Are you a teen looking to make money but don’t know how possible it would be? You might be considering the fact that you may not have enough experience to get a job.
Well teenagers can indeed make money through various business ideas without getting a job. In fact, entrepreneurship among teenagers is becoming increasingly popular and accessible. There are countless opportunities for teenagers to explore entrepreneurship opportunities and earn massive income.
In Nigeria, research has it that 49% of enterprises are run by young individuals, teenagers. It also shows that 60% of Nigerian entrepreneurs have completed postsecondary education and hold a Higher National Diploma (HND) from a polytechnic or university bachelor’s degree.
With the right mindset, resources, and support, teenagers can turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality and start making money through their own business ventures.
Thanks to advancements in technology and the growing trend of young people pursuing their passions and turning them into profitable ventures, you too have the opportunity to make money like numerous teens across the globe.
So, come with us on this journey as we explore these 25 amazing small business ideas for teenagers.
Key Takeaways
- Many families travel and need someone to take care of their homes while they are away so starting a home sitting business can be an excellent opportunity for you to earn extra money while meeting a need in your community.
- Owning your business and running it successfully can boost your confidence and self-esteem and instill a sense of accomplishment and resilience that will serve you well in all areas of your life.
Why You Need To Own a Business as a Teen
The youthful age is a gift filled with boundless potential and opportunities for discovery and growth. Starting and owning a business as a teenager can offer numerous benefits and valuable experiences that can positively impact your future.
Here are some compelling reasons why you should own a business as a teenager:
- Owning a business as a teenager can open you up to valuable entrepreneurial skills such as leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, and financial management. These skills can in turn benefit you in other aspects of your personal life.
- You can get the opportunity to pursue your passion early and still make money out of it.
- You will get hands-on experience on various aspects of business operations which equips you for future job roles.
- Owning your business and running it successfully can boost your confidence and self-esteem and instill a sense of accomplishment and resilience that will serve you well in all areas of your life.
- You also get to build a strong network with other business owners, potential customers and even future investors.
- Owning a business allows you to earn your own money and become financially independent at a young age. You can either save for college, travel, or future investments, since you have little to spend money on.
In summary, owning a business as a teen helps you build valuable skills, give you an opportunity to pursue your passion and make money from it, help you get hands-on experience of business operations, make you financially independent, boosts your confidence and helps you build a strong network.
With this knowledge and with the list of small business ideas for teenagers that we’ve written just for you, the sky is your starting point to financial freedom.
So why wait? Take the leap and embark on your entrepreneurial journey today!
Read also: 10 Profitable Online Business Ideas for Nigerians in 2024
Consider These 5 Factors Before Starting a Business as a Teenager
Every business owner who wants to succeed does not jump into starting a business without considering the ups and downs of owning a business and you shouldn’t too.
Before diving into entrepreneurship as a teenager, you should consider these crucial factors such as considering hobbies, skills, or subjects you enjoy investing time and effort into.
Secondly , evaluate the financial resources you have access to, whether personal savings, family support, or grants.
Also conduct market research to understand the needs, preferences, and behaviors of your target audience.
Finally, assess financial risks and consider how to minimize them, such as starting with low-cost or no-cost business ideas and ensure that the business you are starting aligns with your values, interests, and vision for the future.
Amazing Small Business Ideas for Teenagers to Start
Here are 25 amazing and unique small business ideas for teenagers to start:
- Design customized T-shirts
- Offer Babysitting Services
- Offer Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Services
- Become a Tutor
- Make Homemade Candles
- Sell Handmade Soap and Skincare Products
- Become a Local Tour Guide
- Offer Home Sitting Service
- Run Errands
- Design customized Phone Cases
- Offer Personal Shopping Services
- Deliver Homemade Baked Goods
- Design Graphics for Small Businesses
- Create Gift Baskets
- Become a Party Decorator
- Become a House cleaner
- Become a House Keeper
- Make and Sell Crotchet works
- Become a Laundry person
- Offer Gift Wrapping services
- Sell thrift wears
- Become an Art teacher
- Make and sell Tote bagsÂ
- Make and sell Homemade Natural Cleaning Products
- Personalized Stationery and Greeting Card Design
1. Design Customized T-shirts
If you have a passion for creativity and an eye for design, this service is a good avenue to express your talent and also make money.
This business is unique because it allows customers to express themselves through custom-made shirts featuring original artwork, slogans, or graphics.
