Leading Question

In Southwest Florida, possibilities range from mobile dog grooming to eBay to the hottest of them all (perhaps literally): coffee and tea shops. There are many ways to achieve success here, so it's just a matter of having the desire and finding a niche, experts say.

Growth in the region will strongly fuel demand for services. For example, there is plenty of work in homebuilding and related trades such as roofing or plumbing. "Construction will be pretty steady," says Suzanne Specht of Florida Gulf Coast University's Small Business Development Center, where she counsels aspiring business owners. "Handyman stuff, like retrofitting houses and bathrooms to accommodate seniors, is strong."

Specht is also working with several clients who see a future in eBay. Interest and activity are so strong that the development center will offer businesses an eBay course. Specht believes the online auction site will remain strong in years to come. "I think people are always interested in a good deal," she says.

Security-related businesses are growing as well. "After 9/11, there has been an increase in [document] shredding and data backup," she says.

Think the traffic is bad? Sure you do. That's why mobile services are thriving by offering animal care, delivery and other help that will save you from gridlock.

And Starbucks, watch out: People are very interested in opening gourmet coffee and tea shops, Specht says.

Her predictions closely follow many found in Entrepreneur magazine's "Hot List" for 2006. Tea sales, chocolate cafés, surveillance camera sales and installation, party centers and hair salons for kids, and business-to-business consultation are among many success stories expected for small-business owners.

Still, with all of the opportunity out there, some of Specht's clients are drawing a blank. "A lot of people don't know what they want to do," she says.

?-Phil Borchmann