Teens fundraising & small business ideas

LaurieLovesLearning
LaurieLovesLearning Posts: 7,210 admin
edited January 27 in Family (Growing Resilient Kids, Homeschooling, Etc.)

Physical work makes resilient kids, so I figured this question fits in this space.

Besides the usual door to door selling of company products for a percentage (this is less welcomed all the time), does anyone have great ideas for kids to fundraise for events? Or to build an entrepreneurial business? I would like to see our kids build the entrepreneurial mindset & build these types of skills, along with the ups & downs.

One time, we had them go out to shovel walks. A knock at the door, explain what they planned to do & why, a comment that they could pay whatever they felt was appropriate after they were done, go shovel, collect the pay & move on. This was well received. It didn't work today, however, since things were cleared quickly by tractor for everyone due to a funeral in town today (that's the theory anyway). They came back pretty frustrated.

Car detailing & washing was mentioned by someone, but this takes a greater number of kids to be done successfully.

Our oldest at home is planning to start housecleaning, as her own business to build.

Grass cutting & trimming will be pursued come April.

I'm not sure that garden keeping ideas would fit this group as they do enough in their families gardens already. 🤔

Grocery delivery is out in this case as well as most stores offer this.

Pooper scooper...maybe, as a once a week service.

A bake sale might work once.

I am considering an Etsy shop where kids & teens make products to sell on it, but I'm not too sure (if a fundraising idea) how one would split things up fairly. If it is one kid=1 shop, that works as an entreprenerial idea, but multiple contributors for a fundraising purpose would be difficult...any ideas if it could be done in a fair way? All contributors make things at the same price point? Or make the same things? I don't know.

Posters with pull off contact info & business cards have been made for the snow clearing, mowing & cleaning. These kids are willing to intelligently & respectfully converse with people.

This got me to thinking...does anyone else have any other ideas? I am stuck. I am looking for unique services (not everyone & their dog is doing...), if possible, and things that can be done by one to five teens. These are rural kids close to small towns as well, but even city kid ideas are welcome. If the right thing is suggested, driving into the city is a consideration.

Thanks everyone!

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  • Monek Marie
    Monek Marie Posts: 3,535 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Fruit or veggies stand by road if you live in an area with some traffic. Starting and selling plants. Herbs would be good in this area. A local farmers market where the kids do most of the work.

    Would you want people stopping by you home to pick up items?

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  • Monek Marie
    Monek Marie Posts: 3,535 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Refurbishing items you have or can get for free

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  • Monek Marie
    Monek Marie Posts: 3,535 ✭✭✭✭✭

    cut flower business and add edible flower and herbs in bouquets. You could dry herbs to sell, depending on regulations in your area.

    You could also dry flowers either on stems or flat to use as crafting material

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  • Monek Marie
    Monek Marie Posts: 3,535 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Making paper for crafts or doing photography or small art pieces for sale

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  • Monek Marie
    Monek Marie Posts: 3,535 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Work for people who need help. I am thinking of the elderly or disabled. My One friend cannot stack wood anymore and hired someone today to stack it for him.

    Leaf raking and garden clean up are areas many need in my area.

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  • LaurieLovesLearning
    LaurieLovesLearning Posts: 7,210 admin
    https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/919463#Comment_919463

    We do not want people we don't know on the yard for various reasons.

    There is a boy in the general area that grows & sells pumpkins & strange squash.

    A farmer's market was tried here briefly. There is not enough people here to support this. The city has two, a couple nearby towns have some as well. That could be one reason why the local one didn't fly. That, and there could have easily been small community attitudes involved.

    There is a local greenhouse that supplies everyone locally.

    I will discuss the ideas you gave with the others. If they don't work, these ideas may still spark additional ideas.

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  • Monek Marie
    Monek Marie Posts: 3,535 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @LaurieLovesLearning I understand not wanting people in your yard. I have mixed feeling about this, particularly after events that happened this summer and fall.

    For etsy and multiple sellers could each seller have a different category on the sale site?

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  • LaurieLovesLearning
    LaurieLovesLearning Posts: 7,210 admin

    @Monek Marie That sounds like an interesting idea.

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  • VermontCathy
    VermontCathy Posts: 1,821 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's going to depend very much on what services local people need, and what is already being provided by others.

    Mowing lawns, shoveling snow, raking leaves, and pulling weeds are all traditional ways for kids to earn money.

    If woodstoves are common in your area, stacking wood might also be an option.

    If you are looking for a larger business that would involve you as well as the kids, a CSA where you deliver vegetable products to local buyers should be checked out. These are very popular in the USA.

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