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Sean Duffy, the new transportation secretary, is facing his first major crisis just hours after his swearing-in. Duffy, who was confirmed by the Senate Tuesday, quickly emerged as a public face of the federal government’s response to the deadly plane crash at Reagan National Airport, the closest airport to Washington, D.C. An Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members Wednesday night while the plane was landing, sending it careening into the frigid Potomac River. All onboard are feared dead in what is shaping up to be the deadliest U.S. air crash in decades. “Our new Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy — his second day on the job when that happened. That’s a rough one,” Trump said as they appeared together during a White House briefing Thursday. “Great gentleman. Just started. It’s not your fault,” he later said. Here are some things to know about Duffy: He was on scene at the airport and by Trump’s side at the White House Duffy appeared alongside Washington D.C.’s mayor and other local officials at airport briefings overnight and early Thursday, representing the administration. And he joined Trump in the White House briefing room Thursday, where the new president offered prayers to the victims and lamented the tragedy, but also made a series of politically charged accusations that he acknowledged were not based on fact. Duffy began his remarks by complimenting Trump, saying his “leadership has been remarkable during this crisis.” And he assured victims’ loved ones that he was committed to getting to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible. While Duffy did not explicitly echo Trump’s claims that diversity hiring and lower standards were somehow to blame for the tragedy — it is still unclear exactly what happened to cause the crash – he also did not refute them. “When we deal with safety, we can only accept the best and the brightest in positions of safety that impact the lives of our loved ones, our family members,” Duffy said. “We are going to take responsibility at the Department of Transportation and the FAA, to make sure we have the reforms that have been dictated by President Trump in place to make sure that these mistakes do not happen again.” He’s a former reality TV star, lumberjack and congressman from Wisconsin A former Republican congressman from Wisconsin, Duffy’s résumé includes stints as a lumberjack athlete, reality TV star, prosecutor and Fox News host. He was featured on MTV’s “The Real World: Boston” in 1997 and met his his wife, “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy, on the set of MTV’s “Road Rules: All Stars” in 1998. Duffy later worked as a special prosecutor and the district attorney of Ashland County in northern Wisconsin. He won election to Congress as part of the tea party wave in 2010. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who succeeded Duffy in Congress, said he first knew of Duffy when he was a lumberjack in the 1990s before either of them entered politics. “He’s got a big job ahead of him here,” Tiffany said. “It’s jumping right into the frying pan with a situation like this.” An underdog who served nine years When he first ran for Congress, Duffy was considered an underdog. But he attracted national attention with his campaign ads, which featured him dramatically chopping wood while donning a red flannel shirt. He told voters he came from a “long line of lumberjacks” and would bring his axe to Washington. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years. He was member of the Financial Services Committee and chair of the subcommittee on insurance and housing. Fox News defender After leaving Congress in 2019, citing the need to care for his growing family, Duffy became a contributor to Fox News and one of Trump’s most visible defenders on cable television. He served as co-host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business before being picked for the new administration. He was one of several Fox personalities that Trump chose to fill his Cabinet, including Pete Hegseth, the new defense secretary. A father to nine Duffy has nine children, the youngest of whom was born with a heart condition. In announcing his pick, Trump noted that “Sean knows how important it is for families to be able to travel safely, and with peace of mind.” Because of his large family, Duffy will have empathy with the relatives of crash victims, said Mark Graul, a longtime Republican operative in Wisconsin who has known Duffy for more than 25 years. “When you have the size of family he has, empathy is part of the process there,” Graul said. “He’s going to want to bring certainty to everyone who is hurting from this.” Graul said Duffy is an “incredibly decent person” and “very approachable,” which will aid him as he navigates this crash. “His family is the center of his universe and more than most politicians he cares a great deal about being successful,” Graul said. “He doesn’t want to just do things to get attention. He likes having success.” A sprawling agency The Transportation Department oversees the nation’s complex and aging transportation system, including its highways, railroads and airspace. It sets safety standards for trains, cars and trucks. The department regulates the airline industry through the Federal Aviation Administration, which has been grappling with a shortage of air traffic controllers. The agency also includes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates automakers and sets fuel economy standards for cars and trucks. In his statement announcing the pick, Trump had said Duffy would “prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports” and said he would “make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers.” DEI refers to “diversity, equity and inclusion” programs, which Trump has worked to bar through federal action since returning to office. In his first act after his swearing-in, Duffy rolled back fuel mileage standards put in place by the Biden administration. His confirmation hearing During his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Duffy had promised to scrutinize Boeing ’s safety issues and “restore global confidence” in the beleaguered company, as well as to hire more air traffic controllers amid a national shortage. (The plane involved in Wednesday night’s collision was a CRJ-700 manufactured by Canada-based Bombadier.) Duffy also said he would cut DEI programs at the agency and create federal rules for self-driving cars instead of leaving that to a patchwork of state regulations, a key priority of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is running Trump’s government efficiency effort. Duffy assured lawmakers that he would not interfere in ongoing agency investigations into Musk’s electric car company over the safety of Tesla vehicles. He was approved by a bipartisan 77-22 vote. —Jill Colvin, Associated Press Associated Press writer Scott Bauer contributed to this report. View the full article

Prime Video's original content lineup in February has a little something for everyone, starting with a new comedy series executive produced by the late Normal Lear. Clean Slate (Feb. 6) stars George Wallace and Laverne Cox—who also created and produced the show—as a father-daughter duo working on reconciliation when Cox's character returns home to Alabama as a proud trans woman. Later in the month, Prime Video is premiering the third installment of Reacher (Feb. 20), the crime thriller starring Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, a former U.S. Army policeman and the titular character from Lee Child's book series. In season three, Reacher attempts to rescue a DEA informant from the criminal underworld. Also on tap in February is a new comedy special from George Lopez (Muy Católico, Feb. 18), docuseries 50,000 First Dates: A True Love Story (Feb. 11), and My Fault: London (Feb. 13), a YA film adapted from the 2023 Spanish film of the same name and based on the Mercedes Ron novel Culpa mía. Here are all the originals coming to Prime Video in February. What’s coming to Prime Video in February 2025Available February 3Calleja en el espacio (part 1) Available February 6Invincible Clean Slate Available February 7Newtopia Available February 1150,000 First Dates: A True Love Story Available February 13My Fault: London (2025) Broken Rage (2025) Available February 18George Lopez: Muy Católico Available February 20Reacher Available February 24Prime Video Boxing 11 Available February 27House of David Su Majestad View the full article

Has anyone checked in on Hawk Tuah girl? “When are we getting a new Talk Tuah episode? We’re starving for more Talk Tuah,” one X user posted yesterday. “Where is hawk tuah girl. Is she safe. Is she alright,” wrote another. Hailey Welch, better known as the “hawk tuah” girl, has been radio silent online since the end of 2024. That was when her cryptocurrency bombed, leaving her with a lawsuit and a lot of angry fans. Welch’s last post on Instagram, where she has 2.6 million followers, was five weeks ago, her last X post was December 20, and the last episode of the Talk Tuah Podcast aired December 3. Ironically enough, it was titled How To Avoid Getting Cancelled. Welch shot to viral fame when she was interviewed by TimmandDeeTV in Nashville, Tennessee, last year, and responded to one of their questions with the now iconic “hawk tuah” catchphrase. The 22-year-old then parlayed her 15 minutes of fame into a business empire, launching her own merchandise, a successful podcast, and a Gen Z targeted dating app called Pookie Tools. She was everywhere. Then she got involved with cryptocurrency. In early December, Welch announced she would be releasing her own cryptocurrency memecoin called $HAWK, telling Fortune that the effort wasn’t “just a cash grab”. $HAWK token was publicized heavily and quickly rose to a $490 million market cap when launched on December 4. It tanked just as quickly, and its value plunged $440 million in just 20 minutes. Due to how quickly the Hawk Tuah memecoin plummeted in value, some investors claimed Haliey Welch carried out a rug pull (wherein the creator will hype and pump a new token through social media and just when it reaches an all time high in value they’ll abandon the project, with all the investors’ funds). “This is one of the most miserable, horrible launches I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve been tracing it on chain for a while. You guys generated over $1M in fees while y’all fans got rug-pulled,” said YouTube investigator CoffeeZilla. “This is the worst tokenomics I’ve ever seen and it is a scam.” Last month, Newsweek reported that investors have filed a lawsuit against the people behind the project. Welch’s last post addressing the controversy, posted December 20, said: “I take this situation extremely seriously and want to address my fans, the investors who have been affected and the broader community.” She continued, “I am fully co-operating with and am committed to assisting the legal team representing the individuals impacted, as well as to help uncover the truth, hold the responsible parties accountable and resolve this matter.” Underneath the post, one X user wrote, “Talk tuah lawyer.” View the full article

