30 Ways For Teens To Make Money (Adults Too!)
I can remember my teenage days well. I didn’t want to work, but I needed to make money to support my social life. So I umpired, cut grass, and bagged groceries. I didn’t particularly love any of the jobs, but in order to offset my spending, I needed to work.
The good news for teens today is there are a wide range of ways to make money- that weren’t around when I was a teenager. Most of them require a good work ethic, but there are a lot of new opportunities available.
Luckily for many teens, they may already be very skilled in certain areas that could easily translate into a nice side income for them. For example, I remember hearing about a teenage girl who designed Myspace backgrounds and was making more money than her parents. So potentially, a teenager who is willing to work hard could make considerably more than working traditional “jobs” like at McDonalds, cutting grass, bussing tables, etc. For even more, check out these 5 legit work-from-home job opportunities.
What type of teen are we talking about?
The 7-year period defined as the “teenage years” sees a wide range of maturity levels. I remember moments where I showed high levels of maturity and moments that are better left unspoken. Interestingly, my immaturity didn’t necessarily decrease as I grew closer to 20 years old. My point is that some of these jobs are going to require a teenager who is “on the ball” in terms of maturity. But if you have (or are) one, these could be much better alternatives to “would you like to supersize that?”
The 30 Ways To Earn Money
1. Make Money Online with Swagbucks
Basically this is a free site that offers you a bunch of ways to earn cash, gift cards, or other rewards.
You can earn by answering polls, taking surveys, doing simple tasks (like giving feedback about a website), trading in old video games or books, and even playing games on their site.
I have tried it out and have received multiple payments from them, so I can attest that it is legit. While you won’t get rich doing this, to me it seems like a great way for internet-loving teens to make some money. Find out more here.
2. Sell stuff on eBay for Mom and Dad
I am sure mom and dad wouldn’t mind sharing some of the profits, if you sell some of their clutter for them. I say ask them for 50% of what you make from it!
3. Freebie Trading
A couple years ago I did an interview with a guy who made $28,000 in one year doing this part time. It is work and requires organization skills to do it well, but it is legit.
I tried my hand at it using Project Payday and their training materials to see that it was legit.
Basically companies are willing to pay you to do trial offers for their products. They know that many people who do the trial offer will like their product and continue to be customers, so they are willing to pay people to sign up for trial offers.
So one of the main ways of making money freebie trading is signing up for offers like a Free Netflix trial, emusic.com, applying for a Discover Card, etc. The key to success seems to be having a calendar where you can keep track of when the trial periods end and make sure to cancel before they end.
If you are interested in learning more I definitely recommend Project Payday as they have a ton of training guides (free if you complete a couple offers) that will greatly simplify the process.
4. Take online surveys
I am not particularly fond of the whole online survey thing since I had a bad experience using CashCrate. But there are lots of online survey sites and people who do it successfully. Here are a few if you want to investigate it further:
I recommend proceeding with caution and definitely not paying anything to join.
5. Raise Money Online
If you are raising money for a community service project or missions, you might want to check out a site like GoFundMe.com. They make it easy for teens to raise money for any type of project. People have used it to raise the money for everything from mission trips to medical bills, weddings and honeymoons, business ventures, and even college tuition.
6. Build Websites For Others
I can’t tell you how many people have asked me to build them a website since I started this one a couple years ago. I am not seeking the work and people are requesting it, so if you do a little legwork and pursue small business owners, there is a lot of work available. Teens might be great for this, because they would be able to work for less than some higher end website developers, which would put them in the price range that it seems many small businesses are looking to spend. Here is a great course to help you get started.
7. Cleaning out Foreclosed Homes
With there being as many foreclosed homes out there as there are, the bankers (who now own the houses) don’t want to clean them up and they are willing to pay hefty sums for those who will. So it is fairly easy to start a Foreclosure cleanup business and get paid pretty well in the process. If you are interested here is a course you can take to learn more.
8. Freelance Write
As they say on the web “content is king” and everyone wants it. Places like Elance or Odesk have thousands of different job openings available for freelance writers. If you are not in a rush for receiving compensation and know how to do keyword research, there is money to be made writing at Hubpages and Squidoo. For more on this method, check out How to make money with Hubpages.
9. Start a Christmas Light Hanging business
If you aren’t afraid of heights and can handle being out in the cold, this is a pretty great business opp. Some people earn a full-year’s salary just hanging lights for 2 months each year. Here is a course that provides some more info.
