Weird Businesses You Can Surprisingly Venture Into

There are tons of kinds of small businesses existing that serves a wide variety of markets. Who would ever think that a weird business like selling in threes, cuddle sessions or a mobile wedding chapel could actually make a profit? Well, you may want to check some of these weird small businesses and see for yourself that you don't have to be conventional in order to make some profitable income.

Cuddling Service

There are times when all you need is the comfort of another person. There's nothing like a good hug or a warm cuddle, but what if you don't have the option of doing it with another person? So, here comes Cuddle Party in the scene.

Cuddle Party is a "playful social event designed for adults to explore communication, boundaries, and affection." These events are safe spaces where attendees can go to meet and talk to new people as well as to practice consent and asking for what they want, and of course, to just cuddle. Cuddling with strangers may sound absurd, but there's value in their mission to teach boundaries, consent, affection, communication, and non-sexual touch. The company was founded in 2004 and is a federally recognized non-profit organization.

Check out their website www.cuddleparty.com if you're interested to know more about this service.

Mystery Marketplace

Are you someone who is interested in something new but don't know what exactly to get? You can find the solution in the SomethingStore. This retailer offers customers who love surprises the opportunity to purchase a brand new (never used or refurbished) mystery item, or "something" for $10.

According to the SomethingStore's site, your "something" may be a cool shiny gadget, a rare book, a handmade necklace, a reverse clock, box of gourmet chocolates, portable tennis set, etc. Anything goes, as long as it's legal to trade in the United States and it's worth at least $10. Since it started last 2007, this weird business has sold over 200,000 brand-new somethings.

Socks in Threes

No matter how boring and risky it can be, doing the laundry is a part of life. Why risky? Because somewhere in the journey from the hamper to the dresser, you could possibly lose one of your favorite socks, leaving it useless.

With Throx, you can minimize the chances of handling another lonely leftover sock. The company helps customers fight the infamous "sock monster" by selling socks in threes, not pairs. That way, when you lose one, you've still got a backup sock to keep the other company, so you can keep wearing your favorite pair and doing your laundry worry-free.

Throx's socks are one-size-fits-all and range in price depending on the design, though most cost around $10.

Mobile Wedding Chapel

Are you in a tight budget but want to get married as quickly as possible? Whether you're sober or drunk, The Wedding Wagon is the perfect thing you're looking for. This unique mobile company founded in Las Vegas provides a full wedding ceremony for just $129.

You have the option to choose when and where you want to get married, and the wedding wagon will meet you there with a minister, a witness, and a fully decked-out mobile chapel. For an extra hundred bucks, The Wedding Wagon will even arrange to meet you at some truly beautiful venues.

Furniture for Slobs

Do you have a spit-up-prone baby or a territorial pet cat that sprays on every single furniture he sees? If you do, then we understand what you're going through when it comes to your home furniture. Well, you might be interested to know that there's a company devoted entirely to helping people like you.

Slobproof, a Maryland-based furniture and design company, builds custom chairs, sofas, and ottomans with specially engineered fabric that withstand spills and other messes without staining. Debbie Wiener, founder and CEO of Slobproof, said her design style marries the "common sense of a Jewish mother with the muscle of a professional wrestler."

Clever Budgeting Strategies for Small Business Owners

If you're currently running a small business, most likely you're operating on a modest budget. Whether you bootstrapped your business or you're trying to recover from few loans you've made to cover your startup costs, it has always been your priority to save up money as much as you can possibly can.

Sure enough, it can be difficult to track and manage your expenses if you don't have a thorough budget plan. This is definitely true for any unexpected business expenses that may arise, as they often do. If you want to keep your business operating in the long run, you'll need to plan for both permanent and unexpected costs, and then create and stick to a solid budget.

Here are some smart budgeting tips small business owners can follow in order to keep their finances intact.

Create a realistic cash flow projection

Don't expect that your business sales will live up to your projected market potential within the first or second year of operation. Your dream business may be awesome, but reality is often quite different. Even though it can be a challenging task to project income since you don't have any idea how your business sales will exactly go in any month, strive to be as realistic in your projections as possible. It's better to underestimate your potential business income than to overestimate when you come to budgeting.

List your important expenses

Expenses that are considered important in any running business include wages, taxes, rent or mortgage payments on the business property, and operating expenses such as power, water, Internet, and phone bills. You may also have legal obligations that incur a cost, such as registering your business name. When you estimate your initial startup costs, include all the important expenses for the first six months of your operation, as this will give you ample time to get your business up and running. Even if your business is just home-based, there will still be essential services and costs that you need to cover in order to make your business thrive.

Reduce your debts quickly

While it may be challenging to put up a business without incurring any type of loan, it should be one of your priorities to minimize your existing debts as soon as possible. Debts costs the business more in interest repayments, so having a budget that has the business operating in the black sooner is always a good choice. If ever you do take out a debt for your business, see to it that you able to make repayments every month.

