Family Enterprise Stories

Real stories from our family’s early business ideas, market stalls, projects, and childhood enterprise experiences.

Upcycling Business Ideas: Amber’s New From Old Project 2

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Amber Howitt learning upcycling business ideas through her New From Old enterprise

Upcycling business ideas can start very small. Sometimes all a child needs is a second-hand item, a little imagination, a few practical skills and the confidence to have a go.

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After Amber’s first New From Old project was successful, she was ready to keep her enterprise momentum moving. This time, her opportunity came from a visit to the Geraldton Recycling Centre with her Gran.

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Amber finding an item at the recycling centre for an upcycling business idea
Amber learnt that enterprise opportunities can sometimes be found in unexpected places.

Upcycling Business Ideas: Amber’s New From Old Project 2

Amber’s rabbit hutch project was hugely successful. She made an easy sale with excellent profit, and it gave her the confidence to look for another enterprise opportunity.

This post is part of Amber’s New From Old resale enterprise series, where she learnt how to find second-hand items, improve them and sell them for profit.

After the success of the rabbit hutch, Amber was looking for a new Enterprise for Kids project to keep her momentum moving forward.

So she planned a visit to the Geraldton Recycling Centre with her Gran to see if she could find another opportunity.

Finding Upcycling Business Ideas at the Recycling Centre

Amber was under instructions to only bring home something small, as we were returning to Burekup and already had a lot to fit into the car.

That is often a useful boundary for kids. It helps them look carefully, think practically and choose something they can actually manage.

For families in the Geraldton area today, the City of Greater Geraldton’s Resource Recovery Station is a useful reminder that recycling and reuse can create real-world learning opportunities for children.

Amber negotiating at the recycling centre as part of an upcycling business idea
Amber negotiates with the recycling centre man.
Pine timber display shelves Amber found for her upcycling business idea
Amber’s pine timber display shelves before the makeover.

What Amber found was a small pine display cupboard.

She thought it could make a good doll house. As an alternative, she could simply tidy it up and resell it.

That was smart thinking. She was not locked into only one idea. She could see more than one possible use for the item, which gave her flexibility.

Negotiating, Improving and Selling for Profit

Amber negotiated with the recycling centre man, batted her big blue eyes, and bought the shelves for a couple of dollars.

This was a simple but valuable enterprise lesson.

She was learning how to:

  • spot an opportunity,
  • look for resale potential,
  • negotiate a price,
  • improve an item,
  • advertise it,
  • and sell it for profit.

These are the kinds of practical skills that children can learn through real-world enterprise projects.

Amber sanded the cupboard back, gave it a coat of varnish and advertised it for sale.

Amber's upcycled display shelves after varnish ready to sell for profit
After a lick of varnish, the shelves were ready to sell.

Sold for $15!

Once again, Amber was happy with her profit. She added the cash to her money jar in readiness for her next Enterprise for Kids opportunity.

What Amber Learnt from Her Upcycling Business Idea

We watched Amber’s confidence skyrocket from running her little business projects.

This is one of the things we love about small enterprise experiences for children. The money matters, but the learning is even bigger.

Through this project, Amber was developing skills in:

  • opportunity spotting,
  • creative thinking,
  • negotiation,
  • marketing,
  • basic pricing,
  • follow-through,
  • and confidence.

She was also learning that value can be created.

The pine shelves were not worth much sitting at the recycling centre. But with a little care, sanding, varnish and marketing, they became something someone else was willing to buy.

That is a powerful lesson for children.

Amber’s Reflection on How her Money Goal Has Been Progressing

Amber reflects on what her money target is and how she has been progressing towards her goal. Click the image to view her reflection.

Amber's Reflection on how her Money Goal is Progressing
Amber’s Reflection on how her Money Goal is Progressing (click to view video)

Upcycling Business Ideas Teach Kids to Spot Opportunity

Upcycling business ideas are wonderful for kids because they do not need to start with a lot of money.

Children can begin by looking for small, manageable items that can be cleaned, repaired, painted, polished, repurposed or presented better.

They can learn to ask:

  • Could this be useful to someone?
  • Could this be cleaned up?
  • Could this be turned into something else?
  • Could this be advertised better?
  • Could I buy this cheaply enough to make a profit?
  • Who might want this once it is improved?

These questions help children think like entrepreneurs.

They begin to see that opportunity is not always obvious. Sometimes it is hidden under dust, scratches, old paint or someone else’s discarded item.