10. Sell Plasma
Not sure how old you have to be, nor how painful it is, but if you are into that sort of thing, it can be a way to make some quick money.
11. Take part in medical studies
I have a couple friends who have almost done this exclusively as a job. They were basically human guinea pigs, but they made some decent cash at it. Sometimes they would have be at the medical facility for up to 48 hours, so your schedule may need to be flexible. Just google “medical studies” + your city to find some options.
12. Fiverr
Fiverr is a website that allows you to sell your service for $5. There are all kinds of crazy things people are offering and getting paid for on there – like taking a picture holding a sign, recording 2 sentences in an irish accent, recording a video singing a certain song, and even prank calling a friend all for $5. So if you have a little creativity, there are some fun ways to make some money on the side.
13. Gigwalk
Gigwalk is a fairly new iPhone app that offers payment for completing simple tasks based on your location. For example users earn by taking pictures of a restaurant’s menu, verifying roadblocks and signage, and other simple tasks. If you are in a big city (which typically has more opportunities) there is some decent potential with this one.
14. Get paid to Tweet
Did you know that advertisers will pay you to send out tweets about their products? As you could imagine the bigger your audience the more you will get paid, but you can find out more here – SponsoredTweets.com.
15. Have a Garage Sale
If it is something too large or that won’t sell on eBay for some reason, you can always have an old-fashioned garage sale!
16. Tutor or give lessons
Are you great at math, science, or kicking a field goal? Why not advertise your skills to those a few years younger than you? Many parents are willing to pay a teenager to tutor their child in an area that needs development.
17. Create Myspace Facebook Graphics or Pages
or Twitter backgrounds for that matter. Just set up a simple site to sell your work, get a paypal “buy it now link” and you are off and running.
18. Write product reviews
There are places like Ciao, Epinions.com, ReviewStream.com that pay for product reviews – if you have an opinion and can type quickly this might be a good option. Another one that just popped up is called Ukritic and they allow you to write reviews of products and then you can earn affiliate commissions from the sales of those products. It might not be quick cash, but for those who like to write it may be a decent option.
Jobs requiring a uniquely mature teenager
19. Buy and Sell cars for profit
If you love cars and aren’t afraid to haggle, you could start a car flipping biz. We have a friend of the family who has done this for years. He scours the classified listings for deals, lands a good deal and then drives the car while trying to sell it for a couple grand more. Sometimes he sells them quickly, sometimes it takes a little longer, but he gets to drives lots of cars (which he loves) and makes a nice side income as well. Here is an online course to help you get started.
20. Rent out your car for $10+ an hour
I just heard about RelayRides.com which allows you to either rent or lend your car to others – and get paid in the process. If you live in a big city, this could be pretty profitable!
21. Blogging
Two years ago I wasn’t sure if there was money to be made blogging, but I have since found it to work out nicely. It isn’t something that will provide much income quickly, but if you stick at it, it can. I wrote extensively about how to make money from a blog a few months ago.
22. Design Web Logos
If you have a flair for design, it may be worth trying to make some money designing logos for small business or blogs.
23. Social Marketing Consultant
Many companies are looking for qualified candidates who know the ins and outs of Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter to help them with their social marketing efforts. Head over to a job site and search for “social media marketing”.
24. Sell articles
Following in that same vein, you can sell articles you write at places like Constant-Content.com, ArticleSale.com, Helium.com.
25. Start an eBay business
Last year I experimented with starting an eBay business to see if there was money to be made. While profit margins can be thin selling on eBay, there are over a million eBay businesses, so it is a viable option.
26. Sell Digital Photos
Making money as a photographer has become easier over the last decade. There are now lots of sites looking to buy digital photos: Shutterstock.com, 123RF.com, Dreamstime.com, CreStock.com, Fotolia.com. As with most things, the better you are the more money you will make, but it can be nice passive income if you work at it.
27. Find odd-jobs on Craigslist
Some of these might be landscaping work, or similar odd-jobs, but it might be great summer time work for teens!
28. Sell widgets on Etsy.com
If you create any kind of arts or crafts or widgets of any sort, you should check out Etsy.com.
29. Join a Focus Group
There are likely to be focus groups in your area that may be willing to hire teens. Organizations are always looking for participants because there are business advantages for focus groups. Just Google “focus group” and your city to get started.
30. Sell Your Video Game Accounts
Are you a gamer? Try selling your accounts, virtual gold, or virtual weapons. You can often sell items like these on gamer forums or even on Ebay.com.
