Student entrepreneur resources and advice - starting a business, business plans, business ideas for young entrepreneurs. Video: how to write a business plan.
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I am currently a student, and my head is swarming with business ideas. I understand the benefits and how to make a business plan. But what do I do after the business plan? How do I find a venture capitalist or other investors to loan me money? What are the best ways to maximize funding? A: Awesome that you have great business ideas.
As a child, I was taught to listen to and respect the views and opinions of adults. Like many children it was not uncommon for me to blindly follow their direction. When I started my golf ball business at age 11, I came to realize that “serious” business was nothing like operating a lemonade stand. I had a dilemma.
Let's say that you're a young entrepreneur looking for business advice. Would you rather read a dozen advice books or would you choose to hear directly from some of the country's leading entrepreneurs? Like most people, you probably prefer to get your wisdom straight from the experts themselves.
What does it take to launch a successful business on eBay? Some say it is all about finding the right products to sell, while others feel that customer service should be an eBay seller's top priority.
There are many outlets through which young people can channel their passions. For us, both Clark University seniors, cultivating entrepreneurship throughout our college campus set the foundation for realizing our dreams of owning our own company.
There is no substitute for this. Forget about all the fancy junk companies offer you like stocks, insurance, bonus, cars…blah, blah, blah! If you want to make it, you can get all of those things on your own. I don't know of one self-made man or woman who was ever totally interested in having such things provided for them. Think about this, if a company gives you all this "junk" but you sell 20M of business for them, how much are you really benefiting? Zilch. Sell the 20MM for yourself and obtain all of these things plus more, three-fold.
Many student entrepreneurs are interested in learning how best to present their business idea to potential investors. I have listed below some of the most commonly accepted ways to create and deliver a winning elevator pitch, which is a brief summary of the business opportunity being presented.
The business management major is currently the owner of three other for-profit online companies. Johnson described EmazingSites.com as a free service of Web portals paid for solely by client advertisements.
Well, when I started the company, I did it based on my personal frustration with the larger more mainstream online directories and local search companies. It seems that they’re all stuck in the web 1.0 model of strictly being focused on generic traffic generation, page views and ad sales.
Tax deductions may allow a small business owner to offset the expense of starting and running a company. The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provides for certain business tax deductions on equipment, vehicles, travel, and more. Some home-based businesses can also deduct a portion of rent, utilities, and insurance.
I am currently a student, and my head is swarming with business ideas. I understand the benefits and how to make a business plan. But what do I do after the business plan? How do I find a venture capitalist or other investors to loan me money? What are the best ways to maximize funding? A: Awesome that you have great business ideas.
I think the most important thing for a young would-be inventor or entrepreneur is to start doing, get out there and meet people, build prototypes, and get your feet wet. By doing so, you will learn what works and what doesn't.
Before you read this post I need you to make me a promise. I need you to promise that you will email me after you read this post and tell me that you were able to do something that you knew was impossible.
Cash flow has been one of the biggest challenges over the past year for my multi-media production company, Foot In Mouth, Inc. Not cash, but cash FLOW. I have brought in nearly $1 million from some top Fortune 500 companies and investors from three countries and yet, it hasn't been a smooth ride. In some cases investors have made verbal commitments, but it has taken some time for the funds.
Beanstockd is an environmental media and gaming company based in New York City. They use entertainment as a vehicle to deliver environmental information to mainstream people who would not otherwise be exposed to it. Beanstockd News and the Beanstockd Game, are the tools they use to inform our generation on environmental issues, and then drive them into action.
The Global Student EntrepreneurSM Awards are collegiate entrepreneurs' version of football's Heisman Trophy. Last year, 18 regions, including all of North America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and China participated in the competition. From that group, 10 regional winners came together to compete for first-place honors and a grand prize of $10,000. The innovation and social impact category winners each earned $3,000.
As you probably well know by now, you as an entrepreneur are not an island. In fact, if you ask any successful business owner or investor you will learn that business is really a team sport. You can't possibly know everything, and it would be a foolish use of your time trying to do the things in your business that you are not qualified to do alone.
College students Bert Gervais and Arel Moodie were on their way to launching a juice bar business on their SUNY-Binghamton campus when a more pressing concern hit them where they lived- stirring their passion for solving problems and sending them off in another direction.
