23 Business Ideas For Teens To Make Extra Money

Looking for the best business ideas for teens?

Whether you’re a teenager trying to find ways to make extra money or if you’re a parent trying to help your child start a business to learn about money, there are many positives of starting your own business young.

Whether it’s in the summer, after school, or on weekends, having a small business can be a fun and educational thing to start.

I did many different things as a teen to make extra money, and they all taught me so much. There are many different ways for teens to make money, as you will learn below.

Best Business Ideas for Teens

There are many business ideas for teens listed below. If you want to skip the list, here are some ways for teens to make money that you may want to start learning more about first:

Below are the best small business ideas for teenagers to start.

Recommended reading:

1. Babysitting

Babysitting is an obvious job for teenagers, and it can be a great way to make money. I was a babysitter when I was a teenager and regularly earned over $1,000 a month by babysitting (mainly in the summer).

Starting a babysitting business is a smart choice for teens as it’s simple to start with very few costs. Your main investment is the time and effort you spend taking care of children.

To get started, you’ll need to let people know you’re available. Reach out to your parents’ friends, neighbors, or family members. After a while, word of mouth can help you find more jobs.

Safety is really important too, of course. So, you will most likely want to get certified in first aid or CPR. This not only makes you more trustworthy but also helps you handle emergencies.

2. Car washing services

Starting a car washing business can be a great business for a teen entrepreneur.

To start, you just need basic supplies: a bucket, a soft sponge, window cleaner, and cloths for drying and polishing.

With a straightforward service like car washing, you can operate right in your driveway or travel to clients’ homes for convenience.

3. Start a blog

Starting a blog is a great way for you to share your thoughts and ideas while potentially earning money. Your blog can cover any topic you’re passionate about, whether it’s fashion, sports, technology, or your daily experiences. 

While I was around 21 years old when I started my blog, I know a few people who started theirs as teenagers.

A blog can be a great business idea to start when you’re young, as you can decide how to build your blog, how you earn an income, and the schedule you put toward it.

You can easily learn how to start a blog with my free How To Create a Blog Course.

Here’s a quick outline of what you will learn:

• Day 1: Why you should start a blog today
• Day 2: What topic to blog about
• Day 3: Tutorial on how to start a blog on WordPress
• Day 4: How to make money with your blog
• Day 5: How to make passive income on your blog
• Day 6: How to get pageviews to your blog
• Day 7: Tips to see success with your blog

Out of all of these business ideas for teens, blogging is by far my favorite. It does take more time to start making money, but it’s very flexible and fits with any kind of schedule.

4. Tutoring and teaching

If you’re a teen who’s really good at a certain subject, tutoring could be a great way to start a rewarding business. You can use your knowledge to help others do well in areas you’re good at.

Your friends or younger students might find it helpful to have one-on-one sessions where you explain difficult topics in simple ways.

Subjects you may be able to tutor in include:

• Math
• Science
• Foreign languages
• English

Many tutors are teenagers, so this may be a great fit for you!

5. Photography

If you love capturing moments through a lens, starting a photography business could be a perfect fit for you.

Starting a business as a photographer can kick off with a relatively low investment. Initially, you might need to spend between $500 to $2,000 on equipment like a good camera, lenses, and editing software. But, if you already have a camera, then that is the bulk of the cost.

You can take pictures at events like birthdays or graduations, capture stunning portraits, or create art through landscape and wildlife photography.

6. Home care services in your neighborhood

When you start a home care services business, you’re stepping into a role that helps busy homeowners manage their households.

This can include a range of services that assist with the upkeep of a home, such as:

• Housecleaning – You can offer to dust, vacuum, and clean the different areas of a home. People always appreciate coming back to a sparkling clean space.
• Laundry – Washing, drying, and folding clothes are tasks that many would gladly outsource to you. Organizing wardrobes or ironing clothes can be added services.
• Plant care – Have a green thumb? Offer to water plants, prune leaves, and take care of any garden needs.
• Raking leaves – Raking leaves is a good business idea for teens, especially during the fall. Trees drop their leaves and many homeowners need help gathering and disposing of them.
• Errand runner – As an errand runner, you’ll help people in your community with tasks they might not have time for, like grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, or mailing packages.

When I was a teen, I had a friend who was a personal assistant for someone in her neighborhood. She would pick up their dry cleaning, take care of their plants, walk their dogs, and more.

7. Pet care (pet sitting and dog walking)

If you’re a teen who loves animals, starting a pet care business can be a great way to earn some extra cash. Pet sitting and dog walking services are in high demand and can be both fun and rewarding.

To start, you can join a dog walking app-based service. Rover is a user-friendly option that connects you with pet owners. You can create a profile, set your own prices, and specify the types of services you feel comfortable providing, such as dog walking or pet sitting.

You can typically earn between $15 and $30 for each hour spent with a pet, considering you might need to commute to the pet’s location.

8. Graphic design

If you’re interested in art and technology, you can start a graphic design business.

Graphic design is about creating visual content for companies and individuals. You’ll use software to make logos, social media graphics, posters, and much more.

