The Teenage Entrepreneur’s Guide: 50 MONEY-MAKING BUSINESS IDEAS by Sarah Riehm (Surrey: $8.95, paperback; 222 pp.)
If junior shudders and mumbles “prison” when you mention getting a salaried job at McPickles or some such, you might want to stand in front of the television set holding a copy of “The Teenage Entrepeneur’s Guide” as a possible employment alternative.
Sarah Riehm has had ample hands-on experience with teen-age entrepreneurship. Currently teaching business communications and international finance, as a college student she helped originate several employment ventures, including a student book store, two restaurants, a bus system, a legal service and a record shop.
The subtitle on this 222-page paperback reads “50 Money-making Business Ideas,” and most are original and excellent. For example, many busy parents would welcome a responsible teen-ager coming to the door offering low-cost bicycle repair, complete with free pickup and delivery.
Riehm sets up the “Bicycle Repair” chapter in her usual organized fashion:
Job Description: Bike mechanic
Personal Traits Required: Mechanical aptitude
Experience Required: A proven ability to repair most bike problems.
Materials Required: Basic tools, lubricants, tire pump, tire patches.
Marketing Method: Door-to-door flyers, posters
Expected Wages: $5 per hour and up.
Following each preliminary description are two to three pages of well-researched suggestions on where to go for advice, exactly what equipment is needed, how to estimate job time, comparison wages of professionals, ways to advertise the service and even the best time of year to begin touting your wares. For example, Riehm states, “In the spring, offer a special ‘Spring Service Check’ for a package price.
A good number of the entrepreneurial jobs seem aimed at the older teen-ager, as painting houses, alternative newspaper, typing service, computer consultant, although “Personalized Greeting Cards,” “Recycling,” “House Numbers,” “Clowning Around,” and “Party Helpers” would certainly be applicable to the younger set.
While it’s entirely possible some parents of pre-16-year-olds would feel entirely comfortable when their child is self-employed as a “Super Baby-Sitter--Parents’ Weekend Out”; others would feel it necessary to hover someplace in the background, “just in case.” The same caution applies to “Home Improvement--Safety and Energy Efficiency” where the author mentions installing weather stripping, insulation batting, smoke detectors and burglar alarms, among other household devices.
There is also very little mention of liability in most of the chapters. It’s difficult enough not to be a worry-wart these days, without adding a teen-age self-designed venture of “Chauffeur Service,” “General Errand Service,” or a “Courier Delivery Service.” Unfortunately the author, who is admirably thorough about bookkeeping procedures and IRS reporting, neglects to mention even one phone call to an auto insurance company about what happens to rates when a car is used as a business vehicle, particularly if it’s used to transport people for pay.
So much of this book is worthwhile reading for adults as well as for teen-agers, that it could almost be realistically entitled, “Entry-level Entrepreneurship for People age 16 through age 96.” Homemakers and retirees will find many usable income-augmenting ideas in at least 25 of the 50 money-making ventures, including tutoring, ventures for mail order, singing telegrams, house sitting, home bakery and birthday party service.
A caution: Because this book has “teen-ager” in its title, don’t expect easy reading. There are some fairly good-size words, long sentences and long paragraphs. If Riehm ever does a second edition, she might want to consider using cartoon-type graphics to liven up the pages, especially in this generation where youngsters are accustomed to video visuals.
While there are some minor glitches, this book has some excellent suggestions for starting up a part-time, home-based business, at minimal cost. As mentioned, advice is applicable to older folk as well as teen-agers.