It happens all the time. People ask me if I think they have a good business idea. I don't even wait to hear the idea any more. My answer is always the same: "I have absolutely no idea."
The best way to show bankers, venture capitalists, and angel investors that you are worthy of financial support is to show them a great business plan. Make sure that your plan is clear, focused and realistic. Your business plan is like your calling card, it will get you in the door where you'll have to convince investors and loan officers that you can put your plan into action.
Often you may hear about what a business plan consists of. While including the necessary items is very important, you also want to make sure you don't commit any of the following common business plan mistakes.
The popular misconception is that brilliant ideas, like the “Hula Hoop” or the “Cabbage Patch Doll,” are necessary to success. Many entrepreneurial wannabes chase one miracle idea after another with the goal of getting rich quick. They have no idea of how to run a business or no comprehension of the hard work that any endeavor entails.
The popularity of such calendars was what led young entrepreneurs David Freedman and Ben Leis to start their company StudentBody Marketing and launch the first Tempe12 swimsuit calendar in 2004. This college-based swimsuit calendar featured female student models from the school Freedman attended, Arizona State University in Tempe.
Anyone can come up with a business idea, but it takes a lot more than pure ambition to see those ideas come into fruition. To help budding businesspeople "bridge the gap between concept and reality," Boston University's Entrepreneurial Management Institute (EMI) hosts Business Plan BootCamp, where entrepreneurs of all ages learn from successful venture capitalists.
It's smart to protect personal assets from business debts and liabilities. Both owners of S Corporations and LLC's enjoy limited personal liability. By contrast, sole proprietors and partners have unlimited personal risk.
Young company founders, like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, rid the word entrepreneur of its misconceptions - you don't have to hold an MBA to strike it big with a start-up. Quite the contrary, young people have a vast number of important entrepreneurial qualities; they tend to be more innovative and more likely to take risks. For this reason, colleges and universities worldwide are focusing on the development of entrepreneurship courses, business plan competitions and other innovative entrepreneurial components.
The Hinman Campus Entrepreneurship Opportunities Program is a three-year-old living-learning venture at Maryland's College Park campus, jointly sponsored by the engineering and business schools.
An idea stemming from a combination of a class presentation and a late night board game session came to fruition when a group of college entrepreneurs developed a $100,000 concept: a Grand Rapids, Mich. edition of the MONOPOLY game.
Flyer Enterprises is one of the national leaders in experiential business education. We currently have seven divisions: two coffee shops, a panini cafe, a convenience store, an ice cream/snack bar, a smoothie bar, and a spirit shop.
What does it take to launch a successful business on eBay? Some say it is all about finding the right products to sell, while others feel that customer service should be an eBay seller's top priority.
After sorting through several money-making ideas, Compton finally decided to mow lawns in his neighborhood. Over the years this summer job grew into a small landscaping business.
A business plan is any plan that works for a business to look ahead, allocate resources, focus on key points, and prepare for problems and opportunities. A very simple start-up plan includes a summary, mission statement, keys to success, market analysis, and break-even analysis.
Not everyone who starts and runs a business begins with a business plan, but it certainly helps to have one. If you are seeking funding from a venture capitalist, you will certainly need a comprehensive business plan that is well thought out and demonstrates sound business reasoning.
Thanks to a grant from The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation , thousands of college students across the nation are getting more exposure to the world of entrepreneurship. In 2003, the Foundation - based in Kansas City, Mo. - launched its Kauffman Campuses initiative, a $25 million grant program that gave money to eight colleges and universities.
Incorporating or forming an LLC is a fast, affordable and easy process. It benefits the business owner by protecting personal and family assets from the risks and debts of the business. Here are eight easy things business owners can do to make incorporating a breeze.
There were enough holes in the first two business ideas presented by Marco Iturri and Kathy Schafer to play a full round of golf.
We all get paper receipts. After almost every transaction we make, a cash register creates a paper trail. These scraps of paper add up, and, over time, they can be extremely frustrating to deal with. If you’re fed up with organizing (or losing) receipts, there may be a neat new solution for you. Shoeboxed.com is an innovative start-up out of North Carolina that can help you get your receipts under control.
Young Money spoke to Joseph Chavnau. A 23 year old graduate from the University of Nebraska. After changing his body in only 12 weeks he started Spartan Muscle, a company to help other people achieve their perfect bodies.