Amber’s New From Old Series

This project was another step in Amber’s New From Old journey.

Her first project showed her that she could buy and sell for profit. This second project showed her that she could take something simple, improve it and make another successful sale.

Each small project helped her build belief in herself.

We do hold the crystal ball, and we know what Amber gets up to next. You will be amazed by the opportunities she finds.

Stay tuned for more in Amber’s enterprise journey.

Key Takeaway: Upcycling Business Ideas Can Start Small

Key takeaway: upcycling business ideas can teach children how to spot opportunity, negotiate, improve an item, advertise and sell for profit. Amber’s New From Old project showed that a small recycling centre find can become a valuable real-world money lesson.

Where to Next?

What second-hand item could your child clean up, improve or resell as a small enterprise project?

Pet Business Ideas for Kids: Fish, Plants and Small Enterprise

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Enterprise Stories, Kids Business Ideas, Money Lessons for Kids , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments
Colourful aquarium fish representing pet business ideas for kids

Pet business ideas for kids can begin with something as simple as a hobby. For children who love animals, fish, poultry or small pets, a pet-related enterprise can teach responsibility, research, care, pricing and customer relationships.

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But any pet business idea must begin with animal welfare. Pets are living creatures, not products. The best lessons come when children learn to care properly, research carefully and put the wellbeing of animals first.

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Chayse Howitt feeding poultry as part of pet business ideas for kids
Pet hobbies can teach children care, responsibility and enterprise skills.

Pet Business Ideas for Kids: Fish, Plants and Small Enterprise

As a kid, I loved keeping pets. In fact, many people referred to our suburban home as being the local zoo. Kids from all over the neighbourhood would come by to see the goings-on in our backyard.

I had a huge fish pond which, during the summer, would be teeming with little colourful fish. The fish first started out in my aquarium and, as they multiplied, they ended up in the pond.

By the end of the summer there would be so many fish that, if I did not find homes for them, they would overpopulate the pond and create problems.

So I would catch them by the hundred, put them into big buckets and take them off to the local aquarium shops. The shop owners were happy to get my fish and paid me 50 cents each.

Thirty-five years ago, this amounted to a lot of money.

How a Fish Hobby Became a Small Enterprise

Swordtail fish as an example of pet business ideas for kids interested in aquarium fish
Swordtails are colourful aquarium fish, but any breeding project needs research and responsible care.
Trevor Howitt's aquarium showing how fish keeping can lead to pet business ideas for kids
Trevor’s aquarium hobby became one of his earliest enterprise lessons.

One time, I remember delivering a bucket full of swordtails, which are renowned for jumping.

The aquarium shop owner left the bucket on the ground without a lid while he went about his shop business. He returned later in the day to find nearly all the fish on the ground!

I also divided up the water lilies and pulled out huge amounts of water plants that were thriving in the summer heat in the pond. These were also sold to the aquarium shops.

All up, my pet hobby well and truly paid for itself.

It also taught me some early business lessons:

  • look after your stock well,
  • understand what buyers want,
  • build relationships with local shops,
  • keep quality high,
  • and turn a hobby into something useful.

Pet Business Ideas for Kids Can Start With a Hobby

Today I still keep aquarium fish and breed them in ponds during the summer. Some of my children have taken an interest in them and keep fish as well.

A close friend of the family, Brayden, stopped by our place and showed an interest in my fish. I told him what I was doing and shared the story of how I used to sell fish to aquarium shops.

Guppies as an example of aquarium fish linked to pet business ideas for kids
Guppies helped Brayden see how a pet hobby could become a small enterprise idea.
Brayden exploring a fish enterprise as part of pet business ideas for kids
Brayden’s interest in aquarium fish led him to explore a small fish enterprise.

Fifteen-year-old Brayden also kept fish. He had an aquarium full of guppies.

As a result of our conversation, he took his guppies down to the local pet shop and sold them for $2.50 each.

He was so pleased with his fish sale that he began playing with figures to see whether it would be worth trying to farm aquarium fish as an enterprise.

His figures stacked up.

He told me that he had acquired several large fish tanks, had done his research and had worked out which fish were easy to breed and which were sought after by aquarium shops.

His aquaculture enterprise was just beginning and had the potential to do very well.

Responsible Pet Business Ideas for Kids

Pet business ideas for kids can be exciting, but they also need to be approached carefully.

