Danielle Herb

Young entrepreneur Danielle Herb started her business Drop Your Reins with her mother in 2009. Danielle continues to expand her business while giving back to the community. She is also passionate about helping neglected and abused horses. In this interview, learn how Danielle used her experience with horses and ADHD to start her business at 15 years old.

JB: What is the name of your business?

DH: Drop Your Reins

JB: What does your business do?

DH: Offering Peaceful Solutions for ADHD/ADD & Autistic Children Using Natural Horsemanship. By partnering with horses, they have created an experiential learning environment that invites open communication, personal reflection, and progressive alternatives for ADD/ADHD and Autistic diagnosed children as well as for those who support them.

JB: When did you start your business?

DH: February 2009

JB: How did you come up with your business idea?

DH: From my own experience with horses and how much they helped me with my ADHD.

JB: How has your business evolved since the start of your business?

DH: First I was teaching at my mother’s small private school and then we closed the school and began traveling and teaching children in other areas. I also have marketed online and have developed training videos online. I have written a book and been included in other published books.

JB: Have you always been entrepreneurial?

DH: I am from a long line of entrepreneurs so it was just a natural way of living and starting my own business.

JB: How have your parents helped in the starting and growing of your business?

DH: Yes my mother has been my partner. She has worked on a lot of the business development while I focused on my work with the kids and horses.

JB: You are a great mentor for other kids. How are some of the ways you inspire other kids to start their business?

DH: I encourage them to follow their dreams and their heart. I tell them it is ok to be different and to do something that others might think is silly.

JB: What advice would you give other kids who may have a business idea and are ready to start a business?

DH: Find mentors and others people to assist you. Do not try to do everything yourself. Stay true to your vision and your dreams. Always remember it is not a destination but a journey. There is no rush.

JB: What are your plans for the future of your business?

DH: Continue to grow myself, teach children and adults and hopefully reach 1 million with my methodology.

JB: Is there anything you would like to add?

DH: I am also passionate about helping abused or neglected horses. I have helped to start several non profits for horse rescue. One is www.hopechestfoundation.org. Heal Others Physically and Emotionally. Visit my website at http://www.dropyourreins.com/.

JB: Thank you Danielle!!

Note: This interview first ran on www.getyourbizsavvy.com.

Clarissa Cook

Clarissa Cook turned her 4th grade school project into a business at the age of 9 using her love of cooking and crafting. Clarissa gives back to her community by donating a percentage of her profits to her church, the homeless and local schools. She recently donated some of her handmade quilts to the children of Haiti. In this interview, learn how Clarissa took her school project and grew it into Creating With CC.

JB: What is the name of your business?

CC: My business is Creating With CC and my website is http://creatingwithcc.com/.

JB: What does your business do?

CC: In my business I sell tile crafts, jewelry, and baked items. I am writing a recipe book that will include my favorite inspirational quotes. I donate 10% of my profits to my church and I also donate some of my profits to the homeless people in our area and local schools. Recently I used some of my profits to make blankets to send to the children in Haiti.

JB: When did you start your business?

CC: I started my business in 4th grade as a school project during our study of entrepreneurship. I was 9 at the time and I just turned 11 last week.

JB: How did you come up with your business idea?

CC: I really love to cook and do crafts. I wanted to try out a business where I got to do both. I started out first making specialty baked items and sold them at times like Christmas. Then I moved on to my custom tiles and jewelry.

JB: How has your business evolved since the start of your business?

CC: When I found out that you had to have special licenses to sell food I started focusing more on the craft side of my business and on writing my book.

JB: Have you always been entrepreneurial?

CC: I have always liked making money. Even before I had my business, I would do extra chores to make money. I would use that money to save for things for my business as well as fun stuff. Right now I am saving money from my business to buy a sewing machine. Once I have my sewing machine, I will start selling things I have sewn.

JB: How have your parents helped in the starting and growing of your business?

CC: My mom has helped me get my website up. She also takes me shopping to get the best prices on supplies I need. My parents have introduced me to some of my customers. My parents practice with me on what to say on the phone and they read over what I put on the site. They also monitor what I do on the Internet and they of course taste test all my recipes – especially my mom =).

JB:  You are a great mentor for other kids. How are some of the ways you inspire other kids to start their business?

CC: I tell people what I am doing and ask if they want to get involved. I give my cards out so others know what I am doing. I send cards and write encouraging words on their Facebook page. I set an example by doing lots of service in the community.

JB: What advice would you give other kids who may have a business idea and are ready to start a business?