31. Be a Mystery Shopper
This is the dream job isn’t it? You get to shop and get paid! The added bonus is that you secretly have recourse when you are treated poorly in the store.
32. Offer to do jobs on Zaarly.com
Zaarly is a website that connects those offering random services (like walking a dog, being a personal assistant for a day, giving guitar lessons, etc) with buyers who are looking for those services. I would suggest checking out some of the ideas listed on the site and sign up and offer those services.
33. Get paid from your iPhone (smartphone)
There seem to be some apps popping up that pay you to do simple stuff like take a picture of a menu, or of yourself drinking a starbucks, or verifying that a road is closed – you get the picture. Here are a couple that I found:
This article was written by Bob
More ways for teens to make money
If you are looking for additional reading, check out these articles…
- 21 ways to make extra money
- 20 Companies That Will Pay You To Work From Home
- Making money and earning extra income
- 52 ways to make extra money
- 15 ways for teens to make money this summer
- 26 ways to make extra money
- 15 quick ways to make money
Be sure to bookmark this article and check back as we are regularly updating it!
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Thanks for the mention- great list!
I buy almost everything exceþt food and clothing from online auctions websites
Most þeoþle are not aware of the almost unbelievable deals that they can get from online auction sites
The site that has the best deals is dealsroofcøm
I checked with the Better Business Bureau and was told that it is all legit.
How they can sell gift cards, laþtoþs, ćameras, and all kinds of goodies that we all want for 50-90% off, I don’t know
I do know that I bought my son an iÞad there for less than $100 and my husband a $250 Low gift cards for 48
Why would I even think about shoþþing anyþlace else?
hey , i was just wondering when you say online auction, what are you referring to? im interested in doing the same thing can you help me
Okay while i agree the list is very useful….i think that everyone should disreguard the online surveys they are awful if u want to make money doing it you have to fill out one form which just brings you to another site to give u more forms to fill out. Its pretty bad, plus kids should be getting out of there houses to make money not sitting inside all day.
I totally agree! Surveys are a huge scam. I tried it for a while and was ready to pull my hair. I never got a survey to participate in, just promises of yet another that I might qualify for. I paid for the the service and never made a dime. Forget the surveys!
I agree,,, surveys are a HUGE waste of time… 25 cents each???? Really???? And yes, they want you to join even more and more… and there is your information on the internet…. and then you start getting spam… and I wonder if it’s from that!!
NOT A GOOD WAY TO MAKE MONEY!!!!
I used to have fun doing surveys while I watched TV. I was choosy about the companies I used and I never paid to sign up for any. I got about $25 in free BlockBuster movie coupons, cashed out about $25 from another site and did an in house project trial where a company sent me to full size body lotions to use and record information about. I had fun, felt like my input was improving the business world, but I wasn’t looking to get rich quick, just earn a little bit in time that typically wasted. Some survey companies pay very little, others pay better. Of course, it is not fair to the businesses conducting the research to lie in order to qualify for a survey and they certainly deserve honest and thoughtful answers to their questions. The companies I worked with told me how much the survey would pay and how long it would it would take. Research for the reputable companies.
I totally agree with you connie. I promote a lot of affiliate offers on my “work online” blog. Some are run through “Clickbank” and I see on Clickbank that you can promote “online surveys” where I can earn up to 75% commission per sale. But I honestly would never promote such an offer where the end user has to pay to take surveys. There are many legit survey providers online and some can actually pay pretty good money, and as the author of this article said “proceed with caution”
Wow! What an excellent resource for making extra money. I haven’t been a teenager for a L O N G time but I would try almost all of these. Thanks!
I wish I saw a list like this when I was a teenager, lol. Great article, great recommendations. Freebie Trading – I highly recommend it. I love it, and that $28K was definitely a blessing!
Any teenagers that read this list – I recommend for you to take action on AT LEAST one of the things on this list.
Quite a useful list! Thanks – very helpful
Great List,
My 18 year old sister has been complaining that there are no jobs and thet she can’t make money. After reading this, I think she just might be lazy. I’ll forward it to her and see if she still comes up with excuses.
Also, there’s a great book called ‘The ABC’s of Making Money For Teens’
Very Good Resource. Sorry I can’t think of the author’s name off hand. Wait, Google….. Dr. Denis Cauvier and Alan Lysaght
Best Advice I’ve heard? Know what you want, unleash your immagination and get your ‘But’s’ out of the way.
