Zandra Cunningham loves lip balm — so much that she used to ask her dad to buy her a new tube every day. Exasperated, he joked that she should make her own.
So she did. She was 9.
Six years later, her Buffalo-based business, Zandra, sells 37 natural, homemade skin products in stores in six states and online at zandrabeauty.com, Etsy and Amazon.
“I want the company to be as big as it can,” says Cunningham, who earned $50,000 in net profit last year. “I think Zandra should be in stores across the world.”
Cunningham proves that even young people can start successful businesses.
Entrepreneurship gives teens and younger kids “an opportunity to test themselves,” says Ed Grocholski, senior vice president of brand for Junior Achievement, a non-profit that helps K-12 students learn entrepreneurship and financial literacy. “It’s a really great way for kids to learn self-confidence.”
Finding small-business funding is a concern for entrepreneurs of any age, but teens can focus on businesses with low start-up costs. Here are five ideas:
1. Web/app development. Small-business owners often have little time to develop their online presence. Teens can harness their tech knowledge and coding skills by creating websites and apps for local businesses.
Show potential clients websites you’ve already created to come off as professional and prepared, Grocholski advises.
2. E-commerce. Online marketplaces are a great outlet for crafty teens. Selling online means access to a national, and sometimes international, customer base. Cunningham, for instance, used her Etsy page to generate wholesale deals.
But keep your products unique. The downside of online marketplaces is that everyone can sell his or her jewelry/scarves/pottery.
3. Social media. You might speak emoji like a second language, but not everyone does. Use your skills to help clients, such as small-business owners, spread brand awareness by establishing a presence on sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
4. Traditional services. Classic summer endeavors, such as mowing lawns and babysitting, are still great options. Take your business to the next level by spreading the word beyond the neighborhood.
Online marketing is an inexpensive way to promote your business, but word of mouth is still the best tool.
“When you have an established customer base,” Grocholski says, “start asking for referrals.”
5. Tutoring and music lessons. Do you excel at school? Turn studying into profit by forming a tutoring company, either alone or with studious friends. Consider focusing on a specific subject area, such as a foreign language or SAT/ACT prep. If you’re a trumpet aficionado, offer after-school music lessons.
Tips for starting a business if you’re a teen:
MORE: Everything you want to know about SBA loans
MORE: Where to find small-business funding
MORE: Best 20 apps for your small business
Jackie Zimmermann is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: jzimmermann@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @jackie_zm.
NerdWallet is a USA TODAY content partner providing general news, commentary and coverage from around the web. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
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