You have heard it said that there are no overnight successes in business. That is mostly the case. Compared to the pace of technological advancement, business moves slowly. There are a number of reasons for this painfully slow pace:
- It takes time to gain expertise in a given field.
- It takes time to bring together the resources needed for the investment.
- It takes time to attract a sufficient clientele to sustain the business.
None of these things are insurmountable tasks. It is just that they take time, often, quite a lot of it. The education requirements, alone, can take anywhere from 4 to 12 years depending on the business you are entering. It might take years to pull together sufficient financing for a reasonably capitalized startup. And it can take even longer before one attracts a sustainable clientele.
But there are a number of businesses that break the mold. And while they are not get-rich-quick businesses, they are becoming successful in a lot less time than you thought possible. Here are a few examples:
Massage Therapy
One of your biggest expenses associated with massage therapy is your investment in massage tables. This is the main point of contact between you and your client. So you can’t afford to skimp on the most important piece of equipment used in your business.
You don’t even have to invest in a location, as mobile massage is a very popular way to bring your services directly to your clients. If a location is absolutely needed, working from home is always an option.
Starting from scratch, you will have to learn the fine art of massage. It can take as little as a year to complete a certification program. Some states require longer programs. You will also have to acquire a license in most states. And some will require CPR certification. NYS requires that you have this certification three years prior to licensing.
If you happen to find yourself in a position where you have to completely reinvent yourself and don’t have all the time in the world to do so. Massage therapy is a great way to get up and running in a surprisingly brief period of time.
Blogging
If you love making words and have an interesting take on whatever happens to stir your interest, you might want to look into starting a blog for profit. You can literally get started for free. And you need no prior experience. There are also no educational or certification requirements for you to meet.
While that might all sound too good to be true, there are a few caveats of which you should be aware. Writing is hard work. One post is easy. One to three posts a day, everyday, is a lot harder. One of the greatest challenges in blogging is consistency.
Did I mention that writing is hard work?
Beyond the blogging is the business model. Most blogs are ad-supported. Attracting advertisers comes after attracting an audience. That means a lot of constant blogging for months without financial return.
If you are going to blog full-time, you will probably want to start several blogs. Keeping up with all of them can be difficult. You will want to bring on additional writers, or hiring a content service. Blogging for fun is very different than blogging for business. But once you learn the basics, you will find blogging to be one of the least expensive and faster ways to achieve moderate success.
Private Instructor
If you have mastered a skill, chances are, someone wants to learn it. It may be a musical instrument. It may be carpentry. It may be that you are just really good at math. You can turn those skills into a business that helps you pay the bills.
Your biggest financial overhead is marketing. You just have to get the word out. Get the first client, and inspire good word of mouth to get you on your way.
Massage, blogging, and instructing are great ways to get a business up and running in a short amount of time. But it still takes hard work and a great attitude. That is always a winning combination.
