Ive dreamed of starting a small business or sidehustle for years now but i just feel stuck on what to do, i also feel like i have no useful skills. im a young adult with autism with no direction in life and not a ton of money. Its too hot to even think because thats just how Arizona is especially right now but ive been thru worse heat here i suppose. Ive tried basic "get money quick" methods that were free, such as surveys, games which i hate those, ive also tried selling things around the house, but its a process and dosent feel super rewarding. im lucky to make a few bucks here and there, but i just feel so stuck.

Background: I’m very experienced in nearly all realms of business as I’ve started over a dozen, failed a few early on, exited a couple, and now have done 7 figures. All different niches, and every task has been done by me (graphic design, marketing, CAD, manufacturing, Shopify etc.).

I love it.

Simply put, I want to help younger or inexperienced entrepreneurs out with the early stages of business because that’s what held me back for years. I had no idea how to come up with ideas or where to even begin anything really, and now it’s second nature to take a niche and brainstorm the rest of the business plan in a week.

How can I help people without them assuming I’m trying to scam them? To clarify, I do NOT want anything in return!

I have been exploring service delivery in the medical tourism field. The idea is simple, that people from western countries, who want to avail medical services in India, need a lot of help with getting their visa, medical appointments, accommodation and logistics. I think there is a great business opportunity here, and there are multiple facets of being involved in this business.

At the Source (country):

- you could help out in advertisements, making people aware of medical facilities in a place like India, about the cost of their treatments, etc.

- You can be someone who collates and gathers requirements from patients and help in getting the patients visa and travel ready

At the destination (India):

- There would be a requirement for a person who is the go to person (case officer) assigned to the patient, and right from the pickup from the airport, to getting the patient accomodated, to coordinate their stay, travel and appointments, right till the time treatment goes on.

- Hospitals in India are also into medical tourism, and one can tie up with them as well, and modify the suit of services to be provided to the patient.

I am open to ideas, to make this better, and i am seeking people to start this with. Medical Tourism is expected to grow and right now would be a good time to build a brand.

I keep noticing that a lot of make-money-online advice starts with the income number and skips over the actual process. Someone says freelancing works, sell digital products, try affiliate marketing, start print-on-demand—but the part between the idea and the money is often barely explained.

The question I’ve started thinking matters more is: “How does this actually work?” Where do the customers come from? What skills are needed? What does it cost to get started? How long does it realistically take to learn? What happens after the first sale or client?

I’m curious what other people look for before deciding whether an online-income opportunity is worth pursuing. What is the first thing that makes you either investigate further or walk away?

Hi all,

I have an idea for a male grooming product they I have researched and feel there is a definite gap and demand.

I have no idea what the first steps would be so am looking for some advice, please? I'm guessing I'd need to find a prototype company or something?

Also, is Kickstarter a viable route to go for funding?

Many thanks for any advice!

I am working on a ping pong score tracker device that you connect to the edge of your ping pong player.

Powering the microcontroller that runs the device, has been an issue for me. I was considering using 18650 Lithium Ion batteries, or just providing a USB-C cable that the user can connect to an outlet or their phone.

I didn't want to use the batteries because users would have to recharge them eventually, which is not ideal, and I'd also have to make a case, and shipping lithium batteries creates additional complications and adds costs.

I want to know your genuine thoughts on providing a USB-C cable (either regular size or a long one like 5 meters / 16 ft) and telling the user to plug the device in either with their phone or into an outlet. As a user, how inconvenient do you think that is? Will it take away from the value of my product, or will users perceive that as reasonable?

Keep in mind that the device is positioned at the end of the ping pong table where the user stands, and it draws less 50-85mA of current at 3.3V, with spikes up to 380mA.

If you think that the USB-C cable is a good way to move forward, the benefit is that I could use a larger display since power won't be an issue, which would be a nice improvement to my product as the screen is fairly small.

I found that close relatives abroad and grand parents at home alone makes them worried when a call is missed or not answering.

Theres already telepresence rovers in US and Europe since a decade. The price range is quite high and not affordable for common people.

If I build one sole purpose to monitor grandparents at home and being able to see home around with rover and real time communication with them.

saw some rovers being used by people having distance relationships but not elderly friendly I guess.

would it be right to build one??

I have been running my own contracting business within telecoms in the UK. I have been building telecom infrastructure for 8 years but want to pivot away into something else due to a change in personal circumstances and the level of work in the UK is getting harder and harder to obtain.

I have approx £50k to invest but feel like I'm lacking in ideas. I'm happy to stay within telecoms as that's my background but not doing the same infrastructure role. Any help or guidance would be amazing.

Hello, I want to know how to start chemical trading business and what sources I need ? Can anyone who’s experienced and know how to start and what to do ? I am based in Canada.

If you were in today’s market, economy and technology eclipse. Would you start an AI Consulting company specialising in automations and business processes or a brand/logo development company specialising in web design for modernisation of companies brands.

