Tina –

Owning your own business can be exciting and
challenging.  I started my own business
in 1990.

Becoming an entrepreneur offers many challenges.  The first is to be sure that you have the
characteristics to be an entrepreneur. 
Since you have worked with a career coach already, then you probably
have taken an assessment to identify the type of environment where you would be
the most successful. If not, I suggest you do so as a first step. Many clients
with whom I have worked liked the idea of being their own boss but lacked some
of the characteristics that could make them successful and ensure that their
business will survive and thrive.

Here are some areas to consider. 

Do you have depth of knowledge of the business you want to
engage in?  If you do not, then do you
plan to partner with someone who does?

Have you completed the research as to the market,
competition, the need, the geographical location that would ensure success?

Have you created a business plan as to how you will operate?
Where will your investment capital come from? 
How much you will need to carry you until you make a profit? How much
income you can expect to generate and what will your expense be in the first
year?  Who will your customer base be and
how do you plan to attract them?

Are you capable of personally managing the finances, develop
the marketing, performing the sales function, manage the operations and
producing the work?  If there is any one
of these areas that are not among your talents, how will you fill that gap?

One approach when starting a business is to have a source of
income to help you finance the growth of your business.  That may suggest that you maintain a part
time job while you build the business.

You mention several potential businesses:  A bar, a salon, a boutique and a home-based
business. These are extremely varied in the requirements for knowledge, talent,
manpower and financials, etc.  You need
to narrow things down and the best way to do that is to conduct research in
advance and develop a business plan that will lead you to the most likely to
succeed.

You can learn more about preparing a Business Plan
online.  Get a template of business plan.  Talk to people who have started such a
business.  It might even be a good idea
to work for such a business for a while to learn first-hand the ins and outs.  You can also meet with SCORE, or  (NAWBO),
National Association of Women Business Owners or the Women’s Business
Development centers to gain information and guidelines.

I
hope some of these ideas are helpful to you.

Margot