Really need a business idea/way to make money part time

**Smiz** · 10-04-2009 11:39 AM

Hello

I am 18. I really want to run a business to make money for college because my parents can't afford to support me.

I don't know what to do. I want a real business, I've done the piano tutor and lawn mowing type stuff but it just wasn't what I wanted to do.

How do I come up with ideas?

Thanks

**myfayt** · 10-04-2009 01:10 PM

The first thing you need to answer is the following questions.

1. What do you like doing? (hobbies, everyday life, etc)
2. What do you have knowledge in?
3. Anything you don't want to be involved in? (food, alcohol, medical, etc)

**ktmurf** · 10-04-2009 02:58 PM

This is not an easy decission to make, and it's quite hard to come up with good ideas. Especially if you only have just a handful of things that interest you. I've found that to be sucessful on my own, sometimes I have to step into an area that I'm not all that crazy about.

Remember, doing something you don't like, on your own is still better than doing something that you don't like, for someone else.

**hippie_wantab** · 10-04-2009 09:47 PM

The new trend in business it to get away from the businesses that just make money. Now, don't get me wrong, money is good! I personally like money very much, but your business can do so much more.

For me, I wanted a business that would be enviornmentally responsible and help others to be environmentally responsible (aka. green) too.

**jmeijers** · 10-05-2009 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by hippie_wantab

The new trend in business it to get away from the businesses that just make money. Now, don't get me wrong, money is good! I personally like money very much, but your business can do so much more.

For me, I wanted a business that would be enviornmentally responsible and help others to be environmentally responsible (aka. green) too.

Sorry, I disagree here. In economically difficult times, people tend to not want green products (on a large scale, maybe small initiatives work though). An article about this was placed in HBS magazine which I read (couple months ago).

Anyway, as people said, it is hard to come up with a good idea. It is even harder to make a good idea into a good business. And it is even harder to do it in a very short time frame. If any 18 year old could start a business that easily to pay for college, everyone would be doing it.

Personally, I spent years learning (i.e. failing). I still fail at a lot of things I do. That is life. Don't buy into people who sell you success guaranteed. Okay, so much for the disclaimer

If you are still serious about it, the advice to do something with what you like and have knowledge of is the soundest advice you'll get. Don't hop into a type of business because you think you can make a lot of money (because others are making tons in it). The truth is that you can make millions with whatever you do, so long as you like it.

If I can recommend some reading you might consider 'The E-Myth Revisited' by Michael E. Gerber and (if you're ready for it, you do seem very young for this one) 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen R. Covey. The latter is a book I am not 100% sure of will be effective to you, it is basically good if you are very serious about learning the game of life and needs a hefty dose of life experience (which I cannot judge you on).

I do hope you strike luck and hit it off, making millions within a year. I am just telling you that it doesn't work that way for most businesses. Most entrepreneurs work very hard for very little, only to become successful later on in life.

**myfayt** · 10-05-2009 08:51 AM

I love how many different opinions there are. Good to know we aren't all the same.

**hippie_wantab** · 10-05-2009 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by jmeijers

Sorry, I disagree here. In economically difficult times, people tend to not want green products (on a large scale, maybe small initiatives work though). An article about this was placed in HBS magazine which I read (couple months ago).

If you're from the traditional business mind (like Harvard Business School) then yes I could see that you'd be thinking that green would be more costly to the consumer and thus, they'd be less likely to buy it in tough times.

Clorox launched it's GreenWorks line during the recession and it has been doing ok. And some natural products actually cost LESS then regular formula (not Clorox, but some smaller brands) so that would help with consumer sales in a tough time.

But what I was talking about was more the trend of younger business people wanting more out of life in general. Our business for-fathers had just one goal for business... to make money. There is (whether HBS admits it or not) that the new upcoming (though perhaps not yet established) business person wants to make money and also make the world a better place.

I was not meaning to suggest that our young information seeker MUST go into some kind of enviornmental or socially focused business in order to be successfull, only that definitions of success are developing to entale other areas of fulfilment.

That's all

PS> good reading suggestions

**rillida** · 10-06-2009 08:02 AM

Hi !

I feel you should share more about yourself and your personality before asking for advice.
Each person is different and not everyone can do the same job equally efficiently.
So, pls tell more about yourself, your strengths, weaknesses, your behavior, your personality, your interests,etc.

Only then an advice would really have that special helpful for you.

**allrelative** · 10-07-2009 12:15 AM

here is what you have to answer..

Why should people give you THEIR money?

**Jenna** · 10-07-2009 09:41 AM

Paid surveys are a great ways to make some extra money in your spare time and also it can be a full time work. All you have to do is filling up in paid surveys. In filling in paid surveys it’s not about making up answers but it’s about your honest response to a product or service.

**bizman2789** · 10-07-2009 12:11 PM

Start an ebay business. Some friends of mine have made thousands selling friends old Ipods and sell phones.

**Marvinm** · 10-07-2009 01:14 PM

Hi. As you said you are new to business. So asking how to come up with ideas should not be your primary directive right now. Bellieve me.
When I was new to this, all I wanted was the "get rich fast" techniques. But after trying a couple of them and not seeing the results I realized that I was missing an entire foundation of how it works in my head. After learning the basics I got back to those techniques. And you know what? This time they started to make sence and even work.(because i did not have the basic knowlege my mind could not understand the techniques)
So by saying "how do I come up with ideas" i hear - give me the techniques that i could go and make a lot of money fast. (by not knowing marketing and other important things)
I think you are asking it also because you dont understand that it is not the "idea" that makes most of the money. (don't get me wrong, if you have a great idea it will give different results). But when you are just starting you don't need it because you wont know what to do with it.

So I agree with jmeijers about first doing some reading. What I recommend is - "Napoleon Hill - Think and Gow rich" (this book is a must for anyone who is starting or has a business. It will change you mind set). Well the basic litterature about business you can find on the internet for free.