12 coolest small business ideas for 12-year-olds
What kind of businesses can a 12-year-old start? Children have a lot of qualities that would be extremely valuable for a small business. We are going to cover some of the best small business ideas for 12-year-olds so that by the end of our post, you will be able to pick up one.
What is the best business for a 12-year-old?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best business for a 12-year-old may vary depending on their interests and skills. However, some tips that can help you choose a good business include thoroughly researching your chosen industry, choosing an easy-to-manage company with high revenues and low expenses, setting up strategic marketing plans, and creating efficient systems of operation.
When it comes to starting a business, make sure to delegate tasks as much as possible so that you can focus on running the company in its most effective form. And remember: always be prepared to pivot if things don’t go according to plan!
How can a 12-year-old start a small business?
Many people believe that starting a small business as a child is an ideal way to gain experience and learn about business. There are many online resources and classes available that can help you get started, such as teachable or Skillshare. Additionally, there are numerous books on the topic that you can read to increase your knowledge base. For example this one: (The Big Startup Guidebook for Kids)
Once you have the basic foundation down, it’s important to start thinking about what type of small business might be best for you. Maybe you want to start an online business? Or maybe you’re interested in creating custom jewelry? The sky is the limit! Just make sure that whatever company you decide to create takes advantage of technology in some way so that customers can buy from anywhere at any time.
Best Small Business Ideas For 12-year-olds
Here are some of the best small business ideas for 12-year-olds to start today:
1. Lemonade Stand
If you have a dream to start your own business, a lemonade stand is an excellent way to test the waters. However, before you start, there are some legal requirements you should be aware of. First, make sure that your parents check with their local government to see if they’ll require any special permits or licenses for food sales (some cities will require a health inspector’s approval). Next, develop a business plan so that you can set goals and track progress over time. Once these basics are taken care of—and assuming everything goes smoothly—you’ll be ready to begin!
2. Dog walking service
A dog walking business is a great way to get exercise and socialize with other people. It can also teach responsibility, as you will have to take care of the animals when their owners are not available. You can work alone or with a friend or family member (for safety reasons), but there are many benefits to working solo too! The hours are flexible and you can choose which dogs/pets you want to walk each day.
This is also a great opportunity to build up your client base by asking friends and neighbors if they need someone who’s responsible enough to walk their beloved furry friend while they’re out of town.
3. Mowing Lawns
Mowing lawns is a great way to make money. You can even earn money for doing it on the weekends, and you don’t have to be an adult! Just follow these tips:
- Wear sunscreen!
- Wear a hat!
- Wear closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops).
- Wear long pants (no shorts).
- Wear long sleeves (no tank tops).
4. Jigsaw puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles are easy to make and sell. You can use images from the internet or you can design your own. If you make them with your own artwork, be sure to get permission from the person who owns the image before selling your jigsaw puzzles.
You can sell them at the local craft fair or on sites like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and eBay. You could also sell them on the side of the road if there are no craft fairs in your area!
5. Facepainting and temporary tattoos
If you love drawing, painting, and crafts, this is a great business for you. You can find all of the supplies at a dollar store or even at Walmart. Make sure that you have a good variety of colors and designs. You will need brushes and stencils too!
When people come to your booth, ask them what kind of design they want (a butterfly? A flower?) Then draw that on their face with black paint or marker first so it looks like an outline drawing before adding color with whatever color you want! You can charge about $5-$10 for each person who wants their face painted. This is definitely something different than other carnivals so people will be excited to try something new!
You can advertise by posting flyers around town saying “Come get your face painted!” Or maybe make some flyers yourself using PowerPoint so they look really cool with glittery backgrounds and lots of different font styles. When someone comes up to get their face painted by me I would say “Hi [insert name here], would you like me to draw something cool on your face?” Then start drawing right away while chatting away about how fun it is here today at the carnival!!
6. Arts and crafts kits
I’m sure you’ve noticed that the world is filled with people who like to make things. They love knitting scarves, crocheting blankets, and making jewelry. As a 12-year-old, you could be one of them! This is a great small business idea for a kid because it won’t require them to learn how to run their own business. Just how to create something they love doing and sell it at craft fairs, farmers’ markets, or even on Etsy or eBay.
