Written by Ellen Marie Hawkins, Relate Contributing Writer

According to Entrepreneur.com, six out of 10 teens want to have a business. Does this include you? Think of it this way- the worst you have to lose right now is failure. Unlike an adult who has to pay rent, your youth gives you more freedom to try without the pressure of paying bills. Andyou’re more technical savy than most adults and can maybe discover business opportunities faster than a forty-year old.

Girls Going Places would like to reward girls who are making an effort now to achieve their business dreams. Sponsored by Guardian Life Insurance Company, $30,000 will be awarded to 15 finalists who exhibit good entrepreneurship and community service.

Interested?

If you are between the ages of 12 and 18 and have tried your hand at being an entrepreneur, have a teacher or parent nominate you at www.girlsgoingplaces.com. In a 750-word essay, the adult who nominates you must explain what skills you have that make you an excellent entrepreneur. And you must also submit 250 words explaining how you feel about owning a business, what it means to you to be “financially independent” or the importance of community service.

The first place winner will be awarded $10,000, second receives $5,000 and third will get $3,000. The 12 finalists will win $1,000 each. Girls can use the money for college or reinvest their winnings into their business.

Guardian is dedicated to ensuring that girls today realize the benefits of establishing their own business. This is the tenth year for the program and the deadline is February 26, 2010, so get those essays sent in!

Check out the Girls Going Place video on Youtube!

If you have yet to develop a business plan but are interested, teen entrepreneurs who have had success offer these tips:

• Don’t allow your shortcomings to stop you because everyone has a talent that is marketable, and build upon what your interests are or what you are passionate about.
• If you’re still not sure what you could do to develop a business, consider these success stories. One teen boy decided to sell bottled water, and while that may not sound all that original, he gives 10 cents for every bottle sold to a charity based on the customers’ wishes. For example, if you buy a bottle of water with a green cap, that means you want that dime to go towards environmental concerns. If you buy a bottle of his water with a blue cap, your dime will go to hungry children. He thought about community with a business angle and everyone benefits. Pretty ingenious, huh?
• Or, how about this one? To raise money for a car, a 15-year-old girl in Colorado decided to do mobile car detailing, meaning rather than have a client come to her to have the car cleaned, she would go to the client and clean the car while he or she was at work.

Think outside the box, and find a way to provide a service or product cheaper than the competition, and you’ll be sure to have success!

Tags: economics, entrepreneur, Girls Going Places, marketable skills, raise money, teen businesses, teen job market