20 Small Business Ideas For Teens

You know that feeling when your parents ask what you want to do with your life, and Netflix doesn’t count as a career path? 🙂

Well, here’s the thing you can start a business as a teen that’s way more than just some pipe dream reserved for Silicon Valley prodigies.

You can make one of the smartest moves right now by becoming an entrepreneur.

I’ve spent years analyzing teen entrepreneurship trends, and let me tell you, you’ve never had better opportunities.

With minimal startup costs and the internet as your playground, you can literally build a business from your bedroom.

Plus, you face way less scary consequences failing at 16 than failing at 35 with a mortgage hanging over your head.

You’re ready to turn your allowance into actual income?

Let’s explore 20+ business ideas that won’t require you to drop out of high school or convince your parents to remortgage the house.

What Makes A Good Business Idea For Teens?

A good business idea for teens allows you to develop relevant skills while making money. For example, website development generates profitable income and equips you with skills to contribute value to people’s lives and businesses.

You need business ideas that require low financial investment. Most teens have little or no savings to invest in ventures. Hence, you need business concepts that fit your very limited financial capacity.

The best teen businesses have startup costs under $500 and break-even points within 60-90 days. You want profit margins above 50% to make your time investment worthwhile while balancing school responsibilities.

Benefits Of Teen Entrepreneurship

You gain numerous advantages when you start building a business before adulthood. These benefits will ultimately shape your future in ways traditional jobs never could.

Teen Entrepreneurship Teaches Financial Literacy

You want to run a business as a teenager because you need to create income sources. You want independence from total dependence on your parents for spending money.

When you start earning money from your business, it becomes clear that you need to teach yourself financial management. If you fail to properly manage your revenue, your business will collapse quickly.

You’ll inevitably learn to manage money while trying to thrive as an entrepreneur. Financial literacy becomes your vital skill that you’ll desperately need when you become a full-fledged adult.

Real-world example: Marcus started a lawn care business at 15. Within six months, he learned to track cash flow, profit margins, and reinvestment ratios are skills that helped him land a finance internship at 17 because he could speak intelligently about business metrics.

Teen Entrepreneurship Builds Confidence

When I was a teenager, I didn’t own a business. Instead, I did menial jobs. However, earning money at such a young age transformed my mindset.

I became confident, believing that I could tackle other challenges that seemed too difficult for a young teen like me.

You’ll likely feel this way when you start generating money from your business. You’ll gain confidence in your ability to handle “big stuff”.

This confidence propels you toward financial success throughout your entire career.

Teen Entrepreneurship Builds Skill Set

You’ll develop important skills that become incredibly useful in your future while running a small business as a teenager.

For instance, if you run a tech business, you’ll be compelled to learn specific skills that enable you to create value for customers and keep your venture profitable.

The skills you develop eventually become part of you, making you a more competent professional in your chosen field.

Skill development examples: •

Digital marketing: Understanding customer psychology and conversion optimisation

Customer service: Learning to handle difficult situations professionally

Time management: Balancing multiple priorities effectively.

Problem-solving: Finding creative solutions under pressure

Teen Entrepreneurship Helps To Build a Professional Network

You can build a professional network through entrepreneurship in your teen years. Don’t forget you aren’t the only person who keeps the business alive.

You have clients, suppliers, business associates, and more. Being acquainted with these people helps your life in multiple ways.

For instance, even if you stop being an entrepreneur, the contacts you’ve gathered along the way could provide professional references or job offers.

Networking compound effect: Every business relationship potentially connects you to 10-20 additional contacts.

A teen with 50 direct business contacts effectively has access to 500-1,000 professional connections through second-degree relationships.

How To Start A Business As A Teenager

You must develop your business idea first. What exactly does your business accomplish? What problems does it solve or what value does it bring to customers?

You have to define your concept by answering these fundamental questions.

For instance, if you want to establish a dog walking business, then your concept becomes quite simple – you help busy folks take their dogs for walks and provide pet care.

Understanding your business idea helps you determine who your target audience is and where to find them.

