The most profitable business in a crisis. Business in Crisis: Real Ideas and Experienced Advice

The economic crisis corrects the plans of businessmen and their clients, and both fall under the blow. People have less money, wages go down, and prices go up. Owners of their business have to look for new prospects for earning. Among the lines of business, you should choose those that are based on the basic needs of a person. Consider a few popular ideas of what to do in a crisis.

Which business lines thrive in times of crisis?

The largest losses are expected by businessmen working in the field of entertainment and selling premium goods. It is on this that the population begins to save in the first place. Contrary to popular belief, a crisis is a reason not to close your own business, but an opportunity for new development prospects.

In an economically difficult time for the country, it is worth paying attention to the features of doing business:

• The ability to pay is declining, but people are still willing to spend money on basic needs - housing, food and clothing. When deciding what to do in a crisis, consider these areas first.
• Cheap products are in the greatest demand, even if the quality suffers. Pay attention to Chinese and Russian manufacturers producing everyday goods.
• In production, staff are being reduced; according to statistics, a third of small businesses become bankrupt. The labor market is overcrowded, those who want to work are ready to accept lower wages.
• People do not tend to buy new things, it is more profitable to repair broken household appliances or shoes.

Important advice! In a crisis period, you should not invest significant amounts in a new business, try to do business with a small start-up capital.

Be ready to implement new ideas, switch to related business areas if something goes wrong. Try to find the direction in demand.

The current state of the economy today excites many - both large entrepreneurs and consumers themselves. Prices for literally everything have risen, connections with many European suppliers have been lost. And, it would seem, in such a “troubled” time, starting your own business is pure adventure. But let's not jump to conclusions, there are some business ideas in the 2015-2016 crisis that will be profitable. The period of crisis brings not only negative aspects. From this situation, with a competent approach, you can even “squeeze out” benefits for yourself. The main thing is to follow the basic rules dictated by the current state of the economy. Is the crisis of 2015-2016 the first crisis in our country? Those who were born in the Soviet Union will remember 2 more major “collapses” of the economy. And nothing, everyone is alive and well, and some even thrive. And therefore, you should not shelve those ideas that have been preparing for implementation for a very long time. In addition, some other niches can be identified that will turn out to be profitable right now. So what kind of business to open in the crisis of 2016?

How to look for an idea for a business in a crisis?

Starting a business during a crisis is quite realistic. But no one says that it will be easy - there is a lot of work to be done in planning and organizing activities. And the main task that a novice entrepreneur must solve is to find a profitable idea for a business.

Even in the heyday of the economy, finding "your" niche in the consumer market is not easy. And now the task becomes doubly difficult.

We will agree right away that we will abandon the sky-high ideas for creating large industrial facilities - with limited finances, this is literally unrealistic, and there is no guarantee that the enterprise will not burn out in the very first months. We will launch an actual small business during a crisis, since this will not require a lot of investment and labor. But the profit can be quite high.

There are 2 important points that you should pay attention to when deciding for yourself what kind of business to do in a crisis:

• Consumer demand has clearly fallen - it's useless to argue with that. And therefore, we rely on those areas that, even during this period, will not lose their relevance and relevance. An entrepreneur should choose those categories of goods or services that consumers will not refuse to buy for anything. We dare to assure you that there are plenty of such areas of business.
• The main goal that a novice entrepreneur should set for himself is to “survive” the crisis. And for this, it is important not to get into debt, taking large loans from banks or private investors to open a business. Well, if there is already a certain amount of money available. Is it possible to do without borrowed funds? Then it is worth choosing profitable and relevant business ideas in a crisis that require minimal investment. Then, an entrepreneur who is not burdened with debts will develop and gradually enter new markets.

It is quite clear that one cannot do without an analysis of a specific sales market. Organize full-scale marketing research, of course, does not make any sense. But an entrepreneur must know the answers to important questions:

• In buying what goods and services are residents of a particular city or region as a whole interested?
• How much is a consumer willing to pay for a product or service?
• How intense is the competition in a particular market segment?

And only having put everything literally on the shelves, you can start looking for promising ideas.

Ideas that can be cost-effective in a crisis

So, the basic principles of the search for ideas are clear - demand and low cost. But what areas can be distinguished here? What small business to open in a crisis?

This crisis is special in that in addition to the rise in price of the dollar (Russians are no stranger to this), European suppliers of dairy and sour-milk products, vegetables and fruits have stopped cooperating with us. And it is the last factor that can be conditionally taken as an advantage.

When thinking about what to do in a time of crisis, you should pay attention to the following areas:

• trade,
• farming,
• production,
• services.

With a trading niche, everything is clear - people bought certain goods and will continue to buy even in times of crisis. But since the purchasing power has nevertheless decreased, we are betting either on essential goods (products) or on other inexpensive products. The population is now interested in saving, and therefore, it is clearly not worth opening the 10th household appliance store in a small town - there simply will not be buyers. A great idea might be to open a commission outlet like a second-hand store.

What to trade in a crisis? Products, budget clothes, second-hand things and equipment.

It’s great if you organize your business in the field of agriculture during a crisis. There are no imported vegetables and fruits on the shelves, and domestic farmers are now simply unable to meet the demand of residents throughout the country. And if there is a demand, it is necessary to create an offer. And even if the entrepreneur only provides products to a specific region (since we are talking about small business), this is already good. And over time, you can go out with your natural product to neighboring areas. An important advantage when starting a farm will be all kinds of support for such ideas from the state. Subsidies, reduced taxes are solid pluses. But starting a new business in a crisis from scratch in this area would be better for those who own their own land outside the city - this way you can save a lot on renting large areas.

Which farm to open in a crisis? Growing vegetables and fruits, organizing a barnyard or pig farm, breeding commercial fish or poultry (for example,).

The manufacturing sector should not be overlooked, since it is also quite possible to build a profitable business in a crisis here. And all thanks to modern equipment, which allows the production of certain products literally at home. In this case, the costs are somewhat higher than in the case of opening a small store, but the resulting profit will be much higher. It would be nice to start production in an area in which the entrepreneur is well versed - this way you can save money on consultations and the services of qualified technologists.

What to produce in a crisis? Dairy products (, cottage cheese), building materials (bricks, tiles), budget cabinet furniture.

No less profitable business in a crisis can be organized in the service sector. Of course, many areas should be treated with great caution, as people began to refuse many services that they had previously resorted to. On the other hand, those that are provided by masters at home began to gain great popularity, because in this case they save significantly than when contacting large specialized services.

