Family Biz  ~>  Big Bizness  ~>  Next Article  (Cookie Dough)

By Bonnie Drew

A few years ago, Tony Van Asten was too young to drive and too young to get a job. But instead of kicking back with the Playstation, he wrote a business plan, put on a business suit, and went to the bank to ask for a business loan. He came back with $3,500.

Today, Tony is well on his way to paying for his college education with profits from the business he started at age 13. With the loan from the bank and another $1,000 from his savings account, Tony purchased a 20-foot pontoon boat. In late spring and summer, Tony rents the boat to local corporate customers and out-of-state vacationers for approximately $100 a day. So far, he’s spent a lot more money than he ever expected for boat repairs, but he’s done well enough to consider starting another business venture ¾ possibly a floating restaurant that delivers grilled hamburgers to hungry fishing and boating enthusiasts along the river.

Where does a teenager get all this business-savvy? Easy. It’s in the genes. Robert and Victoria Van Asten, Tony’s parents, have followed traditional corporate careers, but they’ve also involved the family in part-time entrepreneurial ventures along the way. Four years ago, the Van Astens had an opportunity to purchase a small bait camp and restaurant on the Wolf River, 15 miles from their home in Hortonville, WI. That’s where Tony and his siblings really began to sprout their entrepreneurial wings.

Leo, Tony’s older brother, became chief cook for the restaurant, while the younger Van Astens sold lemonade off the boat dock in the summer. Then Tony discovered he could earn more money cleaning fish for tourists. He tacked up a sign in the bait shop announcing Tony’s Fish Cleaning Service. Charging $0.25 per fish, he was soon reeling in $30 to $35 a day. By the end of the summer, he had saved up $1,000, and, thinking like a true entrepreneur, was looking for another business investment. Eyeing his dad’s boat rental business, Tony soon wrote a business plan and made his pitch for a loan.

Robert and Victoria Van Asten feel that all parents should support the entrepreneurial spirit in their children. "I recommend that parents look at something their child enjoys doing," says Robert. "Show them it can be fun and rewarding to earn your own money and that they can feel good about their accomplishments." It was Robert who co-signed for Tony’s loan, but Tony had to do all the work to convince the bank that his business would turn a profit.

"Almost every young person has some talent or learned skill that can be turned into a viable business opportunity," states Victoria. "We should nurture that instinct and help our children get ready for the world of work, business, and careers." As director of the Wisconsin Institute for Entrepreneurship, Victoria practices what she preaches, both at home and in classrooms throughout the state.

It may be a surprise, but today’s generation is very interested in business. A Gallup Poll found that over 70% of high school students want to start their own business, and 75% say they want more business training. What’s their number one reason for wanting to be an entrepreneur? It’s not the money. 73% of the students interviewed want independence ¾ in their words, "to be my own boss." And nearly 70% of the students say they want to give back to the community that supports their ventures. The Van Astens have a grasp of this desire and have instilled the opportunity and skills needed for their children to become entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, most schools do not provide this kind of mentorship and instruction; most parents aren’t aware of their children’s desires and potential.

Will the business community support young entrepreneurs? Tony Van Asten found that local businesspeople were his best source of practical business advice. "When I first started my boat rental business, I was discouraged because it was hard to get customers and advertising was so expensive," says Tony. "I talked to several business owners in our town, and they advised me to start marketing my boat as a great place to have corporate getaways or ‘play days’ for employees. After that, my business quickly improved."

"Researchers say that most of the jobs today’s teens will hold in the 21^st century haven’t even been invented yet," says Juan Casimiro, who has trained thousands of youth in business basics. "The young people who learn to think like entrepreneurs are the ones who will thrive in the job market of the new millennium. We need to share our knowledge with the next generation."