Teaching Teens to Think Like Entrepreneurs: Financial Skills Every Homeschooler Needs

Everytime I talk about Entrepreneurship with homeschooling parents the room is full of energy, curiosity, and bright ideas. Teens are coming with amazing business ideas and parents are asking all of the right questions. And always, the concept of money comes up. How do we teach our kids the money skills they need as entrepreneurs?

Whether your teen wants to run a lawn care service, launch a YouTube channel, or start their own Etsy shop, financial literacy is the foundation that supports all those big dreams.

So let’s talk about the essential money skills every high schooler should learn if they want to start and grow a business—and how we can teach them in a way that’s flexible, real-life, and totally doable in your homeschool.

💰 1. Budgeting Like a Boss. 

A good entrepreneur knows where their money is going. Teach your teen how to:

  • Track income and expenses (even if it’s just babysitting money for now)
  • Use a simple spreadsheet or a budgeting app
  • Plan for expenses like supplies, shipping, marketing, and taxes
  • Plan for unexpected expenses so that they are not caught short. 

Bonus project: Have them create a startup budget for a business idea they’re excited about!

🧾 2. Understanding Profit vs. Revenue

Teens often think, “I made $100!” without realizing that $50 went to supplies and another $20 to fees.
Teach them the difference between:

  • Revenue (total sales)
  • Expenses (everything it costs to run the business)
  • Profit (what they actually keep)

Real-life example: Set up a lemonade stand or a digital product and walk through the numbers together.

💳 3. Managing Banking and Payment Systems

If your teen is running a legit business, they’ll need to know how to:

  • Use a bank account responsibly
  • Set up PayPal, Venmo, or Stripe (with your guidance)
  • Keep digital receipts and records
  • Manage a business license.

While creating an LLC is one of the easiest ways to start a business, most states require an owner to be 18 years or older. Parents can set up an initial LLC, and be part owners in the business until their child is of age.

This is a great opportunity to teach them about financial safety, online scams, and the importance of separating business and personal money.

💡 4. Pricing and Value

This one is tricky—even for adults! Pricing is truly an art form and has to do with the model of business you are running and brand you are establishing. Help your teen understand how to:

  • Set prices based on their time, cost, and value
  • Look at competitors and market trends
  • Offer discounts or “bundles” without underpricing themselves

Try this: Let them practice pricing 3 versions of a service or product (basic, standard, premium).

📊 5. Tracking Growth and Making Smart Goals

Entrepreneurship is more than hustle—it’s learning to evaluate and grow over time.
Teach them how to:

  • Set realistic short- and long-term business goals
  • Track monthly income
  • Reflect on what’s working (and what’s not)

This builds self-awareness, confidence, and problem-solving—skills that will serve them for life.

🧭 Bringing It All Together in Your Homeschool

You don’t need to add another curriculum to do this. Integrate these financial lessons into:

  • Math: Real-world budgeting, spreadsheets, profit margins
  • Language Arts: Writing product descriptions, blog posts, emails
  • Social Studies/Econ: Supply & demand, market research, taxes
  • Electives: Let them earn credit for entrepreneurship or financial literacy!

Homeschooling gives you the flexibility to help your teen learn how to make—and manage—money while they’re still under your roof.

✨ Want to Go Deeper?

Our Entrepreneurship Electives at True North Homeschool Academy are designed just for this. With live online classes, mentoring, and real-world projects, your student can get a solid foundation in business and finance—before they even graduate.

🛒 Check out our Entrepreneurship, Personal Finance, and Accounting classes and equip your kids to step into the future with confidence!

❤️ Final Thoughts

Our teens are growing up in a world where side hustles and startups are the new normal. Equipping them with the financial and entrepreneurial tools they need now can open up a future of freedom, creativity, and purpose.

So go ahead—encourage those big ideas. Teach the money stuff. And let your homeschool be the launch pad for your teen’s next great adventure

18 Rock Solid Summer Jobs for Teens that Build Skills and Confidence

Summer jobs and teens go together like sun and sand!  Getting a summer job can teach your teens o many wonderful life skills. Life skills such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and more! Not to mention building their savings account and giving them a sense of independence as they have their own money with which to make choices. 

Education With a Difference

Looking for an accredited online high school for your teen?

True North Academy offers live, dynamic classes taught by world-class teachers in small class sizes — fully Cognia-accredited, with transcripts and advising to help your student arrive prepared for the future.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of great summer jobs for your tweens and teens!

