Advice on beginning business?

I am 16 and I am thinking of starting a small business at my highschool selling bead necklaces of different colors. Can someone give me some tips as to how to begin like what my prices should be etc. If you do not feel like going into detail now, if you could respond with your email address and I can talk to you there. THANK YOU!!!

I helped start my husbands contracting business so I know a little about what your talking about. As far as prices go, I would ask a few of your friends what they would pay and tell them to be totally honest. Look at what styles of necklaces are popular around school and try to make a few that follow the trend and see how they sell. Always keep an eye on your target group (the people you hope to sell to), without them you have no business. And think about maybe taking custom orders. You know at schools when dances come up you make a ton by customizing a necklace to a girls dress or maybe a bracelet. Keep thinking on ways to improve your business and put them to work. Your company will only go as far as you push it. Have a great time doing it (being self employed rocks!) and good luck!

Figure out what you spend on making the necklace: say $.50. Consider how many you may be able to sell before you flood the market. 600 kids in the school, 100 possible buyers. Then, how much profit you want to make. 100 necklaces at $.50 a piece will cost $50.00. You want to make $300.00. You sell your necklaces for $3 to 100 customers and you get $300. If you sell them for $3.50 you make $350 and offset the cost of $50.00.

I make jewelry. Some pieces sell for hundreds and a few over a thousand dollars. I buy most of my materials form:
http://www.firemountaingems.com/

I have met many jewelry makers and they ALL get their materials from there.
Good luck! If you need to know anything else just hit me up.

Buy wholesale and raise the price when you sell.
Example, say you bought 50 necklaces and you paid $50.00.
Now sell each one for $5.50 or $6.00each.
You make a profit and also cover your shipping and handling costs.

I knew a couple of people who did this when I went to high school back in the day!
Good Luck!