It is totally not out of place for teenagers to start a business. Although many parents in this part of the world may want their kids to focus on their studies, a lot of young people are exploring various ways of making their own money so that they don’t have to be dependent on anyone. Teenagers that are business-oriented should be encouraged to choose a side hustle that is related to their interests as they have a better chance of learning better by doing.
This does not diminish the need to go to school, but the earlier parents realize that their children can learn a whole lot from managing their own small venture, the better for everyone. That said, teens or young adults should be allowed to explore the business world if they want to.
As a young person, launching your own small business gives you the opportunity to shorten the distance between theory taught in schools and practice which is hands-on skill acquisition and building. Delving into the entrepreneurial space at an early age also offers you the ability to make informed decisions much later; for instance, deciding whether to pursue your business full-time after graduation or commit to another path if you realize that you are not a good fit for entrepreneurship.
Here are 10 hustle ideas you may want to consider.
Logo and creative designer
For teenagers who discover that they are enthusiastic about different art forms, stylish, tech-savvy, and generally creative; logo and creative designing can be a good hustle to start with. There are a number of logo design tools that can be used to create logos for small business brands that young people can easily work with.
There are endless opportunities for you to start out here, even if you have to start with volunteering free services. You can help businesses create a logo that communicates their brand values. You can also create fliers, and other promotional materials and content. Who knows, your family and friends could be your first set of clients. If you’re interested in this idea, there are hundreds of resources online (YouTube, Google, and other social media) where you can learn for free. You can also learn from a logo designer that you trust.
Selling thrift wears
This is a popular one among fashion-inclined youths. With this idea, you can sell affordable clothes online. You can also sell some trendy wears; you know people love to follow trends. Fashion accessories like belts, and caps could also be added to boost your product offerings. These days, personal social media accounts can serve as a starting point because it is a great place to showcase what you have in stock to your already existing followers.
Your capital could be channeled into purchasing nice and affordable clothes from local and/or foreign sources. You can sell at an affordable rate and still get a good profit margin.
Deodorant/Perfume sales
This is a business idea that is gradually on the rise in Nigeria, especially among undergraduates and other young people. More than ever before, the importance of getting rid of body odour has become a major topic. Nobody would like to be tagged as having a bad smell. Perfume oils, antiperspirants, and perfumes are now in high demand. People need a reliable perfume vendor and you can easily fill in the gap, and cash out some money doing that.
Writing jobs
This is a very flexible hustle idea as it can be done right from the comfort of your home or dormitory. If you are good with words, you could make money from it by offering to help people with their content or copywriting. There are various opportunities online that you can explore to get jobs in this area. You are not in any way restricted to local clients because you could deliver content or write-ups to individuals or companies abroad and get paid.
A relevant piece of advice here would be that you should only say and deliver what you can handle. If you can only develop and write a five hundred-word text in five hours and not two, then state it clearly when dealing with potential clients. It is better to under-promise and over-deliver.
Photography
If you’re expressive or have a knack for photography, this will be a fantastic small business idea. On top of that, you can make yourself available for gigs whenever is convenient for you, so it’s flexible as well. The type of photography you do is up to you. It could be food, product, fashion photography, etc. These days, there are even more opportunities for photographers to make an additional income by selling their shots or images as NFTs. Just aim to be the best in the game.
Hair styling
This is literally a zero capital hustle idea. If you have the talent for this, do not be discouraged because you have no salon to direct your clients to. You can simply speak with your parents or guardian to see if a space at home could be used as a spot for attending to customers. Exploring the home-service route is not a bad idea too but make sure to go with someone you can trust, for security reasons.
These days, in most cases, the least that can be charged for really good braids is N5000. Imagine how much you could make in a week if you’re so good or if former clients recommend your hair styling services.
Baking
This is for those that derive joy from cooking, baking and decorating cakes. You can sell them to your friends and family members. A physical outlet is not required for this as you can bake at home and deliver on-demand. A simple Instagram or Facebook page could be used to share what you have done in the past, currently doing or will do. This will allow potential customers to know how well you can bake and if they can trust you with their money.
Remember to post your cake or pastry reviews to attract more customers.
Laundry service
Starting a laundry service is a great way to make money, and it can be very profitable. Most people are too busy to do their laundry and wouldn’t mind to have someone come to their home to wash their clothes or take them out to wash.
As you expand, you can get a location where they can simply drop off the clothes on the way to work and pick them up later. Starting off on very small scale, all you will need is your detergent, bleach and of course your hands but if you have access to a washer and dryer, you’re in luck because you would be able to wash more in less time and that is more money.
Fashion designing
It is evident that a lot of young people are creative and like to tap into their imagination that is why we can see many fashion brands and outlets springing up now more than ever. The fashion industry itself is also not slowing down. It is a multi-billion dollar space that is big enough to accommodate as many people as possible. Investing in fashion designing or garment-making is a good consideration if you can just develop beautiful and ready-to-wear designs. You don’t even have to learn how to sew, all you need to do is come up with fashion illustrations or drawings to show tailors who would then bring your designs to reality which you can later sell. Taking a few free online courses or watching a couple of YouTube videos could also help boost your confidence and augment what you might already know about fashion designing.
Wrapping up
Teenagers or young adults should start the business that best suits their interests, skills, and schedule. The perfect small business idea for this set of people should bring in some cash and above all, complement and not take their focus away from studies.
In addition, any business idea chosen should be low-cost in terms of capital. Because most teens have limited savings and minimal access to outside funding, it is better to start a business with little cash requirements to get started.
