At What Age Did You Start Your Business?

I started (if you can call that started) in 2007 when I was 20. First I only read about making money online and the various methods. Today I am almost ready for my second launch which I know will be a success.

I realized I did not want to work for someone else for the rest of my life, and I will continue to push hard until I can be my own boss!

I started my online business shortly after my 21st birthday. That was about 2 years ago, and in that time I have been able to create a full-time income for myself online by combining affiliate marketing with my internet marketing consulting offline business.

Running your own business from the comfort of your own home is the best career possible, in my opinion. I would gladly sacrifice earning potential to live the lifestyle that I live, but luckily this is also a great business with tremendous opportunity, so I do not have to sacrifice anything!

I started my first (and only) company when I was 18. It wasn't marketing per say, I started a non-profit to help clean up houses after Katrina, but I quickly learned how helpful sites like Facebook were to spreading the word around.

If it wasn't for IM, I would have never been able to hire half my employees, as it was a main source of donations for my company while it was running.

When I was 16, last year.

-Konstantin.

Technically been in business since November last year, so, when I was 25. However, I feel the need to point out that there's a massive difference between being in business and being self-employed. If you're not sure which category you fall into then here's how you can tell:

Ask yourself, if I stopped working in my business for the next three months, what would happen?

If the answer is: "My business would collapse and I'd lose all my income" then you're self-employed, just like a dentist or your local doctor.

If the answer is: "Nothing, my business may fall behind the curve a tad but overall I'd continue to have money flowing into my bank account and I could just hire someone to oversea my operations for those three months - no dramas" then you are a businessman/woman.

I'd guess that 98% of people who refer to themselves as "Business owners" could be more accurately described as "business manager, systems manager, rule enforcer and no. 1 employee" as well.

I'm still self-employed btw, looking to move into the solely: "Business owner" category.

I've had a few, from a candy store at 14-15, to forex
at 18-19, to marketing (various niches, biz op and
health almost exclusively) online and offline.

Unlike most people who KNOW what they want to be
when they grew up, or someone who KNOW'S their
calling in a certain business or profession, succeeds,
and is happy...I was never so fortunate.

Strangely, it wasn't just the money that made me
jump from one thing to another (because in some
cases, I did very well) it was that I hated many of
things I got into thinking I would love it.

Anyways, I finally found what I was looking for that
took me almost 6+ years of trial and error to find:

Direct Mail Marketing.

I'm 21 now, and this is by far...the best business in
the world for me, my personality, and the time and
freedom it allows me. It's dare I say, perfect...and I
love it for more than just the money

I was 21. Very interesting how a lot of people who responded were also in their early 20's. Who would've thought.

Hey!!

I started off when i was 18...!!

And am loving it...

Yeah its pretty amazing, nearly everyone on here started in the 18-21 range, pretty interesting stuff.

I am too late. I started it last year when I was 26. Actually, I was not having a computer and internet. If I had these things few years back then today, I might be earning a handsome amount and have established a good business today. But, I do not mind as still I have a lot of time.

I am 30 now, start when I was 12......

watching my big dog uncle make all the money in business, go to business dinner with him every night inspired me..

Han

17 years old. Money and competition is the motivation. I hate seeing people with better stuff than me. But I love it because it drives me to make more money.

Started in 2007 aged 32 and still aiming to get better -

I started my first business at the age of 19. Have not worked for anyone else since (that was a long time ago ;-)

17 - Saw a porsche 911 and realized that the only way to get that car is to be my own Boss!

started at 17 and i am 18 years old now.....motivation : well there is an economic crisis going on ....and is pretty bad in my country so i had to start doing something .

I started studying for a way to create more wealth since I was 13. I am now 22 and I am moving on a lot of significant things right now.

The reason why things happened that way was because I didn't have a safety net at all. I've been making major decisions in my life without guidance since I was 10 years old. Parents just didn't care. So it was either get my mind together or live on the street. I guess that would be a motivation of fear, but I like to think of it as a motivation of passion.