Any child or teenager interested in a pet-related enterprise should have adult guidance and should understand that animals need consistent, humane and knowledgeable care.

Before breeding, selling or rehoming any animals, families should check:

  • local animal welfare laws and council requirements,
  • pet shop expectations,
  • species-specific care requirements,
  • housing, space, food and cleaning needs,
  • platform rules if advertising online,
  • and whether there is genuine demand before breeding more animals.

The RSPCA’s responsible pet ownership information is a helpful reminder that caring for animals is a long-term commitment.

A pet business should never be built around producing animals quickly without proper care, planning and responsibility.

Choosing the Right Pet Business Idea

Here are some helpful tips if you are considering pet business ideas for kids.

Start with research

Before buying or breeding anything, learn as much as possible about the animal or plant. Some animals can be difficult to keep and may require expensive equipment, specialist food, careful temperature control or veterinary support.

Choose quality and health first

If breeding is involved, start with healthy, well-cared-for animals from responsible sources. The aim should be strong, healthy animals and a good reputation, not simply producing as many as possible.

Ask local shops what they need

Pet shops and aquarium shops may have specific species, colours, sizes or plants they are regularly looking for. This can help a young person understand demand before investing time or money.

Keep excellent care standards

Good food, clean water, suitable housing, safe temperatures and low-stress handling all matter. Animal welfare should always come before profit.

Build a good reputation

If a child sells to a shop or local customer, quality and honesty matter. A good reputation is built by being reliable, knowledgeable and responsible.

Consider pet-related services too

Not every pet business idea needs to involve breeding or selling animals. Some children may be better suited to pet sitting, dog walking with adult supervision, making pet accessories, growing aquarium plants or helping neighbours with safe animal care tasks.

Animal Enterprise Ideas Need Specialist Knowledge

Baby rats showing why small animal pet business ideas for kids require careful welfare and research
Small animal projects require careful research, humane care and family supervision.
White peacock showing that some pet business ideas for kids need specialist knowledge and care
Some animal enterprise ideas need specialist knowledge, space, experience and proper care.

Some animal-based ideas sound simple at first, but they can become complex very quickly.

Small animals, poultry, fish, birds and specialist breeds all have different needs. Some require licences, space, careful housing, disease prevention, temperature control or experienced handling.

That is why a family should always do the research first.

For children, the best enterprise lessons usually come from small, manageable projects where they can learn responsibility without becoming overwhelmed.

What Pet Business Ideas Teach Kids

Pet business ideas for kids can teach much more than how to make money.

They can help children learn:

  • responsibility,
  • research skills,
  • daily care routines,
  • pricing and profit,
  • customer relationships,
  • record keeping,
  • patience,
  • and respect for living things.

These are valuable enterprise lessons.

A child who learns to care properly for animals, understand customer needs and manage a small project is developing skills that can transfer into many other areas of life.

Maybe Your Pet Hobby Can Pay for Itself

Maybe you too can develop a pet enterprise, or at least have your pets help pay for themselves.

But the starting point should always be care, not cash.

If a child already loves fish, poultry, small animals or pets, then a carefully guided enterprise project might help them learn business skills while deepening their responsibility.

If they do not enjoy the care side, then a pet business is probably not the right fit.

The best pet business ideas for kids are the ones where the child learns to respect animals, serve customers and grow slowly and responsibly.

Key Takeaway: Pet Business Ideas for Kids Must Put Care First

Key takeaway: pet business ideas for kids can teach responsibility, research, care, pricing and profit. Trevor’s childhood fish enterprise and Brayden’s guppy project show how a hobby can become a small business lesson, but animal welfare must always come first.

Where to Next?

What pet-related hobby could your child turn into a responsible enterprise lesson?

How to Avoid Distractions for Students: Kaitlin’s Enterprise Lesson

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Enterprise Stories, Kaitlin's (Kat) Stories, Mindset, Confidence & Leadership , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment
How to avoid distractions for students shown through Kaitlin balancing friends, camps and enterprise

How to avoid distractions for students is one of the biggest lessons that came out of Kaitlin’s portrait drawing enterprise.

Kaitlin had a strong creative idea, real customers and the talent to make it work. But like many students, she also had school, friends, sport, camps, work, family and plenty of other distractions pulling her focus away.

How to avoid distractions for students with Kaitlin revisiting her portrait drawing enterprise
Kait with that winning smile!

