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Never too young to be an entrepreneur
Written by: Roger PierceArticle Overview: There’s no age restriction to launching a small business. “Starting young gives you time to make mistakes and recuperate from them,” says entrepreneur Kat Aniol.
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Never too young to be an entrepreneur
There’s no age restriction to launching a small business. “Starting young gives you time to make mistakes and recuperate from them,” says entrepreneur Kat Aniol.
Aniol, 25, started her graphic design company Beyond Destination Design five years ago. “Running my own business full-time at my age is a goal I set out to achieve,” she explains. “It hasn’t been easy, but I’m proud to be a young entrepreneur.”
Beyond Destination Design (info@bdd.ca) creates innovative menus and promotional items for restaurants, bars and lounges. A major alcohol brand recently hired the firm to design catchy martini menus for use in Eastern Canada.
Aniol is part of a growing trend. According to an Angus Reid poll, “Entrepreneur” is the top career choice of young Canadians between the ages of 18 and 35. Young people crave the f reedom and independence of entrepreneurship.
“I never liked routine,” attests Aniol. “Being my own boss keeps every day new and exciting and allows me to pursue my passion.”
At an age when most young people are just starting their careers, Aniol seems ahead of the pack. She’s earning good money and just moved into office space on Yonge St. near St. Clair in Toronto. She’s paid her dues, however. “I kept a full-time job during my first few years in business to raise some money,” she recalls. “I quit the job when I couldn’t find time to sleep.”
Without the benefit of previous work experience, young entrepreneurs should expect a learning curve. “I’ve learned to pay attention to my accounting,” explains Aniol. “You’ve got to stay on top of your invoices because people don’t always pay on time.”
Aniol says young people make great entrepreneurs. “Running your own business involves a lot of energy and risk, so being young helps,” she says. “I’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Kat Aniol helps bar patrons to choose that perfect martini from menus produced by her firm, Beyond Destination Design. She’s part of a growing number of young entrepreneurs in Canada.
Tips for young entrepreneurs
As a young entrepreneur, you’ll certainly be envied by your employed friends. While self-employment offers many perks, follow this advice to overcome some common challenges:
* Consider a co-signer. Being young and self-employed is considered a double negative for many banks. Line up a relative or friend who is prepared to co-sign a loan if your business requires bank financing.
* Keep that day job. Without established credit and little savings, you’ll be wise to keep a part or full-time job while your business gets going. Use that income to pay your rent and living expenses and ease the revenue pressure on your new venture.
* Find a mentor. Admit you won’t know everything about starting and growing a small business. A seasoned business person can be a wealth of experience and support for a young entrepreneur. Approach someone you respect to mentor you monthly, or contact entrepreneurship organizations such as The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (www.cybf.ca) or Enterprise Toronto (www.enterprisetoronto.com) for some connections.
* Exercise self-discipline . Fifty percent of young entrepreneurs work from home, where it’s easy to get distracted. Stay focused on your business by establishing regular working hours, creating a proper workspace and reminding your friends not to drop by unannounced during your work day.
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About the Author: Roger Pierce RSS for Roger's articles - Visit Roger's website  Roger Pierce is a Startup Expert with 11 small businesses to his credit. He's coached and trained tens of thousands of entrepreneurs across Canada and around the world. Co-founder and former President of BizLaunch, Roger has worked with dozens of major corporations to advance their small business marketing strategies. An avid writer and blogger on small business topics, Roger is the Entrepreneurship Columnist for the Toronto Sun and co-author of the book, Thriving Solo: How to Grow a Successful Business. What does he love most about being an entrepreneur? "I get excited about the work I'm doing. When I wake up in the morning I feel an adrenaline rush as I anticipate the things I'll get to do today." Roger and his wife, Tina, and their young daughter, Kaitlyn, live in downtown Toronto. Click here to visit Roger's website   Why your great idea will work Small biz can be a laughing matter Three BillionDollar Ideas People love their pets and theyll spare no expense on them My dog is my child and I want the best for him agrees entrepreneur Roxanne Pettipas Entrepreneurs must be selfaware |
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Young and Successful.
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It is nice!
The website is like a community of young people who are interested in entrepreneurship!
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I'm young at my 16 and I love selling things. I don't have much money because I am going to build up a fund by working during summer. I am planning to sale products online and I have no ideas. I was wondering if anyone had ideas for a young entrepreneur with little budget. I would need to sell products/services with low cost so I can start up the company.
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How to get people to take you seriously?
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