Latest news with #teenentrepreneur
Forbes
06-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
5 Business Ideas A Teen Entrepreneur Can Start Today With $0
teen entrepreneur celebrating launching a business Becoming a teen entrepreneur is gaining momentum. According to Junior Achievement, 66% of teens aged 13-17 express an interest in starting their businesses as adults. This shift represents more than a career trend—it signals a generation ready to create opportunities rather than wait for them. Many teenagers assume that starting a business requires a significant amount of capital. That assumption stops them before they begin. The reality? Most successful teen ventures start with existing skills, creativity, and minimal investment. Here are five accessible business models any motivated teen can launch today. 1. Academic Tutoring Services Parents actively seek affordable, reliable tutors who connect with their children, often preferring someone of a similar age who understands the current educational challenges their children face. At WIT (Whatever It Takes), the entrepreneurship program I founded in 2009, we've seen countless teens leverage their academic strengths into profitable tutoring services that require no upfront investment beyond time and expertise. Implementation strategy: Start with subjects where you consistently earn A's or higher. Create a concise one-page overview that highlights your qualifications, approach, and rates. Target families you know who have younger students who need support in your strongest subjects. Pricing approach: Charge $15-$30 per hour, depending on the subject complexity and local market rates. SAT/ACT prep and advanced subjects command higher fees. Virtual sessions eliminate transportation time, allowing you to serve more students efficiently. Growth potential: Secure 5-8 regular students at $20/hour for 2 hours weekly, and you'll generate $800-1,600 monthly. Word-of-mouth referrals drive sustainable growth in this field. 2. Social Media Management For Local Businesses Digital marketing skills that teens naturally develop can help solve real business problems. Many small business owners recognize the importance of social media, but they often lack the time or knowledge to manage it effectively. Service offerings: Content creation, post scheduling, basic graphic design, and community engagement. Focus on platforms where you already have experience, such as Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. Getting started: Approach local businesses with a concrete proposal: "I'll create and schedule 12 posts for your social media accounts this month for $300." Include before/after examples from practice accounts or volunteer work. Start with one client to perfect your approach and track measurable results. Take screenshots of engagement increases and follower growth numbers. These concrete examples help you land additional clients. Revenue expectations: Managing 3-4 accounts effectively can generate $900-1,200 monthly. 3. Print-On-Demand Product Creation Artistic teens can earn money without having to purchase inventory upfront. Sites like Redbubble, Teespring, and Printful print your designs on products only after customers place an order. You upload artwork, set prices, and earn a percentage of the sale price when items sell. This works well for teens who draw, take photos, or create digital art. Your designs can appear on t-shirts, phone cases, notebooks, and a wide range of other products. Most platforms pay creators 10-20% of each sale. Getting started: Pick one category and stick with it initially. Animal lovers might design cat-themed products. Fitness enthusiasts could create motivational workout quotes. Regular uploads matter more than perfect designs when you're just starting out. Marketing approach: Post your design process on Instagram or TikTok. Join Facebook groups related to your niche. Message micro-influencers about potential collaborations. Building an audience takes months, not weeks, so patience pays off. Revenue expectations: Success varies widely, but consistent creators often earn $200-500 monthly after six months of regular uploads. Popular designs can generate passive income for years. 4. Event Support Services Parties and celebrations always need extra hands. Parents hosting birthday parties, families planning graduations, and organizations running fundraisers often hire teens to help with tasks they can't handle alone. Scaling strategy: Begin with one client to develop systems and prove results. Document engagement improvements and follower growth to attract additional clients. Once you manage 3-4 accounts efficiently, your monthly revenue can reach $900-$ 1,200. 4. Event Support Services Parties and celebrations always need extra hands. Parents hosting birthday parties, families planning graduations, and organizations running fundraisers often hire teens to help with tasks they can't handle alone. Service categories: Pre-event preparation, day-of coordination, entertainment assistance, and post-event cleanup. You can focus on specific areas like party decorating or crowd management for children's events. Client acquisition: Network through family connections, community centers, and local event venues. Create a simple portfolio showing before/after photos of events you've helped organize, even informal family gatherings. Revenue model: Charge $15-25 per hour depending on responsibilities and event complexity. Weekend events often command premium rates. Build relationships with event planners and venues for consistent referral opportunities. 