Top most promising business for startup

Networking Services

Description: With the unemployment rate at 9.1%, you’ll find a wide market of people clamoring for a leg up. Give it to them by organizing a series of small after-work mixers at a local hotel and advertise them on a regular basis. Supply a few light refreshments and a speaker, and then let people mingle.

Fees: admission fee. Offer discounts to those who leave their business cards so you can build a mailing list.

Tools of the Trade: Phone, computer, database software.

Tip: Works well in a metropolitan area where you can hold multiple mixers a month in different locations.

Hidden Costs: List rental fees and insurance.

Online Internet Researcher

Description: You’re surfing the Web daily. Why not get paid for it?

Fees: $45 per hour to start. Increase your hourly rate as you develop your reputation.

Tools of the Trade: Computer and high-speed internet access.

Tip: Focus one or two types of information so that you can get deliver meaningful results quickly.

Hidden Costs: Initial marketing efforts.

Graffiti Removal

Description: Call on the property owner and get to scrubbing.

Fees: $150-$300 per job. For longer jobs, $50 per hour is reasonable.

Tools of the Trade: cleaning chemicals, scrub brushes and possibly a power washer.

Tip: You’re working with nasty chemicals, so be careful. Abide by federal disposal regulations.

Hidden costs: A vehicle for transporting equipment to job sites.

Virtual Assistant

Description: Have strong organizational and time-management skills? You could make decent money doing everything from making customer/patient contacts to coordinating travel arrangements to maintaining databases.

Fees: $20-$35 per hour or on a project basis.

Tools of the Trade: Computer, high-speed internet access, fax/printer/scanner, and office software.

Tip: Make your schedule parameters clear from the outset and keep careful records of your time, just in case any questions should arise about how you’re spending it.

Hidden Costs: Phone expenses.

Patient Gift Packager

Description: This is a slightly more specialized version of the gift basket business. Build your market by pinpointing hospitals, extended care facilities and church groups.

Fees: $25-$75 a basket.

Tools of the Trade: Decorative baskets, boxes, glue gun, shrink wrap machine, filling, ribbons. As for the basket contents, look for a private craft retailer that sells only to other vendors–you could save 40% relative to a traditional retail craft supply shop.

Tip: If you have a station wagon or van you can add a delivery fee to your orders and generate additional revenue.

Hidden Costs: Insurance and a vendor’s license.

Auto Swap Meet Promotion (285)

Description: Auto swap meets are where buyers and sellers gather to buy, sell and/or trade used vehicles and parts. As a promoter, you’ll secure a parking lot or large warehouse for those seeking to trade or sell their cars and car parts.

Fees: $35 for participants; $5 admission fee for browsers.

Tools of the Trade: parking lot or warehouse.

Tip: Work the Web to get the word out.

Hidden Costs: Liability insurance.

Career Counselor

Description: Begin with a personality assessment and then work with your client to match his or her motivations and interests to a new career.

Fees: $85 to $200 per hour for your services; flat fee, roughly $350 per session.

Tools of the Trade: Computer, high-speed internet access, fax/printer, and office software. Books and DVDs on career planning.

Tip: Build your credibility by offering seminars on career change and writing a career-centric blog.

Hidden Costs: Building a professional website.

Medical Transcriptionist

Description: This a $50 billion industry and growing. Transcribed copies of dictated notes related to examinations and procedures give doctors a quick way to review of patient histories, as well as legal evidence of patient care/. Main customers: private-practice physicians.

Fees: $15-$30 per hour, depending on the difficulty of understanding the speaker.

Tools of the Trade: Computer, specialized medical word-processing software, transcribing unit and reference books.

Tip: Turnaround time is critical–and that may mean working nights and weekends.

Hidden Costs: There is no room for error–a simple misspelling could mean the difference between life and death.

These Businesses Require Between $15,000 and $40,000 In Startup Costs

Child ID Products (Retail)

Description: A small but viable retail niche. The equipment helps identify children by their facial features, voice and fingerprints. Buyers include organizations across the country that provide regular child ID programs.

Fees: Depends on the item.