How to Avoid Distractions for Students: Kaitlin’s Enterprise Lesson

How to avoid distractions for students is the practical lesson behind this follow-up to Kaitlin’s portrait artist enterprise. Before we revisit her progress, it is worth looking at the idea of focusing on what you truly want to bring into reality.

At the time, we had been learning a lot about goals, values, mindset and the importance of making what you want a genuine priority. Whatever language people use — goals, vision, manifestation, values or focus — there is a practical lesson underneath it.

If something matters to you, it needs time, attention and action.

That sounds pretty easy, but I will be frank: it is easier said than done.

If you are anything like us, you will have very busy, complicated lives and are overrun with distractions. Work, family, social life, worries, school, sport, friends and commitments can all pull your focus away from what you say you want.

This is exactly what happened with Kaitlin’s portrait drawing enterprise.


Kaitlin procrastinating while learning how to avoid distractions for students
Kaitlin procrastinating!

Of course, not all distractions are bad. Some are part of life, family, travel, friendships and growing up. The problem is when those distractions quietly take over and push important goals further and further into the background.

For Kaitlin, learning how to avoid distractions for students was not about removing every fun or social activity. It was about recognising when her enterprise idea needed protected time, focus and follow-through.

How to Avoid Distractions for Students with a Real Goal

Kaitlin’s enterprise plan that she shared in her home video was a very good one, but it required time management, focus and diligence.

Once the article about her enterprise was posted on Enterprise for Kids, Kaitlin received two customers requesting her to do portrait drawings of their families.

Kaitlin was delighted that people had actually appreciated her talents and were willing to pay for her service. This was a real opportunity for Kaitlin to follow a passion of hers and she was motivated to get started.

Sliding into Action

Kaitlin sliding into action while learning how to avoid distractions for students
Kaitlin sliding into action.

She had bought half a dozen quality timber and glass frames from a garage sale, which would beautifully show the portraits if her customers wanted them framed.

She also had the $100 loan from me to buy the art materials required for her to run her enterprise.

So what has happened so far?

Distractions, distractions and more distractions!

Why Distractions Can Stop a Good Student Business Idea

Kaitlin, being a popular teenager, had many demands put upon her and she certainly didn’t have her focus set on attending to portrait drawings yet.

It had not become her highest value to develop an enterprise, despite the fact that she really did want to have her own enterprise doing something that she had passion for.

The list of distractions could almost fill a blog on their own!

Kaitlin at Bali Green SuperCamp while balancing distractions and enterprise goals
Kaitlin on the Bali Green SuperCamp.

Kaitlin had been on the Country Week camp, had sleepovers, caught up with friends, and was currently on the Bali Supercamp.

She had work commitments, babysitting, sporting commitments, school, boyfriends, homework, modelling classes and family commitments that had all stolen her focus away.

How to Avoid Distractions for Students with Big Goals

To do portrait drawings, Kaitlin needed a lot of concentration, patience and most importantly, a distraction-free amount of time where she could get her head around it.

Kaitlin understood that she needed to establish a time management plan where she could devote her focus to what she wanted to achieve.

Admittedly, Kaitlin didn’t need to complete the drawings straight away. She had a few months. But you could see how easily those few months could whittle away to nothing without a plan of attack, followed by action to bring that plan to fruition.

This is a useful lesson in how to avoid distractions for students. It is not enough to simply want something. Students need a simple structure that helps protect time and attention.

A few practical steps could include:

  • choosing one clear goal to focus on;
  • setting aside a specific time each week to work on it;
  • breaking the goal into smaller tasks;
  • creating a quiet, distraction-free space;
  • removing easy distractions during work time;
  • using short blocks of focused time rather than waiting for a perfect long stretch;
  • asking someone to help keep them accountable.

For families, how to avoid distractions for students becomes a practical conversation about priorities, routines and gentle accountability. The goal is not to remove every distraction, but to help children notice when distractions are stopping them from doing something they genuinely want to achieve.

ReachOut has some useful advice for parents helping teenagers manage distractions, including encouraging teens to work in short chunks of focused time and then take regular short breaks. You can read more here: How to help your teenager avoid distractions while studying.

How to Avoid Distractions for Students with a Simple Plan

That being said, we all must do the same with our dreams and desires in life.

Without making what we want a high value, writing down a plan, and then focusing our energy on it, those dreams are unlikely to come about very easily.

This is why children’s enterprise projects are so valuable. They teach more than business. They teach responsibility, time management, problem-solving and follow-through.

