I need some suggestions !

**Yamna** · 08-23-2006 01:37 PM

Hey

I've recently been hearing a lot about teenagers running successful businesses and I've really started to consider starting my own business. I looked up the internet on business Ideas for teenagers and all of them don't suit me. Here's why:

Im thirteen years old so I dont really have much experience and ability to make proper products. Another thing is that I cant do business online either, because I'm too young for a credit card.
I live in dubai where everybody in my neighborhood are like sooo stinking rich and they have like a hundred butlers and maids So starting a service business is totally out of the question. And most of my neighbors are pretty old and dont speak english so i dont really know any (I forgot to mention that I'm an expatriate)
Quiet Neighborhood Most people in my neighborhood are quite old, so they dont go out much and people in dubai are also really lazy so no1 walks anywhere- they go by car , so Sidewalk sales, lemonade stands , garage sales dont work

So what kind of a business can I start with an Investment of about $300 with my condition. Please help!!

**CreativeS** · 08-23-2006 01:49 PM

Buy and resell oil...

**noname** · 08-23-2006 02:18 PM

Dig for oil in ur back garden

**archiebolo** · 08-23-2006 02:40 PM

The stories you hear about teen agers being successful in their own business are only about the few who have a really good idea and very good conecpt on how to make it work.

so if your 13 and your asking people what you should do for your own business, just dont bother and go to school and get a summer job somewhere.

if you need someone to tell you what you should start your business on... your on the wrong track. get of the train and get on the right one.

**adrizzle** · 08-23-2006 02:41 PM

Like you say they are really rich and lazy, so think of a service that will save them time because there lazy and then since they are rich they will pay you for it. I would say lawn mowing or grocery shopping for them.

**adrizzle** · 08-23-2006 02:44 PM

If those dont interest you then look at my website below, we our looking for distributors. The first package is $3, second is $30 and the third is $200. We sell free vacation certificates to businesses to increase sales, non-profits to raise money, and just ordinary people looking for a vacation.

**shawnman19** · 08-23-2006 02:45 PM

The Dubai stock exchange is one of the best new exchanges in the world. I think there index had an increase of like 75% last year, and is up over 50% this year. If you can't find any good opertunities for your money, its a pretty good bet on the Dubai stock exchange.

I know all the people in Dubai are super rich, right? So you have to cater to that fact. Think of things that rich people with huge disposable incomes would want that they don't have. Probably things from the US that they can't get there, like electronics, DVDs, and blonde haired women.

**cgleason** · 08-24-2006 01:37 AM

Hey Yamna,

You're right...Dubai is a crazy rich place to live. Luckily for you the US culture is in love with it. Dubai is like heaven for any US car fan 16-25 years old. I'm just throwing an idea out there for you. Buy yourself a semi-nice camcorder capable of taking both quality pictures and video. Start an automotive forum centered around Dubai. Go around your city and take pictures and video of all the exotic cars, etc. You'll be amazed how interested people will be. Do a little research in some US automotive forums and see how many hits the threads have when there are pictures of Zondas, Ferraris, Carrera GTs, etc. Once you start getting the hits to your site there is quite a bit of money to be made through affiliate programs. In the meantime enjoy being a kid and have fun at that giant indoor ski slope I saw on TV

Good luck

**Yamna** · 08-25-2006 10:55 PM

LOOOL thanx you guys , those were great ideas....except for Oil Thingy

and Adrizzle, Like I said - they alll have people to mow their lawns and do their grocery shopping. My local friends actually have people to clean their rooms and carry their bags :S. And also since the laborers in dubai are pretty cheap (they are from poverted countries), all the expatriates at least have a maid.

But CGLEASON, your idea was really good and im actually considering it - but I'll need a credit card to make money off the internet right? And Im only thirteen. Is there any other way?

**NeeJam** · 08-25-2006 11:14 PM

13 easy! You can easily set up an online business all you have to do is get your parents permission to use hteir info but you pay them the money before you actually do it or during when you are donig it i.e hosting, domain name etc.

Also as dubai is the world's largest construction site you could sell food to the workers, you could buy it from a local shop/make it yourself and sell them them!

**chopper** · 08-26-2006 08:20 AM

I am 16, and my second business was online. I don't know why you think you have to have a credit card to set up a website.
If you go about things in the right way, you can set up a business and be earning money with no start up fees at all!
In your position i would say a website is the easiest way to go, however the problem with websites is that you will probobly not be earning very much money from it, unless you have an online shop.
Where you live you say everybody is rich..so that means they have lots of expendable income for luxury items, as opposed to poorer places that will only have expendable income for necesary items. If you want to start a business selling, or producing a product, you will sell more luxury items. So try and focus your product on luxury items. Also luxury items tend to have a higher profit margin, so not only will you sell more in volume but each unit will have a higher profit margin-----more money!
But even if you choose not to be a product orientated business or an online business...when thinking of a business, remember all businesses provide a service.. If your business idea does not provide a service then you have no business. This may be implied if say somebody likes playing football, and they want to make a business from that, they will have to mould the idea so that they are providing a service exchangable for money.

Take it from me, i started a clothing business when i was 13, that was my first business..you can take advantage of your age and use to to take liberties! Don't see your age as a problem..see it as a huge advantage that you have over other people older!

**bizkid2007** · 02-27-2007 10:08 PM

Have you ever considered starting a grass cutting business?

There is a site I came across that I recommend often. Its a site from a guy who started a grass cutting business when he was just 13.

Anyway, I dont know if you have already finalized what business you want to do but you should check it out.

If you're interested in a grass cutting business you should visit:

www.howtostartalawncarebusiness.com

**Bestmiler** · 02-27-2007 10:21 PM

Yeah, like everyone is saying, if they are lazy then a lawn mowing business would be great. Also, you can walk their pets or rake leaves, etc.

**FormPay** · 02-27-2007 10:33 PM

Dubai if full of rich people. so take advantage of that. They are willing to pay alot for things they want and are not availible to them locally. For example, when i went to grand cayman (Full of millionaires) they had a mobile phone store that sold a phone called the nokia 8800. This phone sells for about $500-600 brand new in the US. However There, people were paying $950 for it.

Also, as for the online business. If you parents have a credit card but do not want you to use it, you may want to look into buying a virtual prepaid debit card.

Edit: As for lawn care, do you live near the palm islands? if so alot of those houses have owners who don't live in Dubai. That might be a great market for you as they will have to have some one upkeep their lawn. along with some other things.

**kazisdaman** · 02-28-2007 01:59 AM

"Im thirteen years old so I dont really have much experience and ability to make proper products. Another thing is that I cant do business online either, because I'm too young for a credit card."

You are not too young, you can co-sign with partners.

Don't let a little credit card get in the way of big opportunites, you can make it work. Don't say I'm to young, say how can I.

Just do something, and fail abunch, and you shall succeed, just get started on something at age 13, start the process.