As a teen graphic designer, your income will vary. Typically, you can make anywhere from $5 to $100 per project when starting. As your skills grow, so can your rates. The market for design work is expanding, making room for you to succeed.

9. Music and art lessons

Can you play piano, guitar, or violin? Or maybe you’re skilled in drawing or painting?

If you’re a teen with a talent for music or art, teaching art or music lessons can be a great business idea. Whether you play an instrument or paint like a pro, other kids and parents might pay for your expertise.

10. Sell handmade goods and crafts

If you like being creative and making things with your hands, selling arts and crafts can be a great business idea for teens.

Here are some crafts that teens can create and sell for extra money:

• Jewelry – You can make necklaces and bracelets.
• Homemade candles – Candles are simple to make and can be sold to people who like to add a cozy feel to their homes.
• Paintings – If you like to paint or draw, you can create artwork to sell.
• Slime – Slime is really popular and fun to play with. Teens can make and sell their own slime in different colors and maybe even add things like glitter to make it unique.
• Soap – Homemade soap is always nice to have, and people love to buy it.
• Stickers – Everyone loves stickers and this can be a fun way to make extra money on Etsy or in person.

You may be able to sell your homemade items at local craft fairs or online on Etsy.

Recommended reading: 16 Best Things To Sell On Etsy To Make Money

11. Providing technical support

If you’re good with technology, starting a technical support service can be a choice to look into. Lots of people have trouble with technology and need help. As a teen, you can meet this demand by selling your tech-savvy skills and knowledge.

Services you can sell include:

• Software installation and updates
• Virus and malware removal
• Hardware troubleshooting
• Help with using different programs and apps

You can market your business by telling your friends, family, and neighbors about your services, and even by creating flyers to distribute and post on local community boards and at local businesses.

12. Start a YouTube channel

Making a YouTube channel is a way for you to share what you love, your talents, and your ideas with the world. It can also become a fun way to earn some money.

Most people know about YouTube, and almost everyone has seen at least one video on the platform. According to YouTube, there are over 2 billion people who watch at least one video on YouTube every month.

Many people have goals of starting a YouTube channel and making money, but not many people ever actually start.

You can learn more at How I Grew From 0 Subscribers To Over $100,000 On YouTube In Less Than One Year.

13. Design and sell print-on-demand products

Starting a print-on-demand business lets you be creative and make money. You can make products that are inexpensive to create, such as posters or custom-designed mugs.

To begin, design things that show your interests or what customers like. After that, use a service like Printful to put these designs on different products. The company takes care of everything else, from printing to shipping.

14. Lawn care business

Starting a lawn mowing business is a great way for teens to make money and is one of the popular small business ideas for teens. It’s easy to get started, and you can make cash during spring and summer (or even year-round depending on where you live, like Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California).

All you need is a lawn mower, some fuel, and basic gardening tools.

You can talk to neighbors, family, and friends to find new lawn mowing jobs.

I know many families with teenagers who mow lawns to make money. Some even turn it into a full-time business as they grow up.

15. House sitting

For teenagers, starting a house sitting business is a smart way to make money. You’re responsible for looking after someone’s home while they’re away, which is a big job.

Trust is important due to this, and homeowners must feel sure that their property and pets are safe in your care.

When I was a teen, I had a friend who was a regular house sitter for several people. She would water their plants, walk their dogs, and stay overnight in their homes to make sure everything was fine with the house.

16. Sell printables on Etsy

If you want to earn money from home and be your own boss with low startup costs, creating printables could be a great option for you.

A printable is a digital product that can be downloaded and printed at home. You create them once and then sell them on a platform like Etsy for people to purchase. You don’t have to physically print anything; you’re just selling the digital download.

Printables include things like grocery shopping checklists, weekly meal plans that people can put on their fridges, gift tags, and quotes to be framed. These are digital products that users can download and print for their use.

Making money at home as a teenager through creating printables is great because you create one digital file download for each product, and then you can sell them an unlimited number of times.

I recommend reading about this further at How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy.

Important note: To sell on Etsy, you need to be at least 18 years old. If you’re between 13 and 17, you can still sell on Etsy with the proper permission and under the direct supervision of your parent or legal guardian. The Etsy account should be registered using the parent or legal guardian’s information.

17. Social media influencer

If you enjoy being in front of the camera and are good at connecting with people, you could possibly make money as a social media influencer.

This can include platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and more.

Now, this is not a guaranteed way to make extra money as a teen, as not everyone makes it. But, you won’t know unless you give it a try.

It’s all about your image and your message (and some luck too, of course). Ask yourself, what are you passionate about? Fashion? Gaming? Fitness?

You’ll want to keep your posts consistent (for many platforms, this will include posting at least once a day) and your voice authentic. This is how you’ll attract followers who can’t wait to see what you post next.

You’ll also want to interact with your audience. Reply to comments, ask questions, and listen to what they want. An engaged audience is a loyal one, and brands notice this. The more you connect, the more your followers trust you.

