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Kids under 14 are generally too young for traditional jobs, but that doesn’t rule out entrepreneurialism. Finding ways to work for pay early on can establish good financial habits.
All it takes is an idea and the ambition to pursue it.
Ways to earn money as a younger kid
Young kids can start their mini businesses on the block.
1. Do chores and odd jobs
Children who are old enough to help out with household responsibilities and yard work can cash in on chores. Families can assign a dollar value to tasks like washing the dishes, vacuuming, folding laundry or pulling weeds.
Reading this as a kid? Ask for $1 to $5 per chore and see if your parents think you’re pushing it.
2. Babysit
Nothing exudes responsibility like being the go-to trustworthy sitter for busy parents in your neighborhood. Establish a good rapport with your neighbors and you can make a solid hourly rate for looking after kids younger than you. Charging $15 to $20 an hour isn’t out of the question.
Ask your parents to help you spread the word among family friends, make flyers or send an email to let prospective clients know you’re ready to work.
3. Walk dogs and feed pets for pay
Walking dogs and looking after pets when neighbors are gone is a way to make money fast as a kid.
The average rate on Rover for a 30-minute walk is $21.45. Use that rate to your advantage since Rover sitters must be 18+. Stick to your neighborhood and charge $10 to $15 per walk to undercut the online competition.
Let friends and neighbors know you’re interested and available, especially in the summer months.
4. Sell clothes and other stuff
Getting rid of unwanted clothes, books, toys, furniture and more can be another way to make money fast. For clothes, kids 13 and up can use popular resale site Depop. If you try it, you’ll need your parents to handle the Paypal part.
For other odds and ends, kids can organize a garage or yard sale, or sell items through apps and websites.
Ask a parent or guardian to put your stuff on Facebook Marketplace and run interference with interested customers. Kids 16 or older can sell things on OfferUp, a similar selling app, with parental supervision.
5. Sell your arts and crafts at sporting events
Crafty kids can also sell their art, jewelry, T-shirts and other creations in person or online. Have siblings that play sports? Bring your hand-crafted bracelets to their baseball game or the soccer clinic and set up a display table while they play.
Branch out to e-commerce with parental supervision. Children ages 13 to 17 may use a parent or legal guardian’s account (with their permission) to sell on Etsy.
6. Sell lemonade or hot cocoa
Don’t have any items to sell? Set up an old-fashioned lemonade stand (some states and cities require a permit, so check your area’s laws first) when it’s warm outside. Make your pitch to passersby. Mix the lemonade with a bubbly seltzer and add the option to your sign to really catch the attention of customers. Charge a little extra for the fizzy version.
When the weather turns colder, switch to hot cocoa.
7. Clean trash cans for money
This is a simple side hustle that’s gained traction in recent years, and it’s perfect for a kid. Ask if neighbors need their trash and recycle bins cleaned. Those things get pretty nasty.
Get started by knocking on doors in your neighborhood. Pitch how a clean trash can keep bugs and odors at bay, then wait for an answer. Tell them you’re really trying to get your business off the ground, too.
If you get a “yes,” get a hose, some soap and long-handled scrub brush. Ask to use the customer’s water spout and go to town. You can buy an electric power washer to make the work easier after you earn a little.
Try charging $10 to $15 per bin to start.
Ways to earn money as a teenager
Kids 13 and up have access to additional online platforms to monetize their skills, among other options.
8. Find local gigs through Nextdoor
Use social networking groups to find work in your community, if allowed. Teens 13 and older can go beyond word-of-mouth and offer services such as babysitting, dog walking or mowing lawns through the Nextdoor app in most states.
9. Freelance
Freelancing can help teenagers make money online and build their portfolios. It provides flexible hours, the potential to set your own rates and a market for just about any skill you can think of. Potential jobs include writing blog posts, designing logos, editing a podcast or creating a website.
Most freelancing marketplaces restrict eligibility to people 18 years old and over, but you’ll find some sites with younger age limits. Fiverr, for example, is open to users 13 and older.
10. Tutor your peers
If you excel in one or more school subjects, offer to tutor fellow students for a fee. Simply asking classmates or siblings to hire you is a good strategy to start. You can also post flyers in places like schools, libraries and coffee shops — just make sure to get approval first.
» More: Ways to make make money
11. Work as a youth sports referee
Here’s a good one for active teens 13 and up. There may be opportunities in your community to be a referee for youth recreational and/or club sports leagues. Both soccer and basketball come to mind as good options, depending on what’s available in your town. And that’s the first step: Click around local league websites to search for openings and confirm age requirements.
Typical earnings range from $25 to $50 per game for youth and amateur sports. You’ll have to complete some form of training before you get the gig, but it’s probably worth it. You need to be 13 years old to register, according to the United States Youth Soccer Association.
12. Search for regular jobs for kids
Child labor laws make a few employment exceptions for children under 16. Kids of any age can work for their parent’s business, for example, or take up certain agricultural and entertainment-industry work.
Of course, teenagers who meet the standard minimum age requirement have vastly more opportunities available to them. Grocery store, retail and restaurant industry jobs are popular options.
Check out online job boards, look for help wanted signs and ask about open positions at stores and businesses near you.
Ways kid creators can earn online
Creative kids with ambition (and a lot of patience) may be able to make viral social content and gain a following.
Making money with social media takes time, dedication and a lot of followers. Still, plenty of kids have earned recognition — and dollars — from dancing, reviewing toys, giving tutorials and creating other content on popular platforms.
14. Get paid to stream on Twitch
Enjoy playing or talking about video games? There’s an audience for that on Twitch. Kids who are at least 13 years old and have parental or guardian supervision can use Twitch. A wide audience won't come easy though.
Learn more about what it takes to make money on Twitch.
The bottom line
Earning money at an early age can foster responsibility, work ethic and financial literacy.
Talk to family, teachers, counselors and other trusted adults to help set priorities and ground rules. They can offer guidance, supervision (when needed) and even connections to paying gigs in some cases.
Check out online resources too. For example, you can learn more about young workers’ rights and job opportunities on the U.S. Department of Labor website.
Always check terms and conditions before using any online platform to make sure you meet the minimum age and other requirements.
The earlier you learn to budget your money ...
Kids who don’t have a lot of bills can learn to start budgeting. One popular kid budget is the 50/40/10. The 50% is for a big goal, like a new game console or bike. The 40% is for short-term spending, like on snacks and impulse buys. Keep the 10% for long-term saving or charitable giving.
» Save smart: Best savings accounts for kids
The earlier you begin to grow your money…
Once you’ve settled on a side gig, you’ll have earned income. That’s the main requirement for opening a custodial Roth IRA, a kid’s retirement account. It let's you make money on your money.
All investing comes with the risk of loss, but the longer you leave your money in the account, the more time you have to ride out any stock market volatility and let compound interest work its magic.
You can withdraw your contributions tax-free at any time, or leave the money where it is and use it for for educational expenses, to buy your first home or in retirement.
Take note: a common lament of most adults is, “I wish I started saving for retirement sooner.”
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