What services to provide the population in a crisis? Repair of equipment and telephones, and custom-made clothes, “husband for an hour” service, construction and repair work, accounting and legal services.

But to designate the best business in Russia during the crisis will be quite difficult. Much here depends on the specific region and specific market. But if you choose a popular direction, the profit will not be long in coming.

We act according to plan

In order for a profitable business to start “working”, it is important to correctly organize the process itself. And this rule is especially relevant in a difficult economic situation - every penny counts, every client is important. And in order not to make mistakes, you should draw up a business plan. And only in this way any type of business in a crisis is more likely to become profitable, since it is possible to plan all further activities.

The pages of the business plan describe:

• Analysis of the market, demand and competition.
• Technology.
• Equipment.
• Labor resources.
• Expenses.
• Expected profit.

You can't do without a business plan if you plan to attract borrowed funds to the project. No bank will give a loan without a detailed description of what the entrepreneur will do.

How can a business "survive" in a crisis?

And even if it is relatively easy to open a business in a crisis, then its development in such difficult times will take a lot of time from an entrepreneur. And in the future, you will have to work to withstand competition and stay afloat.

Speaking about how to develop a business in a crisis, we note the importance of advertising. It’s better to immediately discard the idea that marketing costs are now a waste of money. This is not so, because competitors are not asleep, and therefore, you need to constantly remind your potential audience about yourself. In the manufacturing sector, advertising is unlikely to be required, since here the main stake should be placed on wholesalers - and they are much more important than a profitable commercial offer from a businessman, and not his commercials on TV. But in the case of any home business, PR is clearly not superfluous.

Now, literally immediately after starting your own business, you need to consider a strategy for further actions. The main goal is not to burn out. But how can a business survive in a crisis? We pay attention to the following points:

• Reducing costs. But this does not mean that you need to reduce the quality of the product or service offered! In this case, we are looking for more profitable contacts with suppliers who will supply goods or raw materials at a more attractive price.
• Refusal to attract additional labor force. In the case of a home business, you need to think about whether you need to involve additional staff in the work, because these are additional costs. Many operations, if the situation allows, can be carried out independently.
• Search for new markets. You never need to stop there, so it will take some time to find new customers. Here, as in any other time, there is an unshakable rule: more sales - more profit.
• Cooperation only with reliable clients. Yes, yes, the choice of customers also needs to be carefully considered - especially for wholesale sales. Accounts receivable are now completely useless, and therefore, you must immediately refuse to cooperate with "malicious defaulters" on accounts.

Now it is clear that opening and developing a business in a crisis is a task that is quite feasible even for beginners. A startup that is relevant today will not only “survive” during an economic downturn, but will also thrive.

The crisis leads some people to poverty, while others do not change their financial situation, and still others become even richer during the economic downturn. Of course, few people wish to be assigned to the first category. The bulk of people strive to be in the third or at least in the second group.

Crisis Definition

From time to time it happens that the harmony of our life begins to collapse under the influence of irresistible external forces. At the same time, the course of events and the way of things familiar to everyone are changing. Established views on the surrounding reality are also subject to revision. All this points to the onset of a crisis.

During such a period, it seems to many of us that life has come to an end, and the familiar world is sure to collapse. This state of affairs can cause shock to the business.

This is facilitated by:

• currency fluctuations;
• losses from broken transactions;
• new rules and laws for entrepreneurs, etc.

In such a situation, it seems to many that all the efforts, time and money spent on creating their own business were wasted.

Making the Right Decision

In a crisis? Maybe give up and put up with everything? After all, it seems to many that the collapse has come, everything is already lost. However, don't be discouraged!

Consider the crisis as the next stage of business, which is sure to be followed by a powerful impetus in development. The recession of the economy should not become for you sometimes despair, but a motivation for making extraordinary decisions and active actions. If you do not find the answer to the question of how to make money in a crisis, then you need to learn how to do things the right way, try to control all indicators and work processes, create a strong team of professionals and build a reliable management system. Only in this case, it will be possible to extract the maximum benefit from the misfortunes and troubles that have fallen on your head.

What does the crisis lead to?

A recession in the economy of any state causes the following:

• decrease in consumer demand;
• tightening conditions for banks to issue loans;
• savings on wages;
• reduction in the number of employees and much more.

In this regard, sales in a crisis will certainly decline. Consumers are buying fewer products, which is hurting many small businesses. Surviving a crisis will require the use of non-standard methods, which we will discuss below.

Finding a new market niche

In a crisis, when there is a drop in consumer demand and fierce competition? One of the options for making the right decision can be finding a new market niche. Your business should become highly specialized, intended only for a small circle of consumers.

To determine the main areas of activity, it will be necessary to find in time the sphere of unsatisfied needs of people in the product or service they need.
How to make money during a crisis, taking advantage of this? Quite easy! First of all, it will be necessary to identify a special group of consumers who need products that are not available on the mass market. The most profitable business can be started by the one who makes a unique offer to his customers. This will be the exit to a new niche. It should be borne in mind that you can create a unique business using unusual ways of working with consumers.

There are a huge number of options to start developing a new direction. At the same time, it is important to remember that in order to successfully conduct business, you cannot stop there. This is especially true during periods of economic downturn. Working in a crisis requires a constant search for new market niches and ideas.

If you decide to start a new business...

Downturns in the economy at all times are a serious test for those who are representatives of medium or small businesses. The consequences of the crisis are different. The weakest during this period go bankrupt, and the strong survive. As for far-sighted businessmen, they create new, most effective ways to answer the question of how to make money in a crisis. These enterprising people waste no time developing strategic directions that help overcome the difficulties that have arisen with honor.

Many do not dare to open their own business in a difficult economic period, fearing failure and ruin. However, you need to start a business when you feel ready for it. At any time, this is not at all an easy task. There will always be something to interfere with. However, the good news is that you will become your own boss and master, and besides, you will stop working for "someone else's uncle."

Do not panic for those who planned to open their own franchise business. If we wait for the time when the crisis subsides, then the most promising niches will be occupied by other entrepreneurs. You risk being out of work.

Business ideas in a crisis should be well thought out. Of course, no one is immune from failure, but such a risk exists even in periods of stability. When choosing the direction of a new business that will be opened by franchise, you will need to identify the sector in which a decline in sales is expected or there will be a demand for services that are not in demand during stable times.