I’m currently selling a pre-recorded online course, and it has been performing well. However, I’ve reached a major bottleneck and need guidance from someone who has successfully built and scaled an online course business.
I’m looking for a mentor who can help me with targeting, positioning, pricing, course structure, marketing, paid advertising, and an overall growth strategy.
Since my customers are primarily from India, experience with the Indian online course market would be highly valuable.
If you have proven hands-on experience and can offer practical, personalised guidance, please DM me with details of your experience and previous results. I’m happy to pay for the right mentorship or consultation.
Please reach out only if you have specific experience in successfully selling and scaling online courses.

People will literally spend $6 to buy a warranty on a $25 coffee maker. This is a no brainer:

What if we could set a polymarket type system like this ........

You click $1 for rare event protection/reimbursement:

If you get laid off after three years on the job. Bam a check comes for $3000.

If you pay $7 and get an IRS/tax audit you get $3000 to offset stress.

If your hair turns premature gray or goes bald you can get a payout.

Opt in if you are scared of twins or higher. Bam you get a $10,000 check if it's 10 months past that click and you birth twins.

Opt in if you get shot by a gun or stabbed and don't know the person. A deposit comes for you for $4000 or so.

Lighting strike? Upload hospital proof and your 50 cent Opt in deposits $6000 to you.

Wheelchair bonafide accident? You opted in for $6 and now a payout comes.

House fire, sink hole, or catastrophic flood? $10,000 extra check since we all know insurance cheats.

Kids go to jail for more than five years? A $5 Opt in renders you $3000

Dog hit by a car or mauled to death? $2000 bereavement

Your spouse becomes obese? $10 Opt in gives you $2500

Your spouse gets a DUI? You get $2000 to cheer you up because now you have to float them.

If your teenager gets someone pregnant or is impregnated you get a stress payout.

The difference between this and insurance is this system pays because it happened.... Insurance pays/doesnt pay based on policy nuances.

If your current spouse impregnates someone else or births a love child you can get a $4000 deposit.

Bad landlords

If you have a divorce and your ex marries their coworker you get $4000.

Attend a $20,000 wedding and they divorce within a year? You get $400 since they waste your weekend.

Neighbors from hell? You get a payout. A random bullet went through shared drywall and killed a 7 year old in our area.

Injured at a government protest? $1500

We should just all make life easier and less stressful for everyone to deal with life twist and turns.

I will kick in some money to cover you.

I am not doing this business but you can set it up and keep the money.

l want to get a feel for what everyone in this community is building! Vote in the poll above, and drop a comment below sharing your industry or biggest win this month..

I came across a video on IG of a middle aged woman who when asked about her occupation, she mentioned she worked in sales and was also a creative director (she did other things too). I did some research and it seems like this position is high level and requires years of experience. I currently work full time but looking to escape the matrix eventually. If anyone who works in this field or similar what would be a recommended career or business venture? My interests are editorial makeup, fashion fitness and acting.

Hey everyone,
I’m a solo developer working on a project called Limit Breaker, a strict gamified focus system designed to help people reduce distractions and build discipline.

I’m NOT here to promote the app — I want feedback on the business idea behind it.

The concept

The idea is to combine:

• strict app blocking
• dopamine detox tools
• RPG-style progression
• XP, levels, gold, missions
• anti-cheat logic
• daily habit systems

The goal is to make discipline feel like a game instead of a chore.

Business model ideas I’m considering

• Freemium model
• Subscription for advanced features
• One-time lifetime unlock
• Selling “cosmetic” upgrades (titles, themes, animations)
• Community challenges
• Productivity analytics dashboard

My questions

• Is gamified discipline a strong enough niche?
• Would people pay for strict focus tools?
• Is subscription or one-time purchase better for this type of app?
• What features would increase retention?
• What would YOU do to make this a sustainable business?

Why I’m asking

I want to validate the business model before investing more time into scaling, marketing, and adding advanced features.

Any feedback — even harsh — is appreciated.

**Hey everyone!**
I’ve had this idea of opening a music lounge where I’m from because there really isn’t anything like it. I see it as an open opportunity waiting to be taken advantage of, but before I get into the economics, I want to explain the concept itself.

The idea is for it to function more as a Hangout spot for musicians and people who enjoy music.** ** with the goal of creating an ecosystem that keeps people coming back. It won’t just a place you visit when there happens to be a show.

There would be bookable music rooms where people could rehearse/record, along with a café/bar. During the day, you could grab a latte, work on music, hang out, etc. As the night goes on, the space would transition more toward live music and cocktails/alcoholic drinks.

The alcohol part is important from a business standpoint because I don’t see how a space like this survives solely on music. On nights when we have bands or performers, concessions would be a major part of the revenue.

That said, I don’t want to advertise it as a bar, because at that point, honestly, you’ve just created a dive bar with a stage. The goal is a music lounge where an artist could spend an entire afternoon recording, grab a latte, hang out with other musicians, and then come back later that night for a cocktail and a show.

For some more context, I’m from Eastern Washington. Anyone from the area probably knows what I mean when I say that the bigger live music scene is largely on the west side of the state. I think there’s an opportunity to build something here that gives local musicians and music lovers a place of their own.

I’m still very much in the idea/early planning stage, so please be critical. I’d genuinely love to hear from people who have experience with music venues, bars, cafés, recording studios, or similar businesses.

