Actually, you are already on the right track. If you want a low start-up-capital business, it would most likely be a service-oriented business where you do not need to have your money stuck in holding stock/products. However, depending on where you live and whether you intend to run the business as a proper business entity (complying with tax and accounting regulation etc), part of your start up capital must be devoted to registration and /or processing fees. Office cleaning is a good service oriented business. Many offices provide their own cleaning equipment & solutions/detergents/liquids so you only provide the service. For others, you may have to invest in your own. In either case, price your service accordingly.Any business CAN be a success if you get a couple of ingredients right :- niche. Obviously going into a niche that is already saturated with competition is going to make it difficult. But that's not to say it's impossible. A better bet would be to find a niche that is less popular but still matches your skills and abillities.- pricing. When no one knows you, they are going to compare you based on one major factor - pricing. They may give your service a try just to see if you're worth it. You don't have to shoot yourself in the foot by charging lower than market value, but you CAN offer a "first-time" discount of sorts. There are lots of other ways to attract first-time customers and keep them loyal like discount cards, loyalty programs etc.- service. After your customers get over the pricing issue, they are going to judge you on your performance. Great service is what's going to set you apart from the competition. Find ways to add value to your service.-
PR. This is a really subjective thing, but I've seen many a contract given to companies simply because the boss liked the person who came to see him. It didn't matter if they charged a little higher, but if you know how to push the right buttons, contracts can come your way. This is not to say that you have to suck up to your customers, but in addition to all the above mentioned points,
PR is a huge part of service. When you are willing to go the extra mile and still be able to smile, then your customer is GOING to take notice.Okay, now that I'm finished with my long winded reply on how ANY business can have a good chance of being a SUCCESS, please visit this site for real, practical ideas for home based or small businesses :http://www.positivemoneyideas.comAndrew