Travel and Leisure

Since around 2008, there has been a global recession which has seen hundreds of businesses go bankrupt and tens of thousands of decent people lose their jobs. When I was teaching at s University, there were still numerous opportunities for graduates because there were plenty of jobs available, but nowadays, students really need to consider their future career path very carefully. Despite the slump, it's not all doom and gloom and there are some industries which continue to thrive. If you're unemployed or your company is no longer trading, you are probably trying to get your life back on track and so I have compiled a list of online franchise opportunities that are proven to be included in recession proof industries, which in my opinion are going from strength to strength.

The Online Travel Industry

Even when money is tight, the majority of people will live frugally so that they can afford a vacation. The truth is that families want to escape the economic downturn and have some fun in the sun for a couple of weeks. They are normally on a tight budget so they usually opt for an online travel agency who can accommodate them within their price range.

Aside from vacations and short breaks, people will always need to travel for business purposes and want to find the most economical deals for hotels and flights (many companies don't spend as much money on travel for employees these days due to the recession). By offering great value travel, you are providing a good service and businesses who offer any type of service will usually survive an economic downturn.

Pet Grooming

No matter what state the country is in, people will always love their pets. Pet grooming franchises continue to prosper even during bad times. It's strange but people are willing to spend extravagantly when it comes to the appearance of their pet. It's as if the pet is a statement to the rest of society that 'I can afford for my pet to look fantastic'. Groomers that are skilled in this area can be in very high demand and most of them are booked up months in advance.

Web Design

In these modern times, all businesses require some form of Internet presence and this usually means a custom built web site. Customers expect a business to have a professional and modern web site where they can get all the information they need in order to decide whether to avail a specific product or service. This often means having a customer forum, a blog, a shopping cart as well as connections to social sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Web sites have become very complex to build and maintain so there is a tremendous opportunity for web designers who can meet this increasing demand. Because web design is such as specialized area, it is possible to charge a high rate for a professional design service and businesses are more than willing to pay. Being able to offer web design expertise will enable you to offer a useful service to many fledgling businesses which will certainly help the economy to grow.

Cleaning Services

The demand for cleaning services has grown steadily over the last few years and it doesn't seem to be affected too much by the recession. Cleaning services are always required by both businesses and individuals. A company wants their premises to be clean not just for the benefit of their staff, but to set a good impression for their customers. Many busy individuals or young couples are also quite happy to pay for cleaning services. They spend more time working and have less time to spend on cleaning around the house.

Coaching and Mentoring

This is one area where demand is flourishing. Thousands of people, who have lost their jobs or simply want to try a new direction, are looking for help from business experts. They are happy to pay a professional mentor to gain the benefit of their expertise. Coaching and mentoring franchises are doing well during the recession, simply because the demand for this type of personal service is on the increase.

You should not necessarily feel that recession means that your prospects seem bleak. By using your initiative you can invest your time and energy into an online franchise business under one of the recession proof industries that I have recommended and start looking forward to a brighter future.