Seven businesses kids can start before Halloween

Small seasonal ideas work best when you pick one customer and one deadline.

Halloween gives a young business owner something useful: a clear deadline. Instead of trying to sell everything, choose one thing neighbors already need before October 31.

Try custom treat bags, porch-decorating help, pet costume accessories, party favors, yard cleanup, hand-painted signs, or a neighborhood photo booth. Pick the one you can make or deliver well with the time and supplies you actually have.

Before buying materials, ask a few potential customers what they would pay for. Write down the price, supply cost, and number of orders you can finish. Then set an order deadline that leaves you time to deliver. A small, well-run project teaches more than a giant idea you cannot finish.