Latest news with #RaheelSheikh
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
What Kind Of Business Can You Start In The US With Less Than $250,000?
Raheel Sheikh, Found and CEO of Acquisitions Entrepreneurs. As an experienced business consultant with a thorough understanding of market dynamics and entry strategies, I can confidently state that starting a business in the United States with a budget of less than $250,000 is not only possible but often a prudent and strategic approach—especially for first-time entrants or international investors. A significant and resilient portion of the U.S. economy is driven by small to mid-sized enterprises, many of which were established with modest capital. When carefully chosen and built on sound operational methods, these types of businesses can offer both financial stability and scalable development potential. Here are some of the most promising business options I see in this investment bracket today: Franchise Acquisition A franchise investment is still one of the most popular and low-risk ways to enter the U.S. business environment (with a two-year success rate that is reportedly 8% higher than that of independent small businesses). For less than $250,000, you can acquire a reputable franchise in industries including home services, fitness studios, senior care, quick-service restaurants and specialty retailers. What makes franchising so tempting are the built-in support structure, training programs, brand awareness, standardized operating processes and, in many cases, an established client base. Furthermore, franchising helps first-time entrepreneurs avoid the trial-and-error period often encountered by independent enterprises. E-Commerce And Niche Retail E-commerce significantly democratizes business by removing the requirement for physical infrastructure. With storage and logistics being outsourced to fulfillment centers, a strategic product offering backed by SEO, influencer collaborations and data-driven advertising can offer significant returns. With less than $250,000, you can open a well-branded Shopify store, acquire initial inventory, run a thorough digital marketing campaign and even invest in automated solutions for customer service, remarketing and analytics. The goal here is to select high-margin, evergreen or trend-aligned items while also recognizing the intricacies of consumer psychology in a digital context. Service-Based Businesses Service businesses, particularly those in the cleaning sector, real estate support, digital marketing, personal care and business consulting, often need little capital and have high recurring income potential. For example, I've seen commercial cleaning firms be started for less than $100,000 and expanded up to six or seven figures with proper staffing and CRM technologies. Similarly, digital marketing companies, particularly niche-focused ones (e.g., supporting medical practices or legal firms), can be started with a small remote team and ramped up by utilizing performance-based retainers. Mobile And On-Demand Ventures The American consumer economy is moving rapidly toward hyper-personalized, on-demand services. Mobile car detailing, pet grooming, laundry pickup and even on-site health services are all tempting business models due to their cheap fixed costs, flexibility in operations and strong local demand. These firms typically thrive in cities and suburbs where time is more precious than money. A well-designed app or scheduling system, savvy local marketing and an efficient dispatch method can enable an entrepreneur to take over an industry without the need for physical space. Food Trucks And Specialty Food Concepts America's love for artisanal, ethnically diverse and experiential dining has catalyzed a food truck renaissance. For well under $250,000, you can design and launch a fully equipped, code-compliant food truck, get a culinary crew and obtain all necessary licenses. Unlike typical brick-and-mortar restaurants, which may cost more than $1 million to open, food trucks give you geographic flexibility, reduced risk and potentially faster ROI. However, success is dependent on brand identification, menu engineering, smart route planning and social media storytelling. Luxury Car Rental I also think that car rental, particularly in the premium market, offers an appealing business strategy well within the $250,000 investment range. Entrepreneurs who join this market benefit from the steady demand generated by corporate travel, high-net-worth individuals, special events and tourism. By strategically acquiring a fleet of well-maintained premium vehicles and locating the company in affluent metropolitan hubs like Miami, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C., operators gain immediate access to a clientele willing to pay a premium for exclusivity, convenience and brand prestige. Success in this market requires precise operational management, notably in insurance structure, car depreciation forecasts and customer screening standards. Furthermore, combining digital booking systems, concierge-level customer service and dynamic pricing models can greatly improve usage and ROI. From here, you can follow scalable extension paths into related services such as chauffeuring, corporate mobility solutions and exotic vehicle subscription models. Considerations Before You Commit While the entrance cost may be less than $250,000, what ultimately defines a company's success is how well that cash is spent. Your product or service must address an actual, tangible problem. Emotions and instincts cannot substitute empirical demand validation. Make sure to invest in systems before people. CRM solutions, automatic invoicing, customer communication pipelines and performance dashboards are all great ways to decrease overhead while increasing production. Also, make sure to not spend your entire budget on the launch. A reasonable reserve must be maintained to withstand the unpredictability of the first year. Conclusion Overall, we shouldn't equate low pricing with poor quality. A $250,000 company, when selected wisely and run with discipline, can beat a million-dollar endeavor riddled with inefficiencies or misalignment. The United States' economy currently values flexibility, customer understanding and executional perfection. With the appropriate business model, solid foundation and consistent operational attention, a business under $250,000 can be more than just sustainable; it can be a passport to generational promise. The information provided here is not investment, tax, or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Mint
