Best Resources to Start a Business as a Teen

Anyone can start a business, but the real challenge is finding the right resources to guide and grow your business into success. By creating a business as a teen, you can create an impact on your community while making a name for yourself early on in your career. By doing so, you can show college admission officers that you have solid leadership skills, practical experience outside a classroom, and professional time management/ organization, making your application stand out.

Here are some resources to kickstart your business:

1. Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)

YEA! is a program that transforms middle-high school students into business-ready, poised entrepreneurs. It's a year-long course where students generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, and launch their own companies. After participating in this program, teens will learn how businesses work and how to take the initiative to start one.

2. Junior Achievement (JA) Entrepreneurship Programs

JA offers a diverse range of courses for elementary-high school students interested in strengthening their Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and work readiness. Extensive specific programs are tailored based on age groups within those three branches of classes. For teens interested in starting a business, their 'JA BE ENTREPRENEURIAL® (RAPID BUSINESS PLANNING®' is the best option within JA. It teaches about the mindset and skills that founding a company requires and learns to transform ideas into concise, compelling, actionable one-page business plans. Upon completion of this course, JA guarantees students will be able to practice the lean business planning process, identify the cost structure for a product/service by listing fixed and variable costs, identify a competitive advantage, describe the importance of testing and validating the assumptions and ideas that frame a business plan and produce a lean business plan in the Lean Canvas template. This course is a hybrid learning environment, partially in person and virtually.

3. SCORE

For motivated teen entrepreneurs seeking guidance on starting a business on a budget, SCORE is a great option. SCORE is a non-profit organization that offers workshops, webinars, and personalized advice about navigating the business world at any age. The key feature of SCORE is its mentorship program. Unlike every other mentoring program, SCORE is entirely free of charge. They have a network of experienced business professionals who volunteer their time to provide one-on-one mentoring to entrepreneurs. A mentor is essential when starting a business as a teen because they can offer guidance, share their knowledge and experience, and help you navigate the challenges of starting and running a business.

4. Start it Up: The Complete Teen Business Guide, By Kenryn Rankin.

If you're not willing to commit to a pricey course or prefer physical books, Start it Up by Kenryn Rankin is an excellent way to learn about turning a business idea into a company. The book discusses, among other things, how to select a company's genre, choose a name, and set product prices. The book also includes advice-giving anecdotes from successful youth entrepreneurs.

Starting a business as a teen can be a transformative experience that offers valuable skills and personal growth opportunities. The resources mentioned, such as YEA!, JA, SCORE, and "Start it Up" by Kenryn Rankin, provide guidance and mentorship for young entrepreneurs seeking professional aid. By utilizing these resources, you can develop leadership qualities, gain practical experience, and demonstrate initiative. Seize the opportunity, explore these resources, and embark on your entrepreneurial journey with confidence.

Good Luck with your future business!