Children working in business whilst as school

[diggerboy]

I am a father of four (aged 13 - 4) & have been amazed by the lack of vocational training in my children's education coupled with the demise of out of school job opps (paper rounds, shelf stacking etc)to bolster pocket money & save up for later education / cars etc.

I have a business idea that would allow under 16s (with parental supervision / approval)& over 16s to be entrepreneurs selling product to others in their community. Imagine them as sales agents supplied the tools they need on a franchise type model.

I wondered what mumsnetters thought about this?

Many thanks

Digger boy

I would not have a problem with a teenager having a paid job, but I'd be a lot happier with them earning an hourly wage than the sort of "sales rep" on commission model which you seem to be talking about. They wouldn't really be "entrepreneurs" either, would they? I thought that meant they had their own business idea which they created from scratch, not going round the neighbourhood selling products.

Round my area we already have plenty of Betterware reps, and vans selling regular deliveries of ready-meals, and I'd not be comfortable for my teenager to take that up as a "business opportunity". Added to which, they'd presumably be knocking on strangers doors, which is not a great thing for teens to do (not great for adults either, but at least they have experience dealing with awkward situations).

My DS makes quite a profit buying Crisps and chocs in the 99p stores & Asda etc, then selling to his mates at school