Kids Business Ideas
That Earn Money!

Suggest these kids business ideas the next time your teen asks how they can earn some money. Not only will they be able to buy the things they want, but they will learn valuable business skills.

When I was a kid, I often tried several ways to earn money. Depending upon where you live, you can take advantage of these business ideas.

Personal Sales

My first attempt at earning money started when I was in sixth grade. I had to sell things from the Tom Wat Kit (www.tomwat.com) as a fund raiser for the Boy Scouts.

I soon got the idea of selling garden seeds and all occasion cards to my neighbors. I remember that comic books and maybe the Boy's Life magazine (boyslife.org) had advertisements for kids to earn money selling things.

My first business idea did earn a little spending cash which I saved. No doubt these opportunities still exist.

Farm Work

As I grew older, into a teenager, I earned money in different ways. Some of my kids business ideas included farm work. I cleaned horse stables, cow barns, and sheep pens. It was hard work, but it paid my way through college without any loans.

I also worked as a farm hand, helping to put in hay. Today, a lot of these tasks are done with automatic machinery. My nephews earned money helping a riding stable build and repair fences. Manual labor is good exercise for teenagers.

Garden Work

Another kids business idea is to weed gardens. My father paid me to weed long rows of sweet corn. It was hot, dirty work, but it didn't kill me. It did give me some spending cash. Even city kids can earn money helping their neighbors weed and harvest their gardens.

Shovel or Plow Snow

Every snow fall brings an opportunity to earn some extra money. My friend's teenagers plow snow for 37 customers. At a minimum of $25 per driveway, that means $925.00! When it snows more than 6 inches they charge 50% more.

Even if you don't have a pickup truck and plow for this kid business idea, you can start by shoveling sidewalks and driveways. The main thing is, you must be dependable and do a good job! Save your money to buy power equipment.

Lawn Mowing

Another kids business idea is to mow lawns. One friend of mine, had a teenager who mowed lawns with a zero-turn riding lawn mower. It helped pay his way through college.

Even if you can't afford a commercial lawn mower, a kid could use a walk behind mower to mow yards. It will take longer, but it will pay you more money than working at McDonald's. Be sure to wear steel toe shoes for safety.

Rake Leaves

When fall comes, and the leaves fall, another opportunity is born. Rake and bag leaves. With a simple tool called a rake, your child can offer his/her services to remove the leaves. These are services that many adult lawn services offer.

Flower Stand

I have another friend who's teen age son paid his way through medical college by operating a flower stand. He bought potted flowers, hanging baskets, and some vegetables from a wholesale greenhouse.

He rented a portion of a parking lot of a shopping center on a busy street. He erected a temporary green house structure to house his plants.

His little business existed only for about six weeks in the spring. He ran it 7 days a week during that time period.

His main activity was re-stocking his inventory every morning, watering the plants from a garden hose, and collecting the money. He was so busy he had his parents helping him.

Dog Walking

I had a young neighbor boy who passed out flyers in neighbor's newspaper box. He offered his dog walking services. I don't know how many customers he had, but it is a low cost business idea.

Add additional services, such as, pet brushing, feeding and exercising pets while their owners are on vacation. It is a great way for a kid to earn money.

I remember as a kid, when I took care of my neighbor's pony while they were on vacation. I didn't get rich, but it was some extra spending money. Plus they gave me permission to raid the fridge for a cold soda on a hot day.

The key thing here is your child must be trustworthy and dependable.

Baby Sitting

Baby Sitting has long been a way for a responsible teenager to earn some extra money. If your child truly likes working with children, baby sitting can teach them skills that may one day lead to starting a child care business.

Start A Website

Here is a super kids business idea. Start a website, writing about your favorite place to spend summer or winter vacations. One teen age girl called Nori wrote the website www.anguilla-beaches.com.

It describes her experiences of places she visited on the Caribbean island of Anguilla. Now you might not have the bucks to travel to Anguilla each year, but you do know about your own home town, and the places you spend your vacation.

Not only do you learn good computer skills which will help you later in life, but it can pay your way through college.

I would recommend using Site Build It! to build your website for travel or any other passion you may have.

Site Build It! is a comprehensive suite of online tools that helps guide even the most technically challenged person in building a successful website. If a teenager like Nori can build a travel website about her favorite vacation spot, why can't your child?

Well I hope these kids business ideas show you more ways to earn money than working in a fast food restaurant or even a lemonade stand. Hum, maybe an enterprising teenager could sell lemonade online, or at least some drink recipes. The Internet makes a lot possible that didn't exist 30 years ago.

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