Editor’s Note: For the rest of the summer, The Dispatch is profiling some of the area’s youngest entrepreneurs. Do you know a child earning money in a unique way? Let us know by emailing [email protected].
When 17-year-old Ellie Dawson was looking for a way to make more money this summer, she didn’t find anything that suited her interests.
After her mother suggested she start teaching children in Columbus how to tumble and cheer, she found the gig she was hoping for. She even tacked child care, dog sitting and watering plants to her business.
Dawson, a senior and cheerleader at Heritage Academy, started Ellie’s Summer Jobs in late May to earn more money this summer and learn some helpful skills such as time management and business etiquette.
“I really didn’t think I would get as much (business) as I have,” Dawson said. “Once I started doing it, I realized this is a great way to earn some money as a young adult.”
Dawson said she runs the business primarily online, making appointments with clients to receive cheerleading sessions and or schedule babysitting or dog sitting services.
Since starting in May, she sees around two girls a week for cheer sessions and two to three customers for child care, watering plants and dog sitting.
Combined, she makes around $500 per month, and has made about $1,200 since May. Dawson charges $15 to $25 per hour for cheer sessions, depending on the number of students, $15 to $30 for baby, $25 for dog sitting and $15 to water plants.
“I remember when I was a little younger and I would ask my dad for money to go and eat with my friends, and he would say ‘You’re going to $20 me to death,’” Dawson said. “I’m saving the money because I’m going to need some money for college. I don’t want them to worry about paying for things for me all the time.”
Her services include teaching young girls how to cheer with stretches, jumps, kicks and tumbling. For child care and pet sitting, she watches over children at home and cares for the dogs. She also waters plants twice a day during the summer.
“I enjoy it because I get to meet a lot of different people with the business,” she said. “Especially through cheer, I can meet young girls and help them and it’s always fun because they’re so talkative. I also love animals when I’m dog sitting or if they have a cat I need to feed because who doesn’t love animals?”
Dawson said she has learned a lot from the business, including time management and leadership skills, especially with the scheduling for cheer practice. She also said interacting with people more regularly helps her gain social skills, which she will need when she goes to college.
“I’m definitely focused on time management between scheduling with all these people making sure I go and water their plants and walk their dogs,” she said. “I have to make sure that I’m keeping up with everything. Also communication because there was one time I couldn’t find a dog’s water bowl and I had to text them and ask where to find it.”
With the time she has spent and the money she’s earned, Dawson said she hopes to take the business forward through her senior year of high school. She is even considering making it her job while at the University of Alabama, where she hopes to attend next school year.
“If I can do it throughout the school year and find time, I’ll do that until I can’t anymore,” she said. “I might even do some of it in Alabama when I get to know more people.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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