Can a teenager start a business in Nigeria? 7 Business Ideas for Teenagers in Nigeria
Are you in search of business ideas for teenagers in Nigeria? What’s better than becoming financially independent at a young age? With the advancement of technology and the various opportunities in the digital space, teenagers can now turn their creative ideas into profit and pursue their lifelong dreams.
Entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates are role models in this regard. They prove that age is just a number when it comes to becoming financially independent or pursuing your dreams.
Starting a business as a teenager will lead to early financial freedom. It will also teach you the valuable lessons you need for life and long-term success. Such values include taking responsibility, perseverance, consistency, discipline, financial management, etc.
So if you are a teenager with a drive for success, explore some business ideas for teenagers in Nigeria.
Why should teenagers have businesses?
A business is an attempt to sell a product or a service to make a profit. The economy in Nigeria makes it necessary for not just adults but also teenagers to engage in business.
Also, this is a great way to help young people develop outside the classroom. There are so many life skills that are not taught in schools today; running a business is one. Running a business as a teenager prepares you for the future and helps you to build resilience. Your business could also become very successful. Some young people have written their names in history because they dared to do what others didn’t. You could become one of them, but you’ll never know unless you try.
Another great reason to start a business as a teen is that it makes your resume look great. Recruiters are interested in seeing young people do things outside of school. A resume with job experience is always preferred to one that doesn’t have any at all.
Tips to help teens choose a business idea
Sometimes the biggest problem with starting a business as a teen is finding the right business idea. With the wide number of options available, this can pose a real problem.
Here are some tips to help you choose a business as a teenager.
Think about what you like to do
Some of the business ideas for a teenager can simply come from things you already know how to do. Think deeply about the things you like to do, your hobbies, and how you can turn them into a business.
Think about what people around you need
If you look around you, you will realize that people around you have things they need. Usually, they are willing to pay for someone to meet such needs. It can be a product or a service. You could also ask the people around you to help you get ideas.
Think about a problem you can solve
Another way to get a business idea for a teenager is to think about problems you can solve. Solving some problems will fetch you more money than others. You have to remember that the ultimate goal of a business is to make a profit.
Learn a skill
Have you tried the methods above to no avail? You can try learning a skill. The options are endless. Pick something you are interested in and take out time to learn as much as you can. There’s no limit to what you can learn, thanks to online platforms like YouTube.
No matter how you choose to find that business idea, keep in mind that interest or passion matters. Trying to run a business you are not interested in is like taking a class you dislike. The results might not look good. A business might be lucrative, but it might not be for you if you have no passion for it.
Seven business ideas for a teenager in Nigeria
Thanks to digital advancement, there is a wide range of business ideas for a teenager in Nigeria.
Here are seven business ideas a teenager can start today:
Tutoring or coaching
There is probably one or two subjects that you can answer questions on even in your sleep. Many students struggle with their academics.
Have you considered tutoring students around you for a fee? You could tutor students in lower classes as well. Here’s the good news, you don’t need to be an excellent student to do this. All you need is to know these subjects well enough to teach other people.
You could help students prepare for major exams like WAEC and JSSCE. An alternative to tutoring on academic subjects is to teach a skill you have. You could give music lessons if you know how to play an instrument. Also, you could give dance lessons, etiquette classes, art classes, swimming lessons, etc. You can get customers by speaking to young people around you about your coaching services and their parents.
Social media management
There were 33 million social media users in Nigeria in January 2021. If you own a social media account, you already manage your account. A lot of people have accounts that they need help managing.
You could offer to manage these accounts for a fee. Of course, you would probably need to learn a bit more about the job of a social media manager. Also, you should learn how to run paid adverts on social media platforms.
Writing, selling arts and crafts
Many teens are naturally gifted writers and creatives. At this stage, they want to explore and express their creativity. Those things you create can be sold to enthusiastic buyers. If you write short stories, you could sell them online. You could also compile them into a book and become an author.
Some teens create jewelry, paintings, drawings, digital art, etc. These are great forms of self-expression that can also be monetized. You could start a jewelry business or become the world’s next Picasso.
Digital content creation
We all spend a major part of our lives on the internet. There is a high chance that you are already a digital content creator. You could create content for social media pages on platforms like Canva. Also, you could write captions, blog posts, etc. You could create animation videos, edit long and short-form videos. Tiktok is hot right now, and you could charge people to help them edit their 30-second to 1-minute videos.
VTU
VTU, also known as Virtual Top Up, is the transfer of airtime and data digitally. If you are a university student, this would be a particularly lucrative business for you. Some people buy data bundles up to 3 times a week. Why not become their data plug? Tell them to send you a message anytime they run out of airtime or data, and you’ll top up their phone lines. You might need help from an adult to sort out your registration. After doing this, you can easily operate a VTU business with your mobile phone or laptop.
Sell a product, skill, or service
You can make money selling a product you made or bought from a wholesaler. If you know how to bake, then you can sell cakes and other pastries. You could sew clothes for people. Also, you can sell clothes or shoes that you get from a wholesaler. You could offer make-up services and sell custom gifts and packages. The list is endless.
Babysitting
With the busy schedules of many parents, babysitting is a great way to help society and make money. You could also watch over pets for their owners.
Conclusion
There are several more business ideas for teenagers. Be sure to get the help, consent, and advice of your parents and guardians. Also, you should manage your time so that your academics don’t bear the brunt.
