What are the best business ideas for teens in the UK?

The ideas that work best for UK teenagers have near-zero startup cost, repeat customers and no premises: short-form video editing for local businesses, tutoring a subject you just studied, dog walking, car valeting, digital downloads, reselling on Vinted or Depop, and small-batch maker products like candles or baked goods sold to order.

Can a 16 year old start a business in the UK?

Yes. There is no minimum age to trade as a sole trader in the UK, and you can register with HMRC at any age if your profit passes £1,000 in a tax year. You must be 16 to register a limited company as a director, and under-18s cannot legally be held to some contracts, so most teenagers start as sole traders with a parent overseeing the bank or payment account.

Do teenagers pay tax on a small business in the UK?

Under-18s get the same £12,570 tax-free personal allowance as everyone else, so almost no teenage business pays income tax. If trading income is over £1,000 in a tax year you must register for Self Assessment with HMRC and file a return, even if the tax owed is zero.

What business can a teenager start with no money?

Service and skill businesses need no money: video editing with free apps, tutoring, dog walking, garden tidy-ups, tech help for older neighbours, babysitting and one-page websites for local tradespeople. Sell your time and skill first, then use that money to fund anything needing stock.

How do teenagers find their first customers?

Start with people who already know you. Tell ten adults in your network exactly what you do and what it costs, post once in a local community group with a photo and a price, and ask every happy customer for one referral. Most first sales come from within a few streets, not from social media reach.

What should a teenager charge?

For services, £10-£18 per hour is a normal UK range for tutoring and skilled tasks and £8-£12 is normal for dog walking. For products, aim for at least a 2.5x markup on materials so you are paid for your time as well as your costs. Raising a price rarely loses your best customers.

Is a teen business better than a part-time job?

It is different, not automatically better. A part-time job pays reliably and is easier to get at 16 or over. A business is available earlier, is flexible around exams, usually pays more per hour once established, and gives you evidence for personal statements, apprenticeship applications and interviews. Many teenagers do both.

Business Ideas for Teens UK: 24 Low-Cost Ideas That Actually Sell (2026)

By Kim Loudon · 7 August 2026 · 13 min read · Category: For Teens

The best business ideas for UK teenagers cost almost nothing to start, can be sold to people within a few streets, and bring the same customer back. Below are 24 ideas split into digital, local services, maker products and reselling, with honest start-up costs and realistic prices.

Digital and online ideas

Short-form video editing for local businesses (£10-£25 a video), social media for one local client (£40-£80/month), digital downloads on Etsy, product photography (£25-£60 a set), one-page websites for tradespeople (£80-£150), print-on-demand designs.

Local service ideas

GCSE and KS2 tutoring (£10-£18/hr), dog walking and pet sitting (£8-£12 a walk), car valeting (£10-£25 a car), garden tidy-ups, tech help for older neighbours, party helper, bike cleaning, holiday plant and post watch.

Maker and product ideas

Candles and wax melts, baking to order, handmade jewellery, custom stickers and prints, crochet and knitwear, upcycled clothing. Take pre-orders before you make stock.

Reselling and stalls

Vinted or Depop reselling, trainer cleaning and restoration, permitted school fairs and events, a single local market stall to test everything.

UK rules, tax and age limits

No minimum age to trade as a sole trader. The £1,000 trading allowance sets when HMRC needs to hear from you. Under-18s get the £12,570 personal allowance so almost none pay income tax. You must be 16 to be a company director. Most payment platforms need an adult account holder. Food, candles and cosmetics have UK safety and labelling rules.

Pricing and first customers

Products: materials plus fees, multiplied by at least 2.5. Services: price the outcome, not your age. Then tell ten adults you know, post once locally with a clear photo and price, do the first two jobs well, and ask for referrals.