Many people will agree that there’s no such thing as being too young to start a business. Just ask 11-year-old Mikaila Ulmer of Me & The Bees Lemonade, who started her lemonade empire right in her family’s kitchen. Or 13-year-old Asia Newson, who began selling candles at the age of 5 and now has her own company called Super Business Girl.
Ulmer and Newson’s success shows that with some persistence and perseverance, he or she can certainly have a thriving business. Some businesses don’t even need a high start-up cost, and these ventures are easy to start and have the potential to attract a lot of customers.
Here are some small business ideas for young entrepreneurs.
Arts and Crafts
Crafty kids and teens will surely love selling their wares at local craft fairs or sites such as Etsy. One can also sell items such as homemade candles, greeting cards, decorative pillows, t-shirts, knitted apparel and the like on Facebook, preferably on a page that’s separate from the young entrepreneur’s personal account. If you’re crafty and want to start a business this way, make sure to start with just a few items, and get your family and friends’ feedback on your wares before making more.
Food products
Young people who love to bake or cook can make and sell cookies, muffins, or other gourmet baked goods. Pickled vegetables or preserved fruits, as well as sauces, salsas and dips are also very saleable in farmer’s markets. Make sure to perfect your recipe before selling your food products, and package items in an attractive way to get more sales.
Services
Babysitting is a reliable way to earn money. The good thing about it is that one only needs to be patient and responsible to do the job. One can begin babysitting at the age of 13, and in some places. It is necessary to be licensed or certified before doing this. Knowing about first aid, child care, and CPR makes you well-prepared to take on babysitting jobs.
Other services that young entrepreneurs can provide for a fee are tutoring services. If you excel in a particular subject, you can help other students that need help in that area. You can also be a language teacher if you’re bilingual or multilingual.
Those who have computer skills can do computer repair or graphic and web design. Performers can offer their services at parties or events, so if you’re a good singer, you can be a birthday party or wedding singer.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on low-cost business ideas.
