15 Best Small Business Ideas for Teens

As a teenager, you’re likely trying to find ways to make more money. For example, you may like playing video games and have a new game you want to buy, or you want to make money to invest the money for the long term. Whatever the case, you want some more cash in your pocket.

But, the idea of finding a job is off-putting for you. You do not want to waste your time working for someone else and making your boss and higher-ups money while you collect the scraps. Sure, you have friends working at McDonald’s or doing data entry work, but you don’t want that to be your life.

The good news is that you don’t need to find a job to earn money; you can start your own business!

Starting a business as a teenager can be a great way to gain valuable experience and earn some extra income. Whether you’re looking for a small business to start on the side or one that can grow into a full-time business, there are plenty of small business ideas for teens that can be a great way to make money and get experience. From babysitting to lawn care to becoming a social media influencer, these are some of the best small business ideas for teens that are sure to get you started on the right track.

Why Start a Small Business as a Teen?

Before getting into some of the best small business ideas for teens, one must understand the benefits of starting a small business. Whether you create a graphic design business, a social media marketing business, a car washing service, or even sell handmade goods, starting earlier is almost always better.

As a teen, you have the advantage of being a low-risk entrepreneur. You don’t have the same financial obligations as an adult, so you have more freedom and flexibility to start a business. Plus, you can make more money than working a traditional job. You also have the advantage of focusing on learning the ins and outs of running a business while still in school.

Let’s say you start a simple dog walking service or a photography business as a teen. If you continue, you will be way ahead of other people who start their entrepreneurship journeys later. Even if you don’t like dog walking or photography, plenty of fantastic business ideas exist.

Of course, many small businesses end up failing. However, your business venture won’t be for nothing. Whether you start a pet cleanup service or a soap-making business, the process will teach you a lot about business operations and yourself.

15 Small Business Ideas for Teens

There are so many great small business ideas for teens, and it’s essential to find something that fits your interests and passions. Here are some of the best small business ideas for teens to get you started:

Babysit for Friends and Family

If you’re looking for a way to make money and get experience, babysitting is a great option. You can start by taking care of friends and family and offer your services to the broader community. Childcare services may seem like a poor industry, but they can be very lucrative. Just think about all the struggling parents willing to pay high babysitting rates in return for a bit of their time back.

Mow Lawns

Cutting the grass may not be the most original or best business idea, but it’s still a good business idea to try out. If you’re looking for a great way to make money, consider starting a lawn care business. You can offer lawn mowing, trimming, edging, and even leaf removal services. You can even use a lawn mower that you already own or rent one to get started.

Start a YouTube Channel

Starting a YouTube channel is a great way to get your work out there and make some money if you’re an aspiring filmmaker or creator. You can make videos about anything you’re passionate about and even create a community around it. Compared to all the other social media platforms, YouTube is known for paying its content creators the best. After all, social media content usually only lasts a minute at most, whereas YouTube videos can go on for half an hour at a time.

Start a Blog

When it comes to teen business ideas, no list is complete without mentioning blogging. Blogging is a great way to make money and get your voice out. You can blog about any topic you’re passionate about and make money through affiliate marketing and sponsored posts. Remember to maximize your blog visitors by promoting it on your social media channels.

Sell Homemade Candles

Of all the craft business ideas, making candles is one of the easiest. If you’re crafty, consider starting a candle-making business. You can make candles to sell at local craft fairs or online. You can create custom scents and designs to make your candles stand out. Selling handmade crafts might seem challenging, but if you get a couple of friends to help you, you can spend quality time together while potentially earning some money.

Sell Baked Goods

If you love to bake, consider starting a small baking business. You can bake cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other treats to sell to friends and family or at the local farmer’s market. Selling baked goods is excellent because it can allow you to make delicious food and promote handmade vendors that you support when you sell your baked goods (you can set up your bake stand to benefit both you and other businesses).

Walk Dogs in the Neighborhood

If you love animals, consider starting a dog-walking business. You can offer your services to people in your neighborhood who need someone to take their furry friends for a walk. Alternatively, you can also provide housesitting services for people who will be away and need someone to look after their pets.

