What Jobs Can Kids Do for a Family Business? (50+ Ideas)

Q: What jobs can kids do for a family business?

Kids can do any age-appropriate work for a family business: filing, data entry, cleaning, inventory, social media, photography, and more. We list 50+ legitimate tasks by age.

Quick Answer

Kids can do any age-appropriate work for a family business. Common tasks include: filing and organizing (ages 6+), packaging orders and inventory (ages 8+), data entry and social media (ages 12+), and customer service (ages 14+). The IRS requires that the work be real, beneficial to the business, within the child's capabilities, and properly documented. Pay must be reasonable for the work performed.

50+ Job Ideas by Age

Ages 4-7: Simple Tasks

Stamping documents
Sorting mail
Labeling items
Stuffing envelopes
Organizing supplies
Shredding documents (with supervision)
Modeling for photos
Appearing in videos

Ages 8-11: More Responsibility

Filing paperwork
Packaging orders
Counting inventory
Organizing stock
Making copies
Cleaning workspace
Taking product photos
Video assistance
Quality checking items
Unpacking deliveries

Ages 12-14: Real Contributions

Data entry
Spreadsheet work
Social media content creation
Graphic design (Canva)
Market research
Taking messages
Inventory tracking
Creating product listings
Thumbnail creation
Survey collection

Ages 15+: Near-Employee Level

Customer service chat
Answering phones
Scheduling appointments
Email management
Website updates
Video editing
Copywriting
Bookkeeping assistance
CRM data entry
Tech support

Industry-Specific Ideas

Real Estate Business

Placing/retrieving yard signs
Property photography
Open house setup
Property cleaning

E-Commerce Business

Product packaging
Order verification
Product photography
Returns processing
Listing creation

Restaurant/Food Business

Rolling silverware
Folding napkins
Menu assembly
Cleaning dining area
Bussing tables

Professional Services (Medical, Dental, Legal)

Waiting room tidying
Restocking supplies
File organization
Appointment confirmations

What Makes Work "Legitimate"

For the IRS to accept child employment, the work must be:

Real: Actually performed, not just on paper
Beneficial: Helps you or your business in a tangible way
Age-appropriate: Within the child's capabilities
Documented: Recorded when performed, with details
Reasonably compensated: Paid at fair market rates

For the complete list with 100+ ideas, see our Task Ideas by Age resource.

Learn more: How to Hire Your Kids: The Complete Guide

Sources

IRS Family Help: Employing Family Members
DOL Fact Sheet #43: Child Labor Provisions

What jobs can kids do for a family business?