Top 53 Business Ideas for 16-Year Olds [Updated for 2024]

Updated: February 22nd, 2024

Are you feeling inspired to start your own business? You're not alone! Many 16-year-olds are looking for ways to become their own boss and start their own business.

There are a lot of great business ideas out there, and we've gathered some of the best ones for you. So read on and see if any of these ideas catch your eye!

1. Become a virtual assistant ($340K/month)

Virtual assistants support businesses, teams, or individuals by performing administrative tasks remotely. As businesses these days tend to outsource their tasks, the demand for virtual assistants is growing rapidly.

Becoming a virtual assistant is flexible, as you can choose a work schedule and location at your convenience. Many virtual assistants have a dedicated home office where they work in a quiet and distraction-free environment.

To become a virtual assistant, identify a niche you like and undertake any training. Then, figure out how much to charge your customers and create an online presence where you can apply for jobs. As a virtual assistant, you can define your work schedule depending on your availability.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

2. Start a candy making business

You will need a few essential ingredients and equipment to start a candy-making business. These include sugar, corn syrup, food coloring, flavoring extracts, and tools like a candy thermometer and a silicone candy mold. You will also need a kitchen or workspace to prepare and store candy.

To operate your candy-making business, you must develop various tasty candy recipes. The candy may require trial and error, as well as research on popular flavors and techniques. Once you have a solid selection of recipes, you can start taking orders from customers and creating candy to their specifications.

To market your candy-making business, you can set up an online store or sell your products at local markets and events. You can also consider partnering with local companies, such as coffee shops or gift stores, to sell your candy on their premises.

Starting a candy-making business requires creativity, dedication, and attention to detail. With suitable recipes and marketing strategies, you can turn your love of candy into a successful and sweet business!

How much you can make: $3,000/month

How long does it take to build: 450 days (?)

3. Start a business podcast

How much you can make: $4,000 — $349,983/month

4. Start a car wash

As more people purchase vehicles, the demand for carwash services will keep increasing. Starting a car wash can be the ticket for the budding entrepreneur looking for an innovative business idea with low startup costs.

You must choose an ideal location and invest in quality car wash equipment to operate a successful car wash. Proper advertising and marketing are critical to running a successful car wash business.

How much you can make: $3,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

5. Start a white label delivery app business

In recent times, technology has changed how we shop. Consequently, there is a high demand for parcel delivery services. To ensure efficient service delivery and to provide customers an excellent service, parcel delivery companies turn to software agencies to develop customized delivery apps.

Coding a complete delivery app can be expensive, especially for an agency that is just starting a business, and take a long time to deliver the complete solution Thus, the agencies consider the white label model.

A white label delivery app is a customizable software that allows catering to all delivery demands. The software agency finds a customizable delivery app and signs a white label arrangement with the software owners.

Since the app is pre-configured, it takes less time to set up and offer the functionalities needed by the end users.

How much you can make: $25,000 — $250,000/month

How long does it take to build: 95 days (?)

6. Start a seasonal items business

How much you can make: $1,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)

How long does it take to build: 10 days (?)

7. Start a jewelry design business

How much you can make: $83,000 — $833,333/month

8. Start a co-working space rental business ($300K/month)

The co-working spaces are becoming essential in the post-pandemic world. Experts estimate five million people will occupy coworking spaces in the next few years. The projections are based not only on the growth the coworking industry has experienced over the past few years but also on the sharp increase in the number of startups coming up each year.

Therefore, creating your coworking space business will become a lucrative opportunity. To create a coworking space, do proper market research to ensure you have the demand for a co-work space in your target area.

Then, focus on finding an ideal location to attract the maximum number of customers.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $300,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

9. Become a cake decorator

Becoming a cake decorator can be an enjoyable and uncomplicated venture to embark on, particularly if you have a passion for baking and creativity. It enables you to explore the thriving bakery and wedding industries while showcasing your artistic abilities.

This business involves designing and hand-decorating specialty cakes for various events and occasions, using your artistic abilities to create beautiful, custom-edible works of art.

To start a successful cake decorating company, learn proper cake decorating techniques, purchase quality ingredients and equipment, build a portfolio to showcase your skills, and implement good marketing tactics to attract potential clients like wedding planners, event companies, bakeries, and direct consumers.

How much you can make: $4,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $300 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

10. Start a self service car wash

A self-service car wash is a booming and profitable low maintenance business idea. Generally, the self-service car wash provides bays equipped with soap, brushes, high-pressure water, and wax for vehicle detailing. Other services can include an EV charging station, tire inflation, and vacuum cleaning.