Head to Camp!

Summer camp is such a magical place for kids and teens! If your teen loves the outdoors, and helping kids they should consider working at a camp. Depending on their age, they can be a  Jr or Sr Camp Counselor, cook, janitor, help with Admin and even work on the maintenance crew. Church, Scout, and Family Camps are a great place to start! 

Chick-fil-A

Who doesn’t love God’s chicken? All kidding aside, their food is good, the store is always clean, and the employees are always so kind and courteous. More to the point, their leadership is incredible, and your kids can learn a lot about customer service and serving with a humble heart by working at Chick-fil a. And if Chick-fil-A isn’t hiring, other fast food joints usually are. 

 Lifeguard

If your teen loves all things outdoors and is a competent swimmer, have them consider lifeguarding. They get to hang out around pools, keep the world of water recreation safe and make some money while doing it. Some things to keep in mind with this job is that it is very serious business and your teen needs to understand that they might be saving someone’s life that summer. Also, there will be CPR and lifeguarding classes and certifications they will need to get at the beginning of the season as well.

online entrepreneurship class for homeschoolers

Give Your Kids the Gift of Freedom!

Learning Entrepreneurial skills will be useful throughout your teen’s life, particularly in the global, gig economy in which they’ll be working! Our 1 semester class gives your kids practical, applicable, marketable tools to equip them for success! Shark Tank challenges make True North Academy’s Entrepreneurship class a engaging win for everyone!

Water Safety Instructor

If your teen is already a lifeguard, have them go a step further and obtain their WSI -Water Safety Instructor Certification. This will allow them to teach swimming and it’s a great way to work at camps, as well as pools, year-round. 

Movie Theater Attendant

If your teen enjoys a good movie and the smell of popcorn in the air, then working at your local movie theater is a great option. From popping corn to taking tickets, there are a myriad of jobs,  but all are geared towards helping movie-goers have a fantastic experience.

Snow Cone Stand Attendant

Nothing says summer quite like snow cones, right?! Right around April, our snow cone trailers start popping, and you know summer is almost here. The soft ice, the sugary syrup on the snow cone, and in the air of the summer breeze; it’s a winning combination! If your teen likes people, is super nice, and enjoys delighting others with sugary goodness in a cup – the snow cone stand attendee is for them!

Theme Park Attendant

Snow cones and theme parks. Yep. Summer has also arrived when the theme parks open.  With theme parks being so large, there are usually quite a few different jobs they can choose from.  From ticket taker to funnel cake maker and everything in between, including singing and dancing!  This job will more than likely call for late hours, but if they really enjoy the environment at theme parks, it’s a win.

Landscaper

Landscapers are generally super busy during the summer months and can use extra help. This job is demanding and requires physical strength and mental stamina as most landscapers do hardscaping as well.. Kids who work for landscapers work hard, haul heavy stuff and get down and dirty. Besides all that, the pay is generally very good and your kids might develop muscles they didn’t know they had! 

Lawn Maintenance

Encourage your kids to open their own mowing business. We have known several homeschooling families who have created incredible micro businesses out of simply mowing lawns, doing simple planting and weed control. Encourage your kids  to use their summer free time to create a simple business plan, make and pass out flyers around your neighborhood and do a great job on the homes that hire them. It could lead to steady income long past the summertime and even lead into a snow removal service. 

Golf Caddy

Another fun outdoor job to consider is being a golf caddy at your local country club or golfing range.  If they know the sport of golf well, they are even better. If they are new to golf, encourage them to learn the rules of the game as they wait for their interview.

Referee/Umpire

Does your teen enjoy and understand the rules and nuances of sports?  Have them consider being a referee/umpire for summer sports! They’ll get paid while they keep in shape and provide wonderful summer experiences for other kids!

Career Exploration for high school students | online class

Career Exploration (formerly titled Orienteering) focuses on vocational and career exploration. Students will understand their strengths, challenges, and more as they prepare to launch as adults in a complex, digital, and fast-changing world!

  • Students will leave class with a Personal Pathway based on strengths, interests, passions, and gifting paired with real-world career exploration.
  • The student will identify spheres of possibility instead of a single job or career.
  • Students will also create an occupational interest inventory.

