In today’s competitive job market, it’s more important than ever to be able to start your own business. And what better way to learn to be an entrepreneur than by creating small ones? Here are 22 small business ideas for teens.
If you’re a teenage entrepreneur with big dreams, how do you turn your ideas into a business?
It’s not as difficult as you might think! With a little hard work and creative thinking, you can start a small business that will help you make extra money and learn valuable life skills.
Online Small Business Ideas for Teens
Being a teenager doesn’t mean you can’t start your own business. There are many advantages to starting a business as a teenager.
You have plenty of energy, family or other responsibilities do not bog you down, and you have a fresh perspective that adults often lack.
But what kind of business should you start? Below are eleven online small business ideas for teens that you can start today.
1. Web Designer/ App Developer
Teenagers can pursue several online small business ideas to give themselves a head start in today’s increasingly digital economy.
One such idea is to become a web designer or App developer. With proficiency in coding, creativity, and a basic understanding of user experience principles, teens can create web experiences that look great and function well.
Plus, with the ability to work remotely and set their hours for clients worldwide, it’s no wonder this is a popular option for young entrepreneurs!
Related: 10 Online Jobs for 16-Year-Olds at Home
2. Blogger
As a blogger, you can create content on any topic that interests you, from fashion and beauty to food and travel.
Your blog can be utterly interactive, allowing your followers/audience to post their content or comment on your posts.
And, of course, there are plenty of monetization options for bloggers who put in the time and effort to build up an engaged audience – including paid sponsorships, affiliate marketing with different brands or products, selling ad space on your website or blog, or even running online ads.
Whether you are passionate about fashion design or sports analytics, blogging can be an ideal venue for sharing your knowledge and creativity with the world while making money at the same time.
3. Social media influencer
In recent years, social media platforms have become some of the most popular and influential channels for marketing and advertising.
And as a result, social media influencers have become increasingly valuable to brands that want to reach a wider audience.
As a teenager with a solid social media following, you can leverage your influence to earn money by partnering with brands and promoting their products or services to your followers.
This can be done through paid sponsorships, content creation, or even tagging the brand in your posts and stories.
4. Freelance writer
There are plenty of opportunities in this field for people who enjoy writing.
You could start your own business as an essay or blog writer and work with companies to promote their products online through article submissions on websites like UpWork, Guru, Fiverr, etc., depending upon what type suits you best!
As a freelance writer, you can set your rates and work as little or as much as you want.
5. Start a YouTube channel
YouTube is the fastest-growing video platform in history. If you have a creative talent or love being on camera, starting your YouTube channel could be an incredible small business idea.
You can create videos about anything that interests you, from makeup tutorials to gaming walkthroughs.
Once you build a following, you can start making money from sponsorships or product placement.
Plus, with YouTube’s Partner Program, you can earn money from ads that run before your videos.
6. Sell on Etsy
Turning your creativity and love for arts and crafts into a small business is as easy as setting up a shop on Etsy.
Etsy is an online marketplace selling handmade or vintage items and art and craft supplies.
So if you have a talent for creating jewelry, paintings, or soap, setting up shop on Etsy might be the perfect way to earn some extra income.
7. Sell Digital Products
What if you’re creative and knowledgeable in design or photography?
You can start selling digital products online. This could include anything from templates and graphics to eBooks.
Courses on how-to-write books with indie authorship in mind, photo editing tutorials for beginners–even some book trailers!
And with platforms like Gumroad or Selz, it’s easy to start selling digital products without prior experience.
Also, read How to Make Money as a 14-Year-Old Online in 2022
8. Small Business Ideas for Teens – Start an Online Store
You might be thinking about starting your online store, but you’re unsure where to start.
You want the hassle of running a business and dealing with all those pesky regulations taken care of for you so that it becomes just about fashion or home decor—and enjoying life in general!
Starting an eCommerce venture should appeal if this sounds like something up your alley because there are plenty of ways small again businesses can thrive these days without having too much overhead cost involved.
You can create an eCommerce website using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, and start selling products you curate yourself.
Or, if you prefer, you can also dropship products from different suppliers – which means you don’t need to carry any inventory yourself.
9. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing might be worth considering if you have a large audience on your blog or website.
This involves promoting other brands and products in exchange for a commission from any sales generated through them being sold!
To find affiliate programs, you can check out sites like ShareASale or Clickbank.
10. Start a Podcast
Podcasts are like radio shows that you can listen to on demand. They’re becoming increasingly popular with people who commute or enjoy listening while doing other activities.
If you have an exciting story or know of a particular niche that would be perfect for a podcast, then starting your show could be a great small business idea.
You can record and edit your episodes from home and then upload them to popular platforms like iTunes or Stitcher.
Once your show gains traction, you can also begin to monetize it by selling advertising space or sponsorships.
11. Be a social media expert
In today’s digital world, nearly everyone is on social media.
