Popularized by one fast-food giant in the 1970s, the notion of having it "your way" is nothing new. These days the niche businesses that flood the market can fulfill just about any consumer desire, no matter how specific.
While providing various options may be lucrative, every entrepreneur knows the difficulty of realizing even one idea. Nearly 22 percent of the 538 thousand start-ups established between March 2010 and March 2011 had shuttered a year later, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
So what does it take to run a successful niche business? The Biz Fix came away with insights and four specific tips from an expert who has built a business around meatballs that is thriving in ultracompetitive New York.
(Read more: Want to get rich? One entrepreneur says do it on your own)