More Summer Jobs for Kids

Grocery Baggers/Cashier/ Shopper

I don’t know about y’all, but our local grocery store will do the grocery shopping for us. We download the app, pay and then we let them know that we are there, and they will bring it out to our car. Grocery shoppers go around the store with a digital list and a large cart and grocery shop. And of course, there is still the bagger and cashier option as a job as well.

Birthday Party Entertainment

Has your teen always loved to dress up and create events? If so, you might encourage your teen to go be the entertainment at parties as characters from movies and books. They could create their own business or join a company already offering those services. If creating their own, of course, make fliers for your community, but also, I would recommend they tap into their babysitting network as well.

Tutor

Does your teen want to be a teacher or enjoy helping others learn subjects? Then maybe they should consider being a tutor. This, again, maybe one of those entrepreneurship opportunities where they announce on the community board and put a flier up at church sharing what ages and subjects they are helping tutor this summer. They can make their own hours and can meet in places like the local library to do the job or even on Zoom. 

 Nanny

There is always a high demand for nannies during the summer.  In many families, both parents work, and they need your teen’s help!  Have them search the local community boards and papers for possible nanny opportunities for the summer. 

Dog Walker 

If your teen enjoys dogs and wants to get their steps in for the summer, being the community dog walker is just the trick. If they would prefer to work for someone else, they might consider talking to the local vet or animal shelter and see if they are hiring part-time workers for the summer.

House Sitter

For older teens, being a house sitter is freedom! You would need to decide if you were comfortable with them staying at the home by themselves while the owners are gone or if you would prefer, they can just visit the house daily to take care of animals and water plants.  Either way, they get out of the house each day doing work for money.

Sales 

You are never too young to learn to sell; it’s an important skill that will benefit your kids regardless of what vocation they eventually go into. Tweens and teens can sell online or through local boutiques at local Swaps and Craft Fairs. They can sell items of their own making or purchase items to mark up and re-sell. 

Summertime is a great time for your kids to dive into the world of paid work. Not only will they earn spending money or money to invest, but they’ll gain valuable life skills! 

Resources

Check out FREE the SMART Goals printable worksheet.

Be sure to check out our other Marketable Skills Classes: Accounting, Copywriting Electronics, Video Editing, Photography and Digital Tech and Entrepreneurship! These classes will save you both time and money and take your young adult farther, faster!

Homeschooling and Socialization: A Cause for Concern?

Homeschooling and Socialization: A Cause for Concern?

Parents choose to homeschool their children for a variety of very good reasons, and the evidence has proven that homeschooling and socialization aren’t at odds with the success of homeschooling. Let’s dive into some facts.

Homeschooling for Good Reason

If you’re considering homeschooling, you’ve likely come to that point for any number of good reasons:

  • a desire to transmit a culture or worldview to your child
  • academic opportunity
  • build a strong family unit
  • traveling sports
  • the opportunity to involve your child in entrepreneurship
  • travel or RV life
  • special needs or twice-exceptional child
  • a child has been bullied
  • safety not found in public schools
  • the cost of private schooling

Isn’t Homeschooling and Socialization Important?

Yes, it is. But, how do we actually define socialization? Is it only peer-to-peer interaction? Or is it reasonable to define socialization as the ability to be social with individuals from all ages and walks of life?

Statistics indicate that homeschoolers have positive outcomes regarding socialization, and in some instances even better.

So, when we talk about homeschooling and socialization, what are we really talking about? What are we actually being asked?

Socialization or Accommodation

There may be a true concern from some about the child’s ability to interact with others. Actually, what may be being asked is how well-adjust the child might be to the ways of the world. Are they accommodating? Will they bend to the demands of the culture at large?

Homeschoolers with vision have something else in mind. They do want to pass on a culture, but not the one the world hands them. At True North Academy we believe that Education is the Transmission of Culture. We are coming from a decidedly Judeo-Christian point of view. We are people of the Book. 

So, why then do we care about socialization? We care because socialization helps us with our most important given task, to share the Gospel.

Life Skills, Soft Skills,

Now, this doesn’t mean we’re raising little missionaries in the traditional sense. It means “always being ready to give an answer for the hope that we have.” So, what kind of socialization do we need to have in order to make an impact for the Kingdom? Two things: life skills and soft skills.

Life Skills are the building blocks of knowing what to do and how to do it in our personal life. Learning these things requires a level of socialization. We do by seeing others do. We apprentice. And we are an apprentice to others.

