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business help?

how can I make a business as a kid in high school?

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Sebrena’s Answer

Hi Seth! Starting a business in high school is a great way to gain real-world experience early on. The first step is to identify a need or a problem you can solve in your community or school. This could be anything from tutoring, tech support, and reselling products, to starting a lawn care or cleaning service, or even launching an online store if you have a product or skill to offer.

Once you have an idea, treat it like a real business from the start. Write out a simple business plan: What are you offering? Who are your customers? How will you reach them? What do you need to get started, and how much will it cost? Even if it’s just a page or two, this will help you think through your next steps.

Start small and use your network: friends, family, classmates, and teachers to get your first customers or clients. Use free tools and social media to spread the word, but always be mindful of school rules and your own privacy. As you gain experience, focus on learning business basics: managing your time, handling money, delivering good customer service, and adapting when things don’t go as planned.

If your business grows, look for ways to scale up, like adding new services, finding partners, or automating parts of your work. There are also plenty of free resources and competitions for high school entrepreneurs that can help you learn and even get funding. The most important thing is to start, learn as you go, and stay open to new opportunities. Every business, no matter how small, teaches valuable skills that will help you in business management and development down the road.
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Chandler’s Answer

The easiest way to start a business with little to no capital is to partner with an existing business or utilize free services. As a high school student partnership is better because free services are more difficult before you become an adult (liability, signature authority, etc.). I wrote a book on this subject called "New Beginnings: Start Your Own Business Workbook". Use it if you need step by step from ideation through launch. I'll use the steps below for the nickel version in case you don't want the book. Why a partnership? A partnership gives you the things you lack as a high school student just starting out. 1) marketing through the partner business, 2) legitimacy in the partner business will vouch for you, 3) customer intimacy as they are working with your clients while you are in school, 4) a built in mentor who can give you honest feedback your parents, friends and inner circle would be reluctant to provide. A good example is a landscaping business where you partner with a real estate agent. Your labor is less expensive and trust is the currency in real estate. The agent and the home seller gain a feel good story helping you grow your business over an established one. The most important thing is you must provide value and no competition to your partner.

Chandler recommends the following next steps:

Ask your parents, friends, and teachers if they know business owners or independent operators like real estate, boutiques, flower shops etc.
Research what tangential, enhancing, or supplemental services the owner/operator could benefit from. (Marketing, delivery, labor, assistance, etc.)
Create a presentation of exactly what you would do to enhance the goods and services of the owner/operator.
Provide examples of how this has worked for similar owner/operators in other locations.
Ask for a joint phone call between you, your trusted other, and the owner/operator. You will be amazed at the results!
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Zandy Yeukai’s Answer

Hi Seth
As a high school student, you can start small and simple. Here are easy ideas :
1. Sell something like snacks, bracelets, baked goods, custom T-shirts, or thrifted clothes.
2. Offer a service for example tutoring younger students, babysitting, car washing, hair braiding, graphic design, or social media help for small businesses.
3. Use your skills … if you’re good at art, editing videos, coding, or writing, turn that into a paid service.

Start with something you’re already good at that needs little to no money to begin. Start with people you already know such as friends, school, community.

Hope this helps. Good luck!!
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Gaurav’s Answer

Love the initiative. Irrespective of what others tell you, you go and do it and start creating some business, any business. Not every business is going to succeed financially but it will teach you tons of life lessons that aren't available in schools.

I like what others have said here about:
- possible age restrictions in some cases
- NEVER LOSE FOCUS OF YOUR EDUCATION
- start small (there is post above which gives great ideas for students). I will add one more below.

Few things I can suggest:
- Use GenAI and prompt it to give you a plan to how to start a business, what to possibly do as a high schooler
- Figure out if you can connect with local business associations that have programs for high schoolers (https://tagedonline.org/high-school-summer-internship-program/students)
- Find Networking opportunity for High schoolers (99% opportunities in business and jobs will come through your network of people)

Good luck and I wish you loads of success.
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Katrina’s Answer

Seth,

I admire your ambition. Starting a business can be fun and educational.

Start by finding a problem you can solve for an audience that has the money to pay for your product/service, and is significant enough to support your business.

When my daughter (who loves animals) was 10, she noticed many of our neighbors walking dogs. We liked to travel so she figured other families did too. She started a pet-sitting business. She didn't make a ton of money, but she didn't need much at age 10. She also learned about responsibility, finance, and basic business principles.

I have another friend who started teaching guitar in high school, and now teaches at the local community college.

I'm currently working with a company that was started by a kid in high school who recognized a need for recycling food scraps for compost. He started with a bicycle and a wagon. Now he has thriving business and a fleet of electric vehicles that services several communities in the Chicago area.

What do you enjoy?
What skills do you have that others could benefit from?
What problem could you solve or need can you fulfill?
What do you hear people complaining about?
Do you have (or need) startup capital?
Do you want to deliver a product or a service?
How much time do you have available to commit to a business?
Do you need/have support from others?
Do you have space available to store product or manage your business?

