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In an ever-changing world, our youth face an uncertain future. While school provides foundational knowledge, it often fails to prepare them for all real-world challenges. Today, many young people are gaining valuable skills through their side interests, and some are even turning these hobbies into profitable ventures.
Aside from soccer practice and driving lessons, numerous teens run successful businesses, saving for sneakers, and college tuition. Others use their talents to make a positive impact on the world. Whatever their motivations, these young entrepreneurs are sometimes unknowingly laying the groundwork for their future success.
This article aims to guide young people, their parents, and their teachers through the advantages of youth entrepreneurship, the steps to get started, and various ideal business ideas for teens.
Why Start a Youth-Run Business?
No matter what your current plans are for after graduation, whether heading to college, taking a gap year, or jumping straight into the workforce, keep in mind that you’re young and can change course. At this stage, you possess the most valuable resource: time. Experimenting with different paths to discover what suits you best is essential.
As you stand on the threshold of adulthood, remember that your decisions now aren’t set in stone. You can explore various interests, take risks, and pivot when necessary. This period is about exploration and self-discovery. Whether you start a business, volunteer, travel, or take up new hobbies, each experience will contribute to your personal and professional growth.
Trying on a few different futures is crucial. Engage in internships, shadow professionals, or take up part-time jobs in fields you’re curious about. These opportunities will provide invaluable insights and help you to make more informed decisions about your career and life goals. The skills and experiences you gain will be instrumental in shaping your future, even if they seem unrelated.
Embrace the journey with an open mind. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. The world is vast, with countless opportunities waiting to be explored. Each step you take, even if it leads to a dead end, is a learning experience that will guide you toward finding your true passion and purpose.
SEO Service
Today’s successful online business requires strong Search Engine Optimization (SEO) skills. If you’re knowledgeable about SEO, you can start your own SEO business to help online companies rank higher on search engines like Google.
To get started, you need to learn the basics of SEO and understand various strategies and tools. You can offer your services online with minimal investment, focusing on improving businesses’ online visibility and search engine rankings.
App Developer
Becoming an app developer could be a lucrative career if you have a background in IT, computer science, or coding. You can create and sell apps to tech companies or partner with software developers on multiple projects. Developing mobile wallets, cloud-based apps, AR/VR applications, chatbots, and IoT solutions can lead to high earnings.
Offer your development services to local businesses, or work as a freelancer for companies and software developers. With many new apps launching regularly, app development is a great way to make money and grow your business.
Marketing Company
Marketing is crucial for business promotion and success. Whether it’s social media marketing, digital marketing, or inbound marketing, it helps businesses reach their target audiences, create brand awareness, and generate leads. You can start a marketing company or consultancy to help businesses and entrepreneurs advertise and promote their products.
Businesses often seek marketing campaign managers to boost their sales. You can assist with online marketing, email campaigns, social media advertising, and other tools. Initial investments are required to establish your company, but the ongoing costs are relatively low once set up.
Sales Consultant
Every business needs effective strategies to drive sales and achieve growth. If you have expertise in sales and marketing, starting a sales consultant service could be a great opportunity.
You can partner with local and small businesses, helping them develop strategies to increase sales and generate leads. You can work as an outside consultant or on a contract basis, providing valuable insights to help them grow.
Virtual Assistant Services
If you’re skilled in administrative tasks, you can start a virtual assistant service. As a virtual assistant, you’ll handle various administrative duties remotely for one or more clients. This can include appointment setting, scheduling, managing phone calls, travel arrangements, typing, and handling emails.
Many business owners and executives need an assistant to manage their daily tasks. By offering virtual assistant services, you can support local small business owners and entrepreneurs efficiently.
Video Editing Service
Starting a video editing service is a great option if you’re good at editing videos. With the growing demand for online content from businesses, YouTubers, and educators, video editing skills are highly sought after. You can offer your services as a freelancer or on a contract basis.
The initial investment is minimal, mainly requiring a subscription to editing software and dedicating time to edit videos. This allows you to provide high-quality editing services without significant upfront costs.
Data Entry
Every business needs help with data entry, as companies often have a significant amount of data to manage. You could start a business to assist small businesses with their data entry needs, or offer your services as a freelancer. This business can be run from home or on-site at companies, and requires no investment beyond knowing how to type and work with Excel sheets.
Tech Tutor
There’s a high demand for tech support, especially among the elderly who may find technology overwhelming. If you have a strong understanding of technology, you can start a tech support business. This could involve providing technical support to both individuals and businesses, and tutoring them on how to use specific software or applications.