CC: Try doing something you like. Do it for awhile and make sure you like it. Then make it official by getting business cards and a website and things like that. Be patient. Businesses take time to build.

JB: What are your plans for the future of your business?

CC: Make lots of money and donate to charities! Seriously, I plan on finishing my book. I also plan on taking more sewing lessons so that one day I can be fashion designer of modest clothing.

JB: Is there anything you would like to add?

CC: Never stop trying! Do what you love to do and you will be happy!
For more information about Clarissa Cook visit her website at http://creatingwithcc.com/.

JB: Thank you Clarissa!!

Note: This interview first ran on www.getyourbizsavvy.com.

Jacob Cook

Jacob Cook started selling items on Ebay at the age of 10 to earn extra money. At 12 years old, he officially launched Jake’s Tutorials and Tech Support using the technical skills he had learned from his school classes. Jacob also gives back to his community by mentoring other young entrepreneurs, donating a portion of his income to his church, and helping as a boy scout. In this interview, learn how 13 year old Jacob has grown his business to include clients from around the world.

JB: What is the name of your business?

JC: Jake’s Tutorials & Tech Support

JB: What does your business do?

JC: I do just about anything on the computer such as setting up social media platforms, linking social platforms together, audio and video creation and editing, installing programs, getting rid of viruses, reviews of tech related products, blogging, and more. My motto for my business is “You Request and I take the Quest”.

JB: When did you start your business?

JC: I officially started my business when I was 12 in 2009 but I have been making money on the Internet since I was 10.

JB: How did you come up with your business idea?

JC: I started making tech tutorials on YouTube for fun to show what I was learning. People from around the world started asking for me to do things for them that I showed how to do in my videos. I helped a lot of people for free for a while and then I started charging. Once the word got out that I did a good job other people started asking me to do computer stuff for them too and pretty soon I had several customers.

JB: How has your business evolved since the start of your business?

JC: When I first started, I was selling on eBay making money on whatever I could find to sell. Now that I have a set dollar value for my time I am better able to manage my income and set goals for savings and purchases. I have a large fan base and am now getting products from companies on an almost daily basis to review and to giveaway in promotional drawings that I do. Once I am a YouTube partner, I plan on teaching a class on how I did it. This will allow me to turn what I know into a product that can make me money over and over. I am also learning how to make iPhone apps and plan to have a couple of those done by the end of the year.

JB: Have you always been entrepreneurial?

JC: I have always liked to make money and I was always making deals with my parents on what they would pay me to do things (at least that is what they tell me.)

JB: How have your parents helped in the starting and growing of your business?

JC: They have helped me get some of my clients, offer support, given me some financing to take some of the classes I needed to learn to do what I do in my business. They usually offer to pay half of whatever the classes are and then I come up with the rest. If I have a situation that I am not sure how to figure out they talk me through it.

JB: You are a great mentor for other kids. What are some of the ways you inspire other kids to start their business?

JC: I offer other kids training for free. I tell them they can do it. I try to set a great example by donating 10% of my profits to our church as well as helping in the community as a boy scout.

JB: What advice would you give other kids who may have a business idea and are ready to start a business?

JC: I would tell them to never give up on what they really want to do. There are days that are hard. Be sure that you talk to your parents and surround yourself with people who think you can do it.

JB: What are your plans for the future of your business?

JC: I plan on continuing to make tech videos and increase my fan base until YouTube makes me a partner. Then I will add an additional stream of income to my business, which will be teaching others to do what I do.

JB: Is there anything you would like to add?

JC: I love helping others so if anyone has a tech question or a business question they can find me in the following places: http://www.youtube.com/jakestutorials, http://www.twitter.com/jakestutorials and on my site http://www.jakestutorials.com (I am still working on my site).

JB: Thank you Jacob!!

Note: This interview first ran on www.getyourbizsavvy.com.

Jonathan Cook

At 6 years old, Jonathan Cook is on the road to entrepreneurship. Jonathan is taking his love of sports and turning it into Jumping Jack Jon, a business that will include sports equipment reviews. Jonathan plans to give back to his community by donating a portion of his profits to the homeless and his church. In this interview, learn how Jonathan, with the help of his parents, plans to grow his business.

JB: What is the name of your business?

JC: My business name is Jumping Jack Jon.

JB: What does your business do?

JC: I review sports equipment, games, and activities. I also make videos about fitness and staying healthy.  When I review a product that I like, my mom helps me start selling it through Amazon so I get money when people buy that product.

JB: When did you start your business?

JC: I started my business when I was 6 and I am still 6.

JB: How did you come up with your business idea?

