So your kids are at an age where they are starting to think about getting an extra job.  They’re old enough, and might be mature enough (though you have your doubts).  But it’s time to wean them off the pocket money, and get them learning some valuable life lessons in their first job(s).  Only problem is, the economy isn’t exactly ideal, and it is much harder for kids to find jobs than even a few short years ago.  In many Western countries the youth unemployment rate is more than twice the adult rate of unemployment.  Add this to the fact that teaching kids a good work ethic, and getting them valuable work experience that they can add to a CV, is a must for future career success, and it may require some creative thinking on your part to get them started.

Thankfully, you’re not alone in this.  There are number of things you need to think about before you get your child running their own business.

Now, this is not the only way to earn easy money.  Let’s say that you want to have them go door to door in the neighbourhood, and chat to people about what odd jobs they might need doing around their houses.  This is just one of many business ideas that a person can conjure up. I would suggest getting them a detailed diary to encourage them to organize their time, and perhaps a receipt book to give them a feeling of satisfaction when they receive payment for a job.  You can get free business cards online from Vistaprint.com or other printers, and you just pay for postage.  This will give them a sense of pride in what they do, and will allow them to impress their friends, and also build a network of contacts.

Jobs such as lawnmowing, window cleaning, general gardening and pruning, cleaning – sweeping and dusting, bathrooms, kitchens, are all on the cards, and particularly for older people will be really useful.

Two factors you must consider if your child is going to do this seriously are safety – what is the person like, and what jobs are they going to ask them to do?  It is important to ensure that the client is not a predator, or abusive in any way towards children, and security – will they ask them to climb ladders or crawl under a car or into small spots that may be dangerous?  You also need to consider if they are capable of doing the job.  Whether its having the right equipment for the job, or having the knowledge of how to clean a window properly (not everyone is born with the knowledge that newspaper works best), you will probably need to supervise them.

If this is all too much work for you, you can always get them doing online surveys to earn money easy as their first wage.