We see and hear from many teenagers at business rout. Many of them want a get rich quick idea or insight but some have great ideas and are willing to put the work in to see it through. The first businesses are all about learning. We find around 80% of teens start and then give up, while more start and fail. This is all part of the journey and failing in early business gives you the experience you need to make the next a success. Of course, many teenagers find varying levels of success. So, here are some solid business ideas for teens to get the brain firing.
They can range from running online drop shipping store to selling artistic services, teenagers can tap into an increasingly smaller and globalized world to stake their claim in the market and earn some money.
In this guide, we look at some of the best business ideas for teens, both online and offline. We also look at ideas that could be suitable for different personality types, and crucially, explore the key laws you should be aware of.
You can also find examples of the biggest mistakes you should avoid making.
Let’s begin with the basics.
What Are Business Ideas for Teens?
A “teen business” is an organization founded and operated by someone between the ages of 13 and 19. This business could generate money from selling products on the likes of a TikTok, Shopify or Etsy shop, or it could involve a service, like managing someone’s Instagram or Facebook accounts.
We’re in an age where teenagers don’t just have to mow lawns anymore. Today, youngsters can:
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- Run online stores
- Build audiences on social media
- Sell digital products globally
- Offer services to real businesses
- Create artwork and sell it worldwide
While you don’t need a lot of money, experience, or connections to start, it’s important to be aware of the rules that are in place.
For example, if you’re under 18, you’ll usually need parental consent. Certain platforms may also require adult supervision, and earnings may be subject to tax reporting, running afoul of which could land you in trouble. We discuss this further below.
Best Business Ideas for Teens (Quick Picks)
Best online business ideas for teens:
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- Social media management
- Selling digital products (templates, guides)
- YouTube or short-form video content
Best offline business ideas for teens:
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- Lawn care
- Car washing
- Pet sitting
- Babysitting
Online Business Ideas for Teens
The online world offers an array of opportunities for teens to start a business and make money.
Let’s take a look at some of the best and most profitable online business ideas for teens right now.
Social media management
It’s fair to say that some older people struggle with social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. They may find it easy to set up, but hard to manage, grow and create content.
If you already understand trends, posting, and engagement, you could offer services that involve:
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- Managing accounts – this could be on one platform or across a range.
- Creating content – short-form video content is all the rage, but knowing what works is a skill you can monetize.
- Respond to comments – for busy platforms and profiles, companies may not have the manpower to respond to commenters, which is where you can help.
A simple way to price this is to offer monthly packages and retainers. That way, you can predict income and don’t have to go chasing new clients each month.
Print-on-demand businesses
If you have an eye for designs and trends, then one type of business you could look to launch is print-on-demand. This is a business whereby customers make orders, which then get sent directly to companies that can print and distribute those orders. Your role is essentially to market and sell the products.
It’s a nice, simple and low-cost way to get started as a business, and you’re not clogging up your parents’ home with boxes of stock.
You can work with lots of different product types. Some of the most popular include:
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- T-shirts
- Hoodies
- Posters
- Mugs
These products can then be sold on the likes of Etsy, TikTok or your own Shopify store.
YouTube and TikTok content creation
Short-form video content is arguably the most popular medium right now in the world. From comedy sketches, product reviews and unboxings, to book reviews and adventure exploration videos, this form of content is being consumed in the millions.
If your videos grip, go viral and see you build an audience, then you have the potential to earn money. This can come in the form of:
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- Ads – on the likes of YouTube, you can monetize your site and earn monthly ad revenue
- Sponsorships – if you have a large following, you can pitch sponsorship and advertising spots to companies that provide products or services in that niche.
- Affiliate links – you can make money directly from selling products to your followers, taking a small cut of each sale. This can be particularly lucrative with monthly subscription deals.
Offline Business Ideas for Teens
Even though we live in an increasingly digital world, there are still lots of manual jobs that could support a teen business. Here are some of the most common and profitable ventures you could consider.
Lawn care and gardening
One of the classic offline jobs a teen can do to earn money is gardening. In your local neighborhood there may be some individuals who are unable to look after their own garden, like cutting the lawn or trimming back bushes and hedges. Offering this service can solve this problem for some people.
