What are some startup ideas?

In this day and age, more and more people are moving away from the 9 – 5 job model and are looking to start their own businesses. However, one of the many speed bumps that new business leaders encounter when starting their own companies is what niche the business is going to be a part of and what it is actually going to do. Well, out question to you is are you looking for some good startup ideas? If yes, then have no fear, for this blog post is going to give you just that.

On – demand Taxi Business:
In a time when most of our society is opting for public transport as opposed to buying personal vehicles, it would be a wise decision to start a taxi business. It is a healthy and continuously growing industry that will prove to be very welcoming for new business leaders who carefully traverse its waters.
Of course, to be successful in the taxi dispatch service industry, you are going to need a state-of-the-art software application system to host the service on. And in case you do not want to build one yourself, we at Cab Startup are happy to provide you with a cutting-edge white label solution.

Skilled Trade:
Skilled trade includes many different avenues such as plumbing services, carpentry services, electrician services, extermination services, cleaning services, etc. and each one is brimming with business opportunities. Fortunately, given how many different skilled trades exist, the industry has enough scope and space to be a successful environment for entrepreneurs.
If you are skilled in any trades and are looking to expand your outreach, or if you are simply looking to make a successful business then you are obviously going to need on demand dispatch applications because this industry has also found its way to the on-demand service business model. And of course, you can always opt for a white label solution in which case Odtap would be an excellent option.

Cafes:
If there is one thing our generation loves more than anything, it is food. As such, especially if you are on living in a small town then it would be easier to compete against larger chains such as Starbucks. This is true for various reasons, the biggest of which is that in small towns almost everybody knows everybody, and most people would want to support you and your business. Furthermore, there are other thing you can do to attract potential customers such as, being in a convenient location for vehicles, cycles, on foot traffic and offer a pleasant environment with theme appropriate furniture and some light music. Last but not least, you are going to have to make some fantastic coffee served by well trained and well-mannered baristas.

Food Trucks:
Usually when people think of food trucks they think of young people putting creative twists on popular fast food items such as burgers, hot dogs, etc. and that is absolutely true. The main attraction behind food trucks is trying all the new ways food can be made and eaten. But, that does not mean that food trucks must serve unhealthy fast food. Plenty of food trucks offer comparatively healthier alternatives as opposed to their junk food counterparts. For example, this one food truck vendor offers French fries made from apples. While that is not exactly healthy itself, it is still healthier than potato made French fries.
My point is, if you or someone you who wants to work with you is good at cooking and if you have some creative ideas for food, then you have a good chance of running a successful food truck, which if you play your cards right, can grow into a larger business.

Business plan consultation business:
Now, this one may sound a little odd, but starting a business that helps clients make business plans is actually a really good idea. More often than not, many new entrepreneurs do not have a lot of business knowledge and as such are incapable of producing a competent business plan.
Anyone who has proper business knowledge knows the importance of having a well thought out and documented business plan seeing as how it aids in gaining investors and it also aids in running the business itself. Therefore, if you have good business knowledge then you can offer your consulting services to new entrepreneurs and in time you can expand it to a full-on consultation business that dabbles in more than just helping people with business plans.

Conclusion:
As you may have already guessed, these are not all the business opportunities that you can pursue, but they are highly popular with large pre-existing markets which shows that if you enter them and if you play your cards right, then there will be a seat on the table for you.

Road to Future of On Demand Services Industry

Ever since Uber took the market by storm, the on demand services industry has experienced an incredible rise, becoming one of the most popular industries for most new entrepreneurs. However, just thinking up services and attaching an app to them isn’t enough to guarantee success; to achieve that, business owners need to understand the nuances of the industry they are operating within and how they can mold the business around the on-demand model in a way that works efficiently.

In our day and age, we are at a place where convenience is at the top of our priority list, and since we have experienced a steady stream of high-quality services lately, it has become tougher for new companies to meet our expectations, but if they do, then they will reap the rewards.

Success stories
Now, let’s talk about some of the biggest success stories in this industry:

Uber:
It goes without saying that Uber is most likely the biggest success story in this industry seeing as how it was after Uber came into the limelight that people began paying more attention to the on-demand industry. Furthermore, another testament to Uber’s success is that it has surpassed the $51 billion line with over 40 million riders per month.

Postmates:
For those who don’t know, Postmates is an on-demand food delivery app. The startup provides its services in most parts of the US in over 200 cities. Its major target audience is millennials since they are far too busy to take time out to go to a restaurant for food. Postmates gives them the ability to save time and effort by delivering food to their doorsteps. Moreover, Postmates has already amassed over, $280 million in delivery sales and has partnered with over 7000 restaurants.

