Working for someone else is not the only option for teenagers. Many entrepreneurial teens have been successful at starting a business. Depending on the business, there may need to be some initial investment of money, but the experience and independence often outweighs the costs.
Positives of being your own employer
Starting your own business can really make you stand out when applying to colleges or for future jobs. It’s proof-positive that you have many attractive qualities: initiative, work ethic, creativity, problem-solving skills, and so forth.
Starting a business can also give you an enormous head start on your career. A teen that started a computer consulting business at age 16 would have a good five or six years of experience in that area by the time he or she graduates from college!
Ideas for teen businesses
Here are many ways in which a teen could become an entrepreneur:
- Computer set-up and repair: If you have a knack for technology, starting a computer consulting business can work out well. Help family, friends, neighbors, and small businesses by fixing broken computers, and setting up computer networks, or getting rid of viruses.
- Web design: It’s not too difficult to learn HTML and other tools for designing websites. Almost every business needs a website, no matter how small and modest it may be. See www.lynda.com.
- Services for senior citizens: Many senior citizens would love help from a teen, doing things like household chores and running errands.
- Landscaping: If you like working outside, you could start your own landscaping business in the summer. Mow lawns, do yard work, water plants and flowers, and do any other outdoor tasks for busy professionals in the area.
- Pet care: If you like animals, start a dog walking service. Take care of cats and other pets while their owners are away.
- Household cleaning/organizing: Many busy families have basements, attics, and garages loaded with stuff that they would love to have cleaned and organized to remove clutter. A teen with good organizational skills and a tidy streak can make a household impact.
- Social media consulting: Many people over the age of 50 are lost when it comes to mastering social media tools such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. You could help someone create a profile and manage their settings to avoid security problems.
- Arts and crafts: A crafty teen can make and sell jewelry, candles, or t-shirts with only a modest investment in supplies, such as beads, silver, and wax. These items can be sold at craft fairs, online, in local shops, or through networking with friends and families.
- Blogging: Increasingly, businesses are looking for people who can write short blogs on all sorts of topics: sports, bullying, fashion, technology, etc. If you have good writing skills, doing a Google search on “online writing jobs for teens” can get you started.
For more career-building tips, check out our Guide to Finding Jobs & Internships.
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