money lessons for kids

What Can I Sell to Make Money as a Student? Amber’s Resale Enterprise

Enterprise For KidsTeam Amber's Stories, Family Enterprise Stories, Kids Business Ideas , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments
what can i sell to make money as a student Amber holding price sign

What can I sell to make money as a student? Amber’s “New From Old” enterprise is a real family example of how a young person can buy, clean, advertise and resell second-hand items for profit.

Instead of waiting for the perfect idea, Amber looked for useful items, solved simple problems for buyers and learned valuable business skills along the way.

what can i sell to make money as a student brainstorming resale ideas
Brainstorming ideas for a kids resale enterprise.

What Can I Sell to Make Money as a Student?

What can I sell to make money as a student? That is a question many kids and parents ask when they want a simple, practical business idea.

There are hundreds of possibilities. Yet when chatting to parents, they often tell me they would really like their kids to have a little business enterprise of their own, but they just can’t think of a good idea.

Here’s the tip: think about the problems or needs your local community has. Then ask whether a kids’ enterprise could be built around solving one of those problems.

Another angle is to consider what skill your child already has and how they could put that skill to good use.

Brainstorming What Students Can Sell

If your child is wondering, what can I sell to make money as a student?, start by brainstorming ideas on paper. Keep going until you have exhausted all possible ideas, whether or not you intend to use them.

Try asking neighbours what issues or problems they have and add these to your list.

Generally, people have time issues. That is where a business idea can begin. Not enough time to mow the lawn, clean large rubbish bins, chop wood, tend to the kids’ homework, clean windows, rake leaves, tutor younger children, pull weeds or clean the car — you get the picture.

If you are still stumped, this blog is full of real family enterprise stories and practical kids business ideas.

Amber’s “New From Old” Resale Enterprise

Amber’s “New From Old” enterprise has been going great guns right from the beginning. Her money jars are filling up, and really she hasn’t had to do much work at all.

She reached the goal she set a while back and is now preparing to take her business to another level. We’ll talk more about that in a later blog.

If you are new to our blog and haven’t yet followed Amber’s enterprise journey, you may like to start with Kids Business Ideas: Amber’s Kids Biz Program.

Amber’s resale enterprise in action:

what can i sell to make money as a student Amber resale enterprise sign
Recycling for profit
student resale business idea selling toddler ride-on toys
Toddler ride-on toys

Finding Things to Sell for Profit

Amber makes the fortnightly trip to the local Recycling and Waste Recovery Centre. It sells anything salvageable.

The guy who runs the place now knows Amber and understands that she is running her own business. Through this process, Amber has developed important skills in negotiating and connecting with a network.

When she identifies an opportunity, she confidently strikes up a deal with the Recycle Man.

Much of the stuff for sale is really not worth the effort to resell. It is a bit like looking for a gold nugget among the boulders. Over the months, Amber’s ability to pick profitable items has improved and she now has an eye for a bargain.

This is one reason the question, what can I sell to make money as a student?, is so useful. It teaches children to think carefully about value, demand and effort before spending their money.

student resale idea pet cage cleaned and sold for profit
Pet cage

Learning What Is Worth Buying

The items that can be resold are generally the ones that solve people’s problems. Pet cages, baby toys, storage items and exercise equipment are good examples.

These items need to be well presented and in good condition. Amber looks for opportunities that don’t require spending lots of time and money fixing them up.

Ideally, she buys things that just need a good clean, a lick of paint or a new set of batteries.

Amber has also learnt from her mistakes. She once bought a perfect condition four-man tent still in its new box for $10, only to discover later that it had no pegs or poles. Buying pegs and poles new would blow her costs out and leave her running at a loss.

That one was put down to experience. Does anyone have free pegs and poles?

what can i sell to make money as a student aquarium resale idea
Fish aquarium

What Can I Sell to Make Money as a Student? Research First

Sometimes Amber sees a possible opportunity but holds off buying it until she has done her research.

She works out what it will cost to repair or tidy up the item. Paint brushes, varnish, batteries, sandpaper and labour all need to be considered.

Then she looks at what others are selling similar items for online. By doing her research, Amber has a better idea of how much she can pay in order to make a reasonable profit.

For older students ready to take a business idea further, Business.gov.au has helpful information on starting a business when you’re under 18.

Writing Ads and Making Sales

Amber sells almost all her items on Buy and Sell Bunbury Facebook. She set up her own Facebook page for the sole purpose of participating in the buy-and-sell market.

She writes her own ads, uploads her own pictures and converses with customers online and on the telephone.

When a buyer arrives, Amber presents her goods and collects payment.

student selling online writing ads for resale items
Amber placing her adverts onto Buy & Sell Facebook with the gang watching on!