If you also have a passion for drawing or digital design, your artistic creations can be printed onto various products, such as beanies, t-shirts, art prints, and water bottles. You can sell these products and make money for yourself.
2. Offer Babysitting Services
Babysitting remains a timeless small business idea for teens. It offers not only flexibility but also the potential for enjoyable experiences.
It’s a business venture that can often be initiated effortlessly by extending your services to families within your community or network.
If you want you embark on this journey, building trust and rapport with the families you serve is necessary as you gradually accumulate valuable experience.
As you hone your skills and reputation as a reliable caregiver, you’ll find opportunities to further grow your babysitting business.
You can also make more money by offering additional services such as tutoring or pet sitting, thereby maximizing your earning potential and making a positive impact within your community.
3. Offer Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Services
If your love lies more with dogs than babies, pet sitting could be an ideal venture for you.
You can either specialize in dog walking, offer in-home pet care, or provide overnight stays for furry companions (with the consent of your household members).
Pet sitting presents an ideal opportunity for animal enthusiasts to turn their passion into a fulfilling career.
Both babysitting and pet sitting offer flexible schedules, and your clients typically provide all the necessary supplies, including leashes, treats, and more. This makes them ideal small business ideas for teenagers to try out.
4. Become a Tutor
Offering a tutoring service is a fantastic small business idea for teenagers.
By leveraging your academic strengths and knowledge, you can provide valuable assistance to your peers or younger students who may be struggling with various subjects.
Tutoring services can encompass not just academic subjects but also subjects like music. With flexible scheduling options, tutoring allows you to balance your academic commitments.
Additionally, this business idea enhances your personal and professional growth by improving your communication skills, leadership abilities, and instilling a sense of satisfaction from helping others succeed academically.
5. Make Homemade Candles
Starting a homemade candle making business is an excellent small business idea for teens.
With creativity and passion, you can make unique and beautifully scented candles that appeal to a wide range of customers.
You can choose to sell your handmade candles online, at local markets, or through social media platforms, and generate income while sharing your passion for crafting with others.
All this business requires is a minimal startup costs and the ability to work from home with equipment found in your kitchen.
6. Sell Handmade Soap and Skincare Products
Crafting handmade soap and skincare products is an excellent small business idea for teens. By using natural ingredients and innovative formulations, you can create a range of luxurious soaps, lotions, balms, and scrubs that appeal to customers of all ages. You can start from your friends, family members and even neighbours.
This can be done from the comfort of your kitchen cabinet or your hostel. You can also sell your handmade creations online, at local markets, or through social media platforms.
This business idea can potentially enhance your skills in product development and marketing.
7. Become a Local Tour Guide
A local tour guide service is an exciting and rewarding business idea for teens. If you have a deep knowledge about your local area, why not turn that in cash?
You can provide engaging and informative tours to visitors and tourists (it could either be for individuals or a group of tourists), where you showcase historical landmarks, hidden gems, or cultural attractions to them and earn money in return.
This business idea gives you the flexibility to set your own schedules. With minimal startup costs, a local tour guide service can empower you to turn your passion for your hometown into a profitable and fulfilling business venture.
8. Offer Home Sitting Services
Many families travel and need someone to take care of their homes while they are away so starting a home sitting business can be an excellent opportunity for you to earn extra money while meeting a need in your community.
You can do this on a flexible schedule and at your own pace.
9. Run Errands
Running an errand service can be an excellent small business opportunity for teenagers to earn extra money.
Many people are so consumed by their office duties and household responsibilities that they struggle to find the time to go out and purchase their essential items. This presents an excellent opportunity to start an errand-running business, where you offer to pick up mail, and also deliver a wide range of items directly to doorsteps.
Before launching this business, it’s crucial to ensure that you have access to a reliable mode of transportation, such as a bicycle. To be successful in this venture, you’ll need to be reliable, punctual, and attentive to your clients’ needs.
10. Design customized Phone Cases
The beauty of this business idea is its low barrier to entry. With basic design skills, access to printing services, and a creative mindset, you can start your own custom phone case venture.
You can start by designing for your family and friends and have them give you feedback on the outcome. You can also leverage online platforms and social media to market your custom phone case designs and get more customers.
11. Offer Personal Shopping Services
Offering personal shopping services can be a lucrative business idea for teenagers. You can assist busy individuals in finding the perfect products for them, and saving them time and effort while earning money through commissions or fees.
12. Deliver Homemade Baked Goods
Delivering homemade baked goods can be a rewarding small business idea for teenagers if you are entrepreneurial.