Levies will be implemented on February 1, White House saysView the full article

For small businesses, spring means one thing: tax season. That means there’s no better time than the present to start getting the necessary paperwork in order. Whether you’re a one-person show or a larger corporation, there are several key dates to be aware of. Not only will you avoid a last-minute rush, you’ll also avoid possible fees or penalties and ensure your business remains in compliance. Businesses with Employees If you had employees or hired independent contractors in 2024, you are required to provide them with the appropriate federal tax forms. For employees who earned wages in 2024, W2 forms must be distributed by Jan. 31, 2025. For independent contractors who earned at least $600 in 2024, you must file a federal 1099-NEC form with the IRS and provide the form to the worker by Jan. 31, 2025. Note that in years past, employers used the 1099-MISC form for both miscellaneous income and non-employee compensation, but it has since been replaced with form 1099-NEC. Small businesses with employees that were required to pay federal and state unemployment taxes during 2024 are also required to report these payments. IRS Form 940, Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) Return, must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2025. However, employers that submitted taxes when due have until Feb. 10, 2025. S Corp Election If your business is an LLC or a C Corp, you may be eligible to elect S Corp status for federal income tax purposes. There are many benefits of S Corp status, including the avoidance of double taxation and self-employment taxes. If you’re interested in electing S Corp status, you must act fast. Existing companies with a tax year that began on Jan. 1 have until March 17 to file IRS Form 2553. Businesses that have a fiscal year other than the calendar year have two months and 15 days after the start of their fiscal year to submit the form. Tax Deadlines Staying on top of looming tax deadlines is a best practice for small business owners. Doing so helps you avoid fees and penalties and keeps your business in compliance. Following is a basic summary of due dates. Sole Proprietorship Taxes: Tuesday, April 15, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Oct. 15, 2025. Partnership Taxes: The 15th day of the third month after the end of the tax year. For partnerships using Dec. 31 as their year-end, that date is March 17, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Sept. 15, 2025. Limited partnerships must also list their profits and losses on IRS Form 1065 (U.S. Return of Partnership Income). Partnerships must also file Schedule K, which breaks income into different categories. Both general and limited partners must obtain Schedule K-1 from their partnerships for their own tax filings. LLC Taxes: By default, single-member LLCs are taxed as sole proprietorships, so their deadline is April 15, 2025. Multiple-member LLCs are taxed as partnerships, so their deadline is the 15th day of the third month after the end of their tax year. However, LLCs can elect to be taxed as a C Corp or an S Corp, in which case those deadlines apply (see below). C Corporation Taxes: C Corps that operate on a calendar year basis must file IRS Form 1120 by April 15, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Oct. 15, 2025. C Corps that do not use a calendar year must file by the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of their fiscal year. S Corporation Taxes: LLCs and C Corps can elect to be taxed as S Corporations. Those using a calendar year have until March 17, 2025 to file IRS Form 1120-S with an optional extended deadline of Sept. 15, 2025. For S Corps not operating on a calendar year, the tax filing due date is the 15th day of the third month following the end of their fiscal year. What’s New for 2025 Following is a list of changes that will affect small businesses filing taxes for 2024: The standard mileage rate for business use of a vehicle is 67 cents for the 2024 tax year. The IRS has delayed the requirement that payment apps and online marketplaces issue 1099-K forms to taxpayers who receive over $600 in digital payments. That requirement will be phased in over the next several years. For 2024, third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs) must report transactions over $5,000. Previously, businesses were allowed to deduct 100 percent of meal expenses. Now, that allowance is only 50 percent. Some meals, such as those for events held for employees, customers, or the general public, are fully deductible. Entertainment expenses (such as concert or theater tickets) are no longer deductible. Pass-through business owners may deduct 20 percent of qualified business income for 2024 if their total income is not more than $191,950 (if filing single) or $383,900 (if filing jointly) before the QBI deduction, with some exceptions. The 2022 tax year was the last year where businesses could deduct 100 percent of qualified bonus depreciation for fixed assets. For tax year 2024, the maximum deduction for qualified bonus depreciation for fixed assets is 60 percent, with the deduction decreasing by 20 percent each year in the years to follow. The Section 179 depreciation limit for 2024 is $1,220,000 for federal purposes. States will have varying dollar limits for Section 179 depreciation. Please note vehicles have separate limits for both bonus depreciation and Section 179 depreciation. Small Businesses: Get Ready for Tax Season Now When you’re the owner of a small business, it’s never too soon to start getting ready for tax season. Familiarizing yourself with key dates and changes in tax law ahead of time can go a long way in ensuring tax season goes smoothly. Not only will this help you avoid 11th hour stress, it also ensures you avoid unnecessary fees and penalties. Image: Envato This article, "Small Businesses: Keep On Top of Important Tax Deadlines for 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For small businesses, spring means one thing: tax season. That means there’s no better time than the present to start getting the necessary paperwork in order. Whether you’re a one-person show or a larger corporation, there are several key dates to be aware of. Not only will you avoid a last-minute rush, you’ll also avoid possible fees or penalties and ensure your business remains in compliance. Businesses with Employees If you had employees or hired independent contractors in 2024, you are required to provide them with the appropriate federal tax forms. For employees who earned wages in 2024, W2 forms must be distributed by Jan. 31, 2025. For independent contractors who earned at least $600 in 2024, you must file a federal 1099-NEC form with the IRS and provide the form to the worker by Jan. 31, 2025. Note that in years past, employers used the 1099-MISC form for both miscellaneous income and non-employee compensation, but it has since been replaced with form 1099-NEC. Small businesses with employees that were required to pay federal and state unemployment taxes during 2024 are also required to report these payments. IRS Form 940, Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) Return, must be submitted by Jan. 31, 2025. However, employers that submitted taxes when due have until Feb. 10, 2025. S Corp Election If your business is an LLC or a C Corp, you may be eligible to elect S Corp status for federal income tax purposes. There are many benefits of S Corp status, including the avoidance of double taxation and self-employment taxes. If you’re interested in electing S Corp status, you must act fast. Existing companies with a tax year that began on Jan. 1 have until March 17 to file IRS Form 2553. Businesses that have a fiscal year other than the calendar year have two months and 15 days after the start of their fiscal year to submit the form. Tax Deadlines Staying on top of looming tax deadlines is a best practice for small business owners. Doing so helps you avoid fees and penalties and keeps your business in compliance. Following is a basic summary of due dates. Sole Proprietorship Taxes: Tuesday, April 15, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Oct. 15, 2025. Partnership Taxes: The 15th day of the third month after the end of the tax year. For partnerships using Dec. 31 as their year-end, that date is March 17, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Sept. 15, 2025. Limited partnerships must also list their profits and losses on IRS Form 1065 (U.S. Return of Partnership Income). Partnerships must also file Schedule K, which breaks income into different categories. Both general and limited partners must obtain Schedule K-1 from their partnerships for their own tax filings. LLC Taxes: By default, single-member LLCs are taxed as sole proprietorships, so their deadline is April 15, 2025. Multiple-member LLCs are taxed as partnerships, so their deadline is the 15th day of the third month after the end of their tax year. However, LLCs can elect to be taxed as a C Corp or an S Corp, in which case those deadlines apply (see below). C Corporation Taxes: C Corps that operate on a calendar year basis must file IRS Form 1120 by April 15, 2025, with an optional extended deadline of Oct. 15, 2025. C Corps that do not use a calendar year must file by the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of their fiscal year. S Corporation Taxes: LLCs and C Corps can elect to be taxed as S Corporations. Those using a calendar year have until March 17, 2025 to file IRS Form 1120-S with an optional extended deadline of Sept. 15, 2025. For S Corps not operating on a calendar year, the tax filing due date is the 15th day of the third month following the end of their fiscal year. What’s New for 2025 Following is a list of changes that will affect small businesses filing taxes for 2024: The standard mileage rate for business use of a vehicle is 67 cents for the 2024 tax year. The IRS has delayed the requirement that payment apps and online marketplaces issue 1099-K forms to taxpayers who receive over $600 in digital payments. That requirement will be phased in over the next several years. For 2024, third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs) must report transactions over $5,000. Previously, businesses were allowed to deduct 100 percent of meal expenses. Now, that allowance is only 50 percent. Some meals, such as those for events held for employees, customers, or the general public, are fully deductible. Entertainment expenses (such as concert or theater tickets) are no longer deductible. Pass-through business owners may deduct 20 percent of qualified business income for 2024 if their total income is not more than $191,950 (if filing single) or $383,900 (if filing jointly) before the QBI deduction, with some exceptions. The 2022 tax year was the last year where businesses could deduct 100 percent of qualified bonus depreciation for fixed assets. For tax year 2024, the maximum deduction for qualified bonus depreciation for fixed assets is 60 percent, with the deduction decreasing by 20 percent each year in the years to follow. The Section 179 depreciation limit for 2024 is $1,220,000 for federal purposes. States will have varying dollar limits for Section 179 depreciation. Please note vehicles have separate limits for both bonus depreciation and Section 179 depreciation. Small Businesses: Get Ready for Tax Season Now When you’re the owner of a small business, it’s never too soon to start getting ready for tax season. Familiarizing yourself with key dates and changes in tax law ahead of time can go a long way in ensuring tax season goes smoothly. Not only will this help you avoid 11th hour stress, it also ensures you avoid unnecessary fees and penalties. Image: Envato This article, "Small Businesses: Keep On Top of Important Tax Deadlines for 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

American Honda issued a major recall over engine concerns this week. On Wednesday, the company recalled 295,000 vehicles, including Honda and Acura models. In the announcement, Honda said owners of the recalled vehicles need to update the field injection control unit (FI-ECU) software due to the fact that the system could cause the engine to spontaneously malfunction. Honda explained in a news release, “Due to improper programming of the FI-ECU, sudden changes in the throttle could illuminate the check engine light and cause the engine to lose drive power, hesitate and/or stall, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. American Honda self-diagnosed this issue by monitoring telematics information and determined the need to perform the software update of the supplier part.” The company also said that owners of the affected models will receive notice of the issue in the mail by March. They should immediately take their vehicle to an authorized dealership to have the issue remedied, free of charge. The company listed three models impacted by the recall in the release. Those models are: 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type S, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S. “Owners of these vehicles can also determine if their vehicles require repair by visiting www.recalls.honda.com or www.recalls.acura.com, or by calling (888) 234-2138,” the notice said. Last year, Honda recalled more than 750,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to an airbag issue. At the time, the company said a faulty sensor could cause the airbags to inflate even when there is not a crash. In this week’s release, Honda said that, at present, it has “not received any confirmed reports of crashes or injuries related to this issue.” View the full article

Former finance minster says Ottawa must target US president’s ‘billionaire buddies’View the full article

The Federal Home Loan Bank called the transition to special policy advisor a joint decision between the executive and board as new reviews in Washington start. View the full article

