A starter for a small-sized engine, capable of reliably starting the engine by a rope reel and stably supporting a drive cam (7). The starter has, received in a starter case, a cylindrical drive cam having a starter clutch mechanism, the rope reel (1) for a recoil starter, and a starter motor, where the drive cam (7) can be selectively operably connected to the rope reel (1) or a starter motor (3). The rope reel (1) is directly operably connected to the drive cam (7) through a one-way clutch mechanism. Support plates (6a, 6b) are formed projected from the inner surface of the starter case (4) toward the outer peripheral surface of the drive cam (7). Opposite ends of the drive cam (7) are rotatably supportedly fitted into bearing holes (8) formed in the support plates (6a, 6b).