Business books for kids

We all want our kids to grow up with the skills and mindset required to be successful, whatever life throws at them. If you want to prepare yours for a life of opportunity, you’ll want to show them a world outside of schooling, higher education and a career job. You might be wondering, are there books out there that can help do just that?

 

Business books for kids

Giving a child an understanding of businesses and how they work is a great starting point, so finding books for kids that are about business makes sense. However, there are actually very few children’s books that explore concepts around business and entrepreneurship.

 

Are there any books about business that kids can read?

Yes, there are, but not very many! In fact, this is exactly why we created the Clever Tykes storybooks. If you have kids ages 6-9, the Clever Tykes books are the perfect books about business to begin with. For kids of different ages, check out some other great options below.

 

Business books for young kids

Young children, of primary or elementary school age, only need to know the very basic principles of business and how money works. Knowing that companies make profit by selling products and services to customers who, in turn, earn money by working for other businesses is pretty much the lot. Here are three great options for young kids:

 

Clever Tykes books (6-9 year olds)

When we decided to create books that inspired kids to be more entrepreneurial, we wanted to keep the messaging simple. That’s why we created stories about children who began ventures based on a skill or passion they have. There’s a big difference between starting a business to make money and starting a business because it fits in with your skills and what you actually enjoy doing. That’s why the Clever Tykes stories avoid the clinical nature of business and encourage the development of entrepreneurial traits such as creativity and resourcefulness.

You can read reviews of the Clever Tykes books and purchase your copies on Amazon here.

 

TeeLee and the Opportuni-Tree – a business book (7-10 year olds)

TeeLee and the Opportuni-Tree is the first book in the Opportuni-Tree entrepreneurship for kids series. It introduces kids as young as seven to the concepts and vocabulary of business, advertising and the economy.

The main characters, TeeLee and Mr Feefers, walk readers through essential points of what a business is and how a business can “grow” opportunities. The story encourages children to make real-world connections between types of businesses, products and  services, and learn how money travels through a local economy.

Find it on Amazon and read reviews here.

 

Kidpreneurs (6–12 years old)

A book that teaches children the basic principles of entrepreneurship and how to get started early, founded by brothers Matthew and Adam Toren. The brothers see mastering the skill of entrepreneurship as just as important as reading, writing, maths and social skills. The book gives inspiration, advice and guidance that enables children to start and manage their own profitable business venture, right now.

 

You Are Awesome (9–13 years old)

This motivational book and accompanying journal is ideal for sharing with any youngster who might need a confidence boost, especially if they are struggling with school work or sports. They will learn that by practising again and again, they can do anything their heart desires. Ella, age 13, said “[This book]really builds your confidence and shows you how the right mindset can help you achieve your dreams… It shows that you have to be brave, prepare for failure and have self-belief.”

Find it on Amazon here.

Business books for teenagers

When children reach their teens, they very quickly gain a much better understanding of careers and how to manage money. If they really enjoy the topic then business studies and economics A-levels and degrees could be seriously considered.

For kids in their teens, the best business books to read are those that explore the philosophy of starting a business. An excellent book to start with is Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, which is one of the most famous books on personal finance. This perennial seller shows readers an alternative way to view making money, something that could have a profound impact on a teenager considering their career.

 

 

The Everything Store is another excellent book for a teenager thinking about starting a business one day. Brad Stone’s book explores the journey of one of the richest people of all time, Jeff Bezos, and the rise of his flagship online store, Amazon. The way Bezos approaches business and how he imagines the future is the perfect eye-opener for a youth trying to see the world in a different way. You can pick up a copy on, you guessed it, Amazon.

