8 Businesses You Can Start With Just a Laptop and Wi-Fi

No matter your age, you can start a successful business with minimal resources. By using digital tools and platforms, you can build an online venture that helps you pay for college, save to move out, or set aside money to reinvest in your business down the line. This article covers eight practical business ideas for teen entrepreneurs; all you need is a computer and internet access.

1. Virtual Assistant Services

A virtual assistant helps businesses with remote tasks like scheduling, managing emails, making phone calls, or booking services. Demand for virtual assistants grew by 35% in 2024, showing that many companies are looking to hire remote support. To get started, you’ll need strong organizational and communication skills. You can set up profiles on freelancing platforms or reach out to small businesses on LinkedIn that might need help.

2. Ghostwriting

Many large companies are always looking for skilled writers to create marketing content like blog posts, social media captions, product descriptions, marketing emails, and more. Ghostwriting means writing content on someone else’s behalf, and it can be a high-paying opportunity—especially if you’re good at capturing someone else’s voice.

To get started:

• Hone your writing skills through practice and feedback
• Build an online portfolio to showcase your work
• Offer your services to local businesses or individuals who need help with content
• Join writing communities to connect with potential clients and discover new opportunities

3. Online Tutoring

Good at math, art, or science? If there’s a subject you’re confident in, you can start tutoring peers or younger students. It’s a good way to make money using what you already know. Try spreading the word through your school’s bulletin board (just check with your principal first), or post on social media.

You can keep it simple by tutoring over Zoom and offering flexible pricing, like:

• Hourly rates
• Packages (e.g., 5 sessions at a set price)
• A discounted first session to get people interested

4. Social Media Management

If you’re already spending time scrolling through social media trends or have built up a bit of a following, you might be able to turn that into a business. Plenty of small businesses need help managing their social media—and 76% of them say social media has a positive impact on their performance.

Here’s how to get started:

• Learn how different platforms work
• Use your own account as a portfolio or create mock posts to show your style
• Offer to track engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares so clients can see the value you bring

5. Print-on-Demand (POD) Merchandise

If you love designing t-shirts or mugs, print-on-demand could be your next venture. Print-on-demand is a service that prints and ships your products only after an order is placed, meaning you don’t need to store any inventory. Use tools like Canva to create designs, launch a store on platforms like Printful, and start promoting your products on social media.

6. Affiliate Marketing

If you’re passionate about a niche like mental health, beauty, tech, or finance, you can earn commissions by sharing referral links for products or services in those industries. Just sign up for affiliate programs or other brand-specific partner programs to get your custom link. Post them in blogs, videos, or with your followers, and once people start buying through your links, you can earn money around the clock.

7. Online Course Creation

If you’ve figured out a simple way to learn an instrument or have great organizational tips, why not turn that knowledge into a course? You can teach others and earn money doing it.

To get started:

• Outline your course content and break it into easy-to-follow sections
• Use platforms like Udemy to host your course
• Promote it on social media and through email newsletters to reach your audience

8. Digital Product Sales

Ever downloaded a budgeting template, journal, or eBook? That’s how a lot of people earn money online. You can do the same by creating digital products like graphics or social media templates. Use tools like Canva to design them, then sell your finished products through platforms like Etsy or your own website. Promote your products on social media to reach more people and start generating income.

Ready to Get Started?

Starting a business isn’t just about having money; you can build something successful with limited resources. Trying out different ideas helps you gain experience and start earning along the way. Keep learning, stay focused, and don’t give up on your path as an entrepreneur.

If you’re a Florida high school student with big plans for business and college, the Kantner Foundation scholarship could help. See how to apply today.