Avoid spending all of your profits

Make it a habit to keep some of your profits in reserve to cover any contingencies. Work out a spending budget that spends less than what your business is expected to generate. Even if your business is operating at your home, do not pay yourself all of the profits each month. Instead, try to work out a reasonable wage for yourself and pay it regularly, as part of the budgeted expenses each month. Stick to your finalized budget and keep the additional profits aside. That way, you'll have some reserve funds to cover the times if your business' sales fall short unexpectedly.

Constantly revisit your budget

Your budget will never be static or consistent -- it will change and evolve along with your business, which means you need to keep adjusting it based on your business' growth and profit patterns. Sooner or later, you will need to revise your monthly and annual budgets regularly to get a clearer, updated picture of your business finances.

Top 5 Laptop Models That are Great for Business Use This 2015

While personal computers have higher storage capacities and faster processors, laptops offer features and benefits that are almost the same, sometimes even more, which made students and business owners to turn towards getting the best laptops in the market today. Laptops provide users with easier access, greater efficiency, and unrivaled portability. The last one mentioned is basically the main advantage of having a laptop. Having a small-sized computer allows users to carry it anywhere, allowing them to work on their task or perform any kind of computer work anytime. A laptop consumes much less power compared to a desktop computer and can still work using its batteries in case a power outage occur. Also, there are several private and public wireless networks that provide easy access of the Web to its users.

Here we have a list of top laptop models that are perfect for business people. Each one has a feature that will meet your every business need.

Lenovo ThinkPad T450s

This laptop is made for business because of its fast performance, long battery life, and the best keyboard anywhere. That's why this 14-inch notebook, an update to the former T440s, is considered as the best overall work laptop. The ThinkPad T450s boasts a sharp and clear full-HD display, a durable design, and perks like Lenovo's TrackPoint pointing stick, which provides more precise navigation than the touchpad. The notebook also provides approximately 16 hours and 1 minute battery life if you opt for Lenovo's extended battery.

Key features:

• TrackPoint pointing stick
• Hot-swappable battery
• Fingerprint reader (optional)
• Solid state drive (optional)
• Touch screen (optional)

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

Dell XPS 13

If you're a business owner who frequently travels, the Dell XPS 13 is the right laptop for you. Dell managed to cram a 13-inch notebook into the footprint of an 11-inch system by trimming the bezel around the display. It's less than half of what you would normally find on most other notebooks with just 0.2 thick. The XPS 13 is compact and well-built, with a gorgeous screen, fast performance, and surprisingly good audio quality. You may have to pay a lot of extra to get it with a touchscreen, but even then, it's priced in line with other flagship Ultrabooks -- and in some ways it's a better choice, too.

Key features:

• Edge-to-edge display
• Thin and light design
• Small footprint
• Solid state drive 
• Touch screen (optional)

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro

If you're looking a business-oriented notebook that has a versatile function, Lenovo's Yoga 3 Pro is your best candidate. This 2-in-1 hybrid device can fold backward a full 180 degrees, which allows you to use it like a large tablet or fold out the keyboard if you need to get down to work. The Yoga 3 Pro boasts an elegant watchband-style hinge that gives it a thinner overall design. Some other features include an awesome 3,200 x 1,800 pixel touchscreen display, fast Core M processor and a lightweight design of 2.6 lbs only.

Key features:

• Thin and light design
• Convertible laptop/tablet
• Solid state drive 
• Touch screen (optional)

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is undoubtedly the most attractive and capable device Microsoft has ever produced. This laptop/tablet hybrid is designed for use with a keyboard, even though the accessory is sold separately. The Type Cover keyboard is one of the better tablet keyboards you will find, with its superthin design and good trackpad. Its 12.2-inch tablet display is spacious and sharp, which provides a surprising amount of real estate to work on. The Surface Pro 3 has a stylus included, allowing you to take notes directly on the pressure-sensitive display. Another great thing about the Surface Pro 3 is its built-in kickstand that comes useful for taking down notes because it gives users a good angle for writing.

Key features:

• Thin and light design
• 2-in-1 hybrid (detachable keyboard sold separately)
• Pressure-sensitive display
• Pen included
• Solid state drive 
• Touch screen 

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

MacBook Air (13 inch, 2014)

The Apple MacBook Air is a winning choice for business users who want an ultraportable notebook with lasting battery power, where tests claimed that the superthin device lasted for a good 12 hours. Even though its 13-inch display could be sharper, you'll be compensated with its premium aluminum build, comfortable keyboard, precise touchpad, and new ways to connect your MacBook to your iPhone. It may not have a Retina display, but this notebook does have a slightly more powerful processor that doesn't ding the battery life, and it's $100 cheaper. This gives users a compact, powerful, and productive laptop that will definitely suit many business users' needs.

Key features:

• OS X Yosemite
• iPhone continuity
• Solid state drive
• Thin and light design
• Long battery life