Entrepreneurship Basics

Awareness & Understanding

Entrepreneurs solve problems — and your community has plenty of problems worth solving. Start by exploring what entrepreneurship actually means. Watch a short Khan Academy video on "What is entrepreneurship?" then look up two or three Utah-based businesses started by young people or local founders (search "Utah youth entrepreneurs" or visit the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity website). What problems did they notice? What did they do about it? Write down two problems in your school or neighborhood that a small business or project might help solve. You're ready for the next step when you can define entrepreneurship and describe two real local examples.

Research & Investigation

Research the basics of starting a business. Use Khan Academy's "Entrepreneurship" unit and the free resources at the Utah Small Business Development Center (utahsbdc.org). Learn about: what a business idea is vs. a business model, who a customer is, and what a value proposition means. Then interview one local business owner — someone at a SLC farmers market, a neighborhood shop, or a school-based enterprise — and ask them: "What problem does your business solve?" Take notes on their answer. You're ready for the next step when you can explain what a value proposition is and give a real example from your research.

Planning & Preparation

Pick one business idea based on a problem you identified. Write a simple one-page business plan using this format: Problem, Solution, Who You'll Serve, How You'll Make Money, and What You Need to Start. You can use the free Business Model Canvas template (search "Business Model Canvas PDF" or find it on Canvanizer.com). Keep it realistic — think about what you can actually do in your community right now. Share your plan with a parent, teacher, or mentor and get feedback. Revise it at least once. You're ready for the next step when you have a one-page plan with all five sections completed.

Taking Action

Test your idea in the real world — even in a small way. This could mean selling something at school, offering a service to neighbors, running a pop-up at a local event, or pitching your idea to a class. Track what you earn, what you spend, and what feedback you get. Use a simple spreadsheet or notebook. Utah has youth entrepreneurship competitions through organizations like DECA and BPA — look into one as a stretch goal. You're ready for the next step when you've tested your idea with at least five real potential customers and recorded what you learned.

Leadership & Expansion

Scale up and mentor others. Improve your business based on what you learned from testing, then teach a classmate or younger student the basics of your business planning process. Help them identify a problem they could solve and start a simple one-page plan. You could also connect with SCORE Utah (score.org/chapter/score-utah) for free mentorship from experienced business volunteers. Document your growth: compare your original plan to where your business stands now. You're ready for the next step when you've improved your venture and guided one other person through the planning process.

Impact & Reflection

Reflect on the full eight weeks. What did you build? What did you learn about yourself as a problem-solver and risk-taker? Write a short "founder story" — one to two paragraphs about your idea, what you tried, what worked, and what you'd do differently. Think about how entrepreneurship connects to civic life: How can businesses strengthen Salt Lake City neighborhoods? Share your story with a mentor, post it in a class, or submit it to a Utah youth entrepreneurship showcase. You're ready for the next step when you can tell your founder story clearly and connect it to a community impact.