Kaitlin’s portrait drawing idea was still a good one. The challenge was not the idea. The challenge was protecting enough time and focus to bring the idea to life.

That is a powerful lesson for mindset, confidence and leadership.

What Kaitlin’s Distractions Teach Us

Kaitlin’s story reminds us that students can have talent, opportunity and encouragement, and still struggle to follow through if distractions take over.

For parents, the lesson is not to criticise the child for being distracted. The better lesson is to help them notice what is happening and gently guide them back to structure.

Questions like these can help:

  • What do you really want to achieve?
  • Why does it matter to you?
  • What is distracting you most?
  • When could you set aside time for this?
  • What is the next small step?
  • Who could help keep you on track?

This is how raising entrepreneurial kids can become part of everyday family life. It is not always about big wins. Sometimes it is about helping children learn what stops them from moving forward.

Key Takeaway: How to Avoid Distractions for Students

Key takeaway: Learning how to avoid distractions for students is an important part of helping children and teens follow through on their goals. Kaitlin had talent, customers and a strong enterprise idea, but she also needed time, focus and a plan to protect her attention.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed this follow-up on Kaitlin’s enterprise journey, you may also like:


Kaitlin’s Portrait Drawing Enterprise
Read the original post where Kaitlin planned her creative student business idea.


Mindset, Confidence & Leadership
Explore more stories about focus, confidence and learning through real-world challenges.


Kids Business Ideas
Find more practical enterprise ideas for children and teens.

We will keep you in the loop with Kaitlin in coming Enterprise for Kids blog articles.

For my next post or two, we will have a break from following our kids’ journeys and discuss understandings about developing a mindset for success. We’ll be looking at how we, and many other people, are conditioned to think in a certain way about money and how this conditioning may prevent us and our children from achieving success — and we are not just talking about the financial kind either.

Until then, we would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment.

Business Ideas for Teens: Jai’s App Developer Enterprise

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Business ideas for teens shown through Jai planning his app developer enterprise

Business ideas for teens often grow from the things they are already interested in. For Jai, that interest was technology, gaming and the idea of designing, making and selling an app.

At 13 years old, Jai was full of energy for his new enterprise idea. But as he quickly discovered, turning a tech idea into a real business can come with plenty of roadblocks.

Business ideas for teens with Jai thinking through his app development enterprise
What will Jai’s next move be?

Business Ideas for Teens: Jai’s App Developer Enterprise

Jai was super motivated and was like a bull at a gate with his new enterprising idea, which was to design, make and sell an app.

For those of you who are not geeks and are unfamiliar with the terminology, an app basically means application software for a device such as an iPhone, iPad or computer.

Jai’s idea was exciting because it connected directly with something he already loved — technology and gaming. At 13 years old, he could see that apps were becoming a huge part of the world, and he wanted to learn how to create one himself.

Turning a Tech Interest into a Teen Business Idea

Jai bought an Apple App developer licence under his Mum’s name and downloaded all the software onto his school’s Apple computer. This was a computer he was able to loan on a permanent basis until he left school. Lucky boy!

He then poured through the various emails and instructions and did whatever was required to get himself underway.

This is one of the exciting things about business ideas for teens. As children get older, their ideas often become more complex. Instead of selling a simple product or offering a basic service, they may begin exploring technology, design, online tools, digital products and more advanced enterprise ideas.

Apple’s own Developer Program gives developers access to tools and resources for creating and distributing apps and games, so Jai was stepping into a very real-world learning space.

There Are Ups and Downs

Jai experiencing ups and downs while developing his app business idea
There are ups… and downs!

The process proved to be very challenging and it wasn’t long before Jai was faced with a huge roadblock.

He was stumped!

The information and requirements were very complicated and technical, and Jai really needed professional help to get him through it.

I could see his spirits dropping fast, so we sat down for a chat about roadblocks.

Business Ideas for Teens Need Roadblock Thinking

Jai learning about apps and games for his teen business idea
To know about apps, you have to play the games!!

When you are building up an enterprise idea, it is important not to get bogged down by all the “what ifs”. If we all did that, we wouldn’t get past first base.

Whatever enterprise you choose to do will have roadblocks, and you will need to troubleshoot a way to get around them.

Firstly, it is important to come up with an idea and build it up. Then the next step is to work out a general plan for developing the idea into an enterprise. This means identifying each of the development stages.

From there, you can think about the detail and consider the roadblocks for Stage One.

