In starting a business, one of the most difficult decisions will be to select a business that is right for you.

Ideas for new businesses come from many sources. A logical first step for the undecided is to list potential areas of personal background, special training, educational and job experience, and special interests that could be developed into a business. Look at your hobbies, volunteer experience and leisure activities.

You can develop a line of gourmet foods, do wedding planning, give scuba diving lessons, create intricate crafts, or develop an antique locating and refinishing service. You can also sell what you know, by developing a syndicated newspaper column, write a book, or conduct seminars or workshops in your area of expertise.  Others also start their own businesses using existing skills from their salaried jobs – accountants, technical writers, trading specialists, writers and others have marketable skills that can be developed into service businesses.

With the proliferation of the Internet, new business opportunities in designing, monitoring and updating web sites have emerged.  In addition to computer and programming skills, content developers or those who write solely for the Web have become highly marketable. You can also prepare demographic studies, databases, market surveys, and information resource lists.

One thing is clear though: only you can know what business is best for you -- one that you will enjoy doing, while at the same time makes money.

If you are still at a loss as to what business to go into, review the following list of activities that have proven marketable for others. The idea is to identify potential businesses, then reducing its number as you determine your interests and potentials of the business, until you arrive at your final selection. On a scale of "0" (no interest or strength) to 10 (maximum interest or strength) indicate the potential for you and a total score for each activity: