Is your idea box empty? To start a business, you need an idea (not necessarily a brilliant one) and customers. Here are 10 ways to find the beginnings of an idea. As for customers, we’ll let you go hunting.
Ideas and trends for starting your business
Circular economy, indoor sports and leisure, crafts, naturalness, private security… In 2025, these sectors promise to be particularly promising for starting a business or developing a complementary activity within one’s company. Driven by the need to escape, by new laws to protect the environment, by the need to regain purchasing power after the inflationary crisis or by the desire to find meaning in work and life, these trends are definitely in the air.
1.Open a sports or leisure center
After the frustrations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for escape and physical well-being has never been greater. This is a boon for indoor leisure and sports. Boxing gyms, karaoke bars, and padel courts are opening up all over the place. For the Xerfi group, which has estimated this market at €6.5 billion in 2022, trampoline gyms, escape rooms, and climbing centers will record the best annual growth rates between now and 2025.
Climbing District, the leader in climbing bouldering in Paris, has launched no fewer than six gyms in three years. The startup has managed to raise €10 million from private investors this year because it has been profitable since its first opening, despite an entry fee of €1.2 million to €2.5 million to set up a gym in Paris.
Karaoke is also experiencing a revival. BAM (a Singtime company) has nine locations, including five in Paris, one in Bordeaux, two in Madrid, and a more recent addition in London. Modern design, digital services, private spaces… nothing like the karaoke bars of yesteryear. As with climbing, the choice of location is crucial for attracting a local clientele and covering significant fixed costs.
2.Reduce waste
20% of public sector purchases must come from the reuse sector. This is one of the key measures of the Agec law of February 10, 2020. Conveniently founded that same year, Vesto, a specialist in the reconditioning of professional catering equipment, is one of dozens of start-ups to benefit directly from it. Ovens, refrigerators, and fryers… 80% of what it recovers is repaired and resold by a team of 37 people. Supported by impact funds and the Banque des Territoires, the company plans to generate at least €3 million in revenue by 2024.
As for actors in the social and solidarity economy, the law provides that eco-organizations in sectors with extended producer responsibility (furniture, electronic products, construction, etc.) must obligatorily allocate budgets to their reuse projects.
For Muto, which collects and reuses furniture and decor from events, it wasn’t legislation but the temporary venues for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games that boosted its revenue. The €1 million turnover mark is reportedly within sight for the startup, which helps agencies and production companies implement their CSR initiatives.
To find out more
– Web platform Act for the transition: to request financial aid online from ADEME (support for studies and diagnostics, support for investments).
– Circular Economy Incubator of the Paris & Co network: targets innovations around reuse and repair in particular. Other structures in the region: Cycl’Op in Occitanie, ADECC in Pays de Loire for example.
3.Improve purchasing power
According to 63% of French people, their current budget barely allows them to cover basic expenses such as housing, heating, fuel and, of course, food. “Faced with the challenge of inflation , the frustrated middle class is opportunistic in its purchasing actions. It favors promotions, the lowest prices in supermarkets and hard-discount brands,” notes Rémy Oudghiri, director of Sociovision, the institute that conducted the study.