You can start off by designing some flyers and posters and distributing them around your local area. You can ask any customers to recommend you, or even go as far as to offer a discount if they share your details with their friends.
There may be some costs involved if you don’t have a lawn mower or garden tools, though you may be able to borrow some from your family. Transportation may also be an obstacle you need to overcome too.
Car washing
Another simple and manual job you can do is to wash cars. This can be simple exterior washes with a jet washer, as well as polishing and finishing. You could also offer interior cleaning services too.
The downside to car washing is that it’s quite cheap to go to a commercial car wash, so you’ll need to price up accordingly, and look to offer other services that may not be provided by others in your area.
Babysitting
Another job that’s forever in demand is babysitting. If you’re a teenager, you may be old enough and experienced enough to look after children younger than yourself. If so, you can advertise your services to those in your local area, allowing parents to go out and enjoy themselves.
You can charge an hourly rate, and oftentimes you get paid at the end of your shift, making it a simple way of making money.
Pet sitting
Just like babysitting, you could also look after people’s pets when they’re away on holiday or out for the night.
From cats and dogs to fish tanks and birds, you could extend your service to all different types of creatures. Just make sure you don’t agree to look after any snakes or spiders if you’re afraid of them!
Like babysitting, you can charge an hourly rate, and there are no costs involved in getting started.
Business Ideas for Teens by Personality Type
Not every business type is suitable for all teens. You may have read through some of the ideas here and recoiled at the prospect. If you want to give yourself the best chance of succeeding, it can help to match your ideas with your interests.
Here are some quick business ideas for teens, broken down by personality type:
Business ideas for creative teens
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- Content creation
- Graphic design on behalf of others
- Print-on-demand
- Creating and selling artwork
Business ideas for introverted teens
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- Freelancing, such as writing, editing or content creation
- Selling digital products
- Online research services
Business ideas for extroverted teens
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- Babysitting
- Sales-based companies, like affiliate marketing
- Event help
- Short-form video creation
Business ideas for tech-savvy teens
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- Website design, creation and related services, like Search Engine Optimization
- App testing and development
- Social media growth services
How to Start a Business as a Teen in the USA
It can be easy to come up with ideas. The tricky part is creating a plan and putting it into motion. To help remove those barriers, here’s a simple step-by-step process you can follow to get your business off the ground:
- Choose A Business Idea – ideally, pick an idea you’re interested in. Then check if it’s in demand and who your target market is likely to be. You should also opt for ideas that are simple to begin and low-cost.
- Name Your Business – give it a clear but memorable name
- Set Pricing – understand the value of what you’re offering. Research your competitors. Start slightly lower than them to get your foot in the door, then build from there.
- Get Your First Customer – begin close to home, selling to family, friends and anyone you know before expanding further afield.
- Promote – as much as possible, promote your business and incentivize the sharing process for customers. For example, you could post on social media about what you’re doing day to day.
Legal Requirements for Teen Businesses in the USA
Even though teens are allowed to start their own business, it’s important to be aware of key rules and regulations. Here’s an overview:
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- If you’re a minor, you will generally need some level of parental involvement, such as helping to open accounts, checking tax payments and providing general supervision.
- All businesses, regardless of the age of the owner, must pay and report takes to the Internal Revenue Service.
- Depending on the state, you may need a license for your business. This can also be determined by the business type and your income level.
- Teenagers generally need the help of a parent or guardian to open a business bank account.
Common Mistakes Teens Should Avoid
The world of business is tough going and fraught with pitfalls you’d be better off avoiding. Here at Business Rout, we’ve seen lots of errors and have compiled the list below to help inform you before you begin:
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- Choosing The Wrong Idea – always look at what’s in demand. If you go purely by your interest, you may find you don’t make any sales because nobody wants what you’re offering
- Under pricing – you can potentially lose a lot of money by not pricing your services correctly. Do proper competitor research to avoid this.
- Don’t Give Up Too Soon – success is generally hard-earned and takes time to build. Be patient, stick with it, and persevere through the challenges.
- Ignoring Legal Requirements – if your business falls foul of the law, or disregards it altogether, you could be shut down
We hope this list of business ideas for teens has been useful. Hopefully, you now have the information and inspiration to begin your own successful venture. Remember, don’t be scared to fail. Failure its simply part of the business journey.