Business Ideas Advice for 20yr old

[jstefaniak]

Hey all-

New to the forum, but thanks in advance for letting me join. I am just looking for some advice and cristism on a few basic ideas. Hopefully some replies will give me some motive to make certain decisions. Thank you all in advance.

I am young (20yrs), still attending college for electrical engineering, and got a full time internship that keeps me busy during the summer months. I don't have time to plan or organize much during the school year so my goal is to plan now.

My goal is to start a business and have someone else manage and run the business. I simply do NOT have the time to work or run it 100% of the time. I would need someone reliable for each idea. Below are my ideas and conflicts.


Cleaning business - Easy to start & low cost. I can start this business anytime, but need someone reliable to run it and manage with customers.

Landscaping - Need to invest some money before starting and don't feel I could get this off its feet until next summer at the very soonest. Have someone reliable and interested who could manage the company, but they would need to learn some managment skills since they have only worked undernearth a boss.

Computer training/repair - I am highly knowledgable in many computer systems and hardware. Easy for me to start and know alot about this business already. Not interested in running the business, but would love to teach someone else how to.

These are the few ideas I had. Please remember im 20yrs old with alot on my plate, but dont see why I could not start a business with the right people helping me run it. I would love to approach a close friend with these ideas, but don't wanna jump the gun. Im still trying to figure out what is best and I know many factors are to be considered. From your point of view what suggestions might you have? An online business is alway an option also, but still thinking of ideas and the website start up costs....

[NinaBug]

I am 20 yrs old as well trying to get a baking business off the ground and i will say if you do not have time to invest in your idea then it will not work starting a business is going to take up alot of your time. trust me i work full time and go to school full time and am now trying to get a second part time job bc i think it will benefit my business to have that experience and i am having a hard time getting mine going. so making time is something you might want to think about.

[borisfowler]

Without the ability to spend a good amount of time in your business it will not succeed. It sounds like right now is not the best time for you to start anything.

[BarbaraKParker]

if you are really serious, you have to give time for your business. Putting up a business is not easy. You have to be dedicated. You can start bit by bit on the other hand.

[Curtis_Szajkovics]

Hey man, great post. Sounds like your working on alot. I know the feeling, I just turned 22 and I'm working on my Aerospace Engineering degree right now. It's very difficult to dedicate the amount of time necessary to start a business while working on college. But, since your probably going to go for it anyway, because entrepreneur's don't exactly listen to things like "you won't have enough time" :-P, heres my two cents.

One thing to keep in mind is the capital needed to start all of your ideas. The cleaning business would probably require an investment of a few hundred dollars at least (for different cleaning supplies, towels, marketing materials, etc). It might be less, but I'm just guessing here. We'll call that a low investment in cash, but the time may be more to find people who would hire a cleaner, especially with the economy the way it it. I tried starting a car detailing business a few years ago but no one in my area could afford it, learned that one the hard way.

The landscaping company would require a bit more money unless you have access to the equipment without having to pay for it up front. You will also have to spend alot of time on each property, and usually you have stiff competition to keep your proces low. My friends brother runs a landscaping company and he has razor thin profit margins because of the price of gas, and the fact there are at least 20 other landscapers all competing for the same customers.

Finally the tech support would require the least investment, and would allow you to work on your own schedule. You could start it on the weekends and theres usually always someone looking to learn how to use the computer. Finding customers may be a challenge at first, but I'm sure it could be done. Just make sure that you are good at explaining things to people in the simplest way possible. In my own experience being an engineering student can be a blessing or a curse when it comes to teaching someone something. But if you can do that I would say it may be your best bet to start off, not sure if you would even need someone to run things.

[jstefaniak]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I've done alot of thinking lately and narrowed my choices down. Curtis your advice was very helpful and that is awesome your pursing a degree in engineering! Best of luck.

I already have a feeling a landscaping business will require too much to start up at this time and next summer is always a option. I would need my dad to help run it which is no issue, but I don't feel like I would have the time or investment to start it right now.

A cleaning business and computer training/repair business is more appealing right now. Like curtis said, I think I could invest in the cleaning supplies easily with a well paid internship going on for me. I've also found someone who would be willing to manage and work for me who I can trust. They have experience and right now I am just debating on how to begin and what challenges I might face. I am also concerned with the time needed to run the business. I am willing to take the risk and time to get it off the ground though. I don't intend on running a full time business quiet yet and much rather would like to build a good reputation and worry later about bigger challenges I could face. I am confident I could build a customer base.

Lastly I have gave alot of thought to a computer training seminar I could hold once or twice a month for an audience of people. It just would require alot of preparation to give a well rounded presentation, but would be easy to work off my schedule and I would feel confident I know what I am talking about when anyone has questions. The repair side of things is still a option, but I don't think I would enjoy working weekends doing repairs. Nor do I feel confident letting someone else handle this type of business for me. I may try the computer training seminar, but am very worried about how many people might be interested and how to give a good presentation that will teach everyone something. I am sure I could hold different types of classes to help teach people more specific topics. Most of the time involved would be preparation of the presentations, but I know I could manage putting this together during weekends.

Overall I know any business requires alot of time and legwork. I am young and able to take the challenges and risks involved with these small businesses. All these ideas are low cost to start and I have a good bit of knowledge and resources available. The hardest decision is deciding which risk to take and what challenges might occur. As an engineering student I know there isn't always a easy answer, but there is always a solution with a challenge and I don't think I'll let anything stop me from ad least trying.

More input is welcome and I thank you all for advice, it has helped.