If you are starting a self-service carwash, ensure you provide customers with quality equipment.

The advantage of a self-service carwash is that you do not need to employ someone to wash the cars and that you can monitor your income conveniently.

11. Become a blogger

Are you looking for a business idea you can start from home? One great option to explore is to start your own blog.

With the flexibility of location independence, you can work on your blog from anywhere in the world!

What’s amazing about blogging is that anyone can start with just a computer and the internet! Besides, you don’t need any special talents or previous experience to start.

It’s an open field that welcomes anyone who has a passion for writing and sharing their thoughts with the world. The best part is that it can be one of the most rewarding passive income business ideas you can start.

How much you can make: $2,500 — $25,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $199 (?)

How long does it take to build: 6 days (?)

12. Start an errand service

Errand services help people and businesses who have daily errands to run but need an extra hand. So, they seek professional help who can do their chores on time with utmost efficiency.

You can provide various services as an errand business, including grocery shopping, picking up + sorting through mail, going to the bank, and much more.

Starting an errand business is relatively easy. Consider offering package deals as a way of getting and retaining customers. Most errand businesses charge per hour, and you may charge per mileage if the task involves driving.

13. Start a pet sitting business

A pet sitter is a professional who provides daily care for pets while the pet owners are at work or on vacation. The pet sitter's duties include:

  • Cooking special meals for pets as instructed by pet owners.
  • Reporting any behavioral issues to pet owners.
  • Playing with the pets to encourage their mental and physical stimulation.

One of the advantages of working as a pet sitter is that it's not a stressful career. You also get to work with different animals while enjoying a work-life balance.

How much you can make: $15,000/month

14. Start a child care business

Starting a childcare business is a great way to build a steady income. You will have the opportunity to be your boss and set your hours even from home. You will have the satisfaction of building one-on-one relationships with children and watching them grow over the years.

A childcare business is an excellent idea. It is both a personal and economical investment for its owners. This is especially true if you are considering starting your non-profit organization or becoming licensed to provide child care. Running a childcare business allows you to help children develop while also making money. As with any business endeavor, running a childcare business has its ups and downs, but it can be very rewarding.

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

15. Start a home bakery

How much you can make: $2,500 — $3,750/month

16. Start a portrait photography business

You have been using your android or apple phone for years, taking photos of all your friends, kids, family, and anything that inspires you. Now, you leap and consider starting a portrait photography business.

Portrait photography captures a person’s essence, personality, identity, and attitude utilizing backgrounds, lighting, and posing.

To start portrait photography, hone your skills and acquire a professional camera and photo editing software. You can make money by selling photos on social media channels like Instagram or a stock photography website.

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

17. Create a voice recording platform

A voice recording platform can be used to edit, record, and repair audio.

Businesses use voice recording platforms to communicate with customers and provide responses 24/7. The voice recording software is connected to a telephone line and prompts the customer to leave a recorded message.

Therefore, creating a voice recording platform that can serve businesses and different organizations can be profitable.

The best voice recording platform supports MIDI recording & editing and offers a ton of effect plugins to enhance the voice recording quality and ensure appealing audio tracks. You do not need programming/coding skills and app development skills to create a voice recording platform. You can hire programmers to develop the platform from scratch.

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

18. Mobile pet grooming business

A mobile pet grooming business offers the convenience of professional grooming services right at the doorstep of pet owners.

With this service, your day-to-day activities involve traveling to clients' locations with a fully equipped mobile grooming van, providing personalized grooming services for their beloved pets.

How much you can make: $250,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

19. Become an author ($25.1K/month)

Becoming an author is an exciting journey that involves creating and publishing written works, such as books, novels, or articles that reflect one’s ideas, stories, or expertise.

You can establish yourself through traditional publishing routes or self-publishing, utilizing your literary skills to connect with readers and potentially earn revenue from book sales.

Traditional publishing involves submitting a manuscript to a publishing house or literary agent who will review and decide if it is suitable for publication.

On the other hand, self-publishing gives authors complete control over the publishing process, allowing them to publish their work independently and market it on their own.

You can generate income through book sales, royalties, and opportunities such as speaking engagements or workshops.

How much you can make: $200 — $9,259,259/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

20. Start a handmade jewelry business

How much you can make: $180,333 — $833,333/month

21. Start an online clothing business

Starting an online clothing business is an exciting and promising venture. The concept is simple: create an online platform where customers can browse, purchase, and receive their fashion items directly to their doorstep. The beauty of an online clothing business is that you don't have to worry about the overhead costs associated with a physical store, and you can reach a broader customer base.