Another book that will help a teen realise their potential is Unreasonable Success and How to Achieve It: Unlocking the Nine Secrets of People Who Changed the World. As the Amazon listing states: “Bestselling author Richard Koch charts a map of success, identifying the nine key attitudes and strategies that can propel anyone to new heights of accomplishment.” Having an awareness of these strategies as a teenager or young adult could be truly game-changing for someone looking to start a wildly successful business.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill was originally published way back in 1937 but has been updated several times. As opposed to being strictly a business book, it’s more about how to create a mindset for success. The book draws on countless examples from the past century to answer the question, “What makes a winner?” This now legendary text is the perfect place to start for a teenager looking for an insight into what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur or business leader.

 

 

Why are books so important for kids if they’re to start a business one day?

 

Kids need role models

One of the huge benefits of reading business books is to have a role model. This is true of young kids, teenagers and adults looking to be successful, whatever their version of this might look like. These role models help shine a light on the way forward and give kids the confidence to try something different.

We realised that some children lack positive business role models, which is why we created the Clever Tykes series.

Children don’t need to know all the ins and outs of actually starting a business. If we want our children to be more enterprising and be better prepared if they choose to start a business one day, they need to adopt the right attitude and develop the right skills.

We humans learn best from our experiences and the experiences of other humans; why do you think so many of us want to be a footballer, astronaut or princess when we grow up? They are roles we see and become familiar with, and therefore what we aspire to become.

 

So when is right to teach children about business?

You might be wondering if introducing kids to ideas around business is the right thing to do. Shouldn’t we just let kids be kids? Well, we don’t think it’s about teaching kids about business. It’s about helping kids develop the skills and attitudes conducive to future success.

We wrote the Clever Tykes books for children ages 6 to 9 for two main reasons:

1. Ask a seven-year-old what they want to be when they’re older and they’ll give you an answer,

and;

2. These are our formative years, when we’re learning at the fastest rate in our lives. This is when we can really set kids up for a prosperous and happy future on their terms.

We believe that kids are generating ideas about their future from a very young age. Helping them develop useful character traits as well as providing some light business inspiration is the perfect way to set them up for their next steps, whatever they hold.

It’s never too late to start! Some of the best entrepreneurs in the world began their business journeys well into adulthood, so a teenager or young adult can absolutely benefit from the books listed above.

 

 

More about the Clever Tykes books

We’re passionate about instilling enterprising mindsets using inspiring and empowering books for kids.  The stories make fun and engaging parenting tools and we developed a parent and teacher’s guide to help develop skills and understanding even further. This is also available as a PDF download here and contains guidance and ideas for making the most of the books.

Everything links to the evidence we have around children growing up with entrepreneurial parents and the impact of fictional role models on entrepreneurial intention. The primary purpose of the Clever Tykes storybooks is to provide entrepreneurial role models to children and help them understand what business and enterprise means. The stories very much form the foundation of enterprise, including what a venture might look like and how it might start.

If you’re a teacher looking for business books for kids or more in-depth skill and behaviour development, we also created these teaching resources.

If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Whether it inspires them to start their own lemonade stands or to dream of making a million dollars in their futures, it’s rarely a bad time to start teaching kids about business. When they are taught money lessons, children learn not only how to manage their own money, but also the most efficient strategies for making money and how to nurture a solid business idea.

What are the best ways to teach kids about business and motivate their entrepreneurial spirits? How about business books for kids?

Why Books Are Great to Teach Kids Business

Books that teach kids about business are perfect for kid and teen entrepreneurs, as well as children who want to learn money management and business basics. In fact, business books can benefit young minds in the following ways:

• Improve financial literacy – If you’re looking for books that will teach your child to manage money, there are more than a few books for kids that teach financial literacy, including everything from saving money in a piggy bank to understanding cool financial technology from a young age.
• Learn business basics – If your child dreams of someday starting a successful business, then it’s never too early to start teaching them basic business principles with books. To have the best chance of someday running their own businesses, kids should learn things like how to develop negotiating skills and how to raise money for start-up costs.
• Inspire small business ideas – Some books are filled with all sorts of creative ideas for businesses you can start with your kids, including not only family business ideas but also some that kids can pursue as solo efforts.
• Understand hard work’s value – The long-term value of hard work can be a difficult concept for young children to grasp. Some business books are great tools for teaching children this valuable lesson through creative storytelling.
• Inspire to dream – Do you want your child to feel the freedom to dream of a successful future? Plenty of business books for kids employ the power of storytelling to inspire kids to nurture their entrepreneurial spirit and follow their own dreams.

