The unemployment rate is 10.2%. The under employment rate is over 17%. Employers are not expected to return to positive employment levels before 2011. What is your Plan B? For many the solution is to start their own business.

Reasons and Advantages for Becoming an Entrepreneur: Employees rarely get rich unless they have stock, golden parachutes or lucrative bonus programs. Entrepreneurs have been shown to amass more personal fortunes through the development of their companies. Owning your own business provides the opportunity to have control over your life and job.

Need help starting or growing a business? 

Free, easy access to the small business help you need-when you need it. Over 125 nonprofit business-building resource organizations provide services to established, emerging  and start-up St. Louis small businesses.

StlSourceLink connects a network of resource organizations in the St. Louis region that provide business-building programs and services for small businesses.

Start Up Ideas:

Senior Care is one of the fastest growing businesses. The U.S. population is rapidly aging and needs at home assistance. In St. Louis almost 40% or 39.8% of the population is 45+ years of age. There are 2,803,707 persons living in St. Louis, MO-IL. Source: U.S. Census 2008.

Regency Senior Care is non-medical home care for seniors, new mothers and those recovering from surgery or illniess. Regency Senior Care has a lost cost franchise fee and does not require expensive real estate for operation. You will receive professional and ongoing training. Click the logo for FAQ. Call Keith Kassel to more information. 314.849.2100.

Direct selling is a dynamic, vibrant, rapidly expanding channel of distribution for the marketing of products and services directly to consumers.

Direct selling provides important benefits to individuals who desire an opportunity to earn an income and build a business of their own;

to consumers who enjoy an alternative to shopping centers, department stores or the like; and to the consumer products market. It offers an alternative to  shopping centers, department stores or the like; and to the consumer products market. It offers an alternative to traditional employment for those who desire a flexible income earning opportunity to supplement their household income, or whose responsibilities or circumstances do not allow for regular part-time or full time employment. In many cases, direct selling opportunities develop into a fulfilling career for those who achieve success and choose to pursue their independent direct selling business on a full time basis.

The cost for an individual to start an independent direct selling business is typically very low. Usually, a modestly priced sales kit is all that is required for one to get started, and there is little or no required inventory or other cash commitments to begin. This stands in sharp contrast to franchise and other business investment opportunities which may require substantial expenditures and expose the investor to a significant risk of loss.