Start It Up

June 1, 2011
Grades 7-12 As teens face an uncertain job market and economy, this guide may provide them with an entrepreneurial edge. Combining a conversational style with a systematic approach, it walks teens through starting their own business, from identifying a passion that can be lucrative and making a business official to raising capital and marketing the new venture. Rankin gives a good overview of such difficult concepts as start-up and operating costs and asks readers to consider potentially overlooked topics like the pros and cons of publicizing prices and things to consider when working with family and friends. She also eases the process with a sample business plan to fill in, while What Kind of Boss Are You? and other guided quizzes keep it fun. Concluding chapters address using the business to give back, going green, and taking the business in the future. Hints (called The Tip Jar), quotes and stories from successful teen entrepreneurs, and related books and websites round out this handbook for teen go-getters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)