Is Age a Barrier or a Boost? How to use your status as a teen entrepreneur to your advantage

(YoungBiz.com) - Sometimes, one of the most difficultparts about being young is getting people older than you to takeyou seriously. And since most people are older than you whenyou're a teenager, that's a lot of people.

It's frustrating--sometimes downright annoying--when thepeople in question are your older siblings or parents. But imagineif it were a customer.

That's what happened to K-K Gregory, the inventor ofWristies, afleece warmer that's worn between the coat sleeves and glovesto keep the snow out. Even though she incorporated her Bedford,Massachusetts, business and trademarked her product, Gregory sayssome of her customers still didn't take her seriously."People just couldn't believe someone my age could own abusiness," she says.

One incident in particular stands out in her mind. Upon beingintroduced to Gregory, one adult businessperson exclaimed,"Oh, look! How cute!"

Gregory, now 18, felt the remarks were not only condescending,but unfounded. She was right--and she's got the businesssuccess to prove it. Her Wristies have received the annual ApexAward for Design Excellence from Malden Mills--and they're soldin retail outlets all over the country.

The Exception, Not theRule
Fortunately, 'treps like 18-year-old Joe Mellin, owner ofJoe's Original Garlic Dill Pickle Co. in San Anselmo,California, report that incidents like the one Gregory experiencedare not the norm. "I think people enjoy helping teensout," he says. "That's one of the major advantages ofbeing young."

In fact, some customers may prefer teen business owners to theiradult counterparts. That's the case for Melissa Sconyers, the18-year-old owner of Ativity.com, a Web design company in Austin, Texas.Her knowledge and design skills are in demand because she bringsthe teen perspective to clients who want to reach the youthmarket.

Obstacles toOvercome
When it comes to the legal side of business, age-related obstaclesare a reality for teens. That was the case for David Liu, 16, andhis partners, Wei-Cheng Hsu, 17, and Wenche Gao, 18, when theytried to open a bank account for their Web site design company,Ink21 DesignStudios, based in San Ramon Valley, California. At the time,all three teens were under 18. "Every bank we tried to open anaccount at required that one of us be 18," Liu explains.

Liu, Hsu and Gao decided to turn to their mentor, Joe Donahue.Donahue's established relationship with the bank worked totheir advantage, and the trio was finally able to open anaccount.

CreativityCounts
Daniel Anstandig learned that, for teens in business, a littlecreativity goes a long way. His Internet radio station, www.internetradiodaer.com, attracts 1.2 millionlisteners every month. That's the good news. On the flip side,the Beachwood, Ohio, teen requires an attorney's services toprotect his business.

Faced with that costly obstacle, Anstandig combed through thebusiness contacts he had made. His networking abilities paid offwhen he found an attorney who donated his services. Anstandig, 18,reflects: "If I had started this business at age 30, Idon't think I would have been able to rally this kind ofsupport."

That'sBusiness!
Business owners of any age face obstacles--it's just part ofdoing business. But those who are successful in business learn towork with whatever comes their way. Here are some suggestions fromsuccessful 'treps on how to overcome age barriers:

• Be dependable. Always be on time for your appointmentsand deliveries.
• Wow them. For starters, offer a written guarantee forthe quality of your goods or services. Then, back it up with goodcustomer service that goes above and beyond what they expect.
• Be professional. Dress professionally, make sure yourvoice-mail message is business-like, and always be prompt inreturning calls and e-mails.
• Strut your stuff. Have some professional business cardsand stationery designed for your company.