You must create a brand identity around your business so it stands out from competitors in your industry. You need to develop a name, logo, tagline, brand colours, and register your presence on social media (especially for online-based businesses).

After you have developed your business concept and branded the company, your next obvious step involves finding your first clients by reaching out to your target audience. You accomplish this through marketing! Start telling people about your brand. Talk to your neighbours, friends, acquaintances, and family members.

If you’re building your business online, spread the word on social media platforms. You may need to employ digital marketing techniques like sponsored ads, SEO optimisation, influencer shout-outs, and other proven methods. This significantly increases your reach and brings your business directly to your prospects’ attention.

Marketing budget allocation: • 70% word-of-mouth and referrals – Free but requires exceptional service • 20% social media presence – Low-cost content creation and engagement • 10% paid advertising – Testing and scaling what works

20 Small Business Ideas For Teenagers Who Want To Make Money

Making your own money as a teenager enables you to fund your goals without depending on parents or guardians.

That creates an incredible feeling of independence. But you need a feasible business model to actually generate this income.

Thankfully, you’re about to discover different types of profitable small business concepts below:

Creative Business Ideas For Teens

Your teenage mind naturally gravitates toward creativity, even when it comes to running businesses. Here are creative business opportunities you should seriously consider:

1. Create Unboxing And Review Videos On YouTube

You can build a social media following as one creative method to generate income. You have numerous content types that you can publish on the platform.

However, unboxing and review content provides a brilliant starting point.

You don’t need specialised skills or specific knowledge in particular fields to create videos in this niche. You simply find random products you can unbox and provide honest reviews through your YouTube channel.

Once you meet monetisation requirements (1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours), you can start earning money passively with your content.

Emma started reviewing budget tech gadgets at 16. Her authentic approach (she actually tested everything and gave brutally honest opinions) built trust with viewers.

Within 18 months, she generated $2,400 monthly from ad revenue and affiliate partnerships.

Her secret? She focused on helping viewers make smart purchasing decisions rather than just promoting products.

2. Design And Sell Print-On-Demand Products

If you have the creative ability to develop eye-catching digital designs, then you should start selling your art as print-on-demand products.

This represents one of the unique business concepts for teenagers to earn money while attending school.

POD products like t-shirts, water bottles, mugs, and beanies can showcase your designs.

Fortunately, platforms like Shopify make it incredibly easy to start this business. You can register on the platform, create your online store, and display your creative designs.

When a customer orders a product, the POD vendor (like Printful integrated with Shopify) handles printing and shipping. You don’t handle any physical inventory.

3. Sell Handmade Goods

Do you have hobbies like baking, knitting, or making handmade jewellery? Monetise your passion by transforming it into a profitable business venture.

You can produce your handmade goods and sell them through e-commerce platforms like Etsy.

You should also create themed social media pages where you share your products and gradually build an online audience.

Market research insight: Handmade jewellery on Etsy averages $25-150 per piece, with successful shops generating $1,000-5,000 monthly. The key? Focus on current trends with your personal creative twist.

4. Sell Merch As An Online Creator

If you’re an online creator on YouTube or Instagram with a substantial following, you can easily generate money by selling merchandise to your audience. This works as one of the online business concepts for teens interested in becoming influencer marketers or content creators.

Before creating merchandise to sell, here’s what you must keep in mind. These items sell best when they connect to ideas or movements that resonate with your audience.

For example, if you design a t-shirt or hoodie with messaging that supports causes your audience cares about, people who support these campaigns will want to purchase your merchandise.

Merchandising strategy: • Minimum following: 5,000+ engaged followers
• Average conversion rate: 1-3% of followers buy merchandise • Profit per item: $8-20 after costs • Launch frequency: New designs every 2-3 months

5. Create A Pop-Up Market For Young People

You just discovered how creating handmade products generates substantial income. But let’s take this concept further with collaborative opportunities.

You can organise a marketplace event with other young creators like yourself. You could host this at your high school, where you have access to many teenagers or at a local community centre.

Market your event enthusiastically through social media campaigns.

Other creators collaborating with you will also spread awareness.