Real Examples of What Amber Sold

We’ve watched Amber continuously grow in confidence with her enterprise. She has found and built her own business around solving problems, using creativity and communicating with people.

Some of the items Amber acquired and on-sold for profit can be seen in the pictures on this blog.

The five outdoor toddler toys were bought for a good price. She scrubbed them, put new batteries in one, charged the battery in another and sold them all for $60.

The aquarium and pet cages just needed a clean, and she made a profit of $25.

student resale enterprise display shelves sold for profit
Display shelves

Her corner display required screwing together, and she made a profit of $20.

Her current project is a very large timber outdoor table. She paid $10 and hopes to sell it for a profit after sanding it back and varnishing it.

Amber has also been collecting succulent plants from friends. Her plan is to paint decorative ceramic pots and plant hardy succulents in them, then sell them at a market day.

What Students Can Learn from Amber’s Enterprise

This story is a practical answer to the question, what can I sell to make money as a student?

Amber’s answer was simple: find items people need, buy carefully, improve presentation, advertise clearly and communicate well with buyers.

She also talks about her goals, buying assets and gifting money in the original video clip. You can view it here: Amber reflecting on her business and goals.

Amber making a sale in her student resale enterprise
Amber making a sale!

It will be very interesting to see where her entrepreneurial journey takes her as she grows older. She loves writing, so maybe she will write a book about her journey one day.

Key takeaway: If your child is asking, “what can I sell to make money as a student?”, start with simple resale opportunities. Look for useful items, check the costs, solve a buyer’s problem and learn from each sale.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed this family enterprise story, you may also like:

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

Assets and Liabilities for Kids: The Money Lesson That Changed Their Thinking

Enterprise For KidsTeam Money Lessons for Kids , , , , , ,
Financial education for kids using three money jars for giving, spending and growing

Assets and liabilities for kids can sound like complicated financial ideas, but children can understand them surprisingly well when they are connected to real money and real choices.

One of the most useful money lessons we taught our children was simple: before spending money, ask whether what you are buying will help build value or keep costing you money.

That lesson became very real when our son Flynn began earning his own money through his honey business and decided he wanted to buy a motorbike.


Money lessons for kids using give spend and grow jars
A simple jar system can help children understand money choices.

Editor’s note: This article was originally written during our early Enterprise for Kids journey and has been refreshed with updated formatting, links and reflections while retaining the original story of Flynn learning about assets, liabilities and money choices.

Assets and Liabilities for Kids: Simple Definitions

If your child asks what an asset or liability means, you do not need to begin with accounting terminology.

A simple explanation is:

Asset meaning for kids: An asset is something that helps you build, keep or grow value. Some assets may also help you earn money.

Liability meaning for kids: A liability is something you owe or something that costs you money to own, use or maintain.

An easy question children can remember is:

“Will this help my money grow, or will it keep taking money away?”

That one question can open up some surprisingly useful conversations about spending, saving, investing and making choices.

Why Financial Education for Kids Matters

Robert Kiyosaki, famously known for his book Rich Dad Poor Dad, has often pointed out that children need a financial education and that they are unlikely to receive a complete financial education from school alone. You can learn more about his approach to money education at Rich Dad.

One of the most helpful starting points in financial education for kids is teaching children how to think about money in terms of assets and liabilities.

It gives them a simple framework for making better money choices as they grow.

A traditional balance sheet has two main sides: assets and liabilities. Children do not need to understand accounting in detail, but they can understand the basic idea that some choices help build financial value while others create ongoing costs.

This is also why practical money lessons for kids are such an important part of raising capable, confident and enterprising children.

Assets and Liabilities Explained for Kids

For adults, assets might include shares, investment property, businesses, precious metals or other things that can hold value or create income.

Liabilities may include debts and things that continually require money to own or maintain.

For children, we can make the idea much more practical.

A toy, bike, motorbike, game console or phone might be something they really want. There is nothing wrong with enjoying those things, but they usually do not put money back into a child’s pocket. Some also create extra costs through repairs, fuel, upgrades, subscriptions or accessories.

An asset, on the other hand, might help a child earn, save or build value over time.

For example:

  • supplies for a small enterprise
  • tools they can use to make or create something
  • equipment that helps them develop an earning skill
  • money saved for a future opportunity
  • simple investments made with parental guidance

The goal is not to teach children that spending is bad.

It is to help them understand that money gives them choices.

How Assets and Liabilities Change the Way Kids Think About Money

Assets and liabilities for kids explained through a simple money lesson
Helping children ask: will this help my money grow or simply take money away?

When children only think about money as something to spend, it can disappear very quickly.

They earn it, receive it or save it, then immediately begin thinking about what they can buy.

But once children begin thinking about assets, another possibility appears.

