With the average teen summer wage at $15.68 an hour—36% higher than in 2019—motivated high school students have more earning potential than ever. But teens who think creatively are not just working for others. They are starting their own businesses that offer more flexibility, better pay, and valuable experience for the future.
As the founder of WIT (Whatever It Takes), I’ve seen many teens turn simple ideas into profitable businesses. In fact, many of these ventures do better than traditional jobs. Research shows 66% of teens aged 13-17 want to start a business—and with good reason. Early business experience builds useful skills that lead to future success. Teens who work during the summer earn 14-16% more in their twenties and are 7% more likely to graduate on time. With over 6 million teens trying to get traditional summer jobs, creating your own opportunity stands out.
Here are five simple side hustles that any driven teen can start this summer with low startup costs and a real chance to make $5,000 before the school year begins:
1. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
Summer is when many families travel, so pets need care. This job doesn’t require much investment and can bring in steady income.
How to Start:
Create a one-page plan that lists your services and prices. Share it on neighborhood apps like Nextdoor, hand out flyers at pet stores, and ask family or neighbors to spread the word.
Pricing Tip:
Charge $25–30 per day for dog walking (two 30-minute walks) and $50–75 per day for overnight pet sitting. You can charge more by offering extra services like watering plants or sending daily photo updates.
Earning Plan:
With 3–4 regular walking clients ($150/week) and a few weekend pet-sitting jobs ($300/weekend), you can reach your goal. Since many clients will rebook if you’re dependable, this work often repeats.
2. Social Media Content Creation
Many small businesses know they need social media posts, but they don’t have time or skills to make them. Teens who are good with phones and editing apps can help.
How to Start:
Create a simple sample of your editing or design work. Pick a specific type of business—like coffee shops or gyms—and offer to create content. For example: “I can make eight short videos for $300.”
Your Advantage:
Offer to do it all—filming, editing, adding music, and writing captions. Business owners want help but don’t have time to learn everything themselves.
Earning Plan:
With just two clients a month at $300 each, you can make $1,800 over the summer. Grow to 3–4 clients a month by mid-summer, and you’ll reach $5,000. This hustle grows well with experience.
3. Personalized Tutoring
Students always need help with school, and summer is a good time to catch up. If you’re strong in certain subjects, tutoring can be a great way to earn money.
How to Start:
Pick 2–3 subjects you’re confident in. Make a flyer with your subjects, experience, and hourly rate. Share it with neighborhood families and local parent groups online.
Smart Approach:
Offer help in areas with high demand like SAT prep, essay writing, or math skills. Focusing on a specific subject helps you charge more and attract serious students.
Earning Plan:
If you charge $30–40 per hour and tutor 10–15 hours a week, you can reach your goal. Tutoring doesn’t require much except your time, so profits are high.
4. Lawn Care and Yard Services
Summer means yard work, and many people are willing to pay for help. If you’re okay with outdoor work, this can be a steady job.
How to Start:
You can use your own tools or ask to use the client’s. Offer basic services like mowing, or create packages that include extra options like edging or garden work.
How to Grow:
Start with friends and neighbors, then ask for referrals. Offering regular weekly service helps you stay booked.
Earning Plan:
Charge $30–50 per yard, and with 10–15 jobs a week, you could earn $1,200–1,800 a month. Add services like weeding or trimming bushes to increase your earnings.
5. Making and Selling Custom Products
If you enjoy crafting, art, or design, selling handmade items can be a fun and profitable way to earn money.
How to Start:
Pick one type of product to focus on—like tumblers, drawings, jewelry, or shirts. Keep your designs simple and consistent to build a brand.
Where to Sell:
Start an Instagram page to share your process and products. Also try selling at local markets or online sites like Etsy or Depop.
Earning Plan:
Let’s say each item costs $8 to make and you sell it for $25. To make $5,000, you’d need to sell about 300 items. With smart planning and marketing, that’s possible over a summer.
How to Turn Ideas Into Income
What separates those who think about making money and those who actually do it is action. Here are three steps successful teen business owners take:
1. Start Simple (MVP):
Begin with a basic version of your service. If you’re doing lawn care, start with mowing. If you’re creating content, offer just one video to start. Improve as you go.
2. Market Daily:
Spend 30–60 minutes a day promoting yourself. That could be sending messages to new clients, posting on community pages, or showing off your work. Being consistent matters more than doing it all at once.
3. Stay Organized:
Use simple templates for messaging, scheduling, and keeping track of payments. This helps you grow faster without stress.
One WIT student, Maya, made over $6,200 last summer by selling personalized AP study guides. She created a simple template system for five subjects she knew well and charged $75 per guide. She only worked about 20 hours a week.
Looking Ahead: More Than Just Money
While $5,000 is a great summer goal, the skills you build are even more valuable. Running your own business teaches you how to manage money, talk to customers, and solve problems—skills that help with college and careers.
Young business owners learn how to find needs, plan their time, handle challenges, and keep improving. These real-world skills give you an advantage when applying to schools or jobs later on.
The most important thing is to start. Use what you have now and improve with practice. By offering helpful services, being reliable, and building good relationships, teens can turn a summer side hustle into something bigger and long-lasting.
