these are 4 steps to brainstorming great new business ideas

You know you want to start a business - you want to tell your boss, "So long," and take your destiny into your own hands. There is only one problem: You are not sure what business you want to start. You might have a general idea that you want to start a business in a particular industry - like fashion, restaurants or e-commerce - but you have difficulty developing certain concepts. Or maybe you don't know it at all.

No problem. Not every entrepreneur will grow up who knows exactly what he wants to do, or he has a "lightbulb moment" when he is hit by a perfect business idea. If you are not sure what kind of business you should start, that does not mean you cannot become an entrepreneur. This just means that you need to rethink business ideas.

Here are four steps to successfully brainstorming business ideas.

1. Start your brainstorming by giving freedom to your creativity.

To inspire, you gather as much information as you can about small businesses, businesses in general, and business trends. If you have a particular industry in mind, plunge into information about this industry. For example, do you think you would like to start a restaurant? Then read publications and websites of the restaurant industry. Visit all types of restaurants in your area. Also, check out the restaurant's close competitors, such as bars, grab-and-go restaurants, food courts and food trucks. Maybe one of them will capture your imagination more than a sitting restaurant.

2. Next, think of businesses that you admire, use, and rely on in your daily life.

What do these companies have in common? For example, you may not be able to live without Amazon because it makes your life so easy. You may like to visit the local independent sandwich shop for lunch because he is so friendly and always knows your order in advance. Or you can not stay away from this little boutique that offers unique gifts for anyone you know. Write down everything that comes to mind, why you like these companies, be it the excellent customer service, the unique products or the way you get what you want.

3. Think about problems that you face in your own life.

Which problems frustrate you on a typical day? What did you want at work, at home or during your downtime? If enough other people have the same feeling, it may be that you have discovered a business idea. For example, your whole family may love sushi, but there is not a good sushi restaurant within 80 km. If there is enough demand, you may be able to set up a sushi restaurant or a sushi delivery service. Ask your friends, colleagues, and family members about their frustration. Some of the largest companies in the world grew out of frustrations or unfulfilled needs.

4. With the information gathered, you should have generated dozens of potential business ideas.

The last step is to isolate them. Name a few friends, family members or business people you know, and see what they think of your ideas. Better still, find some impartial people in the target market you're considering (like sushi lovers), and ask them what they want to see in a shop that serves their sushi cravings.

The word "impartial" is the key here. Talking to your friends and family about your business idea will either discourage you (because you're worried that you're losing money), or you'll be over-encouraged (each of your ideas will be praised).

Not only targeting impartial customers, but also advice and feedback from impartial business experts before taking further steps to start your business. SCORE's experienced mentors can help you assess your ideas, inspire you to come up with new ideas, and choose the best ideas for you when it comes to time, financial, experience, and ultimate goal constraints.