This is the first in our series of Encouraging Young Entrepreneurs. Today we are featuring a young man that has started a web based business selling old books. These are available as instant downloads. Enjoy his interview below and check out the special offer he has just for Teaching Good Things readers!

 

Your name and age:

My name is Ben Wagner, and I am fifteen years old.

Do you have a name for your business?

My business is Olde-Books.com

What products or service do you offer?

I produce e-Books of public domain authors of the 1800’s.  I try to have a variety of topics and authors available for immediate download.  Some of my authors include WHG Kingston, RM Ballantyne, Isabella Alden, Oliver Optic, Horatio Alger, and Edward Ellis.  My categories are Literature for the Family, Skills for the Family, Historical Fiction, and Old West.  I am always adding new books and new categories. 

Why did you choose this?

I have always had a love of books, but especially old books.  Because of the cost of printing, it did not seem practical for me to offer hard copy books.  Thus, I decided to go with the e-Book option.  I also want people to have affordable access to Christian and godly authors instead of the ungodly books sold today as reading material.  Even though it is much better to have a physical book to have on your bookshelf, some people want to read these books, but can’t afford the price of a hard copy.  E-Books make it easy to build an e-library of these inspiring authors.

Tell us a little about your family life growing up.

I have been raised in a Christian home by godly parents with a generational focus.  As a part of my preparation to support a family, my parents found an entrepreneurial course designed to give the basics on starting and owning a business. 

Did your parents encourage you in this pursuit?

If so, how? They were the first to help me get the information I needed.  They also helped me with developing character traits that would influence my business.

What type of school do you attend, or did attend?

I have been homeschooled from the beginning.  My mother has taught both me and my sister all the way through our early schooling, and she plans to continue teaching us at home through high school.

Did you take any extra classes/lessons to help you pursue your interest?

Mainly, I used the entrepreneurial course I mentioned earlier.  We also found an e-Book on how to make old books into a business.  I adapted from his and other’s ideas to create Olde-Books.com

Do you plan to advance your education in this area? If so, how?

My parents have always taught me that a person should never stop learning.  My education in entrepreneurship will mainly come through practical experience learning from the mistakes and successes while running my business.  However, I would still like to learn more in-depth studies on business that would help my work in the future. 

 

Do you feel like people don’t take you very seriously because of your age?

Because my business is mainly online sales, most people really don’t know just how old I am. 

 

Why choose your own enterprise rather than just working for someone else?

Even though it is hard work, my reason for owning my own business is to be with my family.  Working mostly outside the home does not allow the same discipleship opportunities that a home-business does.  My vision is to have a business where my future children can be alongside of me as I work, allowing me to give them a practical education. 

What do you find most challenging about what you do?

The most challenging part of my business is choosing my books to be produced.  I want to be trusted for the books that I choose to offer.  I only offer books that promote biblical principles because not all authors from the 1800’s do that!

What do you find most rewarding about what you do?

I think that the most rewarding thing about Olde-Books.com is the knowledge of helping families get books that are hard to find that are glorifying to God. 

What character traits do you feel have really been built in you since starting your business?

First, I would say honesty.  Being straight with my customers, portraying exactly what a book tells and what it does not requires honesty.  A second would be perseverance.  Sometimes it is frustrating to see how long a book takes to be produced, but the end result is worth the effort.  Finally, I would say prayer.  Without the LORD’s help, a business cannot prosper.  Praying for my business, asking for wisdom in a tough situation, calling on the LORD for help are all necessary in order to be successful.

Who do you go to when you need advice?

Mainly, I go to my parents.  I also go to other entrepreneurs, especially my former pastor who owns a reprinting business. 

Do you have any examples of a difficult situation that you needed counsel for?

When I was first getting started, I found that it was so exciting to be making e-Books and setting up a business.  Soon, it became almost an addiction.  My father noted the problem and jumped on it right away.   At first, I resented the restrictions, but now I realize that it helped me to keep from being a workaholic.  I have since learned that being a workaholic is something that entrepreneurs are especially vulnerable to.

What are your financial expectations? (Become rich and retire on a beach?  Or to achieve a level of wealth and do something else? )

My financial expectations are to first be able to pay for the expenses of running a business.  Right now, I do not need to be making money like I would as a father supporting my family.  If the LORD blesses my business, I could be able to save money to start another business in the future.  I see this business as a learning tool and not a way to “get rich quick”. 

 

How do you see God using you or your business to bring glory to himself?

I pray that the books that I choose bring people to a deeper Christian life or teach them a skill that they can use to help their own family. 

Do you plan on expanding your business? If so, how?

I will always be adding categories and new books. 

Do you plan on doing this long term?

For now, I will continue this business as long as it supports itself.  I do plan to be thinking of another business to start and run at the same time.  As I said earlier, this business is a learning tool, but I am trying to make it succeed. 

Do you have any advice for young people that are considering starting their own business?

I am just starting my business, but I will say a few things.  First, every entrepreneur needs to beware of being a workaholic.  My suggestion is to have someone to be accountable with to help guard against this sin.  Second, be very wary about debt.  I praise the LORD that I am able to start this business without the debt that usually comes with it.  For the young entrepreneur, maybe you should start small and save for the bigger business opportunity.  Finally, you need to pray.  One of the most special moments of my life was purchasing my domain for my website with my father.  At the same time, he bought his domain!  We both prayed for each other before the money was placed.  I pray for this business that the LORD would bless it and give me wisdom to run it. 

Do you have a physical place of business or a website that people can go to see what you have to offer?

My business is entirely e-commerce, so I only have the website that you can view at www.olde-books.com.

 

I would love to hear your thoughts about my business and e-Books.  Use the contact page on my website.  If you know of a book that you would be interested in having, you are welcome to put in an idea.  Thank you for your time in reading this interview. 

 

A special offer from Ben at Olde-Books:

I would like to offer all of your readers a coupon for an e-Book for a dollar!  This e-Book is called Bulbs and Blossoms and was written by Amy Le Feuvre.  She tells the story of how Olive and Roland, a brother and sister from England, meet Old Bob the gardener. Bob tells them of his Easter lilies that look so dead during the winter, and come up in the spring. Olive and Roland anxiously await the spring to be a witness of the lilies. Their faithfulness even brings the hardened old maids that they live with to the Lord. This is a very sweet little story written almost like Teddy’s Button, also by Amy Le Feuvre.  Please come to Olde-Books.com and type "teaching" in the coupon box in the lower left corner of the store page.  This will only be available for one week.

 

 

 If you know of a young entrepreneur (25 or younger)  that would like their business featured in our series send me an e-mail!

 

 

Encouraging Young Entrepreneurs