5. Technology Support Services The digital divide presents opportunities for tech-savvy teens to assist seniors and small business owners in navigating modern technology. Services include smartphone setup, social media training, basic computer troubleshooting, and software installation. This business model works particularly well because it builds on skills teens already possess while serving a genuine market need. Many seniors want to stay connected digitally but feel overwhelmed by rapidly changing technology. Service offerings: Device setup, app installation, social media training, video calling instruction, and basic cybersecurity education. Focus on practical skills that improve daily life for your clients. Trust building: Start with family, friends, and neighbors to establish credibility. Request testimonials and referrals from satisfied clients. This business relies heavily on trust and word-of-mouth marketing. Pricing structure: Charge $20-$ 40 per session, depending on complexity and duration. Ongoing support contracts provide steady income—some teens offer monthly check-ins to maintain client relationships. How A Teen Entrepreneur Can Leverage Business Experience For College Running a business gives you stories that make admissions officers stop reading and pay attention. They see thousands of applications from students who played soccer or volunteered at hospitals. Far fewer describe how they built something from scratch. Colleges want students who take initiative and solve problems. Your tutoring business shows you identified a need in your community and figured out how to meet it. Your social media management service proves you can learn new skills and deliver results for clients. When you write about your business experience, skip the revenue numbers. Instead, tell the story of your biggest failure and what you learned from it. Describe the moment you realized your first approach wasn't working and how you pivoted. Explain how you convinced your first customer to trust a teenager with their business. As A Teen Entrepreneur Start Small The most crucial step is beginning. Choose one business model that matches your existing skills and interests. Start small, focus on delivering excellent service to initial clients, and reinvest profits to grow systematically. Your age can be an advantage rather than a limitation. Many customers appreciate working with young entrepreneurs who bring fresh energy and digital fluency to traditional service needs. The key is demonstrating professionalism and reliability regardless of your age. The entrepreneurial skills you develop today—customer service, financial management, marketing, and problem-solving—will serve you throughout your career, whether you continue building businesses or apply these capabilities in other fields.
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
4 ChatGPT Prompts To Write Your Founder's Story For LinkedIn
teen entrepreneur working on her LinkedIn profile using chatgpt prompts Your founder's story isn't a simple bio—it shapes your professional brand and directly impacts your business outcomes. On LinkedIn, where over 1 billion professionals gather and members engage with company pages more than 2 billion times monthly, a compelling narrative distinguishes you from countless generic profiles. Many founders, particularly young entrepreneurs, struggle to communicate their journey effectively and often minimize their achievements. ChatGPT prompts help you discover and articulate a story that feels genuine, engaging, and purposeful by providing structured frameworks for telling your entrepreneurial journey and sharing your personal brand. Use ChatGPT For Your LinkedIn About Section: Your Digital Elevator Pitch The About section represents one of LinkedIn's most underutilized features. Too many founders list their title and company description. This space functions as your elevator pitch—an opportunity to share your entrepreneurial journey, core values, and vision. This section highlights the moment you decided to build something, the problem you wanted to solve, and what drives your entrepreneurial spirit. "Create a LinkedIn About section based on this information: [insert your timeline and values]When using this prompt, include concrete details about your business, the problem you're solving, and measurable outcomes when possible. ChatGPT works best with specific information rather than vague descriptions. For teen entrepreneurs, a comprehensive profile demonstrates seriousness and professionalism beyond their years. Transform Your Story Into Engaging Content With ChatGPT Don't let your founder's story become stagnant in your profile's About section. When you share your story as a LinkedIn post, something interesting happens—people respond. They comment about their struggles, share your post with their networks, and sometimes reach out with opportunities you never expected. Young entrepreneurs often underestimate the power of their stories. A 16-year-old launching a sustainability initiative or an 18-year-old