Entrepreneurship · Lesson Plan

Starting a Part-Time Business

You don’t need much money to start earning — just effort and imagination. This lesson surveys realistic part-time business ideas a student can start with little investment (dog walking, window washing, lawn mowing, babysitting, tutoring), the few supplies each needs, and how to think about the small startup costs involved. Students pick an idea and sketch a simple plan to launch it.

Grades 6–12 Lesson Plan 45–60 minutes Free Lesson Plan Lesson & Worksheet: Full Membership

Starting a part-time business lesson illustration

For Teachers

Lesson at a glance

Topic: Entrepreneurship
Grade Level: Grades 6–12
Resource Type: Lesson + Worksheet
Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes
Format: Lesson + worksheet
Materials: Printable lesson, activity sheet, pencils

What Students Learn

Learning objectives

List part-time business ideas with low startup costs
Identify the supplies each idea requires
Estimate the small startup costs involved
Recognize effort and imagination as key inputs
Sketch a simple plan to launch a chosen idea

Materials

What you’ll need

Printed lesson and worksheet (one per student)
Pencils

Key Terms

Vocabulary

Part-time business: A small business run alongside school or another job.
Startup cost: Money needed to get a business going.
Investment: Money put in with the goal of earning more back.
Service: Work done for others for pay, rather than selling a product.
Supplies: The basic materials a business needs to operate.
Initiative: Taking action to start something on your own.

For Teachers

Lesson plan

Estimated time: one 45–60 minute class period.

Lesson sequence

Low-cost ideas (12 min). Survey realistic part-time businesses students could start.
What you’d need (12 min). The supplies and small startup costs for each.
Pick one (10 min). Students choose an idea that fits their skills.
Plan it (14 min). Students sketch a simple plan to launch their idea.

Assessment

Assess the plan for a realistic idea, identified supplies, and a sensible startup-cost estimate.

Discussion

Discussion questions

What part-time businesses can you start with little money?
What supplies would your idea require?
What are startup costs, and how can you keep them low?
Why do effort and imagination matter more than money here?
What is your plan to launch your idea?

Printable Lesson & Activity