JC: I really like sports.  I have been roller-blading since I was 18 months old and I like to play soccer, basketball and jump on the trampoline.  Since I like sports so much it is easy for me to tell what I like or don’t like about different sports things.

JB: How has your business evolved since the start of your business?

JC: Since I am just starting, it really hasn’t changed much yet.

JB: Have you always been entrepreneurial?

JC: I have always liked to make money so I could get my own things.

JB: How have your parents helped in the starting and growing of your business?

JC: Because I am only 6, they have to help me with a lot of things.  When I get bigger like my brother I can do more things on my own.

JB: You are a great mentor for other kids. How are some of the ways you inspire other kids to start their business?

JC: I like to tell other kids what I am doing and tell them that they can do it too.  I tell them to watch my videos and give them my business card so they can talk to me if they have questions.

JB: What advice would you give other kids who may have a business idea and are ready to start a business? 

JC: I would tell them to make sure that it is something they like to do.  I would also tell them to keep trying.  Sometimes business is hard but when you keep going you can be good at it.

JB: What are your plans for the future of your business?

JC: I am planning on making products that say Jumping Jack Jon and sell them.  I will use some of the money from my products to give to the homeless people in our city and some to my church too.  I also plan to have companies send me products to review like they do for my brother so I have to start having my mom help me write letters to them.

JB: Is there anything you would like to add?

JC: I think it is important that moms and dads tell kids they can do it. My website will be debuting soon at http://jumpingjackjon.com/.

JB: Thank you Jonathan!!

Note: This interview first ran on www.getyourbizsavvy.com.

Jason O’Neill

Jason O’Neill started his business Pencil Bugs when he was just 9 years old with one product. With the help of his parents, Jason has expanded the Pencil Bugs product line to include bookmarks, greeting cards, and birthday invitations. Jason also speaks at schools and events to inspire other kids to try their business ideas. In this interview, learn how Jason began is inspirational journey into entrepreneurship.

JB: What is the name of your business? 

JO: The legal business name is Pencil Bugs Plus but most people just know it by the product name, Pencil Bugs.  When my parents helped me set up the business officially, we tried to think of something that could be expanded on but still used the Pencil Bugs name.  So adding the Plus seemed to make sense.

JB: What does your business do?

JO: I hand make and sell a variety of products which started with original Pencil Bugs — the colorful, bug-like pencil toppers.

JB: When did you start your business? 

JO: I started Pencil Bugs in 2005 at the age of nine.

JB: How did you come up with your business idea?

JO: A lot of people wonder if my plan at nine years old was to start my own business. I kind of laugh every time I hear that because having a business was the farthest thing from my mind.   My mom was painting some crafts to sell at a craft fair. I had the idea that if I helped her paint them that she would split her money with me. She didn’t like my idea too much and told me I should come up with my own product so I did. After a few designs on paper and seeing what materials I could use, Pencil Bugs were finally born.  I took $10 of my own money and bought the supplies I needed and made 24 Pencil Bugs for the craft fair.  When they all sold out, I was pretty happy and at that point, I still hadn’t thought about starting a business. After Christmas break, I made a few more and took them to school. Other kids started ordering them so I was making the pencil toppers on a regular basis which became very time-consuming after school. One day a classmate offered to buy my business for $100.  I still don’t know why a fourth grader had two $50 bills in his pocket but I turned him down. I knew that I could make more than his hundred dollars so with the help of my parents; we got the necessary legal documents for the business.

JB: How has your business evolved since the start of your business?

JO: Since the business sort of started by accident, I didn’t have a long-term goal at that point but I knew that having just one product to sell wasn’t going to be enough.   The next product I added was Pencil Bugs bookmarks which had photos of the characters on them.  Most bookmarks are just cheap paper, but my bookmarks are on heavyweight, glossy cardstock and laminated so they last a lot longer.  Adding bookmarks made sense — School, writing, homework  . . . “Pencil Bugs.”  Books, reading . . . “bookmarks.”   Next came greeting cards.  My mom and I designed eight different cards for various occasions, each with a Pencil Bugs character on the front and a message inside.  Last Christmas I added a ninth card with a Santa Pencil Bug and verse.  Customers can buy individual cards from my website as a “send-out” option or buy a whole set which they can mail out themselves.  Lots of people buy original Pencil Bugs for birthday party treats so creating birthday invitations and thank you cards were the next products I added.  In addition to these products which can be purchased directly from my website, people can also shop at my CafePress online store for things like t-shirts, coffee mugs, mouse pads, and even fun things for the family pet, all with the Pencil Bugs characters and/or logo.  Besides the products, I have collaborated with my mom on several books (a business tips book, a picture book, and an early reader chapter series).  I never realized just how long something like that takes – lots and lots of editing and then you still have the publishing and marketing parts.

JB: Have you always been entrepreneurial?

JO: I have always liked creating things, whether it was a gadget made of toy parts or a craft of some sort but those were usually just for fun like most kids do. When I was five, I had my first lemonade stand during a neighborhood community garage sale. Another neighbor kid saw how well I was doing so the next year, he set up his own and I had my first experience with competition.  But when I heard he was going to do that, I asked my mom to make cookies so I could sell more than just lemonade. Even though he probably got more business that day since his house was at the beginning of the neighborhood, I was selling homemade products whereas he had store-bought juice boxes and candy.  When I was about eight, our neighborhood had another garage sale but it was in December for some silly reason. We live in southern California but the winters still have some pretty cold days. So instead of selling lemonade which I knew no one would buy, I made hot chocolate and sold that. I even had Christmas music playing and wore my Santa hat to get people to stop. It was a really cold day and many people didn’t even want to get out of their cars if they didn’t have to, so I moved my table closer to the street and basically had a drive-up hot chocolate stand which worked out really well. The next year was when Pencil Bugs happened and here I am today.

JB: How have your parents helped in the starting and growing of your business?

JO: If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. No matter how smart you are, no one can do it alone, especially a kid. My dad is a VP of Sales for a food broker and has a financial background so he helps me with the big financial decisions and coaches me on making sales calls and investing.  My mom is the creative one so does the marketing, PR, website design/maintenance, and handles to day-to-day business while I’m in school.  Even though school comes first so I don’t always have time to do my own accounting, or box up orders, or update my website, I have learned how to do all of those things.    The key to staying balanced is to not get overscheduled, learn how to prioritize and stay organized. With my parents’ help, I still am a normal kid who just happens to have a business too.  The good thing about being a young entrepreneur is that you don’t have to earn a living just yet so you can afford to take things slower and enjoy childhood.

JB: You have received many honors. What are they and how have they helped you grow as an entrepreneur?

JO: I have received many honors and with each one, I am still surprised and very excited. It never gets old. Some of the more notable ones are: Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (I was the youngest at age 11 to win), Young Philanthropist Award, Forbes Top 10 List of Role Models 18 & Under, and the Kohl’s Kids Who Care Scholarship Winner.  Because I started my business so young, there have been many times that I have wanted to quit.   Receiving recognition for my efforts has helped keep me motivated and reinforced my decision to stick with the business. I have long-term goals and quitting wouldn’t get me there.

JB: You are an inspiration in that you give a percentage of your earnings to the Kohl’s Kids Who Care Program.  What made you decide to do this?

JO: I actually use part of my proceeds to buy toys, games, books, etc. and donate them each quarter to kids at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California.  The Kohl’s Kids Who Care Program was a contest that Kohl’s sponsored for kids doing different types of charity work. I won at the local and regional levels in 2008 which earned me a small college scholarship.  To answer your question about how I picked Rady Children’s Hospital . . . I wanted to find a way to help kids who were in less fortunate situations.  I’ve never been hospitalized so I could only imagine what it would be like to be in the hospital.  Even though kids have families that I’m sure take in their favorite toy or blanket, I wanted to donate new items so the hospital could distribute them to the kids when needed.  We don’t have a children’s hospital where we live so Rady Children’s was the closest one and I wanted to deliver the donations personally.

JB: You are a great mentor for other kids. How are some of the ways you inspire other kids to start their business?

JO: I speak at schools and events telling how I started my business and remind kids that creating a product doesn’t have to be complicated.  I encourage people of all ages to at least try their ideas because doing nothing will guarantee nothing and you’ll never know what could have happened if you don’t try. Some kids say their parents don’t know how to help them or don’t have time or think their ideas are dumb. The good thing is, if a kid really wants to try an idea, there are other people besides parents that can help. Sometimes it means asking a teacher, older sibling, maybe a neighbor, someone at a church, or even another biz kid.  I’ve received lots of emails from kids asking my advice on different ideas and I always write back to try and help.

JB: What advice would you give other kids who may have a business idea and are ready to start a business?

