How To Start A Business As A Teenager

TL;DR

To start a business as a teenager, Nick suggests building a side hustle around a skill or passion, testing demand, saving money, and expanding only after proving the concept. He began selling 5–10 gallons of cold brew weekly across about three schools, then developed a business plan and attracted two angel investors before opening Nomad Crepes. Read on for his practical lessons on bootstrapping, pitching, overhead, and surviving slow seasons.

Transcript

so I'm bringing you in a totally different video than what you may normally see on my channel the other day I was having coffee at this local spot called nomads creeps or crepes however you want to pronounce that and I was having some food there as well and I really enjoyed the atmosphere and this business and so I was talking to this young kid the... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤳 Starting a business as a teenager requires passion, self-motivation, and a willingness to overcome challenges.
• 👨‍💼 Physical businesses have different challenges than online businesses, with real operating costs and the need to handle overhead expenses.
• 🤑 Planning ahead and saving money is crucial to navigate through difficult times, such as the slow winter season.
• 🍉 Investing in the industry and giving back to the community can create a mutually beneficial endeavor and ensure long-term success.
• ❓ Nick's experience highlights the importance of connections, leveraging resources, and seizing opportunities for growth.
• 🖤 The video also emphasizes the significance of finding a direction and purpose beyond mindlessly filling time with activities that lack utility.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can a teenager start a business?

Nick recommends beginning with a side hustle based on something you genuinely enjoy and using it to invest in your skills. He started making cold brew in his mother’s kitchen, sold it to classmates and staff, expanded distribution across about three schools, and used that proof of concept to develop a business plan and seek investment.

Q: What motivated Nick to start Nomad Crepes as a teenager?

Nick loved coffee, cooking, and creating things, and he wanted to share those interests with other people. He also disliked working for someone else for what he described as illegal wages—about $20 per shift—and needed a way to support himself after leaving school.

Q: How did Nick test his coffee business before opening a physical location?

Near the end of his senior year, Nick bought 50 Boston round bottles, a brew bucket, and nylon filters. He produced between 5 and 10 gallons of cold brew per week and sold it to classmates and staff across about three schools, with friends helping take and fulfill orders.

Q: How did Nick bootstrap the Nomad Crepes location?

Nick chose a space with cheap rent because it needed extensive work. He built the bar with his father, reclaimed boards and beams from a local barn, and spent an entire summer preparing materials and cleaning the floor.

Q: What financial challenges came with opening Nick’s physical business?

Unlike a low-cost online business, the shop required rent, a physical space, payroll, and other operating expenses. Nick said the lease was signed in May and Nomad Crepes opened in May 2018, meaning rent was paid for a year before the doors opened.

Q: How did Nick move from school sales to outside investment?

Nick first established demand by selling branded cold brew to students and teachers and distributing it through friends at other schools. After gaining awareness and proving the concept, he created a business plan, presented sample menu items made with three coffee-brewing methods, and secured two angel investors.

Q: How did Nick handle the difficult first winter as a business owner?

Snow reduced foot traffic and made the first winter difficult. Nick treated it as a lesson, then prepared for the following year by saving money and increasing the brand’s visibility through events such as the “Which Walk” pub crawl.

Q: Should aspiring teenage entrepreneurs skip college and immediately go all in?

Nick does not frame entrepreneurship as an all-or-nothing decision. He suggests starting a side hustle, maintaining a hobby, and investing time in a useful skill before making a larger commitment; in his own case, he chose to use money set aside for college to pursue the business.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video features an interview with Nick, who started his coffee shop business as a teenager and shares his experiences and challenges.

• Nick discusses the importance of passion and self-motivation in starting a business at a young age.

• The interview highlights the challenges Nick faced during his first winter as a business owner and how he adapted to ensure success.