8 business ideas you can start as a teenager

According to a study by Millennial Branding and Internships.com, 72% of high school students are interested in starting their own business. That’s more than 10 million teenage entrepreneurs! But we don’t have to wait until you graduate or produce a breakthrough tech invention — browse these 8 ideas to inspire you to earn money as a teenager.

1. Open an Etsy shop

Do you have a creative talent? I’ve seen teenagers open Etsy shops to sell their jewelry, stationery, and macrame products. It’s one of the most flexible part-time jobs you can have – craft and design when you have the time, and you can always put your shop in vacation mode if you need a break from it. execution of orders. 3 years ago I started my handmade greeting card shop on Etsy, and it gave me the opportunity to meet some truly amazing entrepreneurs, give a TEDx talk, and learn how to manage a company.

Use this referral link to get 40 free listings when you open your shop on Etsy.

2. Become a social media manager

Photo par <a href="https://unsplash.com/@collabstr?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Collabstr</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/ collabstr-bm2nm41yaea?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unsplash</a>   ‘ src=”https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1646446812442-d070b28dcd54?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1740&q=80″ style=”wid6″ height:17px;1px;10 ></strong></p><p>If you dream of becoming a graphic designer or writer, creating social media content for your favorite restaurant or store is one way to gain experience.  And if you work 2 hours a week for 3 clients at $15 an hour, you could be making $360 a month (you had to break out the calculator for that one).  All while being completely remote – unless you need to get product shots.</p><h2><strong>3. Sell your designs on stickers, notepads, apparel…</strong></h2><p>… phone cases, notebooks, keychains, mugs, prints, magnets and planners.  If you want a super easy way to get started, try Redbubble.  It is an online marketplace that ships these products with your designs on them.  No inventory to manage, they already have customers on the platform and all you have to do is upload your design.  Another huge benefit of Redbubble is that you don’t have to track customer service.  However, a friend of mine decided to quit Redbubble because of the fees and percentage of profit he takes.  She found that after selling her items, she could only keep 20% of the revenue.</p><h2><strong>4. Start a podcast</strong></h2><p><strong><img alt=Vika Strawberrika on Unsplash ‘ src=”https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1625123628039-6053583b86cc?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1740&q=80″>

Want to have conversations with the people who inspire you? Do you want to gain experience speaking and interviewing? Podcasting might be just what you need. While you probably can’t get sponsors for the first two seasons of your show, it’s possible to make money by partnering with brands to promote their products during your episodes. Some of my favorite podcasts run by teenage hosts are The Sunshine Signal with Hailey and It’s a Girls Life with Charlotte.

5. Start a blog

Blogs were around more than a few years ago, but they are not dead. Get started on WordPress (good luck with the back-end – I would definitely recommend having a theme to make it less complicated.) Where to find a theme? Many designers have created great blog templates, or you can find a more economical option on Etsy. Pick a topic you want to focus on, create your about page, commit to posting consistently, and build your personal brand and writing portfolio. When you’re ready to monetize your blog, try partnering with brands, offering services, or putting ads on your site.

6. Write a book

I asked teen author Ssanyu about her experience as a teen author, and here’s what she shared with me: “Writing a children’s book as a teenager was not only a fulfilling experience, but also Throughout the process, I wondered if my audience would accept the story and if I was actually selling copies, but once the book (Suubi’s Sunny Smile) was officially released, my worries went away! My book sold out the day it came out and now I’ve sold hundreds of copies.” How inspiring!

7. Become a photographer

I have always admired photographers and the moments they are able to capture. Could you start a photography business? Would you like to take family or elderly photos? Start with your relatives and friends to build up some samples of your work. Especially in a service business, networking is essential. So don’t be afraid to talk about your photography and ask people you know if they are looking for a photographer!

8. Custom design work

Do you have experience with the Adobe suite or Procreate on iPad? Maybe you want to put your artistic talent to use and help others with their graphic design (because there are people who really need it. And we will all be grateful if you offer them a little help ). I hired a teenager to design stickers to include when I package orders for my Etsy shop, so you can contact small businesses or local stores to see if they have any projects they’re working on. Start building your portfolio today by creating fake brands, your own designs, or redesigning the things you’ve seen.

What did you find most interesting? Do you have potential business names swirling around in your head, or are you still not sure what you want to do? Wherever you are, I want to share with you this advice from my friend Julia:

“Know what you’re getting into. It’s hard to run a business while you’re in school, especially if you’re involved in sports. If you decide to start a business, I would recommend investing in planners! Planners are really a great way to plan when you’ll be working on your business and make sure you have time for homework, sports/activities and your business!”