Are you a teenager looking for a way to earn some extra cash? Maybe you want to save up for that dream vacation, snag some concert tickets, or just have a little extra spending money. Whatever the reason, a side hustle could be just the ticket.
We will explore some of the coolest and most lucrative teenage side hustles out there. So if you’re ready to get started on your path to financial freedom, buckle up and let’s dive in.
Taking Online Surveys
One way for teens to save up for the concert they’ve always wanted to attend is by taking surveys online. Some companies pay volunteers to provide feedback on projects or services, and there are several websites that offer paid survey opportunities for teenagers.
Popular options include Survey Junkie, FreeCash, and Swagbucks, which allow teens as young as 13 to participate. Surveys can be completed during downtime, while watching a Netflix series, or simply lounging around.
Selling Your Craft on Etsy
For creative teens with a knack for crafting, setting up a shop on Etsy can be a great way to earn some extra money. Etsy allows minors to sell on their platform as long as they follow the guidelines.
Whether it’s handmade jewelry, bath bombs, printable graphics, or made-to-order candles, as long as you are skilled and passionate about your craft, you can sell it on Etsy. The first step is to perfect your product, ensuring that it’s high-quality and unique. After that, you can list your products on Etsy and start promoting them.
Tutoring Younger Children
If you are a straight-A student and want to put your academic skills to use, tutoring younger children can be a great side hustle. You can earn anywhere from $12 to $17 an hour by offering your services as a tutor, whether in person or online. Platforms like PalFish and Cambly allow teenagers to sign up as tutors and offer their services to students in need.
You can also create and sell a course on websites like Udemy to share your expertise with a wider audience. To become a successful tutor, it’s important to have a strong area of expertise, whether it’s in science, programming, or teaching spoken English.
Starting a Flipping Business
Flipping is a side hustle option that is often overlooked but can be incredibly profitable. It involves buying items at a low price and reselling them at a higher price to make a profit. The possibilities for flipping are endless, including furniture, clothes, websites, domain names, and even shoes.
To be successful, it’s important to identify your niche and source products accordingly. For example, if your niche is furniture, you can search for deals at garage sales, Goodwill centers, and auctions. Once you have your products, you can promote them through your own website or online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or eBay.
Babysitting
Babysitting is a classic side hustle that can provide a steady source of income for teenagers. There is always a demand for reliable and trustworthy babysitters, and the amount you can earn depends on the number of hours and children you need to look after. You can access local opportunities through websites like Care.com, Bambino, or UrbanSitter.
Additionally, you can hand out flyers in your neighborhood and expect calls from parents eager to have a break. Premium days like New Year’s Eve or Fridays can fetch you up to $15 an hour. Babysitting is a great option for teens who enjoy working with children and want to earn some extra cash.
Starting a YouTube Channel
Becoming a teen YouTube star can be a fun and potentially lucrative side hustle. While it may take some time before you start seeing revenue from ads, affiliate links, or brand sponsorships, the investment can be worth it.
On average, expect to earn between $3 to $5 per 1,000 ad views, although this varies depending on your channel’s niche and audience. To start, choose a topic that allows you to share your unique voice and content. Producing high-quality videos and optimizing tags and names is also crucial, as YouTube is essentially a search engine.
Helping Older Generation With Technology
Becoming a specialist tech consultant can be a great side hustle for teens who are comfortable with technology. With the lightning-fast evolution of technology, many people struggle to keep up and may need assistance with software, Alexa, Siri, routers, and networks.
As a tech consultant, you can set an hourly rate and offer your services to older adults in your community through your grandparents, their friends, or local retirement homes. According to SwiftSalary.com, some people have earned $50 to $100 just by helping Boomers update their software.
Waiting in Line
Are you good at waiting in line? Why not turn it into a side hustle? You can actually make money just by waiting in line for people. There is a growing demand for line-waiting services, especially during busy times like Black Friday sales, new iPhone launches, DMV appointments, and other events.