But hey, things happen for a reason. The above may be gloomy but again, I am 22 and already I am moving on some major projects at the moment. Another great motivation in my life is to help the kids who have uninspiring family backgrounds and show them that even though you come from the ghetto with no opportunity, all you need is the things you were born with in order to rise to the top of whatever pinnacle you want to.

There you have it. You asked, I gave you my answer

Kristan

three years ago when I was still in university, I really sacrificed being with my friends, going on vacations and instead sit in front of my computer because I really have much faith in what I am doing no matter what!

I started when I was 25. I always wanted my own business, but family life interfered with that. When I was 25, my kids were old enough to be more or less self sufficient.

I started a web design business at the age of 17 a few years ago. Luckily I sold it before the great recession started and got 12 months revenue for it. I got about a 2,000% return on investment too!

Two months ago,and it was my brother that motivated me!

I actually started my company just over a year ago at the age of 29 and just a week before I was schedule to have my third baby.

first business was when i was in 6th grade - 11.5 - 12yrs... It lasted for a year. And then after a year later when I turned 13 - got into IM.

But it reallly began (results) when I turned 14.

I was 18 when i realised i wanted to start IM. I couldnt stand the thought working in a job, for a person with ALOT less potential than i had. I can do anything. I will take over the world. thats the mindset i had - and im a shy kid!

I started when I was 20. I had a degree but couldn't find a decent job that suited my skills, then IM came along and the rest is history.

I started at 17.

I decided that I wanted a great future for my family (I hope to have one day), and I realized that just going to school and getting a good job would not get me where I want to reach in life.

Thus I set off to build my own business, and have not regretted that decision ever since.

Started mine at 21 years old. The more time to expand + learn, the better!

I started when I was 19, But the passion to make money came at a very early age.

At the age of fifteen, my father is a business and he really put in my mind the mind set of a businessman. He always remind to study hard and make business someday, thus at the early age I try to venture in the world of business.

I was 38. I had a successful career as a musician and then came off the road when we had babies. I was tired of traveling and wanted to be around to see my kids grow up. My motivation to start my own thing came from a dead end job where I was asking to be promoted and they could only offer me a sales position... on the road!

6 months ago, at age 49. my motivation is an early retirement. In the UK I will have to be 67 before I can receive a state pension.

As per my thinking there is no age to start business. You have provide nice thread about the business. I am not still starting this kind of business. But I will start it after sometime. I really like this thread very much.

I was 19 when I first started a business. I had nothing to lose an no other compelling opportunities.

Hmm, this year, so: 15 :-) Well, 3 months to go and I am 16!
Cheers!
Dominium

Started at 23. Here I am at 24, successful and happy. It can be done!

Well maddiet,

Fifty years ago, when I was all of age 13, I started doing little jobs for others myself and playing music in a rock bad with guys who were 17 and 18.. By age 16 I was renting a teaching room at a local music store and giving lessons as a self-employeed music teacher (guitar, bass, and keyboards). My parents started teaching me to play music when I was 5 or 6.

At 17, I and several friends started renting a large reception hall and putting together dances for other local teens - at up to 2,000 kids each week. That is when I made a promise to myself to always be self-employed.

I've kept that promise and have always been self-employed. I wouldn't know what it is like to be an employee. I've also been an employer for some 40 years now.

:-Don

I started my painting business when I was 19. Motivation? Quality of work.

I am a late bloomer. Started 3 years ago.
But then it was not a bad idea at all.
I am so glad i did it.

I started my business when I was 19 years old, my friends are the who encourages me to start a business that is related to internet.

At the age of 15 I already do business. Right now I believe my business is the greatest business in this world.

Started my first business when I was 9, first online business when I was 13.

Currently 18 =)

Early 30s. I wanted to start in my early 20s, but I got suckered in to "get a good education, then get a good job blah, blah, blah."

I started being a businesswoman at the age of 18. My father taught me all the business ideas.