One has only to carefully consider the first sector in order to understand which enterprises are not worth investing in. Their list during the crisis includes the construction and sale of gadgets, as well as expensive electronics, elite restaurants and much more. Survival in a crisis in these areas is possible only if there are powerful assets and there is no competition in the local market.

As for the second sector, it should attract the special attention of a novice entrepreneur. This is where you can earn a lot of money, despite the downturn in the economy. What are the crisis? These experts include:

1. Outsourcing. This is a promising type of business, as many companies will seek to reduce their costs. To continue doing business successfully, they will have to outsource some non-core processes. There are quite interesting franchises that operate with the offer of personnel outsourcing and outsourcing services.
2. Consulting. This is work to forecast consumer demand for certain types of services, to increase the motivation of staff and to increase the efficiency of their work. This type of activity feels great not only in times of a stable economy, but also during periods of recession.
3. Service. This is the most profitable business in a crisis. Promotion to repair various office and production equipment always occurs during periods of cash shortage.

These are the most relevant business ideas in a crisis. The most worthy ways to earn money can be found by conducting a thorough analysis of the local market.

How to work in a crisis for an already open enterprise?

With the onset of a recession in the economy, running a franchise business will have to be somewhat reconsidered. It will take the maximum concentration of all efforts to keep things afloat. This is especially true for the sector in which the most risky types of business are located.

Managing an enterprise in a crisis will require the adoption of some unpopular measures for the team. Among them are the following:

• Staff reduction. To save your own business, some specialists will need to be replaced by outsourcers. This will cut costs by up to fifty percent.
• Reduction of current expenses. Save the company's money will reduce the cost of purchasing new equipment, organizing corporate parties, as well as the purchase of office supplies.
• Keeping wages at one level, despite the growth of the dollar and the euro.
• Investing only in property that will generate income. These can be securities, real estate, equipment, etc.

Sales during periods of decline in purchasing power

How to make money in a crisis, when there is a drop in consumer demand? What business will be the most profitable under these conditions? To answer this question, you need to ask yourself first of all: “What am I ready to spend my money on today?”.

Most likely, inexpensive goods, without which it is impossible to do without, such as shoes and clothing, will be in high demand among buyers. This is especially true for items of women's wardrobe. And this is not surprising. Every woman wants to be beautiful and elegant. That is why the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity, let them not update, but certainly periodically replenish their wardrobe. During the crisis, sellers of fashionable, but at the same time inexpensive shoes and clothes are especially popular. This is the product that will answer the question: "How to make money in a crisis?".

Even during the economic downturn, children's shoes and clothing are in high demand. Kids are constantly growing, they just need to constantly change their wardrobe. Parents are unlikely to buy expensive models for their child, because they have to save on everything. But cheaper offers will be perceived by them with a bang.

If you have already decided how to make money in a crisis and have chosen to trade in shoes and clothes, then you will need to take into account some of the nuances. Fashion, elegance and sophistication must go hand in hand with an affordable price. For the cheapest and most inconspicuous models, demand may not appear at all.

Increasing profitability will be facilitated by the sale of inexpensive accessories along with clothing. It can be jewelry, belts, bags, ties, etc.

Providing services during economic downturns

How to make money during a crisis? Repairs are in high demand during this period. Everything that at the best of times we would throw away to make room for a new one will continue to work during a crisis. This applies to DVD players and furniture, televisions and washing machines, cars and coffee grinders, electric kettles, etc. During periods of economy, it is quite difficult to replace all this, and people begin to repair old things.

What kind of business can be opened in a crisis? What to do in order to earn money? An interesting option would be a tire retreading workshop. Many car owners want to save on their purchase. They repair shoes for their car in workshops that use cold welding technology. Tires retreaded in this way are equal in quality to new ones. Such enterprises are quite common in the US, Europe and China. In Russia, this niche is not filled, despite the fact that this is a very profitable business in a crisis. What to do during a downturn in the economy? Start your own tire retreading business. The cost of this service is 20-25 percent of its cost. This allows you to get a fairly high profit.

A good income during periods of crisis brings the supply of auto cosmetics, auto parts and auto chemicals. This is due to the fact that car owners tend to keep their "iron horses" in good condition, as they cannot afford to purchase new models.

During times of economic hardship, brochures with tips on how to get money during a crisis will be in demand. Articles on this topic are especially popular in difficult times. You can not only earn money on this, but also help others to do it.

Network marketing

When a crisis hits, don't panic. Try to review all your talents and determine the directions for their use. Those who love live communication are encouraged to try their hand at network marketing. During the crisis, this business has a particularly active development. Network companies, as a rule, offer goods of the highest demand.

These are medicines and cosmetics, household chemicals, etc. Such products are always necessary for people. I am glad that the organization of this business does not require initial investments and office space rental. You can do this business directly from home.

food business

This industry, as a rule, is not affected by the crisis. People need food even during periods. In addition, fresh pastries, as well as wedding and holiday cakes, do not lose their popularity. Do not deny yourself the pleasure and sweet tooth. They will certainly buy chocolate to somehow decorate the gray everyday life.
The goal of organizing a business on products is to find a free niche and form a price for your product that would please a potential buyer.

home staging

The most vulnerable during the crisis is the real estate market. Finding a buyer for a house listed by realtors is not easy. And during this period, home staging experts are in high demand. This concept means pre-sale preparation of the house. The main task of such experts is the arrangement of furniture, interior and landscape design, as well as other housework, up to the removal of an unpleasant smell from its premises.

It is worth saying that this business is very resistant to the crisis. They can be taken up by the entrepreneur who performs repair work and develops landscape and interior design.

Opening courses

Parents at all times considered it their immediate duty to give their child a good education. Despite the crisis, children continue to attend schools. For lagging behind, dads and moms will always find funds for additional classes with a teacher. The business of organizing courses for adults has a remarkable potential, where people can get a new profession that is most in demand on the labor market.

The conclusion from all of the above is clear. If you want to make money, there is always something to do. And crisis phenomena are unlikely to become an obstacle for an enterprising and courageous person.

The structure of demand is changing, the interests of consumers are being redistributed: hence the drop in demand for some things of the middle class and the increasing priority of durability over prestige. Some even remember that there is such a thing as Avito.

And, yes, we all heard about the fact that a business that is always relevant feels best in a crisis. Food, medicine, funeral homes, essentials. A business that is more than traditional and therefore no less resistant to any fluctuations and surprises of fate.

