As many ways as technology has provided us to remember our anniversary, and as much as our lady friends might drop hints, we men always have a way to let the date slip our minds. Another stylish method could never hurt, especially one that goes to extreme measures such as the Hot Spot “Remember” Ring. read all »

If you think you can’t launch a business in these tough times, think again. I recently met an entrepreneur who confirmed my belief that anything is possible if you have the right idea and sufficient passion.

A few weeks back, I listed some office furniture on Craigslist. A friendly guy named Jason Gittinger responded moments later. He was on the prowl for a good deal. Gittinger described himself as “just a drummer” but also mentioned that he was starting a business. read all »

Founded last year, Florida-based FranChild enables kids ages 5 to 15 to go way beyond lemonade stands and operate a “grownup-style” business instead. Parents and kids begin by picking a product to sell: beeswax candles, organic soap, jewellery or apparel. The initial startup cost is just USD 25, which gets the child a FranChild Company Certificate to acknowledge his or her business launch; business cards ready to print from FranChild’s ready-made templates; how-to instructions for marketing and selling products; access to the My First Franchise Resource Center, a USD 75,000 marketing system for creating customized packaging products; discount pricing on inventory and supplies; and access to newsletters, updates and a members-only forum. read all »

Making money online used to pretty much require you to have your own Web site, products to sell and some marketing savvy. But a new generation of dot-coms have arisen that will pay you for what you know and who you know without you having to be a web designer or a marketing genius.But it’s hard to tell hype from the real deal. I did a search on “make money online” and “making money online”, and much of the information out there is just promoting various infoproducts, mostly about Internet marketing. I see why people sometimes ask, “Is anyone making money online besides Internet marketing experts?” read all »

Business Idea: Sky Walk
Description: Tethered balloon rides with a romantic view above the city
Start-Up Cost: $15k - $100k
Potential Income: a whopping $25,000 per month with one balloon

I remember racking my brain for ideas when I wanted to ask my wife, Emily, to be my bride. The way that I wanted to propose — before I found out the extent of her fear for heights — was to take her up in a hot air balloon and get all of my college friends to spell out “marry me” on the ground with their bodies.

The problem was that every scheduled balloon ride is at the mercy of the weather. If a storm comes it’s a no go. Not to mention that the balloonists can only plan routes over certain areas, which excluded my campus fly over idea.

So, long story short, I proposed to her by the lake on a clear sky day with our feet where she wanted them — on the ground. But the whole “hot air balloon thing” did give birth to another great idea and here’s how it works: read all »

Seniors are among those most likely to move, as they downsize or head off to sunny retirement digs. Yet moves can be especially hard on them, with heavy lifting and countless details to deal with, from emptying an attic to reconnecting an entertainment system. Adrienne Simpson, founder of Smooth Mooove, has staked her claim in what could become an attractive new industry. read all »

So you want to ditch your corporate cubicle and join the ranks of web workers? But you have a mortgage, maybe a dependent or two, and a taste for Venti Mochas from Starbucks? You can make money in the new economy, though it might not be as easy or cushy as keeping your old economy job.

I’m not talking about advertising or affiliate marketing or selling your junk on eBay. Those are so last millennium! I’m talking about the new new economy.

1. Offer your professional expertise in an online marketplace.These days, you can do more than just sell your old books via Amazon and your old Coach handbags via eBay—now you can sell your professional capabilities in a marketplace. No longer are you limited to looking for a permanent or contract job on Web 1.0 style job sites like Monster or CareerBuilder. The new breed of freelancing and project-oriented sites let companies needing help describe their projects. Then freelancers and small businesses offer bids or ideas or proposals from which those buyers can choose. read all »

What happens when a Las Vegas hotelier teams up with a rebellious professional snowboarder? A first-of-its-kind hotel built for and by snowboarders, complete with boot dryers, glove warmers, PlayStation 2 consoles and 56-inch high-definition TVs in the rooms. read all »

Business Idea: Snow Play
Description: Have an indoor play house filled with snow year round and charge an entrance fee, serve snacks, sell merchandise, etc.
Start-Up Cost: $20k - $200k
Potential Income: an easy $500/day

I grew up in South Texas where the temperature can easily reach 112 degrees bringing the perfect conditions for some snowfall. What? In the summer, are you kidding me? No I’m really not, you can have snow anywhere at anytime of the year and make good money from it. Here’s how it works: read all »

Tarzan fans have long yearned for the ability to swing from the trees like the Lord of the Jungle, and in recent years new opportunities to do just that have arisen around the world. read all »