Starting a business is not an easy task to perform. After you have poured all of your money into product development, then running a business with virtually no budget is even tougher.
While students at Cornell University, Lance and I were involved in lots of groups, from class projects, TA sections, and clubs, to fraternities, sports teams, business groups, charities, musical groups, and more.
Shawn Zobel has turned his passion into his profession. Draft Headquarters came from Shawn’s interest in the NFL draft. Now, he publishes his Draft Preview and runs www.draftheadquarters.com。
My Kind of College teaches kids about college basics through the use of cartoons. Anne Raphael draws most of the cartoons herself and runs MyKindOfCollege.com . She took some time to answer some questions about how she started her business.
YOUNG MONEY asked Troy Byrd, co-founder of Bryant College's Global Entrepreneurship Program, to review several software products intended for small business owners. This article is the first installment of a four part series featuring such products.
Upon inserting Avanquest's In-A-Flash Animation Suite software program I was prompted with an installation option asking me which of the three items in the suite I wished to install. Included are: In-A-Flash Pro, FlashLAB, and PowerFlash. I chose to install all three.
This article is the third installment of a four part series featuring software products intended for small business owners. Installation Installing Palo Alto's Marketing Plan 6.0 was far from the hassle-free setup I took for granted when previously installing their business software.
MyInvoices & Estimates Deluxe promises that a small business owner can create, print, and mail the type of invoice he needs within 10 minutes of starting the software. The program is designed to create estimates, invoices, statements, purchase orders and manage inventory levels of your products.
Under the Innovative Curricula Development, the Fisher College of Business will continue to offer courses this spring through its approved "undergraduate interdisciplinary minor in entrepreneurship."
Starting a business can be one of the most rewarding and satisfying undertakings a person can pursue. For some it involves chasing and achieving a personal dream, and for others, it provides an opportunity for freedom and flexibility from a corporate job. Launching a new business venture comes with a lot of hard work and many challenges.
Rising gas and food prices are forcing more baby boomers to postpone retirement and remain in the workforce. As a result, there are fewer jobs available for people starting their careers. So what is a bright, ambitious young adult to do?
Mya went from baking cookies in her apartment to opening her own gourmet cookie shop.
According to Riley, one of the most important things you can do, whether you are still in school or just out of college is brand yourself.
Nearly seven out of 10 young people want to control their own destinies by becoming entrepreneurs. Yet, when the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership surveyed teens about "making a job" versus "taking a job," it found that most of them feel they lack the know-how to go out on their own.
Nearly seven out of 10 young people want to control their own destinies by becoming entrepreneurs. Yet, when the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership surveyed teens about "making a job" versus "taking a job," it found that most of them feel they lack the know-how to go out on their own.
We all need a role model...an example to follow...someone whose ways we can copy. Try red, kinky-haired Paul Orfalea. When he opened shop with one self-service copy machine and a few school supplies just after graduating college in the early '70's, his store soon became so crowded with students clamoring to make copies, he was forced to move the machine to the sidewalk. And beyond. As Orfalea cha...
Two thirds of college students expect to be entrepreneurs at some point during their career, according to a recent nationwide poll by Students in Free Enterprise. This is not a surprise, given the economic downturn during the past few years.
Two thirds of college students expect to be entrepreneurs at some point during their career, according to a recent nationwide poll by Students in Free Enterprise. This is not a surprise, given the economic downturn during the past few years.
A common problem people encounter when writing their business plan is finding information about their business industry and competitive companies. Fortunately, in recent years the Internet has made information gathering simple and easy, but sometimes the best information is found much closer to home, with real people, in real time.
Every new and existing company needs high doses of creativity to succeed and stay on top. In today’s competitive market, how do you set yourself apart from others to be an entrepreneur with an unmistakable edge? Innovation really means finding new ways to add value to your business.
This week was Global Entrepreneurship Week: the worlds first-ever celebration of enterprising behavior. Recognizing the global nature of many of the challenges we face, Global Entrepreneurship Week aims to connect enterprising young people with their counterparts all over the world, and ultimately create a global movement of entrepreneurial people.
These devices, called radiosondes, are launched to very high altitudes to collect atmospheric data such as temperature, pressure and humidity. Once the data is collected, radiosondes parachute back to earth to be collected and re-used.