And yet, there is a growing demand for debt collection services, anti-crisis advice and safes. Too boring? Then we offer you some interesting ideas of anti-crisis business, which takes place and will help you and your clients to successfully survive the crisis.

“Actually, the ideas themselves”

• Loan to people from people.

Alternative ways of lending always bloom and thrive in a crisis: the people have no money, the people are over-credited, and the people are no longer very welcome in banks. But if the idea of ​​opening your own express loans does not appeal to you, what about trust loans? Its most traditional incarnation: an Internet platform that allows people to take money from people. The site itself earns on commissions for organizing transactions and, accordingly, should not have free millions and bear credit risks. Look at the example of market leaders - Lending Club has already issued loans for $ 6 billion and recently successfully entered the IPO.

• Sale of old iPhones.

The average life expectancy of a smartphone today is only 18 months. After that, emotions take their toll and it seems that you have long outdated trash. But what is a three-day cupcake for one, almost a cake for another. There are many options: in India and Africa, the second-hand market is flourishing, and in developed countries, industries that need valuable metals. You can go further and open your own shop: in order to restore the phone to its original state, in most cases it is enough just to update the case and change the battery. There are more people who want to buy last year's top smartphone at an attractive price than you think. For an example, you can take a look at the Sprint website.

• Underpants subscription.

Shopaholism is both adrenaline in the blood and hormones of happiness, in general, everything is complicated. But he's a total loss. Therefore, anti-crisis businesses for shopaholics are becoming more and more popular abroad, which are guided by the stylistic preferences of the user (or rather, the user) and send him (or rather, her) a certain number of things every month. This, in theory, helps to stop going to the store, and therefore limit impulsive purchases. In Russia, too, you can already subscribe to underpants and tights. Well, and for food: the Taste at Home service, for example, brings you a set of products and a list of recipes for preparing dinners for the week ahead. The number of products is strictly calculated, so you won’t even have an extra half of the onion left.

• Dress rental from Zuhair Murad.

There is an even more radical way to combat shopaholism - this is clothing rental. Most often, however, we are talking about masquerade costumes, costumes for children's parties, as well as evening and wedding dresses, both cheaper and from the most famous designers, who, in fact, the majority could not afford even before the crisis. Such a business is interesting, relevant, easy to organize in a crisis, can live at home, and at the same time will allow you to earn almost passively. Although there are rumors that today something like this is very popular in Spain.

• Place at the dining table.

If a loving wife is not waiting for you for dinner, then you go to a cafe or restaurant - to expensive dishes that are not cooked from the heart and in which worms are occasionally found. And if the question of sincerity plays a decisive role, then how about hiring hospitable housewives and helping them capitalize on their talent? You can invite people to family dinners in your "home restaurant", surprise them with masterpieces of author's cooking, well, or just cook food to go. You don't have to go that far for an example - see how it's organized in the SupperKing app.

• Taxi on the way.

Traveling alone is fine, but with good company is much better. And if we are talking about a taxi, it is also much more economical. Well, and add a little soulfulness that was mentioned above ... so why not give someone a lift along the way, especially if you often drive on a certain route or out of town? However, do not worry: someone else will do this, but for now you can think about what interesting things to borrow from SideCar and BlaBlaCar so that your interesting idea for an anti-crisis business works successfully and brings you handsome commissions.

• Lots of books at once.

Fans of reading have a real financial crisis: constantly taking real books for 500 rubles when you have a good reading speed is somehow too expensive. For those who plan to read just as much, but turn up their noses at untouchable books that cannot be touched and felt, there are several options: a national bookcrossing service or a subscription. However, whether you are going to offer printed books or offer unlimited e-books, you will have to take care of a smart recommender system: it is not so easy to imitate the experience of people walking along the bookshelves. They say Oyster did it.

• Virtual Assistant.

History is silent about who was so annoyed by the girls from the personnel and accounting departments that he came up with the outsourcing of accounting services. But it's time to send other tasks there that do not directly affect production. Marketing, SMM, maintenance of the catalog on the site… well, you never know what else worries businessmen at night, in addition to tax evasion. The service of complex outsourcing is an excellent anti-crisis idea for a business that will help individual entrepreneurs and small companies reduce the cost of maintaining employees and renting premises, and you will earn good money.

• Sale site.

It is hard to imagine that the crisis has come - and all people immediately stopped buying something. Another thing is that many of them began to look at prices, follow promotions and sales. And if coupon services are already half dead, then making a website that covers sales in your city and online is a good idea. You can make money on advertising, notify people about various discounts ... and, of course, be aware of what, where and when, yourself.

• Car repair.

The car sales boom remained in December. Many car dealerships have already taken a break, and some have closed altogether. But we are in no hurry to take their place: while they have a timeout, auto parts sales services, as well as maintenance, service and repairs, are in much greater demand. Too many car owners can no longer imagine life without their iron horse, and for them to get on the bus is like going through the seven circles of Hell. Use it.

It is quite possible to open an interesting and relevant business in a crisis. So something can be modicum and trade safes. And what? The lower the public's confidence in banks and the worse the situation in the country, the more people prefer to keep their savings in safes: in difficult times, their sales grow by 50%. Most importantly, take the first step - and act!

It often happens that plans for a happy and peaceful future suddenly collapse. It doesn't necessarily have to do with personal mistakes at work or bad business decisions. Globalization has affected all developed countries so much that a simple layman has little effect when the economy of an entire state or the world is in a fever.

Therefore, it remains only to accept the realities of the current situation and experience the constantly recurring waves of the crisis, thinking over what kind of business to do in a crisis.

What to do in a crisis?

In a world where fictitious capital is many times greater than real capital, a crisis is not something new and surprising, but it always comes abruptly and at the wrong time. Untrained entrepreneurs lose their assets and employees lose their jobs.

There are 2 options for a businessman during an economic downturn:

• Trying to restore and establish your former business, which may not be in demand at this time.
• Find a new source of income in a completely different area, which is profitable even in a crisis.

To make the right choice, you need to determine whether there will be any demand for goods or services that were steadily bought in the pre-crisis period. If such prospects are not foreseen, then you should look for other niches for the implementation of your business projects, determining what kind of business to do in the 2016 crisis.

When the population is severely short of financial resources, companies that produce luxury goods and expensive durable goods are the first to suffer. If the question arises, whether to leave money for food or pay a consumer loan installment, then the choice will be obvious.

