Cincinnati Area: Starting a Micro Business Workshop

May 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

I will be hosting a Micro Business for Teens: Starting a Micro Business workshop at the Midpointe Library in West Chester, Ohio on Wednesday June 6 from 7-8:30 pm.

This free workshop will help a teenager discover how to launch a successful micro business.

Micro Business for Teens: Starting a Micro Business explains what a micro business is, offers instruction on writing a business plan, and financing the business. Students will develop a viable idea, create a sales presentation, and leave knowing they can be running a micro business this summer.

Date: Wednesday June 6, 2012

Time: 7:00 -8:30 pm

Place: Midpointe Library-West Chester Branch, 9363 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester, OH 45069. Community Rooms A/B

Charge: no charge!

Presenter: Carol Topp, CPA a certified public accountant and West Chester resident, is a mentor to many successful teen entrepreneurs. She hosts this workshop based on her Micro Business for Teens book series and PBS television show.

Registration: None needed. Just come!

Participants will be given a workbook to brainstorm ideas, draft a business plan and prepare a sales presentation.

For more information visit the library’s website at: http://www.midpointelibrary.org/events/event-detail/?id=504

or the Micro Business for Teens website at MicroBusinessForTeens.com

 

Filed Under: Blog, Starting a Micro

Pinterest and Your Micro Business Pt. 3

May 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today marks our third and final discussion on Pinterest! We recently explored how giant companies leverage Pinterest for their business. (Take a look here.) Did you know in the average week, there are over 11 million visits to the site? That is some serious traffic, traffic that could benefit your micro business! What are some practical ways you can incorporate Pinterest into your business? The blog Micro Business Perspectives, by Jason Keith, sheds some light on ways to leverage this popular platform:

1. Don’t just self-promote. Focus on how you can improve the image of your business, its overall brand. Post recent photo shoots from your photography business, images of your pastries from your baking business, specific tools you use in your woodcarving business, etc. These visuals impress potential customers and show your loyalty to your business. They’ll love it!

2. Incorporate Pinterest into your business’ website. Just as you can incorporate Facebook “likes” or Twitter “Retweets” into your micro business website, you can do the same with Pinterest. Have a “Pin-It” option for customers to spread your brand through Pinterest.

And 3. Follow other “Pinners.” When you are pinning other business’ products, it shows on both your page and the business’ page, giving you unexpected promotion into a market you might not have thought about.

Be sure to visit these sites as well for even more tips:

9 Tips: Boost Your Business with Pinterest

Pinterest for Brands: 5 Hot Tips

Who knew this popular social medium could benefit your micro business? Take advantage of what Pinterest has to offer, and watch your micro business soar!

Need advice for managing your micro business? Find it in my book, Running a Micro Business.

Carol Topp, CPA

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Running a Micro

Social Media and South African Business

May 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Economic crisis and high unemployment have not only affected the United States; it has also taken its toll on the people of South Africa. BBQ Online’s article, “Catch Them Young,” recently reported that, “Statistics South Africa pegs the country’s current unemployment rate at 25%, a figure akin to that experienced by America during the Great Depression of the 1930s.” With such a poor job market, South African officials and leaders are turning to entrepreneurialism and small business as a way to put their country back on its feet.

© by babasteve

What does this mean for teens everywhere? Take a look at what BBQ has to say:

“Overseas, social media, primarily the Internet, has been attributed to the success of most of these teen entrepreneurs, as it provides a medium where teenagers can carry out their ideas easily and conveniently.

Social medias has been seen to fast-track the success of these entrepreneurs due to the vast resources of networks into which they have been abel to tap without succumbing to the restrictions of geographical location. Unfortunately, in the South African context, access to the Internet is limited due to prohibitive costs, particularly in the population groups in most need of this service, such as the unemployed and those without disposable income.

On 19 January 2012, Times Live reported that a survey conducted by World Wide Worx had established a distinct correlation between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) having an online presence and being profitable. At least 79% of SMEs with a website reported being profitable as opposed to only 59% of those without one.

