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When I was a teenager, I remember focusing heavily on grades, after-school clubs, and volunteering. That also seems to be typical of most other American teenagers. But changing times are making young people savvier when it comes to how they spend their time. Some of the best opportunities out there for young people need to be created rather than discovered. Entrepreneurship gives young people the opportunity to begin building their empire and their fortunes.

While it is common for a young person to question whether they are ready to start a business and have anything to offer others, this list shows that just about any interest or ability can turn into a successful business.

Blogging

If you enjoy writing about a certain topic or are an expert in a certain area, then blogging may be for you. By getting people to read your blog, you can make money from advertising and affiliate marketing. Many bloggers are able to make millions of dollars a year. A new paid blogging site called Steemit can also help you get your blog off the ground and give you some extra money.

Childcare

Starting a childcare business can be an unexpected way to make a ton of money. Babysitting is a flexible way to make money because you can work in the evening and on weekends. It can also be very lucrative if turned into a full-time business, whereby you run a daycare center at your home or run a freelance company matching babysitters and parents.

Delivery Service

A delivery service for items, such as groceries, is a good idea if you have reliable transportation. It can also become immensely profitable if you decide to grow it by hiring other delivery drivers and adding other locations.

Dog Sitting and Walking

When people go to work or travel, they often need someone to look after their furry friends. Sites like Rover and DogVacay can connect you to dog owners who need dog sitting and dog walking services, or you can start your own pet sitting business. Doing this full time can lead to a six-figure income when coupled with expertise in another pet-related area, such as dog grooming or training.

Dropshipping and Reselling

Dropshipping is different from a typical supply chain because when you set up an ecommerce shop and sell to consumers, you do not have to buy the products beforehand. You instead submit the customer’s order to the manufacturer, who sends it directly to the customer. In return, you receive a commission for your role in the sale. Dropshipping involves choosing a niche, building an ecommerce site, and marketing to potential clients. It can make you millions, but it is also very competitive. In addition to creating your own ecommerce site, you can try dropshipping or reselling items on sites like Ebay and Amazon.

Errand Service

Most people absolutely hate running errands. So a service offering to do these mundane tasks for people is sure to be popular. It can also become quite profitable if you expand it by hiring contractors and adding locations.

Handmade Craft

Sites like Etsy are a great way for the artistic and creative types to make money selling handmade crafts. Some people are able to make six-figure incomes from this if they are talented and work hard.

Landscaping

A landscaping business can include services like snow and leaf removal, lawn mowing, trimming hedges, killing weeds, and gardening. You can start out small by just offering one or a few of these services to begin with so that it is not a huge investment of your time and money. If you decide you like it and want to make more money, you can start hiring more people and investing in more equipment.

Party Entertainment

Have you ever dreamed of being a princess? What about a party princess? Providing character entertainment at children’s parties can be an amazing side job. It is also well-paid, averaging $50 per hour plus tips.

Social Media Consulting

In today’s world, social media is very important for businesses. It can mean better customer engagement, more sales, and business growth. It is no wonder, then, that businesses are willing to spend money on social media consultants to help them maximize their potential on different social networks. If you are good with social media, then consider becoming an expert in a certain area and offering it as a service to businesses in need of your help.

T-Shirt Design

This idea is similar to dropshipping in that you present the product to clients, but it is not actually bought from manufacturers until customers order it. Sites like Teespring make it super easy to open up an online clothing store and make clothing designs with different themes. It can take a while to be successful at it because you have to learn about your audience to get them to buy your products. But there have been countless success stories and several cases of people becoming millionaires.

Tutoring

The tutoring market is exploding as college admissions become more competitive and more people realize the benefits of one-on-one instruction. While this is a saturated market, there are many niches that tutors can specialize in to set themselves apart.

Web Design

If you are tech-savvy, web design might be the right path for you. Even simple websites for small clients can make you thousands of dollars. With time, you will be able to improve your skills and reputation. You may then find yourself doing this full time and being booked out for months.

Youtube

Having a popular Youtube channel is a great way to become very rich. If you are entertaining and outgoing, you might want to consider making videos on Youtube. You would then be able to make money from advertisements.

Have other great ideas for young entrepreneurs? Leave them in the comments below!