Starting a Summer Business: Ideas for Kids and Teens
Starting a summer business is a great way for kids and teens to learn valuable life skills such as responsibility, money management, and communication. It offers a creative outlet for students, allowing them to express their creativity while also exploring their interests. Best of all, a summer small business allows kids to learn about earning, saving, and budgeting money at a young age, setting them up to be financially literate adults.
Business Ideas for Kids (Ages 6-12)
Lemonade Stand: This is the perfect business idea to keep kids busy on Saturdays in the Summer. Encourage kids to think about location, pricing of their product, and to get creative when it comes to marketing.
Pet Sitting or Dog Walking: With parents’ help, kids can start a pet-sitting or dog-walking service. This business idea teaches responsibility and time management, and kids can use flyers and word-of-mouth to find clients in their neighborhood.
Crafts and Homemade Goods: Kids who enjoy arts and crafts can create items like bracelets, paintings, or homemade candles and sell them at local markets or on online platforms with parental help. This idea helps them to practice their creativity and learn about production and sales.
Business Ideas for Teens (Ages 13-18)
Lawn Care and Gardening: This can also include other home services such as pressure washing, painting fences, or even helping with landscaping projects. Teens can advertise their services through neighborhood flyers or local Facebook groups.
Babysitting Services: Teens can offer babysitting services to friends and families in the neighborhood. This business idea teaches responsibility as well as childcare skills. Additionally, teens can get certified in CPR to add credibility to their services. Encourage teens to find clients through local community boards, mutual connections, or online babysitting platforms.
Car Washing and Detailing: Teens can start a car washing and detailing service right in their own neighborhoods. This business requires minimal startup costs and can be promoted through flyers, social media, and by word of mouth. Teens can offer various packages, such as basic washes to full detailing services, to serve a wide range of customers.
The first step in any business is planning and research. Young entrepreneurs should research their chosen business idea to understand the market and who may want to purchase their product or service. Next, create a business plan. This can be simple, but make sure it covers key points such as your goals, your target market, budget, and marketing strategy. Parental supervision and support are key to making these businesses safe and successful. Finally – and the most important thing – have fun and enjoy your summer!