Therefore, in order to successfully endure the consequences of the crisis, it is necessary to offer people goods and services for which they will willingly allocate money even in a difficult economic situation. So, consider a business in a crisis - what to do in 2016 and make a profit.

What to do in the crisis of 2016 - the best ideas

Essential Goods

It can be, for example, medicines or clothes, but food remains the most demanded product. You have to cope with hunger and thirst at any time, so the food business is the least affected by the decline of the economy. Meat, bakery and confectionery products, water and alcoholic beverages - all these goods are taken off the shelves, regardless of the ruble exchange rate today and how much a barrel of oil costs.

A businessman is required to choose a specific niche, correctly present his product and attract buyers with a favorable price, which will play the most important role at a given time. Such a business can be started even from scratch in your kitchen, with only a passion for cooking and money for the first batch of ingredients. And this is perhaps the best answer to the question of what to do in a crisis in order to earn money.

Car repair

A new car is a big investment in times of crisis that most people are not financially ready for. Therefore, the repair and maintenance of old vehicles are in demand more than ever. During an economic downturn, there is also a good chance to get the necessary parts or an entire auto shop from a ruined businessman for next to nothing.

Blogging

Social networks and blogs are experiencing a peak in popularity, and you can make good money on this. The blogger is required to be able to create unique and interesting content for a specific target audience, and all income is based on advertising that is placed on the site or used in the posts themselves.

Direct sales

This type of income is suitable for people who have a loose tongue and who can sell any product, sometimes even against the wishes of the client. An example can be taken from companies such as Avon or Oriflame.

What kind of business to open in a crisis - 15 relevant business ideas for 2017-2018

The most important thing is that this business does not require initial investments and the presence of an office.

Any investment during an unstable period is associated with a risk that many entrepreneurs are hesitant to take on their own. In these situations, they turn to a qualified specialist for help to analyze the situation and suggest what decision should be made. This is one of the best options for what is profitable to do in a crisis, for economists left without work due to the crisis.

Educational courses

Even in the most difficult times, parents strive to give their child the best education, so the demand for talented tutors never falls. Moreover, the crisis affects the labor market. To get a decent job, many people attend various specialized courses in an effort to improve their resume in the eyes of a future employer.

cosmetic business

The desire of women to be attractive and take care of themselves cannot be broken by any crisis, this is a fact. Therefore, cosmetics sales remain high even during the period of economic instability. For many girls, the very fact of buying a new perfume or lipstick is a cure for stress and allows you to forget about pressing problems.

Preparing the property for sale

The real estate market is very sensitive to changes in the economy, during periods of recession it is extremely difficult to find buyers for new houses and apartments, people simply do not have enough savings. The only ones who do not feel the impact of the crisis in this market are home staging specialists. The task of these experts is to give the property the best presentation (make cosmetic repairs, arrange furniture correctly or remove an unpleasant smell from the room). Such work is best suited to designers or experienced builders involved in the repair of apartments.

Caring for the elderly

There are a lot of elderly people who need daily care, but their relatives have too busy schedules, and they are deprived of the ability or desire to do it themselves. Starting an aged care service is not a bad business idea at any time. In addition, there are wealthy pensioners who want to see the world and have accumulated funds for this. You can help them realize their dream and at the same time make money on travel arrangements.

Environmental business

In recent years, the demand for environmentally friendly products has increased dramatically, both in the food industry and in the fashion world. Enterprises that do not harm the environment have become especially revered.

Sites for discounts and sales

Such resources are always in demand among consumers seeking maximum savings. But during the crisis, sites about promotions, discounts and sales become especially valuable, bringing the owner a good income from advertising.

remote employee

Large companies use any methods to reduce their costs. Issuing tasks for outsourcing allows you to get rid of the need to maintain an office and reduces wage costs. Remote workers also benefit. They do not need to spend money on travel and have the opportunity to control their schedule.

Online video creation

Going to the cinema is associated with considerable expenses, especially if there are popcorn lovers in the company. In this regard, and with the desire to save money, the Internet has replaced cinema visits for many people. The demand for high-quality online video has increased, and many sites have appeared where you can sell such content.

home business franchise

For those who are afraid to open a business on their own, there is an opportunity to buy a time-tested franchise that is designed for a business from scratch at home.

Online trading assistant

There are a number of online sites where you can profitably sell old or unnecessary things. However, many people do not know how these resources are arranged and how to work on them correctly. Such sites provide the opportunity to trade on behalf of others, and people willingly use the services of sales assistants who have a percentage of each transaction.

also interesting:

Article comments

Most people on our planet wonder about starting a business every day, but even more people are thinking about ideas for their own business.
A lot depends on the idea, because it lays the foundation for your future business. So that you do not waste time, nerves and, of course, money, you need to consider and analyze only really working business ideas.

What are working business ideas?

Working ideas for business include only those ideas that can bring you the desired and, more importantly, constant profit. In an idea, you need to see something that no one else has been able to see.

How to understand that an idea for a business will work and you can make money on it?

The idea for a business will become working when opening your business will allow you to earn an amount of days, which in turn will pay off all the costs of starting a business. Do not rush to conclusions, because at first your business can bring you a good income, but a turning point may occur and your small business will slowly die.

Classification of business ideas

I classify all ideas, because it is more convenient to analyze them and make some forecasts about your future business. They are divided into three groups, namely:

• Highly promising;
• Unpromising;
• Medium perspective;

Now let's take a closer look and analyze each group.

Unpromising

The unpromising ones include those ideas, by implementing which you will receive a temporary profit. Opening an ice cream stand is a good example. From this example, it is already clear that the main profit will come only in the summer, and in the winter you, alas, will have to bite your nails. So opening a business based on such an idea will be empty and hopeless.

What ideas are suitable for starting a business in a crisis?

Medium perspective

Medium-term business ideas include:

• Office chair with footrest;
• Musical bathroom;
• Sweets with natural juice;

You can read about all this in the article about ideas for starting a business. It seems that everything is fine, these ideas can be developed, but will you make money on your business in 2-3 years or later? Optimists will say - yes, but you need to evaluate everything as it happens in real life.

One entrepreneur opened a company whose main service was to provide citizens with the necessary information. Kind of like a help desk. This company brought him good income, but, with the development of the Internet, the service representing his company became simply unnecessary for anyone.

