Not just lemonade stands: How a new wave of 'kid-preneurs' are making their own money | CBC Radio

Boom of young entrepreneurs attributed to social media, AI, and high cost of living

At six years old, Jayden Karlee Castillo started running a business selling toys in front of her house.

In July, Castillo joined the first Kids Markets event held in Millarville, Alta., near Calgary, selling a variety of items including bracelets, earrings and 3D-printed toys she makes herself, as well as hand sanitizers and squishies she sources from wholesalers.

“I really wanna treat my parents to a good dinner,” Castillo told CBC’s Cost of Living.

Kids Markets saw an average of 16 youth-run businesses at each of their market events since they began in June this year. (Kids Markets Calgary)

In B.C., kids can sell their products through BizKids Market, while in Toronto there’s an annual marketplace called Kid2Kid. There’s also Children’s Business Fair in Brandon, Man., along with similar initiatives across the country.

“There’s always been kid-preneurs out there … but now it’s sort of exploded.”

Lemonade Day Calgary, an initiative that supports kids to operate their own lemonade stand, drew a record 792 young participants this year. That’s up from 164 when the U.S.-born program launched in Calgary in 2023, says Chantelle Little, who brought the initiative to Canada.

Through accessible platforms such as YouTube, kids can also learn how to start a business, while AI tools can help with everything from coming up with an idea and creating a business name and logo to researching customers, setting prices, building a website and doing basic bookkeeping.

Jodi Letkiewicz is an assistant professor of finance at California State University. She studies how parents influence their children's financial knowledge and behaviour. (Submitted by Jodi Letkiewicz)

For some kids, the rising cost of everyday life may also be putting money more firmly on their radar, says Letkiewicz. They’re becoming more aware of what things cost, and curious about ways they can earn some money of their own.

“They might have a fire for something,” said Letkiewicz. “You don’t want to put that out.”