You don’t need to spend all day cooped up in an office to run a successful business. In fact, there are many outdoor business ideas that could help you create a successful career while enjoying nature. Here are some options to consider. Best Ideas for Outdoor Businesses If you want to start your own business but don’t want to be chained to a desk, there are plenty of profitable business ideas you can run mainly outside. Here are some of the best outdoor business ideas for you to consider. Gardening and Landscaping Business A landscaping service can be a very lucrative business opportunity that offers various services to potential customers. You may focus mainly on lawn mowing and maintenance, or you could do gardening or complete landscaping overhauls. Campground Campgrounds offer space for campers to rent alongside various outdoor activities like hiking, boating, and bonfires. This type of business may require significant space but is a mainstay in the outdoor industry. Golf Course A golf course can be a profitable venture for those who are able to put in some time and investment into designing the course. Earn money through tee times, equipment rentals, and special events. Summer Camp With some space and fun outdoor activities for kids, you can start the perfect summer camp that campers will return to year after year. Mobile Car Wash Offer mobile car washing services to local drivers where you travel to their location to provide car wash and detailing. Tour Guide Business If you’re based in an area that’s popular with tourists and want to explore travel business ideas, start your own tour guide service where you show visitors around or provide information from a mobile kiosk. Dog Walking Dog walking is an in-demand service in nearly every market. And you need almost nothing to get started. Just post signs or connect with local pet owners online. Trail Guide Offer to show locals or visitors around on their hiking trips. Provide walking tours of local trails or provide maps and other resources. Marina If you have some space on a body of water, offer a marina where boat owners can rent space to store their boats or launch them into the water. Ski Lessons Those in winter destinations can make money by offering ski lessons in partnership with ski resorts or local organizations that specialize in outdoor recreation. Outdoor Equipment Rentals Rent out equipment to locals or visitors that they can use for outdoor activities or projects. This may include kayaks and canoes for those on water or specialized landscaping equipment for those in residential communities. Adventure Sports Park Offer a space where people can come to enjoy various outdoor adventure sports like rock climbing or zip lining. Landscape Photographer Photographers can make money photographing clients outdoors or simply shoot images of beautiful scenery and sell those photos online. Landscape Designer Individuals with extensive design expertise can assist homeowners and businesses in developing tailored landscape design plans that optimize their outdoor spaces. Ice Cream Stand If you’re looking for classic small-town business ideas, start an ice cream stand that serves customers from a small cart or window. Farmers Market Vendor If you grow food or produce small consumer goods, approach local organizations about starting a farmers market where you can sell your products from an outdoor stand. Boat Rentals Those in the boating industry can either rent vessels to licensed boaters or offer boat hiring, where people can pay for a boat, captain, and crew for a set period. Many people also rent boats for special events. Dog Training Service If you love working with animals, start a small outdoor training facility where you work with dogs on tricks and obedience. Outdoor Events Venue Dedicate an outdoor space to use for events like weddings, carnivals, or festivals. Animal Rental Service Rent animals for events, petting zoos, pony rides, or various occasions. Tree Service If you’re looking for mostly offline business ideas that require lots of outdoor time, consider starting a tree service. You can help landowners plant trees, care for mature trees, and even remove diseased trees from their properties. Plant Nursery Grow plants or obtain them from local suppliers to establish a small nursery or greenhouse where customers can buy them. Produce Farm If you have significant outdoor space, look into produce that grows well in your climate and start your own farm. Organic produce has been especially in demand over the past decade. And you can sell products to wholesalers or open up your own farm stand to sell directly to consumers. Horse Stable If you prefer working with animals, start a horse stable where riders can rent space or learn how to interact with horses. Livestock Farm Farmers may also choose to focus on livestock. There are various animals you can raise for meat, dairy, or other resources. Junk Cleanup Service Offer hauling and junk removal services to homeowners, businesses, and construction crews. This type of work often requires time both indoors and outdoors. Power Washing Service Invest in power washing equipment to clean off building exteriors, concrete, and other outdoor surfaces and hard-to-reach spots. Bicycle Repair Service Offer bicycle repair services out of a garage, or provide mobile services where you travel to customers with the right equipment and parts. Pool Cleaning Service Offer pool cleaning services throughout the summer. This can be a lucrative business opportunity since it often involves lots of repeat clients. Roofing Company For those interested in providing home services, roofing is always in-demand. And crews spend the vast majority of their time outdoors. House Painting Service House painting is another home service that often includes tons of outdoor time, though some painters provide interior services as well. Entrepreneurs who want to maximize time in the great outdoors could focus solely on exterior painting. Window Washing Service By offering a window washing service, you can cater to both interior and exterior needs. However, businesses and building owners with multiple stories and difficult-to-access windows typically pay a higher price for this service. Fence Company Install fences for local homeowners and businesses. This requires access to various equipment and some basic construction knowledge. This can be its own business plan or be an additional service for a larger contracting business. Outdoor Fitness Classes Help local fitness enthusiasts get exercise while enjoying some fresh air. Everything from CrossFit to yoga can be offered outdoors. Hunting Guide If you’re looking for popular rural business ideas, consider providing services as a hunting guide. You can rent space and/or lead people through the area. This is part of small-town business ideas that can bring revenues to areas looking for economic growth. Christmas Tree Farm Those looking for vacant land business ideas could plant evergreen trees and then make extra money throughout the winter by welcoming visitors who want to cut down their own Christmas trees. Flea Market Flea markets are popular in many communities. Start your own or offer various goods as a vendor if there are already popular options in your area. Snow Clearing Service During winter, clear snow for homeowners and businesses in exchange for a small fee. Pet Cleanup Business You can also charge pet owners a fee for cleaning up their yards on an ongoing basis. Fishing Guide Those who live near water can earn income by taking fishermen out on boats with them and serving as a guide to the area. Winery Grow your own grapes and welcome visitors for tours and/or outdoor wine-tasting events. Woodworking If you’re looking for backyard business ideas, consider setting up a small woodworking shop where you can create various products, from custom millwork to furniture. Adventure Club An adventure club can include various activities for the outdoors-loving entrepreneur and others in their area. Guide people on various excursions, from biking tours to adventure trips. Courier Service Start a courier or delivery service where you take documents or packages to people and businesses. These couriers often travel by foot or bike. Pest Control Service Offer pest control treatments for homeowners and businesses. This often involves inspecting and treating both the inside and outside of buildings. Mobile Advertising Offer mobile advertising space on a car, bike, or other surfaces that you can move around town. This may involve connecting with relevant businesses online. But then you simply display your ad wherever you travel outdoors. Sports Coaching Those looking for sports business ideas can provide one-on-one or small-group coaching in various sports. For instance, you could work as a private tennis instructor or as a pitching coach for young players aiming to enhance their skills during the off-season. Driving School Help teens and adults learn to drive while you travel around town with them and participate in parking and driving tests. States generally regulate these schools and testing bodies, so check with your local government to make sure you meet the relevant requirements. Towing Service Entrepreneurs with a tow truck can also start a roadside assistance business to help those needing a tow or various other services like a jump start or tire change. Coffee Cart Start your own coffee cart that you can wheel around town to serve people on the go throughout your community. You’ll likely need a local vendor license. But these companies keep costs low and can travel to various high-traffic areas. Table: Best Ideas for Outdoor Businesses This table from our list provides a quick look at various outdoor business ideas. It helps you see important details about each idea, like what the business does and who it serves. Whether it’s hands-on work like landscaping or fun stuff like running a summer camp, this table makes it easy to spot an outdoor business that matches your interests. It’s a handy guide for anyone eager to start working outdoors. #Business IdeaDescription 1Gardening and Landscaping BusinessOffers services like lawn mowing, gardening, or complete landscaping makeovers. 2CampgroundProvides camping space and outdoor activities like hiking and boating. Requires significant space. 3Golf CourseCan be profitable with investment in course design. Earns money through tee times, rentals, and events. 4Summer CampOffers outdoor activities for kids, with space for various fun events. 5Mobile Car WashTravels to clients to provide car wash and detailing services. 6Tour Guide BusinessShows tourists around or provides information from a mobile kiosk, especially in popular areas. 7Dog WalkingIn-demand in many markets; requires minimal startup resources. 8Trail GuideProvides guided tours of local hiking trails or offers maps and resources. 9MarinaOffers space for boat storage and launching, typically located on a body of water. 10Ski LessonsOffers ski instruction in winter destinations, often partnering with resorts or outdoor organizations. 11Outdoor Equipment RentalsRents equipment for outdoor activities or projects, like kayaks or landscaping gear. 12Adventure Sports ParkProvides space for outdoor sports like rock climbing or zip lining. 13Landscape PhotographerTakes photos of scenery or clients outdoors; sells images online. 14Landscape DesignerHelps design outdoor spaces for homes or businesses. 15Ice Cream StandServes customers from a cart or small stand, a classic small-town business. 16Farmers Market VendorSells home-grown food or homemade goods at outdoor markets. 17Boat RentalsRents boats to licensed individuals or offers chartered trips with a crew. 18Dog Training ServiceProvides outdoor dog training for tricks and obedience. 19Outdoor Events VenueHosts events like weddings or festivals in an outdoor setting. 20Animal Rental ServiceRents animals for various events or occasions. 21Tree ServiceOffers planting, care, and removal of trees for landowners. 22Plant NurserySells plants and gardening supplies, possibly grown on-site. 23Produce FarmGrows and sells produce, especially organic, directly to consumers or wholesalers. 24Horse StableProvides space for horse riding and learning. 25Livestock FarmRaises animals for various products like meat or dairy. 26Junk Cleanup ServiceOffers hauling and removal services for different clients. 27Power Washing ServiceCleans exterior surfaces and hard-to-reach outdoor areas. 28Bicycle Repair ServiceFixes bikes either from a shop or via a mobile service. 29Pool Cleaning ServiceCleans pools, often with many repeat customers in the summer. 30Roofing CompanyProvides roofing services, mostly working outdoors. 31House Painting ServicePaints houses, focusing on exterior work to spend more time outside. 32Window Washing ServiceCleans windows for homes and businesses, both inside and out. 33Fence CompanyInstalls fences, requiring equipment and basic construction knowledge. 34Outdoor Fitness ClassesConducts various fitness classes like yoga or CrossFit outdoors. 35Hunting GuideLeads hunting trips in rural areas, often renting space for the activity. 36Christmas Tree FarmGrows evergreen trees and sells them during the winter season. 37Flea MarketOrganizes or participates in selling goods at outdoor markets. 38Snow Clearing ServiceClears snow for homes and businesses during winter. 39Pet Cleanup BusinessCharges for regular yard cleanup for pet owners. 40Fishing GuideTakes fishermen on guided boat trips. 41WineryGrows grapes and offers wine tastings and tours. 42WoodworkingCreates wood products in a backyard shop. 43Adventure ClubOrganizes various outdoor excursions like biking tours. 44Courier ServiceDelivers packages around town, often by foot or bike. 45Pest Control ServiceProvides pest control for indoor and outdoor spaces. 46Mobile AdvertisingDisplays ads on a vehicle or other mobile surfaces. 47Sports CoachingOffers private coaching in various sports. 48Driving SchoolTeaches driving, traveling around town with students. 49Towing ServiceProvides roadside assistance and towing. 50Coffee CartServes coffee on the go from a mobile cart, traveling to busy areas. How We Chose the Best Outdoor Business Ideas When we looked for the top outdoor business ideas to recommend to you, we didn’t just pick at random. Here’s how we make sure each idea is a winner: Market Demand (Scale: Very Important): We check if there’s a real need or desire for the business in the market. High demand means more potential customers. Initial Investment (Scale: Important): Some ideas need more money to start than others. We consider how much you’ll need to invest upfront. Profitability Potential (Scale: Very Important): We look at how much money the business could make. A great idea should have the potential for good profits. Skills and Expertise Required (Scale: Important): Some businesses need special skills or knowledge. We think about what you’ll need to know to succeed. Seasonality (Scale: Moderately Important): Numerous outdoor businesses operate on a seasonal basis. We evaluate the potential performance of the business throughout the entire year. Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness (Scale: Moderately Important): We value businesses that are good for the planet. Eco-friendly ideas can also attract more customers. Location Dependency (Scale: Important): Some outdoor businesses work better in certain places. We look at how location affects success. Scalability (Scale: Moderately Important): We consider if the business can grow over time. Being able to expand is key for long-term success. Work-Life Balance (Scale: Moderately Important): It’s essential to consider how the business will integrate into your lifestyle. A viable idea should not require you to work around the clock. Legal and Regulatory Requirements (Scale: Important): We check what laws or rules might affect the business. It’s important to know what you’re getting into. The Benefits of Starting an Outdoor Business Connection with Nature One of the primary benefits of an outdoor business is the opportunity it provides to work in and enjoy the natural environment. This connection with nature can enhance mental and physical well-being, offering a healthy work-life balance that many entrepreneurs seek. Reduced Overhead Costs Many outdoor businesses require minimal investment in physical infrastructure. Without the need for an office or storefront, you can significantly reduce overhead costs such as rent, utilities, and maintenance. Flexibility and Mobility Outdoor businesses often offer a high degree of flexibility and mobility. You can choose to operate in different locations based on seasonality, demand, or personal preference, providing a dynamic and adaptable business model. Growing Demand for Outdoor Experiences There is a rising trend among consumers favoring outdoor and nature-based experiences. People are increasingly pursuing services that enable them to connect with the outdoors, whether for health, leisure, or environmental purposes. This shift is contributing to a burgeoning market for outdoor business ideas. Current Trends in Outdoor Businesses Health and Wellness Focus The rising interest in health and wellness has boosted the popularity of outdoor fitness classes, yoga retreats, and adventure sports. These businesses cater to a growing demographic that values physical health and mental well-being. Eco-Conscious and Sustainable Practices Today’s consumers are more environmentally aware and are often drawn to businesses that demonstrate sustainable practices. Outdoor businesses that emphasize eco-friendliness, such as organic farming or eco-tours, are particularly appealing. Experience-Based Services There is a shift towards valuing experiences over material goods. Outdoor businesses that provide unique experiences, like guided hikes, wildlife tours, or outdoor workshops, tap into this trend and attract customers seeking memorable activities. Technological Integration Even outdoor businesses can benefit from technological advancements. From using social media for marketing to employing GPS technology for adventure tours, integrating technology can enhance operational efficiency and customer experience. What is an outdoor business? An outdoor business includes a variety of operations that primarily or partially take place in outdoor settings. The nature of these businesses often capitalizes on the appeal of the outdoors, whether for leisure, adventure, or practical purposes. Here are some key aspects: Primary Outdoor Operations: These businesses are predominantly conducted in open-air environments. Examples include adventure sports services, outdoor event planning, landscaping, and farming. These ventures leverage the natural environment as a fundamental resource for their operations. Indoor-Outdoor Combination: Some outdoor businesses require a blend of outdoor activity and indoor work. For instance, a tour company might conduct tours outdoors but handle bookings and marketing from an office. Similarly, a gardening service might perform the physical work in gardens but do planning and client communication indoors. Seasonal Adaptability: Numerous outdoor business ideas are influenced by the seasons, flourishing under particular weather conditions. For instance, a ski rental service experiences high demand in winter, whereas a beach equipment rental service tends to be more popular during the summer months. Nature-Based Services: These businesses focus on offering services that are directly related to nature and outdoor experiences, such as wildlife photography courses, bird-watching tours, or outdoor yoga classes. Product Sales and Rentals: Outdoor businesses often include the sale or rental of equipment related to outdoor activities, like camping gear, hiking equipment, or water sports gear. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Focus: There’s a growing trend of outdoor businesses that not only operate in nature but also promote environmental sustainability. These might include eco-tours, conservation-focused workshops, or organic farming. Health and Wellness Oriented: Many outdoor businesses are aligned with health and wellness, offering activities like fitness boot camps, outdoor meditation sessions, or therapeutic nature walks. Event-Based Operations: This includes businesses that operate around outdoor events, such as wedding venues in natural settings, outdoor concert organizing, or food vendors for festivals and fairs. Relatedly, here’s a word from UpFlip about a lucrative business that blends a little bit of indoor business with a lotta the outdoors: Why should you start your own business outdoors? If you’re thinking of starting a business, here are some reasons to consider the outdoor business ideas below: Enjoy time in nature: Many people enjoy spending time outdoors. And nature can benefit both your physical and mental health. Save money: Without a dedicated building, it may be less expensive to start your business. Gain location flexibility: Many outdoor business ideas can also be run from various locations. So you could travel or choose where to run your operations. Latch onto popular industries: There are many outdoor business ideas that are part of increasingly popular industries like wellness and travel. Choose from various business types: There are many types of businesses that can be run mainly in outdoor spaces. So you can choose those that are most relevant to your interests and those you have good knowledge about. What is the best outdoor business to start? There are many outdoor business ideas that suit various interests and skill sets. If you’re looking to start a lucrative business that can work in nearly any market, consider options like landscaping or outdoor cleaning services. What outdoor businesses are in high demand? The outdoor business landscape continues to evolve with emerging trends and shifting consumer demands. Meanwhile, certain outdoor businesses have proven to be in high demand in this dynamic environment due to their essential nature and growing popularity. Among these, landscaping and home service businesses remain steady contenders – as they cater to recurring needs and maintenance requirements. This evolution also gives rise to innovative outdoor business ideas that align with the growing emphasis on wellness and sustainable living. Here are some outdoor businesses that are currently in high demand and are expected to thrive in the coming year: Landscaping Services: Providing landscaping solutions, lawn care, and garden design services to enhance outdoor spaces. Roofing Services: Meeting the demand for roofing repairs and replacements to ensure homes’ structural integrity. Outdoor Workout Classes: Capitalizing on the rising interest in outdoor fitness activities and offering group workout sessions in natural settings. Organic Farming Businesses: Catering to the increasing demand for organic produce and sustainable farming practices. Outdoor Adventure Tours: Offering guided outdoor excursions, such as hiking, biking, and wildlife tours, to nature enthusiasts. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Services: Providing environmentally conscious cleaning solutions for outdoor spaces, such as patios and decks. Garden Center and Nursery: Supplying a diverse range of plants, flowers, and gardening essentials to gardening enthusiasts. Outdoor Event Planning: Organizing and coordinating outdoor events like weddings, parties, and corporate gatherings in scenic locations. Pet Exercise Services: Meeting the demand for pet owners seeking professional dog walking and exercise services in outdoor settings. Mobile Car Wash: Providing convenient and environmentally friendly car wash services at customers’ locations, which helps minimize water waste. These outdoor businesses not only cater to existing needs but also align with the current trends of wellness, eco-consciousness, and a desire to connect with nature. By tapping into these high-demand areas and delivering exceptional services, entrepreneurs can position themselves for success in the ever-evolving outdoor business landscape. What business can you start in your backyard? You can launch a small garden or workshop business right from your backyard. For instance, you could cultivate herbs and vegetables to sell at a local farmer’s market. Alternatively, you might establish a wood shop to produce furniture and decor for sale. What is the easiest small business to start outdoors? Starting a service-based small business outdoors is often the easiest and most accessible option for aspiring entrepreneurs. These ventures require minimal equipment and can quickly turn a profit. For instance, offering dog walking services to pet owners in your neighborhood is a simple and straightforward way to start. You only need a leash and a love for animals to get going. Additionally, busy pet owners are often willing to pay for this convenience. Similarly, providing pet cleanup services is another easy outdoor business idea that demands little investment. With just basic cleaning supplies, you can offer to tidy up yards for pet owners, catering to their busy schedules. By focusing on outdoor service-oriented businesses, entrepreneurs can launch their ventures with minimal resources while enjoying the flexibility and freedom of working in the great outdoors. Outdoor Service-Based Business IdeasDescription Dog Walking ServicesOffer dog walking services to pet owners in the neighborhood. Requires a leash and a love for animals. Busy pet owners often seek this convenient service. Pet Cleanup ServicesProvide yard cleanup for pet owners using basic cleaning supplies. Cater to the needs of busy pet lovers who value a tidy outdoor space. What outdoor business can you start with little money? There are several outdoor small businesses that require little to no upfront investment, including dog walking, hiking guides, and mobile car washing. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Outdoor Business Ideas That Are Breezily Profitable" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

