Business Idea of the Day

Suite101.com ’s Bonnie Albo asks are there really any easy ways to make money when it comes to owning a business? It depends on how one looks at the process. Either a business is already making money – and therefore can hire someone to bring in business or sales – or a business is struggling financially – and will therefore need to invest some time into more ways to make money. Get Customers to Say Yes When direct questions that have a yes or no answer are unavoidable, make the questions asked ones that are most likely going to be answered with a yes. After a yes or three, it is much easier to get a client to continue their roll and agree to some sort of purchase, or at least a commitment to look further into the product or service in question

BusinessWeek is reporting that more people are working from home, and more of them are working for themselves, according to Census data released. The chart above compares the growth in the number of self-employed people working exclusively from home to growth in total home-based workers and the total number of people employed. The number of self-employed who work exclusively from home increased from 3.47 million in 1999 to 4.34 million in 2005 (the latest available from the Census). The total population of working from home at least some of the time increased from 9.48 million to 11.33 million in the same period.

Born Rich: As the luxury travel takes on to woo the elite travelers, British Airways has also introduced their new first class cabin being installed on a B777, which flies from London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare. The new cabin features a personal wardrobe, a 60 percent wider bed at the shoulders, leather-bound writing table, a 15-inch in-flight entertainment screen, USB port, RCA jack, noise-canceling headsets and personal electronic blinds along with mood lighting. To reach these in-flight luxuries for effortless travel, the design of the cabin is inspired by premium brands like Aston Martin and Jaguar

Turn snowmageddon into a windfall by starting your own snow-shoveling business. With help from Mike Stevens, owner of the industry newsletter Snowplow News, and Kevin Arroyo, the owner of R and A Cleaning Services in Staten Island, N.Y., WalletPop offers the following advice to get digging: Money talks: Charge what the market will bear. “Be opportunistic,” Stevens told WalletPop Monday, as the East Coast braced for another storm. “It’s pure capitalism

If you can find and do great, local stuff at home, why not do great local stuff that’s run by local people when you’re away too? Ooh.com is an online notice board and listings site where anyone in the world who offers trips, courses, classes and events can list their activities for free, and take direct bookings and payments through the site and directly from buyers. The site already has over 1000 activities listed

New Startups: Narwhal Company is the inspirational idea of an everyday person that was looking to move away from the 9-5 lifestyle and thrive in their entrepreneurial spirit. Thus, the idea to provide fashionable accessories from the re-use of neckties was born. Narwhal Co. is a unique and green product that hopes to be a catalyst for the funding of domestic and international humanitarian projects. Narwhal Co [New Startups]

“Puppy Tweets” dog’s collar allows dog owners to follow their dog on twitter. This plastic tag (introduced by Mattel), comes equipped with a sound and motion sensor, and with pre-recorded tweets. In accordance to the dog’s movements and behavior, it’ll post tweets to the dog’s Twitter account announcing it status. via: CNNMoney Related trends: Communicating with those who can’t Pets focused devices: * A collar tag from Boston-based SNIF Labs lets pet owners forge new connections with fellow dog-walkers, both online and off. * The Bowlingual Voice bark translator developed by Takara Tomy, a Japanese toy company, is a device that allegedly translates a dog’s bark or feelings into words people can understand.

Trend Friend is an online (and smartphone accessible) gift idea database that allows users to quickly find the trendiest gifts based on their search criteria. The site then lists which physical retailer carries the item allowing buyers to walk into a nearby store and walk out with their gift. The website is the first of its kind to offer consumers accessibility via the Internet and smartphone while linking each gift to a physical retailer. By entering “who” you are shopping for, the occasion and the price (range) you would like to spend, Trend Friend generates a list of the most-popular and trendy gifts from major retailers across North America that fit the selected criteria.

MakeMySummer.com launched last year as a way for students from the UK to find jobs in American summer camps. I recently had the opportunity to ask the founded Jacqueline Cole some questions about her business. What is MakeMySummer.com? MakeMySummer.com is a website where students can gain information and inspiration about how they can spend their summer months proactively through meaningful work and travel. I like to think of it as a Virtual Recruitment Fair where employers can showcase their opportunities and students can browse their options

Inhabitat: Here’s a source for gift wrap paper that is as beautiful as it is eco-conscious. Known as The Local Paper , these couture coverings are based on unique themes that are inspired by the designers’ travel, nature, and life. Each elegant wrap comes in 24×36 inch sheets that are Forestry Stewardship Council certified, made with papers that are 30% recycled post-consumer fiber