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Teenagers naturally desire both money and independence, and starting a business is a great way to help achieve both of these goals. For those who enjoy spending time in the sunshine and the great outdoors, it may be beneficial to take that love and turn it into a business opportunity. If you’re a teen looking to start your own outdoor business, check out this guide to help you get your new venture on the path to success.
Choosing the Right Idea
What business is best for you to start depends on your goals. If you’re already overcommitted with school, extracurricular activities, or other obligations and you’re just looking for a way to earn a little cash a few hours a week, you might want your business to be part-time and you should structure your company to reflect that. If you’re interested in teaching boating, fishing, kayaking, or rafting, for example, you could name your business “Weekend Waters” which establishes upfront to potential customers your expected availability and gives an idea of what you will be doing.
What outdoor activity you specifically choose to turn into a business will depend on your specific interests and talents. Some examples include:
- Adventure Guide: If you enjoy outdoor activities that get your adrenaline pumping, designing and leading excursions as an adventure guide might be right for you.
- Landscaping: Those who have a penchant for planning and planting gardens and performing yard work may wish to start a landscaping
- Outdoor Recreation Guide: Akin to an adventure guide but with lower stakes, outdoor recreation guides can do anything from lead a hike to planning a class on how outdoorsmen can recognize safe vegetation to interact with.
Taking Advantage of Technology
Bringing your business outdoors means you need flexibility in the running of it. Luckily, the market is full of apps and tools that make operating your business from anywhere a breeze.
For payments on the go, Square is an excellent option. According to Fit Small Business, Square is the go-to solution for businesses looking to get paid outside of traditional office spaces. Requiring no application or preapproval to get access to its state-of-the-art mobile card reader, Square’s technology and app make it easier than ever for businesses to process payments wherever they may be.
Marketing Your Business
Digital marketing is an essential component of any successful business today. Developing a social media presence for your business should be one of the first steps you take when preparing to launch your company.
While online marketing is important, other tools can be effective, as well, particularly for those businesses that are on the go. Business cards, for example, can be carried with you in places where service might be spotty or unavailable and are a lasting means of connecting you with potential customers. Personalized business cards are surprisingly cost-effective and can be easily designed using a free business card maker. Simply choose from one of their available templates and customize the color, text, and picture to your taste or design your own using a tool such as Canva and upload it to the service.