The harrowing adventure of the rise of the Three Wolf Moon.
I started Charles River Web Connections (CRWC), a web development and database management firm four years ago while in high school. I am now a sophomore enrolled at Syracuse University, triple-majoring in finance, information studies and technology, and entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises.
have always had two distinct passions: entrepreneurship and public service. In high school, I had often found it difficult to link these interests because in my mind both were diametrically opposite; the former looked to make money while the latter wished to give it away.
There are many characteristics that make a person a good hire. Yet, there is one item, especially in a new company, which trumps them all; the passion and love for the product or service.
While many young people are starting to understand and embrace the concept of entrepreneurship - they're being introduced to it as early as high school and college - those entering college for the first time may have no idea what entrepreneurship means and how it relates to their personal and professional goals.
Starting your own business can be very rewarding—you get to do what you love, be your own boss and answer only to your customers. An important step in entrepreneurship is writing your business proposal. A good business proposal clarifies your business idea, could be used as a sales tool when shown to potential clients, and may even be requested by the bank offering you a business loan.
Starting your own business can be very rewarding—you get to do what you love, be your own boss and answer only to your customers. An important step in entrepreneurship is writing your business proposal.
The only drawback to being young in the business world is the perception that it takes years to establish a true passion. In our case, our passion for more efficient and green living began long ago, with roots in Berkshire County, Mass., where we both grew up. But our drive to gear others in this direction and change the way Americans live stems from entrepreneurial programs at Clark University,
An internship should be less about getting coffee for your boss and more about real-world experience. This is among the golden rules of internship management, according to former intern Richard Bottner.
When you own a small business, you are the boss. You make the decisions and you have the ability to earn more money because you directly reap the rewards of your hard work compared to an employee with limited income potential You’ve been told you’re a self starter, hard working and never lazy. People say you’re a born leader, decisive, disciplined, a great communicator, and a peacemaker.
At age fifteen, Jake Sasseville was running a local cable access show in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine. What started as a small-time operation—talking with local celebrities after school—quickly turned into an impressive success. At seventeen, after interviewing the cast of Will and Grace , he pursued and landed airtime for his show on Fox affiliates throughout the Northeast.
Now, raise your hand and count these five crucial things the pros say you really need to know about starting and staying in business.
In the days before the Internet, people had to actually go to a library and dig up information on market trends and industry expectations. Imagine that. The Internet has made that aspect easier, but the fact remains that ignorance is not bliss, and what you don't know will hurt you.
Web hosting involves charging customers a fee in order for them to house their website on a computer server. Little did I know, but this small change would completely transform my company.
Many business owners delay incorporating or forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) because they are apprehensive about the documentation required to keep their company in compliance. Incorporating or forming an LLC helps protect personal assets and provides tax-deductible benefits for employees and owners. It's unwise to forgo these benefits simply due to a healthy fear of paperwork.
Mentors, wise and trusted advisors that they are, serve as the cornerstone to a successful young professional life. However, though business mentors are easily accessible, they are vastly underutilized.
Friend. Confidant. Teacher. Coach. Role model. These are just a few of the words used to describe one's greatest asset in the business world - a mentor.
Marie Forleo is an entrepreneur and success coach who helps people “lead extraordinary lives through the power of living in the moment.” Forleo has had a successful career and is popular as an author, speaker, lifestyle coach, dancer/choreographer, and fitness professional.
In the past 4 years, Success University has enrolled almost 100,000 students in 180 countries around the world. Students have access to over 150 speakers, trainers and authors on topics such as health & fitness, marketing, sales, communication skills, parenting, relationships, finance and much more.
It all began as a class project. Two biomedical engineering majors, now alumni, who designed and built a specialized cell-growing device as University of Iowa seniors, now estimate that their work will net millions of dollars, while helping pioneer medical breakthroughs.
Most entrepreneurs will need some type of funding for their ventures. Unless you know someone with deep pockets, chances are you're going to have to look in another direction.
As a child, I was taught to listen to and respect the views and opinions of adults. Like many children it was not uncommon for me to blindly follow their direction. When I started my golf ball business at age 11, I came to realize that “serious” business was nothing like operating a lemonade stand. I had a dilemma.
