Anthony Helton On How Young Entrepreneurs Can Be Taken Seriously

Young entrepreneurs in Indianapolis have a wealth of exciting new ideas to share with the business marketplace. Unfortunately, young entrepreneurs are sometimes not taken seriously. Unfair stereotypes can get in the way of success. Young business owners like Anthony Helton show the path forward for young people who want to make their mark in the world.

When starting a business at a young age, many entrepreneurs struggle with the desire to be treated like other business owners. Using these 9 tips may help youthful business owners surmount the problems that come with starting a business out of college or earlier.

1. Research Your Field

Know everything you can about your field before you attempt to start a business. Becoming an expert in the field will only help you along the path to becoming a successful entrepreneur. When you do your research, you will be able to pinpoint problems that may come later on and fix them before they affect your company.

2. Have a Strong Business Plan

As a young business owner, it is doubly important to make sure that you have all of your plans laid out in a concrete fashion. Having a strong business plan will help potential lenders and partners know that you are serious about your idea for your new venture.

3. Be Passionate

Young people may have a reputation of being lazy. Work to turn these expectations around by projecting passion about your business idea. When you have a true passion for your work, it shows, and people will want to invest in your idea.

4. Dress Professionally

Older business owners in Indianapolis are likely to be turned off by people who dress too casually. The number one rule is to dress as well or better than the people you are meeting with. This can be difficult to judge before you have met them for the first time, so be sure to wear traditional business attire and pull yourself together smoothly.

5. Reputation is Key

For young business owners, in particular, a good reputation is hard to come by. Inexperienced entrepreneurs may seem like poor choices to do business with. Focus on building a strong reputation and take all of your clients seriously. Word of mouth should spread, and you will find that you have a better customer base for your business.

6. Take Advice from Established Professionals

If you can, find a mentor who can walk you through the most difficult aspects of starting a business. For a new company, it is also a good idea to assemble an informal advisory board to help your ideas flow. Bouncing ideas off older professionals is a good way to increase your reputation and bring your sky-high ideas into realistic focus.

7. Handle Setbacks in a Mature Fashion

Every entrepreneur experiences setbacks, but the way in which they handle these unfortunate events can make or break their company. Try to approach business problems as opportunities for growth and change. Reacting with anger and resentment will only show other businesses and customers that you are not mature enough to run a company on your own.

8. Be Careful with Money

This principle applies to all entrepreneurs, but young people should be especially aware that it could be a problem. Don’t overspend. Find ways to run your company as efficiently as possible. You may want to work part-time at your business while keeping a day job or going to school.

Get professional advice from accountants and tax specialists. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Inexperience with tax issues, in particular, can land young entrepreneurs in a lot of hot water.

9. Be Aware of Financing Issues

In another dimension of financial affairs, applying for financing as a young entrepreneur can be challenging. Explore alternate ways of building capital, including loans from family and friends. Microlending and crowdsourcing may also be great ways to build the money you need to get started.

Get Started on the Right Path

When young people in Indianapolis want to start a new company, following these 9 tips can help them achieve a better reputation among their peers and among other businesses. Anthony Helton is only one of the successful young entrepreneurs who provide a healthy example to young people who want to get started in the business world.