With summer fast approaching, it’s time to think about potential business ideas that could work for the season. Summer tends to be a better time to launch a new business since people are more likely to spend money on seasonal businesses and new businesses. This article will explore how to get started with a small business idea that you can launch in the summer. What Is a Summer Business? A summer business refers to local businesses that primarily operate during the summer season or where a majority of their income is earned during the summer months. Why You Should Start Your Own Business This Summer Summer can be a great time to brainstorm and launch small business ideas for beginners because there is a lot of potential for success with summer business ideas. Here are some reasons to consider launching your own summer business venture:
Best Summer Seasonal Business Ideas There are many excellent small business ideas that you can consider when starting a business for yourself. You can create a profitable business based on area needs, what tourists/travelers are looking for, and other seasonal factors that lead to high demand for particular services or products. We’ll look at some of the best business ideas to get you started 1. A pool cleaning business A great business idea is to offer pool maintenance and other services to pool owners in the area, particularly around summer when pools are being used more often. Most pool owners are looking for additional help during summertime, making it easier to get clients in. 2. Summer camps A summer camp is an excellent idea for small business owners looking for a purely seasonal business. A summer camp can be a lucrative business idea to keep kids occupied and having fun during their summer vacations. You can rent sports equipment and plan other activities to keep children busy while creating a cool summer experience for them. 3. Souvenir business If you’re looking for a low-cost business idea, starting a small souvenir business may work for you. It’s relatively inexpensive to purchase cheap souvenir items in bulk, and you can set up a small store during the summer as a flexible business model. 4. Local event planning and setup For areas with lots of local events during the summer, you can offer event planning and/or setup services. This could include planning the event itself, from inception to setting up the day of. Depending on the business opportunity and available resources, it could also involve setting up events, including transport, equipment set, dismantling, etc. 5. A food-based business Food-based businesses are a great summer business idea that tends to become popular, especially if it’s cold food quickly. If you’re looking to make a small investment rather than go all-in on a restaurant, consider starting a food truck such as an ice cream truck. Costs are relatively lower, and food trucks have a more straightforward business structure to manage. You can find more information online, including whether a business license is needed and how to start your own ice cream truck business. 6. Open a local retail store Seasonal retail stores, such as a local grocery store, could be an easy business to start in the summer, especially if the surrounding area lacks options to create more opportunities for customers for seasonal items. 7. Start a farmer’s market If your area is known for local produce and products, or residents have a need for fresh produce, you could start a small local organic farmer’s market by working together. The farmer’s market could operate by renting space and become a weekly event. It can be a great way to bring more awareness to residents and tourists around what the area offers and a way for residents to access fresh produce. 8. Original crafts and art Special skills such as art and crafts are another avenue for making money over the summer. For example, you can set up an original arts and crafts store and sell your goods with relatively low startup costs for materials and goods. Selling arts and craft goods is a perfect business idea for women entrepreneurs looking to monetize their formal training and skills. You can also run workshops and day events to teach kids, as it’s a great way to make money and keep kids busy during the summer months. More Summer Business Ideas for Students and Entrepreneurs If you’re looking for more business ideas, here are some other ideas for small businesses that do well during the warmer months. 9. Photography business If you’re looking for additional income, a photography side business can help generate money. This could include working with commercial clients such as local businesses or doing event photography such as weddings and graduations. 10. Transportation services If transport is lacking in your area, consider a business where you could offer transportation services. Services could include taxis for personal travel and group travel, bus transport from one area to another, or carpool services for the busy summer months. 11. Car wash business Car wash services are great for the summer months since it’s easy to purchase all the tools without initially spending a lot of money. You can start with offering car wash services to locals and neighbors and expand out in the area based on demand. 12. Miniature golf course If you’re looking for something quirky or unique, consider starting a miniature golf course. For example, you could create a pop-up golf course for the summer or rent space and start your own business by designing a permanent mini-golf course. Create fun marketing materials for the course to entice customers and offer summer deals to generate more business. 13. Cleaning services Cleaning services are in demand year-round and are easy to start if you know how to get cheap and good cleaning supplies. A cleaning business could include house cleaning, business or office cleaning, window washing, and even landscaping services for lawn and garden cleaning. What Businesses Thrive in the Summer? Many businesses make money in the summertime, especially when positioned as summer businesses. These include:
What Business Is Best for All Seasons? Some options are well suited for a year-round business as they will always attract customers. These businesses could include:
