Young people's attitude toward entrepreneurship has transformed dramatically, with 60% of teens now preferring to start their own business rather than work for someone else. Generation Z shows a remarkable entrepreneurial spirit, as more than a quarter of them plan to become their own boss. Many find their inspiration from young founders like Mark Zuckerberg, who created Facebook during his college days.
Young entrepreneurs show great interest in launching online businesses, yet age requirements and legal aspects play a significant role, particularly in the health and wellness industry. The law requires people to be 18 or older before they can independently sign business contracts in most states. However, younger entrepreneurs can still launch their ventures with proper adult guidance and oversight.
This piece outlines the age requirements needed to start an online health business and highlights important legal aspects for young entrepreneurs. Platforms like Bask Health help ensure compliant business operations. Readers will learn about telehealth business models and regulatory requirements that guide both teens and adults toward successful online health entrepreneurship.
How old do you have to be to start an online business? Scroll down now to find out!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Teens show growing interest in entrepreneurship, especially in health and wellness.
- You must be 18 or older to legally sign contracts and operate a business independently.
- Teens can start businesses with adult supervision or legal partnerships.
- Health-related businesses face stricter regulations like HIPAA, COPPA, and FERPA.
- Adult involvement is required for compliance, data protection, and legal accountability.
- Platforms like Bask Health support teen entrepreneurs by ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.
- B2B tech models are often best for younger founders as they avoid direct healthcare delivery.
- Funding and planning are essential, with options like grants, investors, and crowdfunding.
Can Teens Start a Health or Wellness Business Online?
The digital world brings exciting opportunities to entrepreneurial teens who want to explore health and wellness. But teens must know specific age-related rules and requirements to navigate this highly regulated industry.
What's allowed and what's restricted
Teen entrepreneurs face limits when they start health-related online businesses. Most states view contracts entered into by minors (under 18) as "voidable." This means teens can choose to honor or void these agreements. Suppliers, partners, and customers might hesitate to work with minors due to these potential risks.
On top of that, health businesses must follow multiple privacy regulations:
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is used to protect health information
- COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) to handle data from children under 13
- FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) to interact with educational institutions
Minors cannot enter certain industries at all, such as businesses with alcohol, tobacco, or adult entertainment.
Why is adult supervision required in health ecommerce
Adult supervision goes beyond being helpful—the law requires it for teen-run health businesses. Here's why:
Healthcare data just needs strict protection. Personal health information (PHI) sells for up to $363 on the black market, while stolen credit cards go for $2. This makes health businesses attractive targets for data theft.
Healthcare regulations just need accountability. HIPAA violations lead to huge financial penalties even for accidental breaches. Adult oversight protects both the business and its customers.
Pediatric digital health companies get extra scrutiny. The FDA sets higher safety standards for health technologies that target minors. These include longer monitoring periods and more clinical evidence.
Examples of teen-led ideas with adult-run structures
Several successful models show how teens can lead health initiatives with proper adult frameworks, despite these challenges:
- Youth-led organizations with adult infrastructure: Helping Our Planet Earth (HOPE) gives teens the ability to run mental health education workshops while adults ensure legal compliance.
- Tech-based wellness platforms: Companies like Daybreak Health started to help with adolescent mental health. They work under adult management while focusing on youth services.
- Passive investor model: Teens can legally own LLCs as members without managing them. Adults handle daily operations and follow regulations.
Bask Health supports compliant telehealth businesses through reliable platforms. We enable entrepreneurs of all ages to join the wellness industry while meeting legal requirements.
How to Start a Telehealth or Wellness Business Legally with Bask Health
Starting a telehealth or wellness business requires you to navigate complex regulations, especially when you're under 18. Bask Health has created ways for entrepreneurs of all ages to enter this growing industry while they stay compliant with the law.
Understanding telehealth business models
Several main business models exist in telehealth. Each model comes with its own set of regulatory requirements:
- Direct-to-consumer telehealth: Offers virtual healthcare services directly to patients, requiring strict HIPAA compliance and licensed practitioners
- B2B telehealth platforms: Provide technology to healthcare providers, requiring fewer medical licenses but more technical compliance
- Hybrid models: Combines technology and medical services, often with the most complex regulatory structure
The B2B technology provider model is usually the most available entry point for entrepreneurs under 18. This approach focuses on technical aspects rather than direct patient care. You'll need adult partners to handle contractual obligations and regulatory compliance.
How to start your own telehealth business with adult partners
Young entrepreneurs must partner with adults. These structures work best:
Family-based partnerships: Your parents or adult family members can serve as legal business operators while you contribute ideas and technology skills. This setup gives you natural mentorship and legal protection.
Mentor-guided ventures: Healthcare professionals can guide you and act as your business's legal face. These setups often work through formal agreements where everyone shares profits based on their contributions.
Educational programs: Organizations like Junior Achievement create environments where teens can learn business skills under adult supervision before launching their ventures.
