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Business Plan Examples for Students

Ajay Jagtap

• December 29, 2023

26 Min Read

Do you know what’s the most common mistake students and rookie entrepreneurs make while preparing their first business plan?

Of course, it’s the first business plan we’re talking about; there’ll definitely be a few. However, overcomplicating things and failing to consider a business plan example still remains the most common one.

That’s why we decided to come up with a solution. We’ve curated this list of top business plan examples for students to help you get going.

So whether you need a business plan for a college project, start a side hustle, or win a business competition, these examples are just what you need to create business plans that stand out.

Ready to dive in? Let’s start by understanding the key elements of a business plan example:

Key Elements of a Business Plan Example

Business planning is not as complicated of a process as people think it is; they’re just overcomplicating things. (Don’t think so?)

Let’s simplify the key elements that make up a comprehensive business plan; you’ll understand it better that way.

Executive Summary:

Company overview:, market analysis:, products and services:, sales and marketing strategies:, operations plan:, management team:, financial plan:.

That’s pretty much it about the key elements of a business plan example. Next, let’s explore the best business plan examples for students.

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Top Business Plan Examples for Students

Now that you already know about the components of a business plan template, let’s review some of the best business plan examples for students.

1. Startup Business Plan Example

Upmetrics’ startup business plan example is the ideal solution for students planning to start up or participate in a business plan competition. This business plan template follows the SBA-approved business planning format used by thousands of successful entrepreneurs.

Whether your startup is about a new-age AI-based application, an online shopping site, or traditional IT consulting—this sample business plan is just what you need.

Unlike any traditional small business plan, this example of a startup business plan is lean and agile in approach, focuses on innovation, and emphasizes market validation.

2. Lean Business Plan Example

Since you’re transitioning from a student to an entrepreneur, you may not have enough time to spend on creating a detailed business plan. That’s where this lean business plan template can help.

It’s a condensed version of a traditional plan summarizing all its sections with a primary focus on covering only the critical aspects of the business.

This template is best for startups or businesses uncertain about business planning and student-turned-entrepreneurs with limited time and resources to prepare a business plan.

3. SBA Business Plan Example

Following an SBA-recommended business plan format is key to securing bank loans and business grants. Since it can be time-consuming to find a template that follows a similar outline as the SBA, this SBA-approved business plan example is the way to get started.

This SBA business plan template has nine primary sections, that include executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization, product description, marketing, funding request, and financial projections.

SBA business plan examples ensure you stay on track and don’t deviate from your funding needs.

4. One-Page Business Plan Example

As you may have already guessed, a one-page business plan is a one-page version of a traditional business plan. Since it’s a condensed version of a business plan, drafting it can be quite easy and quick compared to a lean or traditional plan.

Employees, partners, and vendors often use one-page business plans as a quick overview of your company and banks and investors as a summary of your operations.

While it may not be the ideal choice for entrepreneurs seeking investment or bank loans, students with side hustles and idea-stage startups can consider this option.

5. HBS Sample Business Plan

Harvard Business School’s new venture competition selected this sample business plan as a finalist in 2011.

This is a business plan of App Success, a collaborative web-based platform that connects low-income high school seniors with college students from top universities; this business will enable them to collaborate on college selection, college applications, and financial aid applications.

This example can be a great reference for those planning to start a mobile or web-based solution.

6. Kean University Sample Business Plan

Kean University organizes a business plan competition every year for its students where students prepare and present business plans to compete, and this is one of the sample business plans the University provides to participants to understand the format.

It’s a business plan of Blue Water Boatworks, Inc., a boat detailing and cleaning company specializing in servicing recreational fiberglass and aluminum watercraft.

This example can be a great reference for those planning to start a business related to housekeeping, cleaning, or maintenance.

7. UVM Sample Business Plan

If you are looking for a strategic business plan for a food business, the University of Vermont’s Fancy Foods Business Plan can be a guiding resource for you.

Despite the fact that it can be a good reference for detailed planning, it was written in 1998, so any statistics and numbers may not seem relevant to today’s market landscape. Make sure you keep that in mind.

You may closely follow this example as a reference if planning to start a food truck, restaurant, or any other business that serves food.

That was the list of best sample business plans for students. However, there’s more to talk about. You now have a business plan example, but what about pitching to investors? Let’s explore free pitch deck examples for students.

Free Pitch Deck Example for Students

Pitching to investors as a first-time founder can be exciting but also overwhelming at times. Worry not; we’ve got a solution—investor pitch templates. We’ve prepared a set of 8 investor pitch templates and examples for students and entrepreneurs to help create winning business pitches.

Whether you need a pitch to find an opportunity, ask for subject matter knowledge, or a problem-solving pitch, these investor pitch examples have got you covered. Download now.

How to write a winning plan for a business plan competition?

Creating a business plan is no different than creating one for a real business. Similar to how entrepreneurs prepare and present business plans to investors, Students in business plan competitions pitch to judges.

In short, the business planning process remains exactly the same. Let’s discuss how you can write a winning plan to help you win a business plan competition.

• Select a compelling business idea : everything starts with a compelling idea. Make sure you have a viable business idea to compete in the competition.
• Refer to winning business plan examples : Once you are sure about your business concept, refer to business plan examples from previous winners and how they planned the sections of their plan.
• Market Research & Industry Analysis : After referring to business plan examples, conduct industry research and market analysis to make your statistical and financial numbers accurate and realistic.
• Understand business model and revenue streams : Since you are preparing a business plan for a company that doesn’t exist, be sure about the business model and how the business will generate profit.
• Use AI business plan generator : Using an AI business plan generator like Upmetrics can be incredibly helpful in speeding up the business planning process. With industry-specific business plan templates and AI assistance to write your plan, you can write the first draft of your plan in literally no time.
• Presentation and visuals : Prepare visuals and graphs to make your business plan visually appealing and numbers digestible. You may not need to prepare these visuals if you use business plan software manually.
• Proofread and edit : Grammatical errors are the last thing judges want to see in a business plan. Make sure you proofread and edit your draft thoroughly before submitting it.

Easy as that, that’s the way to write a perfect business plan that can lead you to victory in any business plan competition on planet Earth. Let’s have a look at a real-life business and financial plan example.

Business and Financial Plan Example for Students

Having learned about business planning for students, let’s quickly discuss a coffee shop sample business plan and financial statements prepared using Upmetrics.

1. Executive Summary

The Cooper’s Cup will be a new cafe in Phoenix, Arizona. The 1,500 square foot café will be located in the newly constructed Market Square Plaza on the northeast corner of 135th Street and Mission Street. The anchor tenant, the Price Chopper grocery store, has already taken occupancy, and the excellent location brings more than 10,000 shoppers weekly.

The Cooper’s Cup, aptly named for the aromatic brown liquid that will fill the cup, fills the void of original cafes in the market and stands out from its corporate peers with its fast food concepts and prompt services. The Cooper’s Cup is the alternative to fast food/commercial/coffee shops and offers a much calmer, civilized gourmet coffee experience.

There are no televisions in the cafe, the background music is subtle, and work from local artists will hang on the walls. The restaurant is well-appointed, with overstuffed leather chairs and sofas in a library-like setting. The cafe is reminiscent of times gone by – yet is cutting edge technologically with WIFI and state-of-the-art espresso machines.

The Cooper’s Cup measures its financial success in terms of increased market share and earnings. This is a tremendous opportunity with a total local market of $54 million! The keys to success will be offering quality gourmet coffees, taking advantage of its small size, and relying on an outstanding barista staff.

To achieve these goals, the cafe will present some of the area’s finest gourmet beans from local distributors. Because of its small size, the restaurant can enjoy larger margins through lower overhead. The cafe will hand-select baristas and offer salaries comparable to the chains. The baristas will be trained to cross-sell and sell higher-margin products.

The primary objectives of the business plan for Cooper’s Cup are below:

• To increase revenues by $36,000 or 5% in Year 2 and $73,000 or 10% by Year 3
• Achieve a profit margin of 5.2% in Year 2 and 6.90% by Year 3
• Be the Cafe of Choice in the Phoenix area and the recipient of the Best Coffeehouse Award.

Guiding Principles

The Cooper’s Cup is committed to values such as excellence, passion, quality, integrity, and leadership, allowing them to navigate challenges and provide for future opportunities. These core beliefs start with their commitment to their products and their employees. Cooper’s Cup rewards excellence and cherishes loyalty. The cafe will work with its employees to build strong businesses and a secure future.

Mission statement

The Cooper’s Cup is committed to its products and employees, which they believe is the recipe for market success.

Key to success

The Cooper’s Cup stands out from the competition. Below are their Keys to Success:

• Great Products : providing exemplary products at market prices – will make customers want to return again and again.
• Hire Quality Baristas : Pay employees rates similar to the larger chains with opportunities for long-term careers and opportunities for advancement with long-term plans to open a second facility.
• Convert Customers to Connoisseurs : Only 40% of the nation’s coffee drinkers consume premium ground and whole bean coffee – this will aid in the continued growth.

Financial Summary

2. Business Overview

The Cooper’s Cup will be a coffee house/cafe located in Phoenix, Arizona. The cozy cafe will be located in the newly completed Market Square Plaza in the Arizona City area. The cafe will serve gourmet coffee, espresso, drip coffee, lattes, and smoothies. The simple pastry offerings may vary with seasonality, but the primary line will be muffins, bread, cookies, scones, and rolls. All pastries will be supplied daily by a local bakery.

The cafe will be owned and operated by Owen Jones, a veteran restaurateur with several years of experience running and managing chain restaurants. The cafe will be open for business Monday – Thursday 7-10, Fridays and Saturdays, 7-11, and closed Sundays.

The Cooper’s Cup will be formed as an S-Corporation owned by Mr. Doe.

Start-Up Summary

The Cooper’s Cup will have seating for 40 patrons. The rent is $2,075 a month, with a three-five-year lease available. The site comprises 1500 square feet of leased space consisting of a dining room, a coffee bar, two restrooms, and a storage room in the back.

This storefront needs to be plumbed and wired appropriately to be used as a restaurant. Painting, new floors, and countertops are also needed. A custom coffee bar needs to be built. With materials bought on sale and volunteer labor, the cost to renovate will be $71,725.

The coffeehouse equipment will consist of two commercial espresso machines, air pots and urns, a commercial blender, a commercial brewer, top-loading coffee bins, barista syrups, cold drink dispenser, frothing equipment, a commercial refrigerator, microwave, and stainless steel prep bar.

The cost of the equipment is $38,275. The furniture will consist of leather couches and chairs (purchased at auction), coffee tables, bookcases, and window treatments. The artwork will come from local artists and be sold on a consignment basis. The books were secured via donations. The total cost to furnish is $14,000. Other startup expenses will be dishes, furniture, rent deposit, and marketing.

Location and Facilities

The new coffeehouse is located in the highly desirable Phoenix, Arizona, area at the northeastern intersection of 135th Street and Mission Street in the Newmarket Square Plaza. The property is situated in an excellent location, with an easy 6-minute drive time to I-435 and 69 Highway. 

The property is 95% leased with Price Chopper as the Anchor Tenant. Other tenants include LifeSpring Med Spa, Jane’s Canines (Pet Store & Boarding), Pride Cleaners Kahn Dental, and Swim U. 

Price Chopper brings more than 10,000 shoppers per week to the center. The location comprises a population of 9,420 within a one-mile radius, 61,102 within a 2-mile radius, and 149,550 within a 5-mile radius – with a median household income of $120,856. Sprint / Nextel’s corporate office is within 2 miles of the site.

3. Market Analysis

Phoenix, Arizona, is an award-winning place to live and work and is considered the leading business community in the Midwest. National publications and organizations recognize Phoenix for its business environment and livability. Here’s a sampling: 6th Place, America’s Best Places to Live Money, Top 50 Cities to Live and Play, National Geographic Adventure, 3rd Hottest Town in the U.S., Money, Among 20 Best Places to Live & Work Employment Review, One of only 72 Sterling Tree Cities in the U.S., National Arbor Day Foundation, Top 10 best Locations to Raise a Family, Southern Business and Development, 1st Place, Kid Friendly Report Card, Population Connection, 2nd Best City in America to Live Business Development Outlook.

Phoenix is at the core of one of the most dynamic local markets in the U.S. It offers easy access to the Arizona City region’s amenities, and, as part of the Arizona City metropolitan area, it is within the most centrally located major market in the nation. I-35, I-435, I-635, and U.S. Highway 69 all pass through Phoenix, and no point in the city is more than 3.5 miles from a freeway. The city maintains an excellent arterial street network and plans to construct additional lane-miles as the area grows. Three airports serve the region. Arizona City International Airport (MCI) is just 25 interstate highway miles north of Phoenix. Johnson County Executive Airport—the second busiest in Arizona—provides complete services for private business jets and general aviation. New Century AirCenter, just 12 miles southwest of the city, offers available aviation services and accommodates cargo or passenger jets of any size.

Phoenix supplies some of the most highly educated workers in the nation, with 97% of Phoenix adults over age 25 holding at least a high school diploma. Johnson County, where Phoenix is located, ranks first among the country’s 231 counties with populations greater than 250,000. The county ranks sixth in the percentage of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree and 16th with a graduate or professional degree.

The Phoenix area has a population of 175,265, based on the 2010 census. The median household income is $77,881, and the median age is 37.9. (2010 U.S. Census)

Industry Analysis

The U.S. coffee shop industry includes about 20,000 stores with a combined annual revenue of about $10 billion. Major companies include Caribou Coffee, International Coffee & Tea (The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf), Peet’s Coffee, and Starbucks. The industry is concentrated: the top 50 companies generate more than 70 percent of sales. Coffee shops are part of the specialty eatery industry, including retail outlets specializing in bagels, donuts, frozen yogurt, and ice cream products. (First Research)

Competitive Landscape

Consumer taste and personal income drive demand. The profitability of individual companies depends on the ability to secure prime locations, drive store traffic, and deliver high-quality products. Large companies have advantages in purchasing, finance, and marketing. Small companies can compete effectively by offering specialized products, serving a local market, or providing superior customer service. Specialty eateries, which include coffee shops, are labor-intensive: average annual revenue per worker is about $50,000. Coffee shops compete with convenience stores, gas stations, quick service, fast food restaurants, gourmet food shops, and donut shops. (First Research)

Market Size

The U.S. coffee shop industry includes about 20,000 stores with a combined annual revenue of about $10 billion. Major companies include Caribou Coffee, International Coffee & Tea (The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf), Pet’s Coffee, and Starbucks. The industry is concentrated: the top 50 companies generate more than 70 percent of sales. (First Research)

Target Market and Segment Strategy

Most adult coffee drinkers said their lifelong habits began during their teenage years. 54% said they began drinking coffee between 13 and 19. Another 22% reported their coffee cravings started between 20 and 24. This means that 76% of adult coffee drinkers began drinking coffee by the time they were 24. So, despite a large amount of marketing and advertising directed at the younger age groups, savvy coffee shop owners will remember to cater some of their offerings to the adult and senior market. (National Coffee Drinking Study).

