I recently received the books Starting a Micro Business, Running a Micro Business, and Micro Business for Teens Workbook from Micro Business for Teens to review. The Micro Business for Teens books are written by Carol Topp, an accountant. These books are intended for ages 10-18.
Starting a Micro Business, $9.95 for the paperback, will walk your teen through starting their own micro business. The book explains to the teen what a micro business is, how to run one, business ideas, how to write a business plan, financing their business, and much more. You can view sample pages on the website, linked above.
Even though Starting a Micro Business is only 112 pages long, it is packed full of information. The author has even included many websites where the student can learn more about specific businesses.
Running a Micro Business, $9.95 for the paperback, picks up where Starting a Micro Business leaves off. This book is 133 pages long and covers sales, marketing, record keeping, book keeping, time management, and more. You can view sample pages on the website linked above.
Running a Micro Business is like a business class in a book. I was very impressed with the amount of information is contained. Even though it contains a lot of information, it is very easy for a teen to read and understand.
Micro Business for Teens Workbook, $14.95 paperback. While the other books can be read by multiple people. this workbook is intended for one student. The book does not contain permission to copy pages for other students. so if you plan on using these books with more than one student, you’ll need to purchase another workbook. These three books are also available as ebooks, that would allow you to print the number of workbook pages that you need for your students. You can view sample pages on the website.
The Micro Business for Teens Workbook, 100 pages long, is designed to be used with both books above. It can be used independently or in a group setting. Each of the 14 chapters in the workbook tells the student what chapter to read in the above books. Then the student answers questions, completes graphs & charts, calculates business expenses, and much more.
I have been using these books with three of my teens, 13, 15, and 18. My 18 year old has finished reading the books, but hasn’t completed the workbook yet. She said the books are very thorough, and explain everything that the teen needs to know to start and run their own business. She has been researching starting her own business, so she has been able to use some of the information from these books. I plan on continuing to work with them until they have completed the books, and started their own business. We live in a rural area where it is hard for teens to find jobs. Thanks to these books, they will be able to make their own jobs.
How long it takes to complete these books depends on you and your teens. If you do one chapter in the workbook a week, it will take you 14 weeks to finish. There is so much information contained in these books, and the workbook has so much for the student to do, that I think these books can be used as a 1/2 credit business course for a high school student. I think that we could easily extend this to a full credit course by having the student document the starting and running of their business.
Overall, I was very impressed with Micro Business for Teens. I highly recommend these books.
Carol Topp CPA says
Linda, Thank you for the review! I really appreciate it.
It’s hard for teens to find jobs in lots of places these days. But there are possibilities with the internet!
I hope your teenagers find a micro business that suits them. They can learn so much (and make money!)
You might enjoy the public television program Starting a Micro Business, based on the first book. It features 6 students (all homeschooled!) and their parents discussing their micro businesses. http://youtu.be/K2g_MKqLUpo
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