Make record keeping a breeze

May 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I’ll be giving a session on  Making  Record Keeping a Breeze for the 2011 Ultimate Women’s Expo on Thursday May 19 at 2: 00 pm EST

(You don’t have to be a woman to benefit from this session!)

The live session is FREE:  Listen ONLINE CHAT Here or Call to listen: 347-215-9316

If you cannot join us live, then you can buy a ticket and get all the sessions for $19.95.

When you sign up you get more than just the audio sessions!You also get:

  • Free ebooks!
  • Free bonus audios to help you get started on the right track!
  • Doorprizes and special gifts–ALL WEEK!!
  • Membership to our Ultimate Women’s Expo Membership Site–With lots of free articles, bonus Mp3 download audios, free printable planning pages, and wonderful savings from our speakers and sponsors!

Get Your Ticket TODAY!!

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Filed Under: Blog, Running a Micro

How young entrepreneurs balance business and school

March 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

My friend Jack at Teen Business Forum has 20 students share how they balance running a business and schoolwork. Some are college students, but many are teenagers in high school.

They do things like

  • plan ahead,
  • wake up early,
  • work late,
  • work while others play,
  • set goals and
  • manage their time.

How Young Entrepreneurs Balance Business And School

People always talk about work-life balance. Well, with young entrepreneurs, it’s more of work-school balance. Here’s how some student entrepreneurs were able to balance their school work and the company they were running on the side. It’s more like the the company they were running and classes they were attending to on the side.

Read more…

If they can do it, so can you!

Carol Topp, CPA

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

Really Cool Business Cards

October 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Most teenage micro businesses need a business card to hand out to potential customers.

One of the best sources for cheap (or even free if you use of of their stock designs and don’t mind their ad on the back of the card) business cards is Vistaprint.com. They are an on-line printer and can put your name and logo on anything. I’ve used them for my business cards, letterhead, banners and more. I’ve been 100% satisfied with Vistaprint.com

I also found a designer that has some gorgeous designs for business cards. She designed a really cool card for babysitters.

She has an entire teen entrepreneur series of business cards.

Go to the Greek Cookie’s website to see her other  business card designs.

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

Micro Tips for Micro Businesses:Smile!

August 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Micro Tips for Micro Businesses

Today’s tip: Service with a smile

There are hundreds of books written about customer service and many of them offer tips and “secrets” to serving customers. The only secret is to treat your customers with respect and give them what they paid for. That’s pretty simple, so why are their hundreds of books written about customer service? Because there are hundreds of ways to show respect and to serve a customer.

  • Smile! A smile can really make you seem friendly, warm and caring. Friendly people attract people.
  • Shake hands. Offer your hand when first meeting a potential customer. This might make you feel uncomfortable because teenagers don’t usually shake hands, but watch adults in the business world. They frequently offer their hand when being introduced. Practice on friends or your family if you need to get comfortable shaking hands.
  • Look them in the eye. Making eye contact shows confidence if even you don’t feel confident! Looking directly at someone also is a sign of respect (if you’re not staring!).

I was giving a workshop on teenagers and micro businesses at a homeschool convention when a 12 year old boy came up to me after the program, extended his hand and said, “Hello, I’m Jack. I really liked your presentation.” I was immediately impressed by Jack because he offered his hand to me.  Although he was young and very small in stature, I knew in an instant that this young man would be good at whatever he set his mind.  Adults are very impressed by a handshake and a smile.

Carol Topp, CPA

http://MicroBusinessForTeens.com

Find Micro Business for Teens on Facebook!

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Running a Micro Tagged With: , , ,

Teen entrepreneurs offer tips to peers

June 17, 2010 By 3 Comments

USA TODAY polled some successful teenage micro business owners for advice. Here’s what they said:

• Expand upon your interests. “Find a task (or) work you like and that is in demand,” says Lucas Rice, 18, who runs a successful landscaping business in Loveland, Ohio. “With my business, I like to be outdoors and to work with my hands, which was one of the reasons I chose landscaping.”

• Price wisely. “Feel around and see what other companies are charging,” then price competitively, Rice says. “When you’re starting out, go a little lower on price in order to start capturing some customers.”

• Make taxes less taxing. Save every work-related receipt. Those expenses could become tax write-offs. IRS.gov has details on dependents, such as children, filing tax returns.

• Don’t overinvest in supplies/equipment. “Allow your business to grow, and then grow your equipment into your business,” says Rice, echoing advice he was given by others. He invested in his first riding mower at age 12 (bought at a yard sale with savings from a newspaper route) and as his customer base grew, he conservatively bought more equipment.

• Promote your business and yourself. “Seek business; do not wait for it to come to you,” says Rice. “I go and welcome new people in the neighborhood and offer my services and give out business cards.” Archer promotes herself and her products on the Web, as well as through fliers she places into shipments to customer

Lucas is one smart kid.  I know him personally; he’s one of my business clients!

