Creating and Scaling Youth Social Entrepreneurship Programs

Abstract

This chapter offers a primer for starting and sustaining a youth-focused social entrepreneurship program. To this end, an overview of types of small businesses and social enterprises is included, along with conceptual resources for any venture. Terminology is introduced in this chapter to help the novice reader, including terms such as “cottage industry,” “micro-business,” “market analysis,” and “enterprise development phases.” Furthermore, this chapter explores the limits and potential of growth for youth social entrepreneurship initiatives. Whether or not and how to “scale up” is a foremost concern for nonprofit and for-profit social enterprises. The readers will find here a discussion of perspectives and considerations to help drive forward such an essential programmatic decision.