10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses: Learn a Lot

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses

Countdown to Starting a Micro Business ebook launch

Day 10: Starting a Micro Business ebook by Carol Topp, CPA is now available for purchase!

Today’s tip: Learn a Lot

You go into business to make money, but wouldn’t it be great if your business also had other benefits?

What if you learned so much, you decided to launch another, larger business?

What if you found your future career by running a micro business?

Or what if you learned what you definitely do not want to do for a career? What would that be worth to you?

Starting a micro business can be a huge learning experience, without paying tuition.

Here’s a few things you might learn:

  • time management
  • customer serve
  • how to overcome shyness
  • bookkeeping to track your income and expenses
  • how to express yourself
  • confidence
  • marketing

Meghan taught violin lessons to children when she was a teenager. She loved playing violin and enjoyed teaching so much that she decided to study violin in college. Running her micro business helped her find her future career.

What would you like to learn? ____________________

In what areas of your life do you need to grow?_____________________

Get started on learning more today by purchasing your copy of Starting a Micro Business.

For one week only until  May 10, 2010, I will be offering a special bundle package. For the price of the ebook, $9.95, you will also receive a copy of my Teens and Taxes: A Guide for Parents and Teenagers ebook and my audio Starting a Micro Business. This offer is only good for one week. It expires Monday May 10.

Carol Topp, CPA

http://MicroBusinessForTeens.com

Find Micro Business for Teens on Facebook!

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses: Keep it Manageable

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses

Countdown to Starting a Micro Business ebook launch

Day 9: 1 day until the release of Starting a Micro Business ebook by Carol Topp, CPA

on

Saturday, May 1, 2010

As we count down to the launch of Starting a Micro Business, I am going to share tips on starting a micro business.

Today’s tip: Keep it manageable

Micro businesses are a perfect business for teenagers to start because they are small and manageable. A teenager should be able to run a micro business and keep up with school work and extra curricular activities.

Running a micro should only take a few hours a week, up to 20 at most. The time commitment should be similar to working a part time job, but the rewards are much greater!

Emily teaches piano lessons to seven students for 30 minutes each week. The three-and-a-half hours a week is not a heavy load, but she is a busy high school student. She charges $8 for a half hour lesson, a very reasonable price, but twice the hourly rate that she would make working fast food. She can schedule the students around her schedule and since they come to her home, she doesn’t have to spend time driving or borrow the family car.

  • Do you have a busy life with your parents expecting you to get good grades?
  • Do you still want to earn some money without being given a funny uniform and being told when to show up for work?

A micro business would be great for you!

Be sure to visit MicroBusinessForTeens.com on Saturday, May 1, 2010 to order your copy of Starting a Micro Business.

For one week, May 3-10, 2010, I will be offering a special bundle package. For the price of the ebook , $9.95, you will also receive a copy of my Teens and Taxes: A Guide for Parents and Teenagers ebook and my audio Starting a Micro Business. This offer is only good for one week. It expires Monday May 10.

Carol Topp, CPA

http://MicroBusinessForTeens.com

Find Micro Business for Teens on Facebook!

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses: Use What You Own

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses

Countdown to Starting a Micro Business ebook launch

Day 7: 3 days until the release of Starting a Micro Business ebook by Carol Topp, CPA

on

Saturday, May 1, 2010

As we count down to the launch of Starting a Micro Business, I am going to share tips on starting a micro business.

Today’s tip: Use what you own

Some micro businesses can be launched without any start up expenses at all. You can often use the equipment and tools you (or your family) already own. Things like:

  • a piano or guitar to teach lessons
  • a stove and oven to cook food
  • a vacuum cleaner and mop to clean houses
  • your two feet to walk dogs
  • your babysitting training to do childcare
  • your computer to do web design

Be sure to visit MicroBusinessForTeens.com on Saturday, May 1, 2010 to order your copy of Starting a Micro Business.

For one week, May 3-10, 2010, I will be offering a special bundle package. For the price of the ebook , $9.95, you will also receive a copy of my Teens and Taxes: A Guide for Parents and Teenagers ebook and my audio Starting a Micro Business. This offer is only good for one week. It expires Monday May 10.

Carol Topp, CPA

http://MicroBusinessForTeens.com

Find Micro Business for Teens on Facebook!

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses: Make a Plan

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses

Countdown to Starting a Micro Business ebook launch

Day 6: 4 days until the release of Starting a Micro Business ebook by Carol Topp, CPA

on

Saturday, May 1, 2010

As we count down to the launch of Starting a Micro Business, I am going to share tips on starting a micro business.

