Food & Treats
Bake-Stand Cookies
Bake and sell bags of homemade cookies, with recipes, costing and food-safety basics.
- Ages 8–12
- $85–$185
- Some prep
Business ideas for kids
Real, doable business ideas for ages 7–12. Each one has a shopping list, startup costs, an example pricing calculation, places to sell and safety notes for parents.
22 ideas
Makers & Handmade
Beaded Necklaces & Earrings
Design beaded necklaces, earrings and anklets in your own color styles.
- Ages 8–12
- $90–$190
- Easy start
Arts & Creative
Comic Books & Short Stories
Write and draw your own comics or short stories, print them as booklets, and sell them.
- Ages 7–12
- $92–$192
- Easy start
Digital & Design
Custom Pet Portraits
Draw portraits of people’s pets from photos, delivered as prints or digital files.
- Ages 10–12
- $55–$170
- Some prep
Services & Community
Dog-Walking Helper
Walk calm, friendly dogs for neighbors you know, with a parent arranging every walk.
- Ages 10–12
- $10
- Some prep
Arts & Creative
Face Painting
Paint butterflies, tigers and superheroes at markets, parties and community events.
- Ages 9–12
- $113–$213
- Some prep
Makers & Handmade
Friendship & Name Bracelets
Make woven and letter-bead bracelets: fast to learn, colorful, and a favorite at school-age markets.
- Ages 7–12
- $77–$177
- Easy start
Arts & Creative
Handmade Bookmarks
Design colorful, laminated bookmarks with tassels: a low-cost first business for kids who love books and drawing.
- Ages 7–12
- $72–$172
- Easy start
STEM & Inventions
Homemade Slime Shop
Mix, color and package your own slime recipes: kitchen chemistry kids love to buy.
- Ages 8–12
- $105–$205
- Some prep
Digital & Design
Kid Blogger (With Printables)
Write a blog about something you love and sell printable activity packs through a parent-run shop.
- Ages 9–12
- $0–$12
- Some prep
STEM & Inventions
Kitchen-Chemistry Bath Bombs
Use real chemistry (an acid plus a base) to make fizzing bath bombs in fun shapes and colors.
- Ages 9–12
- $93–$193
- Some prep
Makers & Handmade
Melt-and-Pour Soap
Melt, color and mold your own soap bars in fun shapes, with no harsh chemicals needed.
- Ages 9–12
- $92–$200
- Some prep
Nature & Sustainability
Mini Succulent Plants
Grow new succulents from leaves and cuttings and sell them in tiny pots: a business that literally grows.
- Ages 8–12
- $91–$191
- Some prep
Services & Community
Mother’s Helper (Junior Babysitter)
Play with and look after younger children while a parent is at home: the first step to babysitting.
- Ages 11–12
- $50
- Some prep
Digital & Design
Original Sticker Designs
Turn original drawings into stickers to sell at markets or in a parent-run online shop.
- Ages 9–12
- $80–$180
- Some prep
Arts & Creative
Personalized Greeting Cards
Hand-make birthday, holiday and thank-you cards, including custom orders with a customer’s name.
- Ages 7–12
- $77–$177
- Easy start
Digital & Design
Pet & Nature Photography
Photograph pets, flowers and nature, and sell prints and photo cards.
- Ages 9–12
- $77–$192
- Some prep
Makers & Handmade
Pet-Themed Keychains
Sculpt tiny clay cats, dogs and bunnies and turn them into keychains customers clip onto backpacks.
- Ages 8–12
- $91–$191
- Some prep
Services & Community
Plant-Watering & Pet-Care Helper
Help neighbors you know by watering plants and feeding pets while they’re away, with a parent arranging every job.
- Ages 10–12
- $8
- Some prep
Services & Community
Reading Buddy & Homework Helper
Help younger children with reading, math facts or a skill you’re great at.
- Ages 10–12
- $8
- Some prep
Arts & Creative
T-Shirt Designer
Start a clothing brand with hand-painted and stenciled T-shirts in your own designs.
- Ages 9–12
- $100–$215
- Some prep
Digital & Design
Young Video Creator
Make short videos for family friends’ small businesses, while learning to film and edit.
- Ages 10–12
- $12–$27
- Some prep