Do you have a teen entrepreneur? Do you have teenagers in your home who would love to create income streams of their own? Rather than working for a boss, would they like to be their own boss? Then I’ve got some great ideas and resources to check out. Plus, listen in on some podcast episodes with a high school teen entrepreneur.
Why encourage entrepreneurship
We know from places like Google and books entitled Most Likely to Succeed that our kids need skills not normally learned in traditional contexts. They need to be problem solvers, out-of-the-box thinkers, and critical analyzers.
What can better prepare them for the 21st century? Entrepreneurship!
Entrepreneurship demands a unique blend of these skills – and more. It helps kids develop the exact skills that employers like Google are saying that they are looking for:
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Making connections across complex ideas
- Communication skills
- Able to make mistakes and learn from them
- Students that are ready for the real world
Entrepreneurship is usually a great fit for kids with dyslexia! They have a unique ability to see the big picture, come up with solutions, and work on a plan. Being able to homeschool these kids and give them opportunities to work in their strengths is a huge self-esteem lifter.
Did you know that dyslexics make up a larger percentage of entrepreneurs than they do in the “normal” population?
Ideas for Teen Businesses
So what kinds of businesses can your teen start in his high school years? The good news is that the sky’s the limit. Your teen should just get started and give it a try.
It’s always a good start to ask what your teen is naturally good at, what they love to do, and what others ask them for help with.
Some kids are naturally hands-on creative, while others see a hole in the marketplace and decide to fill the gap.
Here are just a few ideas:
- Mother’s helper
- Virtual Assistant
- Reseller on eBay
- Handcrafter on Etsy
- Local Podcaster
- Fruit Stand
- Pet Walking or Pet Sitting
- Dressing up for Kids’ Birthday Parties
If you want more ideas and details, you can grab my Summer Business Brainstorm For Teens .
How to Get Started as a Teen Entrepreneur
Finally, make sure you keep track of all the time and effort that goes into your teen’s business. What better way to show their entrepreneurial skills than to craft an interest-led elective on their homeschool transcript.
Having interest-led electives and entrepreneurial pursuits on the transcript will help your teens stand out from their peers when it’s time to apply for college or find their first “real” job.
Homeschooled teens have the ability to craft their hours in a way that gives them time to start and build a business. You just don’t have time for this with a traditional public school experience.
So don’t let those hours go to waste! And I have a resource that will help.
It’s not hard to show all this hard work on their transcript and if you want to grab a FREE High School Elective Tracking Sheet below or in my resource library, it will help you with the paperwork!
Interview with a Teen Entrepreneur: HWM 64
Anna from AnnaMadeDesignCo. is a growing teen entrepreneur! Listen to my chat with her to hear her advice to other teens starting an online business.
Anna from AnnaMade Design Co. on Etsy is a growing teenage entrepreneur! From craft fairs, to growing her Etsy shop, to starting a blog and launching a subscription box, she’s not afraid to try new things and learn and grow.
Grab your teenager and have them listen to this chat with Anna. It just might inspire them to get started with their business idea now instead of waiting until later!
Anna enrolled in the Selling on Etsy Masterclass for Teens and here’s what she had to say about it:
Last summer I joined Abby’s Selling on Etsy Masterclass for Teens. I was 12 at the time, and only had a couple sales. Abby was quick to answer my questions. She also gave me personalized advice to improve my Etsy shop. After investing time to experiment with what worked and what didn’t, I learned a lot about business and selling on Etsy. I’ve been able to reach over 100 sales! It’s so helpful for a new Etsy seller to have a step by step action plan to start their shop.
Anna from AnnaMade Design Co.
How to Find Anna’s Businesses:
Additional Resources for Teen Entrepreneurs:
- All About the Podcast Launch for Teens
- Selling on Etsy Masterclass for Teens
- Etsy Quickstart Guide
- eBay Reseller Mini Course for Teens
- Podcast Launch for Teens
Where are they now? A Chat with AnnaMade Design Co. Teen Entrepreneur: HWM 155
Do you have a teen entrepreneur? They’ll love this conversation with AnnaMade Design Co. owner to hear about the progress she’s made in her business while still in high school. Listen in and be inspired!
Resources for Teen Entrepreneurs
AnnaMade Design Co. on Etsy – Take a look at Anna’s Etsy shop!
Today Show article – Here’s the article Anna mentioned on the podcast about balancing school and business.
Denver Startup Week Panel – Check out this video with handmade teen business owners.
Soaring Together 2022 – Register for Anna’s free online event for teen business owners
HWM 64: Interview with a Teen Entrepreneur – Here’s our original chat with Anna.
HWM 100: Challenges & Solutions to Teen Entrepreneurship – On this episode of the podcast, we talked through the challenges and solutions related to encouraging teens to start a business.
Selling on Etsy Masterclass for Teens
Anna, our teen entrepreneur featured in today’s episode, enrolled in the Selling on Etsy Masterclass for Teens when she was just twelve years old! She used that class to build a foundation for her handmade business, which she continues to grow.
If you have a teen who loves to create handmade products, resell vintage items, or design digital products, then they’ll love the Selling on Etsy Masterclass. You can save 20% with the coupon code HWM20.
Challenges & Solutions to Teen Entrepreneurship: HWM 100
Entrepreneurship is a great life skill for your teen! But there are likely many challenges standing in the way. This episode of the Homeschool with Moxie Podcast looks at a few solutions to the most common challenges.
- Entrepreneurship is a life skill
- It’s great for dyslexics
- Many parents & teens don’t know where to start
- It’s overwhelming
- Check out the Google study about soft skills they’re looking for in their hiring
