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Summer Businesses for High School Students?

Posted by Cliff on from the lemonade-stands-are-so-blazé dept.

An anonymous reader asks: "A friend and I are going into our final year of high school, and given a variety of factors (the relative paucity of technology jobs for HS students, etc.), would like to start our own business. We'll probably have about $1000 in capital, but (in effect) start out with no other resources other than our own skills (technical and otherwise). We have no constant access to a car, which means on-site tech support is effectively out. We'd like to start something in the technology field (IT, software design, hardware construction - we can solder, web design, etc.), but are open to any suggestions. We'd also like some sort of business we can start this summer, but can continue to maintain. What do you suggest as a business idea for the summer->longer term?"

4 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. Where do you live? by schnits0r · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I beleive if you live in certain places, they pay you for donating sperm. My summer job when I was a teen, was more like summer volunteer work.

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  2. CMFH - Code Monkeys For Hire (LLC) by TechnoBoffin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Programming of any sort (including web design) is probably the most portable of the IT trades. You can do it from your house, or from your dorm room if and when you go off to college. Beyond that, maybe building custom-order systems for people, but it's unlikely you could ramp that up in 3 months. You might also check out itmoonlighter.com for some available contracting work in your area which might not require you to be on-site.

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  3. Have you considered mowing grass? by Fortunato_NC · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Since you guys are (most likely) minors and can legally repudiate any contracts you sign, many folks are going to be rightly cautious about dealing with you. You can make decent summer cash with a gas can and a lawnmower. I would have said get a paper route, but most paper carriers these days are retired folks with station wagons. One retired guy with a station wagon replaced me and my two brothers, plus a few other paper carriers when we gave up our routes in the late early 1990's. If you have friends who run a business, you might be able to get some web design work tossed your way, but I think you'll find that mowing grass will provide a more steady stream of income. Sorry to be a buzz kill, but I was 16 once, too. Don't lose your entreprenurial bent, though - it will serve you well once you join the majority. I've started 3 companies - cratered two and sold one, but I've had a lot more fun than my friends who've stuck with their "safe" jobs.

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  4. Re:Easy by FLOOBYDUST · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Three (outsourcing proof) jobs that will give you skills to last a lifetime....
    1. Electricians helper.
    Find a local guy in the neighborhood who has a sign plastered on his truck, work cheap, watch and learn...return on investement 3,000%
    2. Plumbers helper;It may be stinky but they make good $$$$
    3. Carpenters helper...See # 1 above
    Why no Computer ideas?
    easy
    1) you are no Bill Gates or Michael Dell. They never asked a bunch of timewasting web browsers for job advice, they just did it. Same with Steve Jobs
    2) Those three jobs will teach you the meaning of the word work... a very important thing to know.

    3) you may develop a life long part time career