There are many kits available online that teach kids how to do various arts and crafts projects such as making greeting cards, decoupage boxes, or clay figurines. The kits include everything necessary for completing the project including instructions on what materials are needed as well as templates if necessary (for example a paper cutter).
7. Teaching instrument lessons
If you are good with your instrument, teaching others how to play it can be a great way to make money and learn about the instrument. If you love playing the piano and want to share your passion with others, consider starting a private music lesson business. You can teach piano, guitar, drums or any other strung or wind instrument.
Another benefit of having such a business is that it gives you opportunities to meet new people every day. Asking for referrals from past students who enjoyed their lessons will help in building up your client base as well as finding new ones who may need your services!
8. House Sitting or Pet Sitting
House sitting and pet sitting are two great business ideas for 12-year-olds. In fact, these jobs can be done during winter and summer breaks from school.
But what is house sitting? House sitters are responsible for checking in on your home while you’re away, making sure it’s safe, secure, and clean. House sitters may also feed pets or plants if needed and take out the trash or recycle once a week (or more often if it’s full). Typically speaking, house-sitting services cost around $36/hr per day depending on location and client needs/wants.
It’s important that you have references from friends who have used your services before so clients know they’ll be getting a reliable house sitter in exchange for some money! You should also set up an email address specifically for all inquiries about your business so no one gets confused about who they’re sending messages to!
9. Selling baked goods
Selling baked goods is a great way to make some extra cash! This can be done in many different ways, and it will depend on the type of baked goods you make. If you’re not sure how to get started, here are some ideas:
- Set up a table at a local market. Use this as an opportunity to test out your product and see what people think about it.
- Sell your baked goods at a local store. You can also see if there are any special events happening in town or nearby that might be good places for you to set up a shop for the day or week of that event.
- Sell them directly from home by posting ads online at Craigslist or Thrifty Nickel (a classified ad site). As with any other business, there may be startup costs associated with this option (e.g., buying tables, chairs, etc.). But once everything is set up and ready to go then all that’s left is placing orders!
10. Setting up a YouTube Channel
If you’re a 12-year-old with an interest in making money, it’s time to start on YouTube. Setting up a YouTube channel is free and easy. Once you’ve done that, there are lots of ways to make money. Here are some tips:
- You can make money from ads. YouTube will show ads before or during your videos if they’re popular enough that advertisers want their products associated with them.
- You can make money from sponsorships. If you have a lot of subscribers or views, companies might pay you to endorse their products by mentioning them in your videos or reviewing them.
- You can also earn affiliate commissions when people click through one of your links (for example, to Amazon) and buy something at no extra cost to them
11. Selling Homegrown Produce
Selling homegrown produce is a great way to make money and help the environment. You’ll be able to grow your own food. This means you can avoid buying produce that has been transported across the country or overseas. You could even sell some of your harvests directly to your neighbors or at local markets or farmers’ markets.
You may also want to consider selling some of your harvests directly to restaurants so they can use them in their dishes. The restaurant will pay you for this service. However, it’s still a win-win situation because restaurants will be able to provide healthier meals without having to use pesticides on their crops. They will also reduce waste by using locally grown products instead of importing them from other countries where health regulations may not be as strict as here in America!
12. House Cleaning & Organizing Service (with your parent’s permission, of course)
If you are a neat freak, this could be the perfect way for you to make some extra cash.
- Make sure you have a contract signed by you and the client. The terms of the service should be laid out clearly in black and white so there are no misunderstandings.
- Make sure you have an itemized list of what you will do, along with an estimated price tag on each item. You should also have another list of things that you won’t do. For example, cleaning out pet cages or cleaning up after animals (unless it’s necessary for health reasons).
- If possible, try to find clients who don’t mind paying more for higher-quality work. This will make them more likely to come back again! You can also offer discounts based on how long you’ve been working together. For example: “$5 off your next cleaning when we’ve been working together six months straight”.
Conclusion
All in all, 12-year-old entrepreneurs are a force to be reckoned with! They’re creative, resourceful, and ready to make a difference in their communities. The world will continue to benefit from their ingenuity for years to come. Leave a comment or contact us if you have any questions.