Jai’s Stage One App Developer Plan

So Jai and I considered his Stage One plan.

The plan was to become registered as an app developer, download the software, then become familiar with the software.

Jai’s roadblocks were:

  • the software was not loading correctly onto his computer;
  • the software was difficult to understand;
  • he didn’t know how to get started with using it.

So we planned a simple strategy to deal with these roadblocks.

We were going to be in Geraldton for a holiday in a few days. Jai’s strategy was to pay a visit to our successful app developer friend and ask him to help him get started.

Finding a Mentor

Jai climbing to new heights while learning from a mentor for his app idea
It’s exciting to climb to new heights…

That he did, and when I saw Jai next I could see the spring back in his step.

He now had new understanding and some direction. He had also opened a line of communication with an expert, who could possibly become a mentor down the track.

Having a mentor is one of the proven best ways to a successful business.

This is an important lesson for raising entrepreneurial kids. Children and teens do not need to know everything before they begin. But they do need to learn how to ask for help, find people who know more than they do, and keep going when the first roadblock appears.

When One Problem Creates Another Problem

What Jai learnt was that, for the software to work properly, he needed to download another program onto his Apple computer.

So when he arrived back to Burekup, he downloaded the program, which seemed to sort the software issues. It looked like he was now finally ready to get going with it all.

He headed off to school that Monday, only to arrive home later that day without his computer and looking very frustrated.

Apparently, when he went about his online school work, he found that all the school programs he used were no longer compatible with his computer.

He paid a visit to the school’s computer tech, who identified what had caused the problem: Jai downloading this new program!

He wasn’t very happy with Jai.

He said that the computer would need to be wiped clean and completely reconfigured, then reloaded with all the school’s programs again. To top it off, Jai was told that it might take a few days to get it sorted.

Not good news at all!

More roadblocks!

What Jai’s App Idea Teaches About Teen Enterprise

Jai’s app developer idea is a great example of how business ideas for teens can stretch them into real-world problem-solving.

He had to deal with:

  • technical language;
  • software requirements;
  • computer compatibility problems;
  • needing expert help;
  • frustration and disappointment;
  • the reality that a good idea is only the beginning.

That is the real value of these experiences. Teen enterprise is not just about the end product. It is about the thinking, troubleshooting, persistence and maturity that develop along the way.

Those are powerful mindset, confidence and leadership lessons.

Key Takeaway: Business Ideas for Teens Need Persistence

Key takeaway: Business ideas for teens can be more complex than simple childhood enterprises, but they also teach deeper lessons. Jai’s app developer journey shows that roadblocks, mentors, technical problems and persistence are all part of turning an idea into something real.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed Jai’s app developer enterprise story, you may also like:


Kaitlin’s Portrait Drawing Enterprise
See how a creative skill became a student business idea.

Kids Business Ideas
Explore more practical enterprise ideas for children and teens.


Mindset, Confidence & Leadership
Read more stories about children learning confidence through real-world challenges.

What will Jai do next with his enterprising idea? We will revisit his journey as an app developer in a later blog. It will make interesting reading with some hard lessons learnt!

Next up, we will touch base with Kaitlin and see how she is progressing with her enterprising idea.

We would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment.

Pocket Money Ideas: Kit Starts His Dog Walking Business

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Enterprise Stories, Kids Business Ideas, Kit's Stories , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments
Kit’s dog walking business showing pocket money ideas for kids

Pocket money ideas can become much more than a way for children to earn a few dollars. When a child has to plan, speak to a customer, negotiate a price and deliver a service, they are learning real enterprise skills.

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In this post, we revisit Kit and his enterprising dog walking business. This is part of our Dog Whisperer series, where Kit moved from having an idea to actually getting started.

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Kit with Pam's dog Elly starting his pocket money idea
Kit with Pam’s dog, Elly, before his first paid dog walking job.

Pocket Money Ideas: Kit Starts His Dog Walking Business

Our kids are becoming enterprising children!

In this post, we revisit Kit and his enterprising dog walking business. He was now ready to implement his carefully thought out dog walking enterprise plan.

It was the school holidays and we were all staying with Kit’s Gran and Grandad in Geraldton.

His first client was a family friend, Pam, who owned a small scruffy dog called Elly. Pam had been prepped with a phone call that Kit would be arriving with his Grandad to ask if she would be interested in hiring his services.

She was delighted to support Kit with his new enterprise and awaited their arrival.

