KID-BIZ

Beyond the Lemonade Stand: How to Help Your Kids Start a Fall Business

With cooler weather and the holidays, now is the time to start thinking about how to help your kids start a fall business.

Why should you encourage fall businesses? What are some good businesses for kids?

What kind of business can my kids start?

When thinking about which summer businesses your children could pursue, the most important thing is your kids' interests; you want them to enjoy the creation and running of the enterprise and not lose interest in late June.

You should also consider your own willingness and ability to help. How much time and money do you have to invest in your child's business? Some summer businesses will require more parental help and guidance than others. You want to enjoy the time you spend working on the business with your kids, not feel burdened by it.

Aside from the age-old lemonade stand (which can still be a solid business venture), here are a few more summer business ideas:

1. Lawn Mowing / Landscaping

A great fall business for teens is lawn mowing and simple landscaping like raking leaves, especially if your kids who enjoy being outside and don't mind physical work. Offered services could also include weeding and gardening. Decide ahead of time whether your child will use your lawn mower and equipment or the client's and set prices accordingly, keeping in mind maintenance and replacement costs for any equipment that you or your child is providing.

A lawn mowing service can be popular with elderly people, families with young kids, or people who just don't have the time or inclination for lawn care. About twenty lawns a week will usually turn a nice profit—just be sure that you or your child has inspected the lawn and priced the job appropriately before you offer an estimate.

2. Babysitting

Babysitting is a great business choice for teens who enjoy spending time with children. Before getting started, help your child figure out how much time he or she would like to spend babysitting and what age group to target. Also decide whether the babysitting will happen at your home or the client's and if your child has a driver's license, whether there will be transportation costs involved.

Another thing you should do before your child starts a babysitting business is make sure he or she is trained in first-aid, especially CPR.

Even one reliable client can make a babysitting business successful, but too many kids can quickly become more than your child can handle. And it could be breaking the law. Check your local regulations; if your child's business can be viewed as a daycare center, it may run afoul of licensing laws.

3. Dog Walking

If your child loves spending time with animals, dog walking could be the perfect fall business for him or her. Decide with your child how much time he or she would like to spend walking the neighborhood dogs and whether to charge by the hour or on a per-walk basis. A dog's size and behavior can also figure into the pricing structure; dogs that are especially large or difficult may warrant a higher rate.

Make sure your child is aware of all local ordinances regarding dogs, including leash laws and proper dog waste removal. A handful of clients may be plenty for your child to make some extra money during those dog days of summer.

4. Baking

If your child enjoys being in the kitchen, a baking business offering cookies and muffins for parties, fairs, meetings, and other events can be a great business. As you probably already have some of the major supplies at home (oven, baking sheets, mixing bowls, spoons), the start-up costs should be minimal and buying ingredients in bulk can help save money as well.

Do keep in mind that if your child aims to set up stands selling baked goods, there may be special licensing laws applicable.

5. Anything!

Put your kids' imaginations to work. Almost anything they excel at and enjoy can become a business.

How do we get started?

No matter what the business you and your child decide to pursue, there are some basic things you can do to help get things started:

1. Draw up a business plan.

It doesn't have to be complicated and include charts, graphs, and spreadsheets, but do get some sort of business plan down on paper; you should consider upfront costs (supplies needed to get started), ongoing costs (marketing, supply upkeep, transportation), income potential, and a short analysis of the competition.

Don't go off in a room and do this yourself, though! Your kids should be involved every step of the way. You're preparing them for an entrepreneurial future and entrepreneurship involves planning.

2. Know the law.

If there are any special laws, regulations, or ordinances particularly related to the planned business, make sure you know about them.

Your best bet is to contact the Secretary of State's Office for your state so you are aware of any legal and tax requirements that might go along with starting a summer business. Involve your kids in this process as well to get them used to the idea that starting a business also has legal and tax considerations.

3. Get supplies and equipment together.

Be an investor in your kids' business by helping set them up with supplies and equipment needed for the business; the success of a business relies heavily on its starting capital, and this principle holds true for fall businesses as well.