Money can also be used to create opportunities.

They might put some aside for a small business idea.

They might buy materials to make something they can sell.

They might save towards equipment that helps them develop a useful skill.

They might begin learning about savings accounts, shares or other forms of investing with their parents.

This is where financial literacy for students becomes practical.

It is no longer just about worksheets, definitions or classroom activities. It becomes a real decision involving real money.

These kinds of lessons connect closely with our family enterprise stories, because many of the most useful lessons our children learned happened while they were actually earning, selling, creating, saving or deciding what to do with their own money.

A Real-Life Assets and Liabilities Lesson with Flynn

This is where the idea became very real in our own family.

I had a good conversation with Flynn a while back.

He had made a large sum of money from his honey enterprise and had already spent some of it achieving one of his goals: buying an iPod.

Flynn also had some mates who were mad keen on riding motorbikes.

Before long, he had his sights set on buying one too.

It would have been easy simply to say yes or no.

Instead, we used the decision as a practical money lesson.

I explained that he could choose to buy a motorbike, but first he needed to understand what the purchase would mean financially.

The motorbike itself would cost money, but that was only the beginning.

There would also be:

  • devaluation
  • fuel
  • repairs and maintenance
  • safety equipment
  • other ongoing costs

In other words, buying the motorbike would not finish when he handed over the purchase price.

It would continue taking money from his pocket.

We then talked about Robert Kiyosaki’s ideas around balance sheets, assets and liabilities.

The Three Money Jars Flynn Started Using

Flynn took the conversation on board.

Rather than abandoning the idea of having things he wanted, he began thinking about how different uses of money could exist alongside each other.

He started keeping three jars:

  • one for gifting
  • one for the liability — his future motorbike
  • one for buying assets

I particularly liked this because the lesson was not:

“Do not buy the motorbike.”

It was:

“Understand what you are choosing, and don’t use all of your money for things that keep taking money away.”

That is a very different lesson.

The simple jar system turned an ordinary childhood purchase into a meaningful financial education experience.

You can read more about Flynn’s early enterprise journey in Honey Pot of Gold.

Simple Assets Kids Can Understand

So what assets can a kid actually have?

Children do not need to begin with complicated investments.

At first, perhaps the most valuable asset they can build is simply the habit of setting some money aside before spending everything.

Depending on their age and with parental guidance, children might learn about:

  • savings accounts
  • supplies for a small business
  • tools or equipment that help them create value
  • shares or managed investments explained in simple terms
  • collectables or precious metals as examples of storing value
  • reinvesting money back into their own enterprise

In Flynn’s case, one possible asset could have been more wholesale honey for his business, or even a beehive of his own.

That is what makes enterprise such a useful financial classroom.

Children can begin seeing that money used to create more products, serve more customers or develop a useful skill is very different from money that disappears through consumption.

At the time, Flynn also became interested in buying silver.

That conversation was useful because it helped him understand that money could be used for more than spending.

It could also be directed towards things that might hold or grow value over time.

This is not about telling children exactly what they should invest in.

It is about helping them develop the habit of thinking before they spend.

Financial Education for Kids: Precious Metals and Investment Lessons

Silver coins used as a financial education lesson for kids
Silver coins became part of a real-life conversation about assets, liabilities and money choices.

The original version of this post included a discussion about silver prices at the time.

That was part of the real conversation Flynn and I were having back then, so it is worth retaining as part of his financial education journey.

Precious metals such as gold and silver can be useful examples when teaching children about storing value, but prices change, markets change and every family’s financial situation is different.

The Perth Mint is one place families may come across information about gold and silver, but conversations about precious metals, shares or other investments should be treated as learning opportunities rather than financial advice.

For children, the deeper lesson is:

Money can be spent, saved, given, invested or used to build something valuable.

That one idea can shape the way children think about money for the rest of their lives.

How Parents Can Teach Assets and Liabilities at Home

Parents do not need to be financial experts to teach simple money lessons.

Some of the best opportunities happen when a child says:

“I want to buy this.”

Instead of immediately answering yes or no, that moment can become a conversation.

Try asking:

  • Will this keep costing money after you buy it?
  • Will this help you learn, earn or create something?
  • Is this something you really value, or is it just a quick want?
  • Could some of your money be kept aside for a future opportunity?
  • Could some of the money be used to create more money or value?
  • How could you use part of your money to help someone else?

These questions help children become more aware of their choices.

They also show children that financial education is not only about numbers.

Money choices involve values, priorities, responsibility and future possibilities.

That is the heart of financial education for kids.

It is not about making children fearful of spending.

It is about helping them become thoughtful, capable and confident with money.

For another family example, you may also like Kids Biz Program by Amber.