That includes businesses that use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to reach out to potential customers and promote their products or services.
As a social media expert, you can help small businesses and entrepreneurs navigate the ever-changing world of social media.
This can involve everything from setting up and managing social media accounts to creating and executing marketing campaigns.
If you’re a whiz with social media, you should consider this small business idea!
Related:20 Online Jobs for 18-Year-Olds With No Experience 2022
Offline Small Business Ideas for Teens
Starting a small business is a great way to learn about entrepreneurship and gain real-world experience. And as a teenager, you have a lot of advantages working in your favor.
You’re young and energetic, creative and motivated, and you have the advantage of being digital natives.
Here are eleven more small business ideas for teens.
1. Design and sell print-on-demand products:
With print-on-demand services, you can design and sell your products without investing in inventory or managing to ship.
Sites like Society6 and Redbubble make it easy to start, and you can sell everything from t-shirts and posters to phone cases and notebooks.
2. Start a pet-sitting business.
A pet-sitting service is one of the teens’ most promising small business ideas.
As an owner of this type of business, you will be responsible for taking care of animals in their own homes while their owners are out of town or busy at work.
This can be a good line of work, as it allows you to spend time with animals and provides much-needed support to busy pet owners.
You must build a solid client base and develop an effective marketing strategy to get started.
Some key steps include attending local pet expos, advertising through social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, and partnering with local veterinary clinics to spread the word about your services.
3. Start a dog walking business.
Like pet sitting, dog walking is another excellent way to make money if you love spending time with furry friends.
Contact your local animal shelters or rescue groups and ask if they have any recommendations for dog walkers in the area.
After you gain some customers, you can begin charging what you’re worth.
4. Start a housecleaning business.
There are many different small business ideas for teens, and one of the most popular options is to start a housecleaning service.
Whether you’re helping clients with basic cleaning tasks or tackling more intensive projects like moving heavy furniture or spring cleaning.
A housecleaning business offers the perfect opportunity for teens to develop organizational and time management skills.
On top of that, a successful business can help young entrepreneurs learn about entrepreneurship and set them up for future success in their professional and personal lives.
5. Offer babysitting services.
Babysitting is a great small business idea for teens, as it allows them to earn extra money and gain valuable work experience.
Many teens today spend hours each day at school, sports practice, or other extracurricular activities.
That leaves little time for traditional after-school jobs like working at the local grocery store or in a fast food restaurant.
Offering babysitting services can solve that problem by allowing teens to make money in their free time.
6. Be a party planner/coordinator extraordinaire!
One of the most popular small business ideas for teens is party planning.
You could start all sorts of party planning businesses, from children’s birthday parties to weddings and everything in between!
As a party planner, you will organize and coordinate all aspects of a client’s event.
This can include booking venues and caterers to designing invitations and decor.
To get started, reach out to your local schools, churches, and community organizations to see if they need a party planner.
You can advertise your services by posting flyers in local businesses or by word-of-mouth among friends and family members who might need help planning their next big event.
7. Small Business Ideas for Teens – Academic tutor
With so many students struggling in school, there is a growing demand for quality tutoring services.
As a teen entrepreneur, you have the advantage of being closer in age to many of your potential clients and understanding their needs and challenges.
Moreover, because most students associate younger peers with being more relatable and accessible than older adults, you can build a great rapport with your clients and help them achieve better study results.
8. Errands and Shopping Service
Do you enjoy running errands or doing small tasks for others? If so, starting errands and shopping services might be your perfect small business idea!
This type of business is perfect for busy families or individuals who don’t have the time to do things like grocery shopping, taking the dog to the vet, or picking up the dry cleaning.
As an errand runner, you would be responsible for completing these tasks for your clients.
To get started, create a list of services you’re willing to offer and spread the word to family and friends who might need your help.
9. Personal Assistant Service
Starting a personal assistant service might be the perfect small business idea if you’re a responsible and organized individual.
As a personal assistant, you would be responsible for completing various tasks on behalf of your clients.
This can include scheduling appointments, handling travel arrangements, and managing social media accounts.
To get started, reach out to individuals and businesses in your community who might need help with tasks they don’t have time for.
Read also 15 Best Online Jobs for Highschool Students in 2022
10. Start a home décor consulting service
Do friends and family members always compliment how well you’ve decorated your home?
If so, starting a home décor consulting service might be the perfect small business idea for you!
You can help people choose paint colors, furniture, window treatments, flooring – anything related to making a house into a home.
11. Sell homemade arts & crafts
Love being creative? Why not sell some of the things you make? People would love to buy all sorts of homemade arts & crafts items – from paintings and drawings to jewelry and pottery.
Conclusion
These are just twenty-two small business ideas for teens who want to be their boss—but don’t limit yourself!
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and are looking for ways to make extra money, then starting your own small business is a great option!
There’s no telling how far you can go with hard work and dedication!
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get started on building a successful small business empire!
