advice about starting a small business?(:

[cbitw_1023]

For anyone who has recently started a small business, or even for someone who hasn't, but has a few ideas-I am 15 years old, and trying to start my own business. How can I get people to take me seriously at such a young age? and where do I even begin?

Let me know any ideas that you have. They are greatly appreciated.(:
Thanks!

[Bugman]

Online or offline? The trick for webpages is having great content but don't answer the question they came to your website for so that they click one of your ads.

Picking a business is a lot like picking a job, go with what you like but also look at the money. If a business has a cost of goods sold over 25% you'll generally need a lot of startup capital.

At 15 what you should do is investigate the business you want to open and go work for someone else for at least 4 years first.

[KennethFoo]

Welcome aboard! glad to know that at this young age you already have the passion to start your own business.

First of all it's not easy for people to take you seriously because of your age. I know people who run business also at the young age of yours gets turn away by customers when they find out how old he is. The thing is don't let these people pull your down, if your stuff is really good people will like it and will be willing to pay you. Also, you have to know your services / products well and able to explain it clearly to your customers. Make yourself looks and sounds like a pro, it helps.

Where do you start? Find out what you want your business to looks like and what's your business goals. I'm not sure what your are interested in, perhaps you can start by selling things on eBay and see how's the respond.

[Wayne Liew]

There will be always people out there, either potential business partners, suppliers or customers, that look down on young entrepreneurs. However, this shouldn't be an excuse.

You should be confident of yourself and make sure that you know your stuffs (understand the products or services that you offer and your target market).

Some of the things that you can do in order to make adults take you seriously are improve your communication skills, present yourself professionally and start exposing yourself to how people around do business.

As a start, you can join social networking sites for business professionals, small business owners or entrepreneurs such as YE, LinkedIn and Twitter. Through these channels, learn how people communicate their ideas and test the water yourself.

If possible, try attending local trade shows, conferences and Chamber of Commerce meetings. At first, you may receive odd perceptions by other participants but as long as you communicate your expertise well, others will start to take you seriously.