You don’t need to spend all day cooped up in an office to run a successful business. In fact, there are many outdoor business ideas that could help you create a successful career while enjoying nature. Here are some options to consider. Best Ideas for Outdoor Businesses If you want to start your own business but don’t want to be chained to a desk, there are plenty of profitable business ideas you can run mainly outside. Here are some of the best outdoor business ideas for you to consider. Gardening and Landscaping Business A landscaping service can be a very lucrative business opportunity that offers various services to potential customers. You may focus mainly on lawn mowing and maintenance, or you could do gardening or complete landscaping overhauls. Campground Campgrounds offer space for campers to rent alongside various outdoor activities like hiking, boating, and bonfires. This type of business may require significant space but is a mainstay in the outdoor industry. Golf Course A golf course can be a profitable venture for those who are able to put in some time and investment into designing the course. Earn money through tee times, equipment rentals, and special events. Summer Camp With some space and fun outdoor activities for kids, you can start the perfect summer camp that campers will return to year after year. Mobile Car Wash Offer mobile car washing services to local drivers where you travel to their location to provide car wash and detailing. Tour Guide Business If you’re based in an area that’s popular with tourists and want to explore travel business ideas, start your own tour guide service where you show visitors around or provide information from a mobile kiosk. Dog Walking Dog walking is an in-demand service in nearly every market. And you need almost nothing to get started. Just post signs or connect with local pet owners online. Trail Guide Offer to show locals or visitors around on their hiking trips. Provide walking tours of local trails or provide maps and other resources. Marina If you have some space on a body of water, offer a marina where boat owners can rent space to store their boats or launch them into the water. Ski Lessons Those in winter destinations can make money by offering ski lessons in partnership with ski resorts or local organizations that specialize in outdoor recreation. Outdoor Equipment Rentals Rent out equipment to locals or visitors that they can use for outdoor activities or projects. This may include kayaks and canoes for those on water or specialized landscaping equipment for those in residential communities. Adventure Sports Park Offer a space where people can come to enjoy various outdoor adventure sports like rock climbing or zip lining. Landscape Photographer Photographers can make money photographing clients outdoors or simply shoot images of beautiful scenery and sell those photos online. Landscape Designer Individuals with extensive design expertise can assist homeowners and businesses in developing tailored landscape design plans that optimize their outdoor spaces. Ice Cream Stand If you’re looking for classic small-town business ideas, start an ice cream stand that serves customers from a small cart or window. Farmers Market Vendor If you grow food or produce small consumer goods, approach local organizations about starting a farmers market where you can sell your products from an outdoor stand. Boat Rentals Those in the boating industry can either rent vessels to licensed boaters or offer boat hiring, where people can pay for a boat, captain, and crew for a set period. Many people also rent boats for special events. Dog Training Service If you love working with animals, start a small outdoor training facility where you work with dogs on tricks and obedience. Outdoor Events Venue Dedicate an outdoor space to use for events like weddings, carnivals, or festivals. Animal Rental Service Rent animals for events, petting zoos, pony rides, or various occasions. Tree Service If you’re looking for mostly offline business ideas that require lots of outdoor time, consider starting a tree service. You can help landowners plant trees, care for mature trees, and even remove diseased trees from their properties. Plant Nursery Grow plants or obtain them from local suppliers to establish a small nursery or greenhouse where customers can buy them. Produce Farm If you have significant outdoor space, look into produce that grows well in your climate and start your own farm. Organic produce has been especially in demand over the past decade. And you can sell products to wholesalers or open up your own farm stand to sell directly to consumers. Horse Stable If you prefer working with animals, start a horse stable where riders can rent space or learn how to interact with horses. Livestock Farm Farmers may also choose to focus on livestock. There are various animals you can raise for meat, dairy, or other resources. Junk Cleanup Service Offer hauling and junk removal services to homeowners, businesses, and construction crews. This type of work often requires time both indoors and outdoors. Power Washing Service Invest in power washing equipment to clean off building exteriors, concrete, and other outdoor surfaces and hard-to-reach spots. Bicycle Repair Service Offer bicycle repair services out of a garage, or provide mobile services where you travel to customers with the right equipment and parts. Pool Cleaning Service Offer pool cleaning services throughout the summer. This can be a lucrative business opportunity since it often involves lots of repeat clients. Roofing Company For those interested in providing home services, roofing is always in-demand. And crews spend the vast majority of their time outdoors. House Painting Service House painting is another home service that often includes tons of outdoor time, though some painters provide interior services as well. Entrepreneurs who want to maximize time in the great outdoors could focus solely on exterior painting. Window Washing Service By offering a window washing service, you can cater to both interior and exterior needs. However, businesses and building owners with multiple stories and difficult-to-access windows typically pay a higher price for this service. Fence Company Install fences for local homeowners and businesses. This requires access to various equipment and some basic construction knowledge. This can be its own business plan or be an additional service for a larger contracting business. Outdoor Fitness Classes Help local fitness enthusiasts get exercise while enjoying some fresh air. Everything from CrossFit to yoga can be offered outdoors. Hunting Guide If you’re looking for popular rural business ideas, consider providing services as a hunting guide. You can rent space and/or lead people through the area. This is part of small-town business ideas that can bring revenues to areas looking for economic growth. Christmas Tree Farm Those looking for vacant land business ideas could plant evergreen trees and then make extra money throughout the winter by welcoming visitors who want to cut down their own Christmas trees. Flea Market Flea markets are popular in many communities. Start your own or offer various goods as a vendor if there are already popular options in your area. Snow Clearing Service During winter, clear snow for homeowners and businesses in exchange for a small fee. Pet Cleanup Business You can also charge pet owners a fee for cleaning up their yards on an ongoing basis. Fishing Guide Those who live near water can earn income by taking fishermen out on boats with them and serving as a guide to the area. Winery Grow your own grapes and welcome visitors for tours and/or outdoor wine-tasting events. Woodworking If you’re looking for backyard business ideas, consider setting up a small woodworking shop where you can create various products, from custom millwork to furniture. Adventure Club An adventure club can include various activities for the outdoors-loving entrepreneur and others in their area. Guide people on various excursions, from biking tours to adventure trips. Courier Service Start a courier or delivery service where you take documents or packages to people and businesses. These couriers often travel by foot or bike. Pest Control Service Offer pest control treatments for homeowners and businesses. This often involves inspecting and treating both the inside and outside of buildings. Mobile Advertising Offer mobile advertising space on a car, bike, or other surfaces that you can move around town. This may involve connecting with relevant businesses online. But then you simply display your ad wherever you travel outdoors. Sports Coaching Those looking for sports business ideas can provide one-on-one or small-group coaching in various sports. For instance, you could work as a private tennis instructor or as a pitching coach for young players aiming to enhance their skills during the off-season. Driving School Help teens and adults learn to drive while you travel around town with them and participate in parking and driving tests. States generally regulate these schools and testing bodies, so check with your local government to make sure you meet the relevant requirements. Towing Service Entrepreneurs with a tow truck can also start a roadside assistance business to help those needing a tow or various other services like a jump start or tire change. Coffee Cart Start your own coffee cart that you can wheel around town to serve people on the go throughout your community. You’ll likely need a local vendor license. But these companies keep costs low and can travel to various high-traffic areas. Table: Best Ideas for Outdoor Businesses This table from our list provides a quick look at various outdoor business ideas. It helps you see important details about each idea, like what the business does and who it serves. Whether it’s hands-on work like landscaping or fun stuff like running a summer camp, this table makes it easy to spot an outdoor business that matches your interests. It’s a handy guide for anyone eager to start working outdoors. #Business IdeaDescription 1Gardening and Landscaping BusinessOffers services like lawn mowing, gardening, or complete landscaping makeovers. 2CampgroundProvides camping space and outdoor activities like hiking and boating. Requires significant space. 3Golf CourseCan be profitable with investment in course design. Earns money through tee times, rentals, and events. 4Summer CampOffers outdoor activities for kids, with space for various fun events. 5Mobile Car WashTravels to clients to provide car wash and detailing services. 6Tour Guide BusinessShows tourists around or provides information from a mobile kiosk, especially in popular areas. 7Dog WalkingIn-demand in many markets; requires minimal startup resources. 8Trail GuideProvides guided tours of local hiking trails or offers maps and resources. 9MarinaOffers space for boat storage and launching, typically located on a body of water. 10Ski LessonsOffers ski instruction in winter destinations, often partnering with resorts or outdoor organizations. 11Outdoor Equipment RentalsRents equipment for outdoor activities or projects, like kayaks or landscaping gear. 12Adventure Sports ParkProvides space for outdoor sports like rock climbing or zip lining. 13Landscape PhotographerTakes photos of scenery or clients outdoors; sells images online. 14Landscape DesignerHelps design outdoor spaces for homes or businesses. 15Ice Cream StandServes customers from a cart or small stand, a classic small-town business. 16Farmers Market VendorSells home-grown food or homemade goods at outdoor markets. 17Boat RentalsRents boats to licensed individuals or offers chartered trips with a crew. 18Dog Training ServiceProvides outdoor dog training for tricks and obedience. 19Outdoor Events VenueHosts events like weddings or festivals in an outdoor setting. 20Animal Rental ServiceRents animals for various events or occasions. 21Tree ServiceOffers planting, care, and removal of trees for landowners. 22Plant NurserySells plants and gardening supplies, possibly grown on-site. 23Produce FarmGrows and sells produce, especially organic, directly to consumers or wholesalers. 24Horse StableProvides space for horse riding and learning. 25Livestock FarmRaises animals for various products like meat or dairy. 26Junk Cleanup ServiceOffers hauling and removal services for different clients. 27Power Washing ServiceCleans exterior surfaces and hard-to-reach outdoor areas. 28Bicycle Repair ServiceFixes bikes either from a shop or via a mobile service. 29Pool Cleaning ServiceCleans pools, often with many repeat customers in the summer. 30Roofing CompanyProvides roofing services, mostly working outdoors. 31House Painting ServicePaints houses, focusing on exterior work to spend more time outside. 32Window Washing ServiceCleans windows for homes and businesses, both inside and out. 33Fence CompanyInstalls fences, requiring equipment and basic construction knowledge. 34Outdoor Fitness ClassesConducts various fitness classes like yoga or CrossFit outdoors. 35Hunting GuideLeads hunting trips in rural areas, often renting space for the activity. 36Christmas Tree FarmGrows evergreen trees and sells them during the winter season. 37Flea MarketOrganizes or participates in selling goods at outdoor markets. 38Snow Clearing ServiceClears snow for homes and businesses during winter. 39Pet Cleanup BusinessCharges for regular yard cleanup for pet owners. 40Fishing GuideTakes fishermen on guided boat trips. 41WineryGrows grapes and offers wine tastings and tours. 42WoodworkingCreates wood products in a backyard shop. 43Adventure ClubOrganizes various outdoor excursions like biking tours. 44Courier ServiceDelivers packages around town, often by foot or bike. 45Pest Control ServiceProvides pest control for indoor and outdoor spaces. 46Mobile AdvertisingDisplays ads on a vehicle or other mobile surfaces. 47Sports CoachingOffers private coaching in various sports. 48Driving SchoolTeaches driving, traveling around town with students. 49Towing ServiceProvides roadside assistance and towing. 50Coffee CartServes coffee on the go from a mobile cart, traveling to busy areas. How We Chose the Best Outdoor Business Ideas When we looked for the top outdoor business ideas to recommend to you, we didn’t just pick at random. Here’s how we make sure each idea is a winner: Market Demand (Scale: Very Important): We check if there’s a real need or desire for the business in the market. High demand means more potential customers. Initial Investment (Scale: Important): Some ideas need more money to start than others. We consider how much you’ll need to invest upfront. Profitability Potential (Scale: Very Important): We look at how much money the business could make. A great idea should have the potential for good profits. Skills and Expertise Required (Scale: Important): Some businesses need special skills or knowledge. We think about what you’ll need to know to succeed. Seasonality (Scale: Moderately Important): Numerous outdoor businesses operate on a seasonal basis. We evaluate the potential performance of the business throughout the entire year. Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness (Scale: Moderately Important): We value businesses that are good for the planet. Eco-friendly ideas can also attract more customers. Location Dependency (Scale: Important): Some outdoor businesses work better in certain places. We look at how location affects success. Scalability (Scale: Moderately Important): We consider if the business can grow over time. Being able to expand is key for long-term success. Work-Life Balance (Scale: Moderately Important): It’s essential to consider how the business will integrate into your lifestyle. A viable idea should not require you to work around the clock. Legal and Regulatory Requirements (Scale: Important): We check what laws or rules might affect the business. It’s important to know what you’re getting into. The Benefits of Starting an Outdoor Business Connection with Nature One of the primary benefits of an outdoor business is the opportunity it provides to work in and enjoy the natural environment. This connection with nature can enhance mental and physical well-being, offering a healthy work-life balance that many entrepreneurs seek. Reduced Overhead Costs Many outdoor businesses require minimal investment in physical infrastructure. Without the need for an office or storefront, you can significantly reduce overhead costs such as rent, utilities, and maintenance. Flexibility and Mobility Outdoor businesses often offer a high degree of flexibility and mobility. You can choose to operate in different locations based on seasonality, demand, or personal preference, providing a dynamic and adaptable business model. Growing Demand for Outdoor Experiences There is a rising trend among consumers favoring outdoor and nature-based experiences. People are increasingly pursuing services that enable them to connect with the outdoors, whether for health, leisure, or environmental purposes. This shift is contributing to a burgeoning market for outdoor business ideas. Current Trends in Outdoor Businesses Health and Wellness Focus The rising interest in health and wellness has boosted the popularity of outdoor fitness classes, yoga retreats, and adventure sports. These businesses cater to a growing demographic that values physical health and mental well-being. Eco-Conscious and Sustainable Practices Today’s consumers are more environmentally aware and are often drawn to businesses that demonstrate sustainable practices. Outdoor businesses that emphasize eco-friendliness, such as organic farming or eco-tours, are particularly appealing. Experience-Based Services There is a shift towards valuing experiences over material goods. Outdoor businesses that provide unique experiences, like guided hikes, wildlife tours, or outdoor workshops, tap into this trend and attract customers seeking memorable activities. Technological Integration Even outdoor businesses can benefit from technological advancements. From using social media for marketing to employing GPS technology for adventure tours, integrating technology can enhance operational efficiency and customer experience. What is an outdoor business? An outdoor business includes a variety of operations that primarily or partially take place in outdoor settings. The nature of these businesses often capitalizes on the appeal of the outdoors, whether for leisure, adventure, or practical purposes. Here are some key aspects: Primary Outdoor Operations: These businesses are predominantly conducted in open-air environments. Examples include adventure sports services, outdoor event planning, landscaping, and farming. These ventures leverage the natural environment as a fundamental resource for their operations. Indoor-Outdoor Combination: Some outdoor businesses require a blend of outdoor activity and indoor work. For instance, a tour company might conduct tours outdoors but handle bookings and marketing from an office. Similarly, a gardening service might perform the physical work in gardens but do planning and client communication indoors. Seasonal Adaptability: Numerous outdoor business ideas are influenced by the seasons, flourishing under particular weather conditions. For instance, a ski rental service experiences high demand in winter, whereas a beach equipment rental service tends to be more popular during the summer months. Nature-Based Services: These businesses focus on offering services that are directly related to nature and outdoor experiences, such as wildlife photography courses, bird-watching tours, or outdoor yoga classes. Product Sales and Rentals: Outdoor businesses often include the sale or rental of equipment related to outdoor activities, like camping gear, hiking equipment, or water sports gear. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Focus: There’s a growing trend of outdoor businesses that not only operate in nature but also promote environmental sustainability. These might include eco-tours, conservation-focused workshops, or organic farming. Health and Wellness Oriented: Many outdoor businesses are aligned with health and wellness, offering activities like fitness boot camps, outdoor meditation sessions, or therapeutic nature walks. Event-Based Operations: This includes businesses that operate around outdoor events, such as wedding venues in natural settings, outdoor concert organizing, or food vendors for festivals and fairs. Relatedly, here’s a word from UpFlip about a lucrative business that blends a little bit of indoor business with a lotta the outdoors: Why should you start your own business outdoors? If you’re thinking of starting a business, here are some reasons to consider the outdoor business ideas below: Enjoy time in nature: Many people enjoy spending time outdoors. And nature can benefit both your physical and mental health. Save money: Without a dedicated building, it may be less expensive to start your business. Gain location flexibility: Many outdoor business ideas can also be run from various locations. So you could travel or choose where to run your operations. Latch onto popular industries: There are many outdoor business ideas that are part of increasingly popular industries like wellness and travel. Choose from various business types: There are many types of businesses that can be run mainly in outdoor spaces. So you can choose those that are most relevant to your interests and those you have good knowledge about. What is the best outdoor business to start? There are many outdoor business ideas that suit various interests and skill sets. If you’re looking to start a lucrative business that can work in nearly any market, consider options like landscaping or outdoor cleaning services. What outdoor businesses are in high demand? The outdoor business landscape continues to evolve with emerging trends and shifting consumer demands. Meanwhile, certain outdoor businesses have proven to be in high demand in this dynamic environment due to their essential nature and growing popularity. Among these, landscaping and home service businesses remain steady contenders – as they cater to recurring needs and maintenance requirements. This evolution also gives rise to innovative outdoor business ideas that align with the growing emphasis on wellness and sustainable living. Here are some outdoor businesses that are currently in high demand and are expected to thrive in the coming year: Landscaping Services: Providing landscaping solutions, lawn care, and garden design services to enhance outdoor spaces. Roofing Services: Meeting the demand for roofing repairs and replacements to ensure homes’ structural integrity. Outdoor Workout Classes: Capitalizing on the rising interest in outdoor fitness activities and offering group workout sessions in natural settings. Organic Farming Businesses: Catering to the increasing demand for organic produce and sustainable farming practices. Outdoor Adventure Tours: Offering guided outdoor excursions, such as hiking, biking, and wildlife tours, to nature enthusiasts. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Services: Providing environmentally conscious cleaning solutions for outdoor spaces, such as patios and decks. Garden Center and Nursery: Supplying a diverse range of plants, flowers, and gardening essentials to gardening enthusiasts. Outdoor Event Planning: Organizing and coordinating outdoor events like weddings, parties, and corporate gatherings in scenic locations. Pet Exercise Services: Meeting the demand for pet owners seeking professional dog walking and exercise services in outdoor settings. Mobile Car Wash: Providing convenient and environmentally friendly car wash services at customers’ locations, which helps minimize water waste. These outdoor businesses not only cater to existing needs but also align with the current trends of wellness, eco-consciousness, and a desire to connect with nature. By tapping into these high-demand areas and delivering exceptional services, entrepreneurs can position themselves for success in the ever-evolving outdoor business landscape. What business can you start in your backyard? You can launch a small garden or workshop business right from your backyard. For instance, you could cultivate herbs and vegetables to sell at a local farmer’s market. Alternatively, you might establish a wood shop to produce furniture and decor for sale. What is the easiest small business to start outdoors? Starting a service-based small business outdoors is often the easiest and most accessible option for aspiring entrepreneurs. These ventures require minimal equipment and can quickly turn a profit. For instance, offering dog walking services to pet owners in your neighborhood is a simple and straightforward way to start. You only need a leash and a love for animals to get going. Additionally, busy pet owners are often willing to pay for this convenience. Similarly, providing pet cleanup services is another easy outdoor business idea that demands little investment. With just basic cleaning supplies, you can offer to tidy up yards for pet owners, catering to their busy schedules. By focusing on outdoor service-oriented businesses, entrepreneurs can launch their ventures with minimal resources while enjoying the flexibility and freedom of working in the great outdoors. Outdoor Service-Based Business IdeasDescription Dog Walking ServicesOffer dog walking services to pet owners in the neighborhood. Requires a leash and a love for animals. Busy pet owners often seek this convenient service. Pet Cleanup ServicesProvide yard cleanup for pet owners using basic cleaning supplies. Cater to the needs of busy pet lovers who value a tidy outdoor space. What outdoor business can you start with little money? There are several outdoor small businesses that require little to no upfront investment, including dog walking, hiking guides, and mobile car washing. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Outdoor Business Ideas That Are Breezily Profitable" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