Kit’s First Customer

Kit explained to Pam what his business entailed and the benefits that she and her dog would get if she hired his services.

Pam agreed that his service looked to be very good, and then she asked what his rate was.

Kit said five dollars.

Pam negotiated with him, and they agreed on four dollars for the half-hour walk.

Kit preparing to walk Elly as part of his pocket money idea
Kit preparing for his walk with Elly.
Kit walking Elly in Geraldton as part of his pocket money idea
A beautiful afternoon for a walk.

What Kit Learnt from Negotiating

This simple conversation with Pam became a very real business lesson.

Kit had to explain his service, talk about the benefits, name his price and then handle a small negotiation. For a young child, that is a big step.

This is why practical pocket money ideas are so useful. Children are not only earning money. They are learning how to communicate, listen, solve problems and build confidence.

Kit was pleased, but he was not completely sure how he was going to handle Pam’s little energetic dog.

Grandad was an excellent coach. He helped Kit attach the lead, offer Elly a treat and practise giving commands to the dog.

We also believe that children need adult support and supervision when working with animals. The RSPCA WA safety around dogs information is a useful reminder that children should be supervised around dogs and should learn how to behave calmly and safely.

A Pocket Money Idea That Became Real

Kit walking Elly and learning responsibility during a dog walking service
All dogs need a pit stop.
Kit finishing his dog walking job with Elly
Ending the walk.

The walk went very well with no dramas.

Kit returned Pam’s dog and then arrived back at his Gran and Grandad’s house very keen to tell his family all about his business.

That excitement matters.

It is one thing for a child to talk about a business idea. It is another thing entirely for that child to walk up to a real customer, offer a real service, do the job and come back with a story to tell.

Kit Gets Paid for a Job Well Done

Kit being paid for his dog walking pocket money idea
Kit being paid for a job well done.

Kit continued his dog walking enterprise for the next two days while we were on holidays in Geraldton.

He managed to make twelve dollars!

Kit was now on his way to attaining his goal.

As parents, we felt that more important than attaining his goal was the fact that Kit got started on his idea.

The Biggest Lesson: Getting Started

What holds many people back from achieving their dreams is the inability to actually start.

And of course, there will always be a myriad of reasons why not to start.

The time isn’t right.

There isn’t enough money.

There isn’t enough time.

My family won’t approve.

Not all conditions are right yet.

The list goes on.

These are the “buts” that stop people attaining their goals all the time, so it was refreshing to see one so young as Kit just do it.

That is why this story belongs in more than just a cute family memory. Kit’s dog walking job became one of those practical pocket money ideas that taught him about service, action, confidence, negotiation and follow-through.

Dog Whisperer Series: From Planning to Action

This article is part of Kit’s Dog Whisperer series.

  • Part 1: Kit Plans His Dog Walking Enterprise — Kit thinks through the idea, roadblocks, safety and value of his dog walking service.
  • Part 2: Kit Starts His Dog Walking Business — Kit gets his first client, negotiates a price, completes the job and earns his first money.

Small enterprises like this can teach children lessons that are difficult to learn from theory alone. Kit learnt by doing.

What Pocket Money Ideas Can Teach Children

When children are given the chance to explore safe and realistic pocket money ideas, they can learn much more than how to make a few dollars.

They can learn:

  • how to spot a need,
  • how to offer a service,
  • how to speak with a customer,
  • how to negotiate a price,
  • how to follow through,
  • how to handle responsibility,
  • and how good it feels to earn money from their own effort.

Our enterprising children are now all busy with their individual kid’s enterprises.

It will be time to check in with Jai and see whether his enterprise plan eventuated.

Until then……….

Key Takeaway: Pocket Money Ideas Build Confidence

Key takeaway: pocket money ideas can become powerful real-world learning experiences. Kit’s dog walking business taught him to speak to a customer, negotiate a price, work safely with support, complete the job and get started on his goal.

Where to Next?

What simple pocket money idea could help your child build confidence and get started?

Entrepreneurship Ideas for Students: The Candy Man Entrepreneur

Enterprise For KidsTeam Chayse's Stories, Family Enterprise Stories, Kids Business Ideas , , , , , , , , ,
Entrepreneurship ideas for students shown through Chayse bringing home lollies for his business

Entrepreneurship ideas for students can start with something as simple as a four-year-old, fifty dollars, a supermarket trip and a mountain of lollies.

