So, how about those hot 2006 Internet businesses? Here are just a few examples of online companies you can start now:

Selling information - What do you use the Internet for most of the time? If you’re like most people, your answer here is “research.” The Internet is a natural delivery format for information of all kinds. If you have information on something people want to know about, you can start an Internet business selling e-books, articles, reports, whitepapers, audio content, or just about any variation of electronic information you can think of.

Travel agency - The online travel market in the United States is growing by leaps and bounds, taking a full 23 percent of travel purchases in 2004 as more and more people book reservations and order airline, train or bus tickets online. You can get yourself a piece of this $54 billion industry by opening an online travel agency company and helping people find places to stay, make reservations, and offer a variety of services designed to make life easier for travelers. The best bet for starting an online travel agency as an Internet business is to choose a specific market segment (such as travel to a particular European country), and focus on that. Make deals with area hotels that will attract customers to your business.

eBay store - You can sell anything on eBay! Take your time to build up your reputation as an eBay seller, and then open up your own eBay storefront to become an Internet business owner. You can develop and sell your own products, or you can go through an affiliate program and sell drop-ship items with a simple-to-set-up eBay storefront. Getting an eBay store is a great way to set up an online company.

Web service firm - More and more companies are outsourcing projects in order to avoid hiring too many employees. With a little bit of know-how, you can start an Internet business as a service contractor and perform such jobs as website design, website promotion, or online security consulting (or any other type of consulting). As with any online company, the secret to success is choosing one area to specialize in, and then offer the best services in that area.

Export/Import Business - The Internet is a huge boon to exporters and importers. Demand for foreign made products is increasing around the world, and you can get in on the action by starting your own trade leads, B2B exchange or global marketplace Internet business. This exciting opportunity for an online company has powerful potential, as the Internet provides you with the opportunity to connect with billions of people around the world!