Tools of the Trade: Inventory includes video, 35mm and digital cameras, fingerprinting equipment, background information forms. You’ll need a web site and a way to process payment.

Tip: Marketing these products can be tricky, given the darkness of the underlying message. Focus on success stories showing how your products saved the day.

Hidden costs: Insurance, equipment storage and shipping costs.

Mobile Paper-Shredding Service

Description: Given the number of identity theft horror stories, it is vital for companies to shred all documents containing sensitive information. You can save a business time and trouble by showing up on-site with your shredding machines on a regular schedule to perform this necessary but tedious task.

Fees: $50 to $100 per visit.

Tools of the Trade: A van or truck, at least one heavy-duty shredder and a back up machine, and a good supply of heavy-duty plastic bags to cart away the shards.

Tip: Strike terror into customers by offering scary examples of what happens when the sensitive documents get into the wrong hands.

Hidden Costs: Vehicle maintenance and repair.

Pet Taxi Service

Description: What does Fido do when he has to go to the vet and his best friend can’t take him? This business caters to dual-career families and pet lovers with higher than average incomes.

Fees: $30-$45 for one-way transportation (fees vary based on distance traveled, pet size and number of pets per owner).

Tools of the Trade: Travel cages and a vehicle large enough to accommodate several animals at once.

Tip: You better love animals.

Hidden Costs: Janitorial supplies to combat pet messes.

Residence for the Elderly

Description: Opening your own home to older people who do not wish to live alone can be a profitable business if they don’t require the level of care offered by either assisted living facilities or nursing homes. (Each state licensing agency has its own definition of the term it uses to describe assisted living.)

Fees: Monthly rent of $450-$1,000 per client, depending on facilities and geographic location.

Tools of the Trade: One or more easily accessible bedrooms, suitable furniture, bathroom with special handrails, dining space, efficient kitchen.

Tip: Check local zoning regulations before spending a dime.

Hidden costs: Insurance, food (many residents may have special dietary requirements), home alterations.

Nanny Service

Description: Place nannies with families that hire your service.

Fees: $7-$18 per hour per child, or weekly/monthly rates of $275/$800.

Tools of the Trade: Office set-up and advertising materials.

Tip: large metropolitan areas where dual-income couples are most likely to reside.

Hidden Costs: Liability insurance and personnel costs such as health benefits and workers’ compensation.

Health/Fitness Centers for Corporations

Description: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that one third of America is obese. By centralizing purchasing, marketing and other business activities, you can develop and manage fitness centers for corporations at a competitive price–and save them and the health care system loads of money.

Fees: Monthly retainers of $3,000 to $5,000 per project.

Tools of the Trade: Even if your client corporation provides the space, equipment will run up a sizable tab.

Tip: Hire competent, friendly trainers to run each facility.

Hidden Costs: Insurance, equipment maintenance.

These Business Require Over $40,000 In Startup Costs

Mailbox Rental Service

Description: Home-based businesses in particular benefit from this service, largely because they need to establish a professional-sounding address.

Fees: $18 and up per month, depending on the size of the box.

Tools of the Trade: Mailboxes, scales, parcel packaging equipment, cash register, inventory of labels and shipping supplies. Consider a pay-per-copy photocopy machine.

Tip: Situate your service in a busy shopping complex.

Hidden Costs: A good security system.

Temporary Employment Agency

Description: People need work, even the temporary variety. Your job is to match temps to the right assignments while ensuring that all are trained and able to work on short notice.

Fees: Varies depending on the position.

Tools of the Trade: Four to six computers with printers for testing purposes, as well as an office computer with internet access and scheduling/billing software.

Tip: Focus on a market niche like health care, communications, or technical/engineering. Build a brand in a specific area and clients will keep coming back.

Hidden Costs:  A comprehensive employee benefits plan.

Messenger Service

Description: Self explanatory.

Fees: $35-$50 per delivery (add a surcharge for speedier runs).

Tools of the Trade: Fleet of delivery vehicles or bicycles.

Tip: Consider paying bonuses to your swiftest employees.

Hidden Costs: Medical bills (this is a high-risk profession, particularly for bicyclists in large metropolitan areas).