The Cooper’s Cup will offer a unique experience for coffee enthusiasts by providing a quiet, cozy, yet sophisticated cafe and a sense of refinement and peace in an otherwise hectic and fast-paced world. While other coffee shops cater to convenience with drive-throughs or loud music venues late into the night, the Cooper’s Cup will stand apart from its competitors with its quiet yet soothing ambiance, capturing a truly unique (and much-needed) market niche.

• Unique products (specialized roasts, local ingredients, locally-themed or named drinks, custom drinks by the star barista, etc.)
• Games, puzzles, mind benders, and other activities that encourage customers to linger over their coffee
• Hosting or sponsoring local events (entertainment, readings, book clubs, etc.)
• Using technology to creatively compete in marketing with big chains — services like FourSquare, Yelp, and Google Places can increase visibility in the local market.
• Delivering amazing service from knowledgeable baristas — spend lots of time training staff and utilizing online services like the American Coffee & Barista School.
• Selling coffee-related items (and tracking down any co-marketing opportunities with a local community college or another student-related group in the area)

4. Products and Services

Product/services descriptions.

The Cooper’s Cup’s primary offering is gourmet roasted coffees with mocha, carmelicious, white mocha, candy bar latte, and brewed coffee. Complementing the coffee will be a smoothie line including wild berry, strawberry, peach, mango, and lemonade. Rounding out the simple menu line will be pastries obtained from an outside supplier, freshly made and delivered daily. The pastry offerings may vary with seasonality, but the primary line will be muffins, bread, cookies, scones, and rolls.

Product/Service Sourcing

The Cooper’s Cup has negotiated supplier agreements with several local food-service wholesalers and coffee wholesalers in the Phoenix area that have a reputation for quality and reliability:

• Mean Beans Coffee Roasters
• Phoenix Brewers
• Healthy Harvest Bread Co.
• Mary’s Organics

If one of the abovementioned specialty suppliers cannot meet their needs, the following national suppliers can provide all the food-service products they require. In addition, the following wholesalers will supply the cafe with general restaurant supplies:

• Lawrence Food Products Corp.
• Gerry Food Supply Inc.

Future Products/Services

Young families, which comprise Phoenix’s third largest market share, are often overlooked in the coffee market. Coffeehouses traditionally have not been considered ‘kid’ friendly. To overcome this hurdle, Cooper’s Cup has long-term plans (5 years) to open a 2nd coffee shop: A combination indoor play area/coffee bar. This concept allows parents and caregivers to meet and relax with other adults while the children can enjoy the indoor playground amenities.

Additional future services will include in-store sales for home purchases and an online store.

The website will have the option to purchase a prepaid gift card program – Prepaid gift cards provide immediate cash, reduce credit card transaction charges, and draw new customers to the business.

5. Sales and Marketing Strategies

Swot analysis.

Unique Selling Proposition

The Cooper’s Cup stands out from a crowded sea of coffee chains and franchises. What sets it apart from the competition is primarily its smaller, cozier size combined with premium coffees served by knowledgeable baristas, providing so much energy and enthusiasm for its products.

Market Strategy and Positioning

The Cooper’s Cup utilizes a focus strategy on its Market. By specifically targeting three primary segments, they can cater specifically to their needs.

Senior Market (age 45+)

The Cooper’s Cup will target this Market simply by its well-selected location. Although this demographic group could readily drive downtown, they prefer a local cafe to unwind and relax and historically become some of the most loyal patrons.

Newly Hired Employees

The cafe will attract regular customers (weekly or more) – particularly the newly employed (first job) by providing free WIFI services and providing interesting games in the customer area.

Young Families

The third targeted Market, younger families, often find that coffeehouse is not ‘kid’ friendly. The company has long-term plans to create a combination coffee shop/play area so that parents and caregivers can meet with other adults while the children can enjoy the bounce houses, slides, and indoor playground equipment.

Pricing Strategy

The Cooper’s Cup primarily utilizes competition-based pricing. The cafe does not utilize coupons and discounts (other than opening promotions) because they believe that the most valuable customer demographic of daily coffee consumers is not influenced by discount programs or coupons.

Promotion and Advertising Strategy

• Online Advertising – The Cooper’s Cup will advertise regularly on popular social media sites like Facebook. Compared to traditional print advertising, this is a cost-effective tactic that will allow them to reach prospects in a highly targeted way (e.g., based on criteria such as age, gender, geography, etc.).
• Website – Cooper’s Cup will develop a simple Web site, which will provide basic information about the business, the menu, and links to their presence on the aforementioned social media channels.
• Radio Advertising – During the first six months of operation and the busy holiday shopping season, the business will advertise on local radio stations.

Sales Strategy

The Cooper’s Cup will use the following methods to increase sales revenue (as recommended by Andrew Hetzel on Better Coffee, Better Business):

• The menu will focus on the most profitable products sold. The cafe will always draw customer attention to the best products.
• As warranted, the cafe will raise prices to bolster its brand image. Prices communicate the perceived value of a product, so if set too low, the customers might assume that the beverages are inferior compared to the competition.
• Monitor flavoring inventory – Excess flavoring inventory ties up capital and valuable backroom space for storage. The cafe will utilize 4-6 varieties, including sugar-free offerings.
• Control waste and theft – audit sales and inventory reports to evaluate ingredient waste due to inefficient preparation, returned drinks, and employee consumption. Retail locations can easily waste 20% or more of their daily sales in these three key categories, which is a substantial and unnecessary loss.
• Monitor and evaluate hours of operation.
• Run employee sales contests – The baristas are the salespeople and have great influence over the customer ordering process. All baristas will have some form of sales and customer service training to make each transaction active rather than passive. Sales contests will emphasize high-margin items or cross-selling.

6. Operations Plan

Staffing and training.

An ongoing training and education program will ensure that each staff member learns and implements Cooper’s Cup’s exacting service and operational procedures standards. Staff meetings will reinforce service standards and principles. The Cafe will have detailed work descriptions and training programs for each position, from entry-level employees to the ongoing development of managers and owners. New employees will undergo an extensive training program. This ensures that each guest receives a quality experience from all employees, regardless of how long they have been employed. The Cafe embraces the concept of promoting from within. Excellence in one function typically leads to excellence in another. Regular staff evaluations and training will ensure motivation and address critical issues.

Inventory controls

The founder will be responsible for hiring and training managers who, in turn, will ensure that the day-to-day operations will comply with the standards set by Restaurant policy. Weekly management meetings will provide a forum to review and discuss financial and operational performance. Critical decisions related to purchasing, human resources, marketing, capital expenditures, and customer service will also be addressed.

Purchasing cost controls

Food preparation personnel will follow standardized recipes developed by the founders to control food costs and ensure consistency. The coffee shop will offer an innovative menu with nutritious food and beverages while achieving the most significant margin yield.

Customer Service

The hospitality business recognizes the client’s support experience is the critical driver to replicate business. The direction will Offer a superior degree of Professionalism by hiring individuals who deliver the ideal attitude to work and teaching them the skills required to accommodate guests. The restaurant will keep high levels of consumer satisfaction with talented, educated, and well-trained workers who understand and implement the fundamentals of fantastic service. Ongoing training will be provided to enable staff to perform their jobs with confidence and ability. Employees are well-spoken, well-versed, and trained to provide friendly, prompt, and professional service to each customer. This practice teaches employees who, by producing an exceptional customer experience, can optimize sales and raise their reimbursement. The team will have the knowledge and service required to create excellent daily service for every customer.

Technology & Software

While the quality of the cuisine and dining experience contributes significantly to a restaurant’s profitability, attention to business and financial details can transform small changes into significant returns. Critical sales, cost of sales, labor, inventory, marketing, and overhead metrics are monitored daily. Trends are evaluated, and constructive actions will be taken where improvement is needed. The management team will have access to the restaurant’s transactions and reports available in its real-time POS (point of sale) and accounting systems. Trends will be evaluated, and corrective action will be implemented as required.

7. Organization Structure

The Cooper’s Cup is formed as an S-Corporation wholly owned by John Doe.

Management Team

The Cooper’s Cup will be owned 100% by John Doe. Mr. Doe, a graduate of Arizona State University, has an undergraduate degree in business administration. During high school, he worked as a waiter in a local hospital coffee shop that purchased its beans from a local roaster. In addition to being an avid coffee drinker, this job allowed him to learn about the business first-hand. In college, Doe worked in a campus coffeehouse for four years, eventually becoming an assistant manager. Following graduation, Doe secured a business development position for a regional restaurant chain, which provided additional first-hand exposure to the food and beverage industry—especially the steps involved in establishing new locations.

Management Team Gaps

The Cooper’s Cup will rely on its POS (Point of Sale) system to generate daily accounting and cost activity reports. Mr. Doe will supply these to an outside bookkeeper for the preparation of annual income taxes.

Personnel Plan

Initially, the cafe will hire 1 manager, 5 baristas, and 2 part-time servers. In Year 2, the cafe plans to hire 1 additional full-time barista.

8. Financial Plan

Important assumptions.

• The sales forecast is conservative and assumes a 5% increase in Year 2 and a 10% in Year 3.
• The analysis accounts for economic seasonality – wherein some month’s revenues peak (such as holidays ) and wane in slower months.
• The analysis assumes the owner will not withdraw any salary till the 3rd year; at any time it is assumed that the owner’s withdrawal is available at his discretion.
• Sales are cash basis – nonaccrual accounting
• Moderate ramp-up in staff over the 5 years forecast
• Barista’s salary in the forecast is $36,000 in 2023.
• In general, most cafes have an 85% gross profit margin
• In general, most cafes have a 3% net profit margin

Projected Balance Sheet

Projected Cash-Flow Statement

Projected Profit & Loss Statement

Break Even Analysis

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write a business plan for a college project.

As mentioned earlier in the article, business planning for a college project or competition is no different than for a real business. You can write your business plan using these step-by-step instructions.

• Select a compelling business idea
• Refer to business plan examples
• Prepare a business plan outline
• Create a company description section
• Conduct market research and industry analysis
• Describe your product and services
• Outline sales and marketing strategies
• Create an operations plan
• Introduce management team
• Prepare financial projections
• Summarize your plan with an executive summary

What is a business plan for students?

A business plan is a necessary business document that highlights its purpose,  business goals, product/service offerings, go-to marketing strategies, operations and financial plan, key people involved in the business operations, and other necessary details.

As a student, consider a business plan example as a document that helps you better understand business and industry dynamics and learn how a business operates inside out.

What is a business plan competition for students?

Business plan competitions are competitions mostly organized by universities for students passionate about entrepreneurship and the business world. These competitions offer students a platform to showcase their entrepreneurial skills while also providing opportunities for mentorship and networking.

How can I increase my chances of winning a business plan competition?

There cannot be a straightforward answer to this question, but there’s surely a method that can increase your chances of winning a competition—Using AI-powered business plan software.

Why? An AI tool will make you 10X more productive while writing a business plan and preparing financial forecasts. So you can spend more time researching the market and brainstorming business ideas.

Where can I find more business plan examples for students?

Upmetrics’ library of 400+ business plan examples could be an incredible source for students to find more industry-specific business plan examples. There are examples for almost every small business category, including real estate, retail, entertainment and media, food & beverages, and more.

About the Author

Ajay is a SaaS writer and personal finance blogger who has been active in the space for over three years, writing about startups, business planning, budgeting, credit cards, and other topics related to personal finance. If not writing, he’s probably having a power nap. Read more

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Business Plan Templates for Teens

If you want to launch a business, you have to have a plan! Here are some templates to help you get started.

The key to any successful business is to have a plan before getting started. Mapping out the business details is instrumental in determining if this idea is worth pursuing, which can save a lot of time and resources that could be used towards a different business that would be better suited for you and your business needs and wants. 

What To Include In a Business Plan

The point of a business plan is to outline your business strategy and plan your business out on paper. As your business grows and you are looking at expansion options, lenders will want a well-defined business plan to help them determine if lending to your business is the best option. When looking at business plan template packages for teens, you are looking for business plan templates that will help you transition your business ideas to full-fledged businesses that will help adults see the vision. 

The 7 parts of a business plan include:

• Executive Summary
• Business Description
• Products and Services
• Market Analysis
• Strategy and Implementation of Strategy
• Organizational Structure and Management Team
• Financial Plan and Future Projections

Best Business Plan Templates for Teenagers

Bizkids’ guide to writing a business plan.

This resource helps define the business idea and determine what to charge for the products and services that you want to offer. Learn how to evaluate your competition and what they are doing with their brand to bring value to their customers to figure out ways to make your brand unique so you can stand out in the marketplace. Determine what resources you need to build your business and how much those resources will cost you. Are there ways to bootstrap the company to make startup costs cheaper? Learn about breakeven costs and how many units you have to sell before you start making a profit with your business idea.

Teen Entrepreneur Toolbox: The Small-Business Guide for Teens

This toolbox provides 8 easy to follow, actionable steps to help teens evaluate whether or not their business idea is feasible for them to start and how to go about getting started. If you don’t currently have an idea for what business to start, this provides ideas and how to get started with them! Real teens share real business experiences and advice from their own journey, which can help you avoid making common business mistakes that will decrease your learning curve and get motivation and encouragement from teens that have faced similar challenges while building their businesses. Learn about marketing techniques that work, how to provide top-notch customer service, money management of profits, and goal setting for future growth. 

Home Sweet Road’s My Business Plan

This one-page business plan is free and easily downloadable. It can be printed out and hung on the wall for easy reference. The questions asked in this document are thought-provoking and help teens determine who the target audience is for their products and services. Defining the target audience will help establish a solid marketing plan that conveys the value of the product offering while making sure that the customer’s needs are being met. Customers want to buy from businesses that understand their needs and provide an ideal solution.

Proverbial Homemaker’s Family Business Plan Guide

Families can work together to build a business that kids and teens can run themselves and are passionate about running using this comprehensive business template and associated resources. Consider first why you want to start a business and why you are choosing THIS specific business. Understanding the reason for selecting that business idea builds confidence and helps maintain the passion for the company as time goes on. Create a monetary budget based on projected profits and figure out what price is best to charge for your products and services to secure sales from your target market. Set goals and manage your time, then figure out what laws are applicable for your business venture.

Learn how to conduct market research to see if there is a need for the services you want to provide before starting by conducting surveys or soft test launches. Find out where to source materials to make products and how much that will cost.  

Boss Club Kid Entrepreneur Kit

This kit is literally a business in a box, so kids and teens can get started right away as soon as they have it in their hands! Choose your kit and create the following businesses:

• Homemade dog treats
• Specialty cake pops
• Luxury bath bombs
• Delicious fudge
• Handmade soaps

If you are homeschooling, this kit counts as a homeschooling resource that you can receive credit for completing, which is a fantastic additional perk of using this tool. The intended audience is kids and teens ages 11-18, and provides over 100 videos with step-by-step instructions on how to set up and grow a business from the ground up. So far, over 100 schools across the United States are using this option for their students to learn how to set up a business that they are passionate about running. Getting teens started young on their entrepreneurial journey has been found to build self-esteem and teach decision-making early on that helps young adults make solid decisions in their lives as they mature. The benefit of this specific program is that it was created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs and not created by scholars that don’t have practical business knowledge. There is a quiz on their website that takes 30 seconds and helps you decide what business is best for your needs. 

