LaunchLeague

For students

Business ideas for 12 to 14 year olds

At this age almost nobody will hire you, which sounds like the problem and is actually the reason to start something of your own. Here is what genuinely works, and what changes between 12 and 14.

What changes, and when

12, 13 and 14 are not the same

The differences are real but smaller than people think. Most of what changes is who trusts you with what.

  • At 12, you are working for people who already know you — neighbours, family friends, your street. That is not a limitation; it is the warmest market you will ever have.
  • At 13, you can usually take on someone else's property or pet unsupervised. Dog walking, pet sitting and yard work open up.
  • At 14, most provinces allow employment in many workplaces, so your own business now competes with a first job — and usually pays better per hour.
  • At every one of these ages you can be paid for work you do. What you generally cannot do is sign a binding contract, which is why an adult is involved in anything formal.
  • Nothing here requires you to register anything. You are a person doing jobs for people who pay you.

Pick one

The 22 you can start right now

Every one of these works at 12 or 13. No licence, no registration, no waiting for a birthday.

What it costs to start
How old you are
What kind of work

22 ideas

Another 28 open up from 14 onward, once more people will trust you with their property, their pets and their tools. See all 50 ideas.

Next

Then what happens

  1. Do three jobs for three different people

    Not three for the same person. Three different people is where you learn what the job is actually worth.

  2. Write down what you charged and what it cost you

    A notebook is enough. You will need it the first time someone asks for a price on something bigger.

  3. Ask each one who else needs this

    At this age, referrals are almost your entire marketing. People like helping a kid who did a good job.

Launch League is free from age 12 and takes you from an idea to a one-page plan to a first paying customer. Start free.

Free, for students

Want help actually starting one?

Launch League is free for students from age 12. Pick an idea, work through eight short modules, build a one-page plan, and go and get your first paying customer. If you want, enter it in the Ontario competition at the end.
Start freeSee the competition

All the ways to make money 50 business ideas Getting your first customer