Source: smallbiztrends.com Image credit: Envato Elements
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If there is one thing I have learned in more than 20 years of running my own company, it is that at some point, your business will slow down. Let's discuss what to do when that happens. There's an old joke that always makes the rounds when you mention being an entrepreneur. You're probably very familiar with it. It goes something like this: Entrepreneurs are the only people in the world that will work 80 hours for themselves, just so they do not have to work 40 hours for someone else. The joke has been so overdone, I'm not entirely sure who even said it to begin with, but I personally first heard it from Lori Greiner. It's something that has really stuck with me through the years, especially when my nose is to the grindstone. You understand. It really doesn't matter where you are in your entrepreneurship journey: Maybe you just started, or perhaps you have a few years under your belt, or you might even be a seasoned pro. Wherever you are at, you know what it is like when things are crazy busy. Those are the times when you aren't sure which way is up, what day it is or how long you've been wearing those same sweatpants. You don't have time for anything else, because running your business is more than a full-time job. Next thing you know, your business is slow If there is one thing I have learned in more than 20 years of running my own company, it is that at some point, your business will slow down. It is inevitable, and it always feels like you're suffering from whiplash: One day you're in over your head with business, and the next you're trying to figure out how to stay in business. Now, you're painfully aware of which way is up, you know exactly what day it is and your sweatpants are washed daily. Of course, there are ways to plan for slow downs in business, especially if you run a business that has clear ebbs and flows such as retail. But, what about those surprise times you encounter where your business slows? It's not the time to panic Let's be honest: We don't always have time to craft a carefully made plan for every possible surprise we might encounter. It's easy to sit here and say, "Make time and create a plan just in case!" But when you're working more than 80 hours every week, where are you going to find the time to do that? Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches. Right now is a great example of that. I have noticed a trend with the companies around me, as well as my own. We all went through a boom. The end of 2021 was a good year for us. Then, April hit and numbers started plummeting. Yes, I have owned my own business for many years. No, there's never a point where I don't worry about it, but I don't panic. It would be easy to see the numbers trending downward right now, panic and do something crazy to immediately boost numbers back up. But that boost would be temporary, and the long-term effects could potentially far outweigh any positivity it adds instantly. Create a long-term plan Instead of panicking, take a breath. Recognize that business ebbs and flows no matter what — sometimes it is predictable, and sometimes it is not. If you find yourself in the latter, like I am now, create a long-term plan for your business. There are four things I recommend to think about:
In a panic, you might try to buy a sketchy email list from a company you've never heard of to boost leads. This can truly hurt your business in so many ways. Instead, consider a more sustainable source of leads such as a partnership or sponsorship deal. In a panic, you might try to cut costs. I've certainly seen my fair share of companies cut out their marketing budget completely to save money, only to find themselves out of business because no one knew about them. Instead, find ways to make internal processes more efficient such as automating lead creation into your CRM so that your sales team has more time to make more calls. In a panic, you might miss that people aren't looking for your product or service. If you sell shorts and a freak winter storm hits, people don't need shorts anymore. Instead of trying to wait out the storm, consider ways to make your shorts winter friendly. Whatever your business is, get creative with something that is sustainable and will increase your business well past your current slow period. Most importantly of all, ask your customers what they want! In a panic, you might miss something your team members can see but you can't. I remember during one slow period I asked my team for their ideas on how to overcome it. In search of inspiration, one team member took to our website. As they clicked around, they discovered that our lead form was broken. We had no idea! Instead of trying to take everything on by yourself, ask your team members for their input, and encourage them to always submit their ideas. New perspectives are always welcome. So, yes, your business just slowed down. Is it, in fact, time to panic? No. This is an opportunity to expand your business in a sustainable manner — take advantage of it! Source: Entreprenaur.com Image credit: Khusen Rustamov from Pixabay.com
In the highly-competitive real estate industry, building a successful home-selling business isn't possible without a next-level marketing strategy. From Sarasota and Naples, Florida, to Hilton Head, South Carolina; South Hampton, New York; Austin, Texas; Prescott, Arizona; San Luis Obispo, California; and many other cities, the luxury real estate market is booming. Picture-perfect sunsets, sandy-white beaches and the allure of the wide-open spaces attract high-end market buyers, including affluent Generation X and baby boomers who are looking for second and third homes and millennials with money to spend. Here's how you can increase your market share at this end of the real estate market and add more clients to your real estate business. 