This is Part 2 of Chayse’s Candy Man story. His business idea had been planned. Now it was time to buy the product, package it properly and get ready to sell.

Entrepreneurship ideas for students with Chayse taking fifty dollars to buy lollies
The Candy Man with his $50.
Chayse outside the supermarket buying lollies for his student business idea
…outside the supermarket!

Entrepreneurship Ideas for Students: The Candy Man Entrepreneur

Enterprise for children can be a lot of fun, especially if it involves a four-year-old and a mountain of lollies! After you read this blog, you’ll understand why Hansel and Gretel gave in to temptation to eat the witch’s candy house.

This post follows on from The Candy Man Planning an Enterprise, where Chayse first planned his lolly bag business and received $50 in start-up capital.

In this part of the journey, Chayse takes his plan to the supermarket and begins turning a simple idea into a real product.

From Planning to Action

Chayse and I headed off to the supermarket with his $50, just as he had planned.

We walked the candy aisle and Chayse picked out the lollies he thought would be the yummiest. He bought everything from snakes and milk bottles to musks, liquorice and lollipops.

Next he added 50 plastic sandwich bags and some packets of brightly coloured balloons to the shopping trolley. His whole investment of $50 was spent in no time.

The checkout lady asked him if it was his birthday. Chayse nodded.

Well, why complicate things when you are four?

Entrepreneurship Ideas for Students Need Real Products

Chayse setting up a lolly bag production line for his entrepreneurship idea
The production line!

Chayse’s brothers and sisters were at the car ready and waiting to escort him into the house and feast their eyes on all his lollies.

Chayse was really enjoying all the attention. He bossed his brothers and sisters around as they bugged him for a lolly and offered to carry his bags.

This is one of the reasons entrepreneurship ideas for students can be so powerful. A child suddenly has a real reason to make decisions, manage resources and take responsibility for something that belongs to them.

The Candy Man Production Line

Lollies being sorted into bags for Chayse's Candy Man business
Sorting the lollies into bags.

It was all hands on deck. Jaxon and Mitchy from next door came over to help out and a production line was organised around the kitchen table.

The lollies and balloons were placed into fifty piles and bagged up.

Chayse’s intention was to sell each bag for $2. So if all went to plan, he should make 100% on his investment.

That is not a bad return for a four-year-old Candy Man!

Learning About Price, Profit and Helpers

Chayse's production line team helping make lolly bags
The production line team!

Cathy and I helped him with a sturdy box to display his product. We attached a strap to the box to help him hold it up and then made up a sign.

Mitchy and Jackson ran off home and immediately returned with money to buy a bag each.

Chayse’s first customers!

98 candy bags to go!

Chayse’s brothers and sisters also wanted to buy a bag each with their pocket money. We had to put a halt to that as it was going to create troubles, especially as Chayse wanted to buy his own lollies too.

So the compromise was that they were able to polish off the leftover lollies. Of course, Chayse was in charge of sharing them out to his drooling family.

Entrepreneurship Ideas for Students Build Confidence

Chayse's first customer buying a lolly bag from his Candy Man business
Chayse’s first customer, Mitchy.

Chayse’s enterprise for children business was now all set to go. His next job was to market and sell his product.

Simple projects like this can become powerful kids business ideas, because children are not just pretending to run a business. They are learning about customers, product value, helpers, pricing, profit and confidence through real experience.

They are also learning the sort of practical money lessons for kids that are hard to teach from a worksheet.

Entrepreneur Cameron Herold makes a similar point in his TED talk, Let’s raise kids to be entrepreneurs. Children often learn entrepreneurial thinking best when they are encouraged to look for opportunities and create value.

The Candy Man Business Series

This post is Part 2 of Chayse’s Candy Man journey. You can follow the full series here:

Key Takeaway: Entrepreneurship Ideas for Students Can Start Small

Key takeaway: Entrepreneurship ideas for students do not need to be big, polished or complicated. Chayse’s Candy Man business started with $50, a trip to the supermarket and a family production line around the kitchen table.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed Chayse’s Candy Man story, you may also like:

The Candy Man Planning an Enterprise Read how Chayse first planned his lolly bag business. Business Ideas for Students: Chayse the Candy Man See how Chayse sold his lolly bags and made his first profit. Young Entrepreneurs: Flynn’s Honey Turns to Gold Follow another family enterprise story about product, selling and profit.

Next up, we’ll tune in with Kit the Dog Whisperer and see whether his enterprising idea has evolved.

We would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment.