I'm 16 years old with $200. What should I do to get started?
My answer is similar to the $100 starter guide: start an automation agency with a small budget, focus on a single service you can deliver, and double that money by reinvesting the profits. The key is to get a simple system up and running, then scale it as you earn.
Well, this is pretty funny because you probably didn't just wake up one day wanting to run a school community and an automation agency. You're likely looking for a means to an end, so ask yourself what end you think running a school community and automation business would help you achieve. In my case, I make a ton of money with this stuff, so the end I see is money. But consider that a 17‑year‑old might say they want to make $100 million in 10 years—you need to clarify whether that's revenue, profit, bank account, etc. More importantly, recognize that your values and goals will shift over time; you won't want the same things in 10 years that you want today. So you have to be mature about that and accept that you're a changing organism whose goals evolve.
Avoid reels and short-form content; instead, send personalized Loom DMs to influencers you admire, offering a quick 30-second solution to a problem they may not even know they have. Focus on minimizing friction, not making their life too easy. Check out my main channel and the 'How to start an AI automation agency in 2025' playlist for business fundamentals that help high schoolers launch quickly.
Yeah, that's fine. My recommendation is to join my school if you want to learn how to make money with this stuff. Start with the Make.com playlist I put together—it’s over 60 hours of video guiding you from start to finish, even if the audio is a bit rough. Walk through the first dozen videos to get comfortable, then keep going. If you’re still unsure, consider joining the school and putting yourself in front of customers; the more you do that, the faster you’ll learn.
I can’t walk you through every detail, but here’s a practical roadmap. Start with the Make.com playlist I’ve created – it’s a simple no‑code builder that introduces automation basics. Watch the first 12‑13 videos, then move on to live builds. After that, join Maker School, my day‑by‑day accountability program where I guide you through tasks and check in multiple times a day. Once you’ve got the basics, set up an Upwork profile. Upwork lets you see what clients actually pay for and what problems they need solved, turning you from an academic into a real‑world business person. Browse job listings, apply to those where you have at least a 50 % chance of success, and be prepared to send out 20‑30 proposals before landing a bite. Your first gigs will likely pay $30‑$50 an hour (adjusted for your region). Use the work to understand client needs – usually simple connectors between platforms, data duplication, or dashboards. Keep applying consistently, experiment with the platforms, and schedule calls with potential clients to solidify the work. This approach – Make.com basics, Maker School accountability, then Upwork for real client work – is the fastest way to launch an AI agency as a beginner.