AspectBenefits of Business Books for KidsImprove Financial LiteracyTeach money management and financial technologyLearn Business BasicsDevelop negotiating skills and raise money for start-upsInspire Small Business IdeasExplore creative business ideas for family or solo effortsUnderstand Hard Work's ValueLearn the importance of hard work through storytellingInspire to DreamNurture entrepreneurial spirit and encourage dreaming

Criteria for Selecting the Top Business Books for Kids

Selecting the best business books for kids is a unique challenge that involves balancing educational content with age-appropriate engagement. Here’s our methodology and the criteria we use, rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most crucial:

1. Educational Value (5/5):
   • Accuracy and relevance of business concepts
   • Age-appropriate introduction to business principles
   • Incorporation of real-world examples or case studies
2. Engagement and Readability (5/5):
   • Use of compelling storytelling or characters
   • Clarity and simplicity of language
   • Interactive elements (pictures, activities, etc.)
3. Diversity and Inclusivity (4/5):
   • Representation of diverse characters and entrepreneurs
   • Inclusive language and scenarios
   • Sensitivity to different cultural backgrounds
4. Creativity and Inspiration (4/5):
   • Ability to inspire entrepreneurial thinking
   • Encouragement of problem-solving and creativity
   • Promotion of critical thinking and curiosity
5. Illustration Quality (3/5):
   • Visual appeal and quality of illustrations
   • Relevance and clarity of visual aids
   • Contribution of images to the overall understanding
6. Resourcefulness (4/5):
   • Availability of additional resources or activities
   • Guiding questions or discussions points for parents/teachers
   • Supplementary online content or interactive apps
7. Author Expertise (4/5):
   • Author’s background and experience in business
   • Accuracy and up-to-date information
   • Endorsements by educational or business professionals
8. Durability and Design (3/5):
   • Physical quality of the book (binding, paper, etc.)
   • Appeal of book design and layout
   • Suitability for repeated use and reading

By carefully weighing each of these aspects, we aim to provide recommendations that not only educate but also inspire and engage young minds in the world of business.

Best Business Books for Preschool-aged Kids

It’s never too early to start teaching young kids about business. In fact, you can start teaching your children before they even learn to read with books targeting children their own age.

Small Business Deals

Interested in business books for preschool-aged kid entrepreneurs? The following choices are a great start:

1. When I’m an Entrepreneur

by Dr. Samantha Pillay (Author), Harry Aveira (Illustrator)+

Did you know that career gender stereotypes start to form during early childhood? So does self-efficacy. When I’m an Entrepreneur: Dreaming is Believing: Business features simple images that allow children to think about their own entrepreneurial spirit while building their self-belief. The unique picture book encourages children to dream big, and it includes a companion activity book to stimulate your child’s imagination.

After you’ve finished reading this totally awesome business book with your child, you can investigate the newspaper articles that appear in the book on the author’s website for extra educational value. While there, you even can explore even more fun facts about the image details.

2. What Do Grownups Do All Day?

by Virginie Morgand

Does your child wonder what you do at work all day? What about a firefighter, police officer or postal worker? What Do Grownups Do All Day? teaches children about these and more than 100 other jobs through 15 busy scenes set in diverse workplaces. Just turn the page to discover what each job entails!

Not only is this book packed with detailed scenes and information, but the visuals are sure to attract every young entrepreneur’s attention with hand-drawn shapes and bright colors that create vibrant images full of life and energy.

