Im 13 years old and I want to start a bussiness...? -

My friend and I really want to earn money to save up on things we really like. I am a a fairly good artist, and I always wanted to create a comic book series. I need a certain software and tools for that. I also want to save money for college, or maybe a future car. My family can t get all that, so my friend and I decided to start a business! Today, we brainstormed a lot of ideas and we both realized that we had good gardening skills. So we wanted to do yard service. A few hours later, I found out that it can be difficult to maintain a business, and I was worried that people won t take us seriously. Besides, I m a short person, so people might think I m a clueless kid. I want to be a businesswoman when I grow up, and I want to look back at this when I m 30 and knowing that I was a serious, hardworking girl. I would also know that this is where I started, and I can look at my successful business in the future. My problem is, I don t know the right way to advertise, how much money I should charge, how to deal with stingy people, how to make this all work! I m also having trouble on what we should name our business. We both have different names and if I try to combine them, it will look like a mutant heap of letters. Of course, I m not going to call this Amanda s Yard Service (My names Amanda) because what about Izzy, my friend? As for advertising, should we print out fliers and put them in every mailbox in our neighborhood? We don t have colored ink! Or should we advertise in a different way? Oh, and our yard service offers lawn mowing, weed pulling, grass and bush trimming, plant watering, and everything that your yard would want! We have all the tools we need for this, and we love nature so it would be nice to care for it. We are thinking about charging two dollars to mow a small lawn and three dollars to mow a big lawn. We want our prices to be cheap because that will attract customers, and the economy isn t doing well (at least that s what the president says, I m not very fond with economy) and since we re just young teens, people aren t gonna pay thirty bucks per lawn. And how do I deal with stingy and rude people? I m really stressed about this and I need to know the ins and outs and pros and cons of what I m about to endure. I m hardworking, determined, skilled, creative, and my friend is to. So if you don t feel like writing much, then just give me a useful website in which I can refer to. (Not the ones with popping, flashing, ads and/or outdated and bad info.) I will take the time to read all of your answers! Please, please. I am in desperate need of help! I really appreciate those of you who took the time to acknowledge my question and hand me a great answer. PS: Even after we get enough money for what we need, my friend says that she doesn t want to do it anymore after wards. But I think that we should keep on doing the business, as it will be educational and we can save up for more money to get more things. How do I convince her to do this? And also, for example, if someone wanted us to do their lawn for two dollars, should we include that they pay us each? As in, they pay me two dollars and Izzy two dollars, so instead, they actually pay four dollars? Or should it be that they pay us two dollars and we split the profit and each of us have one dollar? Do you agree with our pricing? Do you think we should reduce it or increase it? Oh, and our pricing should be an even number so we can split the money. Please, I really want to know!Thank You! :)

The length and intensity of your note really shows your seriousness. I think if you keep putting that kind of focus into your business efforts, you ll do well.You seem to be stressed because you want to know too much at once. You won t learn all these things instantly. It will take time. Take a breath and cut yourself some slack.Yard work can be hard, but it s a good start for a young person. Don t do anything for $2, though! That s tip money. In my neighborhood, the kids charge $50 just to blow and bag leaves (a good gig in N. America right now).You might try posting your fliers at public bulletin boards like a laundromats and such. Include phone number tear-offs and state a price range, by yard size or types of work.Your best advertising will be a good reputation. Do some yards well and ask your customers for referrals to friends. You seem to be reasonably Internet savvy. As you get more so, I suggest looking at ways to earn money using the web. That s what I do for a living, in fact. You would need some help from someone older, but if you, say make craft items, they could be posted for sale on a site like Etsy.com.I know a lady who has her 13 year daughter help her with her Internet business helping with time-consuming tasks like website updating. Hone your writing and computer skills and there are many such possible opportunities that a teen could do. There are websites that list small contract jobs and web business forums always have people looking for help.I ve known quite a few successful businesspersons and I don t recall any who were as determined as you are at such a young age. I think you can achieve your goals.

Hey, ya Deep in thought pretty much covered it but you may want to listen to me because I m Jewish lol my dad is a very successful business man he put like 800 shares in stocks for coca cola ha ha we are living on the high on the hog now. But anyways you should cut a small lawn for 6$ or 8$ and a Report Abuse

bigger lawn for 10-12 you and your friend need to wear gloves tho because i forgot to and i have this huge blister on my hand not pretty. I too am doing the same as you because I want an xbox 360 but my dad says i need the money upfront so far i got 50 but keep doing yard work and stuff you will get Report Abuse

it in no time trust me. well hope i covered everything bye, oh and one more thing don t ever get into a fight with your friend because the business will go downhill then ppl will be calling you and then you won t be able to recover but ya good plan hope that works out for you bye. -Jordan Report Abuse

99.99% of business fails.Read a book called rich dad, poor dad

First off, you need to consider that the cost of fuel for your mower would be around what you are currently thinking of making your rate. That would not allow for wear and tear on the mower (blade needs sharpening regularly, etc).Then think about what happens when a rock gets sent through a window after being hit by the mower blade. How would you pay for the window replacement? These are serious, REAL WORLD questions you haven t thought of and you need to make allowances for things of this sort. Saying you will be very careful is one thing - actually doing it is another.Starting a business is serious business. Advertising actually costs money. It is ILLEGAL for you to place anything in a mailbox that hasn t been postage paid - this is a FEDERAL crime.Think about all of the things that could go wrong, and figure out a way you WILL BE ABLE to handle those situation IF they arise. Most business owners carry millions of dollars of insurance. If you doubt ANYTHING I ve posted here, feel free to search the internet to prove me wrong.