Running the Postcard business being underage? How can I make the receipt?

[frndelavega]

This as a great business opportunity and I see myself capable of doing this, but there is a problem: I am underage.

I am 17 years old, and I don't know how I should handle the selling process and what would be the legal implications. I don't look like I'm underage, I could easily pretend to be more than 20. It's not the first impression I would cause once I step into the store what stops me, but rather the technical bit when it comes to recollecting the money.

I was thinking about accepting payments in cash, paypal and credit card (I could easily accept credit card through paypal), but the problem comes in when the client pays in cash. Since I am underage I can't give receipts. I was thinking about handling the receipts under my father's name, though I was now thinking about not giving any receipts at all, unless the client asks for it. Does anyone think this is a good idea, or should I always give the receipt, even if the client doesn't ask for one?

[bradinphx]

I don't see this as a huge problem. You can accept payments via Square. I don't remember seeing anything about being 18 to sign up at squaredup.com

What state do you live in? Can a minor file for an LLC? If not can a minor be a member of an LLC and possibly have your father being another member?

[Mr Subtle]

Since I am underage I can't give receipts.
A receipt is not a contract so no worries there. You will need one of your parents to open a checking account for your business though.

Good luck. It makes my day when I read a post from someone from the "trophy generation" who isn't lazy-assed.

[Mister Natural]

Back in the days of MYSPACE (remember that internet craze?)

there was a teenage girl making cute little pages for MYSPACE with kitties and glitter,,

her business exploded. And during her teen years of 15 to 18 years old,,, she made $300,000 PLUS a year.

Bought a large home, was offered a buyout by a huge company offering something like $25 million,, I think she refused.

Then two years later MYSPACE is gone.

Anyway,, "writing receipts" didn't stop her from achieving some amazing things.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Qualls


http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/118/girl-power.html

[frndelavega]

I don't see this as a huge problem. You can accept payments via Square. I don't remember seeing anything about being 18 to sign up at squaredup.com

What state do you live in? Can a minor file for an LLC? If not can a minor be a member of an LLC and possibly have your father being another member?

Square isn't available in my country (I'm from Spain). It's a pitty, I would've loved to having something like that to bill my clients.

Here in Spain you have to be 18+ to start an LLC, so I guess I'll have to run this under my father's name.



A receipt is not a contract so no worries there. You will need one of your parents to open a checking account for your business though.

Good luck. It makes my day when I read a post from someone from the "trophy generation" who isn't lazy-assed.

Is it really necessary to form an LLC to start this business? My father is self-employed (autonomous), I thought that you could run a business as long as you are registered as a self-employed person.


Back in the days of MYSPACE (remember that internet craze?)

there was a teenage girl making cute little pages for MYSPACE with kitties and glitter,,

her business exploded. And during her teen years of 15 to 18 years old,,, she made $300,000 PLUS a year.

Bought a large home, was offered a buyout by a huge company offering something like $25 million,, I think she refused.

Then two years later MYSPACE is gone.

Anyway,, "writing receipts" didn't stop her from achieving some amazing things.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Qualls


http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/118/girl-power.html

Hi, thanks for the inspo. Ashley's case was one of the success stories that motivated me to get into IM when I was 14. When doing business online it was pretty easy, my paypal account is under my mother's name, and the adsense checks came under my father's name, but I am not that familiarized with offline business. In fact, I find offline business more attractive than doing online business, the thing that always stopped me was age, that is what lead me to IM, online it is easier to get rid of this problem.