A fresh crop of college seniors have just started a search, trying to find a job that will lead to a career filled with enjoyment and, of course, financial rewards. Some may even contemplate starting a business or writing a book. But New York University senior Michael Simmons won't be pondering these possibilities: He's already been there, done all three.
Learn tips and gain prominent advice from a successful internet entrepreneur and founder of the city guide newsletter Thrillist.
Outspark is a global community. Outspark offers free online MMORPG games and multiplayer games. I emailed with Susan Choe, CEO and founder of Outspark.
Think franchising is just for those with vast business experience and large bank accounts? Think again! Franchise opportunities for various individuals abound. Whether you meet the criteria just described, or you're young and fresh out of college, franchising could be ideal for you. Read on to learn about how franchising can be ideal for young entrepreneurs who are motivated.
It would not be legal for NightRiders to use their own cars to drive patrons, but it is legal for them to drive patrons cars.
College students are broke - a fact for many which, like taxes and death, is inevitable ... or so the stereotype leads them to believe. Other students, however, refuse to follow that seemingly unavoidable path and have taken their financial security into their own hands, ensuring themselves a steady income while peers fight over stale pizza crusts until a check arrives from home.
Pitching the Perfect Product By Johnny Mathis, CEO of Livemerical I've seen thousands of brand and products pitched. Some products that I thought were a sure home run turned out to be complete losers while others I thought were bombs turned out to be huge successes.
Although we're still afloat and enjoying life, that doesn't mean we weren't close to drowning in the process. Based on our experience, here are five major pitfalls that every new business owner should try to avoid at all costs.
When I started selling recycled (or used) golf balls, I asked myself, aside from providing good value and quality service, what else would make a customer choose my service? The answer I came up with was superior product knowledge.
What will make customers choose you over others? The answer this expert came up with is superior product knowledge.
Is your sales manager breathing down your neck? VC’s not returning your calls? Having trouble finding a job? The anxiety of these situations can create a perception of limited options, especially during a recession. But, troubled times are when you have to create your own luck and minimize your dependency on the typical and the standard. Everyone is doing the same thing, so how do you stand-out, shine and pave your way to gold? Prospecting!
Without prospecting you can find yourself knocking on the same doors as everyone else, soliciting friends for referrals, and staying "too" close with your current clients. All of this can have the opposite effect that you had initially planned.
First and foremost, identify what intellectual property you have on your site. For example, company names, logos and slogans may be entitled to trademark protection.
So you’ve got an idea. One that you truly believe could launch a business and your fortune. Your friends and family completely agree and encourage you to go chase your dream. So you decide to get some funding and make it happen.
Ratscratch Photobooths is a Los Angeles-based photobooth rental and party photography company. Founded by Dennis Roberts and Nicholas Fehr, they are a self-described group of “young, hip college students that understand what it takes to make a good party.”
When Greg Carney starred in the MTV reality series "twentyfourseven" viewers at home could easily see that the ambitious club promoter was much more than an L.A. party boy.
Craig Martyn is a young entrepreneur in a 100-year-old industry, but his business practices are far from archaic. Martyn, a business student at Cal State Fullerton, is a shining example of how someone can transform a hobby into a growing business.
A graduate of University of Michigan’s Business School, Ryan Mack wants to spread financial literacy across the world. Ryan Mack began his career in Detroit, Michigan as a stock trader. He then worked as a trader for Knight Securities, the largest NASDAQ trading firm in the nation. In 2003, Mack started his own financial awareness group, publishing regular newsletters about financial-related issues that appeal to people from all income levels.
When small businesses incorporate or form a Limited Liability Company (LLC), they must choose a state jurisdiction in which to form their entity. Some form Delaware companies regardless of the state where their business is actually operated. Delaware corporations and LLCs have enjoyed significant advantages over the years and Nevada has more recently enacted business-friendly laws.
Because of a lack of direct experience with entrepreneurship, students develop unfounded beliefs about it that can stop them from starting a company.
Going off to college can be a moving experience. For Josh Kowitt and Scott Neuberger, it became a business. Every fall, students move into dorm rooms and apartments, hauling boxes and furniture and other belongings. When the school year ends, they move everything out.
Don't have a job? Create One! More students are opting to become employers rather than employees. Despite lack of experience and access to capital more college students and young adults are leaning towards business ownership as a career choice.