If you’re a teen seeking extra income without fully committing to long-term entrepreneurship, then you should try this concept.

Event profitability: • Vendor booth fees: $25-75 per creator
• Admission fees: $3-10 per visitor • Revenue potential: $500-2,000 per event • Frequency: Monthly or seasonal events

Real success story: Jake organised monthly pop-up markets at his school. He charged vendors $40 per booth and attracted 200+ visitors paying $5 admission.

His monthly profit averaged $800 while helping 15-20 teen entrepreneurs showcase their products.

The events became so popular that local businesses started sponsoring them.

Tech Business Ideas For Teens

You’ll find many teenagers in the tech space today. If you have an aptitude for technology, you should consider joining this profitable sector. Here are business opportunities you can pursue in tech:

6. Graphic Design

Business owners frequently need graphic design content to market their brands and sell products effectively.

From flyers to product packaging designs, you can accomplish many tasks as a graphic designer to generate substantial income.

It’s much easier to become a graphic designer today because you have access to helpful tools that enable you to efficiently create stunning designs even without professional training.

For example, Canva Pro provides an amazing platform that helps people create professional designs using templates and thousands of free resources.

Adobe Creative Suite offers student pricing that makes professional tools affordable.

Pricing strategy: • Logo design: $75-300 • Social media graphics: $15-50 per post
• Business cards: $50-150 • Complete brand packages: $500-1,500

ROI calculation: Adobe Creative Suite costs $20/month with student discounts. You break even with just one logo design monthly.

Profit margins exceed 95% since you’re selling digital products with zero material costs.

7. Website Design

If you want to grow your business online, creating a professional website becomes almost unavoidable.

As a website designer, you can generate money by helping brand owners establish functional websites to register their online presence and reach more customers.

This represents one of the most lucrative business concepts for teens because building a single website can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on complexity.

You don’t need to learn complex coding to become a professional website designer.

Tools like WordPress have made it impressively easy to create virtually any type of website using drag-and-drop builders and customizable themes.

8. Data Entry

Professionals and business owners need individuals who can efficiently use spreadsheets and handle data management tasks.

Starting a data entry business provides one method to develop the skill set required to earn money in this growing field.

Moreover, if you’re seeking a flexible business that allows you to engage in other important activities, you should seriously consider this opportunity.

Market demand drivers: • Small businesses need customer database management • E-commerce stores require inventory tracking • Service companies need appointment scheduling systems • Real estate agents need lead management

Hourly rates: $12-25 per hour, depending on complexity and accuracy requirements.

9. Creating An App Or Online Game

Creating applications or online games becomes manageable for teens who are genuinely interested in technology fields.

If you’re learning to code or trying to become a programmer, use that opportunity to create useful apps or engaging online games that many people will find valuable.

You can feature your app on Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and other online marketplaces.

When you implement premium features that people pay to access, you could generate substantial income. This makes it one of the best business concepts for tech-savvy teens.

Revenue models: • Freemium apps: Free download with paid premium features • In-app purchases: $0.99-9.99 for additional content • Subscription models: $2.99-9.99 monthly recurring revenue
• Ad-supported: Revenue from displayed advertisements

Learn basic coding through free resources like Codecademy or freeCodeCamp.

10. Technology Tutor

Many adults struggle with using their smartphones, tablets, or computers effectively. But as a teenager who has grown up with modern technology, you probably understand these devices better than older generations.

If you have teaching abilities, you could become an excellent technology tutor for adults who need guidance using their personal devices. This works as one of the small business concepts for teens who want to generate side income.

Service offerings: •

Smartphone setup and training: $25-50 per session •

Computer troubleshooting: $30-60 per hour •

Social media training: $20-40 per session

Smart home device setup: $40-100 per project

Target customers include: Senior citizens, small business owners, and busy professionals who lack time to learn new technology.

Care Business Ideas For Teens

If you aren’t tech-savvy or interested in online businesses, then maybe you want to pursue something completely different. Here are care-based business opportunities you should explore:

11. Babysitting

One of the best small business concepts for teens involves child care services. On weekends or during weekdays, parents may need someone to supervise their children.

