The following 10 or 11 weeks provide American youths several exciting opportunities to develop their entrepreneurial skills. Instead of working a summer job for someone else, why not build your own income. Take a page out of the books of billionaires like Richard Branson, Elon Musk and Mark Cuban. All three started building on their first million at very young ages. Imagine that the lessons you learn this summer could pave your way to future success by the time summer break is over.
Let’s use these three billionaires for motivation.
Richard Branson spent one summer break breeding parakeets and selling them to his 11-year-old classmates. Unfortunately, his mother was less excited and let the birds free in the fall when schools reopened.
Elon Musk was only 12 years old when he coded a video game. The video game called Blastar showed his fascination with space already at that young age. Subsequently, a PC magazine bought the code for the video game from him for about $500. After that, there was no stopping him.
Mark Cuban started his first business venture at age 12. He needed money to buy an expensive pair of basketball shoes and sold garbage bags to pay for it.
Summer job ideas for crafty entrepreneurs
Face Masks will likely form part of our societies for the near future. Therefore, it is the ideal opportunity for anyone with basic sewing skills to make money. Make them unique by using fun designs or make them in customer-requested colors. Moreover, be creative and add a sports team or school logo. In Snohomish, Washington, sisters Zoe and Marley Macris make and sell face masks for around $6 each.
Hair accessories are another easy sewing project. Use your creativity and imagination to make bandanas and scrunchies in the colors of sports teams or schools. For instance, a Canadian teenager established a business called Scrunchie and Go, selling scrunchies for a bit more than $6 each.
Making and selling tie-dyed clothes can be a good start for crafty entrepreneurs. Do it on order for customers who supply the clothes for you to make your magic. Alternatively, buy thrift store T-shirts and hoodies and make them unique with creative tie-dying. Additionally, you can use TikTok to make videos showing your technique. For example, a young entrepreneur started Tied by Len during the lockdown, selling tie-dyed shorts at $18 and sweatshirts at $35.
Lemonade stands will always draw customers. Ice-cold drinks on hot days are irresistible. Essentially, you can build up the business to peak around August 20, which is national Lemonade Day. Be proactive, offer your customers a sanitizing wipe, and include bottled or canned drinks for those who don’t want to buy open containers.
Summer job ideas for service providers
Most adults are very busy navigating their career and family responsibilities. They would welcome entrepreneurs who could provide services like mowing, babysitting and dog walking.
Lawn mowing services could include extras like weeding the garden, taking out the trash and cleaning cars.
Dog walking is fun for animal lovers. At the same time, it is a service that you could extend to pet sitting when owners are on vacation or business trips. Going prices for dog walking range from $20 to $30 per half-hour.
Babysitting is a dual-purpose job. Along with the financial gains, young entrepreneurs can build skills like time management, leadership and responsibility. Rates average at around $16.75 per hour for only one child and about $19 for two kids. However, rates could be higher if you have an American Red Cross certificate for basic child care skills and safety, a course offered to kids from age 11.
Summer job ideas for techies
Students who are enthusiastic about technology have multiple options. For example, if you’re a social media wizard with TikTok and Instagram experience, you can offer marketing services to local businesses. An example of success in this field is Temper Thompson, who began such a service as an eighth-grader. Subsequently, he followed the service up with selling online marketing courses and earned $30,000 per month by the time he was 17.
Similarly, there are opportunities for YouTubers with up-to-date knowledge of tech and toys. Essentially, if they have strong opinions, they can start a channel that streams product reviews and unboxing. Can you make money this way? Ask Ryan Kaji, who made $26 million per year at age 8!
Put your creativity and imagination to work by creating comics or writing fiction. Sell illustrated comics, short chapter books or picture books to family and friends. You could even sell your creations to a publisher. Follow the lead of Stan Lee, creator of Marvel Comic books who started writing as a teen who sold his creations to publishers.
Do you have photography-related skills? Offer portrait sessions, touch-up editing for eye-catching Instagram feeds. Beginners can charge $100 per photo session and build the business by offering discounts for groups or first-time customers.
Summer job ideas for those with teaching skills
If your skills include motivating others and communication, you could tutor younger students in subjects in which you excel. For example, if your math skills exceed those of your peers, use your skills as an opportunity to make money.
If your skills include playing instruments, offer classes as a music tutor. Most importantly. while helping others to develop their talents you will get valuable practice time and be paid for it.
Valuable advice from Richard Branson for student entrepreneurs
Branson used lawn mowing as an example, but his advice is valuable for all.
Ensure the pricing is correct, and it is okay to ask customers how much they would pay. Furthermore, if offering the first service for free will bring more customers, then go for it.
Make sure your equipment is in good order and won’t let you down.
Spend time on market research to identify those who would be more likely to need your services.
Always look for additional services you can add for extra money.
It might be a good idea to offer a portion of your proceeds as a donation to local charities. Helping the community might bring you more business.
Importantly, never let failures and disappointments break your speed! They are more valuable than you might think.
Most importantly
You know the saying about all work and no play. SO PLEASE — make time for fun too.