You could also create a YouTube channel with videos explaining various technology features, software, or applications. Starting this business online requires minimal investment, just a good knowledge of technology and a passion for teaching.
Stitching and Clothes Designing
If you know how to stitch, you can start a stitching and clothes-designing business. Many people love to customize their dresses. Some prefer adding stone or mirror work to enhance their garments, while others may want a completely custom dress stitched from scratch.
This is a fantastic business opportunity in India, where people often look for unique designs for saree blouses, churidars, kurtas, lehengas, kids’ dresses, and more. They appreciate customized clothing at reasonable prices.
All you need is a good sewing machine and an eye for fashion to keep up with the latest trends and offer new designs to your customers. Depending on your customer’s preferences, you might also need to buy specific materials for orders, such as stonework, satin cloth, velvet cloth, or net cloth. The cost of these materials can be included in the charges for each order.
Read: How to Start a Clothing Business
Data Entry
Every business requires assistance with data entry, as they often have a significant volume of data to manage. You can start a business offering data entry services to small businesses or provide these services as a freelancer.
This business can be operated from home, or you can offer on-site services to companies. No initial investment is needed for this business, only proficiency in typing and working with Excel sheets.
Laundry Services
Many people need more time to do their laundry and iron their clothes. You can start a laundry business to provide washing and ironing services for your neighbors, friends, and relatives. Offering pick-up and drop-off services can make your business even more appealing. To grow your business, you can market it online and through word-of-mouth.
To get started, you’ll need to invest in a washer, dryer, iron machine, and supplies like fabric softener, detergent, and bleach.
Recycling Business
Starting a recycling business can be profitable while promoting environmental sustainability. Recycling involves collecting redeemable items people discard and converting them into useful products.
You can then sell these recycled and sustainable products through an online store. For example, you can collect food waste, turn it into manure, and sell it. Plastic waste can be transformed into decorative items, while old clothes can be repurposed into quilts.
There are many ways to convert waste into useful products. The raw materials are essentially the discarded items you collect, so initial investment is minimal. You may need to invest in recycling and set up an online store, but you can generate income by selling these recycled products.
Singing Classes
If you’re a singer, you can start offering singing classes either at home or online. You could also create a YouTube channel to post your songs. This venture requires minimal investment, just a microphone, a laptop, and an internet connection. To attract more students, you need to market your singing classes effectively.
Promoting your classes on social media can help you reach a wider audience. To expand your business, you can offer to perform at events such as functions, festivals, restaurants, and local gatherings.
DJ Business
A DJ plays music for an audience, and although it’s not yet widespread in India, the demand is growing. DJs are needed at parties like sangeets and birthdays, and restaurants and pubs require good music.
To start a DJ business, you must learn how to use various mixers and turntables and become familiar with different types of music. Begin by DJing at friends’ house parties or family events and post your performances on social media to market your skills. As you gain experience, you can approach restaurants and offer your DJ services.
Pet Grooming
Pet grooming services are popular among pet owners who want to keep their pets clean and well-maintained. While some may wash their pets themselves, they often seek professional grooming for tasks like cutting hair and nails. You can start a pet grooming service along with pet sitting to increase your earnings.
Services include washing, nail trimming, haircuts, and dry cleaning. You could offer a mobile pet grooming service, where you groom pets at their homes for a fee, and also provide pet training services, which many owners need due to time constraints. Initial investments are mainly for grooming materials like shampoos and nail cutters.
Packing Business
Starting a packing business involves packaging products for shipment. You can partner with e-commerce websites and platforms to handle their packaging needs, as they receive numerous online orders and require reliable packing services.
You can also offer packaging services to local businesses, providing creative packaging solutions to help them attract customers and grow. This business requires no significant investment and can be started from home.
Home Cleaning Service
Nowadays, many people prefer to hire home cleaning services, especially those with busy jobs and children. You can start a home cleaning business using the cleaning products you already have at home. As your business grows, you can invest in more cleaning equipment. Begin by offering your services to relatives or neighbors who need help with cleaning.
Promote your services on social media and through word-of-mouth marketing. You can also offer additional home maintenance services like painting, landscaping, and home repairs. Consider hiring additional help to manage the increased demand as your business expands. You can offer cleaning services regularly or as a one-time service.
