How to Start a Business as a Teenager

TL;DR:

Teenagers can start lucrative businesses with dedication and adult guidance. Begin with a unique business idea, adhere to legalities, and craft a solid plan. Options like photo booth rentals, tutoring, and design services leverage teen skills and can grow into substantial ventures.

Main Points:

Teenagers can start businesses with proper guidance.
Partner with adults for initial investments and legal procedures.
Choose a viable business idea and create a solid business plan.
Consider business models like sole proprietorship or LLC.
Ideas such as photo booth rentals, tutoring, and design services are lucrative for teens.
Leverage digital skills for online ventures.
Attend online webinars for entrepreneurial guidance.

You’ve always been an ambitious go-getting, but suddenly mowing lawns and babysitting just isn’t cutting it. You have too much drive and motivation to limit yourself to occasional gig work.

It takes some hard work, but it’s possible to start a business as a teenager. It’s a way to bring in some serious cash before you hit your twenties. By the time you’re out of high school, you’ll have beat the minimum wage blues, potentially making up to six figures.

Are you ready to save for your future? In this blog, we’ll share some tried and true kid businesses that make money. Keep reading to learn how the top teen entrepreneurs get started!

How to Start Your Business

You might be young, but to pursue entrepreneurship in high school, you’ll need to take all the same steps that an adult would take.

It can be helpful to get a parent, guardian, relative, or mentor on board. If you are under 18, you may need an adult to provide an initial cash investment for equipment and marketing. Likewise, an adult can help you register your business as an LLC and set up the appropriate business accounts at the bank. You will also need an adult cosigner to take out a loan, if applicable.

Once you have an adult partner, you’ll want to follow the following basic steps as you begin:

Decide on your business idea, and what unique spin you can bring to it
Look into child labor laws in your state and make sure you’re in the clear
Create a business plan, including your goals, a business description, a business structure, a marketing plan, and a budget
Register your business – we recommend choosing a sole proprietorship or LLC model
Procure the equipment and marketing materials you need to get started, which may require an upfront investment
Get the word out there and start making money!

Business Ideas for Kids and Teens

Some business ideas may be easier for teens to handle than others, especially while in school. Consider starting small, learning the ropes, and growing your business over time. Below, we’ve outlined a few business ideas for students that have huge growth potential.

Start a Photo Booth Rental Business

The flexible hours and modest financial investment make renting photo booths a natural fit for teen entrepreneurs. Many gatherings take place on the weekends, allowing you to book gigs from your home base (or your phone) and work when school’s out. Plus, this business has huge growth potential. As you make money, you can begin investing in more booths, growing your business, and expanding your offerings.

Check out this video to see how much PBI’s 2020 Young Hustler of the Year, Julio Alvarez, grew his photo booth business.

Consider a Tutoring Business

You work hard to get good grades. Why not get paid for it? Consider your academic areas of strength and offer tutoring services to your same-age peers.

This is an especially great option for anyone considering a degree in education, especially special education. If you establish a business as a teen, you can expand as you gain more experience and credentials. Even if you land a classroom job, tutoring is a lucrative side hustle for educators!

Monetize Your Design Skills

More than any other generation, Gen Zers are digital natives. Even as a teen, you likely have some design skills that you can monetize. This is a great option for teens who don’t yet drive or have reliable transportation, as you can work from a home computer. Consider offering graphic design, web design, social media skills, or video editing talents.

Are you itching to start a business as a teenager ASAP? A photo booth side hustle is a great option for young entrepreneurs. Start by attending our free, online Photo Booth Boss webinar. We’ll give you the tools you need to turn your teen business into a six-figure enterprise.