What Every Teen Should Know About Entrepreneurship
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You might not know it yet, but a lot of you are already young entrepreneurs. Yep—that word that sounds big and fancy? It might just describe what you’ve been doing at school, after practice, or even in your group chat. Whether you’re re-selling sneakers, running a TikTok fan page that gets ad deals, or selling snacks out of your backpack (hey, we’ve all been there), you’re already flexing that entrepreneurial muscle.
So, let’s break it down. Here are 8 things every teen should know about entrepreneurship, plus a few stories that prove you might already be in the game.
-Let’s do this.
#1 Selling Snacks Is Basically Your First Startup
Remember that kid selling Skittles or Cheeto bags in class? (I was that kid, shoutout to my mom for being the supplier!) That’s entrepreneurship 101: buying in bulk, selling at a markup, and knowing your market. The classroom was our “Shark Tank.”
How This Applies to Real Life & Business: Right now, you’re learning supply and demand and profit margins without even realizing it. When you start your own business, whether it's an app or a clothing brand, you'll need to know exactly how much it costs to produce your product and what people are willing to pay for it. The kid who sold candy in the hallway learned this lesson early, and it’s the foundation of every successful company.
Action Step 1: Find a simple product you can get for cheap, like a unique kind of candy or a popular drink, and sell it to your friends for a small profit.
Action Step 2: Use a notebook or your phone notes to track how much you bought and how much you sold. This is your first profit and loss statement.
Action Step 3: Ask your customers (friends) what they want more of. This is market research.
#2 Curiosity Is Your Secret Superpower
Entrepreneurs are basically detectives. They ask: “Why does this work?” “How can I make this better?” If you’re the type who tinkers with things, edits videos until they’re just right, or figures out hacks for school projects, you’re already practicing entrepreneurial thinking.
How This Applies to Real Life & Business: This is the skill of problem-solving and innovation. When you start a business, your primary job is to solve a problem for someone. That curiosity you have now, the one that makes you question why things are the way they are, is the very same mindset that will help you identify market gaps and create products or services that no one has thought of before.
Action Step 1: Identify a small frustration in your daily life or at school. Is the school store line too long? Are you always losing your headphones?
Action Step 2: Brainstorm at least five different ways you could solve that problem. Don't worry about whether they're "realistic" yet.
Action Step 3: Pick one solution and try to create a simple prototype. This could be a drawing, a quick sketch on a napkin, or a basic model built from Legos.
#3 Social Media = Free Marketing
You’re on TikTok, Instagram, maybe even YouTube. If you’ve ever hyped up your friend’s art, shared your own edits, or built a following around a hobby, you’ve been doing digital marketing. Companies pay thousands for this kind of reach, what does this mean for you? You’ve already cracked the code.
How This Applies to Real Life & Business: Your ability to build a community and create engaging content is a superpower. In the business world, this is called brand building and audience engagement. When you launch your own business, you'll have a massive head start because you already know how to connect with people online. You'll be able to tell your brand's story and find your first customers without spending a dime on ads.
Action Step 1: Start a themed account on Instagram or TikTok for a hobby you love, like gaming, art, fashion, or fitness.
Action Step 2: Post consistently, at least 3-4 times a week, to see what kind of content you post gets the most engagement [likes, comments, shares, saves].
Action Step 3: Respond to comments and direct messages. Building a relationship with your followers is key.
#4 Side Hustles Start Small (And That’s Okay)
Babysitting, mowing lawns, selling handmade bracelets, tutoring, these aren’t just “little gigs.” They’re SIDE HUSTLES. Every entrepreneur starts small. Amazon started as a tiny online bookstore. So your bracelet biz could be the next big thing or lead up to what you’re true business purpose is, we call this your “why”.
How This Applies to Real Life & Business: These small jobs are teaching you discipline, customer service, and time management. The human who is reliable and shows up on time to mow a lawn is also the one who will meet deadlines and build a reputation for their future company. The habits you form now like showing up, delivering on your promises, and handling money. Are the exact same ones that build a successful business from the ground up.
Action Step 1: Turn a skill you already have, like tutoring a younger student or walking a neighbor’s dog, into a service you can offer.
Action Step 2: Create a simple flyer on Canva or ChatGPT and post on social media to let people know what you're offering and your rates.
Action Step 3: Create a testimonial or review video from your first few customers. This builds your reputation.
#5 Friends = Future Business Partners
That group chat where you brainstorm funny memes? That’s a creative team. The garage band that charges $20 for a backyard gig? That’s a startup. Your crew might just be your future co-founders.
How This Applies to Real Life & Business: Right now, you're learning teamwork and collaboration. In the business world, no one succeeds alone. You're building trust and communication skills with a crew who knows your strengths and weaknesses. The ability to work with others, delegate tasks, and hold each other accountable is crucial for building a company. That shared experience of hustling together now is the perfect foundation for a future partnership.
Action Step 1: Find one or two friends with different skills than you (ex., if you're a good writer, find a friend who's good at art or marketing).