Car Washing Business
Offering car washing services in your neighborhood can be a simple yet profitable venture. Many people wash their cars themselves but might prefer to pay for regular car washing services to save time and energy.
You don’t need to invest much initially, basic washing supplies will suffice. Start by cleaning cars for your neighbors or in your local area. Use social media and word-of-mouth marketing to promote your services and grow your business.
Franchise Business
A franchise business can be highly profitable with relatively low investment. You don’t need to spend on establishing a new business. Instead, you operate under an existing franchisor’s brand name and trademark. You’ll need to pay an initial fee to the franchisor, but you can earn profits by selling their products at a low cost. This model provides a ready-made business framework and brand recognition.
Makeup Artist
The demand for makeup artists is consistently high. If you have the skill to apply makeup professionally, you can start a makeup business. Makeup artists are needed for various occasions, including weddings, parties, family functions, and festivals.
Offering home services can significantly increase your bookings. Begin by providing makeup services for friends and family, and use social media to showcase your work and attract more clients.
The initial investment will be in quality makeup products and marketing efforts. You can also teach makeup techniques on YouTube and promote your services through the channel. Consider offering makeup classes for your subscribers, charging a minimal fee.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a lucrative business with low startup costs. Becoming an affiliate marketing partner for businesses and brands can earn a substantial income. Partner with companies, create engaging content, and promote their products or services.
You’ll earn commissions on sales generated through your promotions. The key is strong marketing skills to effectively promote various items, such as home decor, electronics, and clothing.
Social Media Manager
Every business needs a strong social media presence to market its products or services, creating a demand for social media managers. As a freelance social media manager, you can handle multiple companies’ accounts simultaneously, helping them reach a broader audience. You can also work as a consultant, assisting businesses in growing their social media presence.
To excel as a social media manager, highlight your ability to drive sales and demonstrate your expertise in managing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You can also support individuals and small local businesses in enhancing their social media marketing efforts, helping them establish an online presence and grow their business.
Cloud Kitchen
Cloud kitchens are a low-cost investment business. Since it operates online, there’s no need for a physical space where customers can dine in. You can upload your menu on your website or an e-commerce platform, prepare the orders, and deliver the food directly to your customers.
The setup for a cloud kitchen doesn’t require much investment, and you can even start from home. Design a menu that utilizes the equipment you already have. Simply prepare the food upon receiving an order and focus on marketing to grow your business.
Makeup Artist
The demand for makeup artists is consistently high. If you have the skills, you can start a makeup business. Makeup artists are needed for various occasions such as weddings, parties, family functions, and festivals. Offering home services can increase your bookings significantly. Start by providing makeup services for friends and family, and use social media to showcase your work and attract more clients.
The initial investment will be in quality makeup products and marketing efforts. You can also teach makeup techniques on YouTube, promoting your services through the channel.
Delivery Services
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have increasingly turned to online shopping, creating a growing demand for delivery services. From apparel to groceries to medicines, almost everything is sold online. Starting a door-to-door delivery service business can be a profitable venture.
You can partner with local small businesses and small-scale sellers to deliver their products to customers. Alternatively, you can start your own courier service, picking up orders from neighbors or retailers and delivering them locally.
Event Planner
If you’re good at organizing and managing events, starting an event planning business could be a great opportunity. People often need event planners for special occasions such as birthdays, pre-wedding functions, parties, and corporate events. Start by offering your services to family, friends, and neighbors.
You can also contact hotels, restaurants, and local event venues to offer your event planning services. Success in this field requires strong organizational skills, creativity, and managing events within a given budget. Marketing your skills effectively will help grow your business.
Bakery Business
If you have a talent for baking, you can start a bakery business from home. Offer a variety of baked goods such as cakes, cookies, puffs, packed drinks, and sandwiches. Providing customization services for cakes, such as personalized decorations and flavors, can attract more customers.
Consider creating an online bakery where people can place orders through your website, and you can deliver the baked goods. Begin by selling to friends and family and ask them to spread the word.
Investment in baking equipment is necessary, but you can buy ingredients as orders come in to manage costs effectively.
Social Media Influencer
Becoming a social media influencer is now a viable career path thanks to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, as well as Facebook and YouTube. Influencers attract many followers by offering valuable content, such as expertise in a particular topic, creative content, or lifestyle advice.
Building a large following takes time, but once recognized as a social media influencer, you can earn revenue through business collaborations.
Companies often reach out to influencers to promote their products or services on social media. As an influencer, you can partner with businesses to recommend products or services to your followers and earn money through these promotions.
