Premiere: Starting a Micro Business on PBS

February 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

In celebration of National Entrepreneurship Week, Feb. 18-25

Western Reserve PBS

will be broadcasting

Premieres Thursday, Feb. 23 @ 8 p.m.

Repeats Feb. 23 @ 10 p.m. & Sunday, Feb. 26 @ 7 p.m.
Also airs Saturday, March 24 @ 9 a.m.

Discover creative alternatives to earning money in the highly competitive job market — by becoming your own boss!

Discover how to launch your own successful micro business in this new Western Reserve Public Media production!

Carol Topp, a certified public accountant and mentor to many successful teen entrepreneurs, hosts this 90-minute program based on her Micro Business for Teens book series.

Micro Business for Teens: Starting a Micro Business explains what a micro business is, gives examples of businesses suitable for teenagers, offers instruction on writing a business plan and financing the business and more. You’ll meet six teens who are already operating profitable micro businesses by following the guidance of Carol Topp.

This program makes the very notion of creating a micro business an achievable goal if you have a good idea and the enthusiasm to design and implement a plan of action. While the program is targeted to a teen audience, its content will be helpful to any adult interested in starting his or her own micro business.

Look for Micro Business for Teens: Starting a Micro Business to be broadcast on your local PBS station later in 2012.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Starting a Micro Tagged With: , , , ,

Micro Business Idea: Recycled Jewelry Business!

February 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

© by garethr

For 13-year-old Taylor Burghard, one person’s trash is her profitable micro business! Taylor saw the potential for recycled jewelry after using the keys from an old Mac computer keyboard to make a pair of earrings. As friends admired her work, Taylor decided to create her own micro business selling the fashionable jewelry! Her company, TekChick Designs, fashions earrings and necklaces from recycled computer parts, featuring standard and custom designs. Taylor’s idea isn’t slowing down. She is featuring her product at a number of expos this year, and selling online and at certain retailers.

Want to join Taylor in building a profitable micro business? Take a look at my book, Starting a Micro Business, as a how-to!

Courtesy of The Mac Observer

Carol Topp, CPA

 

Filed Under: Blog, Ideas

Press Release on PBS TV show Micro Business for Teens airing Feb 23.

February 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Bright Spots: Feb. 16, 2012

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Home

By SCOTT SUTTELL
4:30 am, February 16, 2012

 

It’s not all bad out there. Here’s the latest installment of a weekly web feature that highlights positive developments in the Northeast Ohio business community.

Western Reserve Public Media is launching a program called “Micro Business for Teens: Starting a Micro Business,” that will air on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m and 10 p.m. on Western Reserve PBS (WNEO 45.1/WEAO 49.1).Carol Topp, a Cincinnati-based certified public accountant, hosts the 90-minute program, which is based on her “Micro Business for Teens” book series.

The program recently was taped at Kent State University with a live studio audience of students, parents and educators from throughout Northeast Ohio. Students from Gilmour Academy, Firestone High School, Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent and Stow-Munroe Falls High School participated in a Q-and-A session with Ms. Topp.

Western Reserve Media said the program “makes the very notion of creating a micro business an achievable goal for those who have a good idea and the enthusiasm to design and implement a plan of action. It discusses what a micro business is, gives examples of businesses suitable for teenagers, offers instruction on writing a business plan and financing the business and more.”

The program will be released nationally to PBS affiliates this spring.

Filed Under: Blog

Taxes: Your own return or your parents?

February 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Should a teenager file his own tax return apart from his parents?

Usually, teenagers should file their own tax returns separate from their parents’ return.

If a teenager has earned income from a job or his own micro business, he should file his own return. A teenager’s earned income should not be added to his parents tax return. The parents will probably pay too much income tax if they add their teenager’s earned income to their return.

Most of the time, a teenager can still be claimed as a dependent on their parents’ tax return, even though he files his return separately.

The only time the IRS allows parents to include a child’s or teenager’s income on their tax return is for unearned income belonging to the child. Unearned income is income from investments such as interest on a savings account, dividends from stock or mutual funds and capital gains distributions from a mutual fund owned by the child or teenager.

Parents, if your child or teenager has unearned income, do not simply add it to your income. You must complete a Form 8814 Parents’ Election to Report Child’s Interest and Dividends. The IRS warns that electing to include your child’s investment income on your return could result in higher income tax.

For my tax clients, I always file a separate return for the teenager or child. It keeps things clearer by separating the income between the parent and child.