Airbnb:
If your dream is to travel the world and you are wondering how to find rooms for rent, the Airbnb is the answer to your question. On the other hand, if you have a place you are looking to rent out, then Airbnb is your answer once more. So, basically, Airbnb is the travel app that solves the problems for hosts and guests offering high-quality services for both categories. As of 2017, the company’s annual revenue is $2.6 billion and it has over 5 million lodging listings in 81,000 cities over 191 countries and has facilitated over 300 million check-ins.

Target Industries:
Now that we have talked about who the current leaders in the on-demand economy are and how the on-demand model launched them to the epitome of success; let’s discuss why business owners should consider the on-demand model and which industries they can target.

Transportation Industry:
What has made the transportation industry so successful? Well, it was one of the first industries to be disrupted in the on-demand economy.; this comes as no surprise, but Uber is not the only option out there. There are other options too such as Rydr, Insta Drive, Lyft, etc. More and more cab and taxi business are now switching to the on-demand model, even the companies that existed way before smartphone apps were around have now built their own apps to compete in this highly profitable industry. Customers have become accustomed to the convenience and demand for such services is only increasing day by day.

The Rise of Self-Driving Cars:
What is a self driving car? As the name suggests it is a car that drives itself, and it offers its passengers a level of comfort and convenience like no other. The idea of comfort during transport and the increasing reliance on technology has become a cornerstone for the self-driving car movement. That’s why Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo has become one of the latest hot topics in the industry. Waymo is in a vast lead seeing as how in January they reached a deal to buy thousands of Chrysler Pacifica minivans which will be decked out with sensors that can see hundreds of yards in any direction. No other company is planning on offering rides-for-hire let alone preparing to carry passengers in more than one city this year; this can potentially revolutionize the transport industry and launch it into the new age of automation. It also opens up options for new businesses to invest in self-driving cars for taxi services.

Home Services Industry:
Introducing the on-demand concept into the Home services industry opens plenty of doors for those looking for an opportunity in this sector. Entrepreneurs can start an on-demand business for plumbers or electricians or carpenters or maybe make a more substantial handyman business and incorporate the previous three mentioned businesses into one. Turning such age-old and vital services into an on-demand model will not only prove to be beneficial for the business owners but also prove to be helpful for customers because the current smartphone-centric nature of the world will allow the business to reach a wider audience and customers will have easy access to these services.

Food Delivery Industry:
The food delivery service is one of the most dominant industries in the on-demand economy. According to Techcrunch, online food delivery still represents about $210 billion market opportunity. Furthermore, today’s modern lifestyle doesn’t leave enough time for people to make home cooked meals meaning they need an alternative; this is where the food delivery services come in, and most people are glad that they have.

How to Enter the On-demand Industry:
If business owners do not have the expertise required to build their own app or if they don’t have the resources to do so or if they don’t want to make it themselves, then a white label solution is the answer to their predicament. For every on-demand industry, there is a host of white label companies ready to provide their solutions to any business looking to enter the particular industry. Companies like CabStartup for the transport industry and Odtapfor just about everything else are some of the high ranking names in the list of white label companies, and they sell their state-of-the-art solutions at affordable prices to companies of all levels.

Conclusion:
The on demand economy is in high gear and on its way to becoming a role model for all future businesses to come. It is dominating most high profile industries such as transport, food, etc. and it has given rise to the advent of an entirely new sector, the white label industry; all this proves that the on-demand industry is the way to go for future (and current) business owners.

Why startups fail and how to run a successful business

How to Run a Successful Business

Generally speaking, more startups eventually fail than succeed, and while it is sad to see an idea fail it is also crucial to learn from the failure. Usually, the question becomes ‘what factors contribute to why startups fail?’ But the more appropriate question should be ‘what we can learn from failed startups?’ More often than not, some reasons contribute to a startups failure, and these same reasons are learning opportunities for you to improve the chances of success for future business ventures. The purpose of this article is to learn valuable lessons from failed startups, understand why startups fail and how to run a successful business by applying these lessons. Below are the lessons you can learn from failed startups:

1. Receive customer validation for your product/service

One of the main reasons why a lot of startups fail is that they produce their product or start offering their service without even first making sure that the customers in their target market want what they are offering. Therefore, before doing anything else, make sure that you understand your customer’s wants and needs without copying what some other company is providing or has attempted.

