snare drum © by Vladimir Morozov

After looking for work for months and coming up dry, 18-year-old Eric Cieslewicz realized he already had the potential to work, using his passion for percussion. Eric decided to create his own micro business by offering his skills as a drummer for hire to young, aspiring drummers. He designed his own website, printed business cards, and began to talk about his services. After a short time, Eric now has 8 regular students and earns more than $400 a month from drumming lessons alone. Coupled with performing, Eric earns a tidy profit from his micro business. Eric took something he loves and used that to create a business.

Play an instrument? Turn that talent into a successful micro business! See my book, Starting a Micro Business, for easy steps to get started.

Courtesty of USA Today

Carol Topp, CPA

Cable Confusion © by e-magic

Do you have an idea for a business, but not sure how to get started? 18-year-old David Newick of West Sussex, England, faced the same problem. Growing up, David loved to tinker with gadgets and computers. As a teen, he found a job at a local electronics store. From this, David dreamed up the idea for a tech support business. To make his dream a reality, David entered the Young Start Up talent competition, a local entrepreneurial competition in which finalists win prizes of products and money to help start a business. The competition motivated David to start his own micro business, Connect-A-Gadget. His business operates strictly online and provides home entertainment, IT, and tech support solutions. David plans to expand his micro business to reach even more customers. His advice? “I would encourage anyone to enter the Young Start Up talent competition.” Who knows? It just might be the inspiration to begin your own micro business!

Ready to go? Check out my book, Starting a Micro Business. 

Courtesy of West Sussex County Times

Carol Topp, CPA

© by Dominic

Could your online business land you a great job as Vice President of a national marketing company? It did for Alex Houg! The then-15-year-old Plymouth teen began his own online micro business which sold gaming accessories as a way to use his technological skills. To grow his business, Alex began to study marketing strategies and within months became a successful online businessman. Soon after, he started to offer marketing advice to local businesses. This service caught the eye of Blacksmith Marketing, a company specializing in online business advice, 3 years later. 18-year-old Alex was offered a full-time job as Vice President. His small beginnings running a micro business opened the door for a full-time position that Alex plans to keep for the rest of his life!

Inspired by Alex’s story? You can do it too! Learn how in my book, Starting a Micro Business. 

Courtesy of Plymouth Patch

Carol Topp, CPA

clothes © by Thing Three

Not too many 14-year-old teens have their own clothing line. California teen Jaela Evangelista does! Inspired by her graphic design father, Jaela drafted a few graphics that she thought would look great on T-shirts. After designing a variety of garments, like sweatshirts and bracelets, Jaela created her line, jsmirk. Now, she has customers across the nation and even as far as the Philippines. To keep up with demand, Jaela hired her younger siblings to be assistants and models for her clothing line. Jaela plans to eventually pursue a degree in entrepreneurship. But for now, the sophomore continues to add new products to her micro business.

Like this idea? Make it come to life with the help of my book, Starting a Micro Business!

Courtesy of Times Herald

Carol Topp, CPA

© by RambergMediaImages

The greatest entrepreneurs see a need and fill a need. This is just what then 17-year-old Marshall Haas did! Fascinated by architectural design, Marshall was hired part-time to work for an architect. While working, he noticed that many architectural firms didn’t offer images or renderings to their clients. Gathering a team of designers, Marshall launched his own company, AllRendered LLC, to design architectural images, like floor plans or buildings. Right off the bat, he had eight clients a month! Now, at age 20, he continues to run his business, while taking design classes at a local college. By providing a rare service, Marshall took a hobby and created a micro business!

Courtesy of 50 Interviews: Young Entrepreneurs by Nick Tart

My book, Starting a Micro Business, will give you everything you need to run a business just like Marshall!

Carol Topp, CPA

Soaps and Shampoos © by takot

17-year-old Jasmine Lawrence’s micro business has been a long time coming. At the age of 11, Jasmine used a hair product that severely damaged her hair. To avoid this in the future, she developed her own secret recipe of natural hair products. Jasmine was confident in the capabilities of her products; she borrowed $2000 from her parents and began a micro business, called Eden BodyWorks. Today, Jasmine’s business is flourishing, with mass sales through her website alone. However, she has now entered retail as well, selling her products in big name stores like Walmart. Her story shows that a bit of ingenuity in fixing a problem can go far!

Have a great idea? Follow Jasmine’s example and start your own micro business! Check out my book, Starting a Micro Business.

Courtesy of BusinessWeek

Carol Topp, CPA

Toy Airplane © by dnhoshor

16 year old Alistair Boyd is competing for the national Ambition AXA award in the UK this year, given to exceptional young entrepreneurs. How did he earn a spot in this prestigious competition? Alistair designed a travel kit especially for kids. The kit includes age-appropriate guides to the language and cultures of various countries, perfect for traveling kids. His idea has interested travel companies across the UK as a great product for their businesses. If he wins the competition, Alistair would be awarded around $63,000 to launch his product, and begin a micro business. Keep an eye on Alistair; we could soon see his product turned into a business!

Designed a product like Alistair? Create a micro business to launch that product with the help of my book, Starting a Micro Business!

Carol Topp, CPA

heels © by -Benedikt-

It all began one summer for 16 year old Tara Haughton while at a family wedding. After throwing colored confetti in the air for a photo, Tara noticed that the confetti stuck to the soles of her high heels. This sparked the idea that led to her successful micro business! Tara thought it would be neat to buy a product that customized the soles of high heels to match an outfit. So, she started her own business, Rosso Solini, which sells her inexpensive, DIY product to bring high fashion to any pair of heels. Today, Tara sells her product throughout the United Kingdom, with plans to expand to Asia, South America, and Australia! Her entrepreneurship earned Tara the Enterprise Award 2011 for teen ingenuity. What a micro business!

Inspired by a great idea? Turn it into reality through my book, Starting a Micro Business, today! 

Carol Topp, CPA

© by Sean Loyless

Looking for a job one summer, Iowa teen Austin Moss stumbled across a snow cone business online. At the age of seventeen, Austin borrowed money from his grandparents to buy a truck, took a few financial classes, and presented his ASM Shaved Ice before his city to obtain a permit. After acceptance, he now runs a successful shaved ice business during the summer! As a mobile business, Austin not only sells shaved ice at his current location, but also has worked for companies and private parties. With hopes of earning a business degree one day, Austin is well on his way to entrepreneurship through his micro business!

You can make your idea just as successful as Austin’s! Read my book series, Micro Business for Teens, to get started.

Carol Topp, CPA

© by ryanrocketship

14-year-old Ben Weissenstein saw an opportunity while helping his mother prepare for a garage sale one day. After hours of organizing and sorting items for the sale, Ben decided to turn this work into a micro business! His business, Grand Slam Garage Sales, helps customers prepare for their own garage sales. The business skyrocketed and grew to employ over 30 part time workers! Now 19, Ben is ready to establish new Grand Slam Garages Sales franchises across his native Arizona. Ben’s advice? “Always learn, change, and grow with your business.” Ben saw a need, and now his micro business is taking off!

Courtesy of 50 Interviews: Young Entrepreneurs by Nick Tart.

Like Ben’s idea? Make it happen through the help of my book, Starting a Micro Business!

Carol Topp, CPA