After 17 years, Airbnb’s Brian Chesky is hitting reset—reinventing the business from the ground up and expanding the brand in unexpected ways. Chesky joins Rapid Response to explain why now is the right time for Airbnb’s “great reinvention” and takes us inside his relationship with Sam Altman, revealing previously unheard details about Altman’s brief yet tumultuous dismissal from OpenAI. This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company Bob Safian. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today’s top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode. You said recently that Airbnb would undergo the greatest reinvention in the company’s history in the months ahead. Why is that necessary? Can you share any details about it? For the last four years, what we’ve been doing is really trying to perfect our core business. We basically asked everyone who didn’t like Airbnb, why don’t you like Airbnb? What are your issues with the service? We were really methodical. We blueprinted the end-to-end experience for guests and hosts. And over the last four years, we’ve made 535 features and upgrades. I think our core service is better than ever. It’s not ever going to be finished. It’s kind of like if you want to build a skyscraper and you’re a four-story building, you can’t just keep building new floors. At some point, you need to rebuild the foundation so you can hold more floors. This is the moment where we want to expand the Airbnb model beyond a place to stay. Most people think ideas are too late. Often Silicon Valley ideas are too early, and we probably weren’t ready to expand beyond our core business until this moment. I think we can take the Airbnb model and bring it to all these different categories of traveling and living. We’ve had to basically rebuild the app from the ground up to do this. We’ve had to build out entire new functions we didn’t really have before. We had to reorganize the company. We had to become much more collaborative. It’s very rare to get out of your groove at this age. It’s kind of like learning a new language later in life. It’s a real challenge, but it’s the best kind of challenge. It keeps us young and keeps us from becoming a big old company by having to fundamentally change and reinvent who we are. But you must have to make tough choices in this, like a one-stop shop. It could sound like sort of a less focused, more catch-all business where you’re in all kinds of things, right? Because you have this community and customer base that you can leverage and introduce to different kinds of experiences and tools. You can’t go into everything. Yeah, so the governor is three things. Number one, you can’t do everything well at once. You have to focus. You have to pick. Number two, you can only do things you can do well. We can’t do everything well. We should only do things where there’s a reason we do it. We track the number of devices that access Airbnb. That number is 1.6 billion a year. So 1.6 billion devices a year, which could easily, if the average person uses two devices, mean 800 million, close to a billion, people are using Airbnb every year. Think about that. That’s a very big number. Now, we have enough traffic. We could just slap our logo on something that’s not any better than anyone else’s product, and it would sell some, but we don’t want to do that. If we put our logo on something, it’s because there’s something different, something better, something more authentic, higher quality, easier to book. So, the first thing is we can’t do everything at once well. Number two, we should only do things we can do well and do differently. And the third is, I think Airbnb is known for user interface, great design, and creating a really simple experience. So everything has to be coherent and cohesive. People use Airbnb to travel, and eventually, they’ll probably use Airbnb in their own city, but they’ll probably use it to explore their community. So if we were to think about that as a workflow, like going on a trip, moving somewhere for a month, that is a coherent way to keep the interface really simple and really cross-selling different things in a way that would make sense to a customer. So those are, I guess, our big principles. I’m going to change gears just a little bit. Sam Altman recently said that you helped him during that brief period in 2023 when he was ousted from OpenAI. You saved him from making some mistakes. Can you share anything about that and the sort of advice you gave him? Yeah, sure. Maybe just to back up, I’ve known Sam for like 16 years because he was with Y Combinator. He was the first big Y Combinator founder, I think, in 2006, and then he became president of Y Combinator. We kept in touch. He launched ChatGPT November 30, 2022, and the world literally changed in about three to four days. On November 1, 2022, no one was talking about AI other than people interested in AI. By December 5, the whole world was talking about AI. So it completely ushered in the AI era. At that moment, I told Sam, “You’re basically going to go through everything I’ve gone through in the last 10 years, but you’re going to go through it in like a year.” I said, “You’re going to have a crazy rocket ship, and I’m here if you need help.” At that point, we started meeting every, I don’t know, every couple of weeks or something. I was just giving him advice. Then it’s the next November, I think it was, and I got a text on my phone. I’m in a WhatsApp group, and everyone said, “Oh, did you hear the news? Sam was fired from OpenAI.” And I’m like, “Fired?” I texted Sam, “What the hell is going on?” And I was one of the first people who responded to it. And he said, “So brutal. I was fired. I don’t really know why I was fired.” And I was like, “You don’t know why you were fired, but you were fired, and it was made public immediately.” Then the circumstances got even fishier. I was told that Microsoft was only given a 15- or 30-minute heads up. There was no actual investigation, and Greg Brockman, the other cofounder, was removed from the board immediately. I said, “Okay, I don’t know what happened, but you deserve a fair process.” I kind of just helped him with what to do over the next three to four days. I gave him quite a bit of advice on PR. I basically told him, “You have to do two things. Tell them what you know and don’t know. Don’t point fingers at anyone; don’t blame anyone. Just tell them what you know and don’t know. Then say, the most important thing is to turn your attention to the employees and make sure they’re taken care of, the company’s taken care of.” And, ultimately, I think he was going to do all this anyway, but the way he handled it, I think the employees really rallied to his side. The board eventually realized an AI company without AI talent isn’t really a company. Essentially, what we did was help bring everyone to the table and realize this is an internet treasure. This is one of the most important companies in the world ever in Silicon Valley, ushering in this AI gold rush. But also, we have to set a good example of Silicon Valley. We want to show that founders are protected to some extent to ensure fair processes. We don’t want to invite more board activism. We really want to make sure that this really important company is held together because the world really needs this innovation and advancement. People way beyond me were able to find a resolution. I was just trying to be a helpful person. I have no official role in OpenAI. I just tried to keep a company together. At the end of the whole thing, Sam asked me, “How can I repay you?” I told him what Ron Conway and some other people told me when I wanted to repay them for helping me. They said, “Pass it forward,” and that’s what I told him. I said, “I’m not asking for anything other than to pass it on to the next generation.” View the full article