Flynn’s Enterprise Became His Financial Classroom

Flynn holding money earned through his honey enterprise
Flynn’s honey enterprise became a real-world lesson in earning, saving, giving and thinking about assets.

Flynn’s honey enterprise gave him much more than pocket money.

It gave him a real-world classroom.

Through earning, saving, spending, giving and thinking about assets and liabilities, he began learning lessons that many adults are still trying to master.

That is one reason we became so enthusiastic about enterprise as a learning tool for children.

When the money is real, the customer is real and the decision is theirs, the lesson suddenly matters.

Children running small enterprises, selling products, saving towards goals or deciding what to do with money are not simply learning business skills.

They are learning responsibility, judgement, patience, communication and decision-making.

They are learning life skills.

Discussion Questions: Assets and Liabilities for Kids

Parents and teachers can use these questions to help children think more carefully about money, spending, saving and value.

They work well as a family conversation, classroom discussion or simple financial literacy activity.

  • Is this an asset or a liability? Does it help your money grow, or does it cost money to keep?
  • Will this purchase create value? Could it help you learn, earn, build, create or solve a problem?
  • Will it keep costing money? Will it need repairs, upgrades, fuel, subscriptions, accessories or maintenance?
  • Could part of this money be used differently? Could some be saved, given, invested or used for a future opportunity?
  • What is one simple asset a child could build or buy? This might be supplies for a small business, tools for a useful skill, or money set aside for a future idea.

These questions are not designed to make children fearful of spending.

They are designed to help children pause, think and make more thoughtful money choices.

Key takeaway: Teaching assets and liabilities for kids does not require complicated financial lessons. For Flynn, it began with money he had earned himself, a motorbike he wanted to buy and one simple question: will this help my money grow, or will it keep taking money away?

That real-life decision became a lesson in earning, spending, giving, saving and building assets that stayed with him far longer than a worksheet ever could.

Business Ideas for Students: Chayse the Candy Man

Enterprise For KidsTeam Chayse's Stories, Family Enterprise Stories, Kids Business Ideas , , , , , , , , ,
Business ideas for students shown through Chayse selling lolly bags with Kit and Amber

Business ideas for students do not have to be complicated. Sometimes they begin with a four-year-old, a box full of lolly bags, a soccer ground full of hungry kids and a very determined little Candy Man.

This is Part 3 of Chayse’s Candy Man story, where his lolly bag idea moved from planning and preparation into real selling, real customers and real profit.

Business ideas for students shown through Chayse selling lolly bags at the soccer grounds
Chayse selling lolly bags at the soccer grounds as part of his Candy Man enterprise.

Business Ideas for Students: Chayse the Candy Man

We thought it was time that we revisited our little Candy Man Chayse. When we last followed his enterprising adventure, he had bought his lollies and bagged them up ready to sell.

If you missed the earlier parts of Chayse’s journey, you can follow the story from the beginning:

Now he has to find a market for his product and learn to be a salesman. Before we share Chayse’s exciting adventure, we thought it would be interesting to consider the benefits of children earning pocket money through enterprise, as opposed to children receiving a weekly allowance.

Why Business Ideas for Students Build a Different Mindset

Robert Kiyosaki quote about wealth and entrepreneurial thinking for children

Children earning pocket money through enterprise will develop the mindset and skills of an entrepreneur. Giving children a weekly allowance can condition them to think like “workers”.

Robert Kiyosaki describes a worker as someone prepared to give their time for money, whilst an entrepreneur builds systems and businesses that produce cash flow. Workers are more often than not time poor and cash poor, whilst entrepreneurs are generally time rich and cash rich.

Why is it then that the vast majority of us leave school and become workers?

A child receiving a weekly pocket money allowance is equivalent to a worker receiving a weekly salary. Relying upon a weekly allowance will not necessarily encourage children to look for opportunities for enterprise.

Their pocket money may or may not be aligned with doing household chores, just as a worker receives payment for doing work. Many kids leave school and slot into jobs for the rest of their lives because they have not been able to explore the entrepreneur within themselves.

Children Earning Pocket Money Through Enterprise

Children earning pocket money through enterprise develop a whole different mindset. Parents of these children will encourage their children to look around to find opportunities.

These kids learn to identify problems that they can solve and they learn the art of negotiation. Enterprising children understand assets, liabilities, cash flow and profit. They will understand markets and customer service and they will develop the confidence to promote themselves.

Business ideas for students can also help children value their profits and spend their money wisely. Weekly allowances are easily received and easily spent, especially when children know that more money will follow. This can condition kids to be reliant on a salary.

Enterprising children become self-motivated to make money, and as they celebrate their successes, they quickly come to understand that they can in fact make a lot more money than their friends receiving weekly allowances.

