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Kids Kreative Korner
Offering a Service Can be a Good First Business for Entrepreneurs.
By Bonnie Drew
If you need a business that costs almost nothing to start, consider a service business. You may be able to begin with as little as $20 in supplies.
Some of the most popular service businesses for beginning entrepreneurs are house sitting, dog washing, running errands, and various cleaning jobs. More experienced entrepreneurs may organize closets or garages, repair bikes, provide child care, or deliver flyers for local business owners.
If you enjoy helping others, have a strong sense of responsibility, and always take pride in doing your best, you will enjoy owning a service-based business.
Some of the advantages of a service business are:
* Almost every young person has experience performing some type of household chore that can be marketed as a service business.* Service can be provided almost anywhere, anytime, for anyone. It's a business with unlimited potential.
* Start-up is fast and requires very little cash.
* It's flexible. You can set your own hours and work as little or as much as you want.
Some drawbacks of a service business are:
* Sometimes service involves doing things no one likes to do. The work can occasionally be dirty, tiring, lonely, or just plain boring. Having a friend or partner helps.* If you promise someone a job, you have to do it, whether you fell like it or not (but you'll feel better when you get paid).
* It's difficult to measure and price the worth of your work. Use a price list that's based on the going rate charged by similar businesses in your area.
A service business can be a great first business for young people. There is no inventory to buy or product to manufacture. What you're selling is your time, knowledge, experience and physical energy.
Bonnie Drew is the author of FAST CASH FOR KIDS (2nd edition), published by Career Press (1-800-227-3371). She is also the creator of the KIDS BUSINESS software for young entrepreneurs, available from Homeland Publications (713-332-9764).
Drew is also Editor of YoungBiz online magazine, published by Kid's Way, Inc., a company that helps youth prepare for business and the workplace of the 21st century. For more information, write to Kid's Way at 5589 Peachtree Rd, Chamblee, GA 30341 or call toll free 1-888-KidsWay (1-888-543-7929). YoungBiz magazine can be found at http://www.youngbiz.com
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