Websites like TaskRabbit, GigWalk, InLine4You (all sites require you to be 18+) or Craigslist can help you find line-waiting opportunities. You can earn anywhere from $50 to $80 an hour, depending on the event. It may sound too good to be true, but this can be a great side hustle for those who don’t mind standing in line for a few hours.
Managing Social Media
If you have a good grasp of social media and are aware of the latest trends, you can use your knowledge to manage social accounts for small businesses. As a social media manager, you will create campaigns and graphics to generate interest in the client’s products or services.
Staying on top of different platform policies and algorithms is essential in this field. You can connect with businesses through LinkedIn or your local Chamber of Commerce. Typically, teens earn between $8 to $12 per hour as social media managers.
Cleaning Houses
Cleaning services may not sound glamorous, but it can be a lucrative and practical side hustle for teenagers. It’s a low-cost business that only requires cleaning supplies and transportation. The flexibility of this side hustle allows teens to work around their schedule, making it an ideal choice for those balancing school and extracurricular activities.
Purchasing cleaning supplies in bulk can help save on startup costs. With a little bit of marketing and word-of-mouth, providing cleaning services can lead to a steady stream of income for teens.
Refereeing Sports Games
If you’re a sports enthusiast with a good understanding of the game rules, refereeing could be an excellent side hustle for you. Referees typically earn $20 to $30 for a 90-minute game, which can quickly add up over a weekend or evening. As you gain experience, you can work your way up to high school officiating and earn even more.
You may need to take a course before your first game, but once you’re certified, you can choose games that fit your schedule. Contact local leagues and coaches to explore your refereeing opportunities.
Testing Websites
If you spend a lot of time online, you can turn your browsing habit into a side hustle by providing feedback to companies on how they can improve their websites. This side hustle requires no previous experience, and you can earn up to $20 to $30 per week as a beginner. All you need to do is sign up on websites such as Userlytics, TryMyUI, or EnrollApp to get started.
As a tester, you’ll be asked to navigate through a company’s website and provide feedback on things like user-friendliness, ease of use, and any glitches you encounter. This feedback helps companies improve their online presence and can earn you extra cash in the process.
Offering Pet Care Services
If you have a love for animals, then pet sitting or dog walking is a fantastic side hustle option. You can earn between $11 to $15 per hour just by taking care of pets while their owners are away. This business can easily fit around your studies and schedule. Start by publicizing your services in the community, such as knocking on neighbors’ doors or putting up fliers.
Once you have a few satisfied clients, expect your hustle to grow through word-of-mouth. To gain more opportunities, create a profile on pet sitting or dog walking websites like PetSitter (ages 13+) or Rover (ages 18+).
Writing a Teen Blog
Blogging is an excellent side hustle option that’s easy to start for teens. Choose a topic that you’re passionate about, and you believe others will enjoy reading too. Whether it’s a blog on teen fashion, entrepreneurship or any other topic, the key to success is consistently producing high-quality content.
Once your blog starts to attract regular subscribers, you can start monetizing it through affiliate links and ads. This way, you can make money while doing something you love and building your online presence at the same time.
Providing Lawn Care Service
If you’re a teenager looking for a simple yet profitable way to earn money, lawn care may be the perfect side hustle for you. During the summer months, many homeowners need help with maintaining their lawns and gardens. With just a few standard tools like a lawnmower, trimmer, and grass blower, you can offer your services to your neighbors and earn up to $50 to $70 for a job that takes less than 30 minutes.
Plus, you can always borrow these tools from your parents if they have them. This side hustle requires physical effort, but it is a great way to make some extra cash while enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.
Becoming a Freelance Writer
If you have a talent for writing, you can turn it into a lucrative side hustle. With freelance marketplaces like Fiverr and UpWork, you can showcase your writing skills and secure gigs from clients all over the world. You can also find work through word-of-mouth, perhaps by offering to write for local businesses or individuals who need help with content creation.
Your parents can be a great resource for reviewing your profile, writing samples and contracts to help you put your best foot forward. Whether you’re writing blog posts, social media content or technical documents, writing can be a flexible and profitable way to earn money as a teen.