However, running a successful online clothing business takes more than just setting up a website and listing products. Here are a few tips to ensure your business thrives:

  • Find your niche: The fashion industry is vast, and it’s essential to find your niche and target market. Identify what type of clothing you want to sell and to whom. For example, if you’re passionate about sustainable fashion, you can focus on selling eco-friendly clothing for the eco-conscious consumer.

  • Build a strong brand: Your brand is your business’s identity, and it’s crucial to create a strong brand that resonates with your target market. Choose a catchy and memorable business name, and create a consistent visual identity across all platforms, including your website, social media, and packaging.

  • Invest in excellent product photography: The quality of your product photography can make or break your business. People can’t touch or try on clothes online, so the photos are their only reference. Invest in professional photography to showcase your products in the best light possible.

  • Prioritize customer service: Good customer service is vital to building customer trust and loyalty. Respond quickly to customer inquiries, and make it easy for them to contact you. Offer free returns, and consider offering a loyalty program to keep your customers returning.

  • Stay on top of trends: The fashion industry is ever-evolving, and it’s crucial to stay on top of the latest trends. Keep an eye on what’s popular and what's coming next, and consider incorporating trendy items into your product offerings.

Starting an online clothing business may seem daunting, but it’s an exciting and fulfilling venture. By finding your niche, building a solid brand, investing in excellent product photography, prioritizing customer service, and staying on top of trends, you’ll be well on your way to running a successful and lucrative online clothing business.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $475,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $8,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

22. Start a dog walking business ($54K/month)

Are you a dog lover? If so, you can turn your passion for animals into a profitable side hustle that allows you to earn extra income for your mortgage, a vacation, or paying off student loans.

As a dog walker, sitter, or boarder, you can earn an average annual income of between $10,000 and $30,000 by offering your services to dog owners in need of a caregiver for their furry friends.

To get started, register on a credible dog-walking app and create a compelling profile that showcases your experience, skills, and love for dogs.

With your dedication and expertise, you can help dog owners ensure their pets receive the care and attention they need while building a thriving business that fulfills your passion for animals.

How much you can make: $15,000 — $54,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week

23. Become a proofreader ($2K/month)

Proofreading business is a service that helps customers review their written work and ensure it is ready for publication. Typically, a proofreader corrects grammatical errors and provides the written piece meets any relevant style guide.

As a proofreader, you can work online, allowing you to choose what time to work.

If you plan to start a professional proofreading business, make sure you possess the following skills:

  • Have an excellent grasp of grammar
  • Ability to correct mistakenly capitalized words
  • Familiarity with the proper use of capitalization
  • Use spell-checkers to flag misspelled words

Proofreading is a great way to enhance content quality. With the increased use of written content marketing to reach a broader market, the demand for professional proofreaders has grown tremendously. Professional proofreaders earn an average of $12/hr. And $30/hr.

Therefore, consider proofreading as a business if you are looking for a great side hustle idea or simply looking for ways to increase your income.

How much you can make: $2,000/month

24. Become a graphic designer ($30K/month)

Graphic designing involves creating sketch designs and materials for corporate clients, advertising agencies, public relations firms, and publishers. Besides, graphic designers provide visual solutions to specific company images, log design, and branding problems.

Graphic design is an excellent career for creative thinkers who enjoy using their talent and artistic skills combined with technology and communication abilities to come up with unique solutions for their clients.

How much you can make: $8,000 — $81,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 165 days (?)

25. Start a music lessons business ($45K/month)

How much you can make: $45,000 — $70,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)

26. Start a party entertainer business

Do you want to start a business within the entertainment sector? Becoming a party entertainer can be a great opportunity for you.

Party entertainers thrive mostly at night and on weekends. You can work as an agency and represent entertainers for parties, or if you have the skills, you can become the entertainer.

Party entertainers can work at wedding and bridal parties, birthday parties, children’s parties, corporate parties, or even home-based parties.

How much you can make: $12,000 — $25,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

27. Start a wedding videography business

A wedding videographer is a video production company that documents a wedding on video. The wedding videographers cover all events from when the couple starts preparing for the wedding, arrival at the wedding ceremony site, and the reception.

Most weddings use a professional videographer. Therefore, starting a wedding videography business can be rewarding.

To start a wedding videography business, invest in the right gear for filming the wedding ceremony, like microphones, cameras, gimbal, etc. It would help if you had professional video editing software and set up a website so you can be found online.

28. Start a caricature artist business

How much you can make: $100/month

How much does it cost to start: $150 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

29. Start an amazon reseller business

An Amazon reseller sources products at wholesale prices and sells them on Amazon. To start an Amazon reseller business, choose a low-competition product. Low competition products offer a great way to establish your brand as a leader in particular product categories.

