Don’t let your child spend their summer on the couch, watching TV or playing video games. Instead, encourage them to start their own business, either alone or with friends. Starting a business can offer children a fun, creative way of earning money, while also providing them with the opportunity to learn about the crucial problem-solving and money management skills they’ll need for success later in life.
Need a little help getting started? Here are a few creative business ideas for kids to get your child’s wheels turning:
- Lemonade stand – The old, tried-and-true standard. It has low overhead, is easy to set-up and can be great for the pocketbook. Encourage your child to switch up their locations and see how their sales are affected.
- Pet daycare – Tons of people go on vacation during the summer. Have your child take advantage of that fact by offering to watch your neighbors’ pets while they’re away.
- Mowing and lawn work – Mowing lawns, weeding gardens, planting flowers and raking leaves – these are all great ways to stay physically active and make a buck at the same time.
- Cleaning – Is your kid a pro at chores? Put up signs around the neighborhood, and have them help others around the house, vacuuming, cleaning windows or doing dishes. This can be especially successful in a neighborhood with older, less active neighbors.
- Walking dogs – If your child loves animals, have them start a dog-walking business. They’ll get money and healthy physical activity all in one.
- Renting video games and DVDs
- Babysitting – If your child is a little bit older (and ideally, CPR-trained), babysitting can be a great way to earn cash. It also helps instill more responsibility in them and looks great on a resume.
- House sitting – While neighbors are away, have your child offer to water the plants, get the mail and feed the fish – anything their house might need while the owners are out of town.
- Bake sale – Does your kid love working in the kitchen? Encourage their passion, and let them bake cookies, cakes, pies and other treats for the neighborhood. They can go door to door, or they could even sell alongside a lemonade stand.
- Tech training – If your child is particularly skilled with computers, TVs or other technology, encourage them to share those skills with those who are less-than-savvy. Many grandparents and older adults struggle in these areas, and they’d be glad to pay for a little one-on-one training.
These business ideas for kids are a great way to keep your child occupied, active and learning this summer. Encourage your child to start thinking of their summer business today! If they need even more inspiration, consider signing them up for an entrepreneurship course at VentureLab.
