22 Business Ideas for Kids & Teens: Make Money as a Kid

By: Rita Cunha| October 29th, 2020

Children have people to care for them while they’re still growing up. But that doesn’t mean they can’t (or shouldn’t) do small jobs here and there. Many parents believe it’s good for children to start making money on their own—and we have to agree. Kids can learn to be reliable, how to manage their time efficiently, and understand the real value of money.

Fortunately, there are dozens of ways kids can make their own money today. No, it doesn’t just have to be with the old-fashioned lemonade stand. Today, we’re answering a question teens and their parents often have: how to make money as a kid. The ideas we’ve included in this article are all safe kid businesses that make money, teach invaluable life lessons, and are a ton of fun. They’re suitable for younger kids and older kids, so stick around to read all the tips we have for you!

7 Ideas for How to Make Money as a Kid

Younger kids shouldn’t take up any time-consuming work. After all, they have classes, friends, and after-school activities to enjoy. Yet, there are some ways of making money for a 12-year-old or younger.

1. Pet Sitting

If you have family members who are out of town, why not pet sit for them? This is the perfect gig for anyone who loves animals and is responsible and reliable. If you do a good job, word of mouth will work wonders in landing you your next pet sitting opportunity.

2. Do Your Local Paper Route

Although paper routes aren’t what they used to be, they’re still a good way for kids to make money. If your neighborhood still gets a local paper delivered door-to-door, it could be worth looking into. Contact the local news company and ask how their routes work. Doing a paper route will get you out of the house (safely!) and teach you the value of money.

3. Organize a Yard Sale

Hosting a garage sale can still be lucrative and a lot of fun. Set up folding tables in your yard and lay out the things you don’t want anymore. You could also sell the art and crafts you’ve made! Make sure to ask your parents to spread the word about your mini yard sale on social media.

4. Set Up a Neighborhood Car Wash

You might also be interested in becoming a car washer. Get two buckets, microfiber cloths, water, and car shampoo, and you’re set. It’s a great outdoor summer and spring activity that’s also fun. Think about it: what car owner doesn’t like to have their vehicle sparkling clean?

5. Get Paid for Doing Chores

Getting paid to do additional chores is a great deal for kids and parents. On one hand, you can make extra money every month. On the other hand, your parents will have less on their plate to handle. Write up a list with all the extra chores you’re willing to do and decide how much you want to get paid.

6. Offer to Help Elderly Neighbors

Elderly neighbors can’t do everything by themselves. Sometimes, they need help raking leaves from their yard. Other times, they just want someone to spend time with. Either way, you can get involved and learn a lot about the importance of being in a community. Talk to your senior neighbors and ask if they would be willing to tip you for the help you’ll offer.

7. Recycle Cans for Extra Money

Surprisingly enough, you can make money when you recycle aluminum cans. Separate and (carefully!) crush the cans from your house into a separate bin. Then, once you fill it up, ask your parents to take it to a recycling center nearby. You’ll get paid by the pound. If you can convince neighbors and friends to give you their cans, all the better! That means you’ll have more money in your pocket.

15 Business Ideas for Teens

Older kids want to make even more extra money for their favorite things. They’re also at the age when they should start to save money for the future. Don’t worry, you don’t need a full-time job. You just need hard work and a side hustle that pays well!

1. Mow Lawns for Cash

Mowing lawns is one of the best ways of making extra cash. Offer your mowing services to neighbors and make sure to do a good job every time. With enough time and effort, you’ll get more clients and you stand a good chance of making a lot of money this way.

2. Offer to Do Local Yard Work

You can also do other types of yard work for good money. For example, you can rake leaves and weed around neighbor’s fences. It might also be a good idea to ask the folks managing the local cemetery if they need someone to mow the lawn. Who knows, they may be looking for a part-time groundskeeper. This may sound very serious and old fashioned, but it works!

3. Check If a Local Business Needs Help

Once in a while, local businesses will look for help with their day-to-day activities. There’s no harm in asking if they need an assistant. Plus, you’ll get to be involved in local projects that will look great on your college applications.

4. Start a Babysitting Business

If you’re responsible and good with kids, you could babysit for neighbors and family friends. This is a fun gig because you can spend time playing with children. You can even use social media to spread the word about your services and land more opportunities.

5. Do House Sitting, Pet Sitting, and Dog Walking

If you know family friends who will be out of town for a while, they’ll probably be grateful to have someone take care of their pets and water their plants. You could also make money walking dogs, as a lot of people are too busy or too tired to do it at the end of the day. It’s an easy side hustle that still leaves you time for studying and having fun.

6. Sell Things at a Garage Sale

Garage sales and yard sales are a great way of cleaning out the house. Take things you and your family don’t need anymore and sell them to passersby.

7. Set Up an Etsy Shop

If you have a creative vein, you can sell crafts you make online. Etsy is a great online platform where creators can make money with their art. Sell fun maker projects. Share your page on social media to get more traffic and potential buyers! Build a loyal following by offering free samples like this free printable lowercase Bubble Letter Alphabet.

8. Resell Pre-Loved Clothes and Accessories

Is your closet too full? If so, you can make money fast by selling clothes, shoes, and accessories you don’t wear to a consignment store. You could also list your items on Craigslist, Depop, or eBay if you’d rather do it online. Reselling is becoming a big business with more and more people looking for second-hand items. Pro tip: if you want to increase your sales, visit flea markets to score cool low-priced items you can then resell for a profit online.

9. Sell Your Products at Farmers Markets

Are you a good baker? If so, why not take your delicious baked goods to the local farmers market? Setting up a bake sale may sound childish, but there’s good money to be made there. Everyone loves a sweet treat, especially when they know it’s been made locally.

10. Get Paid for Doing Odd Jobs

A great way of making money online is doing odd jobs on platforms like Fiverr. You could get paid to film a product review or write an intro song for a podcast, for example. It’s a good opportunity to showcase your talents!

11. Start a YouTube Channel

Have you ever thought of starting a YouTube channel? If you get enough subscribers, you could start making ad revenue and partner with brands such as Amazon and Squarespace. Use your creativity to film engaging videos people will want to share with their friends.

12. Become a Blogger

If video is not your thing, you can always try your hand at blogging. Create your own website using a blogger platform (for example WordPress) and start making money online! Review video games or write about your favorite bands and movies—it’s your gig. If you dedicate yourself, you could make money from ads and join Amazon’s affiliate program. They’ll pay you whenever someone buys a product you’ve listed on your blog. Cool, right?

13. Self-Publish Your Written Creations

Aspiring writers can get started on their writing journey today. Self-publishing a novel or novella has never been easier, thanks to the Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing program. If you have an interesting book idea, get to work and put it on paper! Every time someone buys your work online, you’ll get royalty money.

14. Tutor Students in Your Best Subject

Becoming a tutor is a good rewarding part-time job. If you’ve done really well in a particular subject, why not help fellow students get top marks? You’ll be teaching them, step-by-step, how to understand the material. This will help you revise for tests as well as put some money in your pocket. You might even find your calling as a teacher.

15. Get Paid with Swagbucks and Survey Junkie

Lastly, if you want to make money fast, you can sign up for Swagbucks or Survey Junkie. As with other survey sites, you have to be thirteen or older to join. You’ll get paid to take online surveys, play games, and watch short videos. You can then cash out your earnings or exchange them for gift cards to your favorite retailers. How convenient is that?

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