To grow your business, ensure high-profit margin products, as selling only the low-profit margin products can curtail your business growth.

How much you can make: $3,000 — $60,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

30. Start a youtube channel

For anyone looking to start a successful YouTube channel, there are plenty of YouTube channel success stories that can be used as inspiration and encouragement. In addition, YouTube has an established monetization system and boasts incredible popularity, making it a potential platform for revenue generation.

In this article, we'll look at different approaches you can use to help promote your channel and grow your viewers. While there's no quick and easy way to success, you can take these tips to build your own YouTube Channel Success story. If you love content creation, you can capitalize on YouTube's popularity to earn extra income.

If you want to join the Youtube partner program to monetize your channel, you will need to reach a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months.

How much you can make: $800 — $4,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 48 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

31. Become a dance choreographer

Dance choreographers create compositions and plans and arrange dance movements and patterns for dances, especially ballets. Choreographers also develop different interpretations of existing dances for an individual or group of dancers.

To become a dance choreographer, you will need to take training lessons. You may pursue a degree in musical theater and take relevant dance coursework. The training enables you to master different dance types and learn how to create dances.

How much you can make: $8,400/month

32. Start an e-waste recycling business

E-waste refers to electronic products nearing the end of their useful life. They include computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, and other electronics used in our homes of businesses.

Recycling e-waste is reusing and reprocessing electrical and electronic equipment that has been discarded or regarded as obsolete. Initiated to protect human and environmental health, e-waste recycling has become one of the most profitable recycling opportunities.

To start an e-waste recycling business, research and gather more information on the E-waste recycling industry.

Then, identify the electronic wastes available to you that can be recycled. Create a business plan, and acquire all necessary permits and licenses before launching your business.

33. Become a musician ($3K/month)

A musician writes, records, performs, markets, and sells original songs, albums, and merchandise. As a musician, you can build your business by creating music and connecting with fans.

With the rise of social media, music streaming, home recording technology, and direct fan access, indie musicians can build profitable artistry-driven businesses themselves.

To start, hone your craft and find your unique creative niche. Master your instruments, produce demos of songs showcasing your style, and play small local venues to build an early following.

You can leverage platforms like Instagram and TikTok to share your music as you build out a catalog of content. Also, release songs on major streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music so fans globally can listen, save, and share your work. Sell merchandise like t-shirts, hoodies, and posters on your own website to generate additional income from your growing following.

By perfecting your sound and engaging possible fans through social media, streaming, performances, and direct outreach, you can build a thriving long-term business around your artistic passion and originality.

How much you can make: $3,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 360 days (?)

34. Start a social media marketing agency ($350K/month)

Whether you want to clear your utility bills, finance your college education or save for a vacation, a social media marketing agency is one of the best ways to earn extra income. The advantage is that you do not need to commit so much time to automate using social media marketing tools. All you need to do is develop a good social media marketing strategy that will enable you to serve customers efficiently. Besides, you need to create an agency portfolio to market your services to target customers.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $2,400,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $6,250 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week

35. Start a bicycle accessories business ($250K/month)

More people are cycling today than two decades ago. As the number of cyclists increases, the demand for bicycle accessories will keep growing.

How much you can make: $500 — $250,000/month

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

36. Start a Greeting Cards Business ($50K/month)

People use greeting cards to mark births, deaths, graduations, anniversaries, and other parties or events.

If you love helping people celebrate special occasions, starting a greeting card business can be a great business opportunity.

When starting a greeting card business, choose a potential niche and write a business plan.

Then, find an ideal spot to sell the greeting cards.

For instance, you can offer greeting card design and posting services, so customers can choose the best designs and post greeting cards online.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 65 days (?)

37. Start a mobile pet grooming

Do you love attending to pets? Starting a pet grooming business is a fun and profitable business idea.

Pet grooming service includes bathing, nail clipping, and brushing of pet animals. Grooming pets ensure they remain healthy and enjoy an improved physical appearance. To start a pet grooming business, create a business plan and portfolio.

Establish a business website and market your services to the target audience. Then, buy pet grooming tools and supplies and focus on offering your services to the target audience.

38. Start a gift baskets business ($2K/month)

A gift basket is delivered to the recipient at the workplace or residence. A gift basket business is a noble idea because, with a proper strategy, you can remain in business all year round.

To start a gift basket business, choose a niche or a sales channel, and register your business appropriately. Then, with a proper marketing strategy, you should be able to reach a broader customer base.