Today’s tip: Create a plan

After you have an idea for you micro business, you should make a plan on paper to help you anticipate anything that might go wrong. By thinking through issues like who will buy your product and to reach them, you will save time, your money and avoid frustration.

A business plan can be kept short and simple for most micro businesses.

A simple business plan should have three main sections

Business Plan Sections

1. Business Concept

  • Description of the product or service
  • Description of the industry
  • How to measure success

2. Marketing Plan

  • Potential customers
  • The competition
  • How will you be unique?

3. Financial Plan

  • Cost of your product or service
  • Price you will charge customers
  • Break even analysis

Starting a Micro Business will walk you through each of these sections and help you plan a successful micro business.

Visit MicroBusinessForTeens.com on Saturday, May 1, 2010 to order your copy of Starting a Micro Business.

For one week, May 3-10, 2010, I will be offering a special bundle package. For the price of the ebook , $9.95, you will also receive a copy of my Teens and Taxes: A Guide for Parents and Teenagers ebook and my audio Starting a Micro Business. This offer is only good for one week. It expires Monday May 10.

Carol Topp, CPA

http://MicroBusinessForTeens.com

Find Micro Business for Teens on Facebook!

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses: Use Your Talents

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses

Countdown to Starting a Micro Business ebook launch

Day 4: 6 days until the release of Starting a Micro Business ebook by Carol Topp, CPA

on

Saturday, May 1, 2010

As we count down to the launch of Starting a Micro Business, I am going to share tips on starting a micro business.

Today’s tip: Use your talents and skills

When thinking of a micro business idea, it is best to stick to something you know well, like computers, algebra or music. Believe it or not, you may know quite a bit about somethings that grown ups do not know. Good examples are the internet, computer hardware, social networking, etc. Many of you are better at tutoring a foreign language than someone like me who never learned a foreign language. You might even be better at writing and grammar than some adults because you have just been studying the subject in school. My daughter Emily was my editor for several of my books and corrected a lot of my mistakes. You also have more energy to wash cars, mow grass and play with children.

Make some lists of your skills such as create a blog, change a diaper, bathe a dog or your hobbies such as photography, Facebook, scrap booking, playing guitar. These can become the basis for a micro business.

Kristen turned her love of reading books into a mini day camp for children. Once a week for two hours she had a group of children come to her house. She read them stories and fed them a snack. Mothers used the time to run errands and paid Kristen $40 per child for a 6 week program. Kristen also received a lot of babysitting leads by running her mini day camp.

Be sure to visit MicroBusinessForTeens.com on Saturday, May 1, 2010 to order your copy of Starting a Micro Business.

For one week, May 3-10, 2010, I will be offering a special bundle package. For the price of the ebook , $9.95, you will also receive a copy of my Teens and Taxes: A Guide for Parents and Teenagers ebook and my audio Starting a Micro Business. This offer is only good for one week. It expires Monday May 10.

Carol Topp, CPA

http://MicroBusinessForTeens.com

Find Micro Business for Teens on Facebook!

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses: Brainstorm

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses

Countdown to Starting a Micro Business ebook launch

Day 3: 7 days until the release of Starting a Micro Business ebook by Carol Topp, CPA

on

Saturday, May 1, 2010

As we count down to the launch of Starting a Micro Business, I am going to share tips on starting a micro business.

Today’s tip: Brainstorm an idea

Picking a micro business idea is not difficult if you follow a guided plan. Begin by brainstorming what you already know and then check those ideas with a mentor or adviser. Finally test your idea by doing a simple market survey.

Do What You Know

  1. List all your former jobs, hobbies, volunteer efforts, experiences, passions, interests and classes you have taken. This is a brainstorming session, so put everything on the list. You can evaluate the merits of each item on the list in the next steps.
  2. Mark those areas with potential money-making ability and a market for your knowledge.
  3. Cross off those that you do not have a passion for doing. If you cannot see yourself spending 10-20 hours a week on the task, cross it off.

Mentor Check

Take you idea list to several trusted advisers or mentors who know you well. Ask at least three people who will be helpful to you. Ask for honest feedback. You might ask an accountant, a current business owner or a business instructor.

Market Check

After your brainstorming and mentor check, find a your market and ask several people their opinion on your business idea. Ask a potential customer,

  • Would you buy this product or service?
  • How much would you pay?

Need more ideas? Be sure to visit MicroBusinessForTeens.com on Saturday, May 1, 2010 to order your copy of Starting a Micro Business.

For one week, May 3-10, 2010, I will be offering a special bundle package. For the price of the ebook , $9.95, you will also receive a copy of my Teens and Taxes: A Guide for Parents and Teenagers ebook and my audio Starting a Micro Business. This offer is only good for one week. It expires Monday May 10.