Entrepreneur Cameron Herold makes a similar point in his TED talk, Let’s raise kids to be entrepreneurs. He encourages parents to help children look for opportunities, negotiate and learn how to create value rather than simply expect a regular allowance.

A Real Student Business Idea at the Soccer Grounds

Chayse selling lolly bags to customers at the soccer grounds
Selling to customers.

Kids may not be motivated to do this at first, especially if they have been used to receiving a weekly allowance. The trick here is to make sure they have a big “Why!” They need to want something badly enough. This then becomes their goal and reason.

So let’s get back to Chayse’s enterprising story. Was he able to earn his pocket money through his lolly bag business?

He had his first opportunity to sell his lolly bags at his big brothers’ soccer games. During the game, the spectators, who were his potential customers, milled around on the sidelines.

So we primed him on what to say to customers. We also enlisted the help of his brothers, Amber and friends. It was all great fun and soon enough the customers came rolling in.

Now who could knock back buying lollies from a cute smiling four-year-old?

Business Ideas for Students Need Real Customers

His lolly bags sold like hot cakes for two dollars each. Chayse could not hold up the box because it was too heavy, so he managed the money jar whilst his helpers held the box.

He had to take his customers’ money and give change.

As word spread that there were lollies for sale, kids came racing in from all directions to buy Chayse’s product. The box became lighter and the money jar heavier, but despite the weight, he was not going to relinquish it.

Chayse looked after his helpers by giving them each a lolly bag. Hopefully they will be willing helpers the next time he sells something.

Chayse also paid back the money his Dad lent him as capital to buy the lollies and plastic bags from the supermarket.

Profit, Confidence and a Very Heavy Money Jar

Chayse holding money earned from his lolly bag business
Chayse was delighted with his profit.

All up, he was delighted with his fifty dollars net profit. He is now well on his way to reaching his goal to buy toy Nerf Guns.

In fact, his business was so successful that Kit has recently decided to partner with him for his next endeavour. Under their mother’s guidance, they will research and decide on a charity that could benefit from some of their profits.

So, stay tuned for that one!

Chayse is one of those children earning pocket money through enterprise. It would have taken him five weeks, with a weekly allowance of $5 a week, to save the equivalent of what he profited at the soccer grounds during one soccer game.

That is why simple business ideas for students can be so powerful. They give children a real reason to be brave, talk to people, handle money, serve customers and learn that effort can create opportunity.

The Candy Man Business Series

This post is Part 3 of Chayse’s Candy Man journey. You can follow the full series here:

  • Part 1: The Candy Man Planning an Enterprise — Chayse plans his lolly bag business and receives $50 start-up capital.
  • Part 2: The Candy Man Entrepreneur — Chayse buys the lollies, prepares the bags and gets ready to sell.
  • Part 3: Chayse the Candy Man — Chayse sells his lolly bags at the soccer grounds and makes a profit.

Key Takeaway: Business Ideas for Students Can Start Small

Key takeaway: Business ideas for students do not need to be complicated. Chayse’s lolly bag business helped him learn about customers, selling, profit, confidence, helpers, start-up money and responsibility — all through one simple project at the soccer grounds.

Where to Next?

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


Kids Business Ideas
Explore practical business ideas children can try through real-world learning.

Money Lessons for Kids
Read more stories that teach children about earning, saving, profit and responsibility.

Young Entrepreneurs: Flynn’s Honey Turns to Gold
See how Flynn’s honey business became another real family enterprise story.

In our next Enterprise For Kids blog, we’ll introduce you to a self-made millionaire who has some excellent tips for parents wanting to raise entrepreneurial kids. Don’t miss this article!

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

Young Entrepreneurs: Flynn’s Honey Turns to Gold

Enterprise For KidsTeam Family Enterprise Stories, Flynn's Stories, Money Lessons for Kids , , , , , , , , ,
Flynn extracting honey for his kids business story

Young entrepreneurs often learn best through real projects, real products and real customers. Flynn’s honey business became one of those practical childhood ventures that taught far more than we expected.

This is Part 3 of Flynn’s honey business story, where the raw honey was poured, labelled, priced, sold and finally turned into real profit.

Young entrepreneurs learning through Flynn selling honey in his family business
Flynn’s honey business became a real lesson in enterprise.

Young Entrepreneurs: Flynn’s Honey Turns to Gold

This family enterprise story shares how Flynn turned 90kg of raw honey into his first small enterprise. From filling jars and creating labels to pricing, selling and solving problems, his honey business became a real-life lesson in initiative, confidence, money, marketing and responsibility.

For young entrepreneurs, these are the lessons that often matter most. They are not just reading about business or talking about ideas. They are doing the work, making decisions, dealing with problems and seeing what happens when an idea becomes real.

