Quicken provides short bios on 9 entrepreneurs that started young. Worth noting:
You do not need a lot of money to get started in business. None of the individuals listed required any significant start up capital to begin their businesses. BizChair.com started with only $500.
You do not have to be unique to be successful. Many businesses become profitable by providing complementary products or services to existing offerings. Mophie sells accessories to iPods. WhateverLife.com provides support for MySpace. By identifying products and services that support popular things, you can create your own business ideas.
You do not need to employ cutting edge technology to be successful. Office chairs, jams, parking spaces, iPod cases – none of these products are high tech or never before seen.
While you do not need to be unique or high tech, you do need to identify a niche in the market that consumers want to be filled. When you are engaged in your daily activities, perhaps as simple as leafing through your school yearbook as the founders of MyYearbook.com did, always be thinking of things that may be missing in the offering. Is there something missing with Facebook that people could use? Are there products that would make your university experience a better one?
If so, then consider whether people would pay for this product or service and how many people would do so. If there might be enough interest, you have the idea for a potential business.