Small Business Administration

This is a great government resource for teens who want to learn about business for free and about what resources are available from the government, such as loans and business coaching from experienced business owners in your community. There is no absolute right or wrong way to write a business plan in business, and you can choose how your business will run or how much money you need to start it. This resource allows you to walk through your business idea and plan with an experienced business owner that can talk through the pros and cons of what you feel is the next step for your business, from expansion to new investors to additional product offerings. This resource offers two different business plan templates that walk you through example business plans.

Solid Gold Biz Plan

This free business plan template from Money Prodigy discusses the author’s mistakes during her first 7 years in business and provides insights into how she would have conducted her business affairs differently if she had to start over again knowing what she knows now. The primary goal of this template is to find a problem that your business will solve. Many new entrepreneurs focus on the product or service but not on the problem it will solve in the marketplace. The goal should be to identify the problem and then develop the solution that will be offered as a product or service by your company. After determining the primary problem, she focuses on how to best deliver the solution and how much it will cost to maintain the delivery of the product or service. 

Shark Tank Lessons in Business and Entrepreneurship from Scholastic

A free lesson plan with a teacher’s guide that can be used in a group setting or as a family! Topics covered include entrepreneurship basics, writing an effective business plan, crafting persuasive pitches for investment presentations, and how to find a great business mentor. The target age group is grades 6 to 12.

Shark Tank Marketing Plan

A worksheet template that focuses on the target demographic for your business and the motivation that that demographic would have to buy a product or service that you are offering so you can establish the best way to market to them. Games are encouraged with this marketing package because this helps draw out ideas in fun ways that promote creativity and growth. Business is about finding creative solutions to problems and pivoting the company into new arenas when it becomes necessary for growth. Keeping an active marketing plan up to date as the business grows is key to expanding when necessary or finding innovative ways to keep customers engaged with your brand. 

Shark Tank Analysis Worksheet

Use this worksheet when evaluating businesses to learn what investors are looking for when assessing whether or not to invest in a business. Understanding what investors are looking for in a management team, mission, vision, product/service, research and development, and strategic implementation will help you create that within your own business to make your foundation strong.

A strong business plan that is well defined will take even the novice entrepreneur to the expert level of business in no time with the proper preparation. Using a business plan template in areas of planning, marketing, product development, and strategy will assist in building a business that can be bootstrapped and stood up quickly to test the business out in ways that require little startup capital.

Related Reading

• Entrepreneurship for teens
• How to earn money for teens

7 Business Plan Templates for Kids (Free Printables!)

By: Author Amanda L. Grossman

Posted on Last updated: January 5, 2023

Download one of these (mostly) free business plan templates for kids to help your child focus on a business idea.

What do super soakers, Apple computers, and Nike shoes all have in common?

They all started as a business plan.

A business plan template for kids is great for two reasons:

• Your child can play around with it and get familiar with what's required (even if they never start the business)
• It helps kids focus on just one business idea at time, and to see if they should move forward with it

No matter which category your own child falls into – just playing with business plans, or they have an actual business idea – I’ve got just the free business plan template for you.

Honestly? I wish my own parents would’ve given me one of these when, as a kid, my childhood friend and I had come up with our first kid business idea: selling bean bags. So, good on you for getting your kids involved with business plans so early in life!

Best Business Plan Templates for Kids

Use one of the business plan templates for kids below with one of these 16 kid business ideas .

OR, help them to use one of their original ideas sending sparks in their brain. You can use these 3 kid business plan examples for help with filling it out.

1. Solid Gold Biz Plan

I’ve been in business for 7 years and I’ve made about every mistake in the book.

Probably one of the biggest? Was that I didn't sit down to write a proper business plan (or, ANY business plan) until I was several years into blogging. 

Because of this, I created a free business plan template for kids and teens (on Page 6 of this free printable), so that they practice how to do it right, from the beginning! 

What makes my free Solid Gold Biz Plan different is that it starts your child thinking about the problem that they want to solve – because ultimately, that is the purpose of creating a product or a service. To solve a specific problem for people.

It then goes on to ask them simple questions that will focus them in on what it takes to plan out a business idea.

For example, I raise the question of how much it will cost to not only create the product/service, but to also deliver it and maintain it. These are sometimes costs forgotten costs when creating a business plan.

2. BizKids’ Guide to Writing a Business Plan

This free business plan guide for kids includes sections for your idea, your marketing (and what makes your product unique), your startup costs, and an area for pricing so that you can make sure you’ll make a profit.

At the end is a one-page summary where your child can write up their answers from the previous pages all in the same place. Great for tacking up on the wall!

3. Teen Entrepreneur Toolbox

Anthony ONeal partnered up with Dave Ramsey to create the  Teen Entrepreneur Toolbox , a kid’s entrepreneur kit and small business guide for teens.

In other words, it’s so much more than just a business template for kids!

The entrepreneur kit includes the following:

• Access to Free Entrepreneur Toolbox app
• Teen Portfolio Book
• DVD of Anthony’s Training Video
• Parent’s Guide Book
• Pack of Thank You Cards
• Deck of Conversation Starter Cards about Starting a Business
• Goal Tracker Poster

Here's my full review of the Teen Entrepreneur Toolbox .

4. Home Sweet Road’s My Business Plan

Check out this business plan for kids, which asks kids questions like what makes their idea unique, whether or not their idea is a product or service, and who their customers will be.

5. Proverbial Home Maker’s Family Business Plan Guide

This is such a fun guide that you can fill out with your child, teen, tween, or even the whole family. It includes family business ideas, a sales ledger, inventory worksheet, and much more.

Business Plan Examples

You may be wondering where you can find business plan examples to show your kids or teens.

For starters, you should look right at home. Are you a small business owner?

Then you’ll definitely want my free Take Your Child to Work Day printables – it’s got a section for you to fill in about your own business, which is a perfect business plan example to discuss with your child.

You can also find two business plan examples on the Small Business Administration’s site (scroll down until you see red buttons to Rebecca’s example business plan, and Andrew’s plan).

They’re not entirely kid-friendly, but can give lots of ideas for the kind of information and research to put into a business plan.

Business Plan Activity Worksheets

Check out these free PDF Shark Tank worksheets for students . Students or kids can work through coming up with their own business idea, create an advertisement for it, and a scoring card to judge the business ideas.

You’ll find a free 30-minute Small Business Administration course for young entrepreneurs meant for teens that you can use with your students (or have your child go through).

Hint: In Objective 3, it goes over how to create a business plan.

Are you an educator? Great – you can get free entrepreneur curriculum for Grades 1 – 12, with lots of worksheets, from the Venture Lab .

Further resources include:

• Teen Business Video Lessons
• EverFI’s Entrepreneurial Expedition
• FEE’s Course on the Entrepreneur’s Role in Creating Value
• Business Plan Note Taker (lots of great prompts to create a business plan with)

Grab 23 more entrepreneur lesson plans here.

I hope you've found some business template for kid resources that interest you? Below, you'll find other related kid entrepreneurship articles that will help your kids, teens, and students learn about the entrepreneur career path. 

Related Kid Entrepreneurship Resources

• 27 Youth Entrepreneur Awards and Scholarships
• 5 Kid Entrepreneur Kits
• 14 Kid Entrepreneur Books
• 11 Best Business Simulation Games for Kids
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School Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

School Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their schools.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a school business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a school business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a School Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your school as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a School

If you’re looking to start a school or grow your existing school, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your school to improve your chances of success. Your school business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Schools

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for schools are donations and gifts, tuition, personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for schools.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a school.

If you want to start a school or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your school business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of school you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a school that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of schools?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the school industry.
• Discuss the type of school you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of school you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of schools:

• Private K-12 school : this type of school typically charges tuition, and may be affiliated with a religious organization, or specialize in a particular learning method.
• Charter school: this type of school offers primary or secondary education for a tuition, and may receive some public funding, and/or donations. These schools require their students to take state-mandated exams.
• Special subject school: this type of school specializes in teaching a specific subject, such as driving, first-aid, self-defense, fine arts, language, or general tutoring.
• Preschool: this type of school typically serves children who are aged 3 and 4. These schools prepare young children to enter formal education, and are funded by some combination of tuition, donations, and government grants.

In addition to explaining the type of school you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of students served, the number of students accepted into elite formal education institutions, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the school industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the school industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your school business plan:

• How big is the school industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your school? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your school business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: families with elementary-aged children, families with high-school-aged children, families with preschool children.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of school you operate. Clearly, families with high schoolers would respond to different marketing promotions than families with preschoolers, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

Finish Your School Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other schools.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes public schools, virtual schools, and families who do homeschooling. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of students do they serve?
• What type of school are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide specialized instruction, either in subject or in method?
• Will you offer courses or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a school business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of school that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide religious-focused K-8 education, college preparatory courses, or single-subject instruction like driving or fine arts?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the courses and/or extracurricular activities you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your school. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your school located in a growing neighborhood, in the city center, or will you operate purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your school marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your school, including answering calls, planning and delivering instruction, applying for grants, fundraising, performing administrative tasks, overseeing instructors, handling discipline, scheduling and monitoring extracurricular activities, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to enroll your Xth student, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your school to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your school’s potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing schools. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in running a school or experience with public school administration or who has served on a public school board.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you enroll 100 or 1,000 students per semester, and/or offer extracurricular activities? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your school, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a school:

• Cost of equipment and supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your school location lease or a list of elective courses or extracurricular activities you will offer.  

Writing a business plan for your school is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the school industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful school.  

School Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my school business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your school business plan.

How Do You Start a School?

Starting a school is easy with these 14 steps:

• Choose the Name for Your School
• Create Your School Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your School
• Secure Startup Funding for Your School (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your School with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your School
• Buy or Lease the Right School Equipment
• Develop Your School Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your School
• Open for Business

Learn more about   how to start your own school .

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your School business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to learn about Growthink’s business plan writing services .

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How to write a simple business plan for students.

A business plan always has the same structure. Of course, if you plan to sell coffee, not to produce it, you will skip the “production” part, but other than that – you can’t skip anything.

Writing a business plan as a student , as a part of your college or university project, the best thing you can do is just to go into too many details. You have to save the structure, but you can describe your competitors in one abstract, not in five pages, with numbers and poll data.

Basic Business Plan Structure

Mostly, students are asked to make a marketing analysis and marketing plan more professionally than other parts, so we give more details about them.

Description of your business

Here is a brief overview of the experience of the entrepreneur, the date of creation of the company, the field of business, goals, and objectives of the work, available base, and resources.

Market analysis

List of competitors and their offers, estimation of demand, options of promotion and sale.

• Evaluation of the market. It is necessary to estimate the capacity of the market, the population, the number of potential customers. It is difficult to do this without complete marketing research. Therefore, you should look for the results of this assessment for your region. As a last resort, you can predict the estimated demand.
• Competitors. Make a list of your competitors who are already working in this market. Not only direct competitors that offer similar products and services but also those companies that produce alternative services should be considered. If you do not have a specialized tea boutique in your city, this does not mean that the market is free from competitors: you have to fight for customers with those department stores and supermarkets that also sell different types of tea.

Production plan

List of products (services provided) and their volumes, technological processes, necessary equipment and materials, cost calculation.

• Business processes. Write down the list of equipment, tools, raw materials, and materials needed to create your chosen range of products and services. Calculate the optimum production volumes your equipment can handle. Specify which employees and what kind of downloads you will need.
• Products. List the products, services, and work that you will offer your customers. Costs for the organization of business processes will allow you to find out the cost and to make a price list.
• Start-up investment. Calculate how much money it will take to start a project. Sum up the cost of all assets, fixed assets, repairs, materials, and other expenses that will be required to start production.

Organizational plan

List of necessary staff, organization of work, distribution of functions and tasks in the team, involvement of third-party organizations and specialists, personnel costs — calendar of activities for launching the project.

Marketing plan

Advertising channels and costs, ways to promote a company and its products (services), estimated marketing impact – sales volume, number of customers, and transactions.

• Promotion channels. Newspaper ads, radio and TV commercials, online advertising, creating your own site and group on social networks, advertising in local publics and forums, participating in trade shows .
• Target audience. Who to focus on when organizing sales. Who your client is by age, gender, occupation, income level. Where to find them and how to reach.
• Promotion cost. How much will it cost to find and engage? How often you will have to run ads, what are the appropriate options to choose?

Financial indicators

This is where the financial side of your business is reflected, namely: future costs (product purchases, rentals, hiring, etc.), revenue, net profit, profitability, and return on the project.

Risk assessment

A list of major issues that a company may face, their potential consequences, and a plan of measures to minimize them.

Project summary

The most important part is a compact presentation of the contents of the entire document on several pages, it is important here to place the accents correctly, taking into account the addressee and the purpose of preparing the business plan.

Even though it is only a business plan for students, not the one you would present to a real investor, try to make it look realistic.

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How to Write a Business Plan

• Last modified 2023-09-05
• Published on 2021-08-01

What is a business plan?

Simply speaking, a business plan is a guide for you and your teammates, “ describing in detail how a business—usually a startup—defines its objectives and how it is to go about achieving its goals. ” There are two types of business plans: traditional and lean. The images below illustrate the visualization of the two. Depending on the type of business, the structure of the organization, and the requirements of the stakeholders, you may have to complete a traditional business plan, which can be up to 20 pages long. A lean business plan is only one page long. 

Once you have a strong business idea , you can use the business plan to attract other team members to work with you to develop this product and/or service. Before discussing what goes into a traditional business plan, we will use this example from ThoughtCo in developing a business plan for an imaginary firm called Acme Management Technology company. 

How to write a traditional business plan

A traditional business plan requires quite a bit of time for you and your teammates to complete it because it’s comprehensive and detail-oriented. Some people may think this kind of plan is a waste of time. However, investors, as well as corporate leaders, still request this kind of business plan if they prefer to have a full story and overview of the business. The business plan that we will base this information on is from Bplan . 

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary is the first and the most important part to grab your reader’s attention and guide them throughout your business plan. Normally, an executive summary includes: Business Objectives, Mission Statement, Company Introduction, High-level growth plan/Key to success, and Financial Projections. Since this is only an executive summary, don’t try to fit every piece of information in this part, just a high-level overview. 

2. Company Summary

• Company Ownership
• Start-up Plan (for new companies) or Company History (for ongoing companies)
• Company Locations and Facilities

In this section, you should include only information about your company. Examples of information that can be included are company ownership, company history, company locations and an overview of the balance sheet for the last year. 

3. Products and services

• Product and Service Description
• Competitive Comparison
• Sales Literature
• Future Products and Services

In this section, you should only discuss the products and services you are selling. The current products you are selling may be different from the ultimate products. You can use this section to go into details about how this product works, as well as discuss the competitive advantages that your product or service has compared to other companies in the market. In addition, you can also provide other related information such as sourcing, technology, etc., if the products you sell are complicated. 

