This post contains affiliate links. At Returns Rinse Repeat, we want out readers to be financially successful, so any reviews are honest and unbiased. Learn more here.
It can be hard to think of ways to make money as a teen, but there are many money-making options that you can start using today. Read through the below list of 25 ways to earn money as a teen and pick the ones that works best for you.
For more info: 14 Passive Income Ideas for College Students
Make money online
1. Earn money taking surveys
Did you know that you can make money just by giving your opinion? There are many sites/apps out there that will pay you to take surveys! Taking surveys online is a great way to make money in your spare time and it requires no additional skills. You can cash out through traditional payment methods or through gift cards to your favorite stores. You have to be 16 years or older to use Survey Junkie and only 13 years or older to use Swagbucks. Sign up for Swagbucks and SurveyJunkie today.
2. Use Swagbucks for more than just surveys
Swagbucks not only allows you to make money through surveys but it also lets you earn by doing things you would normally do in your every day life. You can earn money for shopping at your favorite retailers, watching entertaining videos, browsing the web, and finding great deals. Swagbucks has already paid out over 4 MILLION dollars in cash and free gifts to its users. You only have to be 13 years or older to use Swagbucks. Sign up here.
3. Earn money through Ibotta
Ibotta is a great way to earn cash back on items you are already buying! You can earn money from buying a variety of things like groceries, clothing, pet supplies, and more- both online and in store. Use the app to find nearby deals and submitting your purchases is super easy. You must be 18 years or older to use Ibotta. Sign up for Ibotta here.
4. Earn money playing video games
Do you love playing video games and making money? Twitch may be the platform for you. Twitch is a video-game viewing platform where viewers can donate money to their favorite players. You can start earning as a novice and build your followers over time. Many Twitch players earn money through donations, brand partnerships, and merchandise. If you are good at video games and can personalize the experience for your followers, Twitch can be a great way to monetize your favorite hobby. You must be 13 years or older. Sign up for Twitch here.
Start your own business
5. Start a car washing business
It doesn’t take much to start your own car washing business. You will need to invest in buckets, soap, and sponges which can be found very cheap on Amazon or at your local general store. You will also need access to water, by either having the cars come to your home or using the water at the car owner’s house (may require you to purchase your own hose). You can put up flyers in your neighborhood or go door to door to advertise your new business. Washing cars doesn’t take a lot of capital to invest in but can pay out well if you do a good job.
6. Sell products on Etsy
If you have a knack for crafting, Etsy may be a good place to start selling your creations. A lot of people have been successful starting their own craft business through Etsy. While there is an initial investment to sign up and sell on the site, it is a great platform to start your own business. You must be 18 years old to sign up for Etsy. You can sign up here.
7. Start a lawn service business
Starting your own lawn services business is a great way to bring in extra cash. You can start a business that does a variety of tasks depending on the season including mowing lawns, raking leaves, landscaping, shoveling snow, watering plants, weeding, and painting fences. You can advertise your new business with fliers in your neighborhood or by going door to door.
8. Create and sell your designs (CafePress and Creative Market)
Are you creative and good with digital design? Try selling your designs on websites like CafePress and Creative Market. On CafePress you can set up your own shop and sell designs for a profit. Creative Market is an online marketplace where you can sell digital products like templates, photographs, and website designs.
9. Sell your stock photos
It isn’t hard to take a good photo these days with camera focused phones and hundreds of photo editing apps. You can profit off of the photos you are taking by selling them as stock photos. There are many great websites out there to sell your photos including Shutterstock, iStock, and 500px Prime. Turn your hobby of taking pictures into extra side money today.
10. Create and monetize a blog
Creating a blog that makes money has become super popular- and for good reason. Why not turn your passion into extra income? In order to monetize your blog, you will need to pay for a host, but there are hundreds of free guides out there to monetizing your blog. Most blogs make money through ads, affiliate marketing, and selling products.
11. Earn money through YouTube videos
YouTube has become a great place to market your brand and to make money through videos. Pick a topic or theme you are interested in and start making videos! You can make extra money from becoming a YouTube star through ads, sponsorship, and affiliate marketing. Pick your passion and start here today.
Get a part time job
12. Get a traditional part time job
There are many teen friendly jobs out there that will let you make extra money while also making friends. You can get a job as young as 14 years old with some time restrictions. Typical jobs worked by teens include working in a restaurant, grocery store, movie theater, amusement park, and bowling alley. Check around your local businesses to find out who is hiring and start earning a paycheck.
13. Become a tutor
Are you good in school and want to help others? Becoming a tutor can be a great way to bring in extra income while helping others succeed. As a bonus, being a tutor and teaching others is a great way for you to master the subjects as well. Try out some online platforms like Tutor Care and Kaplan and start bringing in extra money.
