What Does It Take?

Selling golf balls on my local golf course.  Washing cars during the summer.  Making and selling key hooks.  Designing websites.

These are just some of the entrepreneurial things I was doing before I reached 16.  I wasn't the first child to do these things, and I certainly won't be the last.

Being entrepreneurial isn't something that's taught in schools.  The education system tends to stifle this creativity.  

The skills needed to start and run a business are no less valuable than those taught in the classroom.

Marketing is essentially story telling.  Managing finances is about maths and computing.  Designing a website is computing and art.

Every step of setting up and running a business involves topics taught in schools.  It also includes things that are not taught there, though.

The ability to deal with people, critical thinking, financial literacy to name just three.

By encouraging your child to think about running their own business you can ensure that they learn these skills.  Even if the business never actually takes off, the planning, budgeting, designs, and marketing skills will still have been gained.

There are loads of things your child can do to run their own business.  Far more than would have been possible for us at that age.  

Encourage your child to think about the skills they have that others may pay for.  Maybe they're a whiz at setting up a website or editing videos.  Perhaps they have a flair for making jewellery or even cakes.  

The basis for the business is less important than the process. It does need to be something that will hold their attention, though.

Understand the skills and tools they need to deliver the product or service.

Consider who would buy their service, and how they can become aware of it.  Maybe flyers in local shops, adverts online, or leaflets through letterboxes.

Think about how much this service or product is worth to that person and how to price it.

These are the basic considerations for every small business, regardless of the age of the owner, and these are the skills your child will learn in the Business Kidz programme.

Find out more and sign up at www.businesskidz.co.uk