Think of how Jesus apprenticed to his earthly father, Joseph. Ponder how that prepared him for the task given him. Life skills are essential.

Soft Skills are those personal attributes that allow us to interact well with others, allowing us to have peaceful and healthy relationships.

They are also known as power skills or personality traits. Soft skills are those skills that everyone seems to understand implicitly. They are related to manners and social moves. For kids with learning disabilities, however, soft skills can be elusive and confusing. This is the art and science of socialization!

And this type of socialization is necessary for every single person, including homeschoolers. As homeschoolers, we have to be able to think creatively and critically to communicate with the world around us. As Christians, this is essential in sharing the Gospel and helping others find True North.

Finding True North

In a nutshell, this is the entire point of socialization – the ability to transmit truth and help others find their hope in Christ, their True North.

Education is the perfect companion to this socialization, but it doesn’t have to take place in a traditional school setting where peer-to-peer socialization is the measure of successful socialization.

We are called to give an answer (defense) for what we believe with gentleness and respect. This goes beyond mere logic (though we do love our Logic!) and relies on the soft skill of communicating with creativity, clarity, and grace.

That’s socialization homeschoolers can feel good about.

Preparing Your Kids for Socialization

Homeschooling is more than school at home, it’s the school at the heart of the home. And this is such a great opportunity to embrace training in socialization for the Gospel.

True North Academy is committed to equipping and nurturing parents as they educate their children. We believe that Education is the Transmission of Culture and are coming from a decidedly Judeo-Christian point of view. We are people of the Book. 

So, how can we help? We have the only small-class, live, dynamic education platform designed for homeschoolers on a mission.

True North Academy teachers are a group of passionate, qualified, creative educators providing carefully curated Core Courses and Clubs, delivered by utilizing cutting-edge technology, gamification, and solid academic pedagogy. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities of homeschooling.

Providing more than academics, we give our students the opportunity to develop wisdom. They collaborate and learn with students from around the world. A perfect setting to socialize in a way homeschool parents can trust.

Summer and Fall Classes and Clubs are Enrolling Now.

Leadership and Soft Skills

When we think of a leader, we tend to think of someone charismatic, smart, and a “take charge” – that go-to person in any situation. We look at a leader as someone with know-how (hard skills), but I can tell you – it’s also someone with soft skills. Leadership and soft skills go hand-in-hand. 

What are Soft Skills?

Soft Skills are those personal attributes that allow us to interact well with others and have peaceful and healthy relationships.

They are also known as power skills or personality traits. Soft skills are those skills that everyone seems to understand implicitly. They are related to manners and social moves. For kids with learning disabilities, however, soft skills can be elusive and confusing.

4 C’s of a Soft Skills Education.

These would include:

  1. Collaboration- Collaboration is better known as teamwork. Can you lead, follow, and interact maturely with other team members? Do you problem-solve and handle your own emotions well, or are you causing problems for others on your team? Do you understand the team hierarchy well? Are you willing to lead, follow, and get out of the way? All of these skills go into being a good team player, at different times and in various seasons. A good team player, 
  1. Communication- Employers are currently stressing the need for students to have excellent communication skills, including the ability to persuade by written and spoken communication. In particular, they want to hire those who can “sell” (i.e., persuade) both orally and using the written word.
  2. Critical Thinking- Employers are currently stressing the need for students to have excellent communication skills, including the ability to persuade by written and spoken communication. In particular, they want to hire those who can “sell” (i.e., persuade) both orally and using the written word.
  3. Creativity- Creativity is all about thinking outside the box, generating new ideas or tweaking old ones to fit new situations, and interacting with materials, people, and resources in unique ways.

These soft skills are essential tools in the leadership toolbag. 

What is Leadership?

Leadership is the ability to research and prepare for what’s ahead and to lead, guide, or instruct a group or individuals, teams, or organizations.

Increasingly we want our children to step up and lead when called upon, especially in the world we currently live in. We want them to do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. 

They don’t need charisma; they need that internal ability to govern themselves and lead by example, be willing to speak up, and encourage others to be leaders in difficult situations.

Preparing for Leadership with Soft Skills 

Preparing tomorrow’s leaders starts with soft skills. One of the most important soft skills is the art of persuasion. 

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to explain your point of view to someone, especially in today’s online environment, you can see just how important this skill is. 

That’s why I am taking part in the Life Skills Leadership Summit. 