4. Market Analysis

• Market Segmentation
• Target Market Segment Strategy
• Market Needs
• Market Trends
• Market Growth
• Industry Analysis
• Industry Participants
• Distribution Patterns
• Competition and Buying Patterns
• Main Competitors

This section should be quite detailed and requires lots of information since you need a full understanding of the industry outlook, the target market, and your competitors. In order to complete this section properly, you need to conduct primary and secondary market research, as well as a thorough understanding of your competitors. If you want to know more about market, consumer, and competitor research, head over to 5 steps to start a business in high school . 

5. Strategy and Implementation Strategy

• Value Proposition
• Marketing Strategy
• Positioning Statements
• Pricing Strategy
• Promotion Strategy
• Sales Strategy
• Sales Forecast
• Sales Programs
• Strategic Alliances

Strategy overview and implementation strategy require you to make projections and forecasts for the upcoming years’ sales based on the strategy you create. In business class, you will often hear the term Marketing Mix, which historically centered around product, price, place, and promotion (the 4Ps). In this section, you have space to provide information about different aspects of marketing and sales plans. The main purpose of this section is to describe how you will attract and retain potential customers through marketing a product and selling a product. Depending on the target audience, your marketing and sales strategy can evolve and change. 

6. Organization and management

• Management Summary
• Organizational Structure
• Management Team

In a traditional and professional business plan, you should provide detailed information about your management and organizational structure, as well as the role of each important stakeholder. However, with a simpler business plan generally used for high school business competitions, you won’t have to discuss this section in detail. Instead, you would focus on the above sections instead. 

7. Financial Summary

• Key Financial Indicators
• Break-even Analysis
• Projected Profit and Loss
• Projected Cash Flow
• Projected Balance Sheet
• Business Ratios
• Long-term Plan

In this section, you can go into detail about the financial plan of the company. You will have to provide graphs and charts to visualize the numbers in the financial statements for investors/judges. Make sure to have the long-term plan in your business plan to prove that the proposed business is sustainable. As a high school student, you won’t be able to provide the full financial details in your business plan, because it hasn’t generated much revenue yet. Therefore, you should only include the first four items in the list. 

Example of a traditional business plan

How to write a lean business plan

Overall, the lean business plan focuses less on planning since team members can finish the lean plan within an hour. A traditional business plan is normally long in length, however the strategy and implementation of the plan can change over time. Therefore, the lean business plan has become more frequently implemented. 

In a lean business plan, you answer the 4 main questions: 

• What products/services are you going to create? 
• How are you going to market/sell your product? 
• How are you going to make money with the product? 
• Who is responsible for what? 

There are various versions of the lean business plan on the internet. In this article, we will have the 2 most popular versions: 

The Lean V1 is a concise version of the traditional business plan because it has all the required components but doesn’t go into detail for any.  Download Lean Business Plan V1 . 

The Lean V2 was introduced by the U.S. Small Business Administration and provides information about the company’s value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances. You can read more about the key components . And here is the Lean Business Plan V2 with an example. 

Diamond Business Challenge Competition Prep

Aspiring entrepreneurs will create, promote, and market a company to win over the Diamond Challenge Business Competition’s judges. In this intensive format, students will conduct the business ideation process, create a business plan, conduct environmental scanning, establishing the organizational mission, vision, and value statements, create marketing and promotion strategies, write the business proposal and create a pitch deck required by the Diamond Challenge Business Competition.

• Competitions , Extracurricular Activities

Interested in learning more?

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• College Accelerator Program
• Comprehensive Introduction to High School
• Academic Empowerment Program
• Test Preparation Bootcamp
• Private Lessons
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Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business In High School

Do you have a plan for applying to college?

With our free chancing engine, admissions timeline, and personalized recommendations, our free guidance platform gives you a clear idea of what you need to be doing right now and in the future.

Why start a business?

“Entrepreneurship” is a common buzzword in the college application process. An entrepreneur is essentially someone who creates a new business. In the context of college admissions, however, the word entrepreneur is synonymous with a successful and motivated applicant.

Admissions committees tend to see students who run a successful business in high school as more experienced. Thus, if you want to gain an advantage in the college admissions process and you have an innovative idea for a product, you should consider becoming an entrepreneur.  

After all, starting and running your own business is an impressive task. Many entrepreneurs don’t start their businesses until their late 20s or after and have at least a bachelor’s degree. That doesn’t mean that only older, more experienced people can start a business though. Even high school students can come up with innovative ideas.

Also, starting your own business as a high school student provides you with unique advantages for the future. It shows colleges and future employers that you are responsible, creative, and have a passion for whatever your business provides. This is especially useful if you want to be a business major, but it can  be helpful for many other fields as well, particularly if your business is in the field of study that you want to pursue. For instance, a prospective computer science major may consider building his/her own mobile phone app in order to demonstrate competencies in coding and software development.

Scholarship and financial aid organizations in the United States also value entrepreneurship at a young age. If you start your own business as a high school student, you may be eligible for various scholarships and awards that your peers aren’t. Some examples of these scholarships are the NASE Future Entrepreneur Scholarship , the McKelvey Foundation Scholarship , and the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation Scholarship. For more information on finding scholarships, check out our Helpful Scholarship Resources and Tips .

Assessing your skills: What business should you start?

Businesses provide either a good or a service to their customers in exchange for payment. When starting your business, you can choose to deliver any product. If you’re stumped, it’s easiest to think about what your skills are and go from there. For instance, if you frequently babysit a younger sibling, you might consider starting a babysitting service. If you are really adept at knitting, you could sell hand-knitted goods.

If you want to structure your business around a product, think about some unique things you can create cheaply and easily. This may be a handmade or artisanal good, an easy-to-make household gadget, or even something as complicated as your own scientific device. Whatever you choose, you should earn profit as long as your costs are relatively low and you’re selling to the right market.

If you’d prefer to deliver a service, consider what  you already know how to do. It could be something simple  like babysitting or mowing lawns, or, if you have the appropriate skills and knowledge, something more technical like musical performance or teaching and consulting. Ultimately, you should create a business that is relatively inexpensive and distributes a product you are comfortable producing and selling.

Choosing the right market for your product requires some thought and research. When deciding what market you want to target, think about to whom you might sell your product and who would be the most willing and able to buy your product.

Some categories to consider when choosing your target market are:

• Demographics: Which social groups would be most interested in buying your product?
• Psychographics: Does your product appeal to a certain personality type?
• Lifestyle: Would your product sell best to people with certain skills or interests?
• Geographic location:  To what region or locality would your product be most useful? Realistically, you will start by selling to your local community, so keep in mind what your local community needs when designing your product.

Challenges and Questions to Keep in Mind

As a high school student, you won’t have as many resources available to you as someone older might. This means you’ll have to get creative to find a way to cover the initial funding for the startup costs of your business. Eventually, successful businesses fund their enterprise through their business’s revenue, but getting that initial product on the market requires an initial investment from the business partners. It’s up to you to find sponsors, investors, or other forms of financial assistance to get your business started.

You also need to think carefully about what price to charge for your good or service. If the price is too low, you may not receive enough of a return. If the price is too high, people will not want to buy your product. You need to find a  balance between earning a profit and charging a price that customers are willing to pay.

In addition, you need to identify who your competitors are. Depending on what your business is, there may be many competitors or few competitors, and they could be large or small. For instance, if you’re trying to start a babysitting service, you may be competing with some of the neighbor’s kids or a large corporate website like nanny.com. Therefore, you need to find a way to differentiate yourself from them. What is it about your babysitting service that makes it better or more unique than the others? Will you provide a service that they won’t? Are your prices lower? You can use these benefits to appeal to and persuade your customers to do business with you over your competitors.

You will also have to market your business and get the word out about your product. After all, nobody will want to buy your product if they do not know it exists. When coming up with a marketing plan, start small and then go big. Start by talking to family, friends, and neighbors and asking them to spread the word about your business. Once you’ve gotten some customers and have proven that your business has appeal, expand your marketing outreach. Some ways to do that include online ads, placing an ad in a local newspaper, or reaching out through social media.  

Finally, before you begin researching how to start your own business, you should consider your schedule and whether you have the time to commit to this. Odds are, you are a busy high school student who is already engaged in extracurricular activities and hobbies in addition to the eight hours you spend at school. That’s a large chunk of your day. Starting and running your own business can require a significant time commitment, too. Before you commit to anything, think seriously about whether you can put in the necessary time and effort that it takes to make a business successful. We at CV have some tips for how to effectively balance your time in high school to get you started.

Legal and Tax Issues

This is where running a business as a high school student can get very complicated, and unfortunately there is no clear solution. While teenagers are not exempt from paying business taxes or following the laws regarding business practices, they are not eligible to legally incorporate a business, sign a contract, or get a loan or credit card to pay the business expenses. Essentially, you are required to run a business like an adult but without any of the legal jurisdiction to do so.

Therefore, you need to have at least one adult to help you get these legal and tax issues taken care of. This can be a parent, neighbor, mentor, etc. He or she just needs to be able to act as a willing adult partner in your business and know the ins and outs of these complicated tax and legal procedures.

In addition, you’ll need to have an accountant or a local attorney you can consult. Business taxes, especially the self-employment tax, are complicated and depend on various factors including how much money your business makes. An accountant can help you sift through these tax requirements and make sure you’re managing your money correctly and efficiently.

As a high school student, you will be subject to some age-related limitations  like child-labor laws and laws concerning products that have age restrictions like alcohol. There are also various laws regarding copyright, trademark, and zoning with which you need to comply. You need to make sure you are conducting your business in accordance with these laws. It’s best to consult a lawyer who specializes in businesses to ensure that your business will not create legal troubles for you in the future.

Finally, remember to keep adequate records of your actions regarding the business and any money that is flowing in or out of the enterprise. This information is crucial for you, your attorney, and your accountant. Without it, they can’t tell whether you’re running your business effectively and  following all business laws and won’t be able to help you. Plus, if your business does run into legal trouble down the line, these records will be very important.

Final Tips for Young Entrepreneurs

With all of this in mind, you should be well on your way to starting your own business. Be sure to conduct some thorough research. There are numerous other blogs, articles, and other resources to help young people come up with ideas and work through the kinks of starting businesses. Some of them may be may be tailored more towards college students, but the information could be applicable to high school students as well.

When researching how to start your business, the most important thing is to look for people who can help you. Take advantage of your network of family and friends through your school, extracurriculars, and communities. You’d be amazed at how knowledgeable some adults are about entrepreneurship and how willing they will be to help you succeed. These people can serve as mentors to you and be invaluable to the success of your business. However, these people won’t come to you; you need to actively seek them out.

Most importantly, don’t forget to mention your entrepreneurial status on your college resume! Many admissions committees actively seek students with entrepreneurial experience, so mentioning your business is critical.

For more information on how creativity and leadership skills can help you in the admissions process, check out these CollegeVine Posts:

College Dog Days: 5 Productive Summer Plans (That Aren’t a Fancy Internship) for College Transfer Students

How Do I Get Started Saving Money for College?

How do I get an internship? Your Resume Revamped: Securing Leadership Positions and Perfecting Your Extracurricular Profile

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

School Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

School Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your school business plan.

We have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their schools.

Sample Private School Business Plan

Below is a school business plan template to help you create each section of your own education business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Southside Academy, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a private school that has been providing quality education to the community’s school children since 2017. Southside Academy teaches elementary, middle school, and high school students in a wide range of subjects including mathematics, science, and history. We aim to provide a welcoming and inviting environment where every student can reach their highest potential.

We promote academic, artistic, and athletic excellence in a close-knit learning environment, with a challenging curriculum that cultivates intellectual curiosity. Furthermore, we offer a low teacher-to-child ratio, where teachers can build close connections with their students as they help them excel. We develop confident, continual learners by establishing behavioral supports and the social culture needed for students to achieve social, emotional, and academic success.

Service Offering

Southside Academy offers a premium private education at an affordable tuition fee. We provide a challenging education where students can explore their true potential and a safe space where they can freely discover and express themselves. Our students range from 1st grade to 12th grade and we teach a wide variety of subjects including:

• Basic Mathematics
• Physical Education

Customer Focus

Southside Academy primarily serves families within a 5-mile radius of the school’s location. The area is home to thousands of middle and upper-class families looking for high-quality education for their children. Before the school was built, the area was underserved and many children had to travel far to attend quality private schools.

Management Team

Southside Academy’s founder is Mike Brown who has been working as a teacher for more than 20 years. Mike has taught at several public schools in the region but saw a great demand for private education. He noticed that the current location of the school was underserved and set out to create a school to serve this population. Mike Brown has successfully led Southside Academy as its principal since the school’s inception and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Mike Brown is supported by a team that has experience teaching students, managing finances, and running businesses. Specifically, our team has solid experience in being effective teachers, connecting to different types of students, and achieving key goals.

Success Factors

Southside Academy is able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Location: Southside Academy’s location is near the center of town, giving members of our community easy access for parents and their children.
• Passionate and Skillful Teachers: Southside Academy hires teachers with strong academic backgrounds who are skillful in handling all types of children.
• Low teacher-to-student ratio: We provide a low teacher-to-student ratio so that every student gets personal attention from teachers to reach their highest potential.
• Affordable, quality education: Most of the schools in the area offer their services at a very expensive price. Our fees will be moderately low so that good education is accessible to all families.

Financial Highlights

Southside Academy is currently seeking additional donations of $600,000 in order to fulfill our mission. The breakdown of the funding may be seen below:

• Salaries: $200,000
• School Materials (books, toys, desks, chairs, etc): $180,000
• Administrative Expenses: $120,000 to pay for lease costs, ongoing operational expenses, and marketing.
• Working capital: $100,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Southside Academy.

Company Overview

Who is southside academy, southside academy’s history.

Southside Academy started as an idea from a group of school teachers, including Mike Brown. The teachers were university pals who are passionate about teaching and children. They have seen the gaps in education in St. Paul, Minnesota, and wanted to create a school that elevates the academic environment for the children of this area.

Their plans to build a school started in 2015, but it was only until April 2016 that they finally completed all the paperwork and met the legal requirements. Since then, Southside Academy has achieved the following milestones:

• Found a location and built the school
• Developed the school’s name, logo, and website
• Determined curriculum
• Hired teachers and other key employees

Southside Academy’s Services

Industry analysis.

Education is an essential foundation for a thriving society. It’s more important than ever before that every child has access to affordable, high-quality education. While public schools are an essential option for many low-income families, the education provided by private schools often results in higher test scores and more students moving on to top-tier universities.

The private school industry has experienced steady growth in the past five years. The key industry drivers are economic growth, the rise in numbers of K-12 students, an increase in the number of families with both parents working, and government initiatives to support education.

According to Polaris Market Research, this growth is expected to continue with a forecasted compound annual growth rate of 6.6% from now until 2030. This shows that Southside Academy has great potential to keep growing and expanding. We will have ample opportunities to grow our curriculum and offer services to students that help them reach their highest potential.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Southside Academy serves the families and children of St. Paul, Minnesota. The area is mostly populated by young couples and new families that have disposable income and can pay a premium for their children’s education.

