Thinking of starting my own business....two different ideas.?

Ok, so I know a lot of people dream of starting their own business, and I guess I am one of them who has always toyed with the idea. I was recently let go from my job and think maybe this is the time to pursue it.

Idea 1:Consulting Firm, starting with Car Consulting(every aspect including the financial side) and if that's successful, I could add other venues.

Idea 2:Starting out with a brown bag lunch company and growing it....it's hard to eat healthy when at work sometimes, so this would be homeade food...sandwiches, casseroles, ect...Hey this is how Paula Dean got her start...lol

Anyone with any ideas, suggestions, or experience........

There's a pretty big difference between being a consultant or a freelancer, and being an entrepreneur.

First I'd recommend you ask yourself some real questions about who you are naturally, do you stress easily? do you procrastinate? are you a little bit ocd? do you enjoy roller coasters? :o)

Then follow those up with a plan, a financial plan. Once you have plan and a realistic look at yourself, you should visualize doing your chosen work for the next ten years, not selling your company and cashing in, but working and making the same or mildly more money than your previous employment. Are you happy?

If you get through all that and are still ready to go, find a mentor. Find an entrepreneur or a serial entrepreneur in your area that will mentor you. You'll be surprised how many people will be willing to share their experience with you and help you establish yourself in the business community you share.

When you're on your own its less about the "idea" and more about the purpose, knowledge, and desire. Ideas are bought and sold everyday, you'll need something to last much longer.

You could do car consulting for small businesses, or do deliveries to construction etc., or corporations.

Well, if you really, really want to know if either of those ideas will pan out you need to spend WEEKS doing market research and writing a business plan for them. I have written FIVE different business plans in the past 4 years, only to discover that the ideas were not so good after all. Spending the time to write a proper plan is nothing compared to all the grief it may cause you if you open a business without doing the research first, only to watch it fail a short time later. If you are not prepared to spend that much time on a business plan then don't even think about opening a serious business.