7 Home Business Ideas for Teens

For crafty teens, Etsy is a great way to make money from their creations. The possibilities are plentiful from crafts, jewelry, paper-goods, swag, housewares, candles, and even edible goods, such as jam. Esty takes a small listing and payment processing fee, but in turn offers a complete storefront, including shopping cart and payment collection.

To earn a profit, teens need to make sure they find a low-cost source of materials and price their items in such a way as to cover their time and expenses.

One of the best ways to motivate a teen to clean their room is the promise of money made on the items they can sell on eBay. Since many teens like name brand items, they have an inventory they can sell online. Once they’ve sold their unwanted items, they can declutter the house by selling other unused items in the family.

Beyond cleaning the house, the teen can identify items that sell well and then search for a source of low-cost inventory. For example, if designer t-shirts sell well, the teen can visit consignment and thrift stores for used tees to sell on eBay.

If there is one business teens are naturally fitted to, it’s social media assistant. Businesses know they need to use social media to reach their market, but often are confused and overwhelmed by it. Teens active on social media can help. They can focus on one platform, such as helping businesses promote on Instagram, or they can manage conversations on multiple networks, such as Facebook and Twitter.

It will be important for the teen to be professional and polite when posting on behalf of a business. More than one company has been hurt by a social media assistant posting something inappropriate.

Many students need extra help in school, and older teen students are an excellent resource for support. Often children are more likely to listen to someone nearer to their age, and teens are closer to having learned the material, making tutoring a win-win for both.

Beyond basic academic tutoring, teens can teach other skills, such as computer use, piano or other musical instruments, art, SAT/ACT testing, etc. Any skill the teen does well can be taught to someone else.

Many families would love to have a personal assistant or someone handy, and yet affordable to help with tasks around the house. Teens are a great resource for this kind of work that can include folding laundry, weeding the garden, painting a room, organizing and just about anything else that needs to be done. 

Teens can be put to work in a home office as well, doing research, filing, organizing, and even virtual support work.

Babysitting tends to be the go-to job for many teens. It's ideal because it's flexible and something many parents need. During the summer months, teens can help working parents by offering care when the kids are out of school.

Teens with good driving records can do more than sit home and entertain the kids. They can take them to summer camp, outdoor activities, the park and pool, and more. They can demand a higher income if they organize enriching activities, such as arts and crafts.

Teens can take it a step further and offer childcare from their own homes as well.

Like babysitting, house and pet sitting are ideal home businesses for teens. They’re flexible and in high need, especially during the summer months and holidays when people travel. House sitting can involve staying at the house or simply stopping by once or twice a day. Usually, house sitters check the mail, bring in the paper, water the plants, and sometimes take care of pets.

Similarly, pet sitters can stay at the house or visit a couple of times a day to check on the animals. Along with feeding animals, pet sitters are expected to walk the dog and spend time with the pets, petting and/or playing with them.