Side Quest HQ field guide
25 Business Ideas Teens Can Start for Under $100
Choose a simple offer, test it with people you know, and use parent-approved guardrails. The $5K goal is a challenge, not a guaranteed income result.
01
Neighborhood dog walking
Startup: $0–$25
Walk a dog on a set route, refresh water, and send a quick update after each visit.
- Who might hire them
- Busy neighbors, families with new puppies, and people working long shifts.
- Simple first step
- Ask three families you already know if a short weekly walk would help.
- Safety note
- A parent should approve routes, dogs, schedules, and every client relationship.
02
Pet-sitting drop-ins
Startup: $0–$20
Feed pets, refresh water, play with them, and follow a simple care checklist while owners travel.
- Who might hire them
- Families taking weekend trips or vacations.
- Simple first step
- Create a one-page pet-care checklist and offer a trial visit for a familiar family.
- Safety note
- Use parent-approved homes, never handle unknown animals alone, and keep emergency contacts handy.
03
Yard cleanup
Startup: $10–$45
Rake leaves, pull weeds, sweep patios, gather branches, and bag light yard waste.
- Who might hire them
- Neighbors who need seasonal help or a tidy yard before guests arrive.
- Simple first step
- Choose one simple task and make a before-and-after checklist.
- Safety note
- A parent should approve equipment; skip ladders, power tools, and unsafe weather.
04
Car interior refresh
Startup: $20–$65
Vacuum mats, wipe approved surfaces, clean windows, and organize loose items with the owner’s permission.
- Who might hire them
- Busy parents, commuters, and families preparing for a trip.
- Simple first step
- Practice on a family car and take clear before-and-after photos.
- Safety note
- Work in a visible driveway with adult-approved products; never drive a client’s car.
05
Trash-bin cleaning
Startup: $20–$70
Rinse and deodorize outdoor bins using a brush, hose, and customer-approved cleaner.
- Who might hire them
- Households that want cleaner bins after pickup day.
- Simple first step
- Test your process on your household bins and time the work.
- Safety note
- Wear gloves and eye protection; a parent should approve chemicals and water access.
06
Babysitting helper
Startup: $0–$20
Play games, read, prepare simple snacks, and help keep younger kids engaged while a parent is nearby.
- Who might hire them
- Friends, relatives, and neighbors who need an extra pair of hands.
- Simple first step
- Offer a two-hour mother’s-helper session to a trusted family.
- Safety note
- Use parent-approved families and settings; teens should not take on responsibilities beyond their training.
07
Mother’s helper
Startup: $0–$15
Entertain children, fold simple laundry, reset play areas, or prep activity supplies while a parent is home.
- Who might hire them
- Parents working from home or caring for multiple children.
- Simple first step
- List three age-appropriate tasks you can reliably do.
- Safety note
- The hiring parent stays present; clarify boundaries and emergency information first.
08
Basic mending and alterations
Startup: $15–$60
Sew buttons, hem simple items, repair small tears, or organize a clothing repair pile.
- Who might hire them
- Families with uniforms, school clothes, or minor repairs waiting to be done.
- Simple first step
- Complete three practice repairs on your own clothes and photograph the results.
- Safety note
- Use needles and irons only with household guidance; avoid formalwear or expensive items until skilled.
09
Closet reset
Startup: $0–$30
Sort clothing by category, make donation piles, fold items, and create a simple keep/store plan.
- Who might hire them
- Busy families, students, and adults preparing for a move or new season.
- Simple first step
- Organize one family closet and write down the steps you followed.
- Safety note
- Only work in client-approved areas and protect privacy around personal items.
10
Garage organization helper
Startup: $10–$40
Group supplies, label bins, sweep floors, and make donation or recycling piles with the owner.
- Who might hire them
- Families who want to find gear, tools, or seasonal items more easily.
- Simple first step
- Offer a two-hour reset focused on one wall or zone.
- Safety note
- An adult should handle heavy lifting, chemicals, tools, and anything sharp or hazardous.
11
Pressure-washing assistant
Startup: $0–$25
Help an adult set up, move furniture, rinse surfaces, and manage before-and-after photos for approved jobs.
- Who might hire them
- Homeowners getting patios, driveways, or outdoor furniture ready.
- Simple first step
- Work alongside a trained adult on one family project first.
- Safety note
- A responsible adult must operate equipment and supervise water, electrical, and surface risks.
12
Window cleaning
Startup: $15–$45
Clean reachable exterior or interior windows, screens, and glass doors with simple supplies.
- Who might hire them
- Neighbors wanting brighter windows before events or seasonal changes.
- Simple first step
- Create a price for a small set of ground-level windows.
- Safety note
- Ground-level only unless a parent approves otherwise; never use ladders alone.
13
Plant watering and garden checks
Startup: $0–$20
Water indoor plants, check garden beds, bring in mail, and send visit updates while clients travel.
