High school students are always looking for ways to earn extra money. Whether it be from a job, chores, or grandparents, students need the extra cash.

While those are the more popular avenues, small businesses are a chance for students to earn cash while selling goods and services they are passionate about. Reselling, customized clothing, jewelry, trinkets, and lawn mowing are a few popular choices.

There are many students who have small businesses, an example being Charlie Hargis. Hargis sells clothing with patchworked designs. Her brand name is Charlie Re-Threaded. She posts her patched clothing on Facebook, a good platform to start a business.

“I saw somebody’s business at a craft fair and I thought it was really cool, so I wanted to do that,” Junior Charlie Hargis said. “I think sewing on the sewing machine is one of the hardest skills to learn, so I knew I could challenge myself to make different types of patches. I thought it would be fun.”

A year ago, I began selling baked goods to my family’s co-workers to garner attention for my brand. The extra cash helped me to afford trips to both Florida and the National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle, so selling something made through my hobby is very dear to me. 

But there are downsides to the excitement. Operating a small business takes start-up money and is time-consuming. The amount of money to open a small business with very little profit is surprising. While there are businesses that require less money. Most businesses will test limits with the money the owner is willing to spend. 

The time commitment is major, too. The independence of launching a business is a double-edged sword. The owner is the employee as well as the money manager, so there is limited free time, not including the help of family and friends. My family has been an important provider in my cookie business. They stay up late in case I need someone to take the trays out of the oven while I am doing other work and prep for the next batch. My dad is the taste tester, so I know whether or not to sell the batch.

Coming up with an idea is easy enough, but bringing a business into fruition is difficult. There is a difference between a small business for extra cash and one to grow into a career. For high school students, starting a business for extra cash is a more popular option. 

Starting a business comes with patience and careful planning. To start, students should come up with a general idea of what they want to offer. I knew I wanted to sell baked goods; it was just a matter of what dessert I wanted to sell and what I wanted my business to be known for. 

Once an idea is formed, the next step is to write down the goods or services being sold. To figure out a business plan, it is important to take into consideration the cost of the materials, service, time spent, and the average price in the market. I initially priced my cookies too high. Then, I concluded that consumers would be more likely to buy at a cheaper price. Ultimately, I chose a price that suits my liking as well as my consumers’ price range.

Creating a business plan is one of the most important and difficult steps in starting a business, but after completing the plan, students are ready to save up for the materials to get their business running. 

After saving up enough money for the business, students should begin advertising. Potential customers are more likely to support small businesses than larger corporations, so utilizing community resources is an effective way to bring customers in. Consumers are not only locals, but also co-workers who are willing to help out. Giving flyers to friends and family to hang up at their jobs helps bring people in and maximize the profit. I give my dad flyers that he hangs up in his workplace. The business I have gotten just from advertising to his coworkers has helped me reach more people. Before handing out flyers to hang up, confirm with higher-ups to avoid any trouble. 

Once the business picks up, creating a logo ties their business in with a picture and a brand name, resulting in a memorable business that brings in more customers. I have a certain layout of advertising that allows consumers to associate the design with the cookies I sell. If at a loss for where to go from there, students can ask other small business owners to get advice. When I was lost starting my business, I gave out cookies as a way to introduce my talents, and eventually, I put out flyers to sell them.

Support your local businesses!