For entrepreneurs trying to get a business off the ground, Norman -- because it's a college town -- offers a lot of good and different opportunities, especially for younger entrepreneurs, said Susan Urbach, regional director of the Small Business Development Center.
Learn to bootstrap your business the first year so you can get customers, revenue and prove your model. Establish a proven track record. You need to assume that someone can always build a better mousetrap than you.
So you say you don't have enough money to start a business. Starting a business isn’t all about money; it’s also about ingenuity, innovation, and raw passion. In fact, Jim Collins, the author of Good to Great, studied hundreds of companies and identified the leap to success required these intangibles over anything else.Many of the biggest, strongest companies were launched in garages.
So you say you don’t have enough money to start a business. Bull! Starting a business isn’t all about money; it’s also about ingenuity, innovation, and raw passion.
Making money is not a goal. Making buggy whips out of cowhide that satisfies the customer’s wishes for a long lasting and effective device to encourage a faster and more responsive horse, for example, would be an example of a good starting point.
Making the sale is the single most important activity of any business. This concept does not appeal to the entrepreneur who comes from a product-oriented background. An engineer, for example, who has designed a wonderful “widget” will have a tendency to spend time and resources on developing and perfecting the product while almost thinking of selling as a dirty word.
Whichever entrepreneurial direction you choose, select a business structure that works for you and your family. Many businesses start as sole proprietorships or partnerships. However, these structures have unlimited personal liability for company debts.
So, you want to start your own business . You have a little capital and a whole lot of drive. Unfortunately, there may be few more things you don’t have—a business plan, experience, brand name.
So, you want to start your own business . You have a little capital and a whole lot of drive. Unfortunately, there may be few more things you don’t have—a business plan, experience, brand name. It sounds like a lot, but don’t despair, instead, consider a franchise.
A wise man once told me “Writing a business plan is like getting a root canal. It is painful, but necessary”. I would like to add that the wise man I am referring to eventually sold his share of a business for over forty million dollars and yes, he did have a business plan.
Chris Althouse is not an ordinary undergraduate college student. At 24, older than most of his classmates at the University of Oregon in Eugene, he not only exudes business-like professionalism and charisma - but also has a business card to match.
Starting a business of your own can seem like an impossible dream, but some students across college campuses are taking the initiative and finding success.
As any college student will tell you, professor rating websites are in high demand, providing a much needed service across college campuses. Freddy Vazquez found himself in need of the information provided by these websites, yet was dissatisfied with what was available.
Interest in student entrepreneurship has never been so high. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, nearly two-thirds of college students intend to become entrepreneurs at some point in their careers.
While most students view writing research papers as a tedious chore, four college entrepreneurs looked at the situation as a great business opportunity instead.
Hackbert believes college is a time to focus on the basic skills for jobs that could last until retirement. In college, we learn to be entrepreneurs. And there are reasons for it.
Do you own a small business but wish it had the feel of a Fortune 500 company? There are easy steps you can take to speed up your company’s evolution and increase your market share.
Weina Scott answers about 100 tech support e-mails a day. The Web site must be perfect - one glitch, and 6,000 irate customers will bombard her inbox. At age 17, Weina is the chief executive of her own Web-based podcast hosting company and makes an annual salary of $40,000 for working 20 hours a week. Her office is her laptop in her parent's townhouse near North Miami Beach, Fla. She balances her work duties with doing homework for seven advanced placement classes at Krop Senior High School and applying to colleges.
Despite the current economic downturn that seems to be lasting longer than expected, angel funding and venture capital dollars are still available to companies that can prove they have revenue generating potential, have a strong management team, etc.
All it takes is an idea. A simple idea can lead a person to their passion. Taking action on that passion can give someone great success. It all depends on the person's drive.
In the 1990s, people were coming out of colleges and business schools thinking of themselves as ordained leaders for new businesses. They were convinced that their education had given them all the necessary tools and the right to run a successful company.
Have you ever dreamed of starting a company and being your own boss? Well, you don't have to be an honors business student to become a great entrepreneur. All you need is a good idea, a strong work ethic and a passionate desire to reach your goal.
2004 was a year that Michael Stebinger will always remember. Stebinger was the top winner at the recent Global Student EntrepreneurSM Awards ceremony honoring the world's best college entrepreneurs. If running a business and going to school were not enough of a challenge for him, Stebinger, a senior at Utah Valley State College, and his wife Angie also celebrated the birth of their first child soon after.
