i have a few more reviews of my book Starting a Micro Business the first book in my Micro Business for Teens series.
https://homeschoolescapade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/micro-business-for-teens-tos-review.html
I was impressed that she encourages them to do their own market research – asking people they know if they would buy their product and how much they would be willing to pay for it.
They (ages 9 and 11) made a number of soaps and posh bath bombs, they manned the stand , and on the day managed to sell over £50 worth – they were able to donate their profit of £41 to the charity : ) They have already booked their next sale and have asked me to help create a Esty site for them.
https://principledacademy.blogspot.com/2014/05/micro-business-for-teens-review.html
- Carol Topp encourages young adults to consider their gifts, talents and interests.
- The books are not dumbed-down. Carol Topp speaks intelligently to young adults.
- The information is easy to understand.
- Visual aids are included.
- The materials are concise!
- Carol Topp (among some other adults) grasps the value that young adults have to offer. This series helps young adults to take action steps for being proactive before much of society deems them able to. It helps them to be productive with their time and lives!
https://lifeatthirdcreekcottage.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/micro-business-for-teens-review
I was shocked to find that all of the places that no teenager in my day had trouble finding a job will now not hire sixteen year olds. My daughter went everywhere looking for a job and was told that she had to be eighteen. What is a teenager that wants to earn their own money to do?
Luckily during this time my daughter was reading the Micro Business for Teens books. I know I said it once, but I will say it again…These books are wonderful!
This workbook helps them figure out for themselves (not mom and dad knocking down an idea) if the business is doable and realistic.
With her cleaning schedule each week she determined that she will be making an average of $10 per hour. That is well above minimum wage. I feel she is on her way to a successful business.
https://wendywoerner.com/2014/05/starting-business-micro-business-teens-review
- The Micro Business for Teens Workbook includes questions to answer from the reading done in the chapters which help teens to grasp the ideas presented.
- Carol gives actionable tasks within the workbook, something for teens to pay attention to or to do over the course of the next days or weeks.
- Teens create a min-business plan and then a full business plan as they work through the books and workbook….a fantastic exercise that gives ‘bones’ to their ideas.
- Carol gets real about the problems and pitfalls of starting your own business, and has students apply what they have learned in the books to their own business ideas.
- As they work through the book, teens must consider what they know, but also what they do not know, and determine how they will gain the needed skills or knowledge.
- Though the book is meant for those who are ages 10-18, the concepts within these books would work very well for adults who are also looking to start a business. I plan to work through them myself, as I have always had a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit.
- Carol puts great emphasis on avoiding debt to go into business. I think this is a great practice, and important for children to learn to avoid debt whenever possible in any area. I especially love that she uses scripture to back up her claims about debt.
- Teens are not left wondering how to fund their business! Carol offers several suggestions, and has them work through their own ideas about how to raise the money needed for startup.
https://www.livinglearninglovinglife.com/2014/05/tos-review-micro-business-for-teens.html
As someone who has read way too many small business/marketing/bookkeeping books and/or websites, I was very impressed with the way the information was presented. Most of it was not new to me, but it was definitely written in a way that was easy to understand, and I even picked up a few new ideas.
Starting a Micro Business is a fabulous planning guide. Topp provides more than just a list of suggestions for businesses. She also has websites and books so teens can fully research an idea and learn more about education
https://myhomeschoolcrewreviews.blogspot.com/2014/05/micro-business-for-teens-review.html
I have operated a few micro businesses in my lifetime. The one unifying thread to all of those endeavors is that they all failed. Why did they fail? Because I had no idea what I was doing! The Micro Business for Teens program educates teens (and adults like me) from the ground up.I have learned as much from these books as my teens have! Thank you, Carol Topp!!! While these books are geared toward the 10-18 age range, the principles presented are useful for any budding entrepreneur.
https://theunfoldinglife.blogspot.com/2014/05/micro-business-for-teens-review.html
He decided that he could bring himself to provide a doggy-doo cleanup service, “Doggy Don’t Doo.” Now, for my son to choose something like this, it means he has gone beyond his own comfort zone. He has stretched himself. He realized that he might have to buckle down and work to start earning some money. We talked about the fact that he might learn of more abilities that he possesses or things he likes if he would spend less time on the computer. Of course, he could find a way to incorporate the computer into a micro business, but he tends to fear the learning curve (I think).
I appreciated the chapter on bookkeeping. It made me think about my own freelance editing job and what records I should be keeping and taxes I should be filing.
https://www.thepebblepond.com/2014/05/schoolhouse-review-micro-business-for.html
I would have no clue how to keep records but of course, Carol talks about record keeping. Literally, everything you would need to know are in these books! Do I need a Tax ID? Or a EIN Number? And what on earth are they!? I started these books clueless on all of these terms but Carol does a wonderful job of explaining everything. I walked away with a plethora of information that I will continue to use.
https://www.adventureswithjude.com/2014/05/microbusiness-for-teens-schoolhouse-crew-review.html
Ms. Topp asks you to be realistic. What are your weaknesses? What are the pitfalls with the business you want to start — from product perception to costs? What is your solution to some of these problems? What will you do if there are problems? Many people go into business seeing the potential gains, and often don’t stop to consider adverse events. This program well prepares the young entrepreneur for the often bumpy road to success.