JO: Start by writing down your ideas.  If it’s a product, draw out your ideas because it’s easier to explain your concept to other people.  Research online and in stores to see if there are other products similar to yours and/or what makes yours different. If it’s a service business like offering tech support or web design which many kids are doing now, do the same research online to see what other businesses are offering. Whatever your business idea, you need to know your competition and it’s important to do that BEFORE you get too far into it.  Having a goal or an idea is great but you need to be willing to revise it if necessary. Once you decide your business idea is good to go, get help from someone that has business experience.  You could try to do it yourself and with enough determination, could make it work but if you can avoid making a lot of mistakes by having someone’s help, you’ll save a lot of time and energy and be farther ahead in the long run. One of the biggest business mistakes people make (and this includes adults) is they are in a hurry so spend too much money or expand too fast. I started my business on just $10 and took it very slowly. One thing to remember as a young entrepreneur is that we don’t have to earn a living at our business just yet so there’s no need to rush things and make big mistakes, which could end your business before it even gets started.

JB: What are your plans for the future of your business?

JO: I have short-term plans to add new products as well as get my books published. For the long-term, I envision Pencil Bugs as well-known as SpongeBob or any other cartoon character.  I see the Pencil Bugs characters on all kinds of products and someday a cartoon series. This is a long shot but it’s good to think big because you just never know what could happen.

JB: Is there anything you would like to add?

JO: I think I covered everything but people can always visit www.pencilbugs.com for other information.

JB: Thank you Jason!!

Note: This interview first ran on www.getyourbizsavvy.com.

See what can happen if we teach children about entrepreneurship…

http://www.onewhowrites.com/category/entrepreneurs-who-give-back/

Dana Rankin

Dana Rankin is a multi-business owner, event planner and public speaker who shows others you can succeed no matter how big your obstacle. Dana is the Founder and CEO of Exhale To Excel Jewelry; a high quality, yet affordable jewelry company that not only sells beautiful jewelry and offers a career opportunity, but also raises awareness about issues such as breast cancer and domestic violence. A portion of the proceeds from every sale is donated by Dana to help combat these issues. Dana’s advice is this: “Believe in yourself and that you have the talent and perseverance to succeed even if you fail the first time. Clarify your goals and go after them. Where there is a will there IS a way.” You too Can Be Chic for a Cause.

JB: Tell us about your business, Exhale To Excel Jewelry and why you started the business.

DR: Exhale To Excel Jewelry is a jewelry boutique which specializes in helping make you sparkle. Our tagline you can be chic for a cause refers to our awareness jewelry selections. The reason I started the business was two-fold. One reason was to earn extra income to obtain a home because we were homeless at the time the business was founded due to a domestic violence situation; and the second reason was to raise awareness for different causes that affect many people including my family. I wanted to give back to the organizations that give so much to others.

JB: How long have you been in business?

DR: We have been in business for three years and have a solid customer base.

JB: At what point in your business did you decide to give back?

DR: I decided to give back in the beginning. I saw so much dedication to serve when we were homeless and wanted to do something to help others.

JB: What are some of the ways that Exhale To Excel Jewelry gives back?

DR: Exhale To Excel Jewelry gives back by donating a portion of each sale to specific charities. For example, the breast cancer awareness jewelry, when a customer purchases an item 10% of that sale goes to help breast cancer research. When a customer purchases an item from the Alzheimer’s Awareness jewelry section a portion of the sale goes to help Alzheimers Research.

JB: I love your tag line…You Can Be Chic For  a Cause. You also encourage your customers to give back. Tell us about this.

DR: I encourage my customers to give back when giving a gift to themselves or to loved ones by purchasing with us. I also include more charity information when I mail the jewelry and give ideas on ways they to can give back where they live. I believe there is nothing more chic than to witness what you believe on your wrist or wear what you will share.

JB: Giving back is so rewarding. How has this changed you and your business?

DR: The way this has changed me is it has enabled me to realize the situations in  life that were negative in my life such as the domestic violence were for a reason to enable me to be able to relate to others in the same situation, encourage them and to help them to find a way out. Exhale To Excel Jewelry partners with Precious Pearls Ministries which is my domestic violence ministry. I am a Inspirational Speaker and speak with and volunteer with The Esther Alliance.

JB: If people would like to learn more about Exhale To Excel Jewelry or the organizations you work with, where should they go?

DR: The links to the site are http://preciouspearlsministry.yolasite.com and http://www.estheralliance.com. I also support Woman of Character Ministries. http://www.womanofcharacterministries.com. Please become a fan of Exhale To Excel on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/exhaletoexceljewelry.

Also you may create an account, sign up for our newsletter and receive a free $5 voucher good on your first order here: http://www.exhaletoexceljewelry.com. Our sister stores are here: http://www.personalgiftconcepts.com and here http://thebagzlady.yolasite.com.

JB: Thank you Dana!!