Lots of clients come to us knowing they want to start a business but are unsure of what kind of business to start.

The first thing I advise them to do is buy a notebook and carry it with them everywhere! It is very likely that you will have an idea in Tesco or while you are cooking the tea or getting the kids dressed. It is important to note all of these ideas down as that idea might be the one.

It is also important to realise that the first idea you have won’t necessarily be the one you turn into a business, it might be your second, third or tenth idea, the important thing is that you have the ideas and you get there in the end. The more ideas you have the better your chance of finding the right one!

Secondly, make a list of your skills, these can be anything from being good at talking to getting places on time. People often don’t recognise these as skills however talking and listening equates to communication skills which are key in any business.

There is no such thing as just a housewife. Mothers also have lots of skills they don’t realise they have, such as organisation, budgeting and multi tasking. Again these are all skills that can be applied in a business setting.

Next think about your interests and hobbies. Could they be turned into business ideas for example if you’re interested in mountain biking could you offer cycling lessons, sell bikes, provide a maintenance service or write a book about bikes? If you love children could you work with them?

You also need to look at the qualifications you have. You don’t need qualifications to start a business and you don’t need them to be enterprising but in certain situations such as working with children they may be required. We can help you explore how to get the qualifications you may need or that may be desirable to have.

It’s also a good idea to think about what is missing locally, you know the area you live in and your needs. People also don’t realise that a lot of things they already do are businesses, such as selling at car boot sales or on ebay. Could these be turned into a business which could support you full time?

Don’t let your imagination stop you. Write everything down no matter how stupid it may sound it may lead to other things. For example I would love to park my car on my drive on an evening and wake up in the morning to a clean car, whilst it is unlikely I would invent a machine that does this, I could start an overnight valet service.

The Business Factory can help you look for your idea, we can’t find it for you but we can give you an idea of where to start!

Written by Debbie Dunn

If you would like to talk to someone about your ideas or skills, attend a workshop or for more information, contact us on (0191) 263 6092, drop in at 86 High Street West, Wallsend or email ideas@tedco.org