The government has realised the power of this medium and has identified a need . . . Dr. Blecher indicated that over 200,000 SMEs in South Africa do not have any Web content at the moment, and this initiative is pivotal in addressing this problem.”

Use of social media is critical for the success of business in South Africa, but is limited for these entrepreneurs. Teens, this is where you step in! Are you savvy in social media? Know how to make and run a website? South African business owners need you! This is a great way for you to start your own micro business, by helping run social media for any of thousands of South African businesses.

Carol Topp, CPA

Filed Under: Blog, Ideas, Starting a Micro

Starting a Micro Business: “encouraging and motivating”

May 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

HomeschoolConvention.com reviewed Starting a Micro Business

My 13-year-old daughter recently took a Homeschool Entrepreneurship class that used Carol Topp’s book, Starting a Micro Business for Teens. I was intrigued by the book and curious to see how much my daughter would learn. You see, shortly after my first son was born, I started an embroidery digitizing business so I could stay home with him. It was a successful business that I had for nearly ten years, but a lot of what I learned was by trial and error. I can only imagine the benefits, had I been able to learn some important business facts at an earlier age!

Starting a Micro Business is practical and very easy to read. There are seven chapters in the book that include ideas for starting a micro-business, problems and pitfalls of a micro-business, how to write a business plan, what type of finances will be needed, and problems with debt. It is filled with useful information, questions to consider, and forms to fill out. It is also quite encouraging and motivating, in that examples are given of teens who have successfully started their own businesses. There are also several resourceful websites listed in the book.

Any young boy or girl (or even adult) who has a desire to start a micro business would benefit from reading this book. After reading it, my daughter decided to start her own micro business to help people organize their homes. Her first client had some inventory sitting around from a previous business that she wanted to sell. My daughter organized and inventoried the products, sold them, and made a $240.00 profit! Starting a Micro Business gave her just the nudge she needed to pursue her business.

-Reviewed by: Kimberly Williams

 

Thanks HomeschoolConvention.com for the review! I hope Kimberly’s story inspires you (or a teenager in your house) that you can make money from a micro business!

Carol Topp

Filed Under: Blog, Starting a Micro

Quote This! – Success

May 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Looking to start your own micro business? Find inspiration through Quote This!, a short blog series dedicated to sharing encouraging quotes for teen micro business owners. 

Much has been said about success in business. As you start your micro business, keep these thoughts in mind:

“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon, recognized British stylist

“If hard work is the key to success, most people would rather pick the lock.” – Claude McDonald, British diplomat

“Every single person I know who is successful at what they do is successful because they love doing it.” – Joe Penna, musician and filmmaker

“The road to success is always under construction.” – Arnold Palmer, American professional golfer

“Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford, Industrialist, Founder of Ford Motor Company, and Developer of the Assembly Line

Courtesy of Nick Tart, Founder of 14 Clicks

Work hard to build a micro business around what you love, teens, and that is a success!

Carol Topp, CPA

Filed Under: Blog, Running a Micro, You Can Do This

Pinterest and Your Micro Business Pt. 2

May 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A few short weeks ago, we discovered what Pinterest was all about. (Missed it? Find the first part here.) Now that you’ve made your own account and seen what Pinterest has to offer, what does this mean for your micro business? Great question.

Pinterest isn’t just a photo-sharing site for individuals anymore. Big name businesses are using it to promote their products! Not convinced? Take a look at these popular businesses that are actively using Pinterest:

© by GoodNCrazy

Apple – Multinational electronics company

Starbucks – International coffee company

and Nike – International sportswear and equipment supplier

Why are these giant companies so interested in Pinterest? It is a great avenue to instantly advertise products or promotions. They also use the site to improve a customer’s overall experience. Starbucks, for example, uses its Pinterest to suggest new drink ideas, good breakfast and drink pairings, and distribute promotions for their rewards program. Now that’s marketing!

Dive in to how these companies (and many more!) use Pinterest. We’ll wrap up this blog series with easy tips to improve your micro business with Pinterest!

Carol Topp, CPA

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Running a Micro

Become a Published Author (live session free)

April 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Join me LIVE Wednesday May 2 at 11 am ET as I present

How You (or Your Child) Can Be a Published Author

at the  2012 Ultimate Homeschool Expo

This Expo allows you to listen to over 20 sessions live for free.

