One thing that many people look for in a home based business is a long, solid track record of business success that proves the effectiveness of the operation and its systems. It can often also be a great idea to find a business that, although it has a viable business model and a great product, may be just getting off the ground and doesn’t have a whole lot of history behind it yet. This can be a riskier approach to take, but the fact that a business doesn’t yet have a history of success doesn’t mean that it won’t, and the earlier you get in on an opportunity with a future, the more it could pay off in the long run.

To get your wheels spinning on possible business ventures, here are a handful of business opportunities that are still fresh out of the gates.

American Vending Systems

In a highly caffeinated American culture, few products could be as simple yet promising as a 35₵ chocolate chew that packs the punch of a full cup of coffee. A budding vending business, American Vending Systems has hit the nail on the head for both their consumers and franchisees, using the $45bil vending industry to deliver an energizing treat to the public. The business has been at work since 1985 but has recently changed gears to a specialization in energy vending, and is quickly becoming one of the newest, most profitable vending markets out there.

TVME

Television Music Entertainment (or TVME) is quickly gaining ground in the hospitality and entertainment industries with a product that revolutionizes the way public venues do music and video entertainment. Franchisees sell their clients custom computer systems that link them to a central narrowcasting (as opposed to broadcasting) hub that connects them to a media library housing 450,000 songs and videos that can be played at the click of a touch screen. Clients love the product because it enables their establishments to play a wide assortment of audio and video media either on random or at the control of an in-house DJ or VJ. The possibilities are endless for both the client and the home business owner.

DVDNow

An idea that has seen massive success in the European market is the automated DVD rental kiosk, and now, alongside only a handful of other companies, DVDNow is at the forefront of this revolution in the movie rental industry as it branches into the United States. By setting up DVD vending machines in public places like malls and grocery stores, work at home entrepreneurs with this business are able to jointly capitalize on the American public’s love of movies and love of convenience. And because the market is so new, it’s still rife with opportunity for anyone getting into it now.

Air Advantage

Wireless technology has revolutionized the internet, making the web accessible from your laptop regardless of whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or at school. One of the few places still untouched by this rampant connectedness, however, is rural America; at least, it was until Air Advantage came along. So far, this business has succeeded in bringing their customized wireless technology to the rural areas of Michigan, which alone has brought them national recognition from the US Chamber of Commerce. Now, they’re beginning to expand, opening franchises all over America, and the possibilities are endless.

Vehicle Tracking Solutions

Finally, another widely untapped market still available for adventurous entrepreneurs is GPS tracking technology in corporate vehicle fleets. Vehicle Tracking Solutions is one of the only businesses working to provide vehicle tracking services to the 20 million US businesses that use company vehicles, and so far, only 7% of those vehicles are equipped with such a product. That leaves millions of corporately owned cars, trucks, and vans that need to be equipped with the hardware and software necessary for employers to see where their vehicles and employees are going. The applications for this product are many: everything from simple security to delivery route optimization. Furthermore, franchisees work from home and are responsible for both sales and maintenance, which makes for ongoing income from old and new clientele.

Everyone likes a sure shot, but with these business opportunities, the confidence is placed not in the longevity of the business to-date, but in the strength of the business model and the product to be sold. All of these are just picking up speed, and in this case, that is the perfect time for the right entrepreneur to join in and get ahead.


September 30, 2008