08-07-2025
- Mint
Who is Rajshree More? Mumbai influencer caught in altercation with MNS leader's ‘drunk' son in viral video
Mumbai-based influencer and nail artist Rajshree More has filed a police complaint against Raheel Sheikh, son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) vice president Javed Sheikh, accusing him of ramming her car multiple times and threatening her while allegedly under the influence of alcohol. The incident reportedly took place late Sunday night when More was travelling from Goregaon to Andheri. In her statement to the police and NDTV, More claimed Raheel was 'drunk and half-naked' when he repeatedly hit her vehicle and hurled abuses at her in the presence of police officials. In a video posted to her Instagram account, More described the ordeal, saying she was being followed and intentionally targeted. 'The driver of the SUV was ramming my car repeatedly. The first time, I thought it was a mistake. But it kept happening. I turned into a narrow lane near my house and realized I was being targeted. I asked my driver if our doors were locked. When I saw two constables nearby, I called them for help—they got into my car. Even then, the other car rammed us again,' she told NDTV. More further alleged that after police intervened, Raheel Sheikh began abusing her and misbehaving with the officers, invoking his father's political influence. 'He was drunk and half-naked. His pants were slipping off. He didn't remember his clothes but remembered who his father was. He started abusing me, threatening me, saying I would have to pay for this,' she said. Rajshree More is a beauty influencer and entrepreneur who runs a nail art studio in Lokhandwala. She has over 31,000 followers on Instagram and often posts videos with Bollywood celebrities. More was recently at the centre of another controversy after posting a video questioning the push to enforce Marathi language in Maharashtra. In the clip, she argued that instead of imposing the language, local Marathi residents should focus on working harder. She also suggested that Mumbai's development would suffer if migrant workers left the city. The video sparked a backlash from MNS supporters, and a complaint was filed against her at the Oshiwara police station. More later deleted the video and issued a public apology. Following the Sunday night incident, an FIR has been filed against Raheel Sheikh under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including: Section 79 (gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) Section 281 (rash and negligent driving) Sections 125 and 185 (driving under the influence) However, till the time of filing of this report, no arrest has been made.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
MNS leader tried to stop me from filing FIR: Influencer Rajshree More
Social media influencer Rajshree More on Monday alleged that Raheel Sheikh, son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) state Vice-President Javed Sheikh, assaulted her while intoxicated inside his car, boasted of his connections, and later, attempts were made to dissuade her from filing an FIR. A video that surfaced on Monday showed a nearly naked Raheel Sheikh, shirtless and allegedly drunk, verbally abusing More and identifying himself as the son of an MNS leader. Immediately after, the Shiv Sena-UBT demanded action, and authorities arrested Sheikh on charges of outraging a woman's modesty, negligent driving, and verbal abuse. An FIR was registered at the Amboli Police Station, and he remains in custody. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Rajshree More claimed he deliberately targeted her vehicle, hit it, and endangered nearby pedestrians. "I was driving when his Innova smashed into my vehicle from behind. Then it advanced, struck me again, and damaged my car badly. He didn't stop. He nearly ran over three pedestrians walking in front of me and many more behind. It was a wild, drunken rampage." She further recounted with shock how Sheikh was nearly naked and unapologetic. "He was drunk, his pants had fallen down, and his dirty belly hanging down. He wildly abused me, declaring, 'I am Raheel Sheikh, son of Javed Sheikh. Go to the police station tomorrow morning and find out who my father is'." More said Javed Sheikh tried to convince her not to proceed legally: "They begged me not to file an FIR - 'his career will be ruined'. I asked what 'studying at 27' meant; they couldn't answer. They promised to send him abroad. He's 27 - not exactly a student. I asked how they could trust a drunk behind the wheel. They pleaded for apologies, but I stood firm.' More said, a senior Amboli police officer assured her that the FIR would be properly recorded. By late Sunday, she was "completely satisfied" with the police response. Pressed about the larger stir over Maharashtra's language politics, especially the ongoing Hindi-Marathi tensions, More emphasised that her protest is not anti-Marathi, but against arrogance: "This isn't Marathi vs Non-Marathi. This is Marathi vs Marathi. I told them non-Marathis come here to earn a living, often living far from family. They travel, work hard. Instead of targeting them, Marathi folks should lead by example and work hard themselves." More added that expecting immigrants to learn Marathi overnight is unrealistic. "People struggling to meet basic needs don't have time for language lessons. When you demand Marathi proficiency in 2025, years after moving here, it's unrealistic. Language won't fill potholes or create jobs." Defending her stance, she said: "Of the 45 people working with me, 30 are Marathi, 20 non-Marathi. Language is not a barrier—humanity is. We must speak in whatever tongue we understand. Language alone won't feed us." Describing Rahee Sheikh's actions as "hooliganism", More dismissed any cultural or linguistic justification: "This is not heroism, but cowardly hooliganism fueled by political influence. Wearing a political badge doesn't give one the right to abuse or intimidate." Despite attempts to portray her as politically motivated, More insisted she is not from any political party. "No political allegiance—Congress, BJP, none. If I were affiliated, they'd paint me as biased. But I'm an independent influencer. My clients and colleagues aren't primarily Marathi. I stood up not for politics, but for justice," she added.
