In the last few months, my kids have been coming to me with a lot of curiosity about how they can make money. Initially, I did what most parents do—I gave them the usual household chores. They did the dishes, cleaned the bathroom, and earned a dollar or two for their time. It was a great way to instill the value of hard work, but I realized I wanted to teach them something more. I wanted to introduce them to a bit of entrepreneurship, to show them the joy of creating something that not only makes money but could also potentially grow into a business they could be proud of.
So, we started brainstorming side hustles together. We’ve come up with a big list, some of which we’ve already tried and some we plan to explore. If you’re looking for ways to make extra money while spending quality time with your kids, this list might be just what you need.
1. Operating Vending Machines
One of the first ideas we explored was vending machines. I don’t know if it’s just me, but my Facebook feed is full of people selling vending machines on Marketplace. Prices range from free (people just wanting to get rid of one) to thousands of dollars. We discovered that you could get a vending machine without a location attached to it for very cheap. The challenge then is finding a place to put it.
It’s not as hard as it sounds—office buildings, parks, even some neighbors keep vending machines in their garages. Alternatively, you can buy a vending machine already in an established location, making money, and just needs someone to maintain it. This has been a fun project with the kids, teaching them how to manage something small but with real-world returns.
2. Print on Demand
Next, we dove into print on demand. With AI tools making it easier than ever, we started creating designs for things like coloring books, puzzles, stickers, and t-shirts. My kids love the creative process, and once we’ve designed something, we upload it to platforms like Printful or Printify.
These companies handle printing and shipping, so all we need to do is list our products on websites like Amazon or Etsy. If someone makes a purchase, the print-on-demand service takes care of the rest. There’s no upfront cost, and even if we don’t sell anything, we’ve spent time creating and learning together.
3. Buying and Selling on Facebook Marketplace
I’m sure you’ve heard that buying and selling on Facebook Marketplace is oversaturated, but I promise it still works. The kids and I have been driving around, picking up items, and sometimes repairing them before selling them for a profit.
This not only teaches them about adding value but also the importance of seeing potential where others might not. People are always offloading things for cheap, and with a little effort, we’ve turned some of those into profitable sales.
4. Local Rentals
This idea came to me when I rented a snowmobile while on a trip to Idaho. I found it on Facebook Marketplace, and it got me thinking—what else could we rent out? From camping gear to bounce houses, there’s a market for almost anything.
If you already have something like a four-wheeler or a snowmobile, you can start renting it out. If not, a small investment could turn into a profitable side hustle. For example, if you buy a snowmobile for $4,500 and rent it out for $200 a day, it would only take 22 rentals to break even, after which it’s all profit.
5. Babysitting or Sports Camps
My daughter recently got obsessed with starting a babysitting school. She made signs, planned activities, and wanted to charge $5 an hour to watch neighborhood kids. While we’re still working on this idea, it’s a great example of a “one-to-many” service—where your kid can watch multiple kids at once and make more money than they would with just one.
I’ve seen other families do this with sports camps too, where they teach a group of kids some basics in soccer, basketball, or any other sport. It’s a great way for your child to learn the value of thinking outside the box.
6. Local To-Do List Services
This one is simple but effective. Think about all the little tasks on your to-do list that you never seem to get around to—power washing the house, cleaning the windows, or washing out the trash cans.
Kids in our neighborhood have gone door-to-door offering to take care of these small jobs, and they’ve been quite successful. The real key here is teaching your child to collect information from every customer and follow up for repeat business. Over time, this could grow into a legitimate small business, and you’ll have taught your child the value of customer relationships and persistence.
These are just a few ideas we’ve tried or are planning to try. I’d love to hear what side hustles you’ve done or plan to do with your kids. Sometimes the best ideas come from sharing, so drop your thoughts in the comments below!