Entrepreneur magazine offers four ideas on how to find or create business opportunities:
1. "Tap the countertrend". This is sort of the contrarian's approach. Everybody else is running to take advantage of the trend. "Consider C&C California, the Los Angeles T-shirt company whose 'classic' T-shirts have struck a chord with women sick of skimpy, midriff-baring tops."
2. "Eat off the big guy's plate". Just think about all of the retail "drop-off" businesses that are popping up like mushrooms after the rain to tag along with e-Bay's success.
3. "Switch the niche". Find a new niche that with a little different approach would respond just as well as the niche that is already working with a product or service.
4. "Borrow a business model". Business models that work in another industry or even a different segment of the same industry can prove to be a great inspiration for new applications.
They also offer their list of "hot" business opportunities for this year, including some ideas for youth and seniors.