solving problems in their local community has something valuable to say. These stories resonate because they're fresh, authentic, and remind seasoned professionals why they started their ventures. ChatGPT can help structure these narratives in ways that stop the scroll. The AI excels at taking your raw story—maybe it's scattered across text messages to friends or buried in journal entries—and organizing it into posts that people want to read. "Transform this founder journey into a LinkedIn post: [one paragraph summary]. Start with a thought-provoking question or surprising fact, tell my story clearly, and end by asking readers to share their experiences or thoughts." I've noticed, from working with the WIT - Whatever It Takes teen entrepreneurs, that those who share their stories honestly follow a loose pattern. They open with something that makes you pause—maybe a statistic that challenges assumptions or a question that hits close to home. Then they dive into the actual story, but not in a generic way. The best posts include the messy details, the moments of doubt, and the unexpected wins. Ultimately, instead of just dropping their story and walking away, they invite others into the conversation. They ask genuine questions that people want to answer. LinkedIn's research backs this up—posts that end with questions get significantly more comments. But it's not just about gaming the algorithm. When entrepreneurs build their networks through genuine conversation rather than one-way broadcasting, those connections turn into real opportunities. Use ChatGPT To Craft Headlines That Capture Attention Your LinkedIn headline appears beside your name in every interaction—searches, comments, and connection requests. For teen entrepreneurs, headlines offer chances to position themselves as young innovator rather than "just a student." Instead of generic descriptions like "Student at [School]," use this space to reflect your entrepreneurial identity. ChatGPT generates memorable, age-appropriate headlines that showcase ambition and accomplishment, effectively conveying a sense of achievement. "I founded [company name], which helps [target audience] achieve [specific outcome]. My mission focuses on [your purpose]. Create three LinkedIn headline options that reflect my founder story and stand out in searches." Strong headlines for young entrepreneurs combine their current status (student, founder) with their business focus. For example: "High School Entrepreneur | Founder of [Company] | Helping Teens Launch Profitable Businesses" works better than simply 'Student at [School].' ChatGPT Banner Taglines That Reinforce Your Message LinkedIn's banner image represents prime visual real estate that many overlook. Adding a clear tagline that summarizes your story or mission creates intentional and memorable profiles. For students and young entrepreneurs, banners immediately communicate what you're building and why visitors should care about your work. "Based on my founder story: [one paragraph] and mission: [one sentence], create a concise tagline for my LinkedIn banner that captures my entrepreneurial focus and value proposition." Effective banner taglines for young entrepreneurs might include: "Building the Future of [Industry] | Teen Entrepreneur" or "Solving [Problem] Through [Solution] | Student Founder at [School]." Visual elements on LinkedIn profiles, including banners with clear messaging, increase profile views by 14% according to platform analytics. For entrepreneurs building their professional presence, every view represents a potential connection or opportunity. Why Your Founder's Story Matters More As a Young Entrepreneur LinkedIn profiles often create first impressions in professional networking. Your profile serves as a digital handshake, opening pitch, and opportunity to make people want to connect with you. Using AI tools like ChatGPT allows founders to experiment with different versions of their story until they find one that resonates. The iterative process of prompt engineering—refining your input to get better output—mirrors the entrepreneurial process itself. When crafting your founder story, rather than presenting yourself as having all the answers, share your learning journey. Include concrete examples: the first customer you landed, the problem that inspired your solution, or the mentor who changed your perspective. Keep your message focused—LinkedIn users scroll quickly, and you have seconds to capture attention. Your story should grow with your business. What motivates you today might differ from what inspired you six months ago. Beyond the Bio And ChatGPT: Building Authentic Connections People connect with individuals, not just companies. Your founder's story can differentiate you from being perceived as "just another student" to someone worth following and supporting. For teen entrepreneurs specifically, when you share your journey—including both successes and learning experiences—you attract mentors, collaborators, and customers who resonate with your mission. By leveraging ChatGPT to refine your narrative across your LinkedIn profile—from your About section to posts, headlines, and banner taglines—you create multiple touchpoints that reinforce your entrepreneurial identity and attract the right connections to accelerate your business growth.