If you ever met Mike Brown, it wouldn't take long to realize that he's not your typical young entrepreneur. After all, not many students have the discipline and time-management skills to attend school full time and still manage to run a thriving business at the same time.
Every marketing plan has to fit the needs and situation. Even so, there are standard components you just can't do without. A marketing plan should always have a situation analysis, marketing strategy, sales forecast, and expense budget.
There are many outlets through which young people can channel their passions. For us, both Clark University seniors, cultivating entrepreneurship throughout our college campus set the foundation for realizing our dreams of owning our own company.
In the following article, you will learn some information about successful business. Read on and go through the story to get some tips for your own business planning and management.
When I was approached to write this article several months ago, I had it in mind to write about the lack of avenues and education available for young girls and women today with regards to becoming a female entrepreneur. After some thorough researching and Web crawling though, I decided that I would have to abandon that route altogether. "Why?" you ask, appalled at my apparent lack of v...
Being a young business owner seems to be the hip thing right now. More and more students are taking business risks right out of college with the hopes of earning hefty payoffs. It's no wonder that colleges are catering to this growing interest with sophisticated programs.
The Quad is an over arching collegiate platform. It is a vacuum in the college space. Obviously there are MySpace and Facebook but in terms of utility they are just boredom killers. I love them, but I just don't think at the end of the day they really help people's life.
Most people just fascinate themselves in such thoughts, but never have the energy or risk-taking behavior to actually start one.
In response to the overall fear of starting your own business early on, I will explain why your college years are the best time to become an entrepreneur. As we know, many people have the mindset of first establishing themselves in a corporate job, earning experience and accumulating wealth, then finally launching their businesses.
In the two previous parts of this series, I wrote about why your college years are the best time to start a business , as well as responded to some common concerns about entrepreneurship . In this article, I'll discuss how to become a student entrepreneur and what to do once you reach that goal.
The T-Shirt Gang is a clothing line started by two young entrepreneurs to get out of having to stay in school and get regular jobs. The term 't-shirt gang' represents us and all the other groups of young t-shirt wearing kids out there on the grind, whether its clothing, art, music or whatever money making method they see fit, using their skills to start businesses with aspirations to become billionaires.
In business, you should never just automatically call a number just because it came up on your caller ID, even if you know the number listed. Always listen to the message first or if they didn't leave a message, it doesn't necessarily mean you need to call back either.
Some people drop out of college to start their own business. But that is a risk that you don't need to take. Even Bill Gates, who famously dropped out of Harvard to start Microsoft, has publicly stated that he wouldn't recommend it to others.
As a small business owner, it's easy to get caught up in the daily activities that leave you wondering "What did I get done today?" But the most successful business owners that I know spend 80% of their time on one task: bringing in new customers.
Keeping official company documentation up-to-date sounds complicated at first. With the help of a service company and the Secretary of State, there is no mystery. The entire official history of a corporation or LLC is available with just a phone call.
If you think you have a good business idea, you probably do. So write it down. A business plan is the game strategy for your business. The document can reveal just how good that idea really is or just how weak.
Shoe string budget or not, miserable economy or not, your long term entrepreneurial success is contingent upon making more than you spend. At the end of the day, all that matters is if you are profitable or not. You get there by making more and spending less. Here are tips for the spending less part.
An independent contractor is exactly what it sounds like. They work (and are paid) on a job-by-job basis, providing that extra staff power just when you need it. There are many advantages to hiring independent contractors, but also important differences to be aware of.
You probably don't need to read this, but I bet you know people who do. Please feel free to repost or forward: Times are tough, and many say they are going to be tougher. That makes some people more focused, it turns others desperate. You may be tempted at some point to try to make a million dollars. To do it without a lot of effort or skill or risk.
Let's say that you're a young entrepreneur looking for business advice. Would you rather read a dozen advice books or would you choose to hear directly from some of the country's leading entrepreneurs? Like most people, you probably prefer to get your wisdom straight from the experts themselves.
One of the most profound differences between young professionals and their older counterparts is the lack of networking opportunities. Seasoned entrepreneurs and those fresh from the corporate world have had the time to build up a list of contacts to help with a start-up.