A Real Business Project for Young Entrepreneurs

Flynn’s honey enterprise became one of those practical childhood projects that taught far more than we expected. It gave him the chance to handle a real product, work with others, think about presentation, understand pricing, serve customers and solve problems along the way.

If you have been following the honey story, you will know this was not the beginning. Flynn’s honey venture started with Honey Pot of Gold, where he first shared his family business idea, and continued in Flynn’s Honey Investment Continued, where he harvested honey with his Grandad and made his first serious investment.

The Opportunity: 90kg of Raw Honey

When we last visited Flynn and his honey enterprise, he had just acquired 90kg of quality raw honey from his Grandad’s beehives in Geraldton. Flynn had also placed a bulk order for plastic honey pots.

He was now ready to fill them up and make his first sale.


Warming raw honey for Flynn’s young entrepreneurs business story
Warming the honey.

Honey pots ready to fill for Flynn’s honey business
Honey pots ready to fill.

Preparing the Honey for Pouring

His honey was held in buckets that weighed over 10kg. Getting the honey from the buckets into the 400g honey pots was not going to be easy.

Firstly, the honey was very thick, making it tedious to decant into the pots. Secondly, it required strength to hold the honey bucket while pouring.

Flynn called on his mates to help. He poured the buckets into a large pot and heated the honey to 50 degrees Celsius. This temperature was not high enough to destroy the enzymes that make raw honey so beneficial, but it was high enough to make the honey more fluid and easier to pour.


Flynn filling jars of honey for his young entrepreneurs business project
The production line.

Flynn and friends filling honey pots for a childhood business
Quick! Gimme another pot!

Setting Up the Production Line

The kitchen table was wiped down and set up for the honey pot production line. The team were excited about finally seeing the product in the pots. I helped pour, while Flynn and his gang filled and capped jars.

The jars were washed on the outside to ensure there was no stickiness, then labelled with Flynn’s “Howitt’s Honey” labels.

This was one of the first times Flynn could see how much work sits behind a product before it is ready for customers. It is one of the practical lessons young entrepreneurs only really understand when they have to prepare a product themselves.


Flynn’s honey business production line at the kitchen table
Mmmm… smells good!

Rinsing honey pots before labelling Flynn’s honey jars
Giving each pot a rinse in fresh water.

Packaging and Branding the Honey

Flynn’s product looked clean, pure and professional. He understood that to get a market edge and sell his honey for a premium, his first-class product needed to be well packaged and hygienic.

Flynn carefully drew up a poster pointing out the benefits of his product. This was attached to the boxes containing the honey pots.

He was not just selling honey; he was learning about presentation, trust, product quality and brand identity. These are powerful money lessons for kids, especially when they are connected to a real product and real customers.


Jars of honey prepared for Flynn’s childhood business
First batch stacked and ready to label.

Honey jars labelled and ready for sale in Flynn’s small business
The labels!

Selling the Honey: Young Entrepreneurs Learn by Doing

Flynn researched what honey was selling for in shops and online. He worked out what he could sell his honey for and still make a decent return. To provide an incentive to customers, he offered a special price if they bought more than one pot at a time.

Marketing his honey required little effort at first. Visitors to our home took an interest in his honey, and his honey began to sell.

He gained permission from his school principal and left a box in the staffroom. He organised with a teacher friend of ours from another school to place a box in their staffroom, and he approached the local general store, where he was allowed to sell his pots of honey for a small commission.

This is where kids business ideas become more than ideas. Flynn had to think about pricing, placement, presentation, customer trust and repeat sales.


Developing the Howitt’s Honey brand for Flynn’s small business
Developing the brand “Howitt’s Honey”.

A Real Business Problem for Young Entrepreneurs

His honey was selling well, and it was not long before he needed to restock all his boxes. As word got out about his product, people even began placing small orders by telephone.

Flynn’s “Howitt’s Honey” business went very well, except for one problem.

Raw honey has many benefits that you would be hard pressed to find with heavily processed honey. However, a downside with raw honey is that, over time, it can candy, or begin to solidify. This occurs especially when the room temperature drops, such as during winter.

Flynn’s honey that had been waiting to be sold began to candy in the honey pots. People do not generally want to buy honey that has hardened, which is why commercial honey producers often process honey using heat to reduce crystallisation.

Luckily, this problem only happened to the last remaining pots that had been waiting for sale. He brought these home, opened them up, scraped the honey into a pot and heated it back to 50 degrees Celsius. This liquefied the honey again, and he returned it to the pots. We bought those last pots for our family.

The lesson learned was that Flynn needed to sell his raw honey product before it showed signs of candying. He also needed to inform customers about what to do if their honey began to crystallise.