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
5 ChatGPT Prompts That Help Teens Build $100-A-Day Businesses
Teen photographer who uses chatgpt to help with her business. Teen entrepreneurs today have an advantage: ChatGPT prompts that can accelerate business development without requiring significant capital or experience. While their peers compete for minimum-wage summer jobs, savvy young entrepreneurs are utilizing specific ChatGPT prompts to create scalable income streams that can generate $100 or more per day. The power lies not just in using ChatGPT but in crafting the right prompts that produce actionable business results. Research shows that users who craft clear, specific prompts consistently receive more accurate and helpful responses, while effective prompting can double the output efficiency in tasks such as content creation and research. With 26% of American teenagers now using ChatGPT for various tasks—double the number from 2023—those who master strategic prompting gain a competitive edge in both academics and business ventures. As prompt engineering becomes incorporated into job descriptions across tech, marketing, and healthcare sectors, teens who develop these skills early position themselves for future career advantages. 1. Digital Product Creation with AI Assistance The ChatGPT Prompt: "Act as a digital product creator. Help me outline a 10-page workbook for [target audience] on [topic]. Include title suggestions, content structure, and visual recommendations for each section." Digital products offer the ultimate scalability—create once, sell repeatedly. With ChatGPT handling content structure and copy, teens can develop products without extensive subject matter expertise. Popular digital products include productivity planners, study guides, social media templates, and educational workbooks. These typically sell for $5-25 on platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, or personal websites. Success metric: One well-positioned digital product selling five units daily at $20 each generates $100 daily revenue. The key is identifying specific audience needs and creating targeted solutions that meet those needs. 2. Social Media Management for Local Businesses The ChatGPT Prompt: "Create a week of Instagram content for a [business type] targeting [audience]. Include educational posts, engagement questions, and promotional content with captions under 150 words each." Small businesses recognize the importance of social media but often lack the time for consistent posting. Teen entrepreneurs can fill this gap by offering content packages powered by AI efficiency. Services can include caption writing ($25-$ 50 weekly), content scheduling, and basic graphic design using tools such as Canva. Managing 3-4 clients at $150 per month each creates a sustainable income. The advantage: Teens understand social media platforms intuitively and can combine AI-generated content with authentic brand voice development. 3. Newsletter Curation and Content Publishing The ChatGPT Prompt: "Summarize five trending stories in [industry] using conversational language. Include one actionable takeaway per story and suggest relevant questions for audience engagement." Passionate teens can monetize their interests by creating focused newsletters or content channels that cater to their specific interests. AI handles research synthesis and writing, while human insight provides curation and voice. Monetization strategies include affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and paid subscriptions. Even newsletters with 500 engaged subscribers can generate $100+ daily through strategic partnerships and affiliate commissions. Growth strategy: Start by offering free content to build an audience, then introduce premium content or exclusive access for paying subscribers. 4. Academic Support Services The ChatGPT Prompt: "Create a comprehensive study guide for [subject/topic], including key concepts, definitions, practice questions, and memory techniques. Format for high school students." Teen entrepreneurs can utilize AI to systematize academic help, creating standardized products and services. This includes custom study guides, flashcard sets, and exam preparation materials. Parents often pay $15-$ 30 for personalized study materials, especially for challenging subjects or standardized test preparation. The scalable approach involves creating templates that can be easily customized for individual students. Competitive edge: Teen creators understand current educational challenges and can design solutions that resonate with their peer audience. 5. Business Development Consulting The ChatGPT Prompt: "Help me create a 6-slide pitch deck for a business solving [problem] for [audience]. Include slide titles, key talking points, and suggested visuals for each section." Young entrepreneurs participating in business competitions, school presentations, or actual fundraising often need structured guidance. AI can help organize ideas into compelling narratives and professional formats. Services include pitch deck creation, business plan development, and presentation coaching. Charging $50-$ 100 per project, teens can serve their classmates, other young entrepreneurs, or even adult founders seeking fresh perspectives. Market opportunity: The rise in youth entrepreneurship programs creates steady demand for peer-to-peer business development support. Implementation Strategy: From ChatGPT Prompt to Profit Success