At Launch Kits, we’ve launched more than 2,000 businesses online. Some of those businesses have been started by high school students, and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to help a lot of young entrepreneurs get their first customers, earn their first dollar, and learn what it’s really like to run a business. Because of that, people often ask me what I think are the best businesses for high school students to start.
I have a unique perspective on this because entrepreneurship isn’t just something I teach—it’s something I’ve watched my own kids experience firsthand. One of my kids has already graduated, two are currently in high school, another is about to enter high school, and my youngest isn’t there yet. On top of that, I teach a high school entrepreneurship class where students test ideas, conduct market research, and work through the process of building a business from the ground up. Through all of that, “I’ve seen a lot of trial and error in the high school space.”
What I’ve learned is that high school students don’t need a huge budget, a fancy office, or years of experience to start making money. In most suburban and urban communities, there are businesses you can launch for less than $100. Better yet, these businesses teach valuable skills that can help you long after high school is over.
The businesses on this list aren’t just ideas I’ve read about online. They’re businesses I’ve personally seen students launch. Some of my own kids have started them. Other students I’ve worked with have built them into profitable side jobs (we don’t call them ‘hustles’ because we have a different approach to entrepreneurship). These are all businesses that solve real problems, create recurring revenue, and help young people learn entrepreneurship in a practical way.
Why I Encourage High School Students to Start Businesses
One of the biggest reasons I encourage entrepreneurship is because of the skills students develop along the way. When you’re running a business, you’re learning how to communicate with people, manage your time, market your services, handle money, and solve problems. Those are skills that transfer into almost every career path.
I’ve always believed that high school is one of the best times to experiment with entrepreneurship because the risk is relatively low and the learning opportunities are huge. That’s why one of the things I tell my entrepreneurship students over and over is simple: “don’t be afraid to fail.“
When you’re young, every business attempt teaches you something. Even if an idea doesn’t work exactly as planned, you still gain experience that makes you more prepared for future opportunities. As I tell my students, “When you start something new in high school, you’re only ever learning and learning is only ever making you smarter and better preparing you for the world ahead.”
With that in mind, here are my five favorite businesses for high school students.
1. Lawn Mowing
I know lawn mowing isn’t the most exciting business idea in the world, but there’s a reason it has been one of the most successful businesses for high school students for decades. It has a low startup cost, it’s relatively easy to learn, and it creates recurring income because grass keeps growing.
One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that they need a huge investment to get started. That’s simply not true. You can often find a used lawn mower in FB marketplace – sometimes free – for less than $100. If you live in a neighborhood with plenty of homes nearby, you may not even need a vehicle. You can walk a mower from house to house and begin building a customer base right in your own community.
I actually started a lawn mowing business when I was in high school. Looking back, it taught me much more than how to cut grass. It taught me responsibility, communication, customer service, and how to earn repeat business.
Solve their lawn problem:
One of my favorite things about lawn mowing is the recurring revenue model. When someone hires you, they’re rarely hiring you for a single visit. Most customers need help every week or every other week throughout the growing season. Once you’ve built trust with a customer, that relationship can continue for months or even years.
Smart entrepreneurs are not afraid to fail. Failing creates valuable learning opportunities.
I’ve also seen lawn mowing open the door to additional opportunities. Some customers need help with yard cleanup, while others may need assistance during the winter like snow shoveling.
The skill development is another major advantage. Through something as simple as mowing lawns, you learn people skills, practice pitching your services, mature in scheduling, and managing money. That’s a tremendous amount of business experience packed into one simple service business.
2. Mobile Wheel Detailing
The second business on my list is one that many people overlook, but I’ve seen it work surprisingly well for high school students. Instead of offering full car detailing services, I recommend focusing on one specific part of the vehicle: the wheels.
I’ve seen students earn solid money simply by providing mobile wheel detailing services. In fact, one of my sons currently does this. The startup costs are incredibly low because you just need a five gallon bucket, a couple products and two types of sponges.
What I like about this business is that it teaches an important entrepreneurial lesson: Many people incorrectly think they need to offer a huge list of services to succeed. In reality, focusing on one thing and doing it really well can often be a better strategy.
Solve their carwash problem:
Most people take their cars through a car wash occasionally, but “most of the time when they go through a car wash, the wheels aren’t done very well.” That creates a specific problem that customers are willing to pay someone to solve.
Because you’re mobile, customers don’t need to drive anywhere. You come directly to their home and provide a convenient service. Some customers want their wheels cleaned every month. Others want them cleaned before a special event, a family gathering, or a date night. The flexibility makes it easy to fit around a high school schedule.
One of the lessons I constantly share with young entrepreneurs is this: take a big problem and break down the solution into its parts – then offer just one of those solutions. It’s called a ‘niche service’. Mobile wheel detailing is a perfect example of that principle in action.
3. Just Mulching or Just Trimming
The third business on my list continues the same theme of specialization. Instead of trying to become a full landscaping company, I encourage students to focus on one specific service. That’s why I often recommend “just mulching or just trimming.”
Many landscaping companies bundle multiple services together, but homeowners don’t always need the full package. Sometimes they simply need help spreading mulch or trimming around the edges of their yard.
Solve their mulch problem:
With mulching, the process is incredibly straightforward. “The mulch gets delivered to the house and you’re just the spreader of it.” You don’t need a truck, trailer, or expensive equipment. The homeowner orders the mulch, it gets delivered, and your job is to do the labor.
I’ve personally seen how expensive professional mulching services can be. At one point, I received a quote for $1,800 for mulch installation. Instead, I purchased the mulch directly and paid my sons to spread it. They earned good money, and I saved a significant amount in the process.
