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Teen NeGOsyo: Small Business Ideas for Smart Teens

Being in high school is a balancing act --- you have to manage your time doing your homework, helping with house chores, participating in your club activities, and, to top all that, you also have to think of how you can maximize your daily allowance and save up money for your needs!

There are tons of small businesses which teenagers like you can start without taking your focus off your studies and your other daily activities. In fact, you can even start your small business in school and/or turn your hobbies into money-making projects. With creativity and proper planning, you can start your own business and boost your savings.

Here are some questions you need to ask yourself first to determine which small business will best suit you:

  1. What are my interests, skills, talents, and hobbies? What kind of chore or activity do I excel in and enjoy the most? Am I willing to learn more and improve my knowledge and skills in my chosen field?
  1. What does my community need? What kind of products or services would my friends or classmates buy or need?
  1. How will I offer my product or service? What is my business plan? How can I make my product or service more appealing to my customers? How can I manage my time to come up with a quality product or service without risking my time for my studies and other activities?

By now, you might have several business ideas running through your bright mind already. But, if you are still a bit clueless, why not try our tips below?

  • If you love your class subjects and you enjoy sharing what you have learned and inspiring others to learn, you can do a tutoring business! Help your classmates or other younger students in your neighborhood to catch up with their lessons.

    Smart Tip: Impress your clients with your resumé showing your academic achievements and manage the schedule of your tutees.

  • If you love tech-y gadgets or you have computer skills and you are adept in Internet, you can do a “tech-y” business! You can help your neighbors from simple PC troubleshooting, to data entry or typing jobs, to Internet research, to creating invitations and posters. If you have a digital camera, you can also take photos in birthday parties and create audio-visual presentations. If you are tech-savvy, the possibilities are endless!

    Smart Tip: Show your tech-y skills and promote your business through printed flyers and through creating a simple web page.

  • If you love arts and crafts, carpentry, or sewing, you can do a craft business. Create novelty items using inexpensive materials. There are several things you can make if you are creative --- from accessories, to home decors, to clothing, and many more!

    Smart Tip: You can create souvenirs for special occasions and put your business tag on them!

  • If you love food and you are into cooking or baking, you can start a small food business. You can make sandwiches or repack cookies, nuts, or candies then sell them in class. You can also sell homemade sweets, pastries, or processed meat. Also, with the support of your family and friends, you can also put up a mini catering service!

    Smart Tip: Pack your food products with taste. Create special bags or labels for your products and don’t forget your business name!

  • If you love socializing, talking and dealing with people, you can start an event planner business. Be an event planner or a party coordinator --- host parties in your neighborhood, gather suppliers for the party needs, prepare the party program and games.

    Smart Tip:If your friends have their own food or craft business, you can work with them to cater and host your party!

  • If you enjoy doing house chores, then you can do a community services business. You can offer services for garden maintenance, lawn mowing, baby sitting, pet grooming, errands or delivery assistance, house cleaning, etc. One advantage of this kind of business is that you can do the chores on weekends and they won’t have to clash with your study time on weekdays.

    Smart Tip: Having your own tool bag is a big plus. Also, to promote your business, give calling cards to your clients.

For more business ideas, check out these sites:

105 Business Ideas
Jobs for Teens and Other Ways to Earn Money
Show Kids The Money

Good luck on your new business and have fun!

Sources:

wiseGEEK. “What Are Some Good Business Ideas for Teenagers?” Retrieved on July 17, 2007 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-some-good-business-ideas-for-teenagers.htm
Bella Online. “Small Business Ideas for Teens”. Retrieved on July 17, 2007 from
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art7736.asp