Small Business Ideas For My Son?

We live in a medium sized town with few options for my teenage son to find a job. Can you give us some ideas for innovative and/or nontraditional businesses that he can start this summer that require a very small investment? He is willing to try anything ethical, that will be worth his while and investment of his time. Please exclude a lawncare service, he has severe allergies!

Well reading your question you put a key word in there that people didn't catch "Innovative" idea. Now as a business owner myself what I would say is to round up all his friends who he seems to have the most fun with, grad a white board and ask them "What is that you guys do for fun": "What is it that you wish you had right now": "If there was one thing that you could be doing right now what would it be?":
Thats how innovation starts. Alot of people think of innovation as someone with a light bulb over there head thinking of how to create the next google and its not like that its coming up with fun and creative ideas that people will like.

Lets not create the wheel again but find away to make it work better. Hope this helps

There are several thoughts that come to mind. If he is under 18 I would suggest two jobs first window cleaning, very simple to start, low start up cost, needs several commercial quality squeegee's, buckets, rags, a ladder and some flyers to distribute. Next one that I did and never see anywhere anymore is shoe shining. People do not have the time to shine their shoes. Go to a Walmart or Target and get a nice shoeshine kit. They are very inexpensive, make some flyers or go door to door like I did. If your son is 18 read my profile and contact me, I have some other thoughts as well.

Whittling light pulls, large beads to make curtain tie backs, painting portraits, designing business cards on the computer, mainly think of something creative he will enjoy doing that people would also like to buy.

Have fun this summer