Hence a small conclusion: you need to think about the prospects of your business even at the "fundamental" stage, that is, at the very moment when an idea is thought up that should work. Let's move on and look at the last group:

Highly promising

Highly promising working ideas are related to a business that will generate income in five, ten and fifteen years. Such a business includes only one whose services will always be in demand. Based on this, you need to look for ways to create and develop your "precious" business. Such businesses include:

• Opening your own grocery store (people will always eat while they live);
• Opening a beauty salon (people will always want to look beautiful and this trend is growing every year);
• Clothing store (a person is simply forced to dress);
• Business related to the biological and chemical industry (there is a whole future behind these areas);

Conclusion: open a highly promising business based on working business ideas! Good luck to you!

Section: Tips

Publication date: 2017-12-08 18:06:26

Read also:

The thought put forward in the title of this article has not only a deep, but also a double meaning, allowing you to answer ...

The idea put forward in the title of this article has not only a deep, but also a double meaning, allowing you to answer the sacramental question - what to do with business in a crisis? After all, while some entrepreneurs are experiencing panic and losses during a crisis, others are making their own success story...

First of all, you need to understand what happens in a crisis in the three main segments of goods and services - for the rich, for the middle class and for people with incomes below the average.

Many economists and marketers agree on the following: the rich market remains relatively stable; the "middle class" market is rapidly shrinking, it is in a fever; the market for "those with below average incomes" is growing!

Why is that?

People who are considered to be rich, as a rule, have a good "margin of safety" and are in a big financial gap even from the middle class, which cannot be overcome just like that. Many of them may lose millions or even billions without becoming poor. And so they will remain true to their habits. Here are just a market focused on the rich - quite narrow. And the competition is high. And the start-up costs for starting a business are extremely high. Therefore, starting to work immediately on it is quite difficult, both in a crisis and outside of a crisis. In general, it's a matter of taste.

The market focused on the middle class is very promising in normal times and covers the widest segment of goods and services. But the crisis always hits the middle class especially hard. Moreover, not only (or even not so much?) materially, but psychologically. During a crisis, the incomes of some representatives of the middle class fall to the state of "poverty" for objective reasons, but the majority begin to save heavily simply because of negative expectations, fear for their future.

Therefore, during a crisis, the market, oriented towards people with "below average" incomes, begins to grow rapidly precisely at the expense of the middle class, either former or frightened. For people with incomes below the average, there is simply no opportunity to drastically reduce their consumption.

Accordingly, during a crisis, it is the businesses that grow best that are focused on those who are not going to spend a lot and save every penny. And we need to help these people save money!

What kind of businesses might these be? The scope for new ideas is unlimited. And a few traditional ones - I can suggest:

- inexpensive and the most necessary food - people always want to eat and drink;

- budget catering - see "point one";

- pharmacies - what most people save on last;

- repair of clothes, electronics, household appliances - what was simply thrown away in the best years, in a crisis, most likely, they will try to repair;

- stocks and second-hand - here, I think, nothing really needs to be explained;

- goods for children - diapers and sliders - this is something that few people will save on either ...

It is clear that in the price segment "below average" there is also fierce competition and earnings on one conventional unit of goods or services are much lower than in other segments. So you need to immediately tune in to work "according to the areas", attracting a mass client. How to do this is a topic for another conversation ...

But I promised to tell you about the second meaning of the phrase "in a crisis, businesses for the poor always grow." The fact is that a crisis is the best time to start or expand a business for entrepreneurs who do not have enough start-up capital. A crisis is a time of especially wide opportunities.

Business in times of crisis: promising areas

The rent of office and production space at this time is the lowest, the cost of real estate, in principle, is also the lowest. At this time, it is easiest to find qualified specialists who are ready to work at this stage for a relatively modest remuneration. In addition, you can save a lot on equipment - in a crisis, it is easier to find good used options. Well, the competition, be that as it may, but falls. It is clear that it simply will not. But when and to whom, in principle, is it easy in business? Just remember that difficulties only make us stronger, and hurry to use new opportunities. After all, the crisis is also not eternal ...

Aleksey Voronin shared his thoughts with you

Tags: Money and business, Voronin

Profitable niches for trade: pilaf via the Internet, knives, optics and much more.

Since the establishment of commodity-money relations, trade has been one of the most profitable types of business. However, during a crisis, the question of what is profitable to trade becomes especially relevant. Which product will be in demand for sure: already well-known and “promoted” or innovative? Low or high price range? Domestic or imported production?

To understand which product to choose for promotion, you should analyze the market situation in various segments, the prospects for its development, evaluate distribution channels and the level of competition.

Market situation

Nowadays, citizens' incomes are declining, and this entails a decrease in their purchasing power. According to Rosstat, in 2015 the real disposable income of Russians fell by 4%, and in the 1st quarter of 2016 — by another 3.9%.

According to research by "Romir", approximately 70% of our compatriots in 2015-2016. began to save up to 10% on the essentials: groceries, clothes, shoes, and other non-food consumer goods.

Sociologists distinguish four types of buyers depending on their chosen cost-saving strategy (see Table 1).

Buyer type	signs	Behavior
"Optimizer"	Men over 45 living in major cities	Refusal from expensive brands (21%), switching to cheaper ones (31%)
"Rationalist"	High income people	Make a shopping list (29%) and always follow it
"bargain hunter"	Women aged 35-44, low-income citizens, residents of small towns (100-500 thousand people)	Purchase goods mainly through promotions (19%)
"Thrifty"	Residents of small settlements, low-income people	They stock up on food for future use (16%), go shopping less often to keep their budget under control (22%)

Similar trends are observed in online sales (see Figure 1).

Fig.1. How e-commerce is growing in Russia*

*Data are presented without taking into account online orders of ready meals, tickets, digital goods, bulk purchases

In 2015, according to Vedomosti, they grew by only 3% adjusted for inflation (excluding - by 16%). This is 2.5 times less than in 2014 (8% adjusted for inflation). In an average online store, the check “grew” by 8% and amounted to 4,050 rubles, the number of orders also increased by 8% (growth to 160 million)

According to Data Insight statistics, consumer interest has shifted from electronics and household appliances to budget goods: inexpensive clothing and consumer goods. At the same time, the share of premium brands and expensive goods has decreased. The leaders are sports goods, products for animals and children's assortment.