Generally speaking, service businesses are easier to start than a product-oriented business – less overhead, no inventory, less startup capital.

Look at some free resources offered by the Small Business Administration. Maybe use ChatGPT or Claude to explore ideas based on your talent, experience, and location.

Also, think about the big picture. Baby boomers and GenX are aging, tired, and fed up with doing everything themselves. What might they need that you can provide? Think about errands, lawn care, petsitting, personal shopping, pool cleaning/maintenance, home maintenance (e.g. painting, cleaning, house washing, landscaping).

I wish you success in whatever you choose to do!
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Amber’s Answer

Discover something you love and figure out how to earn money from it. Begin on a small scale and gradually expand. A business plan can guide you in setting goals and achieving them. For instance, if you enjoy a sport or playing an instrument, you could offer training, coaching, or private lessons. I hope this advice is useful!
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Kharmari’s Answer

I really like this question because starting a business in high school is honestly one of the smartest moves someone can make. At that age, you usually have fewer financial responsibilities, which makes it the perfect time to take risks and learn. I think the best way to start is by focusing on something you’re already good at or interested in. That could be a service like car detailing, lawn care, tutoring, or even social media management for small businesses. Service-based businesses are great because they don’t require much money to start—just effort and consistency. Another option is online businesses like reselling clothes or sneakers, creating digital designs, or starting a small content page around fitness, gaming, or something you enjoy. The key is not overthinking it. Pick one idea, test it for a month, and improve as you go. You don’t need an LLC or a huge investment right away—just start small, keep track of your money, and learn from the process. Starting early builds real-world skills like discipline, communication, and financial management that will give you a huge advantage later on.
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Ghada’s Answer

That’s awesome you’re thinking about starting a business this early—you definitely can, even in high school. The best way to start is to keep it simple and local. Look around your area in Benton and think about small problems you can solve—like yard work, car washing, babysitting, tutoring, or even reselling items online. Start with something that doesn’t need much money, and use what you already have. Then focus on doing a great job, being reliable, and telling people about your service (friends, family, neighbors, or even local Facebook groups). You don’t need a big “company” at first—just start small, earn your first few customers, and learn as you go. As you grow, you can improve, charge more, or expand. The most important thing is just to start and be consistent.
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Vianne’s Answer

Starting a business in high school is a great idea because it's a low-risk way to learn a lot. You can begin by thinking about problems people around you face and how you can help solve them. You don't need a big idea or lots of money. Many student businesses start with simple services like tutoring, babysitting, pet sitting, car washing, yard work, helping older neighbors with technology, or running errands. If you're creative, you might sell things like handmade jewelry, art, baked goods (with parent permission), or digital designs for social media.

Start small and treat it as an experiment. Choose one idea, try it out with people you know, and see what works. Make a simple price list, tell friends, family, and neighbors, and share in local community groups with a parent's help. Use free tools like Canva to make flyers or Instagram to show your work. Don't wait for everything to be perfect; you'll learn more by starting and improving along the way.

Also, talk with your parents or guardians about safety, payments, and managing your time. School is a priority, so your business should fit around your life, not take over it. Think of this as a way to learn skills like responsibility, communication, and confidence. These skills are just as valuable as any money you earn.
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Marty’s Answer

Find a need and fill it - this is short answer for a multi-pronged question - however if believing in "if you build it, they will come" is not a guarantee.
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Carolina’s Answer

Hi Seth! Starting a business in high school can be exciting, but also challenging/intimidating. I'd begin by thinking about what you love and what interests others around you.

When I was in middle school, graphic tees were a big hit. People wanted unique designs they couldn't find in stores. I loved fashion and art, so I started creating custom shirts for friends. It was a small start: testing designs, taking requests, and making sure there was interest before producing more.

As things grew, I used my earnings to expand into custom crewnecks and accessories. I didn't have much money at first, so I kept costs low and grew slowly. Paying attention to what my peers liked and building around that was key.

While trends and tools have changed since then, the main idea remains: focus on what you enjoy, know your audience, and act on opportunities you notice. This approach works beyond high school too. If you can find a specific group and understand their needs, you can create something meaningful at any stage!
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Fidel’s Answer

Hi Seth,
This is a tough one!
It is great to see that you are already thinking about setting up a business. At this stage, you probably need to think whether you really want to "make a business" or rather "make money". You should have plenty of time to build a business in your life ...Focusing on your studies now is likely to pay back!
To launch a business, there may be certain legal limitations (e.g. age) that make it harder unless you have an adult sponsoring you.
If you want to make money, there are a few "old ideas" that you could do if you organise your time well: Provide private lessons to younger kids in your area - can be good money on an hourly rate and you do not need to be highly specialised on any topic, baby sitting, some small job at school, etc.
And please do keep your dream (whatever it is) alive! It will come true with focus, stamina and hard work!
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