Go For It,
Guy
Thanks for the ways. Thats really helpful info that related with us.
hey i was wanting to get work as web design, i am 15 years old and know what I’m doing can you please tell me where i should start looking for work?
Jesse,
I am not a webdesigner, but if I were in your shoes I would probably start offering my services on elance.com, and let people know that you are doing web work. So maybe use myspace and facebook, etc to get the word out.
Great list! I think these days everyone could use this list.
hey, useful stuff. thanks
what went wrong with cash crate? thinking about joining it
the problem with “CashCrate” is that the amount of money that u get out of it is VERY slim.. and even to get that VERY slim portion of money you have to complete a lot of surveys and to cash-in on the money you earned u must make over $20, trust me. i tried it, it took me over 6-12 months to get the cash.. i used the site like if my life depended on it. it was very hard.
you would be better off with the other sites that were listed above.
Your welcome,
Daniel Perianu.
If you want to offer lawn care/snow removal or any kind of services to your neighbors, simply send postcards to 100-300 of you neighbors. Tell them you are available to mow the lawn, clean the pool, shovel the sidewalk, rake the leaves, move furniture and anything else that is legal.
I did this several years ago a couple young family friends and they got phone calls immediately. We addressed each postcard like this:
To Our Neighbors at
123 Main St.
Anytown, NY 12345
Don’t waste your time trying to get names to put on a postcard. “To Our Neighbors at” works just fine.
Walk along the streets near your home making note of house numbers. No need to pay for a mailing list.
If you print the postcards at home you can mail 100 for less than $35.
If you do this consistently, you should have a pretty good little business or source of extra income relatively quickly.
Be sure to get the e-mail address of all your customers so you can reach them in the future.
As the leaves start to fall, you can send an e-mail reminding them that you are available to rake the leaves. Encourage them to let their neighbors know about you as well.
Good luck!
What a great idea…
I’m passing this on too some young teens i know, this blog though you need to be 18 years or older on most of the sites, and have a pay pal account. so it not really for teens
This article is a great inspiration for me. I’ve recently created my own blog, teencashflow.com , and it’s all about teens making money. I’ve picked up some very useful information her and I really appreciate the knowledge. Thanks.
Omg!! that is a great idea!!!!! im sick of going door to door asking people doing this i can get all my neighbors in one shot:):) now how do i print out everything?
Great list. I’m going to share is on my blog at MicroBusinessForTeens.com
My oldest daughter tutored and gave piano lessons. My younger daughter was paid $70 by our hair dresser to set up a website on 1and1.com using their free Website Builder. Sweet! Your ideas really will work.
Teenagers need to know about the tax implications of their self-employment, so I launched TeensAndTaxes.com to help them out.
Carol Topp, CPA
Thanks, for the information!!! I’m going on a trip and i need to raise some money!! Thanks again!!
All doable opportunities but first you have to commit yourself to doing ‘something’ and then you have to ‘do it’. Not always an easy thing for most people.
If you have a natural entrepreneurial spirit, a skill, you’re a self-starter and you have the will to be successful, you’ll be on your way
This is a fantastic article and it really has given me help. I want to go to this thing in the summer called Creation Fest and it has music and speackers to celebrate God and it costs a lot! I was looking for help and I found this. $100+ seems easy at first but then your stuck when your my age. Thanks a whole bunch and I will probably come back again.
As this is money-making for teens, you should know that all of the digital photo sites require you to be 18+ except for crestock.
Anyways, thanks! Great help!
HELP?
I am 17 in May and currently studying year 12. I don’t have a job though have tried a couple times. Given i have exams coming up i can’t manage a normal job but need some source of income – even if its small. I’m not all that technical so a lot of the things up there don’t work. I have strong english skills, love working with kids. I like sport, , languages animals and can cook. I have tried to get babysitting but haven’t had much luck so far.
Some advantage is I look uni age already.
I wouldn’t mind being a so called “guinea pig” or given plasma but I wouldn’t know how to go about organising it.
Does anyone have any ideas on how i can make some money in the next 6 months or so while I study? After that i will get a job and work full time hopefully.
Any ideas would be useful,
Thanks,
Rose
I am teen non resident of US, UK and Europe. Can I still make money for any of these sites you mentioned?
