Be Your Own Boss

The leaves are falling. The snow is accumulating. The grass is growing. Weeds are overtaking the garden. Each of these things is an opportunity to make some cold, hard cash. Many people may be willing to pay someone to help them with tasks around their yard. Your enterprising readers will learn the importance of advertising their business, paying close attention to detail, and pricing their services in a fair yet competitive way. A list of supplies and business tips helps readers prepare for operating their own yard-work business.

Recycling is more important now than ever before. Some people put recyclable items in a bin on the curb. However, some recyclables including glass bottles and plastic bottles can be taken to a recycling facility and returned for cash. Starting a recycling business is one way your enterprising readers can make some money while helping save the planet. This volume highlights each step of starting a business, from making a business plan to creating a budget. It teaches readers essential aspects of owning a small business, including supply and demand and keeping track of expenses and profits.

Many kids babysit their siblings, neighbors' children, or family friends' children. However, some people take babysitting to another level and turn it into a massively profitable job and career. Your readers will learn the vital elements of running their own business, including scheduling, safety, and marketing. They'll learn how these basics can give them the tools they need to expand their business into a later career as a full-time nanny or daycare center operator. Starting a babysitting business can be a great way to make money, gain responsibility, and have fun.

Many people like to indulge in a sweet treat every once in a while. Bake sales are a great way to make money and satisfy people's sweet cravings. However, there's more to running a bake sale than showing up to the school lobby with brownies. With this book, readers will learn how to make a business plan, how to choose a venue, and how to keep track of expenses and profits. They'll learn the importance of advertising and marketing. Running a successful bake sale now may lead to running a bakery, a specialty cake shop, or a sweet culinary empire later in life.

One person's trash is another person's treasure. Sometimes people want to get rid of things from their home but don't want those things to be thrown away or wasted. However, they also don't want the work of planning and executing a yard sale. With this volume, readers will learn how to plan a yard sale for their own unwanted possessions, and how to plan a friend or neighbor's yard sales. A complete list of supplies, such as price stickers and folding tables, aids readers in taking the first step toward entrepreneurship.

Planning a car wash is a great way to make money and help people keep their car looking nice and shiny. While a car wash may seem like a simple business venture, it's more complex than readers may realize. Your money-minded readers will learn the importance of scheduling, budgeting, gathering enough workers, and charging a fair yet competitive price. Readers will learn to evaluate all the supplies they'll need to get their car wash business up and running. The skills involved in running a car wash may inspire them to create their own business later in life.