You don’t need to come up with a cure for cancer, and you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to produce a business idea worth pursuing. You don’t even need to be the first of your kind. All you need to do is execute your idea more effectively than your competitors can, and you’ll succeed. If you think you need a constant stream of ingenious ideas to be a successful entrepreneur, you might be surprised to find that you can discover your perfect concept today.

TYPES OF BUSINESS IDEAS

First, explore the different kinds of businesses that already exist. You’ll have a foundation for a profitable idea once you know what kind of business model is best for you.

PRODUCT-BASED BUSINESS

Selling products is a great way to start a scalable company. You might be ready to design a new product. Maybe you’re interested in retail. A product-based business does not necessarily have to ship directly to consumers, or even sell physical products.

SERVICE-BASED BUSINESS

Most entrepreneurs start a service-based business. With no products to design, ship or store, the overhead costs are typically low. If you’re looking to start immediately with little funding, your best bet is to generate profits by providing services to customers.

ONLINE BUSINESS

If you’re hoping to eliminate your commute with a home-based business, or aspire to work with clients from around the world, the internet is full of entrepreneurial opportunities. An online business can generate revenue from the sales of digital products, physical goods, remote services and more. Every entrepreneur should be familiar with the basics of creating a website and generating traffic.

SUBSCRIPTION-BOX BUSINESS

Fruit, wine and cheese of-the-month clubs have been well-loved for decades. This popular business model has moved online, where subscription-box businesses are delivering new and luxurious products on a recurring basis. Customers adore receiving a mystery package each month, whether it’s healthy snacks, makeup or pet accessories.

BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORE

Looking to serve local customers? A physical storefront will do just that. While there are heavy expenses and limitations to opening a brick-and-mortar store, some businesses work best with employee-customer interaction and a real-life shopping experience.

Now that you’ve been introduced to the basic business models, get inspired.

WHERE GREAT IDEAS COME FROM

The Simpsons episode, “The Musk Who Fell To Earth,” aired January 25, 2015, told the story of Tesla CEO Elon Musk as he found deep inspiration in Homer’s dim-witted ideas and transformed them into amazing inventions. Musk doesn’t really design self-packing luggage or hang out with lovable, yellow-skinned buffoons, but there’s real truth to the idea that inspiration can come from anywhere and anyone. Profitable ideas aren’t spontaneously birthed from the brains of masterminds scribbling away in isolation. The best ideas come from other people.

So, if you’re feeling a bit lost, start a conversation. If you’re hoping to sell products for first-time parents, for example, talk to them. Emphasize with their needs, and find out what is missing from the market. It’s much easier to find a need and fulfill it than to stew up an idea without genuine insight and hope there is a demand. Get involved in forums, chat up a relevant Facebook group, or join a local club to find your potential customers, and find out what they’d love to pay for.