requires moving beyond experimentation to systematic execution. Companies are increasingly integrating AI tools into workflows, making prompt engineering skills valuable for employees who need to extract the most from these systems. Here's how to transform these strategies into sustainable income: Week 1-2: Choose and Test Select one strategy that matches your interests and skills. Create your first product or service offering using AI assistance. Launch with friends, family, or local networks for initial feedback. Weeks 3-4: Refine and Scale. Based on early results, adjust your approach and expand your reach. Use social media, local marketing, or online platforms to attract paying customers beyond your immediate network. Months 2-3: Systematize. Develop templates, processes, and systems that allow you to serve multiple clients or sell multiple products efficiently. This is where AI becomes most valuable—handling routine tasks while you focus on growth. Beyond ChatGPT Prompts: Building Future-Ready Skills While $100 daily represents a tangible goal, the real value lies in developing capabilities that can be applied to any career path. Teen entrepreneurs who use AI strategically develop critical thinking, market analysis, customer service, and financial management skills. The entrepreneurial mindset—identifying opportunities, solving problems creatively, and taking calculated risks—becomes increasingly valuable as AI transforms traditional job markets. Young people who learn to leverage AI as a business tool today position themselves for success in tomorrow's economy. The key insight for teen entrepreneurs is treating ChatGPT as a creative partner, not a replacement for human judgment. The most successful combine AI efficiency with authentic customer relationships, creative problem-solving, and persistent execution. As these teens master the art of crafting effective prompts and interpreting AI-generated insights, they develop a skill set that will serve them whether they become business founders, corporate leaders, or innovators in any field. For teens ready to start, the barrier to entry has never been lower. You need a problem to solve, ChatGPT prompts to accelerate solution development, and the willingness to iterate based on market feedback. The question isn't whether you can build a $100-daily business—it's whether you're ready to begin.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Aussie stuns over $300-an-hour side hustle: 'It keeps me busy'
A teenager has revealed how he can make as much as $300-an-hour after turning his modest high school gig into a part-time job. A street interviewer from jobs app GetAhead approached university student Angus Healy as he was walking four dogs together in Brisbane at the start of the week. The 19-year-old told the interviewer he started walking dogs for cash in high school and continued doing it after graduating for a fee of $50-an-hour. He said he walked three 'packs' of dogs a day, with anywhere between one and six dogs per pack. 'It keeps me busy, which is good. I mean, walking along here each day, can't complain,' he said. Mr Healy was walking four dogs at the time, earning $200 in that hour alone. He said the most he had done was six dogs at the same time, worth $300. Mr Healy admitted the number of dogs he walked during the week could change across the day and the week. According to his numbers, he could pull in as much as $750-a-week, or $36,000 per year only walking just one dog in each of his sessions. If he walked a group of six dogs in those same sessions, he would net $216,000 each year. 'I love it, it's good,' Mr Healy said. 'But, I mean, it's like any business, you have expenses and stuff.' The amount of dogs he could walk each time depended on their nature. Mr Healy said he had to take more difficult animals on solo walks. He added he got into dog walking because his parents did not let him have one as a pet when he was younger. People starting out dog walking typically charge $20 to $25 per hour. More experienced walkers can charge more for their work, between $30 and $50. The job does not require any additional qualifications in Australia. Some social media users were impressed and said it was 'actually a lot of money'. 'Free money, how do I get in?' one joked. 'So smart,' another said. Others did not believe the 19-year-old could have many expenses. 'Expenses? Bro is just walking, hardly any expenses - fair play though!' one said. 'Insurance, petrol for the car, dog food, harnesses, leashes,' another viewer answered. One person said the trick to the job was 'getting the business' in the first place. 'People in Brisbane clearly have too much money,' another wrote.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Teen who launched his own clothing line at AGE 12 transforms it into booming business all on his own
