Franchises – I would seriously entertain the idea of buying a franchise opportunity if you are not sure about starting a business on your own. It is a good idea to talk to existing franchisees to see how well they are faring.

If most of the franchisees are making money then analyse why some are struggling and make sure you do not make the same mistakes. Do enter into a franchise where the majority of people are struggling to make any serious money. Buying a franchise business requires a minimum term of three to five years to make a decent amount of money. Make sure that the business you choose appeals to your lifestyle.

Property Investments – A very good idea if you invest wisely and are prepared to invest for the long term. You can ride out the price fluctuation if you stay in the market for a minimum of ten years. If you are lucky it is possible to make very good returns in just a couple of years. Make sure that the rentals fully cover any loan repayments and other associated costs.

Retail Outlets – You can make a decent business providing you find the right location where you get a lot of passing trade. The problem with retail outlets is finding one which satisfies the requirements of high passing trade with low rental! Many people make the mistake of assuming that if you choose a busy road then you are likely to have a busy shop. This only applies if cars have a place to park and stop.

Fast Food outlets – It is possible to make good money from a take away as margins are high and space requirements are low. It is far harder to make a success of a restaurant as seating takes up valuable space and most restaurants are only ever full at the weekends.

Whatever business you decide to go into, make sure that you stay away from investing short term in the stock markets. The best way and easiest way to make money by investing is to invest in the stock markets medium (five years) to long term. Pick stocks where you can see the reason for long term success and future growth.

Another area I would avoid completely is buying and selling currencies. The margins are small and short term investments are only for the serious experts. Even they sometimes end up losing money. Even longer term investments in the currency markets are fraught with danger as changes in one countries politics or economic conditions can ruin any chance of a slim profit.

Spreads betting in either the stock markets or in currencies is a definite NO! The majority of people who try out spread betting end up losing money. Any type of investment that is very short in timescale is best left to the experts.

Always make sure that you take professional advice before investing your hard earned money.