If you have been running a micro business, you need your own separate tax return. My book, Money and Taxes in a Micro  Business discusses the forms and gives several samples of tax forms for a teenage micro business owner.

Carol Topp, CPA

Filed Under: Blog, Money & Taxes

Starting a Micro Business PBS TV production (part 2)

February 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Here are some pictures taken during the filming of Micro Business For Teens: Starting a Micro Business a 90-minute television show produced by Western Reserve Public Media (PBS station in NE Ohio).

The show will air in NE Ohio on Feb 23, 2012 and be available on your local PBS station later in 2012.

Taken at Kent State University.

The set includes these neat oval screens.

Here I am watching on of the interviews with a student who started a lawn maintenance business.

 

I’m emphasizing something important with my hands!

 

The logo for Micro Business for Teens makes a nice backdrop.

Filed Under: Blog

Micro Business Idea: Web Design Business

February 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

© by Sean MacEntee

Alex Mangini always had a love for web design. At the young age of 14, he designed and published his first website, and has been creating ever since. After taking a few design classes but mostly teaching himself, Alex recently sold one of his websites for $20,000! He soon established a new website, kolakube.com, a micro business where he features and sells his website designs. Alex plans to expand his business, attend conferences, and continually learn about design.

Love computers? Have an eye for design? Start your own micro business in web design with the help of my book, Starting a Micro Business today!

Courtesy of phillyBurbs.com

Carol Topp, CPA

 

Filed Under: Blog, Ideas

Starting a Micro Business PBS Broadcast postcard

February 10, 2012 By 1 Comment

 

 

This is the front and back of a postcard created by Western Reserve Public Media (PBS) for the upcoming broadcast of Micro Business for Teens: Starting a Micro Business.

 

Look for the show to be aired on your local PBS station later in 2012!

 

Carol Topp

Filed Under: Blog, Starting a Micro

13 Record Keeping Tips

February 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Record keeping is extremely important to the success of every business. Small businesses that keep good records are more successful in the long run.

Micro business owners should focus on simple record keeping.

Here are some great tips to help:

1. Use duplicate checks.

2. Separate your personal and business checking accounts.

3. Do not mix personal and businesses expenses.

4. File your receipts by category, not date.

5. Use the memo line of a check to explain the expense.

6. Keep a mileage log, even if it’s just a calendar with the destination noted. Look up mileage using Google Maps or Mapquest.

7. Keep a calendar of appointments.

8. When buying equipment that you will use for longer than a year, make note of the date and total price including sales tax and shipping. Your accountant will need this information to calculate a depreciation deduction.

9. Estimate the business-use-percentage on items that are both personal and business such as Internet usage, or cell phone usage.

10. Count your inventory at the end of the year.

11. Keep records of income such as sales slips, deposit slips, and invoices for services.

12. Use a petty cash account and balance it frequently.

13. Get a W-4 form from every independent contractor you hire before paying them. A W-4 form records their legal name, address, EIN or SSN, and is needed at tax time.Record who paid you on your bank deposit slips. Use carbon-less copy deposit slips.

Looking for record keeping software? See my post on Record Keeping Software and find the option that best fits your needs.

Carol Topp, CPA

Filed Under: Blog, Money & Taxes Tagged With: , , ,

Starting a Micro Business TV Production: Shooting B roll

February 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A PBS crew from Western Reserve Public Media was in Cincinnati to film some B roll (background video) for

Micro Business For Teens: Starting a Micro Business

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The production is being supported by several generous organizations:

 

The Burton D Morgan Foundation

The Dominion Foundation

The Veale Foundation

The Deluxe Corporation Foundation

Hudson Extrusions

Ohio Small Business Development Centers

Jobs for Ohio Graduates

 

Thank you to all these generous organizations who wish to encourage teenagers to start a micro business

 

Details to follow!

 

Carol Topp, CPA

Filed Under: Blog

Starting a Micro Business TV Production (Part 1)

February 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I have exciting news:

 

My book, Starting a Micro Business is being made into a TV show!

A PBS stations in Northeast Ohio, Western Reserve Public Media, is producing a 90 minute television production titled

Micro Business For Teens: Starting a Micro Business

The production is being supported by several generous organizations:

 

The Burton D Morgan Foundation

The Dominion Foundation

The Veale Foundation

The Deluxe Corporation Foundation

Hudson Extrusions

Ohio Small Business Development Centers

Jobs for Ohio Graduates

 

Thank you to all these generous organizations who wish to encourage teenagers to start a micro business

 

Details to follow!

 

Carol Topp, CPA

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog
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