As school comes to an end for the year, teenagers throughout Montgomery and Bucks Counties are on the hunt for summer jobs. Not every teenager is looking for a paycheck, however. There are a lot of entrepreneurial kids who want to try their hand at building a small business.
While a self-made enterprise comes with risks, it also builds independence, work ethic, resilience, and communication skills. These are powerful real-world learning opportunities for teens, and Smyrl Insurance encourages our young neighbors to launch their summer hustle with confidence. But, and this is a big one, they also need to make sure they have a few systems in place to protect their reputation and earnings. Even a small summer business should have commercial insurance so that teens can put their profits toward the things and experiences they really want.
Following are some lucrative summer businesses that some of our own clients have launched as teenagers. Many of these businesses are still thriving after several years!
Mowing, Mulching, Lawn Care, & Landscaping
Lawn care and landscaping services are always in high demand. This is a popular industry with a lot of competition. At the same time, homeowners and businesses do not want to trust just anyone to be on their property. Teens who start out with neighbors they know personally will have an edge in gaining those first few clients. As they build their reputation, the business will grow quickly based on referrals.
Lawn care, mulching, mowing, and other groundskeeping services are productive businesses for teens because they can start small and invest their profits into upgrading equipment and even hiring extra help. Keep the business going over the fall and winter with leaf cleanup, snow shoveling, and hanging holiday lights. Commercial general liability is a must for any business that involves other people’s property. A commercial property or inland marine policy will cover the business equipment from damage.
Driveway Sealcoating & Maintenance
Sprucing up driveways takes some skill and experience with the right materials, but it’s a highly visible service that motivates the neighbors to keep up with the Joneses. Teens who launch this type of business may find that they can earn most of their summer income from just a few busy neighborhoods. Deck power washing is a possible add-on that doesn’t call for the high power equipment needed for big power washing jobs.
As a light contracting job with the highest risks usually involving the chemicals being used, a professional liability policy offers protection in a claim regarding negligence or errors. This may be valuable when added to a general liability policy.
Party Helpers & Event Setup
A unique summer hustle for teens is to run the graduation party and summer BBQ circuit as the setup and breakdown crew. Entrepreneurs can offer a range of services, such as:
- Pre-party yard cleanup
- Setting up tables, chairs, and awnings
- Running errands for decorations, paper goods, ice, food, and other party supplies
- Helping with food prep and display
- Providing a sound system for the party’s tunes
- Breaking down and cleaning up
Teens need to start with a realistic plan for just how much they can handle on any given job. If they want to bring on friends to help, they can offer more services. But every new development in business comes with more risk. The event taskmasters will want a general liability insurance policy for sure. If they are purchasing their own equipment to bring to parties, commercial property and inland marine insurance will also be in the mix. Before taking on ill-advised responsibility, teens should do some research that shows them where to draw the line. Large tents and bounce houses come with setup requirements that are regulated in Pennsylvania as Amusement Rides and Attractions. Without the proper training and certification, it’s best to steer clear of those tasks.
Dog Walking & Pet Sitting
For teenage animal lovers, pet care is a fun way to stay busy while supporting neighbors all summer long. Reliable pet care allows owners to travel for vacation, spend their weekends down the shore or up in the mountains, or even just know that their pet is getting some TLC during the workday. While most people think of dogs with this type of business, really any household pet can be a great client. Teens who have equine experience can make significantly more money caring for horses while owners are away.
Animal bailee coverage is specific animal-based insurance for anyone who cares for another person’s pets. That professional liability or commercial liability policy is also a good idea if the teen will regularly use another person’s property to carry out their duties.
Camp Style Group Babysitting
Teens who are more into kids than animals might be interested in a neighborhood camp model as a way to keep busy and grow that weekend babysitting roster for the rest of the year. Teens typically organize a camp for a certain number of local kids to attend on a weekly basis. They plan games, crafts, activities, and snacks to keep everyone entertained so moms and dads can get through their workday.
When casual babysitting advances into a group setting, parents expect a higher level of credibility. All the camp counselors must obtain background check documents and get certified in CPR. Additionally, parents will want to see official documentation about how the camp will run, as well as emergency procedures. Professional liability insurance is a must, plus a commercial liability policy and property coverage if the camp will take place on private property.
Teens Who Understand Risk Make Profitable Decisions
While insurance is our domain at Smyrl Insurance, entrepreneurial teens also need to look into business banking, payment systems, and client or project management tools. Everything about owning a business is at least a little bit risky, but the rewards of building something successful on your own are worth it. We encourage teens who are motivated to start a business to stick with their ideas and see where they lead. The knowledge and experience gained in learning about risk, profit and loss, reputation, and customer service can only benefit a young person as they get into adulthood.
If your teenager wants to avoid the summer job hunt in favor of building a summer hustle, we can help! At Smyrl Insurance, we work with multiple generations of families and family businesses. We are more than happy to offer support and guidance as our teenage clients strive to get all of their business ducks in a row. At Smyrl Insurance, we educate, nurture, and empower our clients of all ages to pursue their goals with insurance in place that protects their financial future. Contact us to start the conversation on what type of commercial insurance is needed for a teenage (or grownup!) business. We help businesses obtain adequate, affordable commercial insurance in Hatfield, Lansdale, Souderton, Harleysville, and throughout the region in Montgomery County and Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