As an entrepreneur, you should always do something that is unique and different from the competition. Embrace that and always test your service or product on a small scale before going big and spending too much time and money.

2. Keep your operating costs as low as possible

At startup level, you don’t need luxuries like fancy offices and nice chairs. You should keep a close eye on every operating expense. Surprisingly enough, you can negotiate prices for almost all expenses. No matter how small the negotiated discount, take it because ultimately it will add up to a lot of saved money that can be used later on a rainy day, or rainy month(s).

3. Make sure you are not serving a small market

While it is essential to serve the market that is interested in your service or product, it is equally important to make sure that said market is not too small to support profitability or growth efforts.

Hence, it is crucial to remember that there is no such thing as too much market research on a startup level or any level for that matter. Market research can help you understand if the target audience will welcome your initial launch with open arms. Also, research the prospect for future growth and the efforts your competitors are making in the market.

4. Double down on sales when things get rough

When things get rough, the wisest thing to do is cut down on costs as much as you can. This situation requires you first to be proactive and then ready to do what is counter-intuitive.          Spend more money on sales. Put all your focus on sales because if you have a decent product or service and you are still not generating enough revenue, then the problem is concerned mainly with sales. So, hire and invest in an excellent sales and marketing team.

5. Understand the importance of co-founders and put together the perfect dream team

An entrepreneur understands that he or she is not capable of performing all the tasks required to run a thriving startup. Specific duties may lie beyond a founder’s capabilities, so it is unwise to run a startup as a one-man operation; this is why most successful startups are a team effort.

Every member of the team brings a unique skill to the table and you, as the founder, should have the ability to put together a dream team of excellent individuals, and you should also be able to harness the team’s strengths to lead the startup to success. Technical skills, creativity, communication skills and other traits are highly valuable and should be sought after when putting a team together. Also, remember to allocate specific tasks to people based on their unique strengths.

6. Focus on the company’s finances

Raising funds can be an excruciatingly long process. You can pitch your ideas to over a hundred venture capitalists, and maybe only one of them might find it interesting enough to invest in, so be prepared to stare into the eyes of defeat on a regular basis before finding a victory.

Remember that without money you can’t sell your product or service to even the first customer. You also need enough funds to keep your startup alive till you are healthy in profits and additional funds may be required for growth, emergencies, etc.

7. Marketing, marketing, and marketing

Assume you have an excellent product or service that caters to a broad market which is readily willing to accept it, but your startup still fails because the audience does not know about it; a primary attribute contributing to this failure is an ineffective marketing strategy. Many startups fail because they do not invest too much in marketing and rely on word-of-mouth alone. Word-of-mouth can only get you so far, so you should plan a massive and effective marketing strategy.

The internet is an excellent tool for digital marketing, but it is advisable for you to hire marketing professionals with experience in digital marketing who can bring you the benefits internet marketing has to offer most cost-effectively.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, failures can prove to be valuable learning resources, and the lessons they teach are essential in how to run a successful business in the future, along with following other good startup practices such as writing a good business plan, etc. However, it is still best to learn from the failures of others so that you avoid failures of your own.

5 Hottest Trends in App Development in 2018

Given the ever-increasing use of smartphones in today’s society, it comes as no surprise that mobile app development is the new worldwide focus for any company or organization that wants to compete and be successful these days. Each coming year has been bigger and bigger for mobile apps, and 2017 was no exception. Many companies realized the necessity of mobile apps as opposed to them just being optional investments like in the days of old. This realization was brought about by the fact that mobile is the best way to increase sales and meet customer demands.

2017 saw a number of around 254 billion free apps downloaded worldwide, which is an exponential increase from 2012’s 57.33 billion downloads; this alone proves that mobile development is one of the fastest growing sectors in the industry.

While for the most part, gaming, social media, lifestyle and Google apps are leading the mobile app market, Large and mid-sized companies alike are using apps for various purposes such as marketing, branding, customer engagement, etc.

We know that the future of mobile app development is as strong as they come, but we don’t know for sure what form that future is going to take. Below are some current app industry trends that may shed some light on where that future is bound to look like.

Mobile Payments:

M-Commerce is the term used for online shopping through mobile app, and while most online shops still require payment through credit/debit card or internet banking, more and more shops are shifting to payments through Apple Pay and Google Wallet; this will be an efficient way for companies to harvest data and provide in-depth analysis about clients. At the same time, it is more comfortable payment method for customers as opposed to the other options.

