With unemployment rates high, the teen population is finding it harder and harder to find work. Adults are competing for the same minimum wage jobs. But there’s an alternative—starting a micro business. What is a micro business? It is a very small, one-person business that you can start easily and quickly with what you already know or own. No money needed, low risk and no debt! Students can spend as much time running a micro business as they wish and can even close it down during busy times. The best advantage for teens to own a micro business is that it not only brings in extra cash (often more than imagined), but students end up learning a great deal about business, money and themselves. It may lead to an entrepreneurial life or at the very least, prepare students for higher learning opportunities.
I’ve read the book, Starting a Micro Business by Carol Topp, and I found that it’s full with innovative ideas and very helpful for teens who wants to earn more money but do not exactly know how.
- House cleaning: Offer to tackle large jobs like washing windows, moving furniture, etc. Many people are grateful for a young, strong teenager to help them with heavy lifting. What is easy for you might be very difficult for them, especially if they are an older person.
- Routine house cleaning: Some customers need regular house cleaning and may hire you on a weekly or monthly basis. Don’t wait for them to ask: offer to come weekly or twice a month and see what they say.
- Attic cleaning: Offer to help people do a job that they put off, such as cleaning an attic.
- Garage cleaning: A big job that can earn you big bucks!
- Yard cleanup: Offer to trim bushes, pull weeds, plant flowers and spread mulch to spruce up a yard.
- Car and van cleaning: People spend a lot of time in their automobiles and their cars and vans need frequent cleaning. Melissa gladly paid to get her van cleaned inside and out every week because her four children could really make a mess in it. You can make some cash by offering to clean a van inside and out.
- Organize. Organize a house, playroom or garage. Charge the customer for any bins, tubs and labels that you purchase for them and then add on the value of your time. Take before and after photos to use on your advertising fliers.
- Declutter: Do you love HGTV shows on organization? You might be able to find someone to hire you to declutter their house like you see on TV.
- Garage sales: Advertise, organize and run a garage sale for your neighbors. Get several neighbors to participate together and really earn the bucks!
- eBay sales: Offer to sell your neighbors’ stuff on eBay and take a cut for yourself. Combine the decluttering, garage sale and eBay tasks into a full package to help your customers profit from their excess stuff.
Retail price: $9.95
Retail price: $9.95
Retail price: $9.95
Retail price: $14.95
Cleffairy,
Thank you for your kind words.
You read the first book, Starting a Micro Business. It’s followed by a second book Running a Micro Business and then a third book, Money and Taxes in a Micro Business. Students can read each book as needed and as their business grows.
The Micro Business for Teens Workbook is designed for a student to apply what they read in the Starting and Running books and works great in a group or class setting.
I taught 10 teenagers using the workbook last semester and we had a lot of fun. One boy recently told me he is making $100 a month giving guitar lessons.
My website https://MicroBusinessForTeens.com has sample pages and a Table of Contents for each book.
Thanks for your help in spreading the word!
Good luck to all the contestants!
Carol Topp, CPA
Author Micro Business For Teens series
Thank you Cleffairy, for your kind words.
You read the first book, Starting a Micro Business. It’s followed by a second book Running a Micro Business and then a third book, Money and Taxes in a Micro Business. Students can read each book as needed and as their business grows.
The Micro Business for Teens Workbook is designed for a student to apply what they read in the Starting and Running books and works great in a group or class setting.
I taught 10 teenagers using the workbook last semester and we had a lot of fun. One boy recently told me he is making $100 a month giving guitar lessons.
My website https://MicroBusinessForTeens.com has sample pages and a Table of Contents for each book.
Thanks for your help in spreading the word!
Good luck to the contestants!
Carol Topp, CPA
Author Micro Business For Teens series
sigh…should have given me this book 20 years ago..
ok, can I be one of the lucky winners ah? Can pass this book to my bro and that substitutes his ‘pocket money’? muahaha..