1. Define the ideal client Just as with any marketing strategy, you need to know who you want to target. The initial step in the process is to define the general characteristics of the group. While it's important to address each individual's unique personality, having a good handle on the group's traits will help define your marketing strategy. This includes the media (brochures, advertising, videos, events, showings, social media, etc.) you employ to reach your target audience, the images you use and the language and tone of your content. 2. Make a list of the type of clients you want to work with A broad range of affluent clientele makes up the luxury real estate market. This includes tech entrepreneurs from both established and start-up companies, individuals in the entertainment industry and C-suite executives in the finance sector, as well as sports figures and others. Decide if there is a specific niche you want to target, such as first-time or experienced buyers, international buyers or eco-conscious individuals, for example. Consider other factors like the price range of the homes and the type of homes (discreet vs. opulent) that will fit your buyer's profile. Knowing this will help you in how you proceed to network with — and market to — the individuals with whom you want to work. Have your team (or hire an assistant) help you in targeting your marketing materials and advertisements to people with behaviors and interests that are consistent with the types of clients who can afford the premium properties you represent in specific locations. 3. Build a sphere of influence Develop contacts and generate leads from the network of people you know, including family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, business associates, classmates and social connections. Reach out and establish relationships with family offices and advisory firms that manage the wealth of high net worth clientele. The wealthy invest in real estate and could become potential clients in the future. Learn about each person in your sphere of influence and keep in touch with him or her on a regular basis. In addition, network with other real estate agents who can help you connect to buyers and sellers. 4. Establish a consistent local presence in your newspaper Although this may sound old-school, having a consistent presence in your local newspaper prominently displaying your business name and ad listings works. Spend the money to place a listing on a full-color, full-page or double-page ad on a regular basis so you can ensure people see it when flipping through the paper. Not only will this help you get buyers wanting to view the listing, but your consistent presence in the paper will reinforce your experience and credibility in the marketplace. In addition, reach out to high-end local publications (print and digital) to feature your business. Offer your real estate expertise and write articles that are helpful for buyers and sellers. 5. Use your digital footprint Conduct an audit of your website. Has the website design been updated recently, or are you simply having new listings added? If you haven't updated your site in the last couple of years, it's time to do so. Hire a professional to create a beautiful, contemporary, UX-based, state-of-the-art website that reflects who you are, your experience and successes (i.e. showcase previously sold properties), your staff and the locations and properties you currently represent. Make sure the website also shines on mobile devices since everyone is connected to their phones 24/7. Hire a content writer to tell your story compellingly. Include videos, press announcements, and features. Let your clients sing your praises via testimonials. Make sure the property search tool on the website is segmented by product (location, pricing, square footage and other filters), easy to use and delivers the expected results. Write a blog about relevant topics of interest to high net worth clientele. Leverage social media to build your followers and sphere of influence and to market your properties. Assign someone to keep your website, blog and social media platforms continually updated and fresh. Focus on growing your email list. It's much faster and easier to reach out and connect with people or to announce a new property via an email blast. Clients, partners, developers and luxury real estate agents overseas can click on a link in the email to view the property on your website or via a digital storybook you have created. Source: Entrepreneur.com Image Credit: Photo by Pavel Danilyuk (pexels.com)
This is a simple yet effective way to create a cycle that will produce repeatable and positive results. Perhaps one of the most beneficial things that a small business owner can do for themselves is to set themselves up for success as quickly as possible. And one very effective way to do that is to create a cycle of success that provides positive, repeatable results, yet also allows you to stretch yourself to new heights. When you are creating a cycle of success, you want to keep a few things in mind. One is to make sure that it keeps you focused both on actions as well as the end results. Another is that it should allow you to have creative freedom yet still hold you accountable. And lastly, it needs to be a repeatable sequence that allows you to change direction at any time, as well as continue to reach new levels of success over and over again for a long period of time. So, for the small business owners I help, these are the six steps I teach to create the best success cycle for repeatable, positive results: 1. Know what you want Most business owners know what they "don't" want: They don't want to fail, they don't want annoying customers, they don't want employees who are unproductive. But that doesn't help you to accomplish your most important goals. So, be crystal clear on your goals and paint yourself a vivid picture of what your end results should look like. Revenue? How much? $100,000? $1 million? What about your workforce/employees? Do you want 5? 25? 1200? How many? The more detailed and clear you are on the end results you're striving for, the easier the rest of the cycle will be to implement. Keep in mind that if a goal is tied to a number, it is much easier to measure, track and achieve. Here is a list of possible areas to set clear and specific goals in: (Remember, be as detailed as possible!)
