Can a small business have their own minimum working age?

I want to have a summer job and I'm 14. In Pennsylvania, that is the minimum age to work. I live in a small town and many people own their own businesses. I was thinking of working at maybe the pet store, a small diner, or clothing store. Those are family owned stores. Could they have their own minimum age requirement? Maybe their own minimum is 16, rather than the state being 14.

As long as their minimum age is not LESS than the state or federal age, then they can have a different age.

In your example of a company having a minimum age requirement of 16 while the state has a minimum of 14, is correct.

However, if the company wanted a minimum or 12 or 13, then they would be in violation. With one exception. Family members in a family owned business are NOT subject to the minimum age requirement. So, if a restaurant owner wanted to have his 12 year old son to wash the dishes, he could. But he would NOT be allowed to hire his son's friend.