Never Too Young to Start a Business
BY REYA KHANNA, GRADE 5
Despite what many may think, kids are capable of coming up with great business ideas. If we create opportunities for these young, aspiring entrepreneurs, who knows what kind of things they could come up with! In this article, we are going to discuss the steps to making your dreams come true if you are a kid with a passion for entrepreneurship.
It is likely you know a kid thinking about what he/she wants to be when they grow up. But what about the youngsters thinking of what they want to be as a child? Many people wrongly assume that kids can’t achieve anything because of their lack of experience and wisdom, but with enough focus and determination they can accomplish big things. There are many real life examples that serve as motivation for young kids to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
You might have only seen adults on Shark Tank, a show where entrepreneurs go to test the value of their ventures in front of a panel of experienced judges. The exception to that rule, however, is a kid CEO who created a spoon for babies and got a deal with the sharks! The inventor behind this idea, Cassidy Crowley, was only 10 years old when she came up with her genius product, The Baby Toon.
Cassidy Crowley with her invention, the Baby Toon. Munchkin.
Another example of a young, successful entrepreneur is Alina Morse. You may have walked around in your local Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, or other retail store and seen a lollipop called Zolli Pop. Well, the idea for this candy was created by a 13 year old girl! Zolli Pop is an innovative product that is much healthier than traditional candy.
For young entrepreneurs, it often seems like there are no resources accessible to people their age. In reality, there are a wealth of opportunities specifically for kids that want to start a business. For example, there are many camps for young entrepreneurs which teach them basic business skills, such as how to make a profit, manage money, control prices, and much more. There are also games such as Lemonade Stand that can help children online by showing them how to think about increasing or lowering prices and making sure that they are spending reasonable amounts on supplies.
When children feel ready they will start selling their products. Many kids start by selling to their neighbors, while others decide to set up a stand in their local park, school, or even in front of their house. Some tech savvy children have even created websites on apps such as Etsy, Square, Shopify, and others.
Children can change the world with their innovations. All it takes is some inspiration, training, and effort. As young entrepreneurs gain more attention, the ideas that have hidden in kids’ journals (and heads) may just be the next billion dollar businesses!
This article was written during the GWS Summer Writing Workshop. Taught by the GWS Publication Team, the workshop hosted young journalists in grades 1 through 12, each with a passion for writing and learning. Over five weeks throughout the summer, students brainstormed, researched, outlined, drafted, revised, and ultimately produced an article about a topic related to women in business. Learn more about the workshop here.
