Helping Your Teen Start Their Own Business

Little children grow up so fast. I can’t believe that I have a couple pre-teens of my own already. Both my 11yr. old son and 12yr. old daughter have been brainstorming ways to make money. My son has been cutting lawns for my neighbors and wants to make it into a business. My daughter is very capable of taking care of little kids, cleaning houses, and baking. She would like to figure out a way for these talents to help earn her money.  Both of my children are interested in starting their own businesses and often come to me asking questions, but I just don’t know what advice to give them. When I was asked to review Carol Topp’s Starting a Micro Business for Teens, I was thrilled because it was the topic my children were interested in learning more about.

Carol Topp, CPA advises teenage business owners though her Micro Business for Teens book series. Carol’s day job is accountant to business owners, and she enjoys teaching teenagers to succeed beyond their dreams. Students appreciate how she shares what they need to know in clear and helpful lessons. Her website is MicroBusinessForTeens.com

What is it?

Starting a Micro Business for Teens is the first book in Carol’s Micro Business for Teens series.  A micro business is any small business run by one person that can be started easily, quickly, and with little start up money. Here is a short except from the book:

Here are some ideas for a micro business a teenager can start this spring:

• House cleaning: Offer to tackle large jobs like washing windows, moving furniture, etc. Many people are grateful for a young, strong teenager to help them with heavy lifting. What is easy for you might be very difficult for them, especially if they are an older person.
  
• Routine house cleaning: Some customers need regular house cleaning and may hire you on a weekly or monthly basis. Don't wait for them to ask: offer to come weekly or twice a month and see what they say.
  
• Attic cleaning: Offer to help people do a job that they put off, such as cleaning an attic.
  
• Garage cleaning: A big job that can earn you big bucks!
  
• Yard cleanup: Offer to trim bushes, pull weeds, plant flowers and spread mulch to spruce up a yard.
  
• Car and van cleaning: People spend a lot of time in their automobiles and their cars and vans need frequent cleaning. Melissa gladly paid to get her van cleaned inside and out every week because her four children could really make a mess in it. You can make some cash by offering to clean a van inside and out.
  
• Organize. Organize a house, playroom or garage. Charge the customer for any bins, tubs and labels that you purchase for them and then add on the value of your time. Take before and after photos to use on your advertising fliers.
  
• Declutter: Do you love HGTV shows on organization? You might be able to find someone to hire you to declutter their house like you see on TV.
  
• Garage sales: Advertise, organize and run a garage sale for your neighbors. Get several neighbors to participate together and really earn the bucks!
  
• eBay sales: Offer to sell your neighbors' stuff on eBay and take a cut for yourself. Combine the decluttering, garage sale and eBay tasks into a full package to help your customers profit from their excess stuff.

In this book ,teens will get business ideas, write a business plan, and learn how to get their new business venture off to a good start.

What I Thought:

I appreciate that this book was easy to understand! There were many great ideas presented along with examples from real teens. I liked that she stressed that teens should try their hardest to start their business debt-free. She also had a section that walked through creating a business plan. There was just enough information to help a student start planning a business without being overwhelming. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series when we get to the point of running a business. I think this is an excellent resource for teens. She has even more tips on her website, MicroBusinessForTeens.com

Kathy Carlton Willis Communications (KCWC) is hosting a Grand Prize Giveaway for the four book set of Carol Topp’s Micro Business for Teens series.

To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post (make sure your contact email is available.) Ends on April 22nd.

I will forward all the comments to KCWC and they will draw a winner on April 25th, 2011 from all the blog tour comments.  Winner will be notified by KCWC via email. 

Want additional entries? Then comment on Tristan’s post too!

Disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book for review purposes only. All opinions are mine.