kids-in-biz.com

You know that you have to do a lot of writing in order to get a good grade at school.  This is usually no big deal at all if you have a passion for writing.  Did you know that you can get paid for this passion as well?

It’s very true, and teens all over the nation are making good money as writers.  The best part is that this is one job you can do in the comfort of your own home.  No more slinging hamburgers on a hot day if you don’t want to.

Now, you might find paid writing internships at local newspapers, and that is a great step if you want to become a report one day.  The best opportunities, however, come with writing web content for businesses.

Have you ever visited a website and wondered who did all that writing?  Sometimes the webmasters or owners do the writing themselves if they have time.  Other times they will hire a freelance writer to do it for them.  This can also be called ghostwriting.

Do you know any local businesses who have a website?  It’s a great idea for you to offer to write some content for their site.  Explain that it will help them get more visitors, rank higher in the search engines, and make more sales.

Another way to get started is to set up a website offering your services.  You can even set up a free Squidoo lens if you’re not comfortable creating a website yet.  You want to include samples of your writing (that your English teacher would approve of) to show off your awesome writing skills.

You need to think about how much you are going to charge businesses and website owners for your writing.  Writers for the web tend to start out a little bit lower than normal to get their foot in the door.  This will help you get more clients that land you great referrals in the future.  $6-$10 is a good starting range per article.

Imagine that!  You can make money from the same kind of writing you would normally do for free to get a grade.  Often, you can make a lot more than you would working retail or at another job that teenagers typically take.

A great way to get started earning right away is to sign up for Associated Content at http://www.associatedcontent.com

Associated Content is a company that has you submit your articles before payment.  They will review your articles and then let you know how much they are worth.  You can accept the payment and they will pay right into a PayPal account (free at http://www.paypal.com ).

One problem you might run into as a teen who wants to write for profit is not being old enough or being looked down on because of your age.  You can prove yourself by writing great content and presenting yourself in a professional manner.  If you are simply too young to be accepted you can encourage your parents to help you get started.  They can be the ones with the writing business, while you help them out by writing some content (and getting paid in the process).

Writing for profit is the best option for you if you’re a teen who loves to write.  There are few jobs out there that can be so fun.  You can do this on your own time and feel like you’re really accomplishing something great.

You can think of a Squidoo lens as being a one page website that you can call your own for free.  These little websites can help you express your feelings, show off your hobbies, or make you some great money.

The first thing you need to do to get started with your lens is open up an account.  You can do that at http://www.squidoo.com.  This account is completely free, and you’ll love it because you can start new lenses and organize the ones you have already made.  Squidoo has a lot of nice features that tell you how many people have visited your lens, how much money you have made off of them, and which ones could use a lot of work.

You’ll notice that many people talk about having multiple “lenses” rather than just one “lens.”  The reason for that is simple!  It’s so easy and fun to set these up that you’ll want to create them about many different topics you’re interested in.  The sky is the limit when it comes to lens creation.

When you sign into your account you’ll find a “Make a new lens!” button.  This button will take you through a series of steps to get your lens set up.  There are some options that get you started super fast by doing things for you, and there are others that give you more choices to get your lens looking just the way you want it.

These aren’t boring little Web Pages either.  Squidoo lenses are made up of what are called modules.  You choose the exact ones you want on your page and organize them just the way you like.

Some popular modules are:

• Text – you can write anything you want that is related to your lens
• Amazon – you can make money right from your lens by recommending information that is relevant
• Wikipedia – Sometimes you don’t want to have to write everything yourself.  You can enter in a word that describes your topic and Squidoo will find a Wikipedia article that fits for you to put on your page
• RSS – Do you have a blog or know of one you like?  You can enter in the blog’s RSS feed and it will pull content right from that blog to show your visitors
• Stickynote – Stickynotes are a lot of fun to use in real life, and they can really stand out on a website too.  You can call attention to any quick fact you want by using a sticky note
• Duel – If your lens is part of a debate you can set up a duel model.  This can get your visitors interested in interacting and debating with each other
• Guestbook – Having a guestbook on your lens is a lot of fun because your visitors can leave you message or have a discussion about your topic

There are literally dozens of different modules that you can use.  These will all help you add content, get your guests involved, or help make you money.

There are a few different ways you can make money through your Squidoo lens.  As you can see, there are a few modules that are already designed to fit with the topic of your lens and help you make money.  You will need to sign up as an affiliate with the company related to the module, then put in your special username or code to make sure the sales get credited to you.

If you have another website and you’re using your lens to try and get more visitors to your site that’s a great idea!  If you go a step further and write your own eBook or become an affiliate of a product you can even put your sales link right on your Squidoo lens.

