I Want to Start a Business But Have No Ideas. Here's What to Do.

Published under The Entrepreneur Hat on HatStacked.com

You’re ready to start a business. You’ve cleared your schedule. Opened your laptop. Maybe even made coffee. There’s just one problem: you have absolutely no idea what business to start. Here’s how to fix that... without a panic spiral.

Step 1: Admit You're Not the Only One

Let’s take the pressure off.

Most people don’t wake up with a perfectly formed business idea. That’s a movie montage fantasy, right up there with “the deal closed in one email.”

In real life, people find their business ideas by:

• Solving a problem they had
• Noticing what people complain about
• Realizing someone paid them for something they didn’t know was valuable
• Stumbling into it by accident

So if you’re blanking? You’re in good company.

Step 2: Look at What People Already Ask You For

Still think you don’t have any special skills?

Check your messages.

• What do people text you for help with?
• What kind of questions do coworkers, friends, or even strangers toss your way?
• What kind of advice do you give without realizing it?

If people keep asking for your Excel magic or your “quick tips” on organizing their pantry, that’s not just flattery. That’s market research in disguise.

Write it down.

Step 3: Mine Your Own Problems

Ask yourself: What annoying thing have I figured out how to fix?

That’s the beginning of something useful.

Examples:

• You couldn’t find a simple meal planner, so you made one.
• You taught yourself how to file a trademark without going broke.
• You found a way to keep your toddler entertained during Zoom calls (you saint).

If you solved it for yourself, chances are someone else wants that shortcut too.

Step 4: Use the Internet Like a Detective, Not a Doomscroller

The good news: your customers are already complaining somewhere. You just need to go eavesdrop.

Where to look:

• Reddit threads about your general topic
• Amazon or Etsy reviews
• Facebook group comments
• YouTube video comment sections
• TikTok “I wish there was…” rants

Look for phrases like:

• “Why isn’t there something that…”
• “I hate when…”
• “Does anyone know how to…”

Those are gold mines. Complaints are business opportunities waiting for someone to do something useful.

Step 5: Use the “Problem + Person” Formula

A business idea is not just a cool product. It’s a solution for a specific person.

Let’s say you’re good at graphic design.

Bad idea: “I’ll design for everyone!”
Better idea: “I’ll design brand kits for Etsy sellers who want to look polished but don’t have time.”

Or maybe you love cooking.

Bad idea: “I’ll be a food influencer.”
Better idea: “I’ll teach busy parents how to meal prep three dinners in under 30 minutes with zero chopping.”

Start with a clear person and their problem. It’s way easier to market that than “I make stuff!”

Step 6: Try a Niche Generator (Yes, Really)

If you're still stuck, cheat a little.

Try:

• Starter Story Niche Ideas
• Trends.co Exploding Topics
• Side Hustle Stack
• Subreddit Stats for niche communities
• Your own brain after too much coffee

Even if you don’t find the idea, it’ll kickstart your creativity.

The trick is to look at these as jumping off points, not exact blueprints.

Step 7: Don’t Wait for Perfect... Test Something Small

Let’s say you have a half-formed idea for helping people organize their inboxes.

Great. Don’t spend 2 months on a brand and a logo.

Instead, do one of these:

• Offer your service in a Facebook group
• Sell a mini digital guide on Gumroad
• Ask a few friends to try your template
• Run a single $10 ad and see who clicks

You’re not trying to get it “right.” You’re trying to get moving.

Test fast. Learn faster.

Step 8: Ask Yourself This Brutal But Helpful Question

“Would I pay for this? Would I pay someone else for this?”

If the answer is “meh,” that’s your signal to refine it.

You don’t need to love your idea like it’s your child. But you should believe in it enough to confidently say, “This solves something annoying. I can help.”

If you can’t say that, tweak until you can.

Step 9: Keep an “Idea Parking Lot”

Sometimes the idea hits you while you're driving, showering, or avoiding work. Write it down.

Use:

• A sticky note
• Google Keep
• Notion or Trello
• The back of a receipt
• That journal you bought but never used

Most bad ideas become good ideas with the right context. Let them marinate.

Also: the act of capturing ideas builds a habit of noticing them. That’s where momentum begins.

Step 10: Realize You Only Need One to Start

You don’t need the idea. You need an idea.

You can pivot later. Everyone does.

Your first idea isn’t your last idea. It’s your training wheels. It teaches you how to market, sell, serve, and stay sane.

Start with one small, real thing you can help with. Build it. Offer it. Learn. Improve.

That’s how actual businesses are born... not from genius, but from starting.

Final Thought

If you’re sitting there thinking, “I just want someone to tell me what to do,” this is that moment.

Start simple. Look at what you know, what you’ve fixed, what people ask you for. Package it. Offer it. Don’t overcomplicate it.

Ideas don’t come from staring at the wall. They come from paying attention, experimenting, and being just curious enough to try.

You don’t need the perfect idea. You just need to start.