How much you can make: $550 — $125,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

More business ideas

  • 39. Start a pinterest templates, graphics and art selling business
  • 40. Start a bicycle rental business

41. Start a garden cleaning business

If you want to start a gardening-related business, you may consider providing garden cleanups to residential and commercial customers. Your role will be to provide garden cleanups to prevent pests, weed seed, and diseases and prepares the garden for fun activities while providing a clean slate for perennial and vegetables to grow.

More business ideas

  • 42. Start a pressure washing business
  • 43. Start a voice memos recording app business

44. Start a Community Delivery Service

Community Delivery Service is an easy business to start. Subscribers pay a monthly fee to receive a curated box of products based on their preferences. The boxes contain items such as food, beauty products, and other lifestyle goods.

The idea behind the subscription service is that customers can't always find time to shop for themselves or they have trouble finding what they want in stores. Community Delivery Service offers a way for people to get their favorite items without having to spend time looking for them every month.

More business ideas

  • 45. Start a coloring books business
  • 46. Start an organic food repacking business
  • 47. Start a magazine publishing business on amazon kindle store

48. Start a snow removal service

Snow plowing is a high-margin scalable business with low overhead costs. Although seasonal, you can earn a decent living by plowing snow in winter. Entrepreneurs with a dump trailer and snow plow can serve commercial and residential customers and stay busy during or after a snowstorm.

More business ideas

  • 49. Start a news podcast business

50. Become a tech tutor

In a world dominated by technology, many are left feeling overwhelmed and unacquainted. The pursuit of closing the digital divide has created a vital opportunity: Tech Tutors. This business idea involves providing mentorship and lessons to individuals or organizations to enhance their technological savoir-faire.

The role of a tech tutor is simple yet impactful, teaching customers how to navigate different software, hardware, and even aspects of internet safety. Suppose you're well-versed in tech areas such as using smartphone apps, social media, office software, cyber security, etc. In that case, you could transform your knowledge into a profitable venture.

It’s a worthwhile endeavor, drawing interest considering how crucial tech literacy has become in our everyday lives. A tech tutor business is more than just a paid service: it empowers others to embark on the possibilities that technological knowledge offers. If you enjoy sharing your expertise and providing guidance, a tech tutor business could indeed be your perfect landing spot.

More business ideas

  • 51. Start a recycling project business

52. Start a holiday decoration business

The holiday decoration business involves creating and selling festive decorations for holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Halloween. This can include everything from traditional decorations such as wreaths and tree ornaments to more unique and customizable items like personalized stockings or holiday-themed home decor.

To run a successful holiday decoration business, it is essential to keep up with the latest trends and offer various products to appeal to various customers. It is also essential to have a strong online presence, as many holiday shoppers turn to the internet to purchase decorations.

Effective marketing and promotion strategies, such as social media advertising and partnerships with local businesses, can help attract customers and drive sales. It is also essential to focus on customer service and offer excellent customer support to ensure a positive shopping experience and encourage repeat business.

Finally, it is essential to have a reliable supply chain in place to ensure the timely delivery of products and avoid any potential delays or disappointments for customers. With proper planning and execution, the holiday decoration business can be a lucrative and rewarding venture.

More business ideas

  • 53. Become a babysitter

Frequently asked questions

Can a 16-year-old have their own business?

Yes, a 16-year-old can have their own business. However, the process can be a bit complicated, as most business requirements include conditions, terms, and even permission from the legal guardian (for minors).

Now, while such things can get complicated, there are ways for a 16-year-old to earn money from different things. As long as the business isn’t something like a large-scale, you likely wouldn’t have to go through some tedious process.

Is it possible to make money as a 16-year-old?

Yes, making money as a 16-year-old is possible. There are many ways to earn and make money, and most of these ways only require doing and finishing simple tasks that even a 16-year-old can do.

One thing to note is that making money as a 16-year-old is good, but it doesn’t mean you’ll spend most of your time with it and discard essential duties like studies. As always, a 16-year-old should prioritize studying, and making money should only be a side hustle or a hobby.

What businesses can you start as a 16-year-old teenager?

As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of business ideas that even a 16-year-old can start. But, of course, these businesses can be as easy as doing simple tasks or selling simple products or services.

Also, it would be best to start a small-scale business, especially if you’re only 16 years old. While it’s possible to do something large-scale, it takes a lot of time and responsibilities.

Further, a large-scale business isn’t ideal for a 16-year-old since the entire thing can take up lots of time, affecting important stuff like school and study time.

Conclusion

I hope this list of ideas for 16-year-olds has helped you at least a little to get an idea of how you can make money at this age.

If you're looking for more business ideas or want to start a business but don't know how, check out our newsletter.

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.