Summary: the situation on the market makes us think about the formation of a fairly wide range, designed for an audience interested in saving. At the same time, the quality should be acceptable, since competition in the low and medium segments has been and remains high. The marketing strategy should be targeted at different categories of citizens and take into account their preferred ways of saving.

What do buyers want?

Let's take a look at what commodity is profitable to trade today, using the example of successful startups and the most popular franchises (according to Forbs 2016).

Food: pilaf via the Internet

Food items are among the essentials. Even in times of austerity, buyers will never exclude them from the consumer basket. So, in this niche you can take your place. This is exactly what the young entrepreneur Ilkhom Ismailov did. In 2014, he opened an online Uzbek food store Plov.com.

Starting capital - 1 million rubles from their own savings - was spent on equipping the kitchen and creating an order-taking website.

At first, the entrepreneur and his partners only sold pilaf, but in 2015 they expanded their assortment and began to offer sweets, salads, manti, pastries: sales increased by 88%. The online store's revenue in the period from January to April 2016 increased by 2 times compared to the same period last year.

The nearest plans include creating a franchise (there are already about 200 requests from potential franchisees) and opening a business offline: “We understand that we need to go offline,” says Ilkhom Ismailov. — In summer, people try to spend more time outdoors, in parks. We need to be where our customer is.”

According to the results of 2015, I. Ismailov became the winner of the “Young Billionaire School”, annually held by Forbs, and his project was recognized as one of the most promising.

Cooking at home: knives for amateur cooks

During the crisis, people began to visit cafes and restaurants less, but at the same time they still want to eat tasty and beautiful. This trend was noticed by entrepreneur Alexei Yakovlev and signed an agreement with Samura Cutlery, the largest manufacturer of steel and ceramic knives. By promoting the products of this company in the middle price category, you can interest amateur cooks in it. The idea justified itself: today, the Samura franchise (TOP-5 of the Forbs rating in 2016) has 250 points of sale (23 opened in 2015).

Initial investment - 250,000 rubles: involves the cost of equipping a retail outlet and purchasing a starting batch of knives. The franchisee's revenue is 3.75 million rubles, profit - 2 million rubles (knives are sold with a 160% mark-up).

Good vision for the price

Demand for health products is consistently high. This explains the success of icraft optics, a federal retail chain of stores selling ready-made glasses and making them to order (it has its own lens-turning workshop). Franchise TOP-12 of the Forbs rating. Currently, there are 130 own and 350 franchise outlets (120 opened in 2015).

Business geography - more than 100 cities. There are no royalties or lump-sum fees. For the entry fee (1.4 million rubles), franchisees receive commercial, lighting, medical equipment and a basic batch of goods.

The franchisor offers partners the opportunity to make up to 300% of the retail margin and, as a bonus, gives 50% compensation for advertising costs.

Revenue - 6 million rubles, profit of the franchisee - 3 million rubles.

For children's creativity

Investing in the younger generation is considered by most parents to be paramount and most profitable, therefore, among everything that is now profitable to trade, goods for children occupy one of the first places. Let's dwell on them in more detail.

If we talk about the offline format, then the franchise for the sale of kits for creativity "Orange Elephant" (TOP-15 Forbs rating) is successfully moving forward: 10 own and 422 franchise points. Franchisors have their own production in China of kits for drawing, modeling, design, decor. Today it is one of the most recognizable and rapidly growing chains of products for children, represented in 61 cities of Russia, as well as in the CIS, Europe, Asia, and South Africa. In 2015, 85 new Orange Elephant outlets were opened.

Initial investment - 250 thousand rubles. Estimated revenue - 7.5 million rubles, profit - 1.9 million rubles.

What is profitable to sell online?

Today, almost everyone can create their own online store. But not everyone knows what to fill it with. The editors of Segodnya invited experts to clarify this issue. Here are some of the categories they recommend for promotion and their marketing features to look out for (see below).

What kind of business can be done in a crisis

Table 2).

		What to look out for
Souvenirs, gifts	high demand (seasonal holidays, birthdays, memorable dates, etc.) you can sell goods of your own production with a markup of up to 300%
Goods for pets	the ability to order the delivery of the most popular items - feed and filler, which usually have a large volume, so it is inconvenient to pick them up from the supermarket a good solution for those who do not have a pet store near their home	goods with a long shelf life, therefore they are ordered with a significant interval: you will have to actively promote in a crisis, many people switch to animal offal feeding
Hobbies (diamond mosaic, felting wool, paints, brushes, decoupage paper) and collectibles (stamps, coins, antiques)	enthusiastic people are a grateful audience: they will always find funds for their hobby it is unprofitable to keep an offline store on this topic, since the product is not essential, but in the online version it is profitable (less overhead costs, lower price, higher demand)	many people hesitate to buy collectibles online because of the risk of fakes goods are not cheap, so the demand for them in a crisis will be limited
Goods for recreation and tourism	more and more people are oriented towards active and country rest attractive delivery of bulky and bulky goods to the apartment	it is difficult to find suppliers (China does not suit everyone) a lot of imports - currency risks seasonal demand many competitors

But not everything depends on the popularity of a particular product. In order for trading to be successful, professionals recommend selling what you yourself are well versed in. If the seller is an expert in his product, the buyer treats him with confidence and quickly becomes a regular, recommends him to friends. This must be taken into account when choosing your trading niche.

Questions and answers on the topic

No questions have been asked for the material yet, you have the opportunity to be the first to do so

Helpful information

What is the best business to do in a crisis

Not so long ago, crisis phenomena in the economy posed a real threat to most entrepreneurs. Today they have become so familiar that they are perceived in a completely different way. Truly successful businessmen have not only adapted to the permanent "crisis", but have also learned to take advantage of it.

It is impossible to deny the fact that the resources of the entrepreneurial market are limited and the situation on it is unstable. As for the demand for goods and services, it is not easy to predict it. Credit institutions are in no hurry to issue loan obligations to everyone and everyone, as it was quite recently, and investors are losing their taste for financing interesting, but ambiguous projects that may not pay off.

Profitable business directions

It should be understood that the absence of losses is already a benefit. Thus, the type of activity that does not require global financial injections becomes the most viable in a crisis. And, I must say, the market has plenty to choose from!

Consulting companies agree that in difficult times for the economy, the service sector has an obvious advantage. Organizations providing services are the most profitable. The problem for a novice businessman who has chosen this kind of detail is usually the rent. It is not necessary to hire employees at the stage of business formation: all work can be done on your own.