Carol Topp, CPA

http://MicroBusinessForTeens.com

Find Micro Business for Teens on Facebook!

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses: Find a Need

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses

Countdown to Starting a Micro Business ebook launch

Day 2: 9 days until the release of Starting a Micro Business ebook by Carol Topp, CPA

on

Saturday, May 1, 2010

As we count down to the launch of Starting a Micro Business, I am going to share tips on starting a micro business.

Today’s tip: Find a need and meet it

Micro businesses are simple businesses that can be started very quickly. What do you need to start a micro business? Your need only two things:

  1. A product or service that meets a need
  2. Someone to buy it

That’s it. Two things: see a need you can meet and find someone to pay you for your help.

Sarah volunteered for a great nonprofit organization by giving swimming lessons to children in the summer. The adults running the swimming lessons were wonderful and really knew how to teach swimming, but they didn’t know how to set up a blog or a website. Sarah knew she could help in this area. She saw a need, talked to the nonprofit leader and found herself in business! It can be that easy to start!

To start a new micro business think a a need and who will buy it.

Here’s a need I see that I can meet:_______________________

Here’s who will buy it:_____________________________

Want more ideas on a finding a need that a teenager can help meet?  Read the posts under True Stories   

Be sure to visit MicroBusinessForTeens.com on Saturday, May 1, 2010 to order your copy of Starting a Micro Business.

For one week, May 3-10, 2010, I will be offering a special bundle package. For the price of the ebook , $9.95, you will also receive a copy of my Teens and Taxes: A Guide for Parents and Teenagers ebook and my audio Starting a Micro Business. This offer is only good for one week. It expires Monday May 10.

Carol Topp, CPA

http://MicroBusinessForTeens.com

Find Micro Business for Teens on Facebook!

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses

10 Micro Tips for Micro Businesses

Countdown to Starting a Micro Business ebook launch

Day 1: 10 days until the release of Starting a Micro Business ebook by Carol Topp, CPA

on

Saturday, May 1, 2010

As we count down to the launch of Starting a Micro Business, I am going to share tips on starting a micro business.

Today’s tip: Set a goal

A goal for a business can be financial or personal. Maybe you want to try out running a business to see if it could be your future career.

Meghan taught violin lessons to children when she was a teenager. She loved playing violin and enjoyed teaching so much that she decided to study violin in college. Running her micro business helped her find her future career.

Some micro owners have a specific financial goal for their business. Perhaps it is to buy a car, pay the insurance and fill it with gas. Many students run a micro business to help pay for a hobby, a trip or college, while others feed a love for music, iTunes or text messages.

Yara was homeschooled and started a micro business offering babysitting during the day. Her goal for the micro business was to pay for her horseback riding lessons.

Linnea has a goal to visit her homeland of China and started a micro business making and selling jewelry to save up for her trip.

Some micro business owners see their businesses as a launching point for another business. They take what they learned from running a micro and start another business, adding to their knowledge as they go.

Be sure to visit MicroBusinessForTeens.com on Saturday, May 1, 2010 to order your copy of Starting a Micro Business.

For one week, May 3-10, 2010, I will be offering a special bundle package. For the price of the ebook , $9.95, you will also receive a copy of my Teens and Taxes: A Guide for Parents and Teenagers ebook and my audio Starting a Micro Business. This offer is only good for one week. It expires Monday May 10.

Carol Topp, CPA

http://MicroBusinessForTeens.com

Find Micro Business for Teens on Facebook!

“Like” Micro Business For Teens on Facebook

People used to “Fan” pages they liked on Facebook, but now the new term is to “Like” a page.

Have you visited my new page at Facebook? Go there now and hit the “Like” button to become my fan.
Micro Business For Teens Facebook Page

Facebook is a great way to keep updated on my tips for micro businesses and to ask questions.

See you there!

Upcoming Workshops

I will be presenting my workshop

Micro Business for Teens: Starting a Micro Business

at the Christian Homeschool Association of PA (CHAP) convention on May 7, 2010 in Harrisburg, PA.

If you attend the workshop, here is the handout I will be using.

Micro Business for Teens Handout

I hope to see you there! Come by my booth and say hello!

and

at the Ultimate Homschool Expo, an all-online homeschool convention

May 3-7, 2010

This is a great homeschool convention from the comfort of your own home, on your time!No crowds! No parking! No hotel bills!

Every workshop is recorded so you can listen at any time convenient to you.

There are also vendor booths (websites) with free ebooks, downloads, audios and printable pages.

Preview chats are going on now! It promises to be a great event.

Buy your ticket here.