Starting a Micro Business (for Teens)Leah Walton2021-05-25T12:41:20-04:00

Welcome to Our Homeschool Curriculum on How to Become a Teenage Entrepreneur: Starting a Micro Business

Is your young entrepreneur ready to start his or her own business? Starting a Micro Business for Teens teaches eighth through twelfth grade students what a micro business is and the steps it takes to start one. This eight-week course guides students through such things as generating ideas for a micro business that uses their talents and skills to eventually developing a business plan.

Getting Started with Starting a Micro Business, Our How to Become a Teenage Entrepreneur Course

Starting a Micro Business, a “How to Become a Teenage Entrepreneur” course, as taught by Carol Topp, is designed to help homeschool teens learn about the world of micro businesses—what they are and what they can learn from starting one. This elective course can help the middle school or high school student learn how to generate an idea that uses their talents and skills, narrow their idea into something that is possible for a micro business, and develop a business plan, including marketing and financial needs. Teens can discover what would be involved in starting a micro business and perhaps start one if this is the path that is best. These entrepreneurial lessons are best taken in sequential order as they progressively build on each other.

Overview

8 weeks
Includes text-based lessons, worksheets, and links to additional resources
Grades 8th-12th

Supplies Needed

Corresponding lessons on SchoolhouseTeachers.com; journal for notetaking and research.

What to Do

Go to Class Lessons and download the lesson plan and lessons file. Start with the Day 1 reading assignment. Follow the instructions each day on the lesson plan and check them off when completed.

Course Sample for Starting a Micro Business, Our How to Become a Teenage Entrepreneur Course

Lesson One: What is a micro business and what can you learn from starting one?

Have you heard the term “micro business”? Probably not, but you can imagine what it means. It is a very small business—smaller than a small business. The Small Business Administration, a branch of the United States federal government, defines a small business as having up to 1,500 employees and annual income of $25 million, or more, in some cases. That’s not very small, in my opinion.

Micro Businesses Are Popular

Micro business may not be a familiar term, but micro businesses are very common. MicrobusinessStrategies.com reports that:

1 in 8 adults in America own a micro business (thousands of teenagers too!)
95 percent of all American businesses can be classified as micro businesses (fewer than 10 employees)
90 percent of businesses have fewer than five employees
There are more than 25 million micro businesses in America
At least 49 percent (more likely 56 percent) of all businesses are home-based

Characteristics of Micro Businesses

Micro businesses are quite different from small businesses in several ways

Simple and fast to start up

Only one worker, the owner

Usually home-based

Manageable

Little start-up money needed, or completely debt free

Teenagers love starting micro businesses because little to no initial money is needed. Starting a micro business should not mean taking on debt. Micros can be started with equipment the teenager already has at home, such as a computer, a kitchen stove, or a piano. Teenagers use knowledge they already possess, such as artistic talent or web design skills.

Here is a key principle:

Starting a micro business should not mean taking on debt.

To view a full sample of this course, click here.

Transcript Information for Starting a Micro Business, Our How to Become a Teenage Entrepreneur Course

Starting a Micro Business counts as a business elective. Homeschool students who thoroughly complete the eight-week “How to Become a Teenage Entrepreneur” course may earn 0.25 academic credit.

*Please be informed of your state’s academic requirements.

Visit our High School Help page for resources and information about:

Finding out your state’s academic requirements.
How to create a transcript
Keeping a schedule
Career Exploration
And more!

Course Outline for Starting a Micro Business, Our How to Become a Teenage Entrepreneur Course

Eight printable “How to Become a Teenage Entrepreneur” lessons include detailed questions that guide homeschool students through formulating and narrowing an idea for a micro business and creating a business plan.

Lesson 1 – What is a micro business and what can you learn from starting one?
Lesson 2 – Getting an Idea—Using Your Skills and Talents
Lesson 3 – Getting an Idea—Brainstorming
Lesson 4 – Narrowing your Idea
Lesson 5 – Business Plan: Concept
Lesson 6 – Business Plan: Marketing
Lesson 7 – Business Plan: Financial
Lesson 8 – Business Plan: Feedback

For a printable course outline for Micro Business for Teens, click here.

More About Starting a Micro Business, Our How to Become a Teenage Entrepreneur Course

What is a “micro business”? It is a very small business—smaller than a small business. The Small Business Administration, a branch of the United States federal government, defines a small business as having up to 1,500 employees and annual income of $25 million, or more, in some cases. That’s not actually very small, is it?

Micro business may not be a familiar term, but micro businesses are very common. MicrobusinessStrategies.com reports that:

1 in 8 adults in America owns a micro business (thousands of teenagers, too!)
95 percent of all American businesses can be classified as micro businesses (fewer than 10 employees)
90 percent of micro businesses have fewer than five employees
There are more than 25 million micro businesses in America
At least 49 percent (more likely 56 percent) of all businesses are home-based

If creating a business like this sounds exciting, this “How to Become a Teenage Entrepreneur” course can walk the homeschool teen through important steps toward creating a successful micro business.

Or, go straight to the lesson plan or course lessons.

Starting a Micro Business (for Teens)

Length: 8 weeks
Content type: Text based
Grades: 8-12

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