Work with animals
Kids have a natural affinity for all things fuzzy -which is why animal-related businesses are great for first jobs. Most neighborhoods have plenty of creatures great and small, so finding work shouldn’t be difficult. To begin building a customer base, focus on direct advertising. Your child’s animal instincts can lead to success with flyers posted in local vet clinics, grooming salons and pet shops.

New Leash on Life: If your child enjoys and is comfortable handling dogs, a dog-walking business is the perfect way to spend more time with pooches. Promise one or two walks daily and bring business cards for any people who show interest. (For a memorable sales pitch, tape a homemade dog biscuit to your card.) If your child always remembers the clean-up bags and dog treats, his business could become more popular than the corner fire hydrant.

Pampered Pups Salon: Beautify neighborhood dogs by offering a canine wash-and-brush service. Start by consulting a dog care book for tips on handling, washing, and brushing, and then add a few special pampering ideas. Cut triangles from fabric remnants to create doggy bandannas as a finishing touch, and then use an instant camera to snap a photo (write the company’s name and phone number on the back before you give it to the pet’s owner). Try to schedule clients for return visits to keep up a regular flow of business.

Artistic jobs
Whether it’s selling beaded jewelry or creating cards on the computer, artistic jobs give kids a chance to show off their creative flair -and earn a little money for art supplies. Kids can even put their art smarts to work designing eye-catching signs with tear-off tabs advertising their company name, e-mail address, and phone number. When your child’s ready to make her business debut, consider a table at a community craft fair.

Jamming Jewelry: Depending on his or her style, your child can create glamorous, funky, or classic jewelry to sell. Embroidery floss friendship bracelets or beaded necklaces and earrings are always popular if attractive -and attractively priced. The CEO may also decide to branch out into hair jewelry such as hair wraps and headbands.

Compu-creativity: For computer-savvy kids, print-shop style software makes starting a mini design business easy. Sell batches of birthday greetings or a year’s worth of holiday cards for under the store price (but over your cost, of course). Print programs, certificates, stickers or labels. Create a display of samples to entice customers.

Handyman positions
With just a little old-fashioned elbow grease, kids that enjoy helping out others can corner the ever-growing odd-job market. Services like babysitting, trash detail, or general cleaning will be welcomed by anyone wishing they had another set of hands. Your child can let everyone know he’s open for business by making “helping hands” business cards (trace around his hand on construction paper or card stock, cut out the paper hand, and write information such as name, business, and phone number on the cards).

Food services
Kids that measure up in the kitchen would be well served by starting a food enterprise. There’s a food-related job suited to every taste and ability - whether it’s mixing up a batch of trail mix or a pitcher of lemonade. The best way to attract new customers? Offer free samples!

Trail Mix Master: Although you may want to help your child develop the basic recipe for this trail mix business, chances are he’ll have more than enough energy to take over from there. The mix might include these chocolate-covered pretzels: melt white or milk chocolate chips in the microwave, spread the pretzels out on a waxed-paper-covered cookie sheet, drizzle the chocolate on top, cool, then add them to the mix.

Designer Lemonade: Here’s a twist on the classic lemonade stand that will set your child’s beverage business apart from all the others. In addition to a tasty, tangy, refreshing recipe, offer extras like fresh strawberries or raspberries for a fruitier flavor.

Jobs in entertainment
Know a little star that just shines in the limelight? They may go far if cast in an entertainment-related job. By taking their talent to the streets, whether it’s clowning around at birthday parties or putting on a really, really, big show, they’re sure to win both fame and fortune. To gain recognition fast, advertising strategies can be dramatic - a jumbo, marquee-shaped yard sign, for example. Not the look you want for your lawn? Then suggest posting flyers at child-friendly spots like your local library, community center, and public pool. A kid who craves more attention can send a brief press release about his business to the local paper.