I am a 16 year old boy and I am trying to start my own business. However no one takes me seriously!?

Question

Basically, I have rights to 2,000 Auto-Rickshaws in India and I plan to use them for Advertising purposes. I have tried to raise the necessary $10,000 for Start-up costs (Starting a company, hiring legal help, getting Placards for Advertising, etc.) but everyone looks at my age and translates that into incompetence. I am frustrated as I have spent hours of rational thought into the idea and I am trying to document a flaw, but as far as I can envision it is a perfectly good idea. As a 16 year old, I do not have accumulated Capital. My parents are not very supportive either. I believe that what I have is a good, planned concept without any clear means of Capital accrual. Everything else, I have worked with and executed. I am confused and on the verge of giving up, and because of my age, lose out on a good opportunity. I was wondering if anyone can help me. Thank You.

Answer 1

Find a business partner that is older and will be taken seriously- an older bro, parent, uncle someone who can help you with the age thing.

Answer 2

Obviously a lot of us are from different countries so we don't understand what you are going through in trying to start a business.

First of all, I want to commend you because you are very motivated. I'm sorry that you cannot get this started now.

But when I see that you want to start out with 2,000 auto-rickshaws at 10,000 start up costs, that seems like a huge business venture. Instead, I wonder if you would consider looking into this business on a smaller scale. Possibly purchase one or two of the auto-rickshaws and you and another person start doing the work. As the business grows, add on to it.

Here in America, we would not consider going into a new business venture at a full capacity because
A) you have no guarantee that there will be a market for it.
B) the difficulty keeping up with that volume of employees (2000) would be overwhelming. No business person I know of starts that large.
C) Your employee turnover would be tremendous by starting out at a full capacity - just trying to find that amount of workers would be a full time job for several people.
D) Any business instructor would advise you not to go for that large of a business. However, there is no reason you could not plan to expand the business as it catches on.
E) What happens if you do not have the volume of customers at first? You would have a lot of employees not having the business revenues to continue operating.

I'd recommend rethinking this and considering scaling down to a manageable amount. Look at what you and one or two people could handle in a business and expand it as the demand comes in for more business. For instance, think about where the largest area is in your city for these rickshaws and start from there.

Run the figures on what it would cost just to start a very small-scale operation and see what the cost would be. If you do, most likely you would get someone to help you out.

Answer 3

2 words.
Skepticsm and intrigue.

I myself with be very intrigue on how at your young age came up with a brilliant idea, although a good idea, but still half cook.

Skeptics, most people at your when get holds of such large amount, will end up squndering them before the year is over. Young people are usually prone to excessiveness and stupidity, I am not saying you are stupid, but you may be prone to make stupid mistake like partying and good time, end up spending all the capitals you have.

This alone will make people think twice in investing on you.

What you can do is prove that your idea will works, after that investor will be easier to find and probably will have more financing than what you had originally asked for.

You mentioned that you have the rights to 2000 auto-rickshaws, I am not going to ask how you acquire this right, but what is the time limits of this rights? do you have to exercise them now? or you can use part of it and option for the rest? is it exclusive?

You can start getting advertisement for 10 rickshaws, charge a reasonable amount for this, see how it goes. You have to oversome the skeptics and show it works, then you go for the big one.

You can start with minimum capital, if you dont have one, use a profit sharing scheme with a friend you can come up with a small investment, keep the option open in case you want to do it alone as you grow big.

Answer 4

It's all in appearance and how you present yourself. You need to show people that you are determined, professional, and mature for your age. You need to always have a tidy appearance (people say that looks don't matter - but they lie) and always introduce yourself with your full name, even to people you already know. Speak professionally using proper language for the occasion including jargon if appropriate. You put a lot of time into the project; show them that. Calculate charts and visuals to help your presentation and show these people why your idea is THE idea. Don't give up, I believe in you. I'm 16 and I'm trying to write a book. You can't limit a person's abilities by age. Maybe you just need to find a new and more open-minded market for your idea. If it's a good one, then someone will recognize it as such. Good luck and I hope you succeed!!!

Answer 5

Older people always have some a hard time taking younger people seriously, and that is because on the news we always hear about what some young kids have done! There isn't alot that you can do about it, you just need to prove that you are a responsible young man, you have to act grown up.
I think some of the people that don't believe you, just don't believe that it can be possible for someone as young as you to have such an awesome idea, because it may have taken them 35 years to come up with anything feasible, if any ideas at all. good luck to you.

Answer 6

It seems like other poeple have covered everything as far as advice and kind words, so I'm going to stir the pot by asking how on earth a 16 year-old got ownership of 2000 auto-rickshaws!?

Answer 7

Look at our age NOBODY will take you seriously! You just have to keep trying, and hope the years go by faster! You sound like you have everything played out nicely, and I hope that it will work out for you! Try to focus more on being a teen right now, you'll get your chance at the business world soon enough! Hope I helped!

Answer 8

Well! You seem as if you are heading down the right path. Your best bet is to seek legal advise. Your age may scare people away because of the contractual age being 18. Just hang on and know that I am rooting for you! I take my hat off to you and wish you soooo much success!

Answer 9

I can relate. I had a terrible time with a web design business at that age for the same reason. I'd just recommend keeping your options open, trying some other smaller business ideas that have require less investment. That way you build both your funds and reputation, while aging at the same time.

Answer 10

I commend your initiave.

However, please check into contract law in your country. In many countries, a minor cannot legally enter into any contract without parental consent (which could affect hiring employees, getting your placards and legal help.)

If you hang on to your rights, you can begin to develop your plan now, and persue it when you can legally enter a contract, and will quailfy for small business loans, et cetera.