14. Deliver food through online delivery sites like Uber Eats and DoorDash
A popular way to earn extra cash on your own time is to sign up for food delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash. Sign up and get paid to pick up food for people and deliver it to their homes. Online platforms like these are great for those that want to make extra money but don’t want to be locked into schedule. You must be 18 years old to drive for DoorDash and 19 years old for Uber Eats.
Resell your old stuff
15. Sell clothes on Poshmark or ThredUp or at resell shops
As a society, we tend to change our fashion constantly which can lead to unworn clothes over time. All of these unworn clothes don’t have to just take up space in your closet. You can make money by selling your older (still in decent condition) clothing. You can sell them in person at shops like Plato’s Closet or other consignment shops. There are also plenty of online retailers and apps you can use as well like Poshmark and ThredUp. All you have to do is create an account, take pictures of your clothes, set a price, and wait for shoppers to purchase your clothes. You do need to be 18 years or older to sell on both Poshmark and ThredUp. Sign up for Poshmark here and ThredUp here.
16. Resell old technology and games
Decluttr is a company that pays you money for old smartphones, tablets, computers, DVDs, CDs, and gaming consoles. This can be a great way to score cash on electronics you no longer use. Through DeCluttr you can look up the specs of the electronic device you are wanting to sell and it will give you an instant valuation. Reselling your old technology is a great way to score extra cash and recycle old electronics to help the environment. You must be 18 years or older to sell on DeCluttr. You can sign up here.
17. Resell your old items online
There are a number of resale outlets on the Internet. Browse through resell sites such as Amazon, Craiglist, and Facebook Marketplace to see what items are selling and at what value. Then, go through your own items to determine if you have anything you can sell. You can sell almost anything these days but some typical options include clothes, books, video games, electronics, sporting goods, toys, and jewelry. Most resell sites require you to be 18 years or older to sell.
Freelance for side cash
18. Make money through proofreading
Are you good with the English language and have an eye for errors? Then making money from proofreading may be a great way to make money. You can find proofreading gigs on freelance websites such as UpWork, Fiverr, and Proofreading Services. You can find free courses online to brush up on your skills. Use helpful websites like Grammarly to aid you in your proofreading.
19. Take on freelance gigs
Using online platforms such as UpWork, Freelancer, Guru, and Fiverr can be a great way to get paid money for performing tasks in your spare time. Use the sites to filter through various tasks needed, check to see if your skill sets are acceptable, and start making money. Be sure to check the age requirements for each site.
20. Deliver groceries through Instacart
Similar to delivering food for money, you can also shop for people’s groceries for cash. Grocery delivery has recently become very popular and it can be a good way for you to earn extra cash in your spare time. Not only do you get paid to shop but you can also bring in a decent amount of money through tips! You must be 18 years old to sign up with Instacart.
21. Watch people’s pets
Do you like animals and making extra money? Then try out a pet sitting app like Rover. You can get paid to walk dogs, pet sit, and check in on people’s animals during the day. This can be a great gig if you have a flexible or non-traditional schedule that allows you to be available during the day. You do need to be 18 years or older to sign up with Rover.
22. Babysit for extra cash
Babysitting is a great way to earn extra income. You can advertise your babysitting services in your neighborhood or by word of mouth- traditionally you can baby sit any age using this method at the discretion of the parents involved. You can also sign up on formal babysitting platforms such as Sitter City and Care.com where you will have to go through background checks to be accepted. Good relationships with parents can also lead to good tips.
Invest in your future
23. Learn how to invest
Investing is a great way to make money at any legal age (18+). Invest in your future by learning the basics of investing and putting a small amount of your money towards investing to learn how it works. Make sure you understand the risks and rewards before beginning. You can check out the different types of investing methods here.
24. Learn a skill and then market a skill
There are plenty of ways to grow your skill sets online- some free and some at a cost. Find a marketable skill to learn and then capitalize on it to make extra money. Examples include: freelance writing, social media manager, digital marketing, coding, and bookkeeping. You can find both free and paid courses on websites like Coursera, Skillshare, and Khan Academy.
25. Work on getting scholarships
Working towards getting scholarships can be an easy way to save THOUSANDS of dollars. One of the best financial things you can do for yourself is to research scholarship opportunities. You can get scholarships for academic achievements, sports, first generation students, and special skill sets and interests! Search for scholarships applicable to your school, your potential major, and local opportunities. Use this article to jump start your scholarship search here.
Summary
Read through the above list of how to make money as a teen and pick one to start your journey! Once you start bringing in money, you can focus on how to grow your personal wealth and start setting financial goals for your future.