What are some ways to determine if people in your area would use your business?

I think your ideas are a good start. Then just talking with others at random for feedback, as well as those doctors offices and local clinics etc.

The idea is always about need, and trying to determine if there is enough need and interest to get things off the ground. With the usual small biz. understanding that you can expect to not make much the first year when starting a new venture.

I think you’re on the right track thoguh, creative entrepreneurism is where it’s at these days!

You can also offer a first time discount of a ‘freebie’ to new customers, give a little to make a lot! Good luck.. and don’t limit yourself, keep the idea machine well oiled, as there is always room for offshoot ideas as well!

P.S. I am not sure exactly what your idea is..but, if it is related to the medical industry don;t forget to advertise in retirement communities and assisted living facilities. Many elsdery do not have the energy or mental stamina/memory to do their own research.

I don’t know how to evaluate your ideas without hearing what they are.

As for the first, you would need to make it worth the while of doctor’s offices to refer you. With a bounty for every client I would think.

As for the second, an idea without a market is no good. You will need to make sure that there is a need for your service.

@marinelife – “An idea without a market is no good.” Exactly my thought! And that’s what I don’t know how to do – determine whether there is a market. And I think that you’re right about the bounty to the office.

The second piece of this is actually from my food service management class. We had to plan our own business. My idea is to go to people’s homes to teach them how to cook basic and/or more complicated things. The problem is that I have no clue whether this would fly or what people would be willing to pay. That’s where I’m stuck – how can I find out if anyone would use this service?

@Coloma – Thank you for your thoughts and encouragement!

@tedibear

Instead of teaching others how to cook, why not offer cooking services! Offer to cook romantic meals for two, special occasions, etc.

You could offer a ‘package’ deal, a few choices of your best specialties, fresh flowers, candles on the table, and coming home to a beautiful, tasty meal.

Maybe even light housekeeping services as well.

I bet a lot of husbands and bachelors with girlfriends might go for this. Just an ‘idea.’ ;-)

Hell, I pay Merry Maids close to $200 to clean my house every other month, and no flowers and dinners involved. Just a clean house and a little gold seal on my toilet paper. lol

I’d pay someone to make me a nice dinner from time to time! lol

As for going to someone’s home to teach basic cooking, I think there might be a market for that (based on the success of the show Worst Cooks in America on Food Network). Flyers in the grocery store might be a good idea. Also, posting a link to your survey on local community sites might work.

Oh! I hadn’t thought of community websites or the grocery store! This is why I come here – all the great brains. Thank you, @marinelife!

@Coloma – Until you said “housekeeping” I was with you. Not my thing. My house is clean and fairly presentable, but it’s not something I like to do. Maybe I could teach the person how to make that nice meal and then leave? There was a show something like that on FoodTV. A chef, whose name escapes me, would come up to someone in the grocery store and offer to teach them how to make a fabulous meal. When the person accepted, the chef would finish shopping with that person, then go to the person’s home and teach them.

You could use Survey Monkey and survey your existing patient base. It would be worth it to purchase a mailing list and get some feedback before you make an investment. A direct marketing company in your area should be able to provide you a list that meets the criteria of potential client, minus specific health condition qualification. Blind survey potential clients for the service.

@BarnacleBill – I don’t have a patient base as I’m not a doctor or other health care practitioner. This is the very beginning of my process of determining whether to do this. And yes, Survey Monkey is the direction I plan to go for the survey. How much would a list of names cost and what way would you suggest that I use it? I’m really trying to reduce initial outlay. (Which is why I hesitate to buy a list or do a mailing.)

“My idea is to go to people’s homes to teach them how to cook basic and/or more complicated things.”

What is lost if you try? It doesn’t sound like it would cost a lot to give it a shot if your time is free.

A few years back I was unemployed and put a ad in the paper to teach basic computer security practices. My plan wasn’t to fix problems (but this ended up happening) but it was just to teach people how to prevent problems. My costs were some blank cds and a few booklets made at Kinkos and a ad in the paper. It didn’t make me rich but it was a few hundred a week for doing something instead of drinking at noon.

Survey Monkey is free, a list may cost you about $100—$200. Perhaps you could target on FB. It would probably be helpful to set some sort of business plan out on paper.

Now is probably a good time to start this sort of thing—Lifeskills 101—perfect gift for someone going away to college, living on their own the first time, recently widowed and needing to learn how to run their life.

Interesting thought @BarnacleBill as I have a good connection at the college that is about 5 miles from here. Not only my alma mater, but also a good friend of mine works in their PR area.