Doing Food and Grocery Delivery
Looking for a flexible and profitable side hustle as an 18-year-old? Consider delivering food and groceries through apps like DoorDash, UberEats, and Instacart. These platforms offer an opportunity to earn money on your own schedule, making it an excellent choice for busy students. To get started, you’ll need to have access to transportation, either your own or one that you can borrow.
While earnings vary depending on your location and the level of demand, Instacart provides estimated earning information on their website. For example, a batch of grocery deliveries can earn you $5, while a full-service batch (shopping and delivery) pays between $7 to $10 per batch.
Starting a Print-on-Demand Store
If you’re a creative and artsy teen, starting a print-on-demand store could be an excellent way to earn some extra cash. You can design logos, artwork or illustrations that could be printed on a variety of products, such as T-shirts, mugs, or coasters. When someone orders one of your designs, the platform prints and ships the item, and you earn a percentage of the sale.
One of the benefits of this side hustle is that you don’t have to worry about shipping, inventory or overhead costs. You can start your print-on-demand store on platforms like Spring and Redbubble that allow teens under 18 to participate. Just make sure to create unique and high-quality designs that your target audience will love.
Painting Houses
If you’re a teen looking for a way to make some extra money, painting could be a great option. Many homeowners are willing to pay someone to take care of their interior painting needs, and you can take advantage of this by signing up for platforms like TaskRabbit or Nextdoor. With average earnings of $25 per hour, this can be a lucrative side hustle.
You’ll need to invest in paint supplies like brushes, rollers, and spray paint, which can be purchased for under $500. Once you have your supplies and some experience under your belt, you can advertise your services and start earning money by providing a convenient solution to homeowners’ painting needs.
Teaching Music
If you have musical talent and enjoy teaching, then you might consider starting a side hustle teaching music to younger kids. You can teach group classes or offer one-on-one sessions either online or in person. One of the best parts about this side hustle is that you can schedule classes around your studies and other commitments.
To promote your services, you can advertise on Craigslist, use your social media accounts to spread the word, or network with local music teachers to find students. With dedication and hard work, you can turn your passion for music into a profitable side hustle.
How You Can Start Your Teen Side Hustle?
Starting a teen side hustle can be a great way to earn some extra cash while still being able to focus on studies and other commitments. The first step in starting a teen side hustle is to identify your skills and interests. Consider what you are good at and what you enjoy doing, as this will make it easier to come up with ideas for your side hustle.
Some popular options for teen side hustles include dog walking, lawn mowing, blogging, writing, and delivering food or groceries. Once you have identified your skills and interests, it’s time to do some research. Look for platforms and websites that allow teens to offer their services and promote their side hustles.
There are many websites and apps available that cater specifically to teens, such as EnrollApp for user testing, Rover for pet sitting and walking, and Redbubble for print-on-demand stores. Networking can also be a great way to promote your side hustle.
Talk to family, friends, and neighbors to see if they need any of the services you offer, or if they know anyone who does. Use social media to promote your services and build your brand, and consider attending local events and meetings to meet potential clients.
It’s important to set realistic goals and manage your time effectively when starting a teen side hustle. Remember to prioritize your studies and other commitments, and don’t overcommit yourself to too many projects.
Is It Legally Fine for You to Start a Teen Side Hustle?
Starting a side hustle as a teen is legal, certain marketplaces and platforms like eBay and Fiverr require users to be above 18, but there is a workaround. You can have an adult relative create an account on your behalf and then manage the store or jobs yourself. However, contracts signed by teens may not be enforceable in court, so it’s recommended to have a trusted adult sign on your behalf.
Consulting a lawyer can help you navigate the nuances and make sure your side hustle is legally protected. It’s important to understand the legal implications of starting a side hustle as a teen to avoid any legal issues in the future.
Conclusion
Teenage side hustles are a great way to earn some extra cash, develop new skills, and gain valuable experience. Whether you’re an artsy type, a tech-savvy teen, or a lover of the great outdoors, there’s a side hustle out there that’s perfect for you. So why not give it a try and see where it takes you? The possibilities are endless.
