As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm in a very similar situation with my 17-year-old who wants to work at our local Target. Reading through everyone's real experiences - from the parent whose son earned $6,800 with no FAFSA impact to the one whose daughter learned valuable budgeting skills - has really eased my concerns. The consistent message about the $7,600 income protection allowance and the emphasis on work experience benefits over minimal aid impact makes so much sense. I especially appreciate hearing from the financial aid counselor and all the parents who've actually been through this process. It's clear that the life skills, responsibility, and resume-building aspects of part-time work far outweigh any small reduction in aid eligibility. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - you've helped this worried parent make a much more informed decision!

As someone new to this community and navigating FAFSA for the first time, this entire discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I was in the exact same boat - my 17-year-old wants to work at a local retail store and I was terrified it would hurt his financial aid chances. Reading through all these real experiences has been so reassuring. The consistent message about the $7,600 income protection allowance, combined with actual examples like the student who earned $6,800 with zero FAFSA impact, really puts things in perspective. What struck me most was how many parents emphasized the non-financial benefits - time management, customer service skills, financial literacy, and how work experience actually helped kids get campus jobs and even merit scholarships. It's clear the personal development and resume-building aspects far outweigh any minimal aid reduction. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise - you've turned an anxious parent into a confident advocate for teen employment! My son is definitely getting that job.

Good luck with your daughter's applications! And thanks for sharing what you found - helps the rest of us too! 👍

As someone who just went through this process with my twins (yes, double the FAFSA fun!), I can confirm what others have said - you absolutely need to report ALL parent-owned 529 accounts regardless of beneficiary. I initially made the same mistake and only reported the accounts for each respective child, but had to go back and correct both applications. The key thing that helped me understand this: the FAFSA views ALL parent assets as potentially available to support ANY of your children's education costs. So even though you mentally earmark specific 529s for specific kids, legally the parent owns all of them and could theoretically use any of the funds for any child's education. One tip that saved me time: if you're unsure about ANY aspect of asset reporting, it's worth getting it right the first time rather than dealing with verification later. The verification process can seriously delay aid disbursement, and colleges won't hold your spot in line while you sort things out.

As a newcomer to this community and fellow LLC owner, I'm so grateful to have found this discussion! I've been struggling with the exact same FAFSA confusion for weeks. Like many others here, I was completely overwhelmed thinking the form was designed only for traditional employees. This thread has been incredibly enlightening - especially learning about the Schedule C line 31 requirement (not gross revenue!) and the $175,000 business asset protection under the FAFSA Simplification Act. I had no idea these provisions existed! The systematic approach everyone has outlined (organize documents → review StudentAid.gov business owner guide → create spreadsheet → complete form methodically) makes this feel actually manageable instead of impossible. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and turning what felt like an insurmountable challenge into something I can confidently tackle!

As a newcomer to this community and another LLC owner dealing with FAFSA challenges, this entire discussion has been a lifesaver! I've been avoiding my application for months because I couldn't figure out how to properly report my consulting business income. Like so many others here, I was convinced the system was designed only for W-2 employees and that business owners were somehow penalized. The insights shared here have been incredible - especially the Schedule C line 31 detail (I was definitely heading toward reporting gross revenue!), the $175,000 business asset protection under the FAFSA Simplification Act, and all the specific resources like the StudentAid.gov business owner guide. I had no idea any of these existed! What really gives me confidence is seeing how many of you have successfully navigated this process using the systematic approach outlined here: organize tax documents first, review the official guides, create a comprehensive spreadsheet, then tackle the form methodically. The fact that multiple people have mentioned this works really well is so reassuring. I'm particularly grateful for the cautionary tales about common mistakes - that tip about using net profit instead of gross revenue alone probably saved me from a verification nightmare! As someone who was ready to assume we wouldn't qualify for any aid, this community has completely changed my perspective. Thank you all for proving that with proper preparation and the right information, this process is definitely manageable for small business owners!

This thread is such a lifesaver! I've been pulling my hair out over this exact issue for the past two days. The FAFSA interface is so confusing - it's like they designed it to be as unclear as possible. I'm a first-generation college student and my parents have never dealt with this before, so we had no idea what to do when the system kept asking for tax info we don't have. Reading through everyone's solutions here gives me hope that I can actually get this done. Going to try the "Will not file" option with my W-2 info tonight. Fingers crossed!

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize something important that hasn't been mentioned yet: make sure you're consistent with whatever option you choose! If you select "Will not file," don't accidentally submit a tax return later without updating your FAFSA. This can trigger verification issues. Also, keep copies of all the W-2s and income documents you use for your estimates - you'll likely need them if your school selects you for verification. The key is being accurate with whatever information you do have, even if you don't have a completed tax return.

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your daughter's college participates in Florida's Bright Futures scholarship program! If she qualifies, that combined with Florida Prepaid can really maximize your savings. We found that having the prepaid plan actually made us more strategic about applying for other aid since we knew tuition was covered. Also, make sure to submit your FAFSA before any state deadlines - Florida has some state grant programs that require early submission and having prepaid doesn't disqualify you from those either!

As a newcomer here, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with my son who will be starting college next year and we also have Florida Prepaid. Reading through all these responses really put my mind at ease about still being able to apply for FAFSA. I had no idea about the SAI calculation only using 5.64% of parent assets - that's way less impact than I was worried about. Also really appreciate the tips about Bright Futures and state deadlines. Definitely going to look into that scholarship program and make sure we submit everything early. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!