$
Crunching numbers...
Crunching numbers...
Loading life stage...
Real businesses teach more about money in 6 months than 6 years of classroom learning. Help your tween launch their first venture.
Running a business — even a small one — teaches profit/loss, pricing, customer service, marketing, taxes, and delayed gratification all at once.
$200-$1K
Average First Venture
Annual revenue for tween business
12+
Skills Learned
Financial literacy concepts
<$50
Startup Cost
Most tween businesses
Tween Business Ideas
| Feature | Startup Cost | Revenue Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn Care/Yard Work | $0-$30 (tools) | $20-$40/job, weekly repeats |
| Pet Sitting/Dog Walking | $0 | $15-$25/visit |
| Tutoring Younger Kids | $0 | $15-$25/hour |
| Baking/Lemonade Stand | $20-$50 (ingredients) | $50-$200/event |
| Car Washing | $15 (supplies) | $15-$30/car |
| Digital: Roblox/Etsy | $0-$20 | Varies widely |
| Photography (events) | $0 (phone camera) | $50-$100/event |
Choose Based on Passion
What do they love? Dog lover → pet sitting. Baker → cookie business. Gamer → Roblox design.
Calculate Costs & Pricing
First lesson: Revenue - Costs = Profit. Help them price services above their costs.
Find First Customers
Start with neighbors, family friends, NextDoor posts (with parent help).
Track Income & Expenses
Simple notebook or spreadsheet. Every dollar in, every dollar out.
Reinvest Profits
Teach: spend some, save some, reinvest some (better tools, marketing flyers, etc).
Startup Costs
Learn that you spend money BEFORE you earn it. Capital investment concept.
Revenue vs. Profit
'I made $60!' → 'After supplies, you made $40.' Gross vs. net.
Pricing Strategy
Too cheap = too busy, no profit. Too expensive = no customers.
Reinvestment
Better supplies → faster work → more jobs → more profit.
Tax Reality
Self-employment income over $400 requires filing. Real-world tax lesson.
Tax Note
Key Takeaways