If you’re looking for small business ideas for 12-year-olds to get your little entrepreneur started – you’ve come to the right place.

We’ll give you our top list of small business ideas that will get your kids motivated and excited to work and earn. But first, let’s take a closer look at the benefits of starting a business at a young age.

Why Should a Child Start a Business?

First, there are the financial benefits, which is why so many kids choose to start a small business in the first place. Whether they’re selling services or products, their entrepreneurial spirit is going to help them make money, as well as learn valuable lessons in money management.

When kids are exposed to handling money at a young age, it can help prepare them for future success by teaching them how to budget and save. What’s more, running a small business can help teach problem-solving and critical thinking. When they learn to identify their problems and come up with creative solutions, they’ll be better equipped to tackle any challenge down the road.

An additional benefit of starting a business at a young age is that it allows kids to become active members of their communities. Taking part in their communities can encourage them to be creative and innovative, and work on their leadership and teamwork skills.

Can 12-Year-Olds Start a Successful Business?

Yes, a 12-year-old can absolutely start a successful business with the right business idea, lots of hard work, and some help from adults. In many states, minors are able to form a business on their own as the laws make no mention of the minimum age requirement.

However, other states like Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and Oregon explicitly prohibit minors from opening their own business. In those states, you have to be 18 years or older to legally form an LLC. Of course, even in those states, there are workarounds for the teens who really want to get their business off the ground or lend a helping hand to the community. They can ask a parent or guardian to create the LLC for them or open the business in a different state with more lenient business laws.

That said, minors are allowed to form an LLC in Texas, California, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, and Delaware. So before starting a business, it’s important to check both state and local laws to ensure you’re doing everything by the book.

Small Business Ideas for 12-Year-Olds 

Now, let’s take a look at some good small business ideas for 12-year-olds and what kids can expect when starting their new jobs.

Making and Selling Gift Baskets

If your kids are good gift-givers, they can try their hand at making a gift basket and selling it to neighbors, family, and friends. They will need some money upfront for the gift basket items, but when done right, the business could be a great opportunity to earn.

An alternative to making and delivering a gift basket could be wrapping presents. It’s another service people often need, especially around the holidays, and could provide a solid income at an early age.

Lawn Care & Lawn Mowing Company

If your kids in middle school want to start a business, you can recommend lawn care or lawn mowing. Mowing lawns is another classic and a great summer job to get your kids started.

You can help reach your kids with the right safety procedures, as well as determining what to charge. If they do well, you can also discuss adding some additional services like gardening, raking leaves, and shoveling snow in the colder months. 

Making and Selling Phone Cases

If your kids are artistic, a novel idea they can try for a business is making and selling custom phone cases. They can get a variety of clear cases and then use crystals, charms, or paints to create stunning new cases.

They can offer or sell these to friends, family, or even at their schools to their peers or markets. What’s more, they can use popular social media platforms to get the word out about their business. If the business takes off, they can even start making personalized cases and charge more for their work. 

One alternative to phone cases is license plates as they can make custom ones for decoration. License plates are relatively easy to customize and they’re quite a novel business idea that can make money.

Making or Playing Video Games

Making video games is potentially one of the best small business ideas for 12-year-olds who love technology and are creative. At first, they might need someone to help get started, but there are also plenty of resources online.

Another popular online business idea is streaming video games on various social media platforms. With streaming, they can get paid to play and earn a buck doing one of their favorite pastimes. 

That said, before your kids can start streaming, it’s very important to set their expectations. Video game streaming is a very competitive field, and while it can be lucrative, it might take a long time before they start earning. Also, it’s important to go over the benefits and risks of using social media or cover any privacy concerns you might have.

Starting a Car Wash

A car wash is another classic that is always in high demand, a potentially great small business idea for 12-year-olds. Car washing is another chore that most adults aren’t very fond of and one that kids of almost any age can easily pick up.

In addition to doing a car wash, your teens could also offer car-detailing services, like vacuuming, polishing, and more. Offering their services to family and neighbors is a simple cash-in-hand business idea that can help teach responsibility while allowing them to earn.

Dog Walking & Pet Sitting

Almost all pet owners are often in search of someone responsible and caring to take care of their pets. So if your kids love animals and are responsible enough to care for them, suggesting a dog walking or pet sitting business could be an excellent idea.

Final Thoughts on Small Business Ideas for 12-Year-Olds

Those were just some of our small business ideas for 12-year-olds. The idea or business you choose should depend on the child’s interests, affinities, skills, and wishes.

No matter which business idea they go with, make sure they’re managing their money wisely and learning valuable financial lessons along the way. At BusyKid, we are on a mission to help kids learn how to invest, spend, save, donate, and earn.

Download BusyKid to learn more and get a head start on your children’s financial future.

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