Rose and others looking for employment this summer: Retry the babysitting idea. Summer is a good time to babysit. Maybe volunteer a few times first and then use those families as references. Tell everyone you know that you are available to babysit. Use email, Facebook, fliers, word of mouth. Also try offering a set time every week, like Tuesday evenings form 5-9 pm in your home. Parents know they can drop off their children without calling ahead. They really appreciate that. It takes time and persistence to get the word out, butit can be done!
All great ways, even for teenagers. I have to say #2 and #9 are probably my favorites.
Heyy, i’m wondering if all these sites do £ aswell as $
If not do you know any that do do £ ?
Thanks
Jessica, I am not sure – sorry
Please help. I turn 15 in a few weeks and live in WA and the whole state has labor laws where I have to be 16 but I really want to get a dirt bike this summer. It’s hard to find a job and everbody mows there own lawns! What should I do? How do I tell the difference between a real site that will pay for suveys and a fake one? Is it possible to make 3000 in 15 weeks?
I want to make a job out of website design and video editing and im only 14 but i was thinking for barmitzvahs and weddings and stuff for the videos but im not sure how to start with webpage design jobs and who to ask because most jobs have websites now.
Hey,
I was just wondering how people make money from blogging becuase I’m 15 and would love to try it! Also, do you know how to create myspace backgrounds? I think I would really like that!
Thanks
i think anyone should help your parents do business and than get money from them so it is a way that you can save more money and experience!!!!!!!!!
Do you have any idea of any safe survey sites..by safe I mean that the site won’t give me any viruses and stuff like that.
Thanks for the info for some reason ever since i was a kid i wanted a job now i have some ideas = )
Hi,
I’m a teen who’s really interested into doing this stuff- but what should I do about taxes? Many websites are only 18+, as well.
But mostly, my biggest hurdle has been taxes. I would be extremely grateful for any help, thank you!
Susan,
Teenagers need to know about the tax implications of their self-employment, so I launched http://TeensAndTaxes.com to help them out.
Start reading the articles there. It should answer most of your questions. If not, drop me an email from the contact page on http://TeensandTaxes.com
Carol Topp, CPA
Hey, I appreciate that you made a whole site for teens like me to learn about taxes on our summer jobs. For teens like me who can’t buy you’re ebook thing, I looked up the details. Basically, according to http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/teen-jobs-and-tax-issues-1.aspx, a teen that is depending on a tax-payer (like a parent or guardian) can make up to $5,950 without oweing taxes. Another tip from that article was to make sure your employer (if you have one) classifys you as the correct worker. If you get classified as a contractor you owe self employment fees or something similar. Thanks for reading this and I hope it helps,
Mary
“Great list! I especially like the tutoring stuff. I’m good at Math that’s why I tutored once for my godparent’s 8th grader. I had fun with the her and her mum cooks the most delicious brownies. I don’t think I can donate a plasma or be a human guinea pig. But maybe you should add herb and vegetable planting. This job doesn’t require too many technicalities and is so far the easiest thing to do. There’s a method called square foot gardening for those who don’t have big spaces. It’s so simple to do and gardening in small boxes requires small maintenance. There is plenty of information on the web about how to do so. Once you get growing you can even sell your fresh produce to your neighbours at a cheaper price, and earn some fast money in the process . P.S. I also would want to partake in an online survey. Some people recommended Cash Crate but I’m also curious about what happened to you?
“
these could be the most important and genuiene ways to produce a good amount of money to work on and these works very genuinely and people earn lot of money through this.
Wow ths helped a lot. I’m only 15 and I can see myself doing a couple of these jobs. Thanks much!
Just wondering… how much time did you spend just for this post. It’s very useful and some of the ideas are really out of the box.
thank you for this
I’m a teenager lol & I do motocross & I need new stuff & my parents said I have to buy it by myself! thank you again!
These are all very good ways for teens to make money. When I was a teen I did a few of these. I worked random jobs on craigslist, yard sales, sold plasma, and did basically anything I could do legally of course to make money. I have done at least 7 of these ideas you posted.
I’ve had pretty good luck with various survey/incentive websites.
Some of the best for this are cash crate,
and amazon mechanical turk.
it’s not a lot but it adds up.
another good idea is collect cans and recycle them at .5 each
Wow… this is a really great list for anyone who is looking for ways to make extra money. Thank you for taking the time to put together this list and sharing it with us! I will definitely put some of these ideas to use.
HELP!! im 15 and strapped for cash im trying to help some friends have a better christmas but at the moment i only have two dollars to my name i totaled it up to about 70 dollars for the cost of every thing any ideas for jobs i could do in a small town?
