SmallBusinessNewz

Starting a business can be tough in this economy. As you're probably well aware, it's tough to raise capital to get off the ground. People don't want to invest, particularly in something has yet to be proven successful.

This might be one reason that opening a franchise could prove to be a more reachable goal. While still not a sure shot, there are some areas that are looking more favorable than others.

WatchMeFranchise.com has a pretty interesting article looking at 9 hot franchise trends for 2009, which are as follows:

1. Woman-Focused Franchises
2. Fun Food
3. Green Businesses
4. Pets
5. Pampering Services
6. For the Kids
7. Business Help
8. Home Improvement
9. Year-round Opportunities

Some of these trends are a direct result of the economic downturn. For example, home improvement is expected to be big because of the decline of the real estate market.

"Many homeowners are opting to remodel their homes instead of seeing for a loss, or foreclosing on their loan to buy a new house," says the article. "Additionally, families that do move into foreclosed houses often need help making improvements to the property before they move in."

The business help trend is also directly related to the economy, because obviously business owners are already facing difficulty. Any business that can help their own business succeed is likely to get some business of their own.

The year-round thing applies to seasonal-based businesses. They give the example of a Halloween store staying open all year-round to capture business that they would otherwise miss out on, just to make up for economic woes.

It will be interesting to see if these trends come true. Do you have any other ideas for what types of businesses will be hot next year?