Forget lemonade stands, tweens and teens these days are taking their entrepreneurial spirit well beyond a handmade sign in the front yard. From app developer to social media influencer to product creator, the possibilities are endless. If your kid is interested in using their leisure time to start their own business, here are some apps and online tools to help them on their way.
We looked for a wide variety of tools to cover multiple areas of running a business. Selected apps and websites are either geared toward kids or are known for being accessible for beginners.
Best for: Learning financial and business literacy
Platforms: Web
Cost: Free, with some paid content
Biz Kid$ is a financial literacy website for kids geared toward business and entrepreneurship based on the TV show with the same name. It’s a good starting place for learning the basics about running a business, including resources on business plans, financial skills, general entrepreneurship, and the economy.
Best for: Scheduling social media content
Platforms: iOs, Android, web
Cost: Free plan available, paid plans starting at $6/month
“Social media influencer” is now one of the most popular career goals for tweens and teens, and many entrepreneurial kids are starting young. Keeping up with the demands of daily posting on multiple platforms can be a lot, though, especially when school starts back up again. Getting ahead by scheduling posts with Buffer can help.
Best for: Drag-and-drop graphic design
Platforms: iOs, Android, web
Cost: Free plan available, paid plans start at $12.99/month
Canva is a great graphic design program for beginners. With preloaded templates and graphics, users can easily create social media content (including videos), print material, presentations, and more. While the paid plan includes a lot more photos and graphics, the free plan is still quite robust, and many items can be purchased for $1 per use.
Best for: Step-by-step business planning
Platforms: web
Cost: Plans start at $15/month
If your kiddo is serious about running a business, especially if they hope to eventually find funding, they’ll need a business plan. LivePlan is an excellent tool that can guide them through every stage of creating and maintaining a business plan, from pitching to financials to growth. If you’re looking for a free option, LivePlan offers free business plan templates at the company’s sister site, BPlans.
Best for: User-friendly invoicing for beginners
Platforms: iOS, Android, web
Cost: Free plan available, paid plans start at $24/month
It’s essential your budding entrepreneur get a handle on their business finances sooner rather than later. Unlike programs like QuickBooks, Fiverr Workspace doesn’t require a robust understanding of accounting principles or software. It can be used for everything from invoicing to time tracking, and users can accept online payments from customers.
Best for: Easy, drag-and-drop website building
Platforms: iOS, Android, web
Cost: Plans start at $16/month
For entrepreneurs in 2023, a slick website is a must. Luckily, coding skills are no longer necessary for creating a great internet presence. Wix’s drag-and-drop tools and insanely customizable options will have your kid entrepreneur up and running online in no time.
Best for: No-code app design
Platforms: iOs, Android, web
Cost: Plans start at $16/month
Is your kid long on awesome app ideas but short on actual coding skills? Of course, there’s always tools like CodeMonkey to help them learn — but in the meantime, AppyPie is a great option for designing a killer app without coding. It even includes an in-depth 10-step guide for app creation, from conception through promotion.
Whether your kid wants to figure out how to monetize their YouTube channel or start a business on the side, there are plenty of tools and apps available that can help set them up for success. But it’s important to stay involved in your kid’s entrepreneurial journey as they figure out how to safely and securely set up payments and launch a product or business. Have regular check-ins with them about their challenges and pain points so you can work through them together — and give your kid a safety net along the way.
