[FutureCEO]

hey, I am 14 and I want to start a little side business that I can do in my neighborhood to keep me busy over the summer. It is a low income area so I am looking for an inexpensive good or service that I can offer. Any Ideas?

[IDALeaders]

what city do you live in that would make the difference, are you in a rural area, suburban, or inner city etc. The first thing to do is to do market analysis, what is something that would appeal to the people of your local demographics. once you get some ideas on what people in your area need or want based on income level and location you can start to put together a plan. Failure is another name for a business without a plan.

Ryan
live free, debt free

[RLorenzen]

If you want to do something local and not online then what about something like yard cleaning, lawn mowing or dog walking? Of course, if you're in a city than the first two ideas are out but the third one would work great.

P.S. I sent you a PM

[RickyCeez]

RLorenzen has a great point, but who knows you may live somewhere in the sticks where every house comes every mile. If your interested in online sales the key is DISCOUNT. With the way our economy is today, people JUST WANT TO SAVE. My advice to you is to get a small job, then save every penny, then make a purchase from a wholesale distributor like me and maybe take the inventory to a local flea market ( Discounts ALWAYS sell). Or on ebay and such.

The key to business is starting small, you never wanna jump the gun becuase that always leads to failure. So if you already have money to invest my advice is to look for discount clothing beucase with the way our ecnomy is, thats the way to go.

If you have any other specific questions you can email me at Sales@RickyCeezImports.com

[davebs]

On the weekends, setup a couple car washes (one on each side of town maybe) and say you'll donate a portion of the profits (as in after you pay your employees and yourself) to charity. Try to get a gas station to let you setup shop and tell them it will be great promotion for their business. That way you can hit people up while they're getting gas. Have a tiered pricing setup where it's like 10 for a basic wash, 15 for some other stuff, and 20 for the full deal. You might have to give some money to the gas station owner (or attendant). Get your peers to work for you by telling them they can put it on their resume and it will help them get into college, then pay them 8 bucks an hour (or whatever the minimum wage is in your state). You'll pocket at least a couple hundred bucks a day which isn't bad for 14.

Alternatively, you could go around your neighborhood offering window washing services, but you won't make as much as you will with the car wash. Alternatively, you could also get a job at a burger/ice cream place or something, but you won't make much money at all.

[raydonahh]

I am a owner of a mobile car wash & detailing business. I started my business from friends and family. I started when I was in high school and now I work with around 30 clients around town. Car wash will be a easy start up business for a 14 year old, but you will still have to do your research of your area and know about washing cars. Because you dont want to mess up on clients car and have to paying for it.

[SVargo]

Hi FutureCEO. A good idea that I'd really would like that someone in my neighbourhood would do is that maybe every Sunday you go to the local baker and just buy fresh bread and then you walk around and knock doors to sell, sell it for just 50% more or something. I bet you, it's the best. Fresh new bread on a Sunday would be just perfect. Or bake it yourself. ;P

[TIM_S_JR]

The selling bread thing is a good idea but you run into some of the legal things like resale without the owners consent or making it yourself you run into health issues that you are going to need a license for. I currently sell a variety of items that i sell retail and wholesale. If you would like i could send you some information on it. Just send me you shipping address to me at schaefersgifts@hotmail.com

[zharlene]

TIM_S_JR has made a good point. Fortunately, you're 14 - so nobody would file a law suit against you, especially your neighbours. I would love to have bread delivered to me too, and I'd pay extra for it! So you might want to try that out or something similar.

But at this point, I firmly believe 14 year olds come up with the best ideas!

[RLorenzen]

Originally Posted by TIM_S_JR

The selling bread thing is a good idea but you run into some of the legal things like resale without the owners consent or making it yourself you run into health issues that you are going to need a license for. I currently sell a variety of items that i sell retail and wholesale. If you would like i could send you some information on it. Just send me you shipping address to me at schaefersgifts@hotmail.com

I don't think health issues would be a problem and I wouldn't worry about a lawsuit. That would be like someone suing an eleven year old's lemonade stand.

[wake58]

FutureCEO,

I am glad to see you are getting started so early. I am 21 and it is awesome that you are so far ahead. The bread idea is great, and I don't think you will ever face legal issues at your age. PM me and we will talk and work out some ideas. If you like the bread idea, which I think is awesome, then here are some ideas for it. Find out where to buy fresh great bread, ask your mom or dad to help you. Then go buy ten loafs for your first day. If you buy them from a place that has their name on the bag they come in you may want to think about repackaging them, like paper bags. Then put them in a cooler (no ice of course), this will keep them warm. Then go door to door, but ask those who buy if they would like for you to come back. Take down their name, address, and the amount they want, and on what days. Also always make sure to call your customers by name and treat them really nicely.

Remember PM me I have plenty more ideas for you!