As your following grows, companies might pay you to talk about their products. That’s because they see value in your ability to reach and engage with a dedicated audience.

You can learn more at How I Make Money On TikTok – How I Grew To 350,000 Followers and Made $60,000 In 6 Weeks.

18. Videography

If you love making videos, starting a videography business could be a perfect idea for you. As a young entrepreneur, you can begin this business idea with just a smartphone or a basic camera.

You can start this small business idea by practicing filming different events like school activities or community gatherings. This will help you to create a portfolio that highlights your unique style and skills.

19. Streaming

If you like playing video games and have a fun personality, you may be able to make money streaming. With platforms like Twitch, you can create a channel where you showcase your gaming skills or entertain an audience with your commentary.

Once you gather a following, you can monetize your channel through subscriptions, ads, sponsorships, and donations. Selling branded merchandise is another way to earn money.

Recommended reading: How Much Do Twitch Streamers Make?

20. Baking

If you love making treats that leave your friends and family asking for more, starting a baking business could be your path to success.

You could bake things like cookies, cakes, bread, and more.

Before selling, make sure you understand the legal requirements, such as if you need a permit or license.

21. Proofreader

A proofreader is someone who reads through written stuff like articles, books, or ads to find and fix any mistakes. Your job is to make sure everything’s correct before people see it.

If you love reading and often spot mistakes in written content, you might want to explore becoming a proofreader.

Freelance proofreading is a flexible and detail-oriented job that only requires a laptop or tablet, an internet connection, grammar skills, and a good eye for finding mistakes.

If you want to find online proofreading jobs, I recommend watching this free 76-minute workshop all about how to get started proofreading.

Recommended reading: 20 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners (Earn $40,000+ A Year).

22. Buy and sell flipper

Reselling items online on platforms like Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace can be a great way to run your own business and make extra money.

Plus, it’s something that anyone can start because many of us own things that we could probably sell.

And, there are always things you can buy for a low price and potentially resell for a profit. You might even find free items that people are throwing away and sell those too.

There is a helpful free webinar that I recommend – Turn Your Passion For Visiting Thrift Stores, Yard Sales & Flea Markets Into A Profitable Reselling Business In As Little As 14 Days.

23. Answer online surveys

Okay, so this isn’t a business, but it is a way to make money online.

Taking surveys won’t make you rich, but it can help you earn a bit of extra money during your spare minutes throughout the day.

Companies pay you to take surveys because they want to know what people think about their product and their company. They want real opinions from real people.

Here are some of the survey companies that are open to teenagers (along with their minimum age requirements):

1. American Consumer Opinion – Age minimum – 14 years old
2. Survey Junkie – Age minimum – 12 years old
3. Branded Surveys – Age minimum – 16 years old
4. Swagbucks – Age minimum – 13 years old
5. InboxDollars – Age minimum – 12 years old
6. User Interviews – Age minimum – 16 years old

Things To Think About as a Teen Entrepreneur

As a teen wanting to start a business, it’s important to think about things like balancing schoolwork, managing finances, and making sure that you are staying safe.

Balancing school and business

Your school schedule is a priority, and finding a balance between it and your new business venture is important, so it’s important to plan out your week.

I recommend creating a visual where you can see your school time, study hours, and time for your business.

Example of a weekly schedule:

Financial planning

It’s important to understand the basics of financial planning when it comes to your business so that you can make sure you are making money and not wasting money.

So, I recommend listing the resources and materials you’ll need along with their costs. This also includes keeping track of all your expenses and income using a spreadsheet or even just writing your expenses down.

Working safely

You should always be safe, and make sure not to fall for any scams or fall into business with someone that you do not want to. Keep parents up-to-date on what is going on in your business and make sure to meet strangers in public/safe places.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to common questions about starting a business as a teen.

What are some easy-to-start business ideas for high school students?

If you’re in high school and want to start a business, you can sell services like lawn care, dog walking, or car washing. These types of businesses require minimal money from you to get started and can be managed around your school schedule.

What are the business ideas for teens online?

For online business ideas for teens, there are many things you could do such as selling printables, starting a blog, online tutoring, selling handmade crafts on Etsy, and more.

What are the top business ideas for young adults?

The top business ideas for young adults include babysitting, car washing, lawn mowing, online tutoring, and starting a YouTube channel.

What types of businesses are suitable for 13 to 17-year-olds?

Teens between 13 and 17 can look into babysitting, pet sitting, tutoring, or crafting and selling homemade goods.

Business Ideas for Teens – Summary

I hope you enjoyed this article on the best business ideas for teens.

Starting a business when you’re a teenager can be fun and help you make some extra money. This can help you to save money for college, buy things that you want, hang out with your friends, buy clothing, and more.

Plus, it’s a chance to learn important skills and a good work ethic.

You can do different things to earn cash, like doing chores at home or trying out creative online projects. If you enjoy outdoor work, you can wash cars or take care of lawns. If you’re into technology, you might want to start a blog or a YouTube channel.

There are lots of options depending on what you like and what you’re good at!

What other business ideas for teens would you add to this list?

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