Action Step 2: Propose a small project you can do together, like creating a short video series or designing T-shirts.
Action Step 3: Define everyone's role and responsibility before you start. This is a basic partnership agreement.
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#6 Failing Fast Is Part of Winning
Ever tried to sell something that nobody wanted? (Yep, me too.) Every “flop” is actually a free lesson. Entrepreneurs don’t just win they learn, adjust, and keep going.
How This Applies to Real Life & Business: This is muscle you are working builds resilience and hands on learning. The business world is full of setbacks. Products don’t sell, marketing campaigns fail, and deals fall through. Your experience with a small-scale failure now is building YOUR mental toughness you'll need later. When you launch a business ESPECIALLY your first business, you’ll learn to analyze what went wrong, make changes, and pivot without letting a single failure stop you from trying again.
Action Step 1: Try a new idea for a business or project for one week.
Action Step 2: At the end of the week, sit down and write down what worked and what didn't. Be honest.
Action Step 3: Based on your notes, decide to either try again with changes, or stop and move on to a new idea.
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#7 Money Management = Freedom
Whether it’s $20 from lawn work or $200 from a sneaker flip, how you handle money matters. Saving a little, reinvesting into your idea, or even just tracking your cash flow sets you up for bigger moves later.
How This Applies to Real Life & Business: You’re learning the basics of financial literacy and capital allocation. As a business owner, you will be responsible for your company’s finances. Knowing how to save for a big purchase, reinvest profits back into your business (like buying more supplies for a better markup), and keeping track of your money is the difference between a business that stays afloat and one that crashes and burns. Control your money now, so it doesn’t control you later.
Action Step 1: Get a separate bank accounts or digital wallets (like Cash App, Venmo, or Apple Pay) just for the money you earn from your side hustle.
Action Step 2: Practice the 50/30/20 rule with any money you earn: 50% for your needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings or investing back into your business.
Action Step 3: Every time you get paid, write down where the money came from and where you plan to spend it.
#8 Your Age Is Your Advantage
Here’s the thing: you don’t need a degree, or a fancy title to start something. As a teen, you’ve got energy, creativity, and fewer “what ifs” holding you back. Companies spend millions trying to think like teens! You’re already there.
How This Applies to Real Life & Business: Your perspective and fresh ideas are incredibly valuable. You live in the digital age and are the trendsetters! When you start a business, you'll be able to build something that truly resonates with a younger markets because YOU are that market. Don’t wait until you’re “older” to start. The best time is now.
Action Step 1: Go to a free online course site like Coursera or Khan Academy and take a beginner course on a skill you’re interested in, like coding or graphic design.
Action Step 2: Find a problem your friends are facing, like finding cool clothes or organizing group projects, and brainstorm a solution you could build or sell.
Action Step 3: Create a simple one-page plan for your idea, outlining what it is, who it's for, and how you’ll get it to them.
Wrap-Up: You’re Already a Young Entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurship isn’t about suits and ties. It’s about spotting opportunities, solving problems, and having the guts to try. Whether you’re selling candy, running a side hustle, or just brainstorming the next big app with your friends you’re already in the game.
So go for it! Give it you all. Start messy. Because the world NEEDS your ideas, and who knows? We might be working together one day.
-Thank you for Reading!
Let's get to work. 💯
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Your 3-Step Entrepreneurial Blueprint
Hey, listen. We just walked through how so many of the things you're already doing are the same skills that big-time CEOs used to build their empires. This isn't about wearing a suit or having a fancy office. It's about recognizing your own strengths and seeing the world as a place full of opportunities. This is your personal roadmap to getting started, no matter how small you start.
Step 1: Recognize the Skills You Already Have
You don't need to learn a whole new language to get started. You're already speaking it. Look at the habits and hustles you’re already good at—they are your first lessons in business.
Selling snacks isn't just a hustle; it’s your first lesson in supply and demand.
Building a following on social media is hands-on digital marketing.
Small side jobs like mowing lawns or babysitting teach you discipline and customer service.
Step 2: Understand the Mindset
Entrepreneurship is as much about your way of thinking as it is about what you do. The right mindset will help you see challenges not as roadblocks, but as puzzles to solve.
Curiosity is your secret weapon. Asking “Why?” and “How can I make this better?” is the start of every great idea.
Your friends are your future team. Learning to work with them on projects now prepares you for building a business later.
Failing is just a lesson. Every setback is a chance to learn, adjust, and come back stronger. It's the only way to build resilience.
Step 3: Take Action and Start Now
You have the skills and the mindset. The final step is simple: stop waiting and start doing. Your age is your biggest advantage.
Get control of your money. Use a simple digital wallet to track what you earn and what you spend.
Your age is your superpower. You're already tapped into what's next and what's cool. Don’t wait until you're "older" to start.
Start small, be bold, and learn as you go. The best entrepreneurs start with an idea and learn everything else along the way.