It looks like brothers Jake and Logan Paul won’t be squaring off in the boxing ring anytime soon. Instead, they are launching a family reality series, Paul American, starting March 27 on HBO Max. Promotional social media posts on Tuesday teasing an “announcement” tricked fans into believing they could be going head-to-head in the ring on March 27. However, it was all a big ruse to create hype for their first foray into reality TV. “We’re the true American family,” Jake Paul says in the series trailer. What exactly that means, you’ll have to tune in to find out. “Everyone thinks they know Jake and Logan Paul—they’re the original superstars of influencer culture and built their brand on being unfiltered. But PAUL AMERICAN goes deeper,” Nina Rosenstein, executive vice president of HBO Programming, Late Night and Specials, said in a press release. “This show uncovers a side of their relationships we’ve never seen, as brothers, sons, partners, as well as Logan’s transition into fatherhood. It’s a raw and unexpected look into their world.” [Photo: courtesy of Max] In a joint statement, the Paul brothers added, “We’ve built our lives in front of the world, but PAUL AMERICAN is the raw, unfiltered truth behind everything you think you know about us. It isn’t just about the headlines or the viral moments—it’s about the journey that got us here. . . . It’s real and honest, showing the world a side of us they’ve never seen, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this story with our fans.” The controversial brothers rose to fame on the now-defunct social media site Vine in the 2010s. Both went on to build impressive followings on YouTube, generating a string of controversies along the way (In 2018, Logan posted a video that included footage of a man who had recently hanged himself). At one point, Jake also had a recurring role on the Disney Channel sitcom Bizaardvark. However Disney cut ties in 2017 halfway through filming its second season In recent years, both turned to the professional fighting world. Jake recently fought the 58-year-old boxing legend Mike Tyson and won. Logan is a former WWE United States Champion and calls himself “the best heel professional wrestling has seen since professional wrestling started.” Both have also built out their business empires, with Jake launching a men’s personal care brand called W and Logan cofounding the beverage company Prime and snack brand Lunchly. This newest venture will now show another side of the pair, including appearances by their parents; Logan Paul’s fiancée, Nina Adgal, and Jake Paul’s girlfriend, Jutta Leerdam, a Dutch world champion speed skater. The eight-episode series will culminate with a season finale on May 15. “Villains and bad guys make the most amount of people tune in,” says Jake Paul. They’ll be counting on it. View the full article

“Compensation is one tool, not the tool, to change behaviors and outcomes." Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Jean Marie Caragher. View the full article

“Compensation is one tool, not the tool, to change behaviors and outcomes." Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Jean Marie Caragher. View the full article