I started as a teen reading books in my local library until closing time night after night for many years until they got fed up of me...lol. 28 years later I'm still learning, go figure

Take care,

Bernard St-Pierre
Marketing Consultant
Copywriter/Teacher

I started at age 14, 36 years ago, taking tires off of car rims by hand, for $0.05 per tire. My motivation, I wanted pot money

Looking at the posts people are making, it appears that most of IMers are really really young. Many are still in their teens, and plenty in early twenties.... It's amazing that this must be one of the few professions which age is no boundary, which you can start really really early. Amazing! I am just too old to mention! :-)

Interesting i was seeing the ages of those posting in this thread . then it dawned on me most of the younger people in this thread have never known the world without the internet . So finding a way to make money online is a natural thing .

I started when I was 21 about a year ago, the though popped into my head that the best advertising every was email, I did some searches and came across Jonathan Budd's material, but decided I wanted the fast easy illegitimate way to success. I tried some blackhat methods, tried to extract emails and do mailings. Total waste of time lol, with spam laws and filters.

Anyway a year later I have learned a ton, and sold my first deal / product last week with some more conventional methods I learn from this site so pretty excited, and looking forward to more success.

My first ideas of generating an income online
started after my mother gave me An Idiot's
Guide To Making Money for Teens.

From that moment, I slowly steeped into a
money-making consciousness.

I started off my online career unfortunately
in HYIP scam websites, but after being
exposed to the Rich Jerk forums I learned
what real Internet Marketing is all about.

Fast forward to 2011, and I have so many
ideas for the upcoming months.

Time ceases to exists when you have ideas
to play with for years to come (you'll
always be busy working on something new
that way... You EITHER build or destroy in
life.)

Me at 28. I was unaware about the internet and the online business. I wish I would have same knowledge few years back. But that's fine!

Jacked-in my day job and went into IM at 28 (that's six years ago now). Just wanted to be master of my own destiny. Never done a day's work for anyone but me and my family since.

I started when I was 21 more or less. I don't to like to work for someone else but myself. And in this case I don't have obligations to anyone(no boss whining!). I only need the discipline to get yourself to work and I think I have that ability..

I started this business last may, and I am 44. My motivation was two fold. First: My wife and I had great results from the products. Second: I love helping others.

I was 24 and it was by accident. They didn't tell me in college that I'd have to run a business in order to actually make any money. Hence the internet hook now. Brick and mortar biz will wear you out.

I technically started in 2000 building websites for others. I earned about 10k a year doing that for a bit. Was offline a few years due to illness, but always returned to make money online. I now make a living doing SEO. Recently, I've hired a VA and it is fantastic to not do a single thing and yet reap huge profits. I pay about 20% of my profits to a highly skilled VA.

With all this new time on my hands I've been studying ways to build some income streams. I'm testing out some domain selling ideas. Go this one brand new domain ranking #4 without anything but onsite SEO and the domain name being the exact keyword. Once I add my own SEO strategy to it I think it will go to number one, then I'll flip it.

So... while I've got to say I have not been one of the lucky peeps that got rick fast through online marketing, I am happy with the income I make from SEO and a few affiliate programs I promote.


Cheerios

Started Marketing at Age 2
Started online marketing at age 18
Wrote first business plan age 19
Made first online dollar at 19
Ran for public office at age 20
Started actual first business at 21
Now 22.

=P

15. Been 2 years. Took a short break in between.

Now I hope to elevate my biz to new heights to support my college education.

Karan

At age 27. This was shortly after I got married and wanted to spend all my time with my wife.

Started at 27 and owning my own business and the grow potential is what motivated me.

I started my own business at 19. There is no age limit, as long as you have the knowledge and resources you need the earlier you start building and trying the better because you make mistakes earlier when you don't have financial responsibility and you learn from those mistakes and have a greater chance for huge success in your life.

I registered my business when I was 21 in 2009 but my best friend and I started making and pitching, glitchy software since we were about 12. We actually approached some companies with our ideas back then, they listened to us out of curiosity but it gave us the confidence to chase our dreams no matter what anyone thought or said to us.

I started at 24. I got tired of working for other people. Internet Marketing is the way to go.