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Clark Howard's Tips

December 4, 2006

Clark is a big fan of small businesses and loves to hear stories from entrepreneurs who are jazzed about branching out on their own. The successful entrepreneurs find a niche in the market — usually a service that hasn't been met — and they offer it to consumers.

One recent story Clark saw featured a woman who started a mobile haircut business. Her employees drive around in Winnebagos and do on-the-spot haircuts at businesses and corporations.

Revenue in one year increased 800 percent and she keeps buying new RVs to meet the demand. Check it out at onsitehaircuts.com for more.

Another story focuses on a man who drew what he thought was "the perfect pen" while in middle school. As an adult, he took the idea to engineers and had the pen created. Now, they are flying off the shelf.

It's an ergonomic pen that eliminates hand cramps and calluses. Find out more at penagain.com.

If you can come up with an idea that serves a need in the marketplace, you could be a millionaire.

Consumer advice courtesy of