How do you get your kids involved in running your home service business?

I have really young kids and I've been integrating them into aspects of my home business. I'm a professional organizer and I deal with donations regularly. My kids come with me on donation runs, visits to the storage unit for supplies, and other distribution drop offs. I talk regularly about my work at home so the kids are familiar with what I do when they are in care. This may not be the answer you were looking for but I think the earlier we expose our children to our work lives, the more informed they will be about "how the world works". 

Long term, I cannot say if my business is a traditional "family" business... but the ethos of my business is about community care, which is a family value I'm espousing to my kids. There will be other opportunities to involve them as they get older and/if they show interest in the business and the work. 

Even if they don't join the family business long term, exposure to entrepreneurship can be valuable. Learning problem-solving, and accountability at a young age is a great foundation.

“With some of our long-standing homeowners, we’ve been able to bring our kids along on smaller jobs. Our daughter even takes notes on what to do—and what not to do—based on what she hears from us. Kids absorb more than we realize, and simply being present in those moments gives them a meaningful understanding of the business.

I work high school kids during the year and the summer 

First question should be - do the kids even want to be involved in the family business? A lot of wives/partners/significant others and yes, kids - get dragged into business they don't really want to be in. Not sure if I'm reading this wrong, but the comment around "get them to step up" sounds like they don't want to - or they would have already done it, right?

Family is difficult, and when you add business to the mix it only multiplies the issues. Clarity is key - the same as any employee. You need to clearly define roles and responsibility, and be clear on what happens if they no longer want to be involved. 

What help do you need as far as decision making within the business? Ultimately there's only one CEO, and they're responsible for final decisions. Maybe there's confusion around who has that role right now? Or there's a lack of ability? If that's the case, are the kids the best ones to help? Or is good business coaching needed to help bring clarity and a clear roadmap to the future of the business? 

What's the age? Do they currently work with you? What are their roles?

I see a lot of family businesses in this group. The owners who do it right don’t just put their kids to work — they get them thinking like owners. Best advice I’ve heard is let them run a couple small jobs from start to finish. Quote it, schedule it, handle the customer, keep the profit. When the money’s theirs and they feel the pressure, they suddenly start caring about pricing, quality, and decisions. Way more effective than just telling them what to do.

I think it depends on their age and if they're literally involving themselves in the business. No matter their age, finances definitely are not to be disclosed to them ever. And this area of expertise, you want to really learn from Grant cardone and his wife. Their girls work their business and they are phenomenal.