The press contains stories of young people everyday getting into trouble, making court appearances, being jailed, and giving a completely negative impression. It is little known, but there are young entrepreneurs out there, making more money then their parents, and still keeping up great grades at school.
How can this be you ask? As with any business market, research is valuable, and the people that know what teenagers want best are young people. Being young, most young entrepreneurs have very little problem working outside their comfort zone as they have few financial commitments, have not experienced a job, and more importantly are bold enough to try.
I’ve met young entrepreneurs between the ages of 9 through to 21, each with an idea, and a driving passion about what they are doing through their business. Many have used technology to support them, and their businesses range from Ceramic Skateboard bearings right through to a Teen advice service for teens, by teens using poetry to answer the problems.
Now many teens may have parental or adult support at home, however for those that do not, there are even Teen Business Coaches, one of the most notable being Shonika Proctor who works with Young People in Washington D.C..
More teen entrepreneurs are emerging every day due to the recession, as many are unable to get summer jobs that have been filled by adults made redundant, they are turning to their creativity and starting businesses ranging from lawn mowing through to greeting card creation.
The thing to remember is it takes creativity, and a desire to succeed to enable you to become a young entrepreneur!