3. The Berenstain Bears’ Dollars and Sense

by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Parents love it when classic characters from beloved tales also can teach their children important life lessons. In The Berenstain Bears’ Dollars and Sense, Papa Bear thinks it’s time to teach Brother and Sister how to budget their money. Will the cubs learn the value of a dollar, or will their pockets remain empty?

In this engaging story for young children, Mama Bear devises a clever way to teach her cubs about money… in the form of a checkbook. Your children can learn right alongside Brother and Sister Bear as they learn money management through household activities.

4. It Began with Lemonade

by Gideon Sterer (Author), Lian Cho (Illustrator)

What can come from a simple lemonade stand? It Began with Lemonade tells the story of a spunky young girl who decides to set up a lemonade stand on a scorching hot day. Unfortunately, she soon discovers that too many entrepreneurs in her neighborhood had the same idea. Not to be deterred, the girl relocates her lemonade stand to the river’s edge, where she encounters some unexpected clientele.

Children, parents and critics love this easy-to-read book for preschools, who will cheer as the heroine satisfies customer after customer, including octopus babies, otters in hats, beavers doing the backstroke, dancing bunnies, clacking crabs and more. Steamboats, tugboats, and submarines line up for miles down the river, and the child stays open as long as she can, before treading home to dream of her next day’s business.

5. Baby’s First Business Book

by Andrew Dorazio (Author), Victoria Savanella (Illustrator)

A fun and exciting book for children of all ages, Baby’s First Business Book helps inspire young children who might want to start a business someday. Featuring the ABCs of important business terms, this book will prepare preschoolers for future business endeavors by inspiring courage and establishing a solid foundation for the future.

This business book for kids was not only written to inspire young entrepreneurs but also inspired by one of them. The author, an entrepreneur himself, was inspired to write the book by the birth of his own daughter.

Books to Teach School-aged Kids About Business

While there are a plethora of business books for preschool kids and teen entrepreneurs, there are even more business books for school-aged children. From storybooks to instruction manuals and everything in between, you’ll find business books for school-aged kids that cover any topic, including:

6. Lunch Money

by Andrew Clements (Author), Brian Selznick (Illustrator)

Lunch Money takes a look at the obstacles entrepreneurs encounter, including finding a market, hurdling regulations and dealing with money’s influence. With illustrations from Brian Selznick, the book is a great way to capture kids’ attention while they learn about business.

Any little entrepreneur will be inspired to look for business opportunities as they follow the adventures of Greg, who discovers that almost every kid has at least a quarter left over from lunch.

When you read this business book with your kids, you’ll see their eyes light up as they eagerly wait to see what else Greg discovers. Whether you’ve got a little entrepreneur on your hands, or you’d like to inspire a little entrepreneurial thinking, this book will help.

7. Ethan’s BIG Business Plan

by Yu-Ting Hung and Ethan Hsu

The biggest lesson found in Ethan’s BIG Business Plan is controlling your destiny, followed by lessons in spotting opportunities, selling products and managing money. With the lessons from this book, your little one can apply its real-world concepts to their first business and continue to grow with each experience.

The next time your kid throws a tantrum at the supermarket because you said “No!” — grab this book! This business book teaches kids to make their own plans in order to reach their spending goals. It’s a fun, well-structured way to help kids think through finances and the strategies to make it all work.

8. What Do You Do With an Idea?

by Kobi Yamada

The author of What Do You Do With an Idea? recognizes that ideas are living things. If nurtured and fostered, they can grow into something much bigger. The language and illustrations in this book will touch your heart so much that you’ll read it for yourself as much as your kids.

Every great business starts with an idea, but ideas can be fragile. Ignore them and they die; share them with the wrong people, and you can be convinced to quit. Every budding entrepreneur will love this story about a child, his anthropomorphized idea, and how he brings it into the world.

This award-winning New York Times national bestselling book is full of life lessons, including perseverance and confidence in both yourself and your ideas, even if no one else believes.