Pinball/Electronic Game Arcade

Description: You don’t even necessarily need a storefront of your own because many shopping malls rent out floor space precisely for games like these.

Fees: 50 cents to $1 per play.

Tools of the Trade: Pinball/electronic games and a token or change machine.

Tip: Buy used equipment if you can, as long as its not too behind-the-times..

Hidden Costs: Maintenance.

Consignment (Retail)

Description: Buy used clothing and other products, clean them up, and resell them in a fun, inviting setting.

Fees: Depends on the item.

Tools of the Trade: retail space, shelves, display cases credit card processing equipment, cash register. And probably a Web site, too.

Tip: Bargain hunters like to hunt, so don’t be afraid to situate your shop near your competitors.

Top mysterious places on earth

Spotted Lake, Osoyoos, British Columbia

Spotted Lake is a saline endorheic alkali lake located northwest of Osoyoos in British Columbia. In the summer, most of the water in the lake evaporates leaving behind all the minerals. Large “spots” on the lake appear and depending on the mineral composition at the time, the spots will be different colors. The spots are made mainly of magnesium sulfate, which crystallizes in the summer. Since in the summer, only the minerals in the lake remain, they harden to form natural “walkways” around and between the spots. The ameoba-shaped Spotted Lake, or Klikuk in the indigenous language, changes colors throughout the year and during the summer time divides itself into white, green or yellow pools.

The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle, aka the Devil’s Triangle, is a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean. It gained it’s notoriety when a number of aircraft and surface vessels mysteriously disappeared in a manner that cannot be explained by human error, piracy, equipment failure, or natural disasters. 

The disappearances have been attributed to the paranormal, a suspension of the laws of physics, or activity by extraterrestrial beings. It is really scary!

Socotra

This enchanting and little known island is located off the coast of Yemen in the Middle East. Isolated from the rest of the world its plants have evolved into many bizarre shapes and forms that are unknown in other parts of the world. This place is probably the most alien-looking on Earth. One third of the flora and fauna on this island, administered by Yemen government, can be found only here. The umbrella-shaped “blood tree,” the cucumber tree, giant succulent tree, different kinds of birds, spiders, bats and cats have the only habitat on Socotra.

McMurdo Dry Valleys

McMurdo Dry Valleys are located on Antarctica but, believe it or not, they lack snow. That makes the area to be a desert, of course the coldest one in the world. However, that’s not the only strange things here. The valleys are “bleeding” from the many geysers, because of the high concentration of iron, making picture of world different than Earth.

Racetrack Playa

In Death Valley, California, there is a dry lakebed called Racetrack Playa, which is famous for its “sliding rocks.” These are chunks of dolomite that fell from the surrounding hills during the occasional rainstorms, and then somehow took trips across the lakebed while it was still muddy. Some of the tracks are over 3,000 feet long, and the rocks can weigh as much as 700 pounds. How these rocks move is still a mystery!

Mount Roraima

Since long before the arrival of European explorers, the mountain has held a special significance for the indigenous people of the region, and it is central to many of their myths and legends It is a pretty remarkable place. It is a tabletop mountain with sheer 400-metre high cliffs on all sides. There is only one ‘easy’ way up, on a natural staircase-like ramp on the Venezuelan side – to get up any other way takes and experienced rock climber. On the top of the mountain it rains almost every day, washing away most of the nutrients for plants to grow and creating a unique landscape on the bare sandstone surface.

Fly Geyser, Reno

Fly Geyser, also known as Fly Ranch Geyser is a small geothermal geyser that is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) north of Gerlach, in Washoe County, Nevada. The Geyser is not an entirely natural phenomenon, and was accidentally created in 1916 during the drilling of a well. The well functioned normally for several decades, but then in the 1960s geothermally heated water found a weak spot in the wall and began escaping to the surface. Dissolved minerals started rising and piling up, creating the mount on which the geyser sits, which is still growing to date. Today, water is constantly squirting out reaching 5 feet (1.5 m) in the air. The geyser contains several terraces discharging water into 30 to 40 pools over an area of 30 hectares (74 acres). The geyser is made up of a series of different minerals, which gives it its magnificent coloration.