The precise demographics of the town in which our location resides are as follows:

Customer Segmentation

We primarily target the following three customer segments:

• Young children
• Young couples

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Southside Academy faces competition from other schools with similar profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.  

Waters Independent School

Founded in 1968, Waters Independent School is a non-profit and tax-exempt independent school system. The school is governed by an independent Board of Trustees and offers preschool through eighth-grade programs. WIS is accredited by the state’s Council of Independent Schools (FCIS).

Waters Independent School has small class sizes with low student-to-teacher ratios. Further, WIS’ Programs include a strong academic foundation coupled with programs in the arts, physical education, media/technology, foreign language, and extracurricular areas.  

Hill Preparatory School

Founded in 1923, Hill Preparatory School is a private, non-sectarian, coeducational, college preparatory day school. It offers PK-12 programs in a safe, student-centered environment. HPS supports its students through the challenges of the school year with one-on-one attention from dedicated faculty, robust services like The Learning Center and the College Center, and the most advanced educational technology. The campus spans 28 acres and has a new 60,000+ square foot facility.  

Future Leaders Preparatory School

Founded in 1968, Future Leaders Prep is a private school for PreK3-8th grade. FLPS offers preschool, elementary school, and middle school programs and offers the International Baccalaureate program of study for all students. Teachers are endorsed in gifted education through a master’s level grant with [local University]’s College of Education Gifted Program. In addition to the school, Future Leaders offers community programs such as music, dance, art, and theater lessons through the Community School of the Arts, youth sports in the Community School for Sports, and the 7-week summer camp.

Competitive Advantage

There are many schools in St. Paul, Minnesota but none of them provides the same quality of education that Southside Academy provides, specifically the following:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

The Southside Academy brand will focus on the school’s unique value proposition:

• Providing premium education at an affordable price
• Providing a supportive and challenging place for children to learn
• Giving parents the assurance that their children will reach their full potential

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Southside Academy is as follows:

Social Media

Southside Academy will invest heavily in a social media advertising campaign. The school will utilize social media accounts and invest in ads on all social media platforms. It will use targeted marketing to appeal to the target demographics.

Publications

The school will place print advertisements in key local publications, including newspapers, area magazines, and business newsletters. Additionally, Southside Academy will print brochures and place them in specific locations frequented by target individuals.

Website/SEO

Southside Academy will invest heavily in developing a professional website that displays all of the features and benefits of Southside Academy. It will also invest heavily in SEO so that the school’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.

Direct Mail

Southside Academy will blanket neighborhoods with direct mail pieces. These pieces will provide general information on Southside Academy and incentives to enroll.

Southside Academy prices its tuition at a moderate price so our students and their families feel they are getting great value when choosing our school.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Southside Academy.

Operation Functions:

• Mike Brown is the school Principal. He manages the teachers, directs the direction of education, and serves as the head of the school.
• Mike is joined by Amanda Johnson who acts as the Administrative Assistant for the school. She helps Mike with the operations of the school as well as the marketing and administrative functions.
• Mike has hired an extensive team of highly qualified educators. Together, they teach dozens of subjects, including biology, chemistry, social studies, and mathematics. Every teacher that works for Southside Academy is passionate about education and pushing their students to reach their highest potential.

Milestones:

Southside Academy expects to achieve the following milestones in the following six months:

• 3/202X Kickoff of promotional campaign to attract new students
• 4/202X Start donation campaign
• 5/202X Hire new teachers for the upcoming year
• 6/202X Achieve donation/funding goal
• 7/202X Finalize list of incoming students for next year
• 8/202X Start next school year

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

Southside Academy’s revenues come from student tuition fees and donations from both individuals and corporations.

The major costs for the company will be staffing, marketing expenses, location maintenance, equipment, and materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Southside Academy is currently seeking additional fundraising and capital of $600,000 in order to fulfill our mission. The breakdown of the funding may be seen below:

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and to pay off the startup business loan.

• Year 1: 200
• Year 2: 300
• Year 3: 400
• Year 4: 500
• Year 5: 600
• Tuition rate per year: $10,000

Financial Statements

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, school business plan faqs, what is a school business plan.

A school business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your school business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your School business plan using our School Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of School Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of school businesses, some examples include: private K-12 school, charter school, virtual schools, independent schools, primary school, secondary education, or preschool.

How Do You Get Funding for Your School Business Plan?

School businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a School Business?

Starting a school business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A School Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed school business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your school business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your school business is in compliance with local laws.

3, Register Your School Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your school business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your school business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary School Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your school business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your school business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful school business:

• How to Start a School

Other Helpful Business Plan Templates

Nonprofit Business Plan Template

Business Plan Example

Writing the plan, what goes in a business plan, sample plans.

One of the best ways to learn about writing a business plan is to study the plans of established businesses in your industry.

http://www.bplans.com/sp/businessplans.cfm

Develop a Business Plan Worksheet

This worksheet describes the basic components of any business plan. Please note that every plan will be unique to its particular company.

The Executive Summary

Include crisp, clear descriptions of the following elements:

• Company history
• Company objectives
• Product/service offerings
• Competitive advantage (A persuasive statement of why and how the business will succeed)
• Projected growth for the company and the market
• Key management team members
• Funding requirements, including a timeline and details on how the funds will be used

The Products and Services

Answer the following questions in this section:

• Why is there a need for your offering?
• Is your product or service already on the market, or is it still in the research and development stage? If you are still in the development stage, what is the rollout strategy or timeline to bring the product to market?
• What makes your product or service unique? What competitive advantage does the product or service have over its competition?
• Can you price the product or service competitively and still maintain a healthy profit margin?
• What patents, copyrights and trademarks does your company currently own or plan to obtain?
• What confidential and non-disclosure protection have you secured?
• What barriers do you face in bringing the product to market, such as government regulations, competing products, high product-development costs, the need for manufacturing materials, etc.?

Include the following elements:

• A detailed description of your market
• A detailed description of your niche and why you chose it
• An explanation of the market demand for your product or service offering (Requires supporting documentation)
• What percentage of market share do you project you can capture?
• What is the growth potential of the market? (Requires supporting documentation)
• Will your share of the market increase or decrease as the market grows?
• How will you satisfy market growth?
• How will you price your goods or services to remain competitive in a growing market?

Note: If you are launching a new product, include your market research data. Likewise, if you have existing customers, provide a customer profile, detailing their purchasing habits and their buying cycle.

The Marketing Strategy

The following are some promotional options to consider:

• Social Media
• Direct mail
• Trade shows
• Public relations
• Promotional materials
• Telephone sales
• One-on-one sales
• Strategic alliances

If you have current samples of marketing materials or strategies that have proven successful for you, include them with your plan.

Discuss your distribution strategy:

• Will you mail order, personally deliver, hire sales reps, contract with distributors or resellers, or use some other method?
• What are the costs associated with your proposed delivery methods?
• How will you track the effectiveness of the methods you choose?

The Competition

Specific areas to address in this section are:

• Who are your closest competitors and what are their product/service offerings?
• Where are they located?
• What are their revenues?
• How long have they been in business?
• Who is their target market?
• What percentage of market share do they currently hold?
• Do they service a local, geographic market or a national customer base? Is that the same or different from your approach?
• In what other ways do your operations differ from each of them? How are they similar?
• What do your rivals do well? Where is there room for improvement?
• In what ways is your business superior to the competition?
• How is their business doing? Is it growing, declining or stable?
• Are there certain areas of the business where the competition surpasses you (management team, economies of scale, better distribution, volume discounts, etc.)? If so, what are those areas, and how do you plan on compensating for them?

This section of the plan should describe the following requirements of your business:

• Manufacturing

Note: Provide a rollout strategy as to when these requirements need to be purchased and implemented. In addition, describe the vendors you will need to build the business. Do you have current relationships, or do you need to establish new ones? Who will you choose and why?

The Management Team

When preparing this section of the business plan, you should address the following five areas:

• Business background of the principals
• Past experience — tracking successes, responsibilities and capabilities
• Educational background (formal and informal)
• Personal data: age, current address, past addresses, interests, education, special abilities, reasons for entering into business
• Personal financial statements with supporting documentation
• Direct operational and managerial experience in related businesses
• Indirect managerial experiences
• Who will do what and why? Who is responsible for final decisions?
• Organizational chart with chain of command and listing of duties
• A simple statement of what management members will be paid, by position
• Listing of bonuses in realistic terms
• Benefits (medical, life insurance, disability, etc.)
• Insurance brokers
• Accountants
• Consulting groups
• Small Business Association
• Local business information centers
• Chambers of Commerce
• Local colleges and universities
• Federal, state and local agencies
• Board of Directors
• World Wide Web (various search engines)

Consider the following questions in completing this section of the business plan:

• What are your current personnel needs (full- and/or part-time)? How many employees do you envision in the near future, and then in the next three to five years?
• What skills must your employees have?
• What will their job descriptions be?
• Are the people you need readily available? If not, how will you attract them?
• Will you pay salaries or hourly wages?
• Will you provide benefits? If so, what will they be, and at what cost?
• Will you pay overtime?

Financial Data

Have a certified public accountant establish your accounting system before the start of business to provide you with data in the following four areas:

• Balance Sheet – indicates what the cash position of the business is and what the owner’s equity is at any given point (the balance sheet will show assets, liabilities and retained earnings).
• Break-Even Analysis – Shows the volume of revenue from sales that are needed to balance the fixed and variable expenses. Without exception, all businesses should perform this analysis, which is based on the income statement and cash flow.
• Income Statement (also called the profit and loss statement) – Indicates how well the company is managing its cash, by subtracting disbursements from receipts.
• Cash Flow – Projects all cash receipts and disbursements. Healthy cash flow is critical to the survival of any business.

Supporting Documentation

You will need to include all documents that lend support to statements made in the body of your company’s business plan. Please be aware that this list is not complete and may vary depending on the stage of development of your business.

• Credit information (include in appendix)
• Quotes or estimates
• Letters of intent from prospective customers
• Letters of support from credible personal references
• Leases or buy/sell agreements
• Legal documents relevant to the business
• Census/demographic data

For Businesses

For students & teachers, the best pitch lesson to introduce business plans to students.

Kassie Winne

In a classroom in Dallas, Texas, we asked groups of students to identify a problem in their neighborhood and find a creative solution for it. Their empathy and creativity blew me away. They were ready to tackle issues like homelessness, a lack of business attire for low-income areas seeking job mobility, creating healthier and more active communities, replacing toxic products with organic ones, reducing our carbon footprint and more. If these were the types of conversations they were having at ages 10 and 11, I couldn’t wait to see what they could accomplish in the future.

The next step was teaching them how to present their ideas in an engaging, succinct way. We encouraged students to be themselves, put their best foot forward, show their passion for their ideas, and to be prepared to present their ideas for no more than 90 seconds. There was excitement in the air on the day of the presentations. For these students, their business pitches were personal, and that seemed to ignite a fire. I could easily picture these passionate students as our future business and community leaders ready to work together and take on difficult problems with creative solutions.

By introducing business and entrepreneurial learning in the elementary classroom, we can support students in developing the skills we so desperately need in our future leaders and citizens — communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills. This activity is a great way to introduce business plans to students and start cultivating those employability skills they will need to be successful.

Entrepreneurial Expedition: The Pitch Activity

For this pitch activity, students will have the opportunity to collaborate with each other to problem solve. This is meant to be open-ended so that students come up with an idea that they are not only passionate about but also ‘buy in to.’ Meant to be engaging for all types of learners (auditory, visual, reading/writing, kinesthetic) this pitch activity encourages students to be creative, explain their thinking, come up with a visual prototype, and practice their oral language skills.

Step 1 – The Set Up: Tell students today is the day they’re going to solve a problem and they’re then going to convince everyone why it’s a great idea. Pair students into groups of 3-4.

Step 2 – The Problem: Give students 5 minutes to brainstorm a problem they might face each day. Consider a classroom set of brainstorming if students are having a hard time and then allowing groups to select from those problems. EX: they eat breakfast on the way to school and get it all over their clothes, they get sand in their socks during recess, etc.

Step 3 – The Plan: Give students 20 minutes in those same groups to come up with ideas of a solution that would fix their problem. Remind them that this is a brainstorming session so they want to list all ideas and listen to them. They can pick their favorite idea after.

EX: a granola bar that when they unpeel the wrapper, it unwraps into a bowl that collects crumbs, a sock topper that holds their socks up and seals the top so sand doesn’t get in.

After the 20 minutes is up, give students another 5 to discuss which solution makes the most sense to develop a product for. They will need to decide as a group which product they will develop a sales pitch for.

Step 4 – The Design: Students will design their product on a poster. Have them list as many adjectives as they can to describe their product to help in their business pitch once they have completed the design on their prototype.

Step 5 – The Pitch: Once students have finished with their posters, explain that they will be giving the class a business pitch to convince them they have the best product in the class. I suggest sharing this video of 10-year-old Jack and his lemonade stand idea as a good pitch example.

Give students this guideline for a 60-second sales pitch Start with a question.

• What is the problem?
• What is the name of the solution you came up with?
• Why is it a good product?
• Who are you selling this to and the cost?
• How much money do you want for this idea?

Completing the Lesson Have students create their business pitch and practice within their pair/group for 10 minutes, then present to the class.

For elementary teachers looking for a free extended learning experience in financial education and business, check out EVERFI’s Vault – Understanding Money lessons to navigate the world of income and careers through online games and quizzes.

For middle school teachers looking to help their students master the basics of business with a youth entrepreneurship curriculum , check out EVERFI’s Venture – Entrepreneurial Expedition.

Real World Learning Matters

EVERFI empowers teachers to bring critical skills education into their classrooms at no cost. Get activated and join 50,000+ educators across North America!

Want to prepare students for career and life success, but short on time?

Busy teachers use EVERFI’s standards-aligned, ready-made digital lessons to teach students to thrive in an ever-changing world.

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How to write a business plan for your private school project.

Starting a private school is a great way to provide students with an alternative education option that is tailored to their individual needs and interests.

It also allows for greater autonomy and flexibility in curriculum design and implementation, allowing for more personalized learning experiences.

But, before that, you need a business plan.

Creating a business plan before beginning a project is essential for success. It helps to identify potential risks and opportunities, as well as providing a roadmap for the project.

In short, a good business plan will help ensure the profitability of your private school project .

What should be covered when creating a business plan for a private school? How can it be effectively planned? What are the essential financial measures to include? What steps should I take to ensure an efficient process when writing a business plan?

Good news, you can find all the answers to these questions in the forthcoming article!

One last thing: you can avoid starting your business plan from scratch.

Feel free to download our professional business plan for a private school and tailor it to suit your project.

Designing a business plan for a private school

Is a business plan recommended for your private school project.

Yes, you should create a business plan for your private school project.

Crafting a well-structured business plan will help you to:

• gain knowledge of the private school market
• keep up with the industry's changing trends
• discover what makes a private school competitive
• understand parents' educational preferences and expectations
• come up with a winning value proposition for your independent educational institution
• examine competitor market share
• find solid competitive advantages for your private school project
• find a business model that will lead to a positive bottom line
• implement a winning strategy on the short and the long-term
• assess potential risks involved in starting a private school, such as regulatory compliance, student safety, and educational quality

Our team has created a business plan for a private school that is designed to make it easier for you to achieve all the elements listed.

