Ideas for a kid's business?

Ohio dreamer · #21 09/11/13, 05:01 PM

Do you homeschool or school away from home? I ask, because some of us homeschoolers have been kicking around the idea of a curriculum rental thing. If you are homeschoolers, this could work for you (and you're far away enough that you wouldn't be competition

) Doubt it would work if you're not, though. But it would be "easy" enough for a kid to do - with adult back up.

**Roadking** · #22 09/11/13, 09:23 PM

Great suggestions! and thanks.
No, we don't home school. He does garden and grow from seed.
Asked about trapping...this boy trips over his shadow.
Lead, I found out about mixing with water at about 14...the ladel got hit by the hose and kerpow...I ran as soon as I saw to droplet drop...too late! Also, see trapping. Accident in the making.

Lots of things to think about, Thanks.

Matt

Steve in PA · #23 09/12/13, 10:51 AM

I have a rough idea where you are at and the firewood bundles would be absolutely perfect for the people coming from Jersey to the lake. One concept I've toyed with is to have a "delivery" service for the wood or produce. Sell along the road but also sell online to be delivered at a particular place and time.

You could help with the delivery (for a fee). Set it up to be at a certain location near the lake for an hour or two. Do it as a prepaid but take extra. The buyer gets the convenience of knowing they will have firewood for the weekend and you know what is sold already.

I think in the era of smart phones and internet access everywhere you could do well with that concept as word spread that you would have wood at a certain location from 6 to 8 as people roll into town.

unregistered358967 · #24 09/12/13, 11:07 AM

Hi Matt - I've seen a lot of ideas for tangible goods, but how about services? My kids have a "business" for our neighbors who vacation. They collect mail/newspapers, water plants. One homeowner even gives *them* the key (which I keep) and we go over and turn lights on and off and check their house. They also walk neighbor's dogs and scoop poop.

He's probably too young for babysitting, but when my kids were small, I hired a neighbor kid as a "mother's helper"..basically an older playmate to help watch and play with my kids, when I was home, but doing chores, etc.

texican · #25 09/12/13, 02:26 PM

Buy some books on computer programming? I hear the young can pick it up easier than us old coots...

redgate · #26 09/22/13, 11:35 PM

This may be more of a commitment that what you are thinking, but our son raises meat rabbits. We started when he was 6, and gradually handed over the care, until this year. Now, at 8.5, he knows all about the breeding, kindling, feeding, watching weights, cleaning, watching for illnesses, exercising, handling, record keeping, and, as of this month, he even harvested his first litter almost by himself (dad did the actually dispatching, but son hung, skinned, and eviscerated alone). In addition, he has also taken over the sales (with oversight and occasional help from me). The first year he took over (age 7), he sold all kits, live or dressed, for $10. He had to give me $2 from each sale to help cover feed. Certainly not profitable to me at first, but taught him invaluable lessons which was priceless. He then had to tithe from the remainder. The rest, he split into savings and spending. By the end of the year, he had saved enough to go dollar-for-dollar to buy a plane ticket to go on a trip with his dad, and by the following spring, he met his second goal of totally buying and sustaining a breeding pair of cockatiels (yeah, most kids want a puppy or kitten, but he wanted birds...go figure). As of this coming spring, prices will go to $15 for organically-fed live kits or $20 for dressed ones (yes, it's legal here with a permit). He will take over all responsibility for buying the rabbit food and supplies as well, though in order to ensure he has enough, we will have to "buy" our rabbit meat from him. He seems to be well on his way though, and is responsible as all get out! As an 8.5 year old, he even teaches the rabbit portion of our "Farm Day" event now. So, in addition to business management, he is also learning about customer relations and public speaking!

Just a thought for you.

chewie · #27 09/24/13, 12:36 PM

redgate, that is awesome. a few years ago my youngest wanted to earn some money like big sis was (at a town job). not wanted to drive her to town all the time, we helped her set up similar to rg there, but with broiler chicks. she had to do all the chores, we fronted her the cash to buy feed and the chicks. she raised them up, we also took her around to make sales before getting stock so we knew how many. got 20 or so extra for us and to be sure all who ordered, received.

we did help butcher but she did a ton of the work, and paid back for the expenses, had a nice sum of cash by the end of the summer.

sisterpine · #28 09/24/13, 01:38 PM

I cant remember where online I saw it but there are some easy to make fishing lures that can be made of soda can pull tabs. He could also use them to make some neat Christmas tree ornaments. I bet if you look for them on line there are some directions to begin with.

Maura · #29 09/24/13, 04:03 PM

He can make all kinds of stuff, but until the family sorts out where he an sell it, doesn't matter.

cjean · #30 09/24/13, 05:24 PM

Does he like fish?

Our youngest daughter raised fish in her room (bettas and guppies), aquarium plants, shrimp and snails, and sold them to people online. The people were mostly fish/aquarium forum members, some were local. It is a huge community, the fish people! And they will pay big bucks for quality breeding stock.

DD was about 12 at the time, I think. She didn't make a lot of money, but she learned a bit about business, and how to please customers. And how to be humble, which was difficult at times! Set up her own PayPal and bank account (with me as main owner, of course). She also became an excellent photographer, as she had to take pics of what she had for sale.

Rectifier · #31 09/24/13, 09:53 PM

Small livestock? Chickens, rabbits? Around here it's common for kids to raise broilers and people in town are always happy to buy them. You can go with chicks or he could even try hatching eggs. That's always a good project and he could make a few bucks, safe and cheap to set up, chickens are easy to care for too.

**Roadking** · #32 09/25/13, 07:02 AM

Lots of great ideas, thanks!
We have done chickens for personal use, but need to rebuild the chicken tractor...something, either a fisher or cougar tore it to shreds, along with our layers...
The fishing lures have potential, as well as the camp wood service.
Matt