Trimming is another service that homeowners often need. Plenty of people enjoy mowing their own lawns, but they don’t want to deal with edging sidewalks, trimming fence lines, or cleaning up the hard-to-reach areas around the property.
Solve the already-mow-my-lawn problem:
Trimming is simple to start because you can buy an electric (not gas) trimmer and run it for hours, walk to local lawns, and serve those who are already mowing their own lawns.
By focusing on one specific service, you can keep your startup costs low while creating recurring weekly customers. A battery-powered trimmer and a willingness to work can go a long way.
4. Reselling on Facebook Marketplace
One of the easiest businesses for high school students to start today is reselling. If you’re willing to learn what people value and keep an eye out for opportunities, Facebook Marketplace can become a surprisingly profitable platform.
This business is ideal for students who enjoy finding deals, fixing things up, or spotting value where others don’t. I’ve seen students resell everything from collectibles and household items to furniture and electronics.
Solve the junk problem:
The great thing about reselling is that inventory can come from almost anywhere. You might find items at yard sales, help people clean out garages, repair something that was broken, or even sell things your family no longer needs. As I joke, sometimes it starts with saying, “Mom, I can probably sell that on Facebook Marketplace for five bucks.”
What I love about reselling is how much it teaches you about value. You learn negotiation. You learn pricing. You learn how to communicate with buyers. Most importantly, it assigns value to something overlooked and throw away items become $20-100+ sales.
I’ve seen students discover that an old lamp, a collectible card, or a forgotten item in a garage has real value when presented correctly. Sometimes all it takes is cleaning something up, taking better photos, and writing a good description. Those are practical business skills that can be applied far beyond Facebook Marketplace.
Another advantage is that every sale helps build your reputation. As buyers leave reviews and recommendations, your profile becomes more trusted. Over time, that trust can make it easier to sell larger and more valuable items.
Honorable Mention Before Finale: Babysitting and Nannying
Before I share my favorite business on this list, I have to mention babysitting because I’ve seen it work so well.
Both of my daughters have babysat, took a free local Red Cross First Aid certification course, and are now in demand from local households. There are also programs that help students become certified as a mother’s helper.
Solve the sitter problem:
The reason I like babysitting is that there is consistent demand. Parents are busy. Sometimes they need someone to watch the kids while they go grocery shopping. Sometimes they want to grab a cup of coffee, go for a jog, run errands, or simply enjoy a little quiet time.
It can be as simple as hanging out with their kids, or as complicated as making meals, tutoring them, transporting them to sports, house cleaning, and putting kids to bed.
What starts as babysitting can sometimes turn into something much bigger. One of my daughters eventually transitioned into nannying. (Today she’s earning more money nannying than she was making at her previous W2 employee job.)
Nannying can be especially attractive because it often involves longer-term relationships with families. Once trust is established, it can become a very steady source of income. If you go to college, it’s a great summer job when you are back at home.
5. Poop Scooping
My favorite business idea for high school students is the one I saved for last.
Dog poop removal.
One of our first clients 10 years ago was Austin and his Lakeland Poo Patrol business! He is still helping homeowners enjoy poop-free lawns and providing quite well for his family.
It might not sound glamorous, but I’ve seen how well this business can work. In fact, there are entire franchises built around pet waste removal. The reason is simple: a lot of dog owners don’t enjoy cleaning up after their pets.
The startup costs are almost nonexistent. You need a bucket, a shovel, or one of the poop pickup tools available online. That’s about it. (No, I don’t get cash if you click on that link. But the single handle ones are easier to unload into a bucket you hold in the other hand.)
Solve the dog poop problem:
What I like most about this business is how simple the value proposition is. Homeowners want a clean yard. You provide a clean yard. The service is easy to understand, easy to market, and easy to deliver.
The recurring revenue is also fantastic. Most customers sign up for weekly or bi-weekly visits. Pricing can vary based on the number of dogs and the size of the yard, but the business model is straightforward.
Your guarantee is this, that they won’t find a poop in the yard. Poop-free Promise.
I’ve seen this work in both suburban and urban environments. People appreciate the convenience, especially before parties, cookouts, family gatherings, or other events where they want their yard looking its best.
The overhead is minimal. The scheduling is flexible. And because you’re solving a problem that people genuinely want solved, it can become a very reliable source of income.
Final Thoughts on Businesses for High School Students
When I look back at all the businesses I’ve seen students start, the most successful ones usually have a few things in common. They solve a real problem, they have low startup costs, they allow students to build relationships with customers, and they create recurring revenue.
Whether it’s lawn mowing, wheel detailing in your neighborhood, grass trimming or mulching flower beds, reselling old items, babysitting, or poop scooping, these businesses don’t require a massive investment. Most can be started with less than $100 and a willingness to work.
More importantly, they teach lessons that go far beyond making money. They teach responsibility, communication, persistence, marketing, and customer service. Those skills are valuable no matter what career path you eventually choose.
I encourage students to explore entrepreneurship whenever they have the opportunity. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t need the perfect business idea. You simply need to start.
Remember, don’t be afraid to fail. Every attempt teaches you something, and every lesson makes you better prepared for whatever comes next.
At Launch Kits, we even offer a high school special for young entrepreneurs. If you’re launching a business in high school, we only charge $100 for a website and a year of hosting and support! Just email us to ask how to get started.
The important thing is to get started, learn as you go, and see where the journey takes you. Entrepreneurship has a way of teaching lessons you simply can’t learn anywhere else.