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Ideas, Running a Micro Tagged With: , , ,

Teen Entrepreneur Survey

May 13, 2010 By 1 Comment

Youth Interested in Entrepreneur Survey

The Kauffman Foundation conducted an online survey of 2,438 youth ages 8 to 21 about entrepreneurship. It shows that four in 10 young people would like to start their own business in the future, while another 37 percent believe starting their own business is a possibility.

Those who want to have their own business say their top reasons are

  • to use their skills and abilities (92 percent),
  • build something for their future (89 percent),
  • be their own boss (87 percent),
  • see their ideas realized (81 percent)
  • and earn lots of money (85 percent).

In the United States, 63 percent of respondents in the Harris survey already believe that, if they work hard, they can be entrepreneurs. Twenty-five percent of the youth believe that entrepreneurship is a more desirable career opportunity than other options.

Fact sheet on Youth Entrepreneur Survey

I like their reasons. Starting a micro business and being an entrepreneur is about so much more than just making money-although that’s a nice perk!

But why do only 63% believe they can be entrepreneurs? That’s only a little over half! Is it because of fear, lack of encouragement or lack of understanding what an entrepreneur really does?

And only 25% believe entrepreneurship is a more desireable career choice that others. That’s pretty sad. Maybe these students see only the negative side of too many failed businesses and not the potential of entrepreneurship as a viable career choice.

Filed Under: Blog, Featured, Running a Micro Tagged With: ,

More Customer Service Tips

March 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Serving your customers well keeps them coming back for more. Here are some tips to keep your customers happy.

  • Offer something for free: You can offer your time or a low cost item for free. People really enjoy getting something for free.

  • Offer discounts or coupons: Offer 10% off the second purchase or make a coupon good for a discount if the customer purchases a bundle, like buy 4 for the price of 3.

  • Listen to your customers as they explain what they need. You may be able to sell them additional services. If you are hired to babysit, offer to clean up the kitchen also.

  • Be a hard worker: Do more than expected and you’ll find your customers will do word of mouth advertising without being asked. If you are hired to mow the grass, ask if they would like the edges trimmed also.

  • Clean up after you are finished. Leave the house or yard better than you found it and you’ll be asked back again and again.
Filed Under: Blog, Running a Micro Tagged With: , ,

PBS wants your story!

February 3, 2010 By 1 Comment

I was contacted by a TV producer from PBS’s Biz Kid$.  She is looking for teenage entrepreneurs to showcase on the show. If you are reading this blog, she wants your story!

Here’s what she wrote:

Hi Carol,

I came across your website while researching stories about young entrepreneurs. I am a TV producer currently producing Biz Kid$ – an award-winning PBS series where kids teach kids about money and business. The series helps young people understand the basics of making and managing money, and how to start their own business.

Biz Kid$ is produced by the creators of Bill Nye the Science Guy and has aired on over 90% of PBS stations, reaching over 115 million US households.

Biz Kid$ includes short profiles of young entrepreneurs from across the country. We are always looking for interesting business stories about young business owners. I would love to enlist your help in reaching out to teen entrepreneurs, and possibly showcase their business stories on Biz Kid$.

Please visit our website for more information: www.bizkids.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards
–
Shilpa Singru
Associate Producer
Biz Kid$, Seattle, WA
www.bizkids.com
425-286-3567

So can you help Ms. Singru?  Are you a teenager with a business?  PBS might put you on their show.

Contact her directly or email me and I’ll forward your story to her. Be sure to tell me if you get picked for the show!

Go check out an episode (or several) now.  You’ll learn a lot and maybe get encouraged by what other teenagers have done.

Biz Kid$ shows

Filed Under: Blog, Ideas, Running a Micro Tagged With: , , , ,

Vital Customer Service Tips

December 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Customer service is vital to your micro business success.  Here are some tips to better serve your customers.

  • Apologize when something goes wrong even if it is not your fault. Apologize that you couldn’t cut the grass on Tuesday because it snowed 4 inches!  The customer will appreciate your concern and maturity. Never make excuses. No one wants to hear you blame someone else. Just apologize.

  • Answer calls or e-mails within less than 12 hours. Sometimes your competitor will get a job because they called back first.

  • Fill orders quickly. No one likes to wait so don’t let orders sit for more than 24 hours.

  • Show appreciation through cards, saying thank you and remembering special events like birthdays.

  • Stay in touch: Consider a newsletter or an e-mail note to your customers. Tell them about new services or offer a coupon.

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

Can you love people and God with your micro business?

November 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Are you a teenage that can relate to this statement?

A Kingdompreneur:

  1. Follows all the laws of the land
  2. Treats employees and everyone that comes into contact with their business with the love of God

Do you see your business as a place to show love to people or your love for God? Why not?

This podcast on Blog Talk Radio called My Fathers Business has pretty helpful information for using your business to further love and faith.

Here’s some of their recent topics:

What is a Kingdom Entreprenuer?

Qualities of a Kingdompreneur-Courage

Qualities of a Kingdompreneur-Perserverance

Filed Under: Running a Micro Tagged With: ,
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