If you just haphazardly write ideas for a business, it’s not going to take long to complete the units. For the student who seriously contemplates starting his own business, then a week is almost not enough time to seriously consider all of the angles. When you start a business, you need to write a business plan. Chapter 4 of Microbusiness for Teens took Luke two full weeks to complete, because it is incredibly detailed.
While it takes a “The sky’s the limit!” innocence to get started, it’s a good idea to have someone helping you be realistic about your business, and to help you avoid pitfalls. Luke also realized that it makes sense to have maybe more than one mentor. His dream business is to be a figure skating coach. While he plans to continue to learn from his grandfather, a successful businessman who has actually run several micro businesses, he also thinks it would be beneficial to have one of his coaches mentor him as well, because that business is very, very different from the farm supply one.
I think this is a very good program for students who wish to become small business owners — it will definitely prepare them for the realities of starting a business. It also is good for students who are taking the course as a purely academic exercise, because they see all of the “behind the scenes” mechanics of running a business. While he’s writing his business plan, he’s continuing to work in the other businesses to earn both his training fees and his startup capital. Micro Bbusiness for Teens will definitely prepare him for becoming a small business owner.
https://www.freshstartacademyhomeschool.com/2014/05/micro-business-for-teens-schoolhouse.html
You need to investigate everything about an idea before jumping in head first and sinking. Plan and strategize that is the only way to get things done right. The boys learned how to write up a business plan and get their thoughts onto paper. This is a great visual helper and let’s the kids work out any kinks on paper first before they set their plan into action.
The most fun part of this book for my kids was learning about marketing and advertising for their business. For Taylor my artsy boy, this has become a whole class all on its own. He has even sparked an interest into a career in advertising. You never know where God will lead you when you begin and adventure, often times it is merely a stepping stone for the true path.
Taylor is busy spreading the word about his computer repair business and has already practiced on mine and my Dad’s computer. Taylor found over 600 malware and malicious files and such on my Dad’s computer and installed new Virus and Malware protection. He already has some customers lined up and is relying heavily on word of mouth. He is also busy creating a great looking flyer that he is going to put up at our local senior center.
Alyx is completing his endeavor on starting a automotive/home repair business and already had his first job last week, fixing a leaky utility room sink for a neighbor and this Friday he is installing the water lines for our friend’s new fridge’s ice maker and door water system.
I like to see my boys put their God given talents and hobbies to good work. This curriculum has truly been a blessing and has helped my boys put their dreams of starting a small business into a reality and the potential to earn some great spending money.
https://www.audrasilva.com/micro-business-teens-review
My older teen felt like there was a lot of information in these books. She feels that both books gave her a solid start on starting and running a business, but that the final book, Money and Taxes in a Micro Business, would finish rounding out her knowledge business wise. I liked that this got them brainstorming about businesses. I encouraged them to make a to do list as they read through the books and filled out the workbook. This seemed to help them keep their momentum while building a list of tasks such as making a flyer, doing further research, or asking their dad questions when he got home from work.
https://www.lifeoffthepavedroad.com/micro-business-for-teens-review
We used the YouTube video listed above as an overview of most of the first book. This was a better option for us since our son is usually not motivated by “book work.” Interestingly enough, I found my two older students working on the micro business workbook after our regular school hours and even on the weekends because it was “not school work, but work on [our] business.”
Overall, we were impressed with the program, especially how encouraging the material was and how it got our students excited in the actually process and planning of a business. Before, they were completely excited about making money, but had no idea how to position themselves for success.
As parents, we often want to advise our children to take things slowly and do the prep work on the front end of an idea. Often, our children are so excited about the outcome of the process that they will not heed our advice. The Micro Business for Teens series gives and outside perspective and even a look at the success of micro business where teen have done it right.
https://tenacitydivine.com/2014/05/16/micro-business-for-teens-review
this company provides the most easy-to-understand-and-implement guide to starting a small business that I’ve seen for anyone of any age. I have to admit, I’m impressed. By writing them for teens, the author has created an approachable, USABLE resource for anyone to start a business, even if they aren’t steeped in business and marketing classes.
Micro Business for Teens books are helping them narrow down both 1) what they want to do, along with 2) what may work out for them.
https://www.ourhomeschoolstudio.com/2014/05/micro-business-for-teens-schoolhouse.html
Generally, my teen daughter will discuss things with me rather than writing. We found, however, that this really requires more writing. It’s not like her history studies that we can do orally. The type of information being worked through: ideas generated, brainstorming, numbers and figures, etc. really need to be put on paper. My girl didn’t complain a bit. She didn’t even realize (other than Mama telling her to do it) that this was school work. Even if the business doesn’t come to fruition, applying skills in this way has been fun for her – and is a wonderful learning experience. I love that this can be used over and over with other children and that the information will apply no matter the type of business venture they dream up!
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