Junior at Wheeling Park High School, Jake Franke, owns his own business. He plays football and hockey, and he’s been in business for eight years now,
“I’ve been in business for eight years now, and I’ve been doing it since I was real young, and I’ve always loved doing it,” said Franke. “We’ve honestly just grown exponentially in the last two or three years.”
Jake owns a lawn care business. They also do a little bit of construction. Owning a business can have benefits such as a flexible schedule, an overhead view of everything that’s going on, and being in control of what you do everyday. Although there are benefits to it, owning your own business can also have some drawbacks as well. For example, Jake’s job is hard because most of his employees are kids and sometimes they can’t work that day. If it rains, that also messes them up as well, considering he owns a lawn care business,
“The knows are good, but what’s unknown can really hurt you and clients can be really difficult to deal with,” says Franke. “But the good clients make it all worth it.”
Owning a business can feel both rewarding and exciting. It can also take lots of hard work and dedication. You have to stay not only focused, but consistent. It is important to know that success doesn’t come right away; you should expect it to take time.
“High school students thinking about starting a business should know that success doesn’t come automatically—it depends on the effort you put in every day,” said Mr. Michaels, Wheeling Park Business teacher.
Though it takes lots of hard work, owning your own business comes with benefits as well. You get to do things your own way, you’re in charge of everything, make your own decisions, and turn your ideas into realities. Owning your own business means that you are taking on the responsibility of being in control and being not only your own boss, but your employees’ boss as well.
“It starts with identifying a product or service that solves a problem or fills a need, and figuring out who your customers are and how to reach them,” said Michaels.
If you’re going to own a business, you should also know that it’s important to handle the legal side of things as well. Some businesses require licenses or permits. You should also be aware of basic laws and taxes when it comes to selling products and/or services. It’s also important that you are advertising your business, services, and products.
“Marketing is crucial too; using social media, word of mouth, or other creative advertising helps attract customers,” said Michaels.
