How to Support Your Child’s Entrepreneurship Ideas (Even If You Think They’re a Little Wild)

Every teen seems to go through their gamer/influencer/creator phase!

Let’s be honest: when your child marches into the kitchen and announces, “I’m going to start my own business,” you might have a flashback to the Great Slime Sales Fiasco of 2018, or the Lemonade Stand That Was Really a Front for Eating All the Cookies. But whether your kid is 9 or 19, there’s something magical about that first spark of entrepreneurial spirit. It’s our job, as parents, to fan that flame—no matter how many sticky countertops it leaves in its wake.

1. Say Yes (Even If You Don’t Get It)

Maybe you’re not sure there’s a real market for homemade dog costumes or custom Minecraft worlds, but the goal isn’t to judge the idea—it’s to encourage the thinking. When you say yes (“That sounds interesting, tell me more!”), you’re telling your child that their ideas are worth hearing. That’s the first step in raising a confident, creative problem-solver.

2. Ask the Right Questions

Supporting your child doesn’t mean taking over their project (even if it’s tempting to draw up a business plan and spreadsheet before dinner). Instead, ask questions that help them think it through:

• Who is your customer?

• What problem are you solving?

• What do you need to get started?

• How will you let people know about your business?

You’re teaching them to think like an entrepreneur—curious, resourceful, and ready to learn from mistakes.

3. Offer Real-World Tools

Depending on their age, this might mean helping them set up a simple budget, brainstorm a catchy business name, or even set up a basic website. If they’re older, maybe it’s time for a crash course in spreadsheets or marketing. (Word to the wise: teaching a teen about taxes is a guaranteed way to get eye rolls, but it’s also a gift they’ll thank you for later. Maybe.)

4. Let Them Fail (Safely)

One of the hardest—and most important—parts of supporting young entrepreneurs is letting them experience small setbacks. Maybe the cookie business only sells two dozen (and both to Grandma). Maybe the dog costume startup never gets off the ground. That’s okay! Failure is a crucial part of learning. The goal isn’t to raise the next Jeff Bezos by seventh grade; it’s to help your child learn resilience, adaptability, and a sense of ownership.

5. Celebrate Every Win

Maybe your child’s first sale is to a neighbor, or their “business” is more about learning than earning. Celebrate the effort! Talk about what they learned. Ask what they’d do differently next time. Frame the conversation around growth, not just profit.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a mom, it’s that the best ideas rarely come from following a script. Supporting your child’s entrepreneurship ideas is less about creating a mini mogul and more about giving them room to explore, fail, and grow. Who knows? Today it’s dog costumes, tomorrow it’s the next big thing.

Either way, you’ll be there cheering them on—and maybe helping with a little cleanup. That’s the real investment.