At breakfast in a Venice CA restaurant, the waitress asked me about starting a business.

Question: A girlfriend and I are planning to start a fitness business in Los Angeles. Physical fitness is a passion for both of us. Presently, we work in a retail clothing business. — Deanne

Answer:

Deanne,

The sandy shores of Southern California are home to some bodies just as sleek as the slow moving cars in our perpetual traffic jams! There is probably no better place in America for the business of keeping bodies and minds in optimum condition. That means that you and your partner must determine a finely tuned niche to separate your business from many others. Part of the beauty of your intended business is that you can start with just one customer who you work with several times per week. Since it is a very personal business, word-of-mouth is the best way to build the customer base. You may remember the Billy Blanks "Tae Bo" craze a few years ago. He began the business in his California garage with a few pieces of used equipment. If you don't have a space right now, you can rent one. So, focus on two things, a clear statement of the benefits you'll bring to your customers and finding the first customer.

Success in business and in life!

Nelson Davis