How to outline a business plan for a private school?

If done well, your business plan will be a full package of content, metrics and financial data. It must be presented in a structured format, to make easy to read and digest.

When we built our business plan for a private school , we made sure to structure it propertly.

You'll come across 5 sections (Opportunity, Project, Market Research, Strategy and Finances).

1. Market Opportunity

The section number one is called "Market Opportunity".

Access relevant data and metrics for the private school project, assisting you in analyzing the opportunities and challenges within the education and schooling sector.

The data here is always fresh; we update it twice a year.

2. Project Presentation

The "Project" section is where you outline your private school project. You can describe the educational philosophy, curriculum offerings, extracurricular activities, facilities, teaching staff qualifications, admission process, and the unique value proposition that sets your school apart in providing quality education.

Remember to introduce yourself at the end of this section.

Discuss your passion for education, your vision for the private school, and how you plan to create an enriching and nurturing learning environment for students. Highlight your qualified faculty, your innovative curriculum, and your dedication to providing personalized attention and holistic development opportunities through your private school project.

We wrote some content in our business plan. Change it to fit your concept.

3. Market Research

The next item on the list is the "Market Research" section.

The purpose of this section is to introduce the market segments for your private school project.

It includes a competition study, outlining other private schools in the area. Your school's unique educational programs and competitive advantages are also highlighted. A customized SWOT analysis is included.

4. Strategy

Within the "Strategy" section, a detailed plan spanning three years is presented, highlighting the initiatives and actions necessary to make your private school project highly profitable.

Additionally, you'll find a marketing strategy, a plan to manage risks, and a completed Business Model Canvas, tailored to a private school, in this section.

5. Finances

In the end, the section labeled "Finances" allows you to showcase the financial details and values of your project.

How to elaborate the Executive Summary for a private school?

The Executive Summary serves as a compact introduction to the business plan of your private school project.

Don't go beyond 2 pages; ensure you include only the critical information.

This document is designed to make the reader excited about your business plan.

In the Executive Summary of your private school project, answer these questions: what is your private school project about? who is your target market? are there other private schools in the area? what sets your school apart from them? how much funding do you require?

How to do the market analysis for a private school?

The market study of your private school project helps you understand external factors such as parent preferences for education, competition within the private school sector, and emerging trends in educational practices.

By conducting an extensive market study, a private school can understand parent and student needs, offer quality education and comprehensive programs, optimize pricing strategies, and execute targeted marketing campaigns, ultimately leading to a larger student base, increased enrollment, and a prominent position in the private education sector.

Here is what what we've put in the "Market Research" section of our business plan for a private school :

• key insights and trends in private schools, including private school enrollment rates, education quality, and the impact of specialized private school programs
• a list of potential market segments for a private school
• the competitive review
• the competitive advantages to target for a private school

The key points of the business plan for a private school

What's the business model of a private school, business model of a private school.

a private school's business model revolves around providing education services to students in a private setting. Revenue is generated through tuition fees, potentially offering additional services such as extracurricular activities or specialized programs.

The business model focuses on offering a high-quality and comprehensive curriculum, hiring qualified educators, providing modern facilities and resources, marketing to target parents and students, and building strong relationships with parents and the local community.

Success depends on establishing a positive reputation for academic excellence, attracting and retaining students, meeting regulatory requirements, effective marketing strategies, and delivering a holistic and enriching educational experience.

Business model ≠ Business plan

Avoid confusing "business plan" with "business model."

A business model is a framework that outlines how a company creates value, delivers products or services, and generates revenue.

In a business plan, you employ the Business Model Canvas as a practical tool to outline the key aspects of your business model.

Rest assured, there is a Business Model Canvas (already completed) in our business plan for a private school .

How do you identify the market segments of a private school?

Segmenting the market for your private school project involves dividing your potential students and families into different groups based on their educational needs, preferences, and demographics.

These categories may include factors such as grade levels, curriculum types, extracurricular programs, or families seeking specific educational approaches (e.g., Montessori, STEM, arts-focused).

By segmenting your market, you can offer a private school experience that caters to each segment's specific requirements. For example, you might provide elementary, middle, and high school programs for students of different grade levels, offer a comprehensive curriculum that encompasses a range of subjects and learning areas, specialize in specific educational approaches or philosophies such as Montessori, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), or an arts-focused curriculum, or focus on offering a variety of extracurricular programs and enrichment activities that align with the interests and talents of students.

Market segmentation allows you to effectively target your marketing efforts, communicate the unique benefits of your private school, and provide a nurturing and stimulating educational environment that meets the unique needs and preferences of each student segment and their families.

In the business plan for a private school , you will find a comprehensive market segmentation that will help you identify your potential customers.

How to conduct a competitor analysis for a private school?

Without surprise, you won't be the only private school project in your area. There are other educational initiatives working towards establishing quality private schools.

Develop a solid business plan by conducting an extensive competitor analysis that evaluates their strengths and weaknesses.

Address their weaknesses (such as inadequate curriculum design, lack of extracurricular activities, or poor student support services).

Why is it crucial to notice these aspects? Because these weaknesses can impact the success of private school projects.

By focusing on these areas, you can offer a comprehensive and well-rounded education curriculum, provide qualified and dedicated teaching staff, and create a nurturing and inclusive school environment, positioning your private school project as a preferred choice for parents and students seeking quality education and holistic development.

It's what we call competitive advantages—building them is essential for a standout business.

Here are some examples of competitive advantages for a high school: experienced and dedicated teaching staff, diverse educational programs, supportive learning environment.

How to draft a SWOT analysis for a high school?

A SWOT analysis can help identify potential opportunities and threats that can affect the success of the private school project.

As you can guess, there is indeed a completed and editable SWOT matrix in our business plan for a private school

The strengths for a private school

S stands for Strengths in SWOT, representing the project's valuable strengths or advantages.

For a private school, possible strengths could include a highly qualified teaching staff, a rigorous academic curriculum, a diverse student body, and a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities.

The weaknesses for a private school

The "W" symbolizes Weaknesses, indicating the specific areas or aspects of the project that require attention.

For a private school, potential weaknesses could include inadequate funding, lack of qualified teachers, insufficient resources, and limited parental involvement.

The opportunities for a private school

The "O" in SWOT stands for Opportunities, which are positive external factors that can help the project succeed.

In the case of a private school, potential opportunities include creating an innovative curriculum, increasing student engagement, expanding the school's reach through technology, and developing community partnerships.

The threats for a private school

When we refer to the "T" in SWOT, we're referring to Threats, which are the external risks or detrimental factors that can impact the project's performance.

How to develop a marketing plan for a high school?

A marketing strategy is a necessary component of a business plan as it describes how a business will engage customers and generate sales.

A well-crafted marketing strategy will attract parents seeking quality education for their children to your private school project.

Parents won't enroll their children in your private school project without effective marketing; showcasing the quality of education, extracurricular activities, and nurturing environment is crucial.

Are you implementing effective marketing strategies for your private school project? Consider hosting open houses or informational sessions for parents, showcasing your school's unique educational programs, and utilizing targeted advertising campaigns in local communities.

Don't worry if you have no clue about marketing and communication.

How to build a solid financial plan for a high school?

A successful business plan must include detailed financial information, such as income and expense projections, cash flow statements, and a break-even analysis.

In the process of developing your business plan, you'll need to determine the expected revenue for your private school project.

The revenue forecast should be based on reliable information and reflect current market conditions.

Our financial plan for a private school is straightforward and equipped with automated checks, enabling you to validate and adjust your assumptions easily. This way, we make sure you're building solid financial projections.

It goes without saying that you'll have to develop a provisional budget for your private school project. Don't overlook any expense. By the way, we've listed them all in our financial plan!

The break-even analysis is central in the financial plan as it will tell you whether your private school project will be profitable or not.

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Supported by

Our 2020-21 Writing Curriculum for Middle and High School

A flexible, seven-unit program based on the real-world writing found in newspapers, from editorials and reviews to personal narratives and informational essays.

Update, Aug. 3, 2023: Find our 2023-24 writing curriculum here.

Our 2019-20 Writing Curriculum is one of the most popular new features we’ve ever run on this site, so, of course, we’re back with a 2020-21 version — one we hope is useful whether you’re teaching in person , online , indoors , outdoors , in a pod , as a homeschool , or in some hybrid of a few of these.

The curriculum detailed below is both a road map for teachers and an invitation to students. For teachers, it includes our writing prompts, mentor texts, contests and lesson plans, and organizes them all into seven distinct units. Each focuses on a different genre of writing that you can find not just in The Times but also in all kinds of real-world sources both in print and online.

But for students, our main goal is to show young people they have something valuable to say, and to give those voices a global audience. That’s always been a pillar of our site, but this year it is even more critical. The events of 2020 will define this generation, and many are living through them isolated from their ordinary communities, rituals and supports. Though a writing curriculum can hardly make up for that, we hope that it can at least offer teenagers a creative outlet for making sense of their experiences, and an enthusiastic audience for the results. Through the opportunities for publication woven throughout each unit, we want to encourage students to go beyond simply being media consumers to become creators and contributors themselves.

So have a look, and see if you can find a way to include any of these opportunities in your curriculum this year, whether to help students document their lives, tell stories, express opinions, investigate ideas, or analyze culture. We can’t wait to hear what your students have to say!

Each unit includes:

Writing prompts to help students try out related skills in a “low stakes” way.

We publish two writing prompts every school day, and we also have thematic collections of more than 1,000 prompts published in the past. Your students might consider responding to these prompts on our site and using our public forums as a kind of “rehearsal space” for practicing voice and technique.

Daily opportunities to practice writing for an authentic audience.

If a student submits a comment on our site, it will be read by Times editors, who approve each one before it gets published. Submitting a comment also gives students an audience of fellow teenagers from around the world who might read and respond to their work. Each week, we call out our favorite comments and honor dozens of students by name in our Thursday “ Current Events Conversation ” feature.

Guided practice with mentor texts .

Each unit we publish features guided practice lessons, written directly to students, that help them observe, understand and practice the kinds of “craft moves” that make different genres of writing sing. From how to “show not tell” in narratives to how to express critical opinions , quote or paraphrase experts or craft scripts for podcasts , we have used the work of both Times journalists and the teenage winners of our contests to show students techniques they can emulate.

“Annotated by the Author” commentaries from Times writers — and teenagers.

As part of our Mentor Texts series , we’ve been asking Times journalists from desks across the newsroom to annotate their articles to let students in on their writing, research and editing processes, and we’ll be adding more for each unit this year. Whether it’s Science writer Nicholas St. Fleur on tiny tyrannosaurs , Opinion writer Aisha Harris on the cultural canon , or The Times’s comics-industry reporter, George Gene Gustines, on comic books that celebrate pride , the idea is to demystify journalism for teenagers. This year, we’ll be inviting student winners of our contests to annotate their work as well.

A contest that can act as a culminating project .

Over the years we’ve heard from many teachers that our contests serve as final projects in their classes, and this curriculum came about in large part because we want to help teachers “plan backwards” to support those projects.

All contest entries are considered by experts, whether Times journalists, outside educators from partner organizations, or professional practitioners in a related field. Winning means being published on our site, and, perhaps, in the print edition of The New York Times.

Webinars and our new professional learning community (P.L.C.).

For each of the seven units in this curriculum, we host a webinar featuring Learning Network editors as well as teachers who use The Times in their classrooms. Our webinars introduce participants to our many resources and provide practical how-to’s on how to use our prompts, mentor texts and contests in the classroom.

New for this school year, we also invite teachers to join our P.L.C. on teaching writing with The Times , where educators can share resources, strategies and inspiration about teaching with these units.

Below are the seven units we will offer in the 2020-21 school year.

September-October

Unit 1: Documenting Teenage Lives in Extraordinary Times

This special unit acknowledges both the tumultuous events of 2020 and their outsized impact on young people — and invites teenagers to respond creatively. How can they add their voices to our understanding of what this historic year will mean for their generation?

Culminating in our Coming of Age in 2020 contest, the unit helps teenagers document and respond to what it’s been like to live through what one Times article describes as “a year of tragedy, of catastrophe, of upheaval, a year that has inflicted one blow after another, a year that has filled the morgues, emptied the schools, shuttered the workplaces, swelled the unemployment lines and polarized the electorate.”

A series of writing prompts, mentor texts and a step-by-step guide will help them think deeply and analytically about who they are, how this year has impacted them, what they’d like to express as a result, and how they’d like to express it. How might they tell their unique stories in ways that feel meaningful and authentic, whether those stories are serious or funny, big or small, raw or polished?

Though the contest accepts work across genres — via words and images, video and audio — all students will also craft written artist’s statements for each piece they submit. In addition, no matter what genre of work students send in, the unit will use writing as a tool throughout to help students brainstorm, compose and edit. And, of course, this work, whether students send it to us or not, is valuable far beyond the classroom: Historians, archivists and museums recommend that we all document our experiences this year, if only for ourselves.

October-November

Unit 2: The Personal Narrative

While The Times is known for its award-winning journalism, the paper also has a robust tradition of publishing personal essays on topics like love , family , life on campus and navigating anxiety . And on our site, our daily writing prompts have long invited students to tell us their stories, too. Our 2019 collection of 550 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing is a good place to start, though we add more every week during the school year.

In this unit we draw on many of these resources, plus some of the 1,000-plus personal essays from the Magazine’s long-running Lives column , to help students find their own “short, memorable stories ” and tell them well. Our related mentor-text lessons can help them practice skills like writing with voice , using details to show rather than tell , structuring a narrative arc , dropping the reader into a scene and more. This year, we’ll also be including mentor text guided lessons that use the work of the 2019 student winners.

As a final project, we invite students to send finished stories to our Second Annual Personal Narrative Writing Contest .

DECEMBER-January

Unit 3: The Review

Book reports and literary essays have long been staples of language arts classrooms, but this unit encourages students to learn how to critique art in other genres as well. As we point out, a cultural review is, of course, a form of argumentative essay. Your class might be writing about Lizzo or “ Looking for Alaska ,” but they still have to make claims and support them with evidence. And, just as they must in a literature essay, they have to read (or watch, or listen to) a work closely; analyze it and understand its context; and explain what is meaningful and interesting about it.

In our Mentor Texts series , we feature the work of Times movie , restaurant , book and music critics to help students understand the elements of a successful review. In each one of these guided lessons, we also spotlight the work of teenage contest winners from previous years.

As a culminating project, we invite students to send us their own reviews of a book, movie, restaurant, album, theatrical production, video game, dance performance, TV show, art exhibition or any other kind of work The Times critiques.

January-February

Unit 4: Informational Writing

Informational writing is the style of writing that dominates The New York Times as well as any other traditional newspaper you might read, and in this unit we hope to show students that it can be every bit as engaging and compelling to read and to write as other genres. Via thousands of articles a month — from front-page reporting on politics to news about athletes in Sports, deep data dives in The Upshot, recipes in Cooking, advice columns in Style and long-form investigative pieces in the magazine — Times journalists find ways to experiment with the genre to intrigue and inform their audiences.

