---
title: "Having a business idea"
description: "Finding business ideas by noticing everyday problems and asking people what they want; inventing something new, improving an existing product or offering a service"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/having-a-business-idea-mt_RTwmvr9R7V
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/having-a-business-idea-mt_RTwmvr9R7V.md
retrieved: 2026-11-12
---

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# Having a business idea

Finding business ideas by noticing everyday problems and asking people what they want; inventing something new, improving an existing product or offering a service

Subject: Life Skills · Area: Entrepreneurship · Ages 7 to 9
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/having-a-business-idea-mt_RTwmvr9R7V

## Ready when they can

- Identify an everyday problem and explain how a product or service idea could help
- Explain how an invention can also be an innovation, and identify a useful improvement to an existing product
- Describe where one real entrepreneur got their business idea from

## Lesson: Where do business ideas come from?

You have learned about making products and thinking about customers. A business idea describes something you could sell or work you could do for people. That work is a service. You can notice a problem or ask what people want. You can also offer a product that already exists.

**Example.** Chester Greenwood got cold ears while ice skating. He worked on ear protectors and later sold them. His story connects a problem with a product people could buy. A business can grow from making something useful.

*(drawing: This example connects a problem, work on a product and selling it.)*

Inventing means creating a new tool or a new way to do something. Innovation means putting a useful new idea into use. It can involve an invention or an improvement to something that already exists. An invention can also become an innovation.

**Example.** A suitcase is hard to carry. Adding wheels lets someone roll it. The suitcase already existed, so this is an improvement to a product. Putting that useful change into use is an innovation.

Match an idea to a problem. If a book's pages keep closing while someone reads, a stand with clips could hold them open. The clips address closing pages; a new cover color would not. Ask people who have the problem what would help. With adult permission and help, try one version and listen to feedback before making many.

**Recap.** Notice a problem and ask what people want. A business idea can offer an invention, an improved or existing product, or a service.

*Lesson, questions and flashcards written for this dataset.*

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Making something to sell](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/making-something-to-sell-mt_CrGnpVjnk8)
- [Who Is a Customer?](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/who-is-a-customer-mt_vpMDMbx4pc)

## Opens up

- [Learning from Failure](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/learning-from-failure-mt_dknMcCqvoY)
- [Marketing Basics](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/marketing-basics-mt_M2Gou3O6qT)
- [Making a Simple Plan](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/making-a-simple-plan-mt_phpn6KhCAv)
- [Social Enterprise](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/social-enterprise-mt_QepALf3bin)
- [Real entrepreneurs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/life-skills/real-entrepreneurs-mt_rxJ2O_9Lkr)