Books for Teen Entrepreneurs

Part of the process of starting a business is education. Teens who hope to dive into entrepreneurship will benefit from expanding their knowledge through courses, podcasts, and books. While working toward opening an online or brick and mortar business, your teens can also count all this learning toward an innovative elective on their homeschool transcript. Even Google admitted that entrepreneurial qualities are what employers are looking for these days – things like problem solving, communication, and critical thinking. So, in order to stand out among the competition, encouraging entrepreneurship in your teens is a great idea! This post will help you find the best books for your teen entrepreneurs.

Ideas for Teen Entrepreneurs

Sometimes the hardest part of doing anything worthwhile is just starting. Everyone wants it to be perfect. But encouraging your teens to start small is a good idea.

They can find potential business ideas by asking:

• What am I good at?
• What are my talents?
• Am I an “expert” in anything?
• What resources do I have?
• What do people ask me for help with?
• Do I see a need I can fill?
• Do I see a problem I can solve for people?

Download the Business Brainstorm for Teens at 4onemore.com and help your teens find the best business ideas for their talents and situation.

Counting it for Elective Credit

Counting all your teen’s research and work toward starting a business is as simple as tracking the hours spent toward that final project: a live online or in-person business. Most high school credits are worth 120-150 hours of work in a subject. Your teens can read books, listen to podcasts, take online business workshops and courses, and work on their business as part of that creative entrepreneurial elective. They’ll stand out from their peers, but more importantly, they’ll gain valuable life experience in the process.

Check out these resources:

• How to Teach Your Teens to Create Income Streams
• Online Electives for Teens
• How to Create a Transcript for Your Homeschooled High Schooler

Best Books on Time Management

Now on to the main subject – the best books for your teen entrepreneurs to read as they get started. You can have them take notes as they read and begin to implement what they learn. First, here are my top two suggestions for getting started with amazing time management and productivity skills.

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World – Before being successful entrepreneurs, your teens need to learn about deep work and start to implement the practice. Cal Newport will help your teens see the benefits of these changes to their work time. And your high schooler will also see results from the increased productivity that benefits them in business and schoolwork!

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think – Laura Vanderkam shatters the illusion that so many of us have about our time. We all wish we had more of it! But most of that thinking comes from the fact that we don’t use it well and we don’t know how to use it better. This book will change your teen’s mindset about their time. And if they follow through with the teaching, they will be able to implement helpful strategies moving forward. These time management strategies will give your teens an edge up as they start and run a successful business.

Best Books on Business

Once your teens have optimized their time use toward increased productivity, they are ready to dig into some business theory and mindset strategies. Here are three books to get them started.

Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant – Just when your teen thought there were no good business ideas out there because they’ve all been done before; think again! This book will help your teens as they brainstorm an effective business idea. The authors help you realize that instead of fighting over a small market share, you can tap into new markets who are ready to buy from you.

Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen – Your teens will learn to talk about their business in powerful ways. Once they can simplify their brand message so others can understand, your teenagers will be able to connect with customers. Donald Miller provides graphics to illustrate his concepts and your teens can immediately implement his teaching by completing these assignments for their particular business.

Business Boutique: A Woman’s Guide for Making Money Doing What She Loves – This book is perfect for your teenage daughters who want to have a female business mentor. Christy Wright, from the Dave Ramsey financial education empire, is witty and down-to-earth. She provides practical steps for starting a business that your teen will love.

The summer is a great time for teens to start a business! Check out these 20 Ideas for Teen Entrepreneurs to get started.