Start a Public Speaking Course

Consider starting a public speaking course if you’re a confident public speaker. You can teach people how to craft and deliver engaging presentations and speeches. Not only will you get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped someone else gain confidence in their public speaking, but you will also grow and learn by teaching the course. The best small business ideas are the ones that can help you grow along the way.

Create and Design Websites

If you’re tech-savvy, consider starting a business designing and creating websites. You can offer your services to small businesses and individuals who need help getting their websites up and running. You can also become an online graphics seller to utilize your website-building services. For example, if your client needs a logo or some other portion of their website requires a custom design, you can take on that task yourself (and, of course, charge a fee!)

Start a Small Photography Business and Sell Your Photos

If you’re a budding photographer, you can start a small business and sell your photos to clients or stock photo websites. You can also offer your services to take family and engagement photos. If you’re extremely good with pictures, you can start a side photo editing business and cross-sell services between your companies.

Deliver Things to People’s Homes

If you have spare time and car access, you can start a delivery service business. You can deliver groceries, take-out, and other items to people’s homes. The startup costs for this business are meager, and you can earn some extra cash by driving things around. If you want to make even more money, consider becoming a personal shopper for people. Being a personal shopper means buying something for someone and then delivering it to their home (this pays much better than being a simple delivery driver).

Teach Music

Teaching music is one of the best ways to make lots of money by starting a small business. If you’re a musician, consider creating a business teaching music lessons. You can teach students of all ages and levels how to play their favorite instruments and help review the concepts yourself. The earning potential of a music teacher is very high as many people are eager to improve their instrument.

Freelance Write

If you’re a good writer, consider becoming a freelance writer. You can write blog posts, articles, and other content for companies and individuals. Make sure that all the works you submit are high-quality to get repeat clients. It would help if you produced good work for your clients to ask you to write again for them.

Wash Cars

You can start a car washing business if you have access to a hose and a bucket of soapy water. You can start by offering your services to people in your neighborhood who need their cars washed. Then, once more experienced, you can rent out parking lots and hire friends to clean vehicles with you. With enough time and effort, you could make much money by simply hosing down some cars.

Start a Podcast

If you love to talk, consider starting a podcast. You can talk about any topic you’re passionate about and build an audience. Additionally, you’ll be able to interview many interesting people and learn about their backstories. Starting a podcast is one of the best business ideas for teens because it can help you build many connections that might be helpful later in your life. Plus, podcasting can teach you a lot about editing, outreach, and managing people!

Dos and Don’ts of Running a Small Business

Starting a small business is exciting, but there are still many risks. To minimize your risk exposure, you should keep some things in mind. For example, here are some dos and don’ts of running a small business:

Do:

• Research your market and competition (this will give you a better idea of where you can be the most successful and what business to start).
•  Set realistic goals and a timeline.
•  Create a budget and stick to it (even small businesses require some capital to get off the ground).
•  Stay organized and keep track of all your documents.
•  Market your business and reach out to potential customers.
•  Ask for help and advice when needed.

Don’t:

• Overspend and run out of money (one of the biggest mistakes for entrepreneurs is not knowing how to manage money and burning out of funds too fast).
•  Skip out on necessary paperwork and taxes (if your business starts to take off and your state requires you to file paperwork, it’s a good idea to get it done sooner rather than later).
•  Give up too quickly (many businesses take a long time to build).
•  Take on too many clients (it can be easy to stretch yourself too thin for your good).
•  Procrastinate on essential tasks (always try to get the most challenging and important ones done first!)

Recap: Small Business Ideas for Teens

Starting a business as a teen can be a great way to gain valuable experience and earn some extra income. Whether you’re looking for a small business to start on the side or one that might grow into a full-time business, there are plenty of small business ideas for teens that can be a great way to make some extra money and get valuable learning experience.

From babysitting to lawn care to social media influencers, these small business ideas for teens will surely put you on the right track. With the proper guidance and effort, you can be well on your way to starting a successful small business. One day you might look back as the CEO of a fortune 500 business and be extremely grateful that you started a small business all those years ago.

This article was produced and syndicated by Parent Portfolio.