The business opportunity

Throughout homes in North America, the impact of the home improvement boom has covered every square foot of the house except the most neglected and cluttered space, the garage. While large companies like Whirlpool Corporation have entered the high-end do-it-yourself garage organization market with its Gladiator™ GarageWorks line, the market is open for companies providing complete service including installation.

GarageTek is the industry pioneer with over 67 franchises in the business since 2000. GarageTek uses patented PVC wall panels providing durability and flexibility in design. With garage organizer installations costing from $1000 to $10,000, the primary market is upscale. Targeting the garage organization market means catering to the affluent male market.

Driving Force: According to Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, the Remodeling Activity Indicator (RAI) saw homeowner improvement expenditures increasing again to an estimated $129.3 billion dollars on home improvements and repairs. Driven by low interest rates and a solid housing market, home improvements continue to grow, making the new home improvement category of garage organization poised for more growth.

Risks: This business opportunity is driven by the booming real estate market and the low-interest rate environment. Can this housing boom continue? "Increasingly Americans view houses not primarily as places to live but as foolproof, can't-lose investments. The passionate faith that money poured into real estate will magically multiply is creating a self-fulfilling speculative frenzy that's bound to end badly," says Shawn Tully in Fortune magazine's feature "Is the Housing Boom Over?" Whether or not the boom is a bust, any smart business owner will run some worst-case scenarios to have a contingency plan in place.

Everything's Poker

Opportunities in this gaming market can range from customized poker chip production to poker boot camps. In this hyper-competitive market more mosaic routes might be best.


One such entrepreneur to take advantage of the poker boom is 27-year old Bhu Srinivasan. With the launch of a new poker magazine called "All In", Srinivasan fills a niche in a fast-growth market. Magazine corporate sponsors include Belvedere Vodka and Samuel Adams with feature stories from top poker players like Howard Lederer and Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson.

Poker skills are not a requirement to participate in this hot business opportunity. The WorthGroup of Nevada specializes in the construction of casinos making $45 million in 2003. Fast enough growth to make the Inc 500 list in 2004.

Driving Force: Shows like ESPN's World Series Of Poker and Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown have helped popularize the poker craze. Add the overall growth of the gaming business to poker and you have a business opportunity hit.

Risks: Whether poker is viewed as a game of skill or game of chance, there are legal and moral issues involved in the gaming business. Using legal counsel to interpret government laws and regulations is in the best interest to reduce some of the potential risks of a venture in this category.