Little Millionaires: How Kids Turn Their Hobbies into Big Businesses

From lemonade stands to large enterprises, child entrepreneurship can take many forms. No matter what interests your child is inclined towards, creative thinking and problem solving are invaluable skills that can lead them to the top of a business empire. USA Today.

Photo: IStock

“Entrepreneurship requires both resilience and curiosity,” says Meredith Meyer Grelli, assistant professor of entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. “Fortunately, these are useful qualities for all of us, entrepreneurs or not.” This way, we can develop these traits in our children, regardless of their future path. If we can help children develop a curiosity about their world and, in particular, a willingness to engage with the frustrations or tensions they themselves face, they can find a way out.”

While attending a school dance, preparing for a big game, or preparing for a driver's license may be typical teen activities outside of class, some preteens turn passion into profit.

These four mini-tycoons began to encourage other young people to jump on the entrepreneurial train.

Ryan Hickman, Ryan's Recycling Co.

As a child, Ryan Hickman was particularly bothered by trash. So much so that he decided to take action. “My dad took me to a recycling center when I was about 3 years old and I really enjoyed it,” Ryan recalls. “I convinced all our neighbors to start recycling, and it just took off.” Here in California we can cash in bottles for 5 cents a pop, so I was excited to make some money and save the planet.” By age 7, he had founded Ryan's Recycling Company, which recycled more than 1,6 million cans and books.

On the subject: Seven facts about starting a business in America that many are not ready for

These days, you can see him speaking to school audiences around the world, spearheading beach cleanups, giving on-camera interviews, and running Project3R, a non-profit recycling and environmental education organization. In addition to speaking in South America, Hickman also plans to join scientists on a research trip aboard a submarine in the Mediterranean off Spain.

“Starting your own business isn't that hard when you have people around you who support you,” says Ryan. “I expanded my business from my local area to several cities, and that’s only because I took it step by step and didn’t get discouraged when problems arose. These can be baby steps that will grow over time.”

Ryan's father, Damion Hickman, is impressed by his fearlessness in front of the camera and his ambition. “I handle some parts of his business, like his taxes and money management, but he’s involved in all of that,” the father says. “I think it’s important for him to know as much as possible about the size of the business.”

Kamaria Warren, Brown Girls stationery

In 2017, when she was 7 years old, Kamaria Warren noticed the lack of images of racial diversity on children's school supplies. Her solution: Brown Girls stationery.

“We started with one character for her party invitations and then started brainstorming ways to make money,” says Shawnice Sasser, Kamaria's mother. “This was originally intended to solve our problem of not being able to find a dark-skinned character with curly hair.”

Her products, sold online on sites like Shopify and Faire Marketplace, as well as at local events, include backpacks, T-shirts, notebooks, blankets, shower curtains, umbrellas and party supplies for girls of color. Several designs feature girls with disabilities and disorders such as vitiligo. “I knew I wanted to create something that I could be proud of and that other kids could be proud of,” Kamaria says. “I wanted to make something they could wear, something that would make them feel like themselves.” Kamaria is working with her mother to launch a line of educational materials such as bulletin board borders and classroom decor.

She is also launching a second business, Stylish Brown Girls, a line of premium eco-friendly luxury handbags for teens.

Ariella Meisner, Theme

Ariella Meisner's deep passion for fashion began at the age of 6 when she started sewing. By the time she was 9, she was dyeing clothes on the roof of her family apartment. “I soon realized that I had turned my passion into a business when I received hundreds of requests for custom products,” she says.

Ariella soon found herself in board meetings with top designers. “In the beginning they asked me questions about my collection and gave me advice,” she says. “Now, when I go to meetings, I am confident enough to present my ideas and lead discussions. I think it's really important to be confident in your vision, but also to listen to other people's ideas and be open to feedback."

Soon enough, she began to organize pop-ups at Bloomingdale's and other large stores. Walmart asked her to design a collection for teens, and she was the youngest designer at New York Fashion Week in 2019. "It's an amazing feeling to see girls wearing my clothes all over the world and to have such a big company believe in me and my design abilities," she says.

Deb Meisner, Ariella's mother, has this advice for parents of future young leaders: “First, make sure you encourage your child to do what he really loves. Starting a business is a lot of fun, but it's also a lot of work." “Second, ask for advice and be open to learning. We have all learned so much since Ariella launched Theme,” says Deb.

Yummy Brothers

Five years ago, the four Billingsley brothers — Joshua, Isaiah, Caleb and Mika — had no idea that sharing their homemade, all-natural gourmet cookies with their community would change their lives. Today, a one-year-old business partner, Brother Andrew, has joined the company and has been featured on The Drew Barrymore Show and several news outlets. Yummy Brothers biscuits, plates, drinks and dog treats are sold in major cities around the country.

They ship their cookies in flavors including Lemon White Chocolate, Snickerdoodle, and Classic Chocolate Chips to every state in the US.

“Everyone in town started talking about the cookies,” Caleb says. “Orders for cookies were coming in left and right.” We couldn't go anywhere without people asking for cookies."

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The reaction was so great that the brothers decided to launch KidPreneur Expo, an online community focused on helping others start their own businesses. The cookie empire was invented by the brothers, but the whole family got involved: the recipes were invented by their great-grandmother, grandmother and mother. And their dad, Greg, who is also an entrepreneur, came up with the name.

Micah says he enjoys working with his parents and siblings. “I travel with my whole family and enjoy the feedback from customers when they eat our cookies,” he says. “It’s just great.”

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