Using platforms like Bask Health for compliance
Bask Health's infrastructure supports compliant telehealth operations. Our platform takes care of several critical compliance areas:
Our platform manages data security and HIPAA compliance through enterprise-grade encryption and secure patient portals. Teen entrepreneurs can participate in telehealth without risking patient privacy.
The contracting framework we provide enables adult-teen partnerships with legal protections for everyone involved. Adult partners keep legal responsibility while teens contribute to business operations meaningfully.
We provide complete training on telehealth regulations. This ensures everyone understands their obligations whatever their age. Our structured support systems let entrepreneurs focus on breakthroughs while we handle the complex compliance issues.
Planning and Funding Your Telehealth Startup
A strong financial foundation helps telehealth ventures thrive in today's healthcare world. Bask Health helps entrepreneurs navigate through vital planning and funding stages that determine success over time.
Creating a telehealth business plan
Every successful telehealth business starts with a complete business plan. Your first step should focus on writing a powerful executive summary that shows your vision and market chances. This section needs to be brief—no more than two pages—yet compelling enough to attract potential investors.
The plan should state your chosen business model (B2C, B2B, or hybrid) and explain why it serves your target audience best. Make sure to include these key components:
- Detailed market analysis identifying your target demographic and competition
- Operational plan outlining technology infrastructure and patient management
- Marketing strategy specifying how you'll reach potential users
- Financial projections showing startup costs, revenue streams, and a profitability timeline
Estimating telemedicine startup costs
Telehealth startups typically need $40,000 to $200,000 to build strong technology infrastructure and develop platforms. Your budget should cover:
Technology costs are the foundations of your operation—including HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platforms, secure storage solutions, and specialized medical peripherals. License fees make up another major expense, covering medical licenses and required certifications.
Legal services become a vital investment to navigate telehealth regulations and ensure compliance. These original costs might seem high, but they streamline processes and add convenience for providers and patients.
Finding adult co-founders or investors
If you have entrepreneurs under 18, adult partnerships become vital for legal compliance. Look for co-founders who complement your skills and bring domain expertise. The best approach tests potential relationships through joint projects before making partnerships official.
Funding options include:
- Venture capital—seed and Series A rounds make up 84% of labeled raises in early 2023
- Government grants—including HHS funding for digital health interventions
- Revenue-based financing—offering non-dilutive capital with repayment capped at 1.5-2x the original investment
- Crowdfunding—with healthcare campaigns growing 25% yearly
Proper funding plays a key role in launching a successful telemedicine venture.
Managing and Growing a Compliant Online Health Business
Your telehealth business needs effective management to succeed and stay compliant once it's up and running. Bask Health understands the unique challenges online health entrepreneurs face when working with adult partners.
Telehealth business management solutions
Successful telehealth operations need resilient management systems that balance patient care with regulatory compliance. HIPAA-compliant platforms with end-to-end encryption should be your priority. These platforms must have detailed auditing systems, multifactor authentication, and intrusion prevention measures.
Patient management efficiency propels business growth. Systems with automated patient registration, eligibility verification, and appointment scheduling capabilities reduce billing errors by up to 50%. Our experience shows that well-managed telehealth can cut healthcare system costs by more than 50%.
Marketing in regulated industries
Healthcare services marketing online needs a careful approach to balance growth with compliance. Inbound marketing strategies work exceptionally well. Research shows 93% of firms that use these methods get better ROI than conventional approaches.
Here's how to implement this strategy:
- Create educational content about symptoms and treatments
- Develop buyer personas for specific patient demographics
- Offer premium content like guides and checklists during the awareness phase
- Employ SEO to reach consumers searching for healthcare solutions online
HIPAA compliance must remain central to all marketing activities. Your messaging should highlight security measures and privacy protections since these factors strongly influence patient decisions.
Staying updated with legal and platform rules
Legal requirements are the foundations of any successful telehealth business. Current data shows 44 states plus territories have laws about telehealth reimbursement. Telehealth flexibilities will continue through September 30, 2025.
You should keep track of state-specific requirements because each jurisdiction might have different policies about licensure and practice standards. Regulations keep changing, but platforms like Bask Health stay current with these changes and help business owners adapt their operations.
Conclusion
Starting an online health business just needs you to pay close attention to age requirements and regulatory rules. Young teens have amazing business ideas, but legal rules make adult partnerships crucial for success in healthcare.
Bask Health partners with you at every stage to build a compliant telehealth business. Our platform takes care of complex regulations so young entrepreneurs can focus on state-of-the-art ideas while you retain control.
Success depends on solid planning, enough funding, and reliable management systems. These challenges become easier to handle with the right support. Our detailed platform helps entrepreneurs of all ages join the growing telehealth industry that meets strict legal and privacy standards.
Your online health business thrives when you balance state-of-the-art ideas with compliance. Our platform gives you the foundation to build and grow a compliant telehealth operation, whether you're a teen working with adult partners or a seasoned entrepreneur. Healthcare entrepreneurship has a promising future, and we're ready to make you part of it.
References
- Nolo. (n.d.). Do LLC members need to be 18 years old (or older)? Nolo. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/do-llc-members-need-18-years-old-older.html