A teenager who launched his own clothing line at age 12 has revealed how he is now turned it into a booming business all on his own. Holden Bierman, 17, from a small town in North Carolina, said he became 'hooked on the idea of selling' when he was only five years old after he helped out at his family yard sale. Then, in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and schools shut down, he realized he had a ton of 'extra time' on his hands. And instead of using it to play video games or watch TV like most 12-year-olds would, he decided he wanted to 'start something' that would make an impact. That's when he launched Coastal Cool, which makes swimwear from recycled plastic bottles. Flash forward to five years later and it's now wildly successful... and Holden has done it all by himself. As the company's only employee, the teen spoke exclusively with about how he transformed it into a booming business - while balancing school and dealing with negative comments from his peers as well as unfair treatment from adults who didn't take him seriously. 'Whether it was something small or big, I was always looking for a way to get something out there,' Holden explained to of his childhood. 'I wasn't really interested in video games or typical kid stuff. I was drawn to the adult world, talking to people older than me, and figuring out how things worked.' In 2020, after spending hours inside due to the pandemic, the idea for Coastal Cool hit him. He created a 'basic business plan' and pitched it to his parents. 'I didn't have a big fancy plan, but I created a simple Google Slide presentation with my goals, vision, and what I needed to get started,' he explained. 'It was a total mess. [But it came from] pure boredom, and what I believe was my attempt to escape from the chaos that was happening in that time. 'That's how Coastal Cool began - a young kid's dream to make something real during a crazy time.' Holden's parents were 'supportive,' and gave him $500 and helped him set up the 'basic foundation.' 'My parents helped me get the LLC and set up the legal framework to make the business official, that was it,' he said. Holden admitted that he had 'no idea what he was really doing' - but he 'had a vision' and was 'determined' to see it come to life. He said he got to work on learning everything he could about running a business from YouTube videos, TikTok content, podcasts, and web forums. 'You can essentially learn anything online, from people who have actually done it,' he explained. 'Podcasts were a huge piece of my knowledge, listening in on other entrepreneurs and their failures, what they did do, what they didn't do, what they would do differently. 'I've had to learn everything - marketing, website building, managing products, and distribution - all by myself. 'I built the entire Shopify website from scratch, creating the initial designs and figuring out the social media marketing. 'A lot of my experience came from trial and error. It wasn't easy, but I was motivated to turn my vision and passion into something real.' Holden explained that he didn't want to just 'build something for himself,' but he also wanted to 'create something that would make an impact' on the world. 'I researched everything, I wanted a brand that felt good, and did good… I wanted fabrics that people desired to wear, and sport both on and off the beach,' he continued. 'It's not just a business. It's a mission to promote sustainability, create some pretty cool beachwear and bring the escape of paradise to people everywhere.' He admitted that it was certainly 'hard to be taken seriously' at first due to his age, and even his peers in middle school 'thought he was crazy.' 'Many adults looked at me the same way - they thought I was too young to be serious about a business,' he shared. 'But even though it was tough, I knew deep down that I had to follow my vision. No matter what anyone said, I kept pushing forward.' Holden began by making T-shirts and hoodies before he eventually shifted his focus to swimwear. Over time, he said he started to slowly gain 'more attention and traction.' In 2023, a local newspaper featured the brand, which he described as his 'first big break.' After that, local TV networks, and larger magazines and media outlets began to take notice. Then, in April 2024, he was featured in Forbes, which changed everything for him. 'Today, Coastal Cool has grown way beyond what I initially imagined, and that sense of purpose and impact has been the driving force behind it all,' he gushed. Balancing school with running his business has been a 'challenge.' He's currently the only employee at Coastal Cool, which means he has to do everything on his own, all while making sure he shows up for his classes. 'It's a lot of work, but [over time] I've learned how to manage my time better,' he shared. 'I have a flexible schedule, I am in my junior year of high school… I go to school for two classes, then I go home and do two online college courses - this allows me to grow as a high school student, and pursue my future education with a head start. 'It can be stressful at times, but the key is finding that balance and staying organized. If it's truly your passion, you will do anything to make it become a reality.' Coastal Cool's products are made from 90 percent recycled polyester, crafted from recycled plastic bottles, and 10 percent spandex. 'They are a lightweight, breathable, made to move fabric. With UPF 50+ sun protection, and fast-drying technology - our fabrics transcend time,' he explained. As for what's next for Holden, he said his focus is 'expanding beyond e-commerce and into in-person retail.' In the end, he said he hopes that he can prove that 'age doesn't limit what you can accomplish.' 'I started Coastal Cool when I was 12 years old, with $500, a vision, and a goal. Now, at 17, I'm about to leave my junior year of high school, and I've built a thriving business that's making a difference in the world,' he concluded. 'I want other young people to know that they can start their own businesses, follow their passions, and make their dreams come true.
