Local teens can sell water for summer cash

Posted by the VP
June 4, 2006

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Idaho Falls teens often complain there’s a lack of jobs available to them here. Try this simple idea: selling bottled water.

The idea comes from this entrepreneur’s blog, and is basically buy cheap cases of bottled water and a bag of ice. Throw them in the family cooler and write “ICE COLD WATER $1″ in huge letters across a white tshirt using black permanent marker.

Stand at a busy intersection and you will easily sell water bottles to the cars while they stop for red lights. Carrying three bottles in each hand is suggested for a better chance of multiple sales to each car. Be safe not stupid around the traffic and you can quickly make some cash with very little effort.

How much cash? Lowe’s advertised a 24-pack of bottled water last week for $4, Sam’s Club or Wal-Mart might even be cheaper. Add $1.50 for an ice bag, and the investment is about $6 with taxes. Sell each bottle for $1 each, and you’ve earned $19 profit per case. The key is how long it takes you to sell each case. The website this idea came from said he sold his 24 bottles within just 30 minutes. That’s earning a rate of $38 per hour!


This is not going to make you rich because the best sales will be made when the weather is hottest, generally from about noon to six daily. Other teens will see what you are doing and quickly copy you at other intersections, so several cars will already have bought water. Cops may hassle you, though the website author interviewed some cops who said as long as you are not causing problems they have better things to do than hassle.

Hopefully this idea is used by some enterprising young people in our community and makes them a few extra bucks this summer. I’ll try to have a couple bucks with me when I’m driving around Idaho Falls.

Business Ideas, Teen Topics

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