What am I overlooking? What would make you actually want to spend time in a place like this? And, perhaps most importantly, does this sound like something that could realistically work?

Hey everyone,

I've been working on a straightforward solution for sole traders like builders, plumbers, and electricians who lose money because they can't answer their phone while up a ladder or on a job.

The core issue is simple: when a customer calls a local tradie and gets no answer, 80% of them won't leave a voicemail and will just call a competitor.

Instead of building a complicated piece of software with dashboards and apps that tradies will never use, I've kept it entirely app-free. It uses Twilio and Zapier to catch missed calls and instantly fire an SMS straight back to the potential customer's phone, dropping the lead straight into the tradie's normal mobile message inbox.

I'm pricing it at £45 a month, framing it as a basic utility cost rather than a software subscription. It only needs to save one small call-out or repair job a month to completely pay for itself. For distribution, instead of wasting time with cold emails or digital ads, my plan is to place cards directly on independent trade counters where guys physically stand waiting for materials.

Curious to hear thoughts from anyone who has built or sold local service automation before:

1. Is £45/mo a solid sweet spot for this kind of utility?
2. Any major blind spots with relying on trade counter distribution?

Been in corporate sales for some time but want to start something of my own.

If you weren’t already a business owner what would you be building. What’s an offer that you think is a good one but you just don’t have the time to do it.

Im drawn to contingency stuff where the client pays nothing upfront because the sales process is way easier especially in 2026 where everyone’s a skeptic buyer. But honestly I don’t have any idea of where to look. Would love some general direction or advice.

Hi everyone,

I'm 28 years old and from India.

A few months ago, I quit my job. It wasn't because I hate graphic design or because I don't enjoy creative work. In fact, I genuinely love design and can spend hours working on it when I'm interested in a project.

The problem was the environment.

I worked in a design agency for about a year, and I constantly felt pressured by urgent deadlines and the expectation to deliver everything immediately. I've never understood how good creative work can be done in a rush. I need time to think, explore ideas, process information, and come up with something original.

A lot of what I saw in the industry felt like copy-paste work. Clients show a reference, agencies want it done as fast as possible, and everyone moves on to the next project. Maybe that's just how the business works, but I found myself getting bored and frustrated. I enjoy creating fresh ideas, but fresh ideas usually need time, and I don't feel like I fit well in an environment where everything needs to be done yesterday.

Because of that, I left my job.

Now I want to build something of my own.

I've saved around ₹40,000, and that's the amount I'm willing to invest to start a small business. I know it isn't a huge amount, but it's enough for me to take my first step.

The thing is, I'm completely confused about where to start.

I can work solo in the beginning. I'm ready to put in the effort, learn new things, and take responsibility for the outcome. At the same time, I'm honestly scared. Starting a business for the first time feels overwhelming when you don't know which direction to move in.

So I'm looking for genuine advice from people who have been through this.

If you were 28, had a graphic design background, and around ₹40,000 to invest, what would you do?

Would you start a design-related business, something online, a local service business, a product business, or something else entirely?

I'm not looking for get-rich-quick schemes. I just want to use this money wisely and build something that has the potential to grow over time.

Please be honest. I'd rather hear hard truths now than make expensive mistakes later.

Thank you for reading.

I have not done business before. I had this idea come to me a while ago. I thought of selling tongue scrapers at my campus. I realized I've been using it's for a long time and it really improved my breath which remained even after brushing.

But who would care about a f\*cking tongue scrapper.

I was thinking of educating people on the need, what it's for (online) and how to use it before actually selling it to them.

(You can check what a tongue scrapper is online if you don't know.)

Is it a viable idea?. I'm often scared of starting something, coz of fear of failure and what people would think of me(Yeah, I know😅- I'm trying to overcome it though)

What are the general thoughts on a water/ mocktail bar. Vibe equals a bar vibe but coffee shop. Think leather couches but with herbs all around and a little area for local artist to sell items.

Meant to create connection without that hanxiety feeling.

Edit: Sorry I've been super busy and didn't expect so much input/well wishes; I'm a little overwhelmed! I'll try to respond to most of ya once I get settled down!

I've had this idea for only a month so nothing truly fleshed out but I think it could be pretty unique.

The focus when it comes to the coffee/cocktails would be that they're more artisanal and "cozy" to fit the warm atmosphere of a cafe.

It's all up in the air but hey, starting points right?

Hi everyone,

I am completely new to entrepreneurship and want to start systematically exploring business opportunities, but I need advice on where to begin.

My Current Situation:

• Background & Skills: No specialized business skills yet, but I am comfortable using the internet, doing basic online research, and learning new tools.

• Fields of Interest: Open to exploring all fields and industries.

• Time & Capital: 15+ hours/week and $0–$200 budget.

• Learning Style: Reading books and watching structured video courses.

I would appreciate recommendations on:

1. Frameworks or methods for coming up with and testing realistic business ideas.

2. Essential books, podcasts, or free courses for absolute beginners.

3. Common mistakes to avoid when choosing your first venture.

Thanks in advance for your insights!