Split Apple Rock

Split Apple Rock, rising from the water of Tasman Bay. The giant boulder has been broken in two pieces so cleanly that it’s almost as if a giant hit it with an axe!

Moeraki Boulders

Unusually large and spherical boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach on the wave cut Otago coast of New Zealand between Moeraki and Hampden. They occur scattered either as isolated or clusters of boulders within a stretch of beach where they have been protected in a scientific reserve. These huge, gray,spherical stones were formed in sediment on the sea floor sixty million years ago and were revealed by shoreline erosion. If we take the local Maori perspective, these are the remainings of calabashes (gourds), kumaras (sweet potatoes) and eel baskets washed ashore when the legendary canoe Araiteuru was wrecked. The boulders can weigh several tons and measure three meters.

Great Blue Hole

If you ever come by near the coast of Belize, you shouldn’t miss an opportunity to visit the Great Blue Hole, one of the world’s most recognizable natural wonders. The Great Blue Hole is located in Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, about 60 miles away from Belize City. It is believed that this hole is the world’s largest sea-hole. It is about 125 meters deep and its diameter is about 300 meters wide. It has been created as a cause of sea level increase about 65,000 years ago. Its almost perfect circular shape made it very popular amongst tourists who often visit this place. This place is most attractive for scuba divers who are exploring the depths of this hole. It is known that there are a plenty of cave networks in this place. Divers are also attracted with plenty of rare animal species and forms of life which can be found only in this place.

Best way to lose weight

There are many ways to lose a lot of weight fast.

However, most of them will make you hungry and unsatisfied.

If you don’t have iron willpower, then hunger will cause you to give up on these plans quickly.

The 3-step plan outlined here will:

• Reduce your appetite significantly.
• Make you lose weight fast, without being hungry.
• Improve your metabolic health at the same time.

All of this is supported by scientific studies.

Step 1 – Cut Back on Sugars and Starches

The most important part is to cut back on sugars and starches (carbs).

These are the foods that stimulate secretion of insulin the most. If you didn’t know already, insulin is the main fat storage hormone in the body.

When insulin goes down, fat has an easier time getting out of the fat stores and the body starts burning fats instead of carbs.

Another benefit of lowering insulin is that your kidneys shed excess sodium and water out of your body, which reduces bloat and unnecessary water weight (1, 2).

It is not uncommon to lose up to 10 pounds (sometimes more) in the first week of eating this way, both body fat and water weight.

This is a graph from a study comparing low-carb and low-fat diets in overweight/obese women (3).

The low-carb group is eating until fullness, while the low-fat group is calorie restricted and hungry.

Cut the carbs, lower your insulin and you will start to eat less calories automatically and without hunger (4).

Put simply, lowering your insulin puts fat loss on “autopilot.”

Bottom Line: Removing sugars and starches (carbs) from your diet will lower your insulin levels, kill your appetite and make you lose weight without hunger.

Step 2 – Eat Protein, Fat and Vegetables

Each one of your meals should include a protein source, a fat source and low-carb vegetables. Constructing your meals in this way will automatically bring your carb intake into the recommended range of 20-50 grams per day.

Protein Sources:

• Meat – Beef, chicken, pork, lamb, bacon, etc.
• Fish and Seafood – Salmon, trout, shrimps, lobsters, etc.
• Eggs – Omega-3 enriched or pastured eggs are best.

The importance of eating plenty of protein can not be overstated.

This has been shown to boost metabolism by 80 to 100 calories per day (5, 6, 7).

High protein diets can also reduce obsessive thoughts about food by 60%, reduce desire for late-night snacking by half, and make you so full that you automatically eat 441 fewer calories per day… just by adding protein to your diet (8, 9).

When it comes to losing weight, protein is the king of nutrients. Period.

Low-Carb Vegetables:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Spinach
• Kale
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Swiss Chard
• Lettuce
• Cucumber
• Celery
• Full list here.

Don’t be afraid to load your plate with these low-carb vegetables. You can eat massive amounts of them without going over 20-50 net carbs per day.

A diet based on meat and vegetables contains all the fiber, vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. There is no physiological need for grains in the diet.