That is the sort of problem-solving young entrepreneurs remember, because the lesson comes from experience rather than a worksheet.

Profit, Pride and What Flynn Learned


Profits from Flynn’s honey enterprise and young entrepreneurs story
Profits from Flynn’s Honey Enterprise.

Flynn’s net profit from his honey enterprise was outstanding. He achieved the goal he set before he began, plus much more. He learned many lessons along the way and recognised that it was a lot of work, but satisfying work.

Flynn became an expert in his own honey business and gained enormous skills and understandings of how to run an enterprise.

This is one of the real family enterprise stories that helped shape how we think about raising entrepreneurial kids through everyday experience.

Flynn may now be ready to take his honey enterprise to another level. We hope to guide Flynn to move from being a small business owner to thinking more like an entrepreneur. How we do that will be shared in another Enterprise for Kids blog.

As a story about young entrepreneurs, Flynn’s honey enterprise shows how a simple family opportunity can become a real lesson in money, initiative, marketing and responsibility.

Flynn’s honey business also led to a deeper money lesson about assets and liabilities, which we explore in Financial Education for Kids.

Flynn’s Honey Business Series

This article is Part 3 in Flynn’s honey business series, a family enterprise story about young entrepreneurs, family business ideas, money lessons for kids and learning by doing.

These posts show how children can learn by doing, rather than just being told about business, money and opportunity.

For Families Interested in Honey Enterprise

For those interested in having your own honey enterprise, or keeping a beehive for a regular supply of raw honey for family and friends, you could seek out an expert, such as Flynn or his Grandad, or do a course.

For readers interested in honey handling and food safety, the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council provides information about Australian honey and beekeeping.

Key Takeaway: Young Entrepreneurs Learn by Doing

Key takeaway: Young entrepreneurs do not need perfect conditions to begin. Flynn’s honey business started with a family opportunity, a quality product and the courage to take action. Through the process, he learned about pricing, branding, selling, customer trust, problem-solving and profit.

Where to Next?

Read more family enterprise stories, explore practical ideas for raising entrepreneurial kids, or see where our enterprising kids are today.


Family Enterprise Stories
Read more real stories from our family’s early businesses, projects, market stalls and money lessons.

Raise Entrepreneurial Kids
Explore practical ideas for helping children build confidence, initiative and real-world thinking.


Our Enterprising Kids Today
See where early enterprise, adventure and creativity helped lead our children.

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

Money Lessons for Kids: Who Is Teaching Them About Money?

Enterprise For KidsTeam Money Lessons for Kids, Raising Entrepreneurial Kids , , , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments
Kids watching a TV advert showing how advertising shapes money lessons for kids

Money lessons are happening all around our children, whether we notice them or not. If you don’t teach your kids about money, then there are plenty of people out there who will. And not all of them will teach your children what they really need to know.

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Media, celebrities, advertising, peers, schools, banks and family choices all help shape what children believe about earning, spending, borrowing and wanting more. That is why money lessons for kids need to begin at home, in the everyday moments where children ask for things, make choices and learn how money really works.

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Teen magazine showing how media can shape money lessons for kids
Kids are constantly receiving money lessons from media, celebrities, advertising and peers.

Money Lessons for Kids: Who Is Teaching Them About Money?

Our kids are educated financially from many sources, whether we like it or not. Everywhere they go and everything they look at is conditioning them around money.

For example, teenage kids are very influenced by their peers, TV, advertising and social media. They are pressured to want to have all the latest and greatest of everything. AND… they have to have it now!

If you have a teenager in your house, or even a preteen, you will understand this very well. They will tell you that they are the “only” ones in the “whole world” who don’t have one. And if you try to compromise with a cheaper version from Target… well, forget it! Brand name or nothing!

The Money Lessons Children Learn From Wanting More

Many parents fall into the trap of giving in to their kids’ persistent demands. We have… more times than we should have! And the older a child gets, the better they are at arguing their point.

Sometimes parents lend their child the money with the view of having them pay it back when they can afford it. Other times, parents simply pay for the item fully and do not expect their child to pay anything back.

But what is this teaching children?

That is the question we had to ask ourselves when Flynn wanted an iPod for school camp.

Flynn’s iPod Money Lesson

Our son Flynn was preparing to go on a camp with his school. He claimed that ALL the kids would have iPods, and that he wanted to buy one to take on camp.

Flynn Howitt learning money lessons for kids through his iPod goal
Flynn’s iPod goal became a real-life money lesson about earning, choices and avoiding debt.

He counted up his money and found that he was short about $100. He was very persistent in his request, so we decided to sit down and have a conversation with him around the value of money.

Our dilemma was this: if we were to say an outright, “No, we can’t afford it,” then we would be conditioning him with a mindset around lack of money.

