ICE-CREAM MAKER

The only education you need for this job is the instruction manual to an ice-cream churn and a few different recipes. Invent your own. Who knows? Maybe the world is finally ready for Zucchini Maple Swirl! Once you've practiced making ice cream, ask your family and friends to sample your creations. Listen carefully and take their advice on how to improve your recipes. Taste buds don't lie—major food manufacturers pay millions of dollars a year to food testers, so value the free advice.

Once you become a skilled ice-cream maker, the next step will be to organize. This includes finding out where to get the best-tasting yet cheapest ingredients to make your product as original as possible. Try not to be so economically minded that it hurts the quality of your product.

When you feel you have it all down to a science, you should try to sell your wares. Explore the cost of packaging and health safety issues for the manufacturing of food before you take your product to the streets. There are plenty of small businesses that like to carry homemade foods and desserts to give their businesses a unique touch. Try local gourmet shops and caterers. Many communities have arts-and-crafts fairs—set up a stand and show them your art. Sell it to your family's coworkers or relatives. If you are serious about starting a business and hit the ground running, you will see results.

Obviously, this is a venture that should be attempted in your spare time to see if it will be a financially successful project. Many small food businesses start at home; you can do it, too.