Help Your Teens Earn Their Own Money

by Laurie Neumann

With the economic woes surrounding us, many parents are looking for ways for their teens to make money. Teens can have some pretty expensive desires, so it is a good idea to give them ways they can make money themselves. Not only will it help them, but it can take some stress off the family budget as well.

How about encouraging them to start their own home-based business? They will not only make some money, but will learn some valuable leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

Help your teen assess his interests, skills, gifts, and experience. Is he a gifted writer? Does he work well with young kids? Is she the baker in your house? Is he an avid sports fan?

Then do some brainstorming and come up with ideas on how they can build a business and make money around what they enjoy or are good at

It is important to help them get involved in something they will enjoy. Building a business is hard work, and there will be challenging times. They are much more likely to stick with it if it’s something they are interested in.

Let’s look at some ideas to help your teens to make money.

Offer a Service

They could offer a service such as babysitting, pet sitting, dog walking, running errands, cleaning for an elderly neighbor, or teaching music lessons. Think about what your teen can offer that others would be glad to pay for.

Sell a Product

Your teens could sell a product they make themselves, such as soap or baked goods. Maybe they like to make craft items and could sell their products at craft sales, church events, flea markets, or online.

They could also join up with a direct sales company and sell their product. If you choose the latter, make sure you research the company thoroughly before they get involved. In many cases, you, the parent, may have to sign up for them if the company has a minimum age requirement.

They could also become an affiliate and sell someone else’s product online. Then, every time they make a sale through their affiliate link, they earn a commission. They could find products that would be in a field they enjoy and build a website around the topic.

Sell on eBay

A popular idea for teens is to sell on eBay. eBay is a worldwide marketplace, so they won’t have to market their business as much as they would another one. They can go to garage sales and flea markets and pick up items that are selling. If they really get involved with the business, they can also purchase items from wholesalers and resell them at a higher price. It will take some research on their part, to determine what sells and for how much. But it is a great way for them to learn some practical research skills.

These are some practical ways for your teens to earn some money. Hopefully, they will enjoy it, learn from it, and profit from it.

Biographical Information

Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author below. Content provided by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC.

Laurie Neumann, of www.christianhomebusinessconnection.com offers a free newsletter to provide you with information on starting a home-based business. She also has compiled a guide you can purchase with over fifty legitimate and researched ways to start a home-based business. Visit http://www.legitimate-homebasedbusinesses.com

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