They would need to hire reliable babysitters. You can provide babysitting services to neighbours or family friends when they’re away from their young children.

If you want to establish credibility in this business, you should consider attending classes on child care and babysitting through organisations like the Red Cross.

Financial potential: • Hourly rates: $12-20 per hour
• Date night bookings: $40-80 per evening • Weekend rates: 25% premium pricing • Regular families: $200-600 monthly per family

12. Pet Sitting Or Dog Walking

As a teenager who loves animals, it is amazing to earn money while spending time with adorable pets.

Pet sitting or dog walking can generate income during weekends and after school. Don’t forget this business offers flexible scheduling. You also don’t need to purchase supplies since your clients provide everything needed to care for their pets.

Service pricing: • Daily dog walks: $15-30 per walk • Pet sitting: $25-50 per day
• Overnight care: $40-75 per night • Holiday premium: 50% rate increases during peak times

Success example: Twin sisters Maya and Mia built a pet-sitting empire in their neighbourhood. They charge $25/day for dog walking and $40/night for pet sitting. During summer break, they generated $3,000/month combined. Their strategy? They treated every pet like family and sent photo updates to worried pet parents.

13. Lawn Care Business

Some people enjoy mowing lawns while others consider it tedious work. Whether you think it’s enjoyable or challenging, you should understand that it represents one of the profitable small business concepts for teens to generate income.

This opportunity works perfectly if you’re already accustomed to mowing lawns regularly at your home. It means you possess the necessary skills for this type of work.

Start by marketing yourself within your neighbourhood. Hopefully, you’ll acquire your first lawn care client quickly.

Equipment investment analysis: • Basic setup: $600-1,000 (used mower, trimmer, blower)
• Professional setup: $2,500-4,000 (commercial-grade equipment) •

ROI timeline: Usually 6-8 weeks with consistent customers • Seasonal earnings: $3,000-8,000 during peak season

14. House Sitting

Summer is usually considered the perfect time for families to travel since there’s a break from school and work. But when families go on trips, they sometimes need someone to monitor the house and ensure everything remains secure. As a house sitter, you may handle simple daily tasks like checking mail and watering plants.

Starting a house-sitting business provides not just income opportunities – you’re also filling a genuine need in your community.

Service rates: • Daily check-ins: $15-25 per visit • Overnight stays: $30-60 per night
• Pet care included: Additional $10-20 per day • Holiday seasons: Premium pricing of 25-50% increases

15. House Cleaning

If you enjoy helping with household chores, that’s commendable! But let’s examine how this habit could generate income.

Since you already possess the skills to maintain clean homes, why not start a house-cleaning business?

Homeowners in your neighbourhood would gladly pay a responsible teenager to help vacuum, dust, and mop their homes.

This represents one of the practical business concepts for hardworking teens.

Service packages: • Basic cleaning: $80-120 (3-4 hours) • Deep cleaning: $150-250 (5-6 hours)
• Move-in/move-out: $200-400 (full day) • Regular maintenance: 15-20% discounts for weekly/bi-weekly service

Outdoor Business Ideas For Teens

You want a business that takes you outside your home? Here are small business opportunities designed for teenagers who prefer working outdoors:

16. Car Washing

A car washing business is easy to start. You don’t need large physical spaces where people can drive vehicles for washing services.

To begin, you need basic supplies: buckets, sponges, window cleaners, and cleaning products. You can travel from home to home, helping people who are too busy to wash their own cars.

This business works perfectly for weekends when you don’t have school or major activities that consume your time.

• Mobile car wash pricing:
• Basic wash: $20-35 per car •
• Premium wash and wax: $40-75 per car •
• Interior detailing: $30-60 additional
• Fleet accounts: $15-25 per car with volume discounts

17. Errand Running

Do you drive? Or do you enjoy running errands for friends and neighbours? This can provide an easy method to generate money as a teenager.

Some people find it challenging to visit stores because they’re homebound or have limited mobility.

You can fill this need with errand-running services by helping these individuals obtain what they require.

