Side Hustles for Teens

Teens enjoy having the chance to earn money and what better way to do it than to have their own business? There are several possible side hustles for teens that can help them make good money, learn the value of a dollar and do some good with their free time.

Age does play a role in how much extra cash a teen can make and of course, it should not come at the expense of schoolwork or take up all of their social time. Letting a teen make money in their own hours but also teaching them about work/life balance from the start is very important. Side hustles can be fun though if you find the right one.

What are side hustles?

Side hustles are ways to earn money on the side. For an adult, these are usually side jobs that bring in extra cash above their full-time job. For teens, side hustles are usually done in addition to school which should technically be considered full-time work for them.

There are several types of side hustles for teens including:

Working at their own business
Working at local businesses
Working at local fast-food restaurants
Delivering food or delivering groceries

What jobs can you get at 13?

Local and state laws for working teens vary by location. Some businesses are also reluctant to hire teenagers for some positions. There are some jobs that you can get as a very young teen:

Babysitting.
Dog walking on your own or with a dog walking service
Some part-time jobs will hire young teens within reason but the hours and duties may be limited

It never hurts to ask what the hiring policy is and many places, including in the fast-food industry are changing the restrictions.

10 Side Hustles for Teens

If you don’t want to flip burgers and can’t work delivering groceries in your area, there are still ways of making money that you can try.

#1. Taking Online Surveys

Most survey sites want participants 18 or older. But there are some paid surveys for teens you can take on teen-friendly survey sites.

Swagbucks allows you to sign up at 13. It is free and easy to join and there are several ways to make money including surveys, searching the web, playing games, and more

Inbox Dollars requires you to be 13 to sign up. The site offers plenty of other earning activities too.
Survey Junkies allows teens to sign up at 16
MyPoints allows teens as young as 13 to sign up for an account
Lifepoints allows teens to sign up at 14 but may have additional age requirements to become a product tester

#2. Playing Video Games

Several sites let you earn money online while playing games, adding savings to a connected account, or just checking in once a day.

Swagbucks has a number of ways for teens to earn money playing games. This includes installing new game apps and playing them. There are many cash payouts where you can earn $30 to $100, or more, just by reaching a certain level in so many days.
Verydice is available for Android devices. Roll dice or spin a wheel and earn points, additional free spins, and prizes.
Long Game Rewards Set financial savings goals, play games to earn coins, earn additional coins as you hit your goals.
Twitch. Some Twitch streamers make thousands of dollars.

#3. Writing and Blogging

Freelance writing can be a great way to not only share your thoughts and voice on important topics but to make more money while you are doing it.

Fiverr allows you to sign up for an account at 13
Most of the other freelance writing business websites require that you be 18 or older
Anyone can create a blog on their own website. Some schools even teach courses on how to do this.
After creating a website, a teen can monetize it with affiliate links. There are some companies that have age requirements while others do not.

#4. Yard Work

Ah, the age-old, tried and true part-time job of the average teen: yard work. If you are old enough to push a mower, you are usually old enough to use it to earn money.

Start with neighbors and always let your parents know where you will be
Research the average rate for yard care in your neighborhood and then set your prices. Some people may try to lowball you because you are a teen. Remember, you are a business person and act accordingly
Using your own equipment may be a hassle but will usually let you charge slightly higher rates

#5. Party Character

Love kids? Love store-bought character cakes and an afternoon full of sticky people and whistles? Here’s a way to put that all to good use and get some extra money.

Use costumes and make-up that you have or head to a thrift store and make a small investment in your new business.
Advertise at places where parents with young children will be.
Include your price per hour and the services you will perform. Face painting, balloon art, and activities should be given their own rates.
Warning: do not market yourself as licensed characters because it could cause a legal problem. You can still be a generic superhero, princess, or mermaid.

#6. Pet Sitting/Dog Walking/Pet Care

Are you a teen that loves pets? People will pay good money to know that a fellow animal lover is providing care for their Fluffy or Fido when they are at work or when they are unable to do it for themselves.

Most of the registered businesses require you to be 18. You can do these tasks on your own though
Make sure that you are actually capable of walking the dogs and know the requirements and etiquette including scooping.
Pet sitting may require a few hours every day, depending on the pet and what the owner is requesting

#7. Sell Stuff You Already Own

A quick way to make extra cash is to sell things you do not need any longer such as clothes, electronics, bikes, and other sports gear.

Some online sites will require you to be 16 or older to sell items.
Your parents may have to help you sell items at consignment shops or at resale shops like Play it Again, Sports.
You can have a yard sale in your own front yard. Get other teens to sell their stuff to draw in bigger crowds.
Facebook is an easy place to start where you’ve got a huge audience. Sell items in BST or in the marketplace.

#8. Tutoring Services

Again, most of the services require you to be age 18 or older. As a younger teen, you can advertise locally and tutor in the subject you are best at.

Students may find it easier to relate to someone from their own peer group
You can teach any subject as long as you actually know what you are talking about and can find a way to break it down to the person you are tutoring
You can give music lessons if you are a musician

#9. General and Odd Jobs Helping Older People

There are a lot of odd jobs that older people may need to be done around their homes. The problem is that most businesses and adult handy people may charge far too much.

You can help set up computers, TVs, phones, and other devices
You can help an older person shop online, set up delivery of groceries, personal needs, and medications
You can help older pet owners take better care of their pets
You can create and guide an older person to a social media presence so that they can socialize more
You can just sit and listen to people who are maybe bored and lonely and just need a friend

#10. Investing

Saving for your future is as simple as opening a bank account and adding a few dollars to it. You’ll need to get a parent or guardian of legal age to help you get started – they may need to co-sign or be the official account owner. Get started buying stocks and shares in companies you care about, or learning about cryptocurrency.

Most companies require the use of a custodial account until the age of 18 or 21.
Fidelity does offer the Fidelity Youth account which helps kids learn about saving while also helping them to grow their account.
Robinhood allows a custodial account that can be opened with as little as $5

How can a teenager make $1000?

A teen can make pretty decent money by working a part-time job when they are legally old enough to do so or they can combine a few of the side hustles to fit their own hours to reach their goals.

Some teens make thousands of dollars from creating Youtube videos in their homes
Set aside an hour or so to work on a side hustle, take a break, and then work a bit more.
Selling a big-ticket item is the fastest way to make money but unfortunately for most teens, that is a one-and-done kind of deal.

Do teenagers have to file taxes?

Oh, the joys of earning money can also mean the pain of filing taxes. Sorry kids, the answer to this one is yes and no.

If you are making more than $12,000 per year, you are required to file a tax return
Even if you are not making this much, you might want to consider filing because you could get a refund if you worked a job that had taxes withheld from your checks

Can a minor file taxes even if their parents claim them as dependents?

Yes, a minor can file their own taxes. Regardless of the money they are making, a minor is still legally a dependent and can be claimed on the parent’s tax return.

The Bottom Line on Side Hustles for Teens

Most teens that are interested in earning money can find work in their neighborhood or at businesses nearby. There are state and federal laws for what jobs a teen can work, how many hours they can work per day, and the types of tasks they are allowed to perform on the job.

Side hustles are far more flexible and can be anything from pet sitting to working on your own Youtube channel. Teens can be a social media influencer because other young people want to hear from others in their age group.

There is no limit to what you can achieve in your spare time and you can build a real business making real money.