We provide the tools, resources and mentorship necessary to build a full-time summer business in 2021.
Go for it!
About the Program
Create Your Own Schedule
Book your jobs when you want to work! Set your schedule the way you want with your customers.
Income + Net worth
Earn great pay with the service you offer while you build a valuable business. After you close down your business, you can sell it.
Learn Valuable Skills
Gain entry level experience in sales, marketing, operations, finance, accounting and management. Learn resiliency, adaptability, persuasion, collaboration and emotional intelligence as you run your own business.
Minimize Risk (covid friendly)
Focus on a summer service business in an established market with low startup cost and minimal barriers to entry. Design your business to be covid friendly, working outdoors avoiding direct contact with customers.
Only 100 Spots Available
We work with highly motivated students to build low-cost, covid-friendly, full-time summer businesses. We are seeking students that are ready for a challenge and willing to work hard to succeed this summer.
Discovery Call
Book a discovery call with us to discover is this program is right for you.
Review
Applicants will be reviewed and carefully assessed for potential.
Acceptance
You'll hear back from us with an offer of acceptance if you are selected.
University, college and senior high school students are eligible to join the summer startup program. We’ll focus on connecting you with like-minded students in your age group and area for networking and support.
Do I need a business idea?
Nope. In the first section of the program, we’ll go through a tailored process for discovering a business idea that works for you. No previous experience or skills necessary.
Do I need experience?
No experience is necessary to enrol in the summer startup program. Students will be prioritized based on willingness to learn as well as current and future goals. We want to work with students who have a long-term objective of starting their own full-time business or working in business.
How does the application process work?
Prior to full enrolment, we conduct a "Discovery Call" with aspiring student entrepreneurs. In this call we assess the student's fit for our program. Students will be assessed and offered acceptances in days following the call.
Can I join with a friend?
Yes you can! The program is flexible to all business structures including sole proprietor (solo), partnerships (2 people) and even corporations (any number). If you join together, you can even spilt the cost!
Time commitment?
Total course video time is 21 hours. Estimated completion time for all startup activities is 150 - 200 hours. The program is designed around the school schedule to provide enough time for school work and startup activities. It is advised that students enrol at least 2 months prior to the desired launch date.
What is included in the program?
-> Step-by-step guide to starting and building a profitable summer business in year 1 ->Direct training on 64-steps to starting up, 29 activities after launch, 15 activities to close down for the season, 7 bonus activities after closing down -> 12+ units, 30+ lessons, 1,251 minutes = 21 hours of video content ->Custom built templates to accelerate the startup process ->Full access to support documents, templates and presentations ->Weekly check-in calls with small team of like-minded students ->20+ mentorship hours (valued at $50/hour) -> 1 Free business audit & solutions call -> Direct after launch support and coaching to reach your first $5K in sales -> Guest appearances from successful student entrepreneurs and executives -> Lifetime access to Start Smart inc. Network -> Access to a additional courses and seminars on personal branding
How does payment work?
The Summer Startup Program is free to join but we only choose top students to work with. We offer an optional partner program where students can partner with Matt and get direct support as they launch and operate their business. This program has a fixed cost of $299 / bi-weekly for 2 months after operating (total: $1,200) or a 7.5% royalty on all sales for the operational period. The payment plan is optional and not mandatory for students that join.
Michelle Kozdras - Award Winning Student Entrepreneur
"Start Smart walked me through the process of startup up my very own summer service business step by step. Not only that, but I got to learn from Matt, who previously got a deal on Dragons' Den! I ran a successful virtual math tutoring business this summer (S20) in response to COVID and could not have accomplished what I did without the resources Start Smart provided me with. Thank you Start Smart!"
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