This unit invites students to take any STEM-related discovery, process or idea that interests them and write about it in a way that makes it understandable and engaging for a general audience — but all the skills we teach along the way can work for any kind of informational writing. Via our Mentor Texts series, we show them how to hook the reader from the start , use quotes and research , explain why a topic matters and more. This year we’ll be using the work of the 2020 student winners for additional mentor text lessons.

At the end of the unit, we invite teenagers to submit their own writing to our Second Annual STEM writing contest to show us what they’ve learned.

March-April

Unit 5: Argumentative Writing

The demand for evidence-based argumentative writing is now woven into school assignments across the curriculum and grade levels, and you couldn’t ask for better real-world examples than what you can find in The Times Opinion section .

This unit will, like our others, be supported with writing prompts, mentor-text lesson plans, webinars and more. We’ll also focus on the winning teenage writing we’ve received over the six years we’ve run our related contest.

At a time when media literacy is more important than ever, we also hope that our annual Student Editorial Contest can serve as a final project that encourages students to broaden their information diets with a range of reliable sources, and learn from a variety of perspectives on their chosen issue.

To help students working from home, we also have an Argumentative Unit for Students Doing Remote Learning .

Unit 6: Writing for Podcasts

Most of our writing units so far have all asked for essays of one kind or another, but this spring contest invites students to do what journalists at The Times do every day: make multimedia to tell a story, investigate an issue or communicate a concept.

Our annual podcast contest gives students the freedom to talk about anything they want in any form they like. In the past we’ve had winners who’ve done personal narratives, local travelogues, opinion pieces, interviews with community members, local investigative journalism and descriptions of scientific discoveries.

As with all our other units, we have supported this contest with great examples from The Times and around the web, as well as with mentor texts by teenagers that offer guided practice in understanding elements and techniques.

June-August

Unit 7: Independent Reading and Writing

At a time when teachers are looking for ways to offer students more “voice and choice,” this unit, based on our annual summer contest, offers both.

Every year since 2010 we have invited teenagers around the world to add The New York Times to their summer reading lists and, so far, 70,000 have. Every week for 10 weeks, we ask participants to choose something in The Times that has sparked their interest, then tell us why. At the end of the week, judges from the Times newsroom pick favorite responses, and we publish them on our site.

And we’ve used our Mentor Text feature to spotlight the work of past winners , explain why newsroom judges admired their thinking, and provide four steps to helping any student write better reader-responses.

Because this is our most open-ended contest — students can choose whatever they like, and react however they like — it has proved over the years to be a useful place for young writers to hone their voices, practice skills and take risks . Join us!

Writing a Business Letter Lesson Plan: High School Writing Lesson

• Trent Lorcher
• Categories : High school english lesson plans grades 9 12
• Tags : High school lesson plans & tips

Business letters are commonly used for job offers, requests for information, or as a letter of introduction. With this lesson plan, students will write a business letter to learn more about a profession of their choice. Review this information with students. Business letters must contain:

• A heading, the address of the business, a greeting, a body, a conclusion, and a signature.
• Formal, polite language with a clear purpose with relevant background information.
• Standard business formatting with consistent spacing and indentations.

Write a business letter to learn more about a profession.

• Prewriting - Choose a topic by listing your strengths and professions that suit your strengths. Remember, some strengths you have yet to develop. Dream big. Use your dream job as the subject of your letter.
• Prewriting - Search the internet, phone book, newspaper classifieds or a business directory to find the address of a business you’d like to contact.
• Prewriting - Note questions you may want to ask in your letter.
• Prewriting - Gather background information on the profession and the company to which you are writing. Research critical issues in choosing a profession : salary, hours, job outlook and opportunities.
• Prewriting - Identify your purpose . Remind yourself of the letter’s purpose by writing a purpose statement and placing it near you as you write.
• Drafting - Begin by selecting a format: block format or modified block format. Make sure the letter contains all essential parts of a business letter.
• Drafting - Remember your audience. You are addressing a busy professional and should write respectfully. Include only essential information. Leave the flowery prose for your creative writing assignment. Make your information clear. Use formal style, vocabulary, and tone.
• Drafting - Be clear on your purpose. Explain what you want the letter recipient to do, if anything. Do you want an interview, talk on the phone, or gather information, for example. Revising - Review your purpose for writing. Find details that support your purpose. Delete details that do not. Revising - Make sure your language is suitable to your purpose and audience.

160+ Business Ideas for High School Students

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High school students are often in search of opportunities to gain practical experience while learning crucial skills for their future careers. One of the best ways for young individuals to acquire these skills is through entrepreneurship.

By exploring various business ideas tailored to their interests and abilities, high school students can develop essential skills such as problem-solving, effective communication, and financial management.

There is no shortage of business ideas suitable for high school students. Some of these may even be initiated with low investment and from the comfort of their own homes.

With the right attitude and dedication, students can successfully balance their academic pursuits and their entrepreneurial journey, leading to long-term benefits like expanded networks and professional growth.

As contemporary technology continues to advance, high school students are well-positioned to capitalize on emerging trends, creating innovative solutions to everyday challenges.

Cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset at a young age can prove to be invaluable, equipping students with the tools necessary for navigating the ever-changing professional landscape.

Business Ideas For High Schoolers

Here’s a list of business ideas for high school students. While all of these won’t be a perfect fit for everyone, hopefully some of them will serve as inspiration for your next idea!

• Lawn Mowing Service
• Babysitting
• Dog Walking
• Car Washing
• Tutoring in a Subject They Excel In
• Selling Handmade Jewelry
• Social Media Management for Small Businesses
• Video Editing Service
• Web Design Service
• Baking and Selling Cookies or Cupcakes
• House Cleaning Service
• Pet Sitting
• Creating and Selling Artwork
• Personal Shopping Service
• Bicycle Repair Service
• Personalized Greeting Card Creation
• Creating and Selling Handmade Candles
• Custom Smartphone Case Design
• Freelance Writing for Blogs or Magazines
• Creating YouTube Video Content
• Selling Vintage Clothing Online
• Mobile Phone Repair Service
• Teaching Computer Skills
• Organizing Community Events
• Making and Selling Custom T-Shirts
• Home Organizing Service
• Running Errands for Elderly Neighbors
• Makeup Artist for Events
• Custom Illustration and Design Services
• Handmade Soap and Bath Bomb Making
• Game Development
• Growing and Selling Organic Produce
• Personal Fitness Training
• Making and Selling Hair Accessories
• Recycling Service
• Snow Shoveling Service
• Holiday Decoration Service
• Academic Research Assistant
• Custom Gift Basket Creation
• Thrift Store Flipping
• Tech Setup and Troubleshooting
• Adventure Tour Guide in Local Area
• Resume Writing Service
• Home Theater Setup Service
• Aquarium Cleaning Service
• Local History Guide
• College Application Consulting
• Mobile DJ Service for Events
• Drone Photography Service
• Creating and Managing a School Newsletter
• Henna Tattoo Artist
• Mobile Gaming Party Host
• Party Planning for Teens
• Local Sports Coaching
• Selling Handmade Paper Crafts
• Online Language Tutoring
• Yard Sale Organizer
• School Supply Resale
• Handmade Furniture Upcycling
• Scrapbooking Service
• Personalized Mug Printing
• Providing Music Lessons
• Creating and Selling Stickers
• Board Game Rentals
• Pool Cleaning Service
• Teaching Dance Classes
• Creating and Selling Handmade Pottery
• Making and Selling Personalized Bookmarks
• YouTube Tutorial Creator (e.g., Makeup, Gaming)
• Event Photography
• Making and Selling DIY Science Kits
• Creating and Selling Study Guides
• Plant Nursery Business
• Tailoring and Alterations
• Mobile Skateboard or Rollerblade Repair
• Online Comics and Art
• Aquarium Design and Maintenance
• Custom Cake Decorating
• Refurbishing Old Electronics
• Knitting and Selling Scarves and Hats
• Offering Calligraphy Services
• Beach Cleanup Service
• Mobile Bicycle Tune-Up Service

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• Assisting in Local Organic Farms
• College Scholarship Research Service
• Adventure Travel Planning for Families
• Homemade Jam and Jelly Making
• Vintage Clothing Restoration
• Custom Airbrushing Service
• Assisting with Local Charity Events
• Mobile Car Detailing
• Organic Pet Treat Making
• Nature Guiding and Education
• Local Magazine Contributor
• Teaching Origami or Craft Classes
• Designing Custom Desktop Wallpapers
• Smartphone Photography Classes
• Hosting Local Trivia Nights
• Creating and Selling Herbal Teas and Remedies
• Personal Shopping for Seniors
• Creating and Selling Mobile Phone Cases
• High School Memory Books Creator
• Seasonal Lawn Decoration Service
• Building and Selling Birdhouses
• Fitness Classes for Other Teens
• Designing Custom School Spirit Wear
• Indoor Plant Care and Consultation
• Providing Tech Support for Seniors
• Popcorn Making and Selling
• Comic Book Flipping
• Creating and Selling Greeting Cards
• Collectible Toy Reselling
• Hosting Video Game Tournaments
• Personalized Jewelry Making
• Offering Meditation and Yoga Classes
• Developing Personalized Workout Plans
• Selling Hand-Painted Sneakers
• Providing Resume and Job Interview Coaching
• Organizing Community Sporting Events
• Teaching Painting or Drawing Classes
• Custom Phone Ringtone Creation
• Hosting Themed Movie Nights
• Selling Handcrafted Candles
• Producing and Selling Vegan Snacks
• Making and Selling Natural Skincare Products
• Organizing Local Cleanup Efforts
• Hosting Cooking Classes for Kids
• Building and Selling Terrariums
• Writing and Selling E-Books (e.g., Fantasy, Adventure)
• Organizing and Leading Hiking Trips
• Creating Personalized Home Decor
• Making and Selling Quilts or Blankets
• Teaching Digital Art and Design
• Building and Selling Miniature Models
• Offering Sports Equipment Rentals
• Designing and Printing Custom T-Shirts
• Hosting DIY Craft Workshops
• Building and Selling Custom Fish Tanks
• Providing Language Translation Services
• Conducting Local History Tours
• Creating and Selling 3D Printed Items
• Personalized Meal Planning and Prep
• Teaching Basic Coding and Programming
• Personal Stylist and Wardrobe Consulting
• Developing and Selling Mobile Apps
• Designing Custom Stationery
• Providing Childproofing Services
• Teaching Robotics Workshops
• Hosting and Organizing Art Exhibits
• Tailoring and Alteration Service
• Creating and Selling Board Games
• Writing and Illustrating Children’s Books
• Teaching Dance or Music Lessons
• Building Custom Gaming Computers
• Designing and Making Prom Accessories
• Creating Educational YouTube Videos
• Making and Selling Garden Decorations
• Hosting Virtual Reality Gaming Experiences
• Offering Peer Academic Tutoring
• Hosting Charity Fundraisers
• Providing Makeup and Beauty Tutorials
• Creating and Running Escape Room Experiences
• Designing Custom Laptop Skins
• Building and Selling Remote Control Vehicles
• Offering Bicycle Maintenance and Repair
• Providing College Application Assistance
• Developing and Selling Educational Apps
• Creating and Organizing Community Talent Shows

Essential Business Concepts

Starting a business as a high school student can be an exhilarating and educational experience. To succeed, young entrepreneurs should be well-versed in a few essential business concepts. These concepts cover the various stages of business development and management, ensuring smooth-sailing from the inception to scaling.

Before embarking on the entrepreneurial journey, it is crucial to develop a clear business plan . A solid plan outlines the product or service being offered, target market, growth strategy, and financial projections. This document will not only serve as a roadmap for the startup but also helps in soliciting investment and support from potential backers.

One key aspect of entrepreneurship is identifying the ideal business model . The model determines how a business will generate revenue, and it may evolve over time to adapt to market trends or customer preferences. For instance, popular models include the subscription approach, freemium offerings, and direct sales.

Product and service development is vital for any startup. Young entrepreneurs must focus on meeting customer needs by providing unique, value-added solutions. Conducting market research, studying competitors, and gathering customer feedback are essential steps in creating a compelling offering.

When starting a business, it’s essential to have a strong management structure in place. Efficient management involves organizing resources, delegating tasks, and overseeing operations to ensure the business runs smoothly. Strong leadership skills, communication, and a willingness to learn from mistakes are vital traits for a successful entrepreneur.

Finally, planning the launch of the startup business is a critical step. This includes finalizing the product or service, securing the necessary permits or licenses, creating a marketing strategy, and establishing operating processes. Proper planning and execution during the launch phase can help young entrepreneurs build a solid foundation and set their businesses on a path to success.

To sum up, mastering essential business concepts is vital for high school students looking to embark on their entrepreneurial journey. From crafting a business plan to developing a successful launch strategy, these concepts will guide young entrepreneurs in making informed decisions and turning their business ideas into thriving ventures.

Business Ideas For High School Students

Starting a business during high school can be an excellent way to learn valuable skills, develop a strong work ethic, and potentially earn some extra money. With minimal investment and flexible working hours, these business ideas for students and teens can become rewarding side hustles . Let’s explore some business ideas that are suitable for high school students.

Freelance writing and editing can be an ideal opportunity for students who are passionate about writing or have strong grammar skills. Students can offer their services for a fee, creating content or proofreading for clients like bloggers, businesses, and authors. Freelance writing platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr can be an excellent starting point.

Tutoring is another feasible option for high school students who excel in a particular subject or skill. Tutoring services can be offered to younger students, classmates, or adults looking to learn something new. Online platforms like Tutor.com or Wyzant can help connect tutors with potential clients. Alternatively, students can promote their services through local community centers, schools, and social media.

If a student possesses a talent for arts and crafts , they can turn their hobby into a small business venture. Handmade jewelry, clothing, paintings, stationery, or home décor items can be sold online through marketplaces like Etsy or at local craft fairs and community events.

Pet sitting and dog walking services can cater to busy pet owners who need assistance in taking care of their furry friends. This business idea requires little to no investment and provides the added benefit of getting regular exercise while walking pets. Promoting services via social media, local pet stores, or dog parks can help attract clients.

Lastly, high school students with an interest in technology and gadgets may consider starting a tech support and repair service . Offering assistance with software installation, troubleshooting, or even repairing smartphones and laptops can be a profitable business idea. To promote this service, students can pitch to their classmates, family friends, or community members looking for tech support.

These are just a handful of potential business ideas for students and teens looking to start their entrepreneurial journey. By investing time, effort, and dedication, high school students can successfully launch their businesses and gain valuable experience in the process.

Service-Based Business Ideas

Tutoring services.

Starting a tutoring business is a great opportunity for high-achieving high school students. By offering one-on-one or group sessions, you can help other students improve their academic performance.

Focus on subjects where you excel, such as math, science, or languages. To attract clients, create flyers, social media pages, or leverage your school’s bulletin board. As you gain experience and clients, consider expanding your services to online tutoring platforms.

