I saved my babysitting money for years and used it to start a clothing company. Last year, we did more than $1 million in sales.

"With my idea in hand and research done, it was time to draw on that babysitting money. I used $25,000 to register my business and launch the first line of Pleat Collection in 2021. I was 28 by then, but the money I had saved as a teen allowed the company to be profitable from the start. I was - and still am - incredibly proud of that."

"That's what I aim to give girls with Pleat. Tweens are still discovering their identity, and experimenting with clothing and style is one of the easiest ways for them to do that. When a girl slips on one of my outfits and does a little toe pop, I smile ear to ear. She might not know why this outfit makes her feel great, but she knows that it does."

"Thanks to the solid start from my babysitting money, Pleat has remained profitable since it began. I've kept total control of the company, along with my husband. That means the success of the company has been a major financial blessing. Last year, we did $1.1 million in sales; this year, we're tracking to increase that by 30%. I'm still very frugal and conservative with how I spend."

Sara Fowler used $25,000 saved from babysitting to register Pleat Collection and launch its first line in 2021, enabling immediate profitability. The brand makes clothing for tween girls to help them experiment with identity and feel confident. Fowler and her husband maintain full control and fulfill orders themselves, achieving $1.1 million in sales last year and projecting a 30% increase this year. She remains frugal, plans to hire help as needed, occasionally invests in higher-quality garments for herself, and values the opportunity for her son to observe her work ethic.

Read at Business Insider