Of course it's up to you as to whether you'd like to collect "dividends" at the end of the year.

4. Help with marketing.

A business can't be successful if no one knows about it, so help your child get the word out by lending a hand with marketing.

Some easy ways to market your child's summer business include talking to friends and neighbors about the budding business and helping your kids make flyers to be distributed around the neighborhood.

5. Lay off.

While your child will likely need some help starting up a fall business, don't end up doing all the work, even in the planning stages. One of your goals is probably to introduce your kids to the business world, and the only way to do that is to let them learn through trial and error.

Above all..........have fun.

Host a Yard Sale
To get rid of extra junk without adding to landfills, kids can sell castoffs like toys, books and games during a yard sale. Besides being a great way to clear out the house and make some cash, passing on items for secondhand use serves the same purpose—reducing waste.

Start a Recycling Program
Older kids who live farther away from municipal recycling centers can earn extra cash by offering to help their neighbors recycle anything from newspapers to bottles and cans who can charge neighbors a weekly fee. Kids learn about money, and help their neighbors at the same time.

Reduce Tech Trash
Kids can collect old printer cartridges and cell phones from family or friends. Kids can earn cash or redeemable rewards points while keeping them out of landfills.

Recycle For Cash!

PHOTO - Pictured from left to right is Student of the Month Founder, Sally Myers, Heritage High School’s Christopher Zazueta, Paloma Valley High School’s Brittney Poling; Perris High School’s Christopher Gomez, The Academy’s Roland Testado, Perris Union High School District Superintendent, Dr. Jonathan Greenberg, and Perris City Mayor, Daryl Busch.

MENIFEE - The Chamber of Commerce High School Student of the Month programs in Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore and Perris/Menifee just kicked-off its 18th year of recognizing and inspiring academic excellence and scholarship in September. The high schools in these districts, including alternative schools, Linfield Christian and Oak Grove Center selected 27 students to attend one of four respective recognition events to honor these college bound seniors. These students were personally acknowledged by their principals, teachers, and their families. Certificates of Recognition were presented by the respective Chambers of Commerce, Cities, State Senator, State Assembly, County Supervisor, School District and US Congressional Office. Each student received a bag full of special gift certificates to local restaurants, movie theaters, and other fun places like Lake Elsinore Storms Baseball, Mulligan’s, Brunswick Bowling, and more. They also received Thank You cards so they can personally write thank you notes to each of the generous sponsors.

The Student of the Month Program honors 270 college bound seniors from September through May and concludes in June with its Annual Scholarship & Recognition Event, which awards the 27 Students of the Year with upwards of $45,000 in college scholarships provided by local businesses and organizations. In April all of the Student of the Month winners complete a scholarship application, administered by the Chambers of Commerce, and compete for the title of 2009-2010 Students of the Year. Over 4,600 students have been honored in its 18 year history.

Students are selected for their character, integrity, love of learning, demonstration of commitment and passion for a special project on campus or in the community, or have persevered through a challenging experience. The students share their personal stories and are acknowledged among their peers for inspiring other students in the community. The program is video-taped and aired on Time Warner Cable TV in Temecula, Lake Elsinore and Perris/Menifee.

The luncheon is attended by its sponsors (local businesses, clubs and organizations), school representatives and the student’s families. The four Student of the Month Programs are independently administrated by a group of volunteers under the direction of its Founder, Sally Myers, who operates the local Sizzler Restaurants. The local Chairs are Jennifer Cloud, Alisa Garrett, Jerri Selway, and Vikita Poindexter in Temecula; Margaret Jones and Jennifer Pham in Murrieta; Donna Romo, Kim Cousins and Michele Thomas in Lake Elsinore; and Linda Quattlebaum and Sarah Rico in Perris/Menifee. The program is grateful to all its volunteers and sponsors.

If you would like additional information, please contact Sarah Rico, SOM Publicity Coordinator at (951) 943-6369 ext. 125 or sarah.rico@puhsd.org. The Student of the Month Program greatly appreciates your support and interest in the lives of our young people.

September Students Of The Year Honored