One example of a safe (even in times of crisis!) commercial activity is blogging. In some cases, the implementation of such a project will require the help of web developers, the cost of which services starts from $100. For this amount, you can get a concise, but working site.

The next safe business option is reselling. The “buy cheap, sell high” scheme has been in effect since ancient times. For a quick increase in turnover, it is difficult to come up with something more effective. Having engaged in reselling, it makes sense to adopt Internet technologies: in other words, to open your own store on the Web. The owner of a virtual outlet spends money only on maintaining the site, its advertising and, of course, on the purchase of goods.

What activities are relevant in a crisis

A profitable business is a business that is in demand, or relevant. Relevance is directly dependent on the purchasing power of potential customers, which, as you know, is also affected by the crisis. "Times of Troubles" make the consumer more far-sighted and, as a result, stingy. He won't waste money anymore. That's why the planning phase needs to figure out what consumers still can't refuse, and make a thorough analysis of their purchasing power.

In the West, the percentage of small businesses is much larger. Therefore, it makes sense to take a closer look at foreign trends and progressive solutions in this area.

European analysts have compiled a list of the five most promising areas of anti-crisis commerce. Here's what it looks like:

1. 1. Providing repair services. In times of economic instability, almost everyone is forced to abandon new acquisitions. True, for some it can be luxury items, but for someone - essentials.

   Eight ways to make money in a crisis

   But, one way or another, in a crisis, people suddenly realize that it is more profitable to repair many things that have become unusable. Why not give them that opportunity?

2. 2. Fast food. Since restaurants and cafes lose their attractiveness in the face of a decrease in the purchasing power of the population (and the desire to have a bite in the middle of the day does not disappear), you can bet on fast food. Fast food will always be in demand.
3. 3. Drug trade. This business requires an impressive start-up capital, but never loses its relevance: the demand for medicines is consistently high. By the way, medicines in the majority are not subject to VAT.
4. 4. Sale stores. Stores like "Fix Price" or "second hand" in times of crisis multiply like mushrooms after rain, and each of them has a good chance. Low prices and constant discounts attract not only young people, as is commonly believed, but also all those for whom brands do not matter, but the price does.
5. 5. Providing collection services. In a crisis, not only individuals, but also legal entities turn to collection companies for help. Of course, debt collection is not a business that evokes pleasant associations. But in an era of general aggravation of stinginess, it is extremely relevant and profitable.

How to run a business in times of crisis

The ideal of a "crisis" business is a break-even enterprise. The task of the owner of such a company is to minimize negative changes in the level of liquidity. Only in this case, the business will not only survive, but also develop even in extremely unfavorable conditions.

To keep their company profitable, many businessmen turn to consulting agencies for help. But such measures do not always lead to a positive result, and, of course, require funds. There is no guarantee that the recipe for overcoming the crisis, proposed by the consultants, will work in a particular situation.

But there are other ways to keep a business going. One of them is to minimize third-party costs.

There are also rules that must be followed so that changes in the economic situation cause as little inconvenience as possible:

• Maintain the ability to shrink the business. With regard to the nature of the risks, new players in the market experience the same difficulties as existing enterprises. The most dangerous risk is a negative change in the level of liquidity. The decrease in demand is not so critical compared to the lack of funds for the development of the business. However, the decline in consumer purchasing power poses a threat to inactive business - that is, one that cannot "shrink" and "expand" as the case may be.

  To minimize risks, you need to limit costs (primarily unreasoned) and avoid long-term commitments.

  As you know, small businesses mainly spend money on rent and salaries of employees (and staff turnover in small businesses is usually high). To ensure "compression", the renewal of personnel will have to be abandoned, as well as the indexation of salaries. But even these measures do not guarantee keeping afloat. Only a flexible business model will help to truly control the situation.

• Strive to maintain liquidity. Low liquidity in a crisis will inevitably lead to the death of an enterprise (or even an entire industry). An example of this is the many construction projects that were never implemented due to the 2008 crisis due to lack of funds.

  But if the leading manager is able to ensure at least some development of the enterprise in adverse conditions, the business has a chance.

• Seek and develop new opportunities. In fact, the crisis is a stimulus for development. This is confirmed by numerous examples. When the market situation changes for the worse, it is time to look for new economic niches. Many managers choose to "work in parallel." For example, the owner of a firm supplying office supplies may pay attention to office furniture. There are more daring options: for example, opening a cafe at a bookstore. Crazy ideas in times of crisis have a special potential.
• Change and improve. A good leader knows how to take the initiative. He does not so much act under the pressure of circumstances as he is ahead of these circumstances. When drawing up a development plan, he must take into account all the possibilities, both for expanding and shrinking the business.

  If an enterprise develops steadily and gradually improves under competent management, the onset of a crisis can only slow down these processes, but not nullify them.

What to do in a crisis

Creating a viable enterprise in an era of economic instability is a noble goal, but difficult to achieve. Any mistake in this field will have dire consequences. To minimize possible losses, a novice businessman must learn how to plan the distribution of investments.

A business plan should take into account a number of aspects: the amount of invested funds, the desired development timeline, income and expenses, and the number of employees. To assess the profitability of various business areas at a particular point in time, it is necessary to analyze the market. Identifying the most stable businesses, studying their policies and borrowing some business decisions is the surest way to succeed.

So, here is what the future business owner should take into account:

• trends in the area of ​​the market that he is going to master;
• investment in the production and promotion of services or goods;
• risks large and small;
• the possibility of losing money, unforeseen expenses.

It must be remembered that the funds allocated for business development, in a crisis situation, can become the basis for a rapid leap forward. You should pay attention to advertising (but do it wisely). And finally, it is necessary to calculate the profit that a business brings in "black times": in some cases, instead of trying to pull out a hopeless business, it is more reasonable to admit its failure and stop investing in a doomed project.

Western experience

Most of the progressive solutions are created and tested abroad. Both the New World and Europe have experienced many crises. Therefore, domestic entrepreneurs are advised not to lose touch with their Western counterparts, who have a lot to learn from.

And finally, the main thing that an entrepreneur should remember is that the most relevant anti-crisis business is not so much profitable as break-even.

How to increase sales in a crisis

Crisis threats can be leveled at a sufficiently high level and even used in favor of further increasing the level of sales. Read about how to do this in our publication.

What kind of business to do in the village

This article will focus on what kind of business activities you can do in the village. We will talk about the five most promising areas of rural business.