8 Streams of Income at 19 - How She Did It

Meet Avery Shannon, a girl who is already a serial entrepreneur at just 19. At her young age, Avery has eight streams of income that have brought her over six figures in five years. In an exclusive interview, Avery told us all about how she has been balancing her schoolwork and several ventures, including a cookie cake business, a balloon art business, and a camp in her backyard, since the age of 14. But how did this all start?

Avery’s Early Beginnings

When Avery was 14 years old, she began “Camps for Kidz”. She had previously been babysitting for various families in her neighborhood and saw an opportunity for something that hadn’t been done before. She is now able to have camps with over 30 children as they do fun activities throughout the day such as slime making. After receiving help from her mother to create this camp, her entrepreneurial spirit was fired up. She claims that following this she “started an event planning business. And then that kind of led into the balloon art.”

“Camps for Kidz” truly laid the foundation for her upcoming ventures. As Avery planned more events, she began noticing new opportunities. She told us, “I started an event planning business. And then that kind of led into the balloon art…And then that led to the cookie cakes for events and stuff like that.” Today, her eight streams of income include: A-Z Balloon Art, Camps for Kidz, a cookie cake business, sourdough baking, pet-sitting, seasonal ventures (such as chocolate smash hearts during Valentine’s season), and investing in dividends and CDs. 

Building Her Clientele

Much of Avery’s early client base came from her local community. After gaining a few customers through babysitting, she began promoting her services on Facebook and quickly saw momentum. She created a group for “Camps for Kidz” and posted about upcoming events. As word spread, her following grew and her camps started filling up consistently. She now has over 2,000 members in the group. “Now I don’t have to do too much advertising, but that’s kind of how I started off with getting people,” she shared.

Management of her Ventures

Running multiple businesses also comes with the challenge of managing expectations and protecting your time. Avery learned early on to set clear policies with her clients. She requires a 50 percent non-refundable deposit for balloon décor bookings, a simple rule that prevents last-minute cancellations and lost income. “That has saved me so much trouble throughout the years,” she said, also noting that she has only had one or two clients cancel throughout her years in business. 

Furthermore, she keeps everything in writing and makes sure to communicate clearly through messages. These boundaries allow her to maintain professionalism and avoid misunderstandings, something she recommends every teen CEO should do. She tracks everything from orders to income using the Notes app on her phone. Her organization system is straightforward and effective. She creates daily task lists, maps out her week, and logs every dollar that comes in or goes out. This level of consistency has helped her stay on top of her growing responsibilities without needing complicated systems or expensive tools. This organization is key knowing she also has personal and educational commitments that she must balance with her work life. 

Her Advice to Others

Although Avery’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges, each obstacle has taught her something new. She has learned how to manage customer service, balance competing demands, and build a brand that customers trust. Most of all, she has learned to start small and grow with intention. Her very first camp required only a $30 to $40 investment in craft supplies. The money she made from that event was used to fund the next one. To other teens looking to start a business, Avery’s message is clear. “You might fail a few times, but finding something that you’re really passionate about and that you enjoy doing, I think that is a great place to start.” She encourages others not to wait for the perfect moment, the perfect idea, or a big budget. Instead, start with what you have, keep learning, and build as you go. When things get tough, she turns to her long-term vision. “You just have to think to the future and who you want to be. And keep trying.”

Avery Shannon is living proof that entrepreneurship is not about age, experience, or perfection. It is about showing up, solving problems, and putting in the work. With eight income streams before her twentieth birthday, she is inspiring the next generation to start early and dream big.