Or buy a ticket and listen to over 80 workshops from speakers, such as Jeannie Fullbright with Apologia, Cathy Duffy, Maggie Hogan with Bright Ideas Press, Felice Gerwitz, and SO Many More!

My sessions include:

How You (or Your Child) Can Be a Published Author Listen LIVE May 2 at 11 am ET. Click here

The IRS and Your Homeschool Organization Buy a ticket to hear this pre-recorded session

What Your Teenager Can Learn from Starting a Micro Business Buy a ticket to hear this pre-recorded session

I hope lots of you can join me at the Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2012 live!

Carol Topp

Filed Under: Blog, Starting a Micro

Micro Business Idea: Self-Published Authors

April 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

© by chillihead

What do 14-year-old Ben Heckmann, high school junior Elizabeth Hines, 15-year-old Mac Bowers, and 12-year-olds Camille Mancuso and Ajla Dizdarevic all have in common? They are all authors, and owners of micro businesses! How did these teens become published? They took advantage of a popular new process called self-publishing, in which authors of all ages can convert their own manuscripts into bound books. There are several publishing companies that cater to self-publishers. These teens used avenues like Xlibris, iUniverse, KidPub Press, and Lulu. Many of these companies also provide light copy-editing and distribution on Amazon.com. While using a company may take some startup money, these teens said it was well worth it to see their hard work in physical form! Who knows? As a teen author, you might even earn a spot in your local newspaper, like Ajla.

Courtesy of NY Times

Teens, you can see your writing become published! Today, it’s easier than ever.

I’m sharing a session titled “How You or Your Child Can be a Published Author” at several live homeschool conventions this spring and one on-line event, the Ultimate Homeschool Expo:

Listen LIVE for free Wednesday May 2 at 11 am ET. Click here

Missed the live session? Grab a recording of the entire Expo here.

Carol Topp, CPA

Filed Under: Blog, Ideas

Micro Business Idea: Music Producer

April 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

© by MoustachemanTheFirst

In the small town of Needham, Massachusetts, teen Aaron Harel lamented that there wasn’t much to do in his town. A budding musician, Aaron decided to change that. When he was in seventh grade, he began performing with his band, Prom for 8, on the weekends as a way to bring some entertainment to the town’s youth. Aaron quickly realized that he enjoyed putting on shows. From that point on, Aaron had a micro business as a music producer, organizing and coordinating live music and concerts from local talent. Business has been good; Aaron is responsible for numerous shows in his area. Now a senior in high school, he is producing his last show, Dubstock: the Sequel, before attending college in Philadelphia. What advice does Aaron have? “If I got four or five people to help me, I could put together a show. It only got easier, through trial and error at every show.” Aaron learned from his business mistakes, which helped only improved his future shows and business! And while his music producing days may be over in Massachusetts, he doesn’t plan to quit: big plans are in store for producing in college!

Courtesy of The Needham Times

Aaron saw a need, and filled it with his micro business! Do you have a passion for music? Producing may be for you! Find some tips to get started in my book, Starting a Micro Business. 

Carol Topp, CPA

Filed Under: Blog, Ideas

Quote This! – Entrepreneurship

April 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Looking to start your own micro business? Find inspiration through Quote This!, a short blog series dedicated to sharing encouraging quotes for teen micro business owners. 

Today’s quotes center around the spirit of entrepreneurship. Take a look at these wise words to bring into your micro business:

“The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.” - Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

“An entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew hoping he’ll quickly learn how to chew it. ” - Roy Ash, co-founder and president of Litton Industries

“Start today, not tomorrow. If anything, you should have started yesterday.” – Emil Motycka

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas Edison, American inventor and businessman

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest learning experience.” – Bill Gates, former CEO and chairman of Microsoft

Courtesy of Nick Tart, Founder of 14 Clicks

Aim high and work hard, entrepreneurs!

Carol Topp, CPA

Filed Under: Blog, Running a Micro, You Can Do This
« Older Posts