By leveraging your baking skills and capitalizing on the growing demand for homemade treats, you can earn extra income. Start with family and friends and expand to your local community.
13. Design Graphics for Small Businesses
Small businesses are constantly seeking for graphic designers to distinguish their brands with compelling visuals. If you have an eye for designs and can master programs like Illustrator and Photoshop, then you can begin a graphic design business for yourself.
All you need is a laptop or a good smartphone to make your designs.
14. Create Gift Baskets
Gift baskets filled with an assortment of high-quality products and treats are extremely popular purchases for a wide range of occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and more. Especially around the holiday season, large and small businesses purchase large quantities of custom gift baskets to give as holiday gifts to their employees, clients, and partners.
As a teen entrepreneur, you can capitalize on this demand to make some money for yourself.
15. Become a Party Decorator
As a party decorator, you have the power to transform spaces and create unforgettable experiences for your clients. You can take on decoration jobs for housewarming parties, birthday parties, baby showers and more.
16. Become a House Cleaner
If you’ve been lending a hand with household chores, you’ve already gained a wealth of valuable skills to start a housecleaning business. Nearby neighbors would likely be happy to pay a teenager to help them dust, mop, and vacuum their home.
17. Become a House Keeper
This type of service is in high demand. It allows busy families to have peace of mind knowing their home is being looked after. You can perform chores like water plants, and perform other small daily tasks for families.
To get started, consider partnering with friends who may be interested in joining you. Together, you can divide tasks and cover more ground in your neighborhood and beyond. Spend your weekends going around and securing as many clients as possible who need someone to tend to their homes while they do other things.
18. Make and Sell Crotchet Works
The beauty of a crochet-based business lies in the sheer diversity of products you can create. From cozy beanies and stylish sweaters to trendy bucket hats, delicate tops, flowing skirts, and charming gowns, the possibilities are endless.
Additionally, the crochet medium lends itself well to a wide range of accessories, such as fashionable bags and other practical items that you sell around your neighborhood or school.
19. Become a Laundry Person
Taking on a job as a laundry person can be a valuable and rewarding experience. If you can handle household laundry, you can pretty much handle a laundry business. Start with offering laundry services to your neighbors and family friends.
20. Offer Gift Wrapping Services
As a teenager, starting your own gift wrapping business can be an excellent way to earn extra money, gain valuable entrepreneurial experience, and showcase your creative flair.
21. Sell Thrift Wears
 If you are an expert at scouring thrift stores, garage sales, and online platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace to find hidden gems, you can always sell your clothing items to others and make cool money.
22. Become an Art Teacher
Drawing, painting, or creating any other type of art is a skill, just like the ability to solve complex mathematical equations. If you are a teen who is for a business idea and have artistic talents, you should consider starting a business as an art teacher. You can offer art lessons to younger children in your neighborhood.
23. Make and Sell Tote Bags
As a profitable and creative business idea for teens, making and selling handcrafted tote bags can be an engaging way to showcase your artistic skills, develop entrepreneurial experience, and earn some extra income.
24. Make and Sell Homemade Natural Cleaning Products
You can experiment with natural, Eco-friendly ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, essential oils, and soap to create effective cleaning solutions. Ensure your products are non-toxic and safe for both people and the environment.
25. Design Personalized Greeting Cards
Hone your skills in illustration, calligraphy, or graphic design to create unique and visually appealing card designs. Experiment with different mediums, such as watercolor, digital art, or hand-lettering, to find your signature style.
Conclusion
The list is endless when it comes to small business ideas for teenagers to explore this year. These small business ideas offers teens opportunities to leverage their skills, interests, and creativity to generate income while making a positive impact in their communities.
So, choose a business idea today and start making money like hundreds of other teenagers!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I balance running a small business with school and other activities?
Time management is key. Create a schedule that allocates specific hours for business tasks, and try to streamline processes as much as possible.
How much money do I need to start a small business as a teenager?
The amount of starting capital required can vary greatly depending on the type of business. Many teen-run businesses can be started with just a few hundred dollars for basic supplies and equipment.
What are the best small business ideas for teenagers?
Some popular small business ideas for teenagers include:
a. Selling homemade baked goods or other food items
b. Providing lawn care, dog walking, or other local services
c. Starting a social media marketing or web design agency
d. Selling handmade crafts, jewelry, or art
e. Offering tutoring or lessons in a skill they excel at
1 Comment
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