Knowing what you want to achieve is always great, as it provides direction. However, just setting a goal is not enough. You need to know the "how." You need to know what actions you should be taking each day and week to achieve the goal. So, what's your plan? Does it include daily, weekly and monthly action items? Looking at your business and industry. What are the smartest action items you be should taking? What actions can you take that will get you closest to your goals? Here are some action item examples to get your creative juices flowing:
3. Have a teacher to help Right here is the BIGGEST gap that business owners have. And the main reason that they don't have someone helping is that they never want to ask for help. In our society, it is always better when you "do it all yourself." Like the old Frank Sinatra song, "I Did it My Way!" It's as though asking for help diminishes the impact of the results somehow, but it's a lie told by fear and ego. Don't listen to it! Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Muhammed Ali — they all had coaches, and they were all world champions. EVERY real champion has a coach, so if you don't, well, just enjoy the struggle, then. But, if you want to get a coach, where do you look? Who would be a good coach? How do I ask someone to be a coach? Great questions. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
4. Take consistent action Usually this step isn't so hard. Most small business owners are doers, and they can get stuff done. The difference here is that now you'll know exactly what you'll be doing each day, because you created a plan of action in step 2. Each day, you'll simply look at the list of action steps and then, well, do it. But here's the rub: You need to stick with these actions over a long period of time. Doing something once or twice is not enough to produce sustainable results, at least not when you're looking for a high level of success in the world of business. Think about the boxers I just mentioned; not one of them were champions overnight. They all had to train for years, had tough fights that challenged them, and yet still kept fighting to reach success. That is what you must do as a business owner. Just remember: The secret to success at this step is to focus-in the word "consistent." Anybody can take action, but not every business owner can stay consistent for the long haul.
5. Review your progress Sounds simple, yet far too many business owners almost refuse to look at the results they get. Usually, it's because they know the results aren't good. That doesn't matter, though. What matters is that as a business owner, you know where you stand. When you know that, even if you don't like the results, it allows you to better manage your plan of action. Every business does a course correction now and again, so honestly, it's no big deal. Actually, it's expected in today's ever-changing environment if you want to stay ahead of your competition. So, look at your results, and begin to ask questions. Once you start asking questions, similar to the ones below, you'll discover that the answers (new goals) will come faster and easier the more you conduct this step! Here are a few questions to ask as you conduct your review:
6. Renew your goals Before you think that this is the easy step, think again. To continue to climb the ladder of success for your business, you need to be as detailed here as you were in the very first step. Be clear. Be concise. Be as detailed as possible. This step is also crucial for this cycle of success to work, because it helps you to avoid resting on your past accomplishments. Far too many small business owners will make some achievements, get some results, and then take a break … for like a year or two. Don't let this be you. So, be serious about the fifth step, review your progress, because if you do that right, then you'll find your new goals. Here are some ideas to help make this easy and even fun:
Pro Tip: A cycle is just that, something that continues to cycle over and over again. It is not designed to be a one-time thing, but a business-lifestyle thing. So, be very clear about what you want, be clear about what action steps need to be taken, and be extremely picky on who you get to help you. But above all, be as assertive as possible when it comes to taking action and getting the results you're looking for. Oh, one more thing: Have fun. Source: Entrepreneur.com
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