The best way to get started with Squidoo is to go grab yourself an account to play around with. You’ll fall in love with its flexibility and features.  These little sites also rank very well with the search engines so you’re sure to get some visitors and maybe even make some money if you put hard work into it.

Want your child to learn business skills and be “green friendly?

How do you safely and creatively teach kids about business? Ralph Williams, a father of two sons Patrick, 8, and Joe, 6, believes he has found the solution. When Williams’ son Patrick wanted to make more money in addition to his allowance, Williams shared a story of making beeswax candles as a boy and selling them in his family’s restaurant, offering them the idea of creating a candle-making business

Their first clients included family and friends and soon expanded to area businesses. Their product line has expanded to honey soap and other bee-related offerings. When they realized this was a fun and easy way to earn a little extra spending money, the brothers wanted to share this opportunity with children around the country, giving Williams the idea to create FranChild and the “My Kids First Biz” experience. Now they work with families from coast to coast and even internationally.

FranChild is a company that makes ‘franchise-like’ businesses available for children to operate. Like a franchise, kids and parents get marketing support, including an online community for the benefit of members called ‘the hive.” The cost to start-up a FranChild business is $25 for a standard annual membership which includes a FranChild Company Certificate acknowledging the child’s business launch; ready-to-print business cards from FranChild business templates; how-to instructions and ideas for marketing and selling products; access to the My Kids First Biz Resource Center, a $75,000 marketing system for creating customized packaging products; below wholesale pricing on materials; and access to the “hive” to share ideas with the FranChild Business community. A Web site is available for young entrepreneurs for an additional $2 per month.

There are four FranChild product categories that carry the bee theme: beeswax candles, organic soap, apparel and jewelry. All natural in the materials they are made of, each FranChild line is “green-friendly”. In most cases, FranChild offers ‘below wholesale’ pricing, so kids can experience wholesale and retail sales of their chosen product line.

FranChild Candle Company - Children have the opportunity to make and sell candles made of 100% beeswax. Included in the candle start-up kit are 50 sheets of natural colored beeswax, 36 feet of wick and instructions for making candles. Additional colors are available seasonally and voted upon by the “hive” as to which ones are brought to the market.

FranChild Soap Company™ - Hand-made organic soap is available in a variety of refreshing scents including citrus, honey and peppermint. Kids are able to make their own custom labels, including private labels for businesses to sell their own brand of organic soap.

FranChild Apparel Company™ - Two collections of organic cotton t-shirts made in America by Stinger ApparelTM feature the FranChild logo and BEEmotionsTM featuring bee-themed expressions such as “Bee Happy” and other seasonally themed sayings.

FranChild Jewelry Company™ - The Royal Jelli Jewels™ line includes rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. The themes include butterflies, dolphins, flowers, hearts and starfish. More designs will be added as the community of FranChild Jewelry votes and decides which item to bring to the marketplace next, including of course, a bee. Jewels come finished and are purchased in quantities of six of the same type and style in assorted colors.

In addition to learning the basics of business, young entrepreneurs can experience concepts like manufacturing (candles), marketing, packaging, branding, private labeling, sales and money management. FranChild allows kids to set their own pricing giving them the control to set the profit margin. In turn, they learn about spending money, earning money and hopefully saving money.

FranChild, LLC is an online community of parents and children sharing a fun project with an applicable and valuable life lesson, learning the basics of business. For more information on the company or to launch a FranChild business with your child, visit www.FranChild.com.

by Linda Stacy

Becoming a direct sales consultant is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to start a home business. And with so many choices for direct sales companies, it may be a very good option for an entrepreneurial teen.

What is direct sales?

In direct sales, products or services are sold by an independent sales person rather than distributed through retail locations (stores). We are really talking about the party plan companies, where products are sold at home parties and through other direct sales methods including online sales, fundraisers, and craft fairs and flea markets. Direct sales consultants earn a commission for each sale to their customers. Commissions are usually calculated as a percentage of the product’s price as set by the company.

Is direct sales right for you?

The big advantage of choosing to become a direct sales consultant is that the company handles many of the more daunting tasks of starting and running a business, while you concentrate on selling. You set your own hours, control your financial investment, and decide which selling and advertising methods to use. The company takes care of inventory, shipping, credit card processing, sales taxes, and developing and printing catalogs, brochures, and other business forms. Many companies also offer an ecommerce website, extensive training and support, bonus and incentive programs, and handle customer support, refunds, and exchanges.

How to select a company

Direct sales no longer just about makeup and food storage parties. There are hundreds of choices including clothing, purses, jewelry, gourmet food, toys and books, crafts, scrapbook supplies, candles, pet products, and wellness products.