When North Dakota’s petroleum association was going to hold a banquet honoring top fracking executives last year, it turned to Gov. Doug Burgum. The two-term Republican, now President Donald Trump‘s pick to lead the Interior Department, cohosted the event—at the governor’s mansion. And when energy industry lobbyists were looking for help taking on Biden administration greenhouse gas rules, they also turned to Burgum. In an email to Burgum’s office seeking the legal heft the state could provide, an industry lobbyist argued that “combating” such regulations required “a one-two punch” from industry and government. While it is not surprising that the governor of the third-largest oil producing state would have a close relationship with fossil fuel producers, records obtained by the Associated Press reveal Burgum’s administration eagerly assisted the industry even as the governor was profiting from the lease of family land to oil companies. And his assistance came at a time when Burgum was leaning on those very connections to build his national profile in the Republican Party. If confirmed to run the Interior Department—as soon as Thursday—Burgum will have vast control over federal lands, including the issuance of oil and gas leases, as well as a mandate from Trump to extract such resources even though the U.S. is producing record amounts of fossil fuels. Those ties concern Democrats and environmentalists who say his zeal to expand drilling was “troubling.” “Are you going to protect our resources, or are you going to ‘drill, baby, drill?’” Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Hawaii Democrat, asked during Burgum’s confirmation hearing this month. The selection of Burgum, who briefly pursued the presidency in 2023 before endorsing Trump, represents an abrupt pivot from Biden’s emphasis on combating climate change. It also signals that Trump intends to follow through on a proposal made last spring when he urged oil and gas CEOs to donate $1 billion to his campaign in exchange for the dismantling of Biden’s environmental agenda. The White House did not respond to a request for comment, and a spokesman for Burgum declined to make him available for an interview. “Governor Burgum worked tirelessly to build a prosperous economy in North Dakota,” spokesman Rob Lockwood said in a statement. “This economic growth included sustainably developing natural resources. As governor, he met with job creators and leaders who generated opportunities for the people of North Dakota.” Under the partisan glare of Washington, and faced with stricter federal ethics rules governing conflicts of interest, Burgum has pledged to sell his interest in his family’s lease with the shale oil giant Continental Resources, as well as another one with Hess, a Chevron subsidiary. He has also pledged to sell stock held in a handful of energy companies, some of which he interacted with as governor, which are worth as much as $200,000 according to his 2023 financial disclosures. Close ties to an industry titan There is perhaps no better demonstration of Burgum’s close ties to oil and gas producers than his friendship with Harold Hamm, the founder of Continental Resources who is responsible for much of North Dakota’s fracking boom. The billionaire Oklahoma wildcatter advises Trump on energy policy and is widely viewed as playing a role in helping Burgum secure the nomination to lead Interior. Hamm did not respond to a request for comment made through his company. During his 2023 state-of-the-state speech, Burgum likened Hamm to Teddy Roosevelt for his “grit, resilience, hard work and determination” that he said “changed North Dakota and our nation.” The shout-out came after Hamm had donated $50 million toward a library honoring Roosevelt in western North Dakota — a passion project of Burgum’s. The documents obtained by AP reveal that several months later Hamm gifted Burgum a set of cuff links along with a note thanking Burgum for his “friendship” and willingness to take a break from the “grueling task” of running for president to speak at an energy conference that Hamm had hosted in Oklahoma City. These were not his only displays of patronage. Though Burgum, an independently wealthy former software company CEO, had a dim chance of winning the Republican presidential primary, Hamm’s Continental Resources contributed $250,000 in the summer of 2023 to a super PAC supporting Burgum, campaign finance disclosures show. He also contributed to Burgum’s campaign for governor. Emails between Burgum and Hamm’s offices reveal the two communicated often. In a May 2020 email, Hamm’s executive assistant asked if Burgum had time to talk with Hamm and shared a briefing document that railed against wind power, blasting wind turbines as a blight on “our special places and sacred lands” while excoriating tax breaks for wind energy providers as “unconscionable.” “This does NOTHING to Make America Great Again!” the document states. Though Burgum set a goal in 2021 to make North Dakota carbon neutral by 2030, he has adopted Hamm’s tone. During his Senate confirmation hearing this month, he was dismissive of renewable energy, such as wind power, suggesting such sources were unreliable when compared to fossil fuels. In early 2023, as Hamm prepared to publish a memoir, Continental lobbyist Blu Hulsey emailed to ask if Burgum could write a blurb praising the book, the newly obtained records show. Burgum happily complied, heaping praise on the memoir, which the governor called “an inspiring story worthy of sharing.” Burgum added that Hamm’s impact was “immeasurable.” Ethics experts say there are other aspects of their relationship that pose a greater conflict of interest. As governor, Burgum never disclosed that his family leased roughly 200 acres of farmland to Continental for well drilling, as previously reported by CNBC. When Burgum ran for president and faced greater transparency requirements, he revealed making $50,000 in royalties from Continental in 2023. Despite this relationship, Burgum routinely took action that benefited Hamm’s company. As chairman of North Dakota’s Industrial Commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry, he voted nearly a dozen times or more on measures that had favorable outcomes for Continental, records show. “North Dakota is a leading energy producing state,” Lockwood, the Burgum spokesman said. “Tens of thousands of families and mineral owners have similar arrangements. As the publicly available disclosures show: the cited agreement began many years before he became governor.” Burgum also used the governor’s office to support a proposed pipeline that received $250 million in financial backing from Hamm. If completed, it will transport earth-warming CO2 gas that is the byproduct of ethanol fuel production to North Dakota, where it will be stored deep underground. It’s been touted as a way to decarbonize the atmosphere, but has also run into stiff resistance from landowners, who fear their property will be seized to complete the project. Sarah Vogel, a Democrat and former North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner who previously sat on the commission, said Burgum seemed more like a cheerleader of the industry than a regulator. “I don’t think he had a regulator’s mindset. He had a promoter’s mindset, which has probably made him beloved in the oil and gas industry,” Vogel said. Other executives have ties to Burgum Hamm is not the only oil executive or lobbyist who has cultivated ties with Burgum, emails and office schedules show. Ryan Berger, a lobbyist for Occidental Petroleum, emailed Burgum’s staff last year seeking a meeting for Occidental CEO Vicki Hollub after Burgum moderated a panel she participated in at an oil industry conference. “In an ideal world, a face-to-face over lunch or dinner would be amazing,” Berger wrote in a May 2024 email. He added that Hollub had recently discussed energy issues “directly with President Trump” and “we thought you would benefit from hearing from her” to see “if there are mutually shared policies and perspectives that could be amplified this year.” Berger declined to comment on the email. Lockwood, the spokesman, declined to say if Burgum a meeting with Hollub happened. The records revealed that a Who’s Who of oil executives had calls scheduled with Burgum. The include: CEOs of Chevron and Exxon; Marathon Oil officials had an audience with Burgum in 2022; and the governor also spoke before the Hess Corporation’s board of directors’ dinner. Burgum’s family also has an oil lease with Hess that paid him as much as $1,000, according to his financial disclosure. Burgum turned down an invitation to address an American Petroleum Institute convention in Washington, the records show, but agreed to speak at a private dinner for the American Exploration and Production Council in 2023, which drew top executives from Conoco Phillips, Devon Energy, Hilcorp and others. When Burgum was a leading contender last year to be Trump’s vice presidential pick, he co-hosted a banquet at the governor’s mansion with the North Dakota Petroleum Council that drew fracking industry heavy hitters, lobbyists and executives. Burgum, Hamm and Chris Wright, the CEO of Liberty Energy who is now Trump’s pick for energy secretary, addressed attendees as they dined on beef, walleye cakes and bourbon caramel-topped cobbler. On Inauguration Day, Burgum declined an invitation to attend a party at the posh Hay-Adams Hotel that was hosted by Hamm and a number of petroleum trade associations and oil companies. Burgum’s presence may not have been missed. Many of those executives and lobbyists, who will have business before the Interior Department, can reach him. —Brian Slodysko and Jack Dura, Associated Press View the full article

The grand Samsung Galaxy S25 unveiling was also the first time anyone got a good look at One UI 7, Samsung's take on Android 15—it's now available on the Galaxy S25 handsets, and will be making its way to older models as well in the coming months. Among the many new features the software update ushers in, one of the most useful is the Now Bar. The Now Bar works a bit like the Live Activities shown on the iPhone's Dynamic Island, which was introduced with iOS 16. It builds on the existing persistent notifications feature that Android already has—those notifications that stick on screen if you've got music playing, for example, or if you're running a timer. The Now Bar sits at the bottom of the lock screen. Credit: Samsung The Now Bar is designed for the same sort of job, appearing at the bottom of the lock screen so you can keep up with live information from inside your apps. A variety of different panels can be shown, including workouts being tracked in Samsung Health, directions you're following in Google Maps, and playlists you're listening to in Spotify. The Now Bar sits at the bottom of the screen, whereas iOS Live Activities appear at the top; another difference is that the Now Bar isn't visible when the phone is unlocked. If you're using your Galaxy phone and it's unlocked, the Now Bar information will be displayed in the same way as it currently is: as a persistent notification you can get at by swiping down from the top of the screen. You can use the Now Bar to control apps like audio players. Credit: Samsung With both the Now Bar and Live Activities, you can tap the live notification for a bigger view and some interactive controls (starting and stopping timers, for example)—on iPhones, the Dynamic Island grows and shrinks as needed. There's no Dynamic Island on One UI 7 or on Galaxy phones (at least not yet.) "By offering instant access to important notifications, Now Bar reduces the need to constantly unlock the device and allows users to engage with key information effortlessly," Samsung says. "Now Bar will transform the lock screen experience, which will continue to evolve with more intelligent experiences in the future." Supported apps and settingsNow Bar integration depends on developer support, of course. There doesn't seem to be a definitive, official list of apps that support the Now Bar, but based on user reports we know Google Maps and Spotify are two of the third-party apps that now work with the feature. No doubt support for more apps will arrive in the future, at least in apps where the Now Bar makes sense (Uber, for example). Samsung has already got several of its One UI 7 apps ready to work with the Now Bar, including Bixby, Clock, Emergency Sharing, Interpreter, Samsung Health, Samsung Notes, and Voice Recorder. For many of the others—like the photo gallery app and the web browser—you don't really need live updates on the lock screen. Samsung has also demoed sports scores from Google appearing on the Now Bar. Some Now Bar updates can appear automatically. Credit: Samsung You can have multiple Now Bar panels running at once too, just in case you're playing music and jogging and running a timer. They'll stack up on top of each other, and you're able to swipe up to cycle between them. Samsung's promo videos also show smart AI alerts—telling you when to leave for an appointment, for example—appearing on the Now Bar interface. You can see some of the existing Now Bar integrations in this promo video from Samsung. For example, start a run in the Samsung Health app, lock your phone, and you'll see your current time and distance displayed at the bottom of the lock screen. Tap the Now Bar to make the widget bigger, and to get controls for stopping the tracking. Accessing the settings for the Now Bar in One UI 7. Credit: Samsung The other apps work in a similar way. With Voice Recorder, you're able to start a recording from inside the app and then switch to the Now Bar on the lock screen. There you'll find a timer showing how long the recording has been going, plus controls to pause recording and to stop it completely. If you've got access to One UI 7, you can customize the Now Bar by heading to Settings, then tapping Lock screen and AOD > Now Bar. From the next screen you can choose which apps are able to pipe live notifications to the Now Bar, as well as choose whether or not you want daily briefings delivered to the Now Bar too. View the full article

Fiscal constraints put Starmer and Reeves in an unenviable situation, but Trump has changed the terms of the debateView the full article

The Trump administration's Office of Personnel Management sent a memo of frequently asked questions encouraging civil servants to go on vacation and even take a second job, which in some instances is contrary to longstanding agency conflict-of-interest rules. View the full article

