How to Make Big Decisions as a Young Entrepreneur

As a teen entrepreneur, you’re faced with decisions every day, and they can feel overwhelming. You may have to choose between college or going all in on your business or hiring your first teammate. Each choice plays a role in shaping your future. In this article, we’ll walk you through a simple decision-making framework to help you make smart choices, even when you’re under pressure. 

What Decisions Do Teen Entrepreneurs Face? 

Early in your entrepreneurial venture, you might be wondering if you should go full-time on your business after graduation, whether to bring on an investor, or if it’s better to start selling on Etsy or build your own site. According to McKinsey & Company, professionals spend about 37% of their time making decisions—but over half of that time is thought to be wasted. So how do you get better at making decisions? 

Step 1: Define the Actual Problem 

The first step is to figure out what the real question is. For example, if you’re thinking about college, don’t just ask, “Should I go to college or not?” Get more specific; something like, “Should I delay college by one year to focus on building my product?” That kind of clarity helps you see what’s really at stake. 

Once your question is clear: 

• Open a Google Doc (or grab a notebook) 

• Write the question at the top 

• Write the pros and cons of each option without overthinking it 

• Think about what you’d be giving up or gaining in terms of time, money, energy, or even relationships 

Getting it all down makes your decision less overwhelming and easier to break down. 

Step 2: Talk to 2–3 People You Trust 

If you’re dealing with a big decision, don’t feel like you have to handle it all on your own. But also, avoid posting about it online. Random opinions can push you in a direction that doesn’t actually fit you. Instead, talk to people you trust. 

Reach out to someone like a teacher, a mentor, a local small business owner, or a family member who really knows you. Ask things like, “Have you ever had to make a decision like this?” or “What would you do if you were in my shoes?” Keep notes from each conversation. You’ll start to see helpful patterns that can make your final decision a lot clearer. 

Step 3: Put a Decision Deadline on It 

One of the best things you can do is set a clear deadline, such as three days from now or two weeks from now if it’s a bigger choice. 

If you’re struggling to decide how fast you need to act, break things down: 

• Short-term impacts: Will this decision affect whether you can offer a service, land a new client, or launch something soon? If yes, you probably need to decide sooner. 

• Long-term impacts: Is this something that could affect where you live, whether you go to college, or the future direction of your brand? If so, you might want to take a little more time. 

Step 4: Run a Small Test 

If there’s a decision you can test out before fully committing, take advantage of that. For example, if you’re thinking about raising your prices, try it with three to five customers first, ask for feedback, and see how it goes. If you’re unsure about building a full website from scratch, start with a simple, beginner-friendly website builder to test the idea before investing more time or money. 

Step 5: Decide, Then Evaluate After 1 Month 

As much as we wish decisions could be one-and-done, the truth is you often need to go back and reevaluate them later. Once you’ve made your choice, stick with it, then set a reminder on your calendar to check in 30 days later. Ask yourself what’s working, what’s not, and if anything needs to change. 

For example, if you decided to build a website using something like Wix, come back after a month and ask: Is this platform easy to update? Am I getting traffic or leads? Is it worth the cost? Doing these check-ins helps you improve your decision-making skills over time. 

Build Your Confidence One Decision at a Time 

The more decisions you make, the better you’ll get at it. Over time, you’ll begin to feel more confident and be able to make choices faster and with more clarity. You don’t need to have it all figured out right away. Just focus on practicing and learning as you go. 

Got big plans for your future? If you’re a teen entrepreneur in Florida, the Kantner Foundation scholarship can help you get there. Applications are now open!