- Who might hire them
- Neighbors away for weekends, vacations, or work travel.
- Simple first step
- Make a plant-care log with dates, photos, and watering notes.
- Safety note
- Use parent-approved homes and avoid entering alone if that is not appropriate for your family.
14
Vacation home check-ins
Startup: $0–$15
Do a simple walk-through, check lights and doors, bring in packages, and report anything unusual.
- Who might hire them
- Trusted neighbors away for a few days.
- Simple first step
- Offer a checklist-based visit to one family your parents know well.
- Safety note
- Parents should coordinate access, schedules, and what to do in an emergency.
15
Social media support for local businesses
Startup: $0–$30
Turn a business owner’s notes or photos into a small batch of posts and a basic content calendar.
- Who might hire them
- Local shops, coaches, service providers, and community groups.
- Simple first step
- Create three sample posts for a business you know, without publishing them.
- Safety note
- A parent should review client expectations; the owner keeps account control and approves every post.
16
Event photography helper
Startup: $0–$75
Capture candid photos, detail shots, and simple portraits, then organize files for a family or local event.
- Who might hire them
- Families, school teams, community groups, and small events.
- Simple first step
- Build a ten-photo sample gallery at a family gathering with permission.
- Safety note
- Use parent-approved events and get consent before photographing or sharing images of people.
17
Short-form video editing
Startup: $0–$25
Trim clips, add captions, organize footage, and create simple vertical videos from client-supplied content.
- Who might hire them
- Local businesses, coaches, creators, and school organizations.
- Simple first step
- Edit two practice clips into a 20-second sample reel.
- Safety note
- Use client-approved media and keep files private; a parent can review any paid agreement.
18
Tutoring and study help
Startup: $0–$20
Help younger students practice a subject, prepare flashcards, organize homework, or build a study routine.
- Who might hire them
- Families with younger students needing consistent support.
- Simple first step
- Choose one subject you can explain clearly and create a 30-minute session outline.
- Safety note
- Meet in parent-approved public or supervised spaces; never present yourself as a licensed teacher.
19
Tech help for seniors
Startup: $0–$15
Teach phone basics, organize photos, set up video calls, or explain how to use common apps.
- Who might hire them
- Older adults who want patient, one-on-one help.
- Simple first step
- Write a simple lesson plan for one task, such as sending photos.
- Safety note
- Clients keep control of passwords, payments, and accounts; a parent should approve every visit.
20
Holiday decorating helper
Startup: $0–$30
Set out decorations, organize bins, hang approved lights at ground level, and pack items away neatly.
- Who might hire them
- Families who want help before or after holidays.
- Simple first step
- Offer a two-hour decorating or takedown session to a trusted neighbor.
- Safety note
- Avoid roofs, ladders, and electrical work; adults handle anything high or heavy.
21
Gift wrapping service
Startup: $15–$55
Wrap gifts, make tags, bundle items, and prepare a neat pickup package during busy seasons.
- Who might hire them
- Busy parents, teachers, and local shoppers.
- Simple first step
- Make five sample wrapping styles and set a per-gift or bundle price.
- Safety note
- Keep client gifts and addresses private; use a parent-approved pickup plan.
22
Party setup and cleanup
Startup: $0–$25
Set tables, arrange decorations, organize games, restock supplies, and help reset the space afterward.
- Who might hire them
- Families hosting birthdays, showers, team parties, or neighborhood events.
- Simple first step
- Create a two-hour helper checklist with setup and cleanup tasks.
- Safety note
- Work with an adult host and avoid alcohol service, heavy lifting, or late-night shifts.
23
Youth sports practice assistant
Startup: $0–$25
Help a coach or parent run drills, set out equipment, track simple stats, or encourage younger players.
- Who might hire them
- Youth coaches, camps, and families with younger athletes.
- Simple first step
- Offer to assist a familiar coach at one supervised practice.
- Safety note
- Stay under adult direction and work within your actual skills and any league rules.
24
Custom snack or craft orders
Startup: $20–$85
Make approved gift tags, bracelets, stickers, or packaged treats for preordered events and small gifts.
- Who might hire them
- Friends, families, school groups, and local event hosts.
- Simple first step
- Choose one item, calculate materials, and make a small sample batch before taking orders.
- Safety note
- Parents should check local food, school, and marketplace rules before accepting orders.
25
Neighborhood recycling helper
Startup: $0–$20
Sort approved recyclables, break down boxes, and bring bins to the curb or back after collection.
- Who might hire them
- Busy households, older neighbors, and families traveling on collection day.
- Simple first step
- Offer a weekly reminder-and-bin service to one nearby household.
- Safety note
- Use gloves and avoid sharp, dirty, or hazardous materials; parents should approve the route.
What comes next
An idea is the starting line.
When your teen is ready for a structured 12-week path, the $5K Teen Business Challenge helps them choose an idea, make an offer, find potential customers, deliver work, and track what they learn.
See the next step