In today's economy, students may have to acquire money from alternative job sources. With job losses increasing daily, many have started their own businesses as ways to create income.
The Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy doesn't break out statistics for teens and tweens, but says in 2006 there were 492,000 people younger than 25 who were self-employed, according to USA Today.
CSUSB seniors Jeff Whitehouse and Austin Dodd decided to start up their own business a little over a year ago and it has recently started to take shape within the past month.
"The main reason for starting our own company was the current economy. There are no jobs so why not create our own," Whitehouse said.
USA Today's report said that the rough employment market has led kids to increasingly sign up for the entrepreneurial programs offered by youth-oriented groups such as Junior Achievement and the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
Junior Achievement USA President Jack Kosakowski told USA Today, "It might be out of necessity, since there aren't a lot of jobs out there. But they're also seeing parents and other adults that have been loyal to companies for years ... getting laid off, so these kids might be thinking, 'Hey, I might be better off being my own boss.'"
Many students start off their businesses in the summer as a way of making some extra cash. Whether it is surfing lessons or piano lessons, students can utilize their abilities to help pay their bills.
"Late Night Munchies is a service that will offer food items like the kind you could find at 7-11 and grocery stores," said Whitehouse. "We also will offer party supplies. Why go out when you can keep the party where it is at?"
CSUSB offers opportunities for students who are thinking of pursuing a career in entrepreneurship. The Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) and the Family Business Partnership Program is located in the College of Business and Public Administration (CBPA) building.
According to the IECE website, IECE's mission at CSUSB is to advance the study and practice of the entrepreneurial spirit through entrepreneurship education, student internships, entrepreneurial training, business assistance programs, collaborative community partnerships and entrepreneurial research.
IECE achieves its mission by offering innovative programs and services to students at CSUSB and to small businesses, entrepreneurs and non-profit entrepreneurs in the Inland Empire.
In addition, IECE serves as the breeding ground for entrepreneurial ideas and programs being developed through the various departments within the CBPA.
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