For a business you own , the age can be much younger than most people think, but the exact legal minimum depends on the job type, your location, and whether the business is solely owned by a parent or guardian. In the U.S., the SBA says children under 16 can work any time of day and any number of hours in a business solely owned by their parents, and wages for children under 18 may be exempt from FICA taxes and under 21 from FUTA taxes.

Practical age guide

  • Under 14: Usually best for very light, supervised tasks in a parent-owned business, if local child labor rules allow it.
  • 14–15: Often the most common age for formal part-time help in family businesses, especially for simple, non-hazardous work.
  • 16–17: Can usually do more regular work, with fewer restrictions than younger teens, though some jobs are still off-limits.
  • 18+: Treated as an adult employee for most labor-law purposes.

What matters most

The key issue is not just age, but the kind of work. Rules are stricter for hazardous tasks, late-night shifts, heavy equipment, driving, and anything involving safety risks. State or local child labor laws can also be stricter than federal rules, so the safest answer is: start with simple, low-risk work and verify the rules where your business operates.

Good first jobs for kids

Examples of age-appropriate work in a family business include:

  • Folding, sorting, and organizing.
  • Cleaning non-hazardous areas.
  • Simple office help like shredding or filing.
  • Packing orders or labeling items.
  • Basic social media or tech help, if supervised.

A sensible rule of thumb

If the work would be safe, short, and easy to supervise, many family businesses start with teens around 14 or 15. For anything more than occasional help, it is smart to make sure the job is real, documented, and compliant with payroll and labor rules.

Bottom line

There is no single universal age, but in a parent-owned business, kids can sometimes work legally before 16, and 14–15 is a common practical starting point for simple jobs. The right age depends on the task, the hours, and your local rules.

TL;DR

A kid can sometimes be hired quite young in a family business, but 14–15 is a common starting range for safe, simple work; under 16 has special rules, and local labor laws may be stricter.