• Designing grocery bags is a small business opportunity for the "going green" trend.Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
  
  The best ideas for a small business are based on current trends and market demand.Today's trends, including the aging population, going green, value over luxury, and taking control in healthcare, create innovative and inspiring opportunities for starting up a small business. Whether your skills, background and experience are in training and development, retail, construction, consulting, or design, current trends provide a wealth of small business opportunities.
  
  

Small Business for the Senior Market

• One of the trends for products and services is to reach out to the seniors' market. Aging baby-boomers have created several opportunities for small businesses. A small business in training and development helps seniors upgrade their job skills. Care services for seniors are in demand for in-home care, healthcare, and the preparation of food. If your skills are in construction, consider home automation and renovation, to make the lives of seniors easy and safe.
  
  

Small Business for the Green Market

• Going green is another trend changing the direction of small business with opportunities for new products and services. Entrepreneur recommends a few green ideas for today's market: sell fuel-efficient cars; build a system to track the impact of food and groceries on the environment; design renewable, reusable shopping bags -- perhaps from old T-shirts. Going green can help your small business make money, while making a difference.
  
  

Small Business for the Discount Retail Market

• If retail is your interest, according to Entrepreneur, you will be interested to know that consumers are leaning towards products and services that offer value, as opposed to luxury. Consumer spending is down more than 30 percent from this time last year, to an average of $57 a day. There is a market for discount clothing, discount furniture, and discount stores. In fact, dollar stores are doing exceptionally well.
  
  

Small Business for the Healthcare Market

• Today's healthcare trends offer plenty of opportunities for starting a small business. Health and wellness, fitness, nutrition, and alternative healthcare are markets in demand. PR Web says that consumers are cynical about healthcare experts and believe in taking control of their own health. They are loyal to trusted advisers who help them understand health information. In today's market, consultants are in demand for back-to-basics fitness and lifestyle changes.