What does he like to do? If he likes making things, he could make and sell jewelry. Another idea would be to let him decorate boxes or birdhouses to sell. As Christmas is getting closer, making or decorating ornaments might be a good idea. He could set up a stand outside when it's nice to sell things, or go door to door with an adult. The problem is that he likely won't be making enough money to purchase the materials he needs, so you might have to buy them and then set up a "store" for him to buy from. That way you can assign lower dollar amounts so he can actually buy more or better materials.

This might sound rediculous but I want to start a business for my 5 year. What does he like to do? If he likes making things, he could make and sell .

I've wondered what types of real life business ideas would be helpful .... skills to teach children, something I won't have to do for another 5 years.

There isn't a way that he can really make money unless you pay him. But you could get charity tins and collect money with him then donate it to that charity and explain how it works. Or you could get toy cash registers and play shopping games with him pretend he is the shop keeper and let him make posters to give to your family. But if you think about it he is five so he will properly forget most of it.

Yes, it does sound ridiculous - because it is.

Let him earn his pocket money by doing chores around the house. Nobody but a doting parent will want a kiddy drawing cluttering up their place.

A simple way to look at it is pick your target market, lets say it's matchbox cars. What you need to do is examine the length and breadth of the matchbox car market and from there you will figure out where to buy your matchbox cars, and where to sell them.

This will work for all kinds of stuff, and don't neglect the used market, for small business it can be much easier to break in, and don't think there isn't plenty of money to be made, there is.

He is only 5!!!

This might sound rediculous but I want to start a business for my 5 year old just so he can learn how businesses work lol any ideas? He doesn't have to earn more than $1 a month even as long as he can learn about making money, advertising, not spending more than you make etc. It just seems like an entrepeneur's world these days so I want to get him used to business models. I know he is 5 lol