Reseller
A reseller business involves sourcing products from various wholesalers, suppliers, and distributors to sell them under one platform. Unlike manufacturing, reselling deals with fully finished products.
Your main task is to find reliable suppliers who offer products at low margins, allowing you to resell them at a marked-up price in your online store. This business requires investment in creating an e-commerce store and marketing.
Reselling is similar to dropshipping, but you can hold inventory and ship products directly to customers or have suppliers ship orders on your behalf. You can choose simple products to resell, such as clothing, collectibles, or items from local stores, and sell them on your website or online store.
Website Designing
If you’re a web designer, starting a website design business can be a lucrative opportunity. Many businesses and individuals need professional websites to establish an online presence and sell their products. Companies and brands often seek user-friendly and high-end websites.
As a website developer and programmer, you can offer your services to design and develop websites for clients, earning money through these projects. You can work as a freelancer or directly contact businesses to provide your services.
Dance Classes
If you know how to dance or have learned it, you can start offering dance classes either online or at your home. Teach kids in your neighborhood, or conduct classes and choreograph performances for special occasions like weddings, engagement ceremonies, and festivals. The only investment required for online classes is a laptop and an internet connection. For in-person classes, you will need an open space or room to hold the sessions.
Yoga Classes
If you have learned yoga, you can start offering yoga classes at home. Many people are interested in yoga as it helps relieve stress and relax the body and mind. You can conduct hour-long classes for people in your neighborhood or start an online yoga course for friends or college mates. A plain room in your house is sufficient for in-person classes, or you can rent a hall. For online classes, you’ll need a laptop and an internet connection.
Graphic Designing
If you have graphic design skills, you can start a graphic design business. Graphic design involves creating product information and artwork for businesses, such as product packaging, logos, and websites. You can help businesses with their branding and marketing by producing high-quality designs. This business requires minimal investment.
Offer your services as a freelance designer, work on a contractual basis, or become an exclusive partner for brands, creating and managing their branding elements, logos, and other design needs.
Freelance Writer
If you have strong writing skills and a good command of grammar, you can sell your writing services as a freelance writer. Write content for products or services to help businesses promote themselves. You can approach companies directly to offer content creation for their websites or blogs.
Offer freelance proofreading services to help students with grammar corrections and create high-quality content for their assignments. While revenue from students might be limited, you can ask them to refer you to businesses and writers who need professional writing and proofreading services.
Pet Sitting
Many pet owners need someone trustworthy to care for their pets while at work or on vacation. You can start a pet sitting business, looking after pets (dogs and cats) when their owners are away. Market your services to friends and family, and ask them to refer you to other pet owners. No significant investment is required, just a good understanding of pet care.
Tutoring
Starting an online tutoring business is a great way to help younger students. Many parents prefer individual attention for their children. If you’re a good student, you can tutor lower-grade children in your school or neighborhood, either online or at home.
You’ll need a reliable PC or laptop with high-speed internet for online classes. For home tutoring, a dedicated space and a board for teaching are required. Preparation and assignment review will be necessary.
YouTube Channel
Starting your own YouTube channel can be very rewarding. Create content in areas you’re passionate about, such as recipes, makeup tutorials, singing, dancing, travel, educational content, general knowledge, home decor, crafts, and DIY projects.
You can monetize your channel through video views. The main investments are a good camera for shooting videos and internet access for editing and uploading. Although it may take time to generate revenue, consistent effort can grow your channel and make it profitable. Promote your channel to friends and family to gain initial subscribers.
Blogging and Vlogging
Creating a blog or vlog is an excellent way to share your interests and make money. Blogging involves writing and publishing quality content online, while vlogging involves creating video content and posting it on YouTube. Choose a niche you’re passionate about, such as food, fashion, lifestyle, travel, or technology reviews.
Monetize your blog through affiliate marketing or advertising. Blogging and vlogging require minimal investment, mainly a laptop and an internet connection. Consistent and engaging content can attract a following and generate income.
Babysitting
With many couples working, there’s a high demand for reliable babysitters to look after their children. Some parents may only need a babysitter for a few hours, such as after school until they return home, or on weekends.
Gaining parents’ trust can be challenging, so it’s best to start by babysitting for relatives and neighbors. Ask them to refer you to their friends and family who need babysitting services. This job requires no significant investment, just a genuine liking for kids and the ability to care for and engage them.