Fat Sources:

• Olive oil
• Coconut oil
• Avocado oil
• Butter
• Tallow

Eat 2-3 meals per day. If you find yourself hungry in the afternoon, add a 4th meal.

Don’t be afraid of eating fat, trying to do both low-carb AND low-fat at the same time is a recipe for failure. It will make you feel miserable and abandon the plan.

The best cooking fat to use is coconut oil. It is rich in fats called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). These fats are more fulfilling than others and can boost metabolism slightly (10, 11).

There is no reason to fear these natural fats, new studies show that saturated fat doesn’t raise your heart disease risk at all (12, 13).

To see how you can assemble your meals, check out this low carb meal plan and this list of low carb recipes.

Bottom Line: Assemble each meal out of a protein source, a fat source and a low-carb vegetable. This will put you into the 20-50 gram carb range and drastically lower your insulin levels.

Step 3 – Lift Weights 3 Times Per Week

You don’t need to exercise to lose weight on this plan, but it is recommended.

The best option is to go to the gym 3-4 times a week. Do a warm up, lift weights, then stretch.

If you’re new to the gym, ask a trainer for some advice.

By lifting weights, you will burn a few calories and prevent your metabolism from slowing down, which is a common side effect of losing weight (14, 15).

Studies on low-carb diets show that you can even gain a bit of muscle while losing significant amounts of body fat (16).

If lifting weights is not an option for you, then doing some easier cardio workouts like running, jogging, swimming or walking will suffice.

Bottom Line: It is best to do some sort of resistance training like weight lifting. If that is not an option, cardio workouts work too.

Optional – Do a “Carb Re-feed” Once Per Week

You can take one day “off” per week where you eat more carbs. Many people prefer Saturday.

It is important to try to stick to healthier carb sources like oats, rice, quinoa, potatoes, sweet potatoes, fruits, etc.

But only this one higher carb day, if you start doing it more often than once per week then you’re not going to see much success on this plan.

If you must have a cheat meal and eat something unhealthy, then do it on this day.

Be aware that cheat meals or carb refeeds are NOT necessary, but they can up-regulate some fat burning hormones like leptin and thyroid hormones (17, 18).

You will gain some weight during your re-feed day, but most of it will be water weight and you will lose it again in the next 1-2 days.

Bottom Line: Having one day of the week where you eat more carbs is perfectly acceptable, although not necessary.

What About Calories and Portion Control?

It is NOT necessary to count calories as long as you keep the carbs very low and stick to protein, fat and low-carb vegetables.

However, if you really want to, then use this calculator.

Enter your details, then pick the number from either the “Lose Weight” or the “Lose Weight Fast” section – depending on how fast you want to lose.

There are many calorie counters you can use to track the amount of calories you are eating. I like Cron-O-Meter – it is free and easy to use.

The main goal is to keep carbs under 20-50 grams per day and get the rest of your calories from protein and fat.

Bottom Line: It is not necessary to count calories to lose weight on this plan. It is most important to strictly keep your carbs in the 20-50 gram range.

Other Weight Loss Tips to Make Things Easier (and Faster)

Here are 7 more tips to lose weight even faster:

1. Drink More Water. One study shows that drinking water half an hour before meals helps you eat fewer calories and lose 44% more weight. It can also boost metabolism slightly (19, 20).
2. Drink Coffee or Tea. If you’re a coffee or a tea drinker, then by all means drink as much as you want as both can raise your metabolism (21, 22).
3. Eat a High-Protein Breakfast. Studies show that people who replace a grain-based breakfast with high-protein foods like eggs feel more full for the next 36 hours, and lose up to 65% more weight (23, 24).
4. Eat Viscous Fiber. Viscous fiber supplements like glucomannan can help you lose weight, especially around the belly area (25).
5. Choose Weight Loss Friendly Foods. Certain foods are particularly useful for losing fat. 
6. Use Smaller Plates. Studies show that people automatically eat less when they use smaller plates. Strange, but it works (26).
7. Sleep Better. Poor sleep is one of the strongest risk factors for weight gain and obesity, taking care of your sleep is important (27, 28).

Bottom Line: It is most important to stick to the three rules, but there are a few other things you can do to speed things up.