

[we_are_toast]

Re: Entrepreneurial Ideas?

My first idea is based on the energy initiatives Obama is proposing, which include subsidies or tax credits for solar. Solar manufacturers are getting killed due to expected demand falloff in Europe, and US unemployment is rising, especially in construction. Pricing should be good for materials and labor. A business owner with the right knowledge and a crew of 3 could stay busy and likely expand quickly if the subsidies are attractive enough.

In the early 1980's I did some energy analysis for a small company installing thermal solar systems. When I determined the system he was selling would provide the client with 30% of the heat load, he told me to change it to 70%. I walked out the door. The industry was full of corrupt installers. Fast forward to today. Most of my neighbors have photovoltaic systems that were installed by a variety of local installers. I designed and built my own for 1/3 - 1/2 of what my neighbors payed.

My idea is that when Jimmy's company provides a quote for a system, I would provide an independent analysis to determine if Jimmy is ripping them off. The charge would be a % of what I save them.

[jimmygu3]

Re: Entrepreneurial Ideas?

In the early 1980's I did some energy analysis for a small company installing thermal solar systems. When I determined the system he was selling would provide the client with 30% of the heat load, he told me to change it to 70%. I walked out the door. The industry was full of corrupt installers. Fast forward to today. Most of my neighbors have photovoltaic systems that were installed by a variety of local installers. I designed and built my own for 1/3 - 1/2 of what my neighbors payed.

My idea is that when Jimmy's company provides a quote for a system, I would provide an independent analysis to determine if Jimmy is ripping them off. The charge would be a % of what I save them.

I had a similar idea to sell systems with their own meter and only charge for the monthly energy generated, based on the power company's rates. So you could sell it as a no-cost system. Requires free-flowing credit, though...