Kids often dream about being their own boss and having their own
company. However, the reality of becoming an entrepreneur can be
very different. Between the age of 14 and 18, your teen may encounter
many challenges that could prevent them from becoming the boss
of their company. After all, kids are legally entitled to work no
more than 32 hours per week. Therefore, if your kid doesn’t want to
continue working after school hours, there’s no way they can run a
successful business. Additionally, being a minority owner of a
company can be a challenge. Especially if the company you’re
partnering with is older and stronger than you are.
Fortunately, there are multiple ways that young entrepreneurs can
earn money independently. One of the best ways is through a
side-hustle. In fact, it’s encouraged by the government. Under
the Unemployment Act,[1] the government sets a goal of getting
teenagers to engage in unsupervised learning. However, it can be
very difficult for teens to gain experience and learn the
fundamentals of accounting, economics, and business
administration. With a side-hustle, your teen can build their own
portfolio of trades while also gaining valuable work
experience.
Here are some of the best side-hustles for teenagers:
Copywriting
If your teen has a genuine talent for writing, they can use this
skill to earn money online. There are lots of copywriting jobs out
there, and if your kid is searching for something to do, they can
find a lucrative opportunity. Just make sure you train them how to
write persuasively for a particular audience. Additionally, you can
look into paying them to review products online. Many companies will
pay you to ensure that their product is properly represented on
eCommerce sites. The best part of this side-hustle is that it is
very flexible. Your teen can work remotely, so there’s no need to
bother them with a daily commute. Moreover, if they have a
personal connection with the product they’re promoting, it will
likely translate to more sales.
Social Media Marketing
The world of social media marketing is a constantly changing
landscape. However, with the right strategy, tools, and
dedication, it’s still possible to succeed even if you’re new to
the game. If your teen has a knack for getting people to like (and
buy from) their social media accounts, they can leverage this
skill to earn money online. Even if they lack the necessary
experience, there are many step-by-step tutorials out there that
can guide them through the process. Additionally, affiliate
marketing through platforms like Amazon Affiliate Program (A.L. A.P.)
or JVZoo[2] is a great way to earn money online. Just remember
that Amazon is the largest online marketplace in the world,
offering a variety of products from books to electronics to
fitness and much more. You can get a good feel for the
products they offer by visiting their website (Amazon Affiliate – Marketing).
The important thing to keep in mind about this side-hustle is
that it can be very flexible. Your teen can work remotely, so there’s
no need to bother them with a daily commute. Moreover, if they have a
personal connection with the products they’re promoting, it will
likely translate to more sales.
Virtual Assistance
If your teen is good at research and documentation, they can use
these skills to help businesses succeed online. Indeed, they can
become a virtual assistant. Thanks to the rapid rise of
telecommunication tools like Google Docs and Skype, it is now
possible to conduct business remotely. Even better, businesses often
need help to set up their online presences. So your teen can help
them navigate the tweets landscape and establish an online
presence that will help them attract potential customers.
The best part of this side-hustle is that it can be very
flexible. Your teen can work remotely, so there’s no need to
bother them with a daily commute. Furthermore, being a technical
expert can lead to a lucrative career as a software engineer or
developer. If your kid has a talent for research, they can use this
skill to establish themselves as an expert in a particular field.
Additionally, you can look into paying them to do online
marketing for your business or to conduct market research for your
product.
Online Marketing
If your teen is skilled at marketing and knows how to drive
traffic to a website, they can use this skill to earn money online.
The field of online marketing is a bit more nuanced than social media
marketing and copywriting. However, with the right training and
tools, it’s still possible to succeed even if you’re new to the
game. Thanks to the Hootsuite platform, it’s now possible for
teenagers to conduct marketing campaigns and monitor the results of
their campaigns remotely. Even better, many businesses and
organizations will pay you to conduct and monitor online
marketing campaigns for them. So your teen can get paid to
research products, find customers, and track the results of their
marketing efforts.
The important thing to keep in mind about this side-hustle is
that it requires a bit more effort than the previous ones. You will
need to guide your teen through the campaign process step by step.
Additionally, you will need to keep track of all the details
yourself. Since this is a more hands-on role, it will likely
require more of your time. But if your teen is motivated,
they can gain valuable experience that will set them up for a
lucrative future.
Selling Online
If your teen is tech-savvy and knows how to manage a shopify[3] or
eCommerce store, they can set up and run their own online shop.
Indeed, they can use their personal eCommerce store to sell their
own artwork, clothes, or whatever else they want. Additionally,
since every eCommerce store is different, your teen will have the
opportunity to learn a valuable skill. Moreover, if your kid
manages to sell a product online that generates a significant
revenues, they can use that money to establish themselves
independently.
The important thing to keep in mind about this side-hustle is
that it can be very flexible. Your teen can work remotely, so there’s
no need to bother them with a daily commute. Additionally, if they
have a personal connection with the products they’re promoting, it
will likely translate to more sales.
Consulting
If your teen has a knack for solving complex problems, they can
use this skill to land themselves a consulting job. Indeed,
they can take on projects that require a team of professionals.
Additionally, thanks to the Global Corporate Services (GSCS) bond[4],
your teen can earn money consulting for international
businesses. To be eligible, they must be between the ages of
16 and 24 and must submit an application for credentials.
Additionally, your kid must be able to demonstrate that they can
maintain confidential trade information and not disclose it
to anyone. Once they have applied and passed the credential
screening, their job search will open up an opportunity for
them to proactively seek out work from the comfort of their
home. This could include finding clients, collecting payments,
and/or generating revenue for your company.
The important thing to keep in mind about this side-hustle is
that it is very flexible. Your teen can work remotely, so there’s no
need to bother them with a daily commute. Moreover, if they have a
talent for problem solving, they can use that skill to establish
themselves as an independent expert in their chosen field. Indeed,
many businesses and organizations will pay you to take on complex
projects that they cannot handle themselves.