Child Care Services

Offering child care services is a flexible way to earn money after school or over the weekend. Whether it’s babysitting, providing after-school care, or even organizing playdates, your services can be valuable to busy parents.

Make sure to obtain necessary certifications, such as child and infant CPR, and create a professional online presence to showcase your skills and experience.

Pet Care Services

If you love animals, starting a pet care business might be the perfect fit. Offer services like pet sitting, dog walking, or even grooming sessions.

To set yourself apart from competitors, consider obtaining certifications from organizations like Pet Sitters International or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. Advertise your services through local classifieds, social media, or word of mouth in your neighborhood.

Errand-Running Services

Helping others with their daily tasks can be a lucrative business idea for high school students. By offering errand-running services , you can assist busy parents or elderly neighbors with grocery shopping, picking up dry cleaning, or dropping off packages.

Build your client base through personal connections, social media advertising, and local online community groups.

Outdoor Maintenance Services

Lawn care businesses are ideal for high school students who enjoy spending time outdoors. Services may include mowing lawns, raking leaves, trimming bushes, or even small landscaping projects.

Invest in good-quality equipment and learn proper techniques to ensure outstanding results. Create professional flyers or online ads to attract potential customers, and consider offering package deals for ongoing maintenance.

Car Washing Services

Offering car washing services can be a profitable business venture for enthusiastic high school students. Provide services like washing, waxing, or interior cleaning, and work on developing efficient techniques and using eco-friendly products. To build your client base, advertise through social media, local classifieds, or word of mouth, and consider offering discounts for referrals or repeat customers.

Online Business Opportunities

Blogging and content creation.

Developing a blog can be a great way for high school students to start their online business journey . A blog enables students to share their passions, interests, and knowledge with the world while generating income through advertising or affiliate marketing.

Content creation is not just limited to writing; multimedia, such as videos and podcasts, can also attract an audience. Combining various content formats with proper search engine optimization (SEO) allows young entrepreneurs to grow their online presence over time.

Freelance Writing and Design

High school students who have a knack for writing or designing can offer their services to clients through platforms like Upwork . Freelance writing covers a broad range of topics, from blog articles to technical documentation and teaching materials.

Similarly, design projects can include graphic design, logo creation, and website templates. These opportunities allow budding writers and designers to build their portfolio, gain experience, and earn money working around their school schedule.

Website Development and Design

Web development and design are in high demand, making them excellent online business options. Students who have skills in website development or web design can create and sell their services to clients.

Aspiring web developers can create custom websites for businesses and individuals or develop themes for popular platforms like WordPress. Meanwhile, web designers can focus on creating visually appealing and user-friendly designs for clients. Establishing a strong portfolio through multiple projects helps attract potential customers and showcase their expertise.

The rise of platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube has given way to the social media influencer phenomenon. High school students who can build a following around their interests or talents can eventually monetize their content.

This can include sponsored posts, product endorsements, or creating and selling their merchandise. Developing a niche and unique content style is crucial for standing out in a competitive online space. By consistently posting high-quality content and engaging with their audience, high school influencers can potentially turn their passion into a profitable online business.

Creative Business Ideas

Photography business.

If you have a passion for photography and an eye for capturing stunning images, starting a photography business could be an excellent opportunity.

To begin, invest in quality camera equipment and learn essential photography techniques and editing software. Then, you can offer your services for events, portraits, or even as a freelance photographer for local publications. Don’t forget to create an online portfolio to showcase your work and attract clients.

Graphic Design Business

For students with exceptional design skills, a graphic design business could be an exciting venture. Develop your skills in programs like Adobe Creative Suite, and create a portfolio showcasing your artwork in various categories, such as logos, marketing materials, or web design.

Connect with local businesses, clubs, or nonprofit organizations in need of design services. Networking and word of mouth are essential for growing this business, so don’t hesitate to spread the word about your services.

Online Game and App Development

In the world of technology and entertainment, creating an app or online game might be the perfect business idea for tech-savvy students. You can develop games and apps for mobile devices or specific platforms, such as iOS or Android.

Learn programming languages such as C++ or Java, and familiarize yourself with development tools, like Unity or Unreal Engine. Begin by creating small games or apps to build your portfolio, then expand your project ideas and market your products on various online platforms.

Music Lesson Services

If you are a talented musician, offering music lessons can be a lucrative and rewarding business for high school students. First, determine the instruments or music styles you are proficient at and wish to teach.

Next, create lesson plans and teaching materials tailored to different skill levels and age groups. Advertise your services in local community centers, schools, or social media platforms, and be prepared to offer lessons either at your home, clients’ homes, or virtually. Don’t forget to be patient and flexible, as students learn at different paces and may require personalized attention.

Overall, by focusing on your strengths and interests, you can tap into exciting business opportunities, while gaining valuable experience, skills, and connections. Whether you choose to pursue photography, graphic design, game development, or music lessons, remember to remain dedicated, curious, and professional every step of the way.

Planning and Management

When considering business ideas for high school students, it’s essential to start with well-structured planning and management. Creating an account for your business is a key first step, as it helps to separate your personal finances from your business assets. This not only adds credibility to your venture but also makes it easier to track expenses and income.

Budgeting plays a crucial role in managing your high school business. It helps you identify and control expenses, ensuring that you don’t overspend on unnecessary items. Proper budgeting also ensures you have enough funds to cover unexpected expenses and expand the business.

As you develop your business idea, carefully consider your competition . Analyze the market, identify your competitors, and understand what sets your product or service apart from others.

Implementing strong time management skills will lead to the success of your venture as a high school student. Balancing schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and your business is challenging, but with proper planning and organization, you can prioritize tasks and manage your time effectively.

When it comes to business projects , selecting a project that aligns with your interests and passions is important. For example, you could start a food truck simulation project or offer an errand running service for people pressed for time. Experimenting with different ideas helps you gain experience in various fields and learn valuable skills along the way.

Finally, having a well-thought-out plan for your high school business ensures that goals are met and continuously assessed. Develop a clear action plan that outlines goals, strategies, and milestones, while also being prepared to adapt when faced with unexpected challenges.

Marketing and Promotion

When it comes to launching a business as a high school student, effective marketing and promotion play a crucial role in its success. Understanding various marketing strategies will help you create a strong brand, communicate effectively with your target audience, and build a loyal customer base.

To begin with, branding is key to differentiating your business from competitors and establishing an identity. An impactful logo, unique color scheme, and consistent messaging across all platforms solidify your brand presence, making it more recognizable and memorable.

Social media offers an accessible platform to promote your business. Utilizing popular apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook enables you to showcase products or services, interact with potential customers, and foster a sense of community. Engaging regularly and sharing user-generated content helps you to organically promote your brand.

Paid ads can supplement organic growth, as platforms like Google AdWords and Facebook Ads offer targeted advertising solutions. By investing in these services, you can reach an even wider audience, targeting specific age groups, interests, or location demographics.

Effective communication is essential in building trust and fostering relationships with your customers. Prompt and courteous responses to inquiries demonstrate professionalism and concern for their experience. Additionally, employing a clear and engaging tone helps in connecting with potential customers and retaining their interest.

Networking is another powerful tool for promoting your business, as it allows you to connect with other entrepreneurs and potential clients or collaborators. Participating in events, clubs, and professional networks can lead to new opportunities, valuable resources, and broader exposure for your brand.

Lastly, devising creative marketing strategies tailored specifically to your target audience will make a lasting impact. Contests, collaboration with influencers, or limited-time promotions attract attention, while optimizing SEO and investing in content marketing initiatives can increase website traffic and brand visibility.

Overall, a well-rounded approach to marketing and promotion—covering branding, social media, ads, communication, networking, and targeted marketing strategies—lays the foundation for success in your high school business ventures. Remember to adapt and refine your tactics as you grow and learn more about your audience’s preferences and habits.

Resources and Support

Starting a business as a high school student may seem challenging, but various resources and support networks can make it more manageable. One key resource for young entrepreneurs is the education system.

Many high schools today offer business education programs or courses focused on entrepreneurship, management, marketing, and finance. These courses can provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop their business ideas.

For those who wish to delve deeper into specific topics, such as technology or social media marketing, online platforms like Study.com offer courses in various business-related fields. Moreover, college and university summer programs can provide advanced students with the chance to learn from industry professionals and gain valuable experience before embarking on their entrepreneurial journey.

High school libraries serve as important resources for students looking to start a business. Books, magazines, and online databases can offer essential insights into marketing trends, business management, and other relevant topics.

Additionally, libraries often host workshops and seminars that cover important aspects of business education and professional development. These events can also provide excellent networking opportunities for students.

Mentorship plays a crucial role in the success of young entrepreneurs. High school students can seek out business-savvy mentors from their local community, school alumni, or entrepreneurial organizations. These mentors can offer guidance and advice on navigating the business world and often share their valuable experiences.

When it’s time to launch a business, potential investors and funding sources may become an essential part of the process. High school students can explore options such as crowdfunding campaigns, local business competitions, and grants specifically designed for young entrepreneurs. These options can help students secure the necessary capital to grow their ideas into successful ventures.

Overall, various resources and support options can empower young entrepreneurs, providing them with the knowledge, guidance, and funding to turn their high school business ideas into reality. With determination and the right resources, there’s no limit to what high school students can achieve.

Challenges and Solutions

High school students often face various challenges when trying to start a business. One such problem is the lack of experience in dealing with real-life situations that involve time management, decision-making, and leadership, among other skills. However, by engaging in entrepreneurship activities, students can develop these essential life skills, laying a strong foundation for future success (Crimson Education) .

Financial constraints pose another challenge for young entrepreneurs. The availability of cash is critical for any startup, but students may find it difficult to secure the necessary funds. A possible solution to this issue is the students’ initiative in seeking support from family, friends, or even crowdfunding platforms. Additionally, participating in business competitions can give students the chance to win seed money and establish their startups.

The pandemic has also made it more difficult for high school students to pursue their business ideas. Traditional face-to-face interactions and activities have been limited, forcing young entrepreneurs to adapt and innovate.

Fortunately, the virtual world offers numerous opportunities for students to pivot and explore different business avenues. For example, promoting and selling products via social media or creating online services tailored to pandemic-induced needs.

Problem-solving is critical for any entrepreneur, and high school students need to understand how their ideas can address community needs and make an impact. Real-world projects are an excellent way for students to apply design programs and problem-solving skills towards addressing compelling issues (NGLC) .

In summary, high school students can overcome the challenges of starting a business by enhancing their skills through entrepreneurship experiences, securing financial support, and embracing the virtual world for problem-solving and innovation.

Stock Market Knowledge

For high school students interested in business ideas, gaining a solid understanding of the stock market can be invaluable. The stock market is a platform where investors buy and sell shares of public companies. It acts as a critical driver of economic growth and a reflection of the overall health of an economy.

To begin with, it’s essential for students to learn about the basic concepts of economics . They should familiarize themselves with supply and demand, the forces that determine the prices of goods and services in the market. Grasping essential economic indicators, such as inflation, GDP growth, and unemployment rates, can offer insights on how external factors affect the stock market.

Moreover, understanding inflation is also crucial because it influences the purchasing power of money and, in turn, affects investment decisions. When inflation is high, cash loses value, prompting investors to seek assets that can hold their value, such as stocks. However, if inflation spirals out of control, it can lead to economic instability and, consequently, impact the stock market negatively.

To gain hands-on experience, students can participate in stock market simulations or investment clubs in their schools. These activities allow them to practice buying and selling stocks with virtual money and enhance their understanding of market mechanics. They can also learn about various investment strategies, risk management, and portfolio diversification.

Additionally, students should follow financial news to keep up-to-date with market trends and company performances. By watching financial market indicators like the S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Dow Jones Industrial Average, they can observe how different factors affect stock prices.

Ultimately, stock market knowledge enables high school students to make informed investment decisions in the future. The skills they acquire can help them achieve financial success and contribute to economic growth on a broader scale.

Skills and Personal Development

Developing various skills and experiences throughout high school is essential for students exploring entrepreneurial opportunities. Gaining leadership experience aids in managing teams and projects effectively.

Students can participate in extracurricular activities, such as clubs, sports, and volunteering, to develop leadership skills. Obtaining leadership roles also allows them to build a network with like-minded peers that may lead to future collaborations.

In terms of entrepreneurial experience , engaging in small business ventures such as selling used books or starting a car washing business is an excellent way for students to gain hands-on experience. These relatively low-risk ventures expose them to business management, financial planning, and risk assessment.

Developing flexibility and time management skills is another crucial aspect. Juggling academics, personal life, and business requires a student to have flexible hours and the ability to prioritize tasks. They must also learn to adapt to changing circumstances, such as market conditions or customer needs.

A solid foundation in research is integral to success in any business endeavor. Embarking on a research project related to the business idea allows students to gather information, analyze market trends, and identify potential competitors. By doing so, they develop problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and become more informed decision-makers.

Moreover, technical and practical skills specific to the chosen business field are necessary. For instance, starting a food truck business simulation project demands culinary abilities, marketing strategies, and financial planning.

In summary, high school students have plenty of opportunities to develop the skills and qualities needed to thrive in entrepreneurial ventures. A balance between leadership, entrepreneurial experience, flexibility, research proficiency, and technical abilities is essential. By focusing on personal development, students can pave the way toward success in their future business endeavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are low-cost business ventures high school students can pursue.

Low-cost business ventures suitable for high school students may include providing tutoring or coaching services, creating and selling handmade crafts, or setting up a car wash. These businesses often require minimal initial investment and can be tailored to a student’s skills, interests, and available resources. Moreover, they can be expanded by leveraging social media and word-of-mouth advertising.

How can students start an online business with no initial investment?

Starting an online business with no initial investment is achievable through various means. Students can create a blog, utilize affiliate marketing, or offer creative services like graphic design and content writing. These online businesses often rely on digital platforms that require little to no financial commitment, such as free blogging platforms and social media networks.

What are some creative business projects for young entrepreneurs?

Creative business projects for young entrepreneurs can include designing and selling custom clothing or merchandise, launching a subscription box service, developing mobile applications or software, conducting workshops, or curating themed events. These projects allow young entrepreneurs to express their creativity and passion while generating income.

What types of businesses can a teenager run from home?

Teenagers can run various types of businesses from home, such as social media management, freelance writing, photography or video editing services, pet sitting, or lawn care. These businesses offer flexibility with minimal overhead, allowing teenagers to balance their school work and entrepreneurial pursuits effectively.

Which business ideas are successful for teenage girls?

Business ideas successful for teenage girls can range from creating unique fashion or beauty products to organizing community events or workshops, offering tutoring, or starting a digital marketing agency. These ideas are not limited by gender and can be adapted to suit the interests and skills of any individual.

How can a high school student start a business with limited funds?

Starting a business with limited funds involves careful planning to determine low-cost opportunities and leveraging personal assets or skills. Students can tap into their existing network, conduct market research, and utilize free resources to avoid incurring unnecessary expenses. They may also consider partnering with other students or seeking mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs to help build a solid foundation for their business.

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