Need to start a business (class project)

[nobb]

For my business class at university, we are required to start up and run a business for 2 weeks. We are marked on how much profit we can bring in.

Initially, my group wanted to sell cookies/foods in high traffic public areas like the train stations, or downtown. However, I was just informed by the city that we are not allowed to sell stuff like this on public property. We dont want to sell on campus either because they charge alot of money.

Anyways, if you guys have any good ideas, suggestions, comments whatever...please feel free to share.

Thanks.

[matdwyer]

For my business class at university, we are required to start up and run a business for 2 weeks. We are marked on how much profit we can bring in.

Initially, my group wanted to sell cookies/foods in high traffic public areas like the train stations, or downtown. However, I was just informed by the city that we are not allowed to sell stuff like this on public property. We dont want to sell on campus either because they charge alot of money.

Anyways, if you guys have any good ideas, suggestions, comments whatever...please feel free to share.

Thanks.

Think celebrity apprentice - your best "profit" will be off your connections.

Are there any rules? Sell something for double its buying price, to your family & friends.

Or, make a service business and try to bring in lots of profit by putting in hard hours - i.e. its rake the lawn time!

[nobb]

I dont think I would feel good ripping off family and friends. Also, since almost all of us have midterms in more important classes, it would be best to not have to commit too much time to this :( . Not a good combination unfortunately.

[FearSonic]

Ask for promotional items from local companies and auction them off?

[dutchca]

Fall lawn care - rake, fertilize and aerate. Perfect for a two week run.

Inputs are cheap, buy fertilizer, couple of push spreaders, rent the aerator - you should get at least $30/lawn, more in nicer areas. Focus on houses that the lawns look nice - they will pay. Crappy lawns = owners don't care and won't spend money.

[Maxman]

Back in "the day" my idea for my business project was a programmable ringer for a phone. Couldn't find anyone to program a phone so that I could change the ringer to the song of my choice. So I gave up on the idea as exams were fast approaching. This was in 1994/5.

Ringtones are expected to be a $3 BILLION industry this year!

So life lesson. Spend a little more time coming up with an idea, and focus less on your mid-terms. Good mid-term will get you a job making someone else rich. A good idea will make you rich. A great idea will make you filthy, rotten, stinking rich.

Maxman

[sammamouth]

Do a business that has to do with Food. Food is recession proof and but just put a different spin on it and make sure you "niche it".

Since you are young, you understand the power of social networking. Your class group could form a recruiting company and work on Bohire (www.bohire.com). They get all the clients and all you have to do is recruit people to fill these jobs. This is not a scam (just check out the employers posting jobs: Cannon, National Bank, Wal-Mart, Ernst & Young).

I think you are smart enough to see where the next hiring trends are going...

Good luck