9. Kid Start-Up

by Mark Cuban, Shaan Patel and Ian McCue

When kids read Kid Start-Up: How YOU Can Become an Entrepreneur, they’ll learn how to spot opportunities, calculate demand and do the work to launch their businesses.  While the business book includes the obvious “lemonade stand,” it also explores starting online businesses like an Etsy store. If you read this book with your kids, you just might discover your next family business.

Celebrity “shark” Mark Cuban is well known for being a dad, so it only makes sense that he would partner up to write a kidpreneur book. Written for elementary school-age kids, this book teaches valuable lessons such as hard work, perseverance and collaboration.

10. Starting Your Own Business

by Adam Toren, Matthew Toren

Completing projects step by step is a great way for a child to learn about the business world, as each project is an opportunity to further explore their ideas. Starting Your Own Business: Become an Entrepreneur! features engaging icons, eye-catching images and even spaces for the reader to write answers to open-ended questions. The book concludes with words of encouragement and a helpful glossary.

Part of the “Dummies” series of books written by brothers Matthew and Adam Torren, this business book is ideal for the budding kid entrepreneur who has an idea and needs practical steps to transform it into a business. This informative book covers topics like the basics of entrepreneurial success, how to find your big idea, how to make a plan (and what to do with it once you’ve created it), budgets, marketing, product or service delivery and customer service.

Top Business Books for Teen Budding Entrepreneurs

Is the special teenager in your life interested in business, or do they have a brilliant business idea that you want to help them bring to fruition? Business books are a perfect way to help teen entrepreneurs explore their dreams. Looking for the ideal business book to inspire your teenage child? Take a look at the following masterpieces:

11. Become the Youngest Businessperson in Town

by Thomas Henderson

If the teen in your life dreams of starting their own business someday, there’s no time like the present. In Become the Youngest Businessperson in Town: 111 Teen Business Ideas, the author presents all sorts of business ideas for teens, including simple $100 plans to grand personal projects.

Have a teen without a business idea who still would like to watch money grow? This book provides them with plenty of useful ideas and inspiration, as well. Not only does it offer plenty of feasible ideas for any budget, but it also offers plenty of direction tips for finding success with those business ventures.

12. Teen Entrepreneurship

by Jack Rosenthal

This book for any teenage kid entrepreneur was written by the author of Teen Investing, Amazon’s No. 2 book on teen investing. In his young entrepreneur’s guide, Rosenthal educates fellow teens on everything it takes to become a successful young entrepreneur.

Teen Entrepreneurship: The #1 Book for Teenage Entrepreneurs is remarkable because it not only was written for teen entrepreneurs but it was written by one, as well. Rosenthal was a 19-year-old student in Massachusetts when the book was published, but he already had been an entrepreneur and investor for 10 years, working on numerous ventures.

13. The Money Club

by Jasmine Brown

Has your teen ever agonized over math, wondering when they will use it in the real world? If you don’t have the answers, perhaps a professional educator might. Written by a passionate teacher, Money Club: A Teenage Guide to Financial Literacy covers even the most daunting topics with entertaining stories and real-life inspired classroom scenarios.

This user-friendly guide offers practical advice and open conversation on aspects of money management, including topics such as bank accounts, budgeting, credit cards and managing money after high school.

14. First to a Million

by Dan Sheeks

If your teen never fulfilled their childhood dream of becoming a lemonade stand millionaire, then First to a Million could be the perfect book for them. Written for young adults, this is a fun guide packed with the many advantages of financial independence, and it includes the secrets of investing, living frugally and maintaining an entrepreneurial mindset.

When teens treat their finances differently than most of their peers, the perspective will put them miles ahead of their peers on their journeys toward financial independence. It doesn’t matter if they didn’t start out as the richest kids on the block, they have time to let that compounding interest transform their futures.