Leadership and Persuasion

The Art of Persuasion, by Lisa M Nehring

One skill that current employers find is finding lacking in new hires is the ability to sell. With the constant shorthand of texting and 9-second tik-toks and reels, the fine art of Persuasion is being lost. Why is the ability to sell so important? What are some ways that parents can help their kids develop this skill?

Grab your free ticket
! Join some of your favorite homeschool speakers and leaders as we strive to raise leaders in this generation. 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you click through the link and make a purchase, Lisa Nehring / True North Academy makes a small commission. Thank you.

How to Robot Proof Your Kids

How to robot-proof your kids might not be something you’ve thought about. But the future of work indicates that our kids will be living in a technological world: one with artificial intelligence, the internet of things and robots.

Those of us using a Rumba or Alexa in our homes are already embracing a world with robots in our daily lives!

Embracing Technology

How on earth are we supposed to educate our kids in a way that allows them to compete against technology and robots PLUS fit life skills and the 3 Rs into our homeschool plan?  

I’m glad you asked! Because, while we can’t predict the future, we can prepare for it by clearly understanding the strengths and beauty of humanity. Becoming fully “human” is literally, the best way to “robot-proof” your kids.

Look, computers are great at pattern recognition and convergent thinking (critical thinking which uses linear, logical steps to analyze a number of solutions to a problem), but not so great at understanding truth, beauty, and goodness.

Furthermore, computers and robots cannot think divergently (a thought process used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions). Robot proofing our kids means we help them fully develop their humanity!

It’s an exciting time in the world. During the 4th Industrial Revolution, things will change quickly, some industries will fail and some jobs will become obsolete. But those willing to fully embrace their unique and God-given human qualities will succeed!

So, to sum up: develop your kids’ humanity: their faith life, people skills, and soft skills.

Developing Humanity

Here are some practical tips on HOW to develop your kid’s humanity:

  • Develop your kid’s faith life- teach them about the Bible- how to read, study and meditate on the Scripture, as well as about Church History, how to pray, share their faith, and worship!
  • A solid liberal arts background will develop academic skills and abilities as well as give our kids a taste of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.
  • Focus on building your kids’ Soft Skills Muscles. Human qualities cannot be duplicated by machines. Soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, along with flexibility and adaptability, time and distraction management, loyalty, integrity, etc.
  • Emphasize developing your kid’s Creativity! Creativity is going to be a vital skill as we navigate through this 4th Industrial Revolution!
  • Build your kid’s Critical Thinking Muscles! Encourage them to see “around” a problem and creatively and critically problem solve.  
  • Give your kids opportunities to collaborate in meaningful ways. Team builders are integral to successful families and work environments.
  • Computers cannot become Culturally Agile, but humans can; teach your kids a Foreign Language! Becoming bi-lingual teaches your kids to think multi-dimension-ally and creatively, build mental flexibility, and allows them to more readily become global workers and students. Furthermore, while robots can translate literal meanings, human nuances in communication are lost to them; we will always need human translators.
  • Intentionally work to develop your kid’s very human capacities for flexibility and adaptability! Being able to flex and adapt as well as pivot, will serve them well in a global gig economy.
  • Entrepreneurship is one of the best ways to ensure vocational success in the future with the burgeoning gig economy, so teach them what it means to live and think entrepreneurially!!
  • Encourage your kids to become auto-didacts (self-learners). Our kids will be working in a fast-paced, global work environment where they will be required to pivot frequently and with ease!

Homeschooling Can Prepare Kids For An Exciting Future

It’s a lot to think about, but a solid educational pedagogy will allow you to give your kids solid academic and soft skills. Add in solid faith-based education and your kids will be set up for future success.

Your kids will be completely robot-proof!

Becoming fully “human” is literally, the best way to “robot-proof” your kids.

Lisa Nehring

More Resources For You

It’s an exciting world we are preparing our kids for! If you need help pulling it all together, it is our great privilege to come alongside fellow homeschoolers to ensure your academic and future success. Here at True North Academy, we offer many resources including Academic Advising, our amazing live online classes, and a Mom’s Membership.

Check out the Soft Skills 101 podcast where we offer tips and solutions for teaching life skills and soft skills every day. Bookmark our blog so you don’t miss helpful freebies, encouragement, and valuable information about home education from experienced homeschoolers and educators. Don’t forget to let us know how we can come alongside you!