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
What E-2 Visa Investors Should Know About U.S. Car Rental Ventures
Raheel Sheikh, Found and CEO of Acquisitions Entrepreneurs. The E-2 treaty investor visa is a popular option for international entrepreneurs looking to create a life and business in the U.S. While restaurant chains, convenience stores and petrol stations have traditionally dominated this industry, I've noticed some investors are increasingly venturing into the automobile rental market. Car rentals can provide asset-backed security, demand resilience and scalable profitability. Drawing on years of experience guiding companies through their U.S. migrations, I want to shed light on why the automobile rental model has emerged as a particularly feasible investment option within the E-2 framework—as well as the risks entrepreneurs need to prepare for if they're planning to pursue this option. Understanding The E-2 Visa I wrote previously about the E-2 visa and how it allows treaty country nationals to live and work in the U.S. if they make a substantial investment in a genuine operating business. What can make this visa appealing is its flexibility. At the time of this writing, there is no minimum investment required, as long as the capital is 'substantial' in relation to the nature of the firm and the enterprise is active, nonmarginal and economically productive. Through my work helping entrepreneurs pursue the E-2 visa, I've found one of the most widespread misconceptions is that this visa is only for large-scale organizations. In actuality, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) looks at proportionality, risk and the possibility for job development rather than exact numbers, in our experience. This opens the door to industries such as automobile rentals, where we've found a well-placed investment of $100,000 to $200,000 may be enough to begin a lucrative and legal enterprise. The Potential Benefits Of Car Rentals Asset-backed investment: Many first-time investors in the U.S. are concerned about buried expenses. An automobile rental company has an advantage in that automobiles are physical, depreciating assets with resale value. In contrast to companies that only offer services, the fleet itself can help insulate investors from risk and offer options for liquidation in the event of unanticipated events. Multi-stream revenue: Over the past few years helping clients select U.S. businesses, we've discovered that the car rental sector is one of the few models that naturally supports multiple income streams, such as daily rentals, monthly leasing for rideshare drivers, long-term contracts with corporate clients and airport partnerships. Investors can also diversify their offerings by specializing in luxury rentals. Potential for consistent demand: While transportation patterns shift, the demand for flexible, short-term mobility remains relatively constant, and the U.S. car rental market is expected to exceed $56 billion by 2030. Urban populations, gig workers and visitors help drive consistent demand. Quick-to-market and scalable: In my experience, a vehicle rental system has the potential to be put up in less than 90 days. Investors can start small and grow as demand dictates. For instance, we worked with a logistics entrepreneur in early 2024 who wanted to build an asset-backed business that would provide a U.S. income stream and qualify him and his family for E-2 residency. He started with a capital investment of $350,000, two employees and nine vehicles. We helped him form a U.S. LLC, craft an investor-friendly business plan, secure commercial insurance, implement fleet management technology and market to rideshare drivers. The company reached 90% fleet utilization within the first six months and a net profit of 12% by month 11. Their visa was approved, and they are now planning to increase the fleet and diversify their offerings. This journey demonstrates what is possible when investment, compliance and strategy are all implemented together. The Importance Of Strategic Selection However, as someone who has worked directly with immigrant businesses, I've seen firsthand that difficulties can still arise with the car rental model. In my experience, these challenges are not because the automobile rental concept is not viable, but rather because of how it is implemented. Market selection is an area new investors in the U.S. often find difficult. Not all cities provide the same rate of return. It is critical to approach location selection strategically. The success of a car rental business is determined by its location and strategy. For instance, we've found that demand for luxury SUVs tends to be higher in places like Virginia and Washington, D.C., but it flips dramatically in tourist-centric cities like New York City. I've also seen that in some areas, tourists and short-term visitors tend to seek out muscle cars or supercars to enhance their holiday experience. When exploring potential locations, entrepreneurs should consider local tourist trends, customer profiles and vehicle preference data, as matching inventory to local demand can increase profitability and brand positioning. Once you decide on an area, it can also be helpful to look for opportunities to increase your visibility. For example, the entrepreneur I mentioned earlier joined a local chamber of commerce, which helped increase his community presence. Risks To Consider It's also important to note that insurance complications in the car rental sector, particularly for high-end vehicles, can cause claim delays and financial losses for business owners. Inaccurate or challenged insurance coverage might jeopardize cash and business continuity. Marketing efforts in luxury car rental businesses can also become risky since poorly developed or implemented campaigns can result in the underutilization of fleet assets, which can lead to vehicles degrading in value, as well as maintenance, storage and financing expenses. This can reduce profitability and weaken brand positioning in a competitive business. Additionally, keep in mind that U.S. immigration policy can change, so ensure you're staying up to date and following the most recent visa requirements. Conclusion As a consultant, I see the rental car industry as a strategic investment vehicle rather than just a temporary solution. However, there is no assurance or guarantee that such an endeavor will succeed. It necessitates careful planning, expert advice, a regional approach and constant adjustment to market conditions. When executed well, it can offer more than just a visa; it could help secure a family's future, bring about financial independence and put the investor in a position to take advantage of numerous chances across the American economy. The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
