start your own business

Okay, what do you really need to start your own business? Too many first time entrepreneurs worry about a complete business plan, sources for funding, business licenses, etc. You really only need two things to get started in your business. Everything else can wait until you have the following three critical items.

 

Be Committed

How serious are you? Are you really willing to put in the hours it takes to get a new business running? Commit right now that you will have an idea for a business within the next 24 hours and that you will have a paying customer within one week. (If you can commit to that idea and follow the next two steps...it will happen.) Now tell everyone you know that you are starting a new business and let them know that you will have a customer within 72 hours.

 

An Idea

Don't make this too difficult. You don't need an absolutely new idea for your first business. Your business idea may not be a completely new idea. Great! It will more than likely be a service based business like cleaning, landscaping, delivery, babysitting, etc. Excellent! These businesses are simple to start, easy to understand, and are great ways to learn the ins and outs of starting and running a business.

 

A Paying Customer

Don’t forget that the underlying goal for every for-profit venture is to provide a product or service and get paid for it. It is too easy to get sidetracked with creating a cool logo, developing a fancy website, or writing a comprehensive business plan. Successful entrepreneurs understand exactly how their business makes money and they are able to focus the majority of their efforts appropriately.

 

Read about the 5 Recommendations for starting a teen startup or check out what other student entrepreneurs are doing. If you already run your own business, let us know about it and we will help you promote it.