Issue date: May 2, 1999

3 teens who mean business

These young entrepreneurs have parlayed their pastimes into profits.
Special Report: Teens & Money
Web Worker
Horse trianer
Child-care prvider
Launch a business

By MicheleHatty

Michael Frederickson,
Pembroke, Mass.
Age: 14.
Business: Web site designer.
Earnings: $13,000 projected for this year.

What he does with the money: Reinvests half back into the business; spends a quarter of earnings on fun stuff, such as his new Austin Powers poster; saves the rest. Time spent on business: 30 minutes a day - after he finishes his homework.

Quick start: At age 11, Michael invented and sold a magnetic tie tack. When it didn't take off, the self-taught computer whiz went tech with MicahTech Services, which he runs out of his bedroom.

Salesfriends: Recruits friends to pitch services to local businesses - and gives them a 10% cut of the sale.

Advice: "If you're just going to do it for the money, don't do it. You won't be successful."

Off the clock: Honor student and recreational basketball player.

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Leigh Taylor,
Dewey, Okla.
Age: 17.
Business: Horse trainer.
Earnings: $400 a month.

What she does with the money: Half goes into her college account. The rest goes for clothes and school expenses, including $850 for senior pictures and an $86 class ring.

Time spent on business: 10-12 hours a week.

Lucky break: Leigh fell into being a teenage horse-whisperer-for-hire. She had been riding and showing her own horses for four years when she was approached to train another girl's horse. Within a few months, the horse was ready.

Perks: She can show the horses she trains in competitions.

Hard-won wisdom: "Be really careful who you choose to do business with." Leigh says she's been burned by competitors who tried to discredit her because of her age.

Preschool flashback: In summer, her workday includes a midday break from the heat - complete with nap.

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Alejandra Torres,
Wahiawa, Hawaii
Age: 13.

Business: Child-care provider.

Earnings: $120 a month.

What she does with the money: Alejandra is a born saver. With her mother's help, she puts most of her cash into mutual funds (but she can't resist shelling out $24.95 for a subscription to her favorite magazine, Dog Fancy).

Time spent on business: 6-10 hours a week.

When given a lemon: Animal lover Alejandra started dog sitting a couple of years ago. She switched to baby sitting when her family moved from Kentucky to a mostly pet-free military base on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Combine and conquer: On weekends, she watches as many as five kids from different families at once. She charges parents $2 an hour for the first child, plus $1 per additional child.

Advertising: Her parents spread the word and act as bookers.

Top tip: "Start off with something you like."

Plans: Torres is trying to set up a baby sitters' club to pool jobs.

Photo Credit: From left: Webb Chappell, Eli Reichman and David Murphey for USA WEEKEND

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Want to launch a business?

Other hot fields: jewelry design and sales, custom-made sports apparel (such as silk-screened T-shirts), music ventures (mobile DJ-ing, custom-made CDs) and food-related businesses.

Tips from Drew and from Juan Casimiro of KidsWay Inc., an Atlanta-based company that helps young people become entrepreneurs:

• Do something you love.
• Do something realistic. Keep in mind that school comes first.
• Start small.
• Define your target audience. Don't create something that you like but that the market doesn't need or want.
• Stay out of debt. "Our slogan is 'Buy low, sell high and keep good records,' " Casimiro says.
• Don't be a boss. Drew cautions against hiring other teens as employees because labor laws are tricky. It is OK to pay friends as consultants (as long as they set
  their own hours) or to have other teens as equal partners.
• Remember Uncle Sam. The same tax laws that apply to working adults also apply to kids who earn income.

For a free catalog of resources including books, videos and software, or to order Young Entrepreneur magazine, call 1-888-543-7929.

For more pointers on becoming a teen entrepreneur, click www.kidsway.com , or www.youngandsuccessful.com.