Teenagers are always going to be asked this question or something similar. “What do you want to do when you get older?” You may even get asked this question when you’re younger by a parent/guardian or a friend. This is stuff that you really have to start thinking about once you get older, and oftentimes it’s tough trying to think about doing something you enjoy that also pays well. If you’re out of ideas on what you want to do for the rest of your life, I might have an idea for you. Starting a business is not an easy task, but when pulled off correctly, it could bring LOTS of income, and a business can be your way of expressing yourself through selling things you like or enjoy.

Businesses started around 3,000 years ago, mainly in India and China. During this time, they had structures that looked like different types of businesses, like corporations, sole proprietorships, and partnerships. China and India both set up the basics of having a business, which is owning properties and getting into contracts. From then on, businesses started to rise. The first was in 1500 AD with the Dutch East India Company, which was backed up by the government. Another one was the British East India Company. Both of these companies traded goods from far away and were both pretty successful businesses, but disbanded. 

To start up a business, you need a general business license to even get started. You will need permits depending on what your business model is (things like a remodel permit, food and beverage licenses and permits, health department permits, etc). You’ll also have to register your business with the state and the federal government, choose your business name, location, open a business bank account, and get federal and state tax IDs (I hope I didn’t overwhelm you). Besides all the mandatory stuff, here are some things you should do to prepare yourself for starting your own business. First, you should do your research about your business model to see if it would be a successful business model. Secondly, make sure you have a good business plan because it’ll be the entire structure/map of your business. Finally, make sure you have the funds to keep your business up and running. You could have all the ideas and dreams in the world, but funding your business is something that you NEED if you want to have a decent start. 

Like I said before, a business can be a great way to show your true self. If you put your heart and mind into it, it’ll turn into something amazing. You can start a business like a food/fast food restaurant, tech, influencer, personal trainer, or even non-profit work! Whatever you feel like you should do with your business, you do it as long as it makes sense. I’ve always taken an interest in starting a business. I’m stuck on the two ideas, but I’ve been thinking about starting a shoe store, and if big enough, maybe partner up with Nike, Adidas, and other famous shoe companies. Another idea I had was to start a body care business. I love smelling good and having great products to help me with that. Things like body wash, cologne, sprays, deodorants, maybe even some hair products too, would be cool to sell. 

All in all, starting a business can be pretty tough, but it is ultimately worth it if you try and be smart about how you go about your business. I hope that in the future, I can start up my own business. The only thing I fear is that I might not be able to handle everything that’s coming my way, but I’ll try and see how it goes. If you’re struggling to find a good job and might be nervous about not knowing what you’re going to do in the future, a business can help you express yourself, you can do what you love, and make it your successful day-to-day job.