15. 10 Steps to Your First Small Business

by Adam Lean

If you want to help your teen start their own business, then there’s no better business book than this step-by-step guide that covers everything needed to start a business from start to finish. After completing each of the steps described in 10 Steps to Your First Small Business (For Teens), teen entrepreneurs will have successfully launched their businesses.

The plan described in this book makes starting a business fun, approachable and realistic for teens. The text explains how to come up with a good business idea, as well as how to start a business with little or no money. It even includes 50 small business ideas that teens can start.

More Sources of Business Ideas for Kids

If the special young business person in your life has read all the business books on this list or is looking for additional resources, we have more suggestions.  After all, there’s more advice available than the kind found in books.  Check out the following free resources for budding entrepreneurs and anyone looking for business ideas for kids:

• Kidpreneur Magazine — This digital magazine for young entrepreneurs features articles with advice and guidance for children and high school students — and their parents. From preparing children for entrepreneurship to encouraging their ideas, parents and kids will find practical help and inspiration in Kidpreneur Magazine.
• Business Ideas for Teens – Ready to jump right into starting a business? Or, perhaps you want to research business startup concepts along with reading a good business book or two. Business Ideas for Teens offers plenty of ideas so that high school students can easily start a business at home. The suggestions don’t require much money, and none are very complex.
• Book Apps for Kids – Plenty of kids in 2023 prefer to consume content electrically via their tablets, smartphones and computers, as opposed to physical books. Fortunately, they can take advantage of any of the best book apps for kids of any age range, available for Apple, Android, Microsoft and other devices. Some apps, such as Epic, feature thousands of titles written for young readers, including business books for kids in digital form.
• National Lemonade Day – Did you know there’s a holiday just for encouraging young entrepreneurs?  National Lemonade Day occurs annually on the first Sunday of May. The event is a great way to show community support while showing children the value of entrepreneurship.
• Startup Savings Tools – Any young person will be more committed to success if he or she has skin in the game.  Teach young people how to forgo spending their allowance on discretionary items, and instead save it up to start a business.  See our savings calculator to get started.

What is the best business book for younger kids?

The best business book for younger kids largely depends on your objective for introducing the book. If you are in search of a business-related storybook for younger children, then you might choose a title like the Berenstain Bears’ Dollars and Sense. However, if you want your child to read a business book that serves as a guide to starting a business, then an informational text like Kid Startup could be a perfect choice.

What is the best business book for teens?

Ask a dozen teens what is the best business book for them, and you might get 12 different answers. That’s because the best business book for a teenage reader depends entirely on the young adult’s tastes and goals.

Those looking for a collection of big ideas for businesses definitely should check out Become the Youngest Businessperson in Town. However, if the teen reader wants to become educated on entrepreneurship, they won’t want to miss reading Teen Entrepreneurship.

What are the best entrepreneur books for kids?

There are plenty of great books to inspire kids interested in entrepreneurship, as well as for parents who want to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit in their children’s minds. When I’m an Entrepreneur teaches young readers how to dream and strive toward a business career. Likewise, What Do You Do With an Idea? uses storytelling to illustrate how great ideas can become a successful business.

How can you get kids excited about their own business?

Kids start developing lifelong passions at an early age. While the ways to get kids excited about starting their own businesses are practically limitless, business books written especially for kids of any age range – in words that kids understand – have proven to be a highly effective strategy.

Whether kids are learning money ninja life hacks to enhance their financial literacy, they are understanding how to open a business bank account, or they are discovering why it’s important to retain customers, there is a children’s book available to present the concepts.

Conclusion

Books that teach kids about business offer invaluable benefits to young minds. They serve as powerful tools to improve financial literacy, impart essential business principles, and inspire creativity and innovation. By exploring the world of entrepreneurship through storytelling and practical advice, these books not only teach children about money and business but also instill valuable life skills such as hard work, determination, and the freedom to dream. As parents and educators, introducing kids to these business books early on can plant the seeds of curiosity and ambition, empowering them to become the confident and capable entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

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