Start the selection process by thinking about who you will sell to. Who will be your customers - your target market? If you are going to do most of your selling in person your primary market will most likely be other teens. Think about what you and your friends like to buy and how much money you have to spend.

If you are going to market primarily online, you can expand your target audience a little wider, but you should still stick with selling products you like and use yourself. It’s much easier to sell something you are enthusiastic about and much easier to sell it to people you can relate to.

Some companies sell products designed specifically for teens. Avon’s Mark division and the Mineral Girlz company are two examples of cosmetic companies focusing on the teen market. Other choices that might appeal to the younger market in particular are purses, jewelry, and personalized products. Visit DirectSalesDirectories.com to find information on these and many other direct sales party plan companies.

Other factors to take into consideration when choosing a company:

• Consider choosing a consumable product (such as makeup) so you’ll have repeat customers. If you sell a product that most people will only buy once or twice you’ll continually have to find new customers.
• Can you take time off without losing your status? Some companies require a minimum monthly or quarterly sales volume in order to receive commissions. If school gets particularly busy or you have an obligation to a summer job, make sure you won’t lose your status if your sales volume drops for a period of time.
• Be sure to consider all the ongoing costs of the business. The initial starter kit is usually very affordable, but will you have to replenish samples and buy catalogs and other business tools? Also, if you are going to market online, we recommend setting up your own website (in addition to the one provided by the company) so you will have domain and hosting costs.
• Compare earnings potential, not just commission percentages. While a 40% sales commission sounds better than a 25% commission, the price of the products makes a big difference. On an average product price of $10, 40% commission is $4. On an average price of $25, 25% commission is $6.25.
• Most companies also offer incentives for consultants to recruit others to join, so there is a potential to earn additional commissions or bonuses when you build a team.
• A parent will probably have to join the company along with the teen, so talk to company executives to make sure they’ll support the arrangement. And find out if the consultant agreement and assigned customers can be transferred in case the business is turned over to the teen alone someday.
• If you intend to market primarily online, you will have the most success with your own online presence (a website, blog, or lead capture page). Many companies provide a replicated consultant website which they want you to use for all of your online efforts. The provided site is great for processing sales, but be sure the company permits the use of your own site for online marketing.

Getting Started

Once you decide on a company you will either choose or be assigned a sponsor – another consultant in the company who will help you learn the business. It can be tricky to select a sponsor. You will probably be encouraged to sign under the first company consultant you contacted, but I suggest talking with at least one other potential sponsor. Find someone that you feel will provide the type of help and support you need. In your first contact with any consultant, explain that you will be interviewing other potential sponsors from their company so she isn’t surprised and overly disappointed if you join under someone else.

After choosing a company and sponsor you will be asked to purchase a starter kit and sign an agreement which spells out each parties rights and responsibilities. In most cases the company requires that you be at least 18 years old to sign up, so a parent or guardian will need to partner with teens in their business.

The starter kit may contain products and samples, catalogs, brochures, order forms, other business forms, and training materials. Be sure you know what you are getting and whether or not the kit contents can be returned for a refund if something happens and you decide not to continue with the business. Starter kits are usually very affordable, companies often offer sign up specials, and some companies have a way for you to earn your kit.

In addition to the consultant agreement, the company will probably also provide you with written policies and procedures that you must follow in order to continue selling their products. Be sure to obtain and understand these policies before signing up to make sure your plans for running your business are in keeping with these policies. For example, some companies restrict online advertising and selling so if you plan on running your business online you will want to avoid those companies that prohibit it.

It’s Fun and Hard Work

Starting your own business is exciting, fun, and rewarding. And it’s more than financial rewards. The interpersonal and entrepreneurial skills, self-confidence, and sense of accomplishment you develop will serve you in all your future endeavors. But don’t forget, even though becoming a direct sales consultant is one of the easiest ways to get started, it takes work and perseverance to become successful.

With the right attitude, the right mentors, and the right products you can do it! Enjoy!

Resources:

• DirectSalesDirectories.com
• Advice on Choosing Your Business
• Guide to Starting a Business Selling a Popular Product: Jewelry - Download free guide here!

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Learn how Linda Stacy helps direct sales consultants generate leads and build their teams online at LindaStacy.com.

If you want to have a website, then you need to look into getting your very own domain name. Your domain name is your web address. Just like people find your house by using your address, they will find your website the same way.

There are domain names everywhere. Do you have any favorite sites? The chances are that you type in their domain name in order to get to the right page.

