If you like to take charge, don't mind working hard and stick with something when things get in the way — not to mention being decisive, able to live with uncertainty and excited about new products and services — you just might be the entrepreneurial type.

So how do you decide what business to get into?

That's one of the biggest questions would-be entrepreneurs face, according to my unscientific research. As I've traveled across the U.S. lately meeting people in transition, many tell me they'd like to be an entrepreneur but don't know what kind of business to go into.

Like any career move, your own business should not be solely based on what kind of money you can potentially make. Here's why.

Let's say you decide to go into the distribution of Swiss steam cleaners because you heard you could make good money doing so. But you really don't care much about these machines and their amazing capacity to remove stains from upholstery, destroy dust mites and sanitize toilets. In fact, you'd be embarrassed to tell people that's what you do.

This would not be a business for you. If your heart's not in the business, not only will you dread the daily operating of the business but you won't survive the nights and weekends alone in your office doing paperwork and all the behind-the-scenes activity. And because you're not enthusiastic about the business, you may not do well financially.

Your business should be based on a product or service you care about. Choose a business that you will feel good about throwing yourself into, would be proud to tell people about and consider worth taking a risk for. Begin by thinking about issues, products and services that matter to you most.

The other key ingredient is picking a product or service that meets a need. For example, here are three new types of businesses that serve a big demand today: convenience.

Onsite HairCuts is a mobile salon that caters to office workers who can't get away to get their hair coiffed. According to the Trendwatching newsletter, the company, which owns three converted Winnebagos, shows up at corporate parking lots for employees who booked their appointment online.

There's also Onsite Dental, which serves office workers too busy to leave their cubicles for long periods.

In Istanbul, a company called After 9 delivers in 45 minutes or less whatever people are demanding between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. — such items as beverages, cigarettes, diapers and condoms. The company has since launched Nite-Porter, a chauffeur service that takes you where you want in your own car and Pill-Porter, an all-night pharmacy delivery service.

Another business that's meeting the cry for convenience is TwoRooms, a New York-based facility that provides 2,200-square-foot communal office space, full-time childcare and community in one setting for freelance and home-based workers who don't need or can't afford full-time childcare. It is literally two rooms — one for parents; the other for kids 3 months to 4 years old.

There are many products and services that support other demands. Like these businesses I just cited, some didn't exist until an entrepreneur put together the need with their own passion. So, if you've got the entrepreneurial itch, listen to what you and the people around you complain about or say they need and ask yourself whether creating a solution would get your juices going.

Reach Andrea Kay at andrea@andreakay.com.