Shutterstock.com (cookies, background, border); Courtesy of The Yummy Brothers (The Yummy Brothers)

We're the Boss!

This cookie company is run entirely by kids.

January 4, 2021

By Karen Kellaher

As You Read: Underline two tips the brothers have for kids who want to start a business.

Flour? Check. Butter? Check.

It’s a Friday evening, and the Billingslea brothers of Atlanta, Georgia, are getting ready to bake. But they aren’t just making themselves a snack. They’re whipping up hundreds of cookies for customers all over the country.

The Billingsleas—Joshua, Isaiah, Caleb, and Micah—are all under age 13. They’re also successful business owners. Three years ago, they started a cookie company called Yummy Brothers. Since then, they’ve learned a lot about being entrepreneurs. And now they’re working to share what they know with other kids.

Flour? Check. Butter? Check.

It’s a Friday night. The Billingslea brothers of Georgia are getting ready to bake. But they aren’t just making themselves a snack. They’re making hundreds of cookies for customers all over the country.

The brothers—Joshua, Isaiah, Caleb, and Micah—are all under age 13. They’re also successful business owners. Three years ago, they started a cookie company called Yummy Brothers. Since then, they’ve learned a lot about being entrepreneurs. Now they’re working to share what they know with other kids.

Family Recipe

For the brothers, baking began as a fun hobby. They often made cookies using old family recipes. When they brought the treats to parties, friends loved them.

“People would always ask for more,” says Joshua, 12.

In 2017, the boys asked their parents to help them start a cookie company. Together, the brothers made a business plan. They also chose jobs for themselves. Joshua, the oldest, would be the head chef. Isaiah, now 10, wanted to do the advertising. Caleb, now 9, said he’d keep the kitchen safe and clean. Micah, now 7, volunteered to be the official taste tester.

Baking began as a hobby for the brothers. They often made cookies using old family recipes. Friends loved the treats.

“People would always ask for more,” says Joshua, 12.

The boys asked their parents to help them start a company. They made a business plan. They also chose jobs. Joshua, the oldest, would be the head chef. Isaiah would do the advertising. Caleb would keep the kitchen safe and clean. Micah would be the taste tester.

Sweet Success

Today, after years of hard work, there’s high demand for the boys’ cookies. Some customers are local. Others order the treats online from around the U.S. To keep up the supply, the brothers rent a kitchen. They bake most evenings and weekends.

The boys hope business will keep growing. They have another mission too. They use some of their profits to run a program for kids. In it, they teach kids the ins and outs of running a business.

After years of hard work, there’s now high demand for the cookies. Some customers are local. Others order the treats from around the U.S. To keep up the supply, the brothers rent a kitchen. They bake most nights and weekends.

The boys hope their business will keep growing. They have another mission too. They use some of their profits to run a program for kids. In it, they teach kids how to run a business.

Boss Advice

One tip the boys share is to do something you love. “If you don’t have a passion for your business, it will be hard to make it work,” says Isaiah.

The brothers also tell kids to find creative solutions. Once, they forgot to add sugar. The cookies reminded them of dog treats. That experience inspired the boys to make and sell dog biscuits!

“There’s a lot of stuff that goes into a business,” says Isaiah. “It’s important not to give up easily.”

One tip the boys share is to do something you love. If you don’t have a passion for your business, it will be hard to make it work, says Isaiah, 10.

The brothers also tell kids to be creative. Once, they forgot to add sugar. The cookies reminded them of dog treats. That experience inspired the boys to make and sell dog biscuits!

“There’s a lot of stuff that goes into a business,” says Isaiah. “It’s important not to give up easily.”

More Kids at Work

Giving Back

Courtesy of Family

Brooklyn Linstroth, a fifth-grader in Georgia, makes and sells lip balms and other products. She donated 400 lip balms to workers at a hospital. “Nurses’ lips get dry behind masks all day,” Brooklyn says. “I wanted to help everyone working to keep us safe.”

Getting Slimed!

Courtesy of Family

Jazmin Velasquez loves playing with slime. About two years ago, the New Jersey fifth-grader turned her interest into a business. She started Slime by Jazmin, a company that sells slime in many colors— and smells. Jazmin also hosts slime birthday parties.

Painting for a Cause

Courtesy of Family

Liam Grunke of North Carolina has an eye disorder that makes him nearly blind. But the third-grader can see colors, and he enjoys painting. Liam sells his art to raise money to help kids with the same disorder he has.