Some popular examples of domain names include:

• www.Google.com
• www.Amazon.com
• www.CNN.com

When you know you want to head to any of those websites, you type their domain name into your web browser.

You can get your own domain name too! It’s actually a lot easier than you think. There are many different services to choose from. The good news is that you can buy your very own domain name for under $10.

First things first, you need to know how to go about choosing your domain name. Your name is something that should stick with people so they remember how to get to your site. It’s also helpful to think about how your domain name will show up in a search engine like Google. The better your domain name, the more traffic (or, site visitors) you will get.

Here are the steps to choosing a domain name:

1. Why do you want the name in the first place? Is it for a hobby, business, personal blog, celebrity or TV show fan site? The name you choose should reflect its purpose.

2. Do you want the search engines to “understand” what your site is about? When you do a search in Google you type in what is called a keyword. Google then pulls up WebPages that are related to the keyword you’ve typed. Sometimes, registering a domain name that is similar to the keyword can help you show up higher in the search engines (which is a very good thing!). So, if you are creating a site about doll clothes you might purchase the domain, www.awesomedollclothes.com

3. Do you mind if your domain name has a .com, .net, .org or other extension? These are called “Top Level Domains” and can make a difference. If you can register a .com it is usually better since that is what people remember the most. The others are just fine, and you might have to get one of the others if someone else has already bought the one you really wanted.

After you’ve chosen your perfect domain name, it’s time to register it. There are many different places where you can register your domain. Many of these have very good service, so your choice might come down to where you can get the best deal.

Here are some options:

• GoDaddy
• Namecheap
• Dynadot
• Yahoo Domains

After you register your domain name it will show up in your domain account. After that you will need to have the domain name point to your web host so your website can show up. This is called changing the DNS settings, and your domain registrar will have detailed instructions on how to do that.

Buying your first domain name is a very exciting process. You’ll finally have your own place on the web! It’s also easier and cheaper than you think, so get started today.

Many people love to make crafts. There is something very satisfying about making something yourself. It is soothing as well as entertaining. Did you know that you can also make money with your crafts?

This is one of the best ways to combine something you love doing and would do anyway with a way to make a profit. There are so many people out there who love to buy things handmade, and are willing to pay a premium to do so.

The first thing you need to do is decide what kind of craft you want to sell. If you’ve been crafting for a while then the chances are good that you’ve already picked out the kind of crafts you want to make. If you have never made a craft or just aren’t sure what will sell, here are some common examples:

• Jewelry (check out this site on getting started)
• Soaps
• Candles
• Dolls and doll clothing
• Decorations
• Holiday items
• Knitted or crocheted items
• Wedding or party favors
• Cards
• Journals or scrapbooks

It is not hard to get started selling making these things. You can learn how to start a craft by researching the one that you are interested in. There are many resources available on the Internet complete with diagrams and pictures to help you. If you’d rather have a resource that you can look at and hold in your hand, your local craft store probably has some options. Our local “Joann’s” craft store even holds classes on a regular basis. Don’t forget your local library, too.

It’s very important that you do several test runs before you put any of your crafts out on the market. You need to make sure that you understand how to make the craft well and that it’s up to the quality that people appreciate when they pay good money.

After you’re sure you’ve got the knack for making your chosen craft down, you need to figure out how much to charge people. First of all, you definitely need to charge more than you are paying to get the materials. You also need to factor in the time it takes you to make the item. It’s a good idea to see how much other people are selling similar items for so you know what the market is like.

A great place to look at other people’s prices and get inspired yourself is http://www.etsy.com. Etsy is a marketplace where people post their homemade goods for sale on the Internet. You can even set up your own little Etsy shop selling your goods online.

If you’d like, you can also create your own website to sell your handmade goods. Look at your different options to see what you like better and what makes the most sense for you to do.

While you can sell a lot of crafts online, you don’t want to forget about selling them locally as well. Many towns have craft bazaars where you can take your crafts to sell in your own booth. These can be a lot of fun! Of course, don’t forget your friends and family.

Making and selling crafts is very fulfilling because you can make money doing something you really love to do. Do your research to see how much you should sell your crafts for and where, and you’ll be ready to go in no time.

Are you hoping you’ve got your own Bill Gates in the making in your home? As a parent you can probably tell pretty easily whether or not the entrepreneurial spirit is evident in your child. Some kids make it very obvious that the regular nine-to-five will not be a part of their future. For others, you might need to investigate a bit further to see.

Ask these simple questions about your teen to see if your teen has the entrepreneurial spirit. If your answer is “yes” to one or more, you probably do.

1. Does she ask what she can do to earn more allowance? Is she willing to take on jobs around the house instead of hanging out at the mall with her pals? Does she do her chores and work with vigor and excellence?

