A writer is...
Passionate.
A writer's passion is present in all aspects of life. A true writer is passionate about people, passionate about places, and passionate about what happens around her.
A connection to the world.
Writers connect lives all across the world---across different cultures. We allow people to understand the life of another without ever having to leave their home.
An illusionist.
The writer explores the boundaries of the heart, the mind, and the soul. Words are often so powerful, that they can sway someone to believe the impossible. Writers open minds.
A writer knows how to not only speak to the reader's mind, but to speak to their soul. The audience is well-known to the writer, who understands that everyone is unique, so they must tailor their writing to speak to people on individual levels, using the same words. They are creative and able to add spark to even the most dull of paragraphs.
Hi, my name is Emily, and I'm a writer.
Since 2008, I've worked as a freelance writing professional. To date, I've authored over 1,000 articles, and my work has appeared in over 10 online publications, including USA Today, and the Houston Chronicle, among others.
I currently own and operate two blogs, "
Freelance Lady"--a blog on work-at-home opportunities, and "
Mommy's Castle"--my blog which chronicles my life as a stay-at-home mother and housewife.
I understand that clients all have individual needs, and I am very familiar with tweaking writing and voice styles to meet those needs.
Being a teenager in today's world is not like it was 10 years ago. The opportunities for income are virtually endless, especially with advances in modern technology. Today, it seems that more teenagers are itching to start their own business.
Before jumping in head first, there are quite a few legal issues to discuss, and if you're serious about starting your own home business, you won't skip over this part, as it is the most critical to the success of your business.
Legal Factors Teen Entrepreneurs Must Understand
Minors cannot form legal business entities on their own. Despite how it sounds, it does not mean that your business idea has gone down the drain. Although you cannot legally form a business entity, your parent or guardian can. If they have trust in you and believe you are responsible and determined enough to start a business, they may form the business in their name. When you turn 18-years-old, they may sign the business over to you. In the meantime, many states allow minors to serve as a board director for the business, or as a shareholder. Consult with an attorney to learn more about your state's laws.
Depending on your state, if you've been legally emancipated (no longer legally supported or dependent upon your family as recognized by the courts), you may be able to work separately from your parents in regards to business matters.
Your parent/guardian is responsible for you. According to "vicarious liability," until the day you are legally recognized as an adult, your parent or legal guardian are responsible for you (if you are not emancipated). You are not legally allowed to sign contracts, as the other part cannot legally enforce a contract signed by a minor. Your parents must sign all contracts and paperwork, and as a result, if the contract is breached, your parents are responsible. Also, if you are negligent in any way, your parents will pay the price.
Familiarize yourself with your state's laws. Before writing up a business plan, check the zoning laws within your state and city to determine whether or not you're legally allowed to operate a business from your home. These regulations typically depend on the type of business you're running, if customers will be visiting your home, and whether or not the business will negatively impact the residential area in terms of noise, traffic, and other factors. Running a business from your home also requires you to have a local business license. Consult with an attorney to learn more.
Preparing Your Home Business
1. Create a business plan.
Once you've become comfortable and familiar with your city and state's laws, you may start creating your business plan. For starters, you should think about your business and personal goals. This will help you create a well thought out business plan that will outline exactly how you intend to reach those goals. It is very important that you are meticulous when forming your business plan. You must include, in great detail, how the business will be operated, managed, and financed. This includes the products and/or services you will sell, the equipment and supplies you require, financing, resources, and how you will compensate yourself and your employees (if applicable).
2. Apply for a business license.
Once you've created your business plan, you should apply for your business license. If you're going to need extra funding, create a speech, and dress as a responsible, mature business owner, and take a copy of your detailed business plan to your friends, family, and local business owners who may be interested in helping you get started. Make a few copies so that you can hand them out, and allow individuals to look over them later if they happen to be busy when you stop by.
3. Design a workspace.
It is critical to have your own workspace for your business. The ideal workspace is convenient, quiet, and organized. It should include special organizing bins or filing cabinets for record keeping, including billing, accounting, order forms, marketing materials, complaints, inventories, and so forth. While it's great to have your information entered into a computer, it's always wise to keep hard copies in case something goes wrong. Don't forget to backup your computer on an external hard drive, as well.
4. Prepare your products.
Your products should be ready before the official launch of your business, unless you create the items based on custom orders. Even if you do create custom orders, it's still nice to have a few examples set aside so that you may take photographs for your website, or allow customers to see, first-hand, what they should expect when ordering their own product. Be sure that you have enough equipment and supplies in stock so that you do not run out and end up having to backlog orders.
5. Start marketing.
There are numerous options for marketing your products or services. If your business is strictly from home and customers will NOT visit you there, your best bet would be to create a website to sell your products (or do so on eBay, Etsy, or Amazon). Your marketing options could include social networking like Facebook and Twitter. Alternatively, you could reach out through discussion boards and newsletters. If you're using the internet, SEO is very, very important, so become familiar.
Word-of-mouth advertising, such as fliers distributed in parking lots and at social events within your community are good marketing tools. You could also hand out business cards, or ask that they be placed in local stores or businesses.
Other things you could do to bring customers in is to create a professional image for your business by hooking up with other reputable businesses, or creating eye-popping logos and graphics for your marketing materials.
6. Take advantage of your resources.
The Small Business Administration (SBA), The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and Junior Achievement are all wonderful resources that will provide you with plenty of information in regards to business matters.
http://www.sba.gov/teens/ideas.html
http://www.sba.gov/teens
http://www.sba.gov/teens/tips.html
Home Business Ideas for Teenagers
Brainstorming ideas for a home business sounds easier than it actually is. In fact, you may be able to come up with dozens of ideas, but not a single one interests you. So, how do you come up with ideas that you're passionate about? First of all, look at your past experiences that you've enjoyed. Consider your hobbies and interests. Think about what you like to do with your time, what skills you have, and whether any of your hobbies are marketable.
To get you started, check out this list of home business ideas for teens.
Pet-Related Business Ideas for Teens
- Pet Sitting
- Dog Walking
- Dog Grooming
- Obedience Training
- Pet Clothing and Accessories
- Homemade Pet-Safe Treats (i.e., cookies, cakes, "candies," etc.)
Home/Garden-Related Business Ideas for Teens
- Closet Organizing
- Room Painting
- Pressure Washing
- Window Cleaning
- Gardening/Landscaping
- Lawn Care
Photography Business Ideas for Teens
- Wedding Photography
- Senior Photographs
- Homecoming/Prom
- Community Events
- Children/Family
Sewing/Needlework-Related Business Ideas for Teens
- Handmade Clothing
- Home Decor (i.e., curtains, drapery, table cloths, sofa covers, etc.)
- Corsets
- Accessories (i.e., headbands, scarves, hats, handbags, etc.)
All-Natural Product Business Ideas for Teens
- Makeup (i.e., lipstick, lip gloss, foundation, etc.)
- Hair Products
- Skin Products
- Candle Making
- Soap Making
- Fragrances
Gift Business Ideas for Teens
- Layered Cookie Ingredient Jars
- Hand-Painted Storage Tins
- Homemade Candies
- Gift Candles
- Homemade Greeting Cards
Bottom Line
If you're serious about starting a home business, you should be motivated and determined. Your desire and your passion for your business should outweigh the desire to start earning money from it. Small business success starts with passion and decisiveness. You must be meticulous and make the correct moves. Mistakes are okay, but you must be willing to learn from them, as it takes discipline hard work to regain the upper hand when it comes to a business.
*This article was originally published on Emily Lambert's blog, Freelance Lady. All rights reserved.
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