Internet of Things (IoT):

The internet (IoT) is a reference to physical devices now connected to the internet, collecting and sharing data. This idea of increased connectivity is becoming increasingly popular in the application development sector because now not only are apps required for smartphones, but their requirement also extends to other devices such as smart televisions, etc. given the need for connectivity on different platforms.

Although IoT still has a long way to go, it is here to stay, and it is a trend that is going to be a hot topic in the years to come. Analysts predict that by 2021 IoT is going to grow to $661.74 billion from 2016’s $157.05 billion at Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 33.3%; this is a direct impact on the mobile app trends seeing as how smartphones control IoT devices.

On-Demand Applications:

On-demand applications such as Food delivery and Taxi Services are a hot trend in app development these days given the ease of lifestyle and overall convenience that they offer. They make our lives more comfortable because they provide timely services, have multiple payment methods, are available whenever we wish, and most of all, they are convenient.

This is where companies like us, CabStartup, come in. We facilitate the on-demand industry by providing interested companies with white label solutions that they can use to run their businesses and ultimately make things easier for the customer. Therefore, given the popularity of on-demand applications, it is safe to assume that this trend is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

Cloud-Based Applications:

Mobile App developers are investing in cloud-based applications because through them it is easier and faster to gather data without impacting the user’s phone’s internal storage. With Dropbox, Google Drive, One Drive, etc. more and more apps will be cloud driven. Cloud-based applications are highly intriguing for enterprises since they can offer better data security that alleviates some concerns that enterprises have with other data security methods.

Globally, by 2019, cloud apps will driver ninety percent of total mobile data traffic, according to Cisco VNI Global Mobile Forecast (2015 – 2020). With a CAGR sixty percent, mobile cloud traffic will increase by eleven times.

Health Applications

With approximately 1.7 billion mHealth apps downloaded on iOS and Android by 2017 and over 100,000 mhealth applications in the market, it is apparent that this is a smart trend that is growing smarter and will make a home in the market.

In the old days, mHealth apps would only book a doctor’s appointment or show the number of steps a person has taken, but now we have Electronic Medical Records (EMR) apps. They keep a complete record of the user’s medical history, keep a check on medical issues such as cancer, Asthma, etc. and handle medical bills.

Currently, EMR is limited to patients, but will eventually evolve to facilitate doctors as well and allow them to view patient history, accept appointments, etc.

Conclusion:

The above-mentioned trends in mobile app development are only but a few of many exciting and popular trends which prove that Mobile Apps are the next big industry that every player in the market should keep an eye on. Mobile application development is in its Golden Age right now, and this age is not going to end anytime soon.

SECURE TRAVELING WITH MINICAB DISPATCH SOFTWARE

What a blessing it is to live in this era of artificial intelligence where everything is automated. There were times when people had to travel on foot for days to reach their destination. The traveling system is getting evolved ever since the invention of the wheel. Today, the time has come when a driver arrives at your door just after one click on the smartphones. This has been made possible with the introduction of minicab dispatch software. The taxi industry is using this changing trend to make their processes and earnings become more efficient.

Minicab is the best option among all other available transportation facilities available in the market because it occupies less space on a road and helps reduce the traveling time even more.

Minicab dispatch software is like the usual taxi dispatch software. The only thing that differs is the type of cars been assigned to the passengers.

It is also comprised of the driver app, passenger app, and an admin panel.

The driver app lets the drivers get logged in to get notified of the available jobs. A driver has given an open choice of accepting or rejecting a job as per his schedule. If he needs to take a break, he can assign a job to any nearby driver. The payments are recorded and a driver’s value is enhanced based on the reviews and ratings his passengers give.

A passenger can book a minicab just by clicking on his passenger app. As soon he clicks on ‘search for a nearby driver’, the app automatically searches for the nearest driver and displays all the relevant information of the driver and the cab to the passenger. The fare is also estimated in accordance with the arrival and destination location provided by the passenger. A passenger can also share the real-time tracker of his ride with any of his contacts. All these options make the traveling easier and a lot more secure for the passengers.

An owner can track the activities been made by the driver using his admin panel. Reviews and ratings given by the passengers and drivers are also visible to the admin. Based on these, an owner can make an important decision related to as who should stay part of his cab dispatch system and who should be dismissed. A vehicle loses its chances of getting lost or mislocated because of the real-time GPS tracking been provided to the owners.

All these elements work together in increasing the demand of the minicab dispatch software. Drivers get job opportunities, passengers get security and 24/7 availability of cabs without delays, admins stay updated about his business activities. That is the reason why the competition is growing in this industry.

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