Young Money interviews Navid Zolfaghari of TriFame What is TriFame? TriFame.com provides an online platform for aspiring artists to audition in front of the world 24/7 for the opportunity of becoming the next big star. Our vision is to be the premier source of talent on the Internet, by hosting user-created content in the areas of music, dance, and modeling.
The Small Business Administration’s statistics show that a new startup has about a 50 percent chance of surviving for five years or more. Here are tips for entrepreneurs to start doing the following early on to ensure a company’s longevity.
Robert Tuchman, author of Young Guns, offers five must-know tips for anyone starting his or her own business.
Today's writer is no longer bound by region or genre. Technology has expanded our circle of friendships as well as our writing community.
Have something you love to do? Turn it into an online business.
Everyone laughed when Alex Volin, 22, and Keith Rogers, 23, told their families and friends at the University of Central Florida that they were going into business together.
Business owners may choose from a variety of company structures, based on their needs and preferences. Especially with the advent of the Limited Liability Company (LLC), the choices for small business are wider and better than ever before.
In 2000, Clark found himself two credits shy of graduating with a business information technology degree from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. To earn those credits, he convinced a professor to provide him a project; he was assigned to design a 50 page business plan. Clark wanted to entertain himself in the process, so he developed Skiviez, an online retailer of men's underwear.
How many times have you worried about something today? If you jot down each worry as it comes to mind, and then return to that list a few weeks later, you’ll see that you totally wasted your time and energy on nothing.
The economy sucks. So what? Here's some news for you, bucko. It sucks every ten or fifteen years. It's called a cycle. We go through this all the time, and here is a predication, it will continue to stink for quite while.
Check out this list of “stupid business ideas” that are all, in fact, successful. If this doesn’t convince you to pursue your personal desires and make it into a business.
In this episode Mike explains the value of a retail presence backed with an Internet relationship building process. Read on to learn about the pros and cons of retail and online business.
Today’s marketplace is about building relationships and learning how you can spend your resources wisely so those who are predisposed to buying your products and services step forward. Unfortunately, many companies are still following outdated mass marketing techniques.
Sportscasters are dolts. Either that or they need some new material. Almost every time a team – any team – wins a big game, someone in the glorified peanut gallery will say, “They wanted it more,” as if desperation is the key to success. Wrong, SO wrong.
Despite making college life easier in areas ranging from research to class registration, the Internet has never provided students with much help in finding and securing off-campus housing...until now.
In preliminary talks with area high schools, Loginova received overwhelmingly positive feedback and signed up two high schools for participation. She also assembled a board of high school and college students to provide insight on the site's content, design and functionality, particularly in the SAT/GMAT testing area of the website.
After completing their college degree, new graduates are equipped with an arsenal of talents. Skills learned from classes and internships are just a fraction of what new grads have to contribute to the future.
Learn internet marketing tips and how to properly promote your business on Facebook.
When you suggest that others become a fan, you should be aware that the suggestion comes from the person who created the fan page.
If you are the owner of a business that is already up and running, the primary benefit to incorporating immediately, rather than waiting until January, is protection of personal assets.
As long as you believe you are destined for success the likelihood of actually achieving it is 100 times greater than if you believe your achievements will be mediocre at best, even though you may have all the qualifications to be a big shot. Over all things, know that it is your thoughts, those little conversations going on inside your head that are determining your accomplishments.
YOUNG MONEY is proud to present a new series of educational videos. This educational video series is designed to offer you concrete, valuable tips to help you become a more successful entrepreneur. These videos are brought to you by the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz. These videos are meant to educate and entertain.
My instincts were honed in business. You hone your instincts and your ability to adjust your style with each task. If you [watched] the show, my management style changed with each task we had.
Like most new companies with a low advertising budget, it took awhile for business to take off. Instead of money, he and his partner invested their sweat and time to get their name out to the community.
Flash back to the summer of 2005. McLean was interning at a New York City entertainment law firm. On the job, he became interested in the treatment (or mistreatment) of artists by their managers in the music industry. It was this concern that sparked the idea for his own record label.
"No matter how small of an idea you think you have you never know how big it really can become," commented 21-year-old Kristy Taylor during an interview with YOUNG MONEY about the "small company" she started.
Aspiring inventors have a new reason to be hopeful. You finally have a magazine dedicated to helping entrepreneurs sell their invention ideas.