Goal:

Evaluate a business opportunity.

What to do:

Your wealthy aunt owns commercial real estate all over town. When one of her tenants, anonalcoholicbeverage company, goes bankrupt, your aunt acquires the company's bottling equipment. She wants to help you start your own business. Because you're her favorite, she's willing to give you the space lease-free for the first year, and will sell you the equipment for just $1. You drink a lot of different kinds of beverages, so you're intrigued.

you need to determine the feasibility of a business before you plunge in.

1. Make a list of the positive attributes of this opportunity.

2. What kinds ofnonalcoholicbeverages might you be interested in making?

3. What do you think might make this type of beverage succeed? Are there examples of this type of beverage selling well already?

4. Who are your competitors? How would you rate how strong your competition is?

5. Your aunt is giving you a head start, but you'll still need funds to buy ingredients, bottles, and packaging, and to do marketing, employ staff, and pay utilities. Very roughly, how much money do you think you'll need to get started?