2. Did she have the best lemonade stand on the block? Did she go the extra mile to make sure that her stand was profitable and her product and service brought back customers over and over again?

3. Does she value flexibility and independence more than the “sure thing” of an hourly job? Does she make comments about wanting something “more” than just flipping burgers or selling pink t-shirts?

4. Does she work well on her own? In her free time is she thinking of other ways to make money or start a business? When you give her a job or chore around the house does she jump in and do it quickly and efficiently?

5. Is she a self-learner? ? Does she spend time researching and reading for her schoolwork and outside of that? Does she enjoy finding out more about how to use the computer to her advantage?

If, indeed, you do have a young entrepreneur budding in your midst, you might want to start her off now in a business of her own even now, before the college bills start piling up! It will serve her well now and in the future!

Joelle Davidson welcomes you to http://www.showkidsthemoney.com where you’ll find plenty of free information to help your kids start their own businesses.

It’s not big news that teens are often much more tech-savvy than many adults. Truth is, many small business owners don’t even know where to begin and therefore will not be advertising that they need help in this department. Why not check out some of the local businesses in your town? You can begin by doing a search to see if they even have a web presence. Grab your home-town newspaper and see who is advertising. Read local articles featuring small businesses in your area.

Start with a local restaurant - perhaps your favorite pizza joint. Does it have a website? Was it easy to find? Can you easily get a phone number, hours, directions, and a menu? Does your town have it’s own website? If so, is there a listing of local businesses? Is it listed there? If not, you may have a golden opportunity awaiting you.

Web designers can charge thousands of dollars to create a website, but with today’s technology, spending that much money may not be necessary. Buying a domain, inexpensive web-hosting, and creating a simple site or blog can be well-worth the investment.

You don’t have to know everything to begin, but you do have to have some basic skills. If you’ve never done a blog or site before, summer is the perfect time to try! Remember, starting a business is going to take some work on your end but if you put in a little work up front, you won’t have to be fighting for the few-and-far between camp jobs that every other teen in town is applying for.

Sales.

For many, it is a scary word. Most people hate to be cornered by a pushy salesperson. Nobody wants to be convinced to buy something. Why the fear? Most likely, you are afraid of rejection. Afraid that someone will say no. A good business is built around a product or service that people want or need. When you truly believe in your product, the fear lessens. With each sale, you will become more and more confident and selling becomes easier.

What are you going to sell? If you don’t want to sell anything, then you need to find a job where someone will pay you to work for them. You can then do your work and not be bothered with sales.

If you want your own business, you are going to have to sell something. It might be a product that you’ve created. It might be someone else’s product that you buy and mark up. You could also sell someone else’s product and be paid a commission (a percentage) for bringing in the sale. Another option - sell your services.

Selling can be really fun, especially if you are a kid or teen. Honestly, kids like to buy things from other kids! The truth is, adults also like to buy from kids. Grown-ups love to see kids that have energy and enthusiasm enough to try to earn money. They respect a good work ethic. Try offering your services to an adult and watch what happens.  Think of those times when you have purchased something.  I’m sure you’ve seen a friend selling candy for a team fundraiser - how hard is it to make a sale?  What can you sell and where?

• Are you going to sell your own product?

• Are you going to sell someone else’s product?

• Are you going to sell your services?

Once you’ve chosen a business, you can then work on how you can sell…and have fun doing it. What do you have to lose?

Choosing a business idea often comes from frustrations in your own world. We started Pre-wrap.com because we couldn’t find colored pre-wrap in our local area. Seventeen-year old Celeste discovered that finding a job is not an easy task for a teen. She learned that lesson quickly when she ventured out to find work. She realized that she didn’t even know where to begin! The whole job world was open to her, which was a bit overwhelming and even intimidating. She sought help from her older brothers who have earned paychecks doing everything from mowing lawns to serving ice cream, but soon expanded her questioning to a broader circle of acquaintances.

Celeste decided to help her friends by passing on what she learned about first jobs to others through myfirstpaycheck.com. It is a slow process but Celeste and Austin are constantly trying to make the site better. Along with job, internship, and volunteer opportunities, Myfirstpaycheck.com provides advice and resources, including a dynamic resume builder, to help young people have a more successful job application process.

Myfirstpaycheck.com is also a valuable resource for companies searching for an online outlet to hire temporary, seasonal and part-time employees.

Keep checking myfirstpaycheck.com for job advice and job postings for teens like you, and please feel free to pass on any suggestions you have. You can get some tips about your first job and help a teen entrepreneur grow her business! Check it out today!