Good business ideas for kids solve a small problem for people they already know, cost little to start and fit around school. For children aged 10 to 13, that usually means a simple service such as pet care, a handmade product such as bookmarks, or a better version of something people already buy.
Below you'll find a free printable idea picker your child can fill in.
Your 12-year-old has been bored since breakfast. "I want to start a business. What should I sell?" You love that he's asking. You also picture $40 of craft supplies and a box of unsold stock.
So before handing him a list of 50 ideas, ask:
"Who would want this, and why?"
It passes three tests: someone they know has the problem, it costs under about $20 to start, and it fits around school with an adult nearby. If your child can name three people who would want it, it's a good start.
Services cost least to start. Small products teach more about costs and pricing.
| Idea | Start-up cost | Skills it builds |
|---|---|---|
| Pet feeding or dog walking for neighbours | $0 | Reliability |
| Car, bike or bin washing | $0 to $10 | Pricing time |
| Garden help: weeding and watering | $0 | Planning |
| Tech help for grandparents | $0 | Explaining clearly |
| Bookmarks, cards or bag tags | $5 to $15 | Costing and design |
| Seedlings or potted herbs | $5 to $15 | Planning ahead |
By interest: baking suits kids who love food, but check allergies and council rules before selling outside the family. Animal lovers can start with pets they already know. Creative kids can sell their own designs, never characters or logos found online.
No. A first business works best when it is small enough to finish. Earning $30 from a service three neighbours asked for teaches more than spending $60 on stock nobody tested.
Match what your child enjoys with a problem people nearby have, then test it on three real people. This JuniorCEO Lab activity uses Notice, Ask, Try, Improve.
Five things they like and five things they're good at.
Five small frustrations from family or neighbours, and who has each one.
Score the top three overlaps using the table below.
What did they do last time the problem came up? Our guide to market research for kids has good questions.
Do the service once or make three items, then improve one thing. Finish with the value sentence:
"This is for ___, who wants ___, and it helps by ___."
For example, a 12-year-old notices neighbours need plants watered over summer and offers a watering service with a photo after each visit. This is an illustrative example, not a JuniorCEO Lab student case study.
Print this page. Answer yes, no or not sure.
| My idea | Who has this problem? | Under $20? | Fits around school? | Do I enjoy it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | ||||
| 2. | ||||
| 3. |
In the classroom: students fill in the picker for three ideas, then a partner asks each one "Who would want this, and why?"
Yes. According to business.gov.au, you don't need to be an adult to run a business, but self-employed young people still have rules on working hours. Its guide for under-18s notes these vary by state and generally rule out school hours. This is general information, not legal advice.
You set the boundaries and keep things safe. The idea and the work belong to your child. Agree on time, money, responsibilities and success first. Keep customers to people you know and run anything online yourself, as Australia's social media age restrictions stop many platforms giving under-16s accounts.
When your child gets stuck, ask "What do you think the next step should be?" before offering an answer.
JuniorCEO Lab teaches children aged 10 to 13 to start with people, not products. Choosing an idea is the first step in a program that moves on to customers, branding, money and selling.
A simple service for people your family knows, such as feeding a neighbour's pets. It needs no money to start and gives quick feedback from real customers.
Yes. Agree first on who does which jobs, how money is split and what happens if one wants to stop. Both families should agree to the plan.
That is useful information. Your child can ask two or three people what would have made them say yes. The answer usually points to a better price or customer.
That is a family decision. Many families agree to pay back costs first, then split the rest between saving and spending.
This week, ask: "Who do we know who has a problem you could help with?" Then fill in the idea picker together. New here? Start with entrepreneurship for kids, then see how kids turn a problem into a product idea.
Su Stanyer is the founder of JuniorCEO Lab, an Australian program that teaches children aged 10 to 13 how a business works, from exploring products and researching customers to branding, money, marketing and sales.
Government references are general information and do not imply endorsement of JuniorCEO Lab.
In just 6 weeks, your teen will launch a real product, build their brand, and start selling.
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