Making money as a teenager can be a bit difficult. If you subtract the time you spend in high school, clubs, and other social activities, you only have a few hours left a week. And maybe you’re just not looking to settle for the typical minimum wage job.
You don’t have to have a part-time job to make money as a teenager. Here are some of the best business ideas for teen entrepreneurs to get started:
- You can show your tech savvy by selling 3D printed items or becoming an internet influencer.
- You can build a customer base by running a lawn care, pet sitting, or tutoring business.
- You can sell your own crafts or artwork to local customers or online.
The business idea you choose to start as a teen should be based on something you really enjoy doing. But maybe you have many different interests in your life right now. So, here are six of the best business ideas for teen entrepreneurs to get you started on your startup journey.
Contents
Influencer Marketing
If you have a decent camera, laptop and smartphone, you might as well put them to use!
Social media influencers are chosen by sponsors to advertise products. This can be done through almost any social media platform, including Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Check out my guide to costs for starting a YouTube channel.
That means you have to build the next one first. After all, a company wants to be sure that its products are seen by as many authentic users as possible in its target group. So it helps if your current posts already get a lot of likes and comments naturally.
Once a company recognizes your popularity, all you need to do is post videos and photos advertising their products to your followers.
But keep in mind that not everyone is cut out to be a social media influencer. When it comes to posting videos, you need to be charismatic and entertaining.
An experienced influencer can make thousands dollars for each post. Check out my list of the best niches for affiliate marketing as an influencer.
3d printing
If you are more of the creative type, 3D printing can be quite a lucrative business idea.
First, if you have a 3D printer at home, your options are virtually limitless. Not only does it allow you to make and sell items extremely cheaply, but you also have complete control over how the items turn out.
You want to focus on products that are useful to many people right now. That could be a cable organizer, a pop jack for a smartphone, or even small trinkets that make for great room decor.
Better yet, you can create 3D printed items based on customer requests.
But how you sell these products depends on your reach. If you have a lot of people in your inner circle, you may want to start selling to your friends first and get your name spread through word of mouth.
Otherwise, websites like Etsy and eBay allow you to reach an even wider audience.
Here are more business ideas for small scale manufacturing startups.
Provide tutoring
If education is important to you and you excel in school, pay for it!
Starting a tutoring business is a great way to earn some money while also helping children struggling with their education in your local community. But the best thing is how much freedom you have.
If you choose to work with the younger crew, you should have a deep knowledge of virtually any field. But you can also choose to work with high school or high school students and pick a specific field that you like.
If possible, make sure to choose courses in which you took honors or AP courses.
When it comes to tutoring as a high school student, the income can be higher than you expect. As a high school student, you may be able to bring in $30 an hour. That means you can squeeze a few hours a week and take home a good chunk of change.
Tutoring is a great mobile business idea because you don’t need a special school location. Here are more of my best mobile business ideas for you to consider making extra money.
Lawn care services
If you live in the suburbs and have some lawn care equipment, you know the deal.
Many busy Americans hire landscapers to clean up their yards. At the same time, lawn care services are often a bit expensive for the average family. That’s where you come in!
You can offer your services at lower prices than the professionals in the area. And you can offer services all year round. That means you can advertise snow removal services in the winter (if you have a snow blower or shovel) and lawn mowing services in the summer.
How much money you make will depend on how large a customer base you can build and how efficiently you work. Being able to mow 10 or more lawns in a day is not unheard of.
If you’re asking $20 per lawn, it could be: enormous† Learn the best way to start your lawn care business by reading our guide.
Selling artwork or crafts
If you’re an artist of any kind, getting your name out there now is the perfect start to your career!
Recently, there has been a newfound appreciation for homemade goods and works of art. That’s exactly why art marketplaces like Etsy have become so popular in recent years.
The best part is that there is a market for almost everything in the art world. If you like painting or drawing, you can easily create a Facebook or Instagram page to showcase your best work. You can then outsource assignments to those in your inner circle.
But the options are virtually unlimited. You can also make products such as beaded or knitted bracelets, tye-dye shirts, or even stained glass.
It’s definitely hard to be an artist, especially when the outside world doesn’t quite understand how much time and effort goes into creating a single piece. It is important that you stick to your rates and avoid ‘exposure’ projects.
Put 99 profitable art business ideas on my list.
Watch out for animals
If you are an animal lover and have some time to spare, a pet sitter might be for you in the future.
This is the perfect business idea if you want to pursue a career as a veterinarian or veterinary technician. Or maybe you just enjoy being around animals more than people.
Keep in mind that there is a lot of responsibility involved in caring for someone else’s pet. Of course, this also includes food and water. But it also takes into account litter changes for cats and daily walks for dogs.
So make sure you are ready to take care of animals.
As a pet sitter you can count per day (for day care) and add fees for overnight stays. That means you’re looking at between $20 and $85 per night, per pet (depending on the rates you set).
But you will have to put a limit on the number of animals you can care for at one time. After all, the last thing you want is a bunch of animals running your house or starting fights with each other in your living room.
Get inspiration for naming your pet business from my list of names.
Conclusion
Starting a business as a teenager is definitely a bit tricky for beginners. After all, the amount of success you see will depend on the time you put into it, your personality type, and your level of commitment.
That’s why it’s important to choose a business idea based on your interests, not just on how much money you could make. If you’re still unsure about a strategy, make a list of things you enjoy and the talents you have. Then narrow your list down to your favorites.
sources
- Wired: the WIRED guide for influencers
- 3D Insider: 25 amazing things you can make and sell with your 3D printer
- Care: How much does a tutor cost?
- Business Wire: New Research Shows Majority of Americans Have No Knowledge of Lawn Care
- Thumbtack: How Much Does a Pet Sitter Cost?
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, please contact a licensed professional.
