Have you ever thought of starting your own small business? It can be a great way to learn new skills, contribute to your community and maybe make some money. Though you should always ask your adult before starting any sort of business, it is fun to imagine and brainstorm ideas with siblings, neighbors or friends on how to get a business going.
Here are some things to consider:
- Focus on your strengths and interests to stay passionate about the project or job. Do you have terrible allergies and really dislike dogs? Maybe you want to skip dog-walking. Make sure you consider what you like to do (and what you don't) when coming up with an idea for a business.
- Pick a small business that you can run without a lot of parental supervision. Having to involve your parent or guardian in everything you do might limit the money you can make and your business's growth.
- Do not try to do everything at once. Start small and be flexible, as things can change a few times before settling down.
- Do you want to volunteer, or are you looking to make money? Could you use some of your hard work to make the world a better place? Maybe you are volunteering because it would be good to include on a future college application?
Now it’s time to think about different kinds of jobs, as well as those that you might not have considered. We've got 10 great ideas along with some skills you can develop.
1. Lemonade Stand
- Marketing
- Sales
- Working with money
2. Dog Walking/Pet Sitting
- Time management
- Marketing
- Animal handling experience
3. Babysitting
- People skills
- Responsibility
- Communication
4. Entertainment: Magic shows, clowning, puppet theater or DJ-ing.
- Confidence
- Public speaking
- Creativity
5. Selling Handmade Items: Jewelry, charms, pottery, painting or photography.
- Marketing
- Fine motor skills
- Creativity
6. Helping in the Neighborhood: Weeding, cleaning, painting, carrying groceries or assisting the elderly.
- Operating and using tools
- Problem-solving
- People skills
- Time management
7. Social Justice or Social Impact Crusader: Saving the bees, recycling or helping the homeless.
- Fundraising
- Activism
- Caring and compassion
8. Online Content Creator: Blogger, YouTube, TikTok and more.
- Community-building
- Dealing with online bullying or negativity
- Editing videos/technology
9. Event Organizer: Bake sales, clothing/book/toy swaps, or car washes.
- Organization
- Time management
- Community connection
10. Inventor: Use STEAM-related skills to create something new or improve on an existing design.
- Research
- Design
- Problem-solving
Wow, that was a lot to cover. If you need help researching or are looking for books with business ideas, reach out to our helpful CPL librarians. Here are a few of the books we have that might be helpful.
Being a Good Citizen: A Kid's Guide to Community Involvement by Rachelle Kreisman
Better Than A Lemonade Stand! Small Business Ideas for Kids by Daryl Bernstein
Can We Help? Kids Volunteering to Help Their Communities by George Ancona
Entrepreneurship: Create Your Own Business by Alex Kahan
Starting Your Own Business by Nelson Yomtov
It is also important to note that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sets rules on how much income kids can earn before they must file an annual tax return. Check here for more information.
Good luck, and happy helping to you!
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