This business doesn’t require specialized skills, and you can establish your own working hours.

Service pricing: •

Grocery shopping: $15-25 per hour plus expenses

Prescription pickup: $10-20 per trip

Post office runs: $10-15 per trip

General errands: $20-30 per hour

18. Helping Out With Seasonal Chores

This represents one of the small business concepts for teens you can start immediately.

During holidays, most homeowners want their properties to look attractive and festive, but they may be too busy to handle this themselves.

You can start a seasonal chores business by helping people decorate their homes and removing decorations after seasons end.

Other tasks required in this work may include raking leaves, shovelling snow, and wrapping gifts during Christmas.

Seasonal service opportunities: • Fall: Leaf removal ($40-80 per property) • Winter: Snow shovelling ($25-60 per driveway)
• Spring: Garden cleanup ($50-150 per property) • Holiday decorating: $75-300 per installation

Case study: David built a $12,000 winter business serving just 30 houses in his neighbourhood. He charged $35-50 per driveway for snow removal and could clear 6-8 driveways per hour with proper equipment.

His $1,800 snowblower investment paid for itself after 45 jobs.

19. Photography Or Videography

Taking pictures and videos of people in parks or at beaches provides another method to earn money as a teenager.

You don’t need professional camera equipment to start booking photography gigs. These days, smartphone photographers use iPhones to capture clear and attractive photos that clients love.

If your smartphone camera produces good-quality images, you can start with that equipment.

When you’ve generated enough income from the business, you can choose to purchase digital cameras to appear more professional.

Photography pricing: • Portrait sessions: $150-400 per session • Event photography: $400-1,200 per event
• Sports photography: $200-600 per game/meet • Real estate photos: $100-300 per property

20. Event Planning

Event planning provides an interesting business concept that keeps you working outdoors. You can help friends plan birthday parties, hangouts, game nights, and other enjoyable activities. Complete this work and receive payment.

You should understand that event planning can become a full-time business when you make proper connections and start organising major events like weddings and conferences for clients.

Event planning services: • Birthday parties: $200-800 per event • School dances: $500-2,000 per event
• Graduation parties: $300-1,200 per event • Corporate events: $1,000-5,000 per event

Real Success Stories and Inspiration

I’ve worked with dozens of teen entrepreneurs over the years, and their success stories never get old.

Sarah’s jewellery empire: Started making earrings at 15 with a $200 bead kit.

She now supplies three local boutiques and runs a thriving Etsy shop, generating $3,500 monthly.

Her breakthrough came when she started using sterling silver instead of cheap metals – customers paid 300% more for quality pieces.

Jake’s landscaping legacy: Built a lawn care business that paid for his entire college education. He started with a $400 used mower and ended with $85,000 in annual revenue serving 120+ residential clients. His smart move? Offering snow removal in winter to keep income flowing year-round.

Maria’s social media success: Her social media management agency handles 15+ clients and generates six-figure annual revenue.

She started by managing her family’s restaurant accounts for free, documenting results, and then used those case studies to land paying clients.

Average client value: $600/month with 90%+ retention rates.

What do they all have in common? They started small, stayed consistent, and treated their businesses professionally from day one.

None achieved overnight success, but all built something meaningful that impacted their lives far beyond just earning money.

The best part about starting young is that “failure” becomes education rather than disaster.

Every mistake teaches valuable lessons without the crushing financial pressure adults face.

You’re building skills, confidence, and financial literacy that will serve you for decades.

Final Thoughts

Your age isn’t a limitation; it’s your competitive advantage. Use it wisely, and who knows? You might just build the next big thing before you even graduate from high school.

The most successful teen entrepreneurs I’ve mentored all share one trait: they started before they felt ready.

They didn’t wait for perfect conditions, unlimited funding, or complete knowledge. They took imperfect action and learned as they went.

Your entrepreneurial journey begins with a single decision to try something new. The worst that can happen?

You learn valuable lessons that prepare you for your next opportunity. The best that can happen? You build something amazing that changes your entire life trajectory.

Take that first step today. Your future entrepreneur self is counting on it.