Vote caps fraught debate over growing influence of Alternative for Germany party in Europe’s largest countryView the full article

Jason Sippel to leave US bank after more than two decades for UK-based macro firmView the full article

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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’ve been eyeing premium wireless earbuds but don’t want to shell out big bucks, this deal on the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 might catch your attention. Originally priced at $279.95, they’re now going for $99.99 on Woot—but only for eight days or until sold out. Plus, Prime members get free standard shipping, while others will have to pay $6 (just a heads up, this sale is only available in the U.S., and free shipping isn’t available for Alaska, Hawaii, or PO boxes). You also get a two-year Sennheiser manufacturer limited warranty, so there’s some peace of mind if anything goes wrong. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 Earbuds $99.99 at Woot $279.95 Save $179.96 Get Deal Get Deal $99.99 at Woot $279.95 Save $179.96 These IPX4-rated earbuds come with four pairs of ear tips (XS to L) and three sets of stability fins, which help keep them in place, especially if you plan to use them at the gym. The controls are built into the capacitive outer panels of each earbud and are said to be quite responsive. That said, the touch controls can be a bit too sensitive—accidentally pausing or skipping tracks when you’re just adjusting the earbuds is a common issue. Battery-wise, you get seven hours per charge with an extra 21 hours from the case (decent, but expect less if ANC is on). Charging is convenient since the case supports both Qi wireless charging and USB-C. Its Bluetooth 5.2 compatibility ensures a stable connection while its 7mm dynamic drivers cover a wide frequency range of 5Hz to 21kHz, delivering deep bass without distortion, clear mids, and balanced highs. The sound quality is impressive with AAC, AptX, AptX Adaptive, and SBC supported (which should work well for most users), but audiophiles might notice the absence of LDAC support. Active noise cancellation (ANC) here is solid but not the best. It handles low rumbles (like plane noise) well but struggles with higher-frequency sounds (like chatter and clanking dishes), as noted in this PCMag review. You can tweak the EQ, adjust ANC settings, customize touch controls, and more using the Sennheiser Smart App. If water resistance is a priority, the Jabra Elite 7 Pro (Renewed, $129.99) offers a higher IP57 rating, making it more durable against dust and water. And if you’re after stronger ANC, the Sony WF-1000XM4 (Renewed, $149.97) might be a better pick. View the full article

As wind-driven wildfires spread through the Los Angeles area in January 2025, fire-spotting technology and computer models were helping firefighters understand the rapidly changing environment they were facing. That technology has evolved over the years, yet some techniques are very similar to those used over 100 years ago. I have spent several decades studying combustion, including wildfire behavior and the technology used to track fires and predict where wildfires might turn. Here’s a quick tour of the key technologies used today. Spotting fires faster First, the fire must be discovered. Often wildfires are reported by people seeing smoke. That hasn’t changed, but other ways fires are spotted have evolved. In the early part of the 20th century, the newly established U.S. Forest Service built fire lookout towers around the country. The towers were topped by cabins with windows on all four walls and provided living space for the fire lookouts. The system was motivated by the Great Fire of 1910 that burned three million acres in Washington, Idaho and Montana and killed 87 people. Before satellites, fire crews watched for smoke from fire towers across the national forests. [Photo: K. D. Swan/U.S. Forest Service] Today, cameras watch over many high-risk areas. California has more than 1,100 cameras watching for signs of smoke. Artificial intelligence systems continuously analyze the images to provide data for firefighters to quickly respond. AI is a way to train a computer program to recognize repetitive patterns: smoke plumes in the case of fire. NOAA satellites paired with AI data analysis also generate alerts but over a wider area. They can detect heat signatures, map fire perimeters and burned areas, and track smoke and pollutants to assess air quality and health risks. Forecasting fire behavior Once a fire is spotted, one immediate task for firefighting teams is to estimate how the fire is going to behave so they can deploy their limited firefighting resources most effectively. Fire managers have seen many fires and have a sense of the risks their regions face. Today, they also have computer simulations that combine data about the terrain, the materials burning and the weather to help predict how a fire is likely to spread. Fuel models Fuel models are based on the ecosystem involved, using fire history and laboratory testing. In Southern California, for example, much of the wildland fuel is chaparral, a type of shrubland with dense, rocky soil and highly flammable plants in a Mediterranean climate. Chaparral is one of the fastest-burning fuel types, and fires can spread quickly in that terrain. For human-made structures, things are a bit more complex. The materials a house is made of—if it has wood siding, for example—and the environment around it, such as how close it is to trees or wooden fences, play an important role in how likely it is to burn and how it burns. Weather and terrain Terrain is also important because it influences local winds and because fire tends to run faster uphill than down. Terrain data is well known thanks to satellite imagery and can easily be incorporated into computer codes. Weather plays another critical role in fire behavior. Fires need oxygen to burn, and the windier it is, the more oxygen is available to the fire. High winds also tend to generate embers from burning vegetation that can be blown up to five miles in the highest winds, starting spot fires that can quickly spread. Today, large computer simulations can forecast the weather. There are global models that cover the entire Earth and local models that cover smaller areas but with better resolution that provides greater detail. Both provide real-time data on the weather for creating fire behavior simulations. Modeling how flames spread Flame-spread models can then estimate the likely movement of a fire. Scientists build these models by studying past fires and conducting laboratory experiments, combined with mathematical models that incorporate the physics of fire. With local terrain, fuel, and real-time weather information, these simulations can help fire managers predict a fire’s likely behavior. Advanced modeling can account for fuel details such as ground-level plant growth and tree canopies, including amount of cover, tree height, and tree density. These models can estimate when a fire will reach the tree canopy and how that will affect the fire’s spread. Forecasting helps, but wind can change fast All these tools are made available to firefighters in computer applications and can help fire crews as they respond to wildfires. However, wind can rapidly change speed or direction, and new fires can start in unexpected places, meaning fire managers know they have to be prepared for many possible outcomes—not just the likely outcomes they see on their computer screens. Ultimately, during a fire, firefighting strategy is based on human judgment informed by experience, as well as science and technology. John W. Daily is a research professor in thermo fluid sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

The QR in QR code stands for quick response, and the first QR code was invented back in 1994. QR codes are readable barcodes that can store different kinds of information. Email addresses, phone numbers, and website URLs are just a few examples. QR codes are commonly utilized for tracking products in the supply chain, and most smartphones come equipped with built-in QR code readers. By scanning a QR code, you can perform various actions, such as verifying login information, managing online accounts, and facilitating payments. So it’s important for small businesses to ask, “Do QR codes expire?” READ MORE: How to Create a QR Code in 5 Simple Steps What is a QR Code? Got something to sell? Then you need to know that almost half (45%) of shoppers utilized marketing campaign-related QR codes in recent times. These square black and white symbols can be scanned with a laser or smartphone to access information about services and products. They serve a significant commercial purpose by providing links, content, coupons, and other relevant information. Essentially, they are a matrix-based form of barcode. Business needs to understand how these kinds of codes work. How Does a QR Code Work? Today’s smartphones have QR code scanners. Point your camera phone at QR codes. The QR code readers do the rest and you can read the info. Remember an SVG format lets you resize them. READ MORE: 50 QR Code Uses for Marketing and Business Do QR Codes Ever Stop Working? Wondering if static QR codes expire? The answer is no. But some generators have a cap on unlimited use. Static QR Codes These have a URL that’s fixed. That means the alignment pattern can’t be edited. Use these static QR code options for: A Resume This type of QR code doesn’t need to change. For Images That Don’t Change Static QR codes work to show off business pictures. For An Event. An event QR code can be a one-off. Like invitation cards. Dynamic QR Codes A dynamic QR code falls under the banner of a custom QR code. Scanning the QR code here is easy. You can change the destination URL. A created QR code can be edited. Dynamic QR Code Uses A dynamic QR code has some business advantages over a static QR code. Scanning is Faster The static QR code doesn’t scan as fast as a dynamic one. They create a QR code with a shortened URL, so scanning is faster. They Are Trackable. Dynamic QR codes generate trackable results. The QR code receives info on your customers. How to Create a QR Code That Doesn’t Expire Before you can scan a QR code, you need to create one. Don’t forget to look at accessories from Denso Wave Incorporated. Google Denso Wave Inc to get started. Find a good code generator with an error correction feature. Enter a URL. Customize one QR code. Consider shape and color if you’re looking at a social media QR code. Download and save it. Add the same QR code to print material, or use a vcard QR code for contact details. These can send your unique ID to a user’s phone Where to Create a QR Code That Doesn’t Expire It’s important to choose products that don’t expire yet can be modified. Consider utilizing a high-speed reading engine like this one. QRCode Monkey With this generator, you’ll receive QR codes that do not expire. Additionally, QRCode Monkey offers dynamic QR codes that you can modify and update as needed. You can even add a company logo for scanning. ZebraQR The ideal QR code generator for restaurants is available at ZebraQR. If you’re focusing on mobile users, there’s a small adjustment to consider: no app is necessary—just use a phone camera. You can easily create your QR code along with your digital menu. There’s a free plan. But you’ll need to pay for advanced features. The Pro plan is $49 monthly. Beaconstac Beaconstac’s QR code generator is used by big names like Revlon, Puma, and Marriott. Scan statistics are provided. The dynamic QR codes can be updated in real-time and that’s great for marketing campaigns. The Starter plan gives you 3 dynamic QR codes and 25,000 scans for $5 USD monthly. Beaconstac offers two other options, either works for landing pages. QRStuff The QR codes created with this tool don’t require an account. This is one of the better free QR code generator tools. It’s free and you get an unlimited number of QR code scans. QR stuff works with a variety of different data types like the URL for a webpage. QRTiger An ideal choice when you’re looking to generate dynamic QR codes to be scanned. Plus, there’s no expiration date on any of the code that gets created. QRTiger lets you add pictures from your image gallery for commercial purposes. Even a Call To Action can be added to the online QR code. There’s a free trial version. Scanova Opt for dynamic QR codes that come with a subscription and never expire. This advanced option enables you to modify your content whenever you need it. Additionally, you can utilize a prebuilt landing page to kick off your project. You’ll need an account to use Scanova. Free QR Codes Free static QR codes are another option. You can find free code options online. Keep in mind there are some security risks when you’re generating a code for free. There can be scan issues. Remember you’re asking a third-party site to get involved many times. Remember, static and dynamic QR codes are different. You cant change the data on a static one without a new QR code. QR Code Generators These are the software programs used to create QR codes. Based on the data like a webpage URL or text that becomes the QR code. We’ve already listed some popular QR code options you pay for. And some free QR code generators that work. Now, here are a few more tips on sorting through your QR code options. Look for speed. A good QR code should be up and running in under a minute. Some, like the image gallery QR code, might need to be tweaked on the fly. Look for ones that produce standard-sized QR code products. Even a single QR code generated online can be big. Especially if the destination URL is long. A standard-sized QR code is more attractive. You’ll need a way to track a QR code. Look for one that has a QR code scanner. That’s important whether you are using dynamic QR codes or static QR codes. Scanning is an important feature of any successful product. Can QR codes be customized? There are different QR code types. Custom QR codes can have different backgrounds, patterns, and colors. You can even add a logo if you’re going to place it on a web page. Looking for a complete guide on the different types of QR code options? Here’s a link. Can QR codes be edited? Dynamic QR codes can be edited. You can change to a new URL destination. And update the content. The other type of QR code is static. Those can’t be edited. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Do QR Codes Expire?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article