Pentaho - Open Source BI
I've found a differentiator that may help me go after bigger businesses than my mom's spa or lockandkeyid. It's an open source business intelligence stack called Pentaho. They are trying to take several open source projects (Enhydra ETL, Mondrian CUBES) and offer them as a cohesive suite to do BI. The CEO happens to be an ex-Sagent Chairman.

I will use my mom's business and lock and key as case studies for my website content. I will install the distribution these guys put together and work on becoming familiar with all the pieces. I'll market my new company as someone who can replace existing expensive BI with this open source BI stuff.

The learning curve for me will probably be a year. It may be a good opportunity though. My company is still using Sagent and they are on the cheap side so maybe this suite would appeal to them as a replacement (if it matures down the road). Here's also an opportunity where I have enough knowledge to join an open source communuity and become a known contributor. I could also angle for a job at Pentaho. I'd have a good leg up since the CEO once worked for Sagent.