On the other hand, if we said, “Yes,” and simply paid for it, then we would be conditioning him with the mindset to borrow, then spend… and he would probably not appreciate it too much.

So…………… we came up with another solution.

Turning a Want Into a Money Lesson

We said, “Yes.” He could buy an iPod. However, we were not able to pay for it.

Instead, we brainstormed ideas with Flynn on how he could raise the $100 himself. Time was of the essence, as he was going on camp in three days.

Together, we came up with several ideas. He could increase the marketing of the honey he was selling through his Honey Enterprise. He could sell some of his unwanted things, such as his surfboard. He could also do a deal with his sister and buy the items she had lined up to sell as part of her New From Old enterprise, then resell them with a mark-up.

The discussion gave him motivation, and we took the punt that if he was really keen for the iPod, then he would make it happen.

The point of all this is that we didn’t automatically say, “No, we can’t afford it,” and we didn’t say, “Yes, and we will pay for it.”

Rather, we put the onus on Flynn to work out a way to achieve his goal without getting himself into debt. We used this opportunity to teach Flynn about money.

Who Is Teaching Your Kids About Money?

In our society, kids are conditioned to earn, spend and borrow from a very early age. This conditioning can carry through to adulthood and tie people to a job, especially when they need that job to pay for the interest payments on their “things”.

That is why money lessons for kids matter so much. If we do not consciously teach children how to think about money, they may simply absorb the messages around them.

Sporting heroes and advertising shaping money lessons for kids
Sporting heroes are often used to influence what children want to buy.

It is hard for our kids to avoid this type of conditioning. Their sporting idols appear on TV advertisements telling them what a great investment they are making if they buy x, y or z… and finish with a trusting wink!

In the same way, celebrities promote all sorts of things, from insurance and jewellery to holidays. Retailers offer low-cost, easy monthly payments for expensive items that people may not really be able to afford.

There goes the “earn, spend and borrow” cycle again.

Advertising Teaches Money Lessons Too

Advertising does not just sell products. It also teaches children what to value, what to want and how quickly they should expect to have things.

For this reason, parents need to be part of the conversation.

When a child says, “Everyone has one,” or “I need it now,” there is an opportunity to slow the conversation down and ask some better questions:

  • Do you really want this, or do you feel pressured to want it?
  • How much does it cost?
  • How could you earn the money?
  • What would you need to give up to buy it?
  • Could you buy it second-hand?
  • Could you create money rather than borrow money?

These simple questions can turn everyday wants into powerful money lessons.

Schools, Debt and Financial Choices

The education system may teach many important things, but practical money education can still be limited. Many young people move towards adulthood without having deeply discussed debt, credit, consumer pressure, business, enterprise, financial freedom or how to make money work for them.

Student debt showing why money lessons for kids matter before adulthood
Young people can face financial pressure before they have learnt how money really works.

As a result, many young people begin adult life already carrying financial pressure. This might come through study costs, consumer debt, car loans, lifestyle spending or the general cost of getting started.

That is why a financial education for your kids before they leave home matters.

The Australian Government’s MoneySmart guide to teaching kids about money is a helpful reminder that parents can start early and make money part of everyday conversation.

Can These Money Lessons Change?

Enterprise for Kids image about changing money lessons for kids
Money lessons can help children see new possibilities.

We can look at life as being a game full of experiences. We are here on earth to play the game.

Yet from an early age, the odds can feel stacked against us achieving personal and financial freedom when we are conditioned to earn, spend and borrow for unproductive things.

Can this change?

Absolutely.

And who is the best person to teach this change to your children?

Well, if you have already achieved financial and personal freedom, then the best teacher is YOU!

And if you haven’t, then find someone who has achieved the type of financial or personal success you would like for your kids. You may even learn something in the process. 🙂

Money Lessons for Kids Begin at Home

The most powerful money lessons for kids often begin in ordinary family moments.

A child wants something.

A parent has a choice.

We can shut the conversation down, pay for everything, lend the money, or turn the moment into a learning opportunity.

Flynn’s iPod story reminded us that teaching kids about money does not always require a formal lesson. Sometimes it simply requires a different conversation.

Instead of saying, “We can’t afford it,” or “Yes, we’ll buy it,” we can ask, “How could you create the money?”

That question changes everything.

Key Takeaway: Money Lessons Are Happening Every Day

Key takeaway: money lessons are happening around children every day. Media, peers, celebrities, advertising and family choices all shape how kids think about money. Parents can use everyday wants, like Flynn’s iPod goal, to teach children how to earn, choose, create value and avoid unnecessary debt.

Where to Next?

Who is teaching your children their money lessons — and what are they learning?

Pocket Money Ideas: Kit Starts His Dog Walking Business

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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?