Kids

How Parents Can Help Their Kids Start A Business Of Their Own

by Kevyn Gohu
January 28, 2026

Here’s how parents can help their kids start a business of their own

Not everyone is meant for corporate life. Some are too creative to fall in line or structure, finding more love in entrepreneurship. We can already see it in some kids. Sure, they’ll have to follow some rules. But to create something that thrives and call their own, it’s why some kids would rather start their own business–something that happened at MarketPlays: Playground for Future CEOs last January 24-25, 2026.

Here’s how some parents can help their kids start their businesses:

1. Help them do the costing

Much of running a business is math–something a little beyond what they pick up in elementary. It doesn’t mean doing it for them; making sure their computations are correct, helping them file it properly, and bringing them to the places they may find the costing information they need helps.

2. Don’t shoot down their ideas right away

As parents, we’re always worried. What if the idea isn’t enough? What if people scoff and laugh at their ideas? Worse, what if it doesn’t sell?

The truth is: that’s part of running a business. Nothing always works out right away. The hidden struggles of starting a business include the many trials and errors they had to go through for products. Operations will need a lot of theories and anticipation. That can be a lot for a small child.

Instead of shooting down their ideas, ask them what they hope their business will do. That way, it gives them direction.

Here's how parents can help their kids start a business of their own

3. Connect them with people you know may benefit

Family members are usually the most obvious choice as the “first customers.” But a lot of times, they’re also the worst critiques. Instead, find someone who actually needs the product and will give technical feedback—at least something to help them improve. Nothing’s more discouraging than hearing, “it’s not good enough,” and not knowing why.

4. Just remind them of schoolwork every now and then

Sometimes, when the thrill of making money gets to them, they kind of neglect their schoolwork. Remind them every so often that they still need to go to school. That way, their career choices aren’t so limited if their business doesn’t take off.

5. Make them take a marketable course

Especially for college kids and those still in the K-12 strands system, a lot of times they end up taking a course they like. That shouldn’t be the case; better to take a course that makes a lot of money. The things they love are something they can learn on their own. YouTube is like everybody’s all-access video library after all!

6. Ensure they don’t overwork

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”—while the thrill and grind of building a business can feel like a never-ending quest line for them, it’s our job as parents to say, “Quest achieved!” or, in some cases, to “pull the plug,” especially when they start having sleepless nights over it.

Remind them by making sure they eat right with their dinners. Don’t let them skip, no matter how profitable the venture sounds. That money they’ll earn will go straight to their medical fund if they overwork.

Raising Little CEOs Without Burning Them Out

Helping kids start a business isn’t about raising mini-moguls who skip childhood and sprint straight to burnout. It’s about teaching them how to dream with discipline, create with care, and fail without fear—skills that matter whether they become founders, freelancers, or future corporate leaders who actually know how the system works.

For Filipino parents, this balance is especially delicate. We value grit, sacrifice, and “tiis muna,” but our kids also need guidance that says: you’re allowed to try, rest, and try again. Entrepreneurship, when done right, becomes less about profit and more about problem-solving, resilience, and self-belief.

If you can do one thing consistently, let it be this: walk beside them, not ahead of them, and never too far behind. The goal isn’t a successful business at age ten. The goal is a confident, capable adult who knows how to build something—including themselves.