Great Business Ideas for 2012

Think you need a long time to plan a new business idea? Not quite. As the founders of Start up Weekend can tell you, it doesn't take as long as you might think. The organization conducts 54-hour events where developers, designers, marketers and start up enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, build products and create start ups.

"Filing an LL C, pitching to an investor, and creating a 20-page business plan is absolutely the wrong way to go about launching a start up," said Marc Nager, who, along with his co-founders, Clint Nelsen and Franck Nouyrigat, has written the book "Start up Weekend: How to Take a Company From Concept to Creation in 54 Hours" (Wiley, 2011).

Nager told Businesswoman that the first step toward starting a business is having an idea.

"The first steps are finding a team and validating your idea. Without these two things, you just have dreamers. The definition of a startup is entrepreneurs with an idea in search of a business model. Once you have a team and confirmation that you are solving a real problem and creating real value, then the longer road of building your business begins. The process of actually starting can happen in a matter of days. "

Here are a few great business ideas for 2012 that might get your entrepreneurial juices flowing.

Home day care

In most places, you don't need a license to run a babysitting service from home if you keep your child headcount below a certain number. With more parents needing to work, offering a home-based child care situation can be a great way to start a business and stay home with your own kids, too.

Got rake, will travel? Most landscapers will cut grass, but they don't necessarily do the stuff that most homeowners don't have time to do themselves, such as weeding, planting, leaf raking, snow shoveling, hanging or removing holiday decorations. With little more than some work gloves and a ladder, you could be in business in no time.

Errand service

In some ways, the recession has made people busier than ever. Between working long hours, cooking more at home and juggling responsibilities, there's a lot that gets left undone. A service that runs errands (including dropping off dry cleaning, paying bills, etc.) Requires just a car and cell phone. Start small, do a good job and word of mouth will spread quickly.

Computer maintenance

Got a tech background? With the proliferation of tablets, smartphones and laptops for every member of the family, there are lots of opportunities to provide private computer services such as anti-virus software installation, desktop cleanups, software downloads and printer hookups.

Cleaning service

Are you one of those people that love to clean? If so, you may be sitting on a gold mine. Cleaning people who work for themselves can make $ 30 to $ 40 per hour. Recession or not, there are plenty of people still looking for a little domestic assistance.