Thanks for these awesome tips. Honestly, this is a great list. The internet needed something like this. Thank you for giving me ways to pay for college.
Thanks! My students are always interested in earning a good, legal income and I can’t wait to expose them to your site. Thanks!
I like your tips
I am going to be 16 in 13 days and this list is sooo much help! Thank You soooooooooooooooooooo much!!
I can see myself doing a few of these jobs. This list has gotten me thinking about some ideas for jobs. The only problem is that the jobs that the websites interest me have an 18+ rule, which isn’t that great seeing as I’m only 15. That seems to happen alot…
Can someone help. I need a job or at least a hobbie to do at home, i need to make $400 in about 2 weeks. I’m 15 so i can’t work yet. If anyone has any suggestions please e-mail me! ooh & btw i can’t mow any lawns cause everyone who lives close by dosn’t have any lawn at all. So if there is any suggestions whatsoever please feel free to e-mail me. thanks!
Chelsea-
Try GigWalk if you have an iPod, iPad, or iPhone. I have tried it, and it does work! For example, one listing is to take 10 pictures of a motorcycle dealership, and you get paid 30 dollars.
I think your list for teens is great. I have two teens, and will send them a link to your page. I also liked the comment from TheMoneyMan-Leo on January 1 about making postcards and then your own mailing list of neighbors.
I’ve found a completely free way to earn money online, and anyone over 13 can do it. It has just launched and has a lot of potential. Check out a 2 minute video for users at http://www.varolo.com/village/newmoney
I don’t have lots of spare time, and this only takes 10 minutes a day.
You have some great ideas here, they just need to pick a couple out and take some action. The way social media is growing , Facebook, Myspace and Twitter knowledge could be a goldmine for them. There are of course other options and building a simple affiliate site could earn them some extra. Pick a hobby or passion and go with that.
A very helpful selection, thank you!
Is There Anyway A 17 Year Old Can Make Money Online Legally Without Selling Possesions? Please Notify Me If You Can Find A Way
Yes, Brittany, there is a way for a 17 year old to make money online without selling anything. My daughter is 17, my son is 15, and they are making money online at http://www.varolo.com/village/newmoney
Anyone over 13 can do it, and it’s easy and takes about 10 minutes a day. There’s nothing to buy, no inventory to stack in the garage, no starter kit to purchase–it’s completely free. Good luck!
I tried going to that website up there, but nothing comes up….?
I have made an account on varolo and my friends think im spamming them because im trying to get them to join because i need a village to make money. ik i sound desperate and well ill admit it i am i need more people to join because im not making any with two other people. The site is hard to figure out is there a way i can become a part of someone elses village? And i need the money for my prom this year because moneys really tight plus my moms struggling and can’t really afford to have me in the house for much longer because im a senior in high school. Sorry about the ranting lol
Dude, I love you! Thank a bunch, I’m going to start doing the teen cash machine program since i happen to be quite good with computers. Thanks for guiding me where to go, you rock.
hi, im 12 gonna be 13 soon.. and im not sure which of these i should do! My parents are poor and i dont live by a lot of people who have dogs or kids i could babysit. Help?
most of these site you have to be older then 18, so thus you couldn’t do any of them unless in your parents name, also you would need their credit card or pay pal account, which i don’t think any parent would let their kid have that account, best advice i can tell you is to try working in lawn care, good for you wanted to start working young, i know how hard it can be living in a small town with poor parents, mabye ask around for idea, beware of the net though, net jobs are mostly scams and they onces that aren’t you mostly have to be 18, mabye if you don’t need a permit in your town sell cookies, or your old toys in a yard sale. cleaning jobs, are good. good luck, i know what it like being you, work hard
This guide is excellent.
I remember my first job was a junk mail delivery boy when I was about 12. Didn’t pay much at all – didn’t enjoy it much at all either. I then went on to working in a retail shop as a shop assistant, moved onto a joinery shop, and then finally I was doing painting part time by the time I got to university (full time during the holidays).
It’s amazing the opportunities that exist now for kids with the internet. Just about everything in the list above is related to earning money online, heck if I was only 12 years old again ;-0.
How much would you charge to build a website? My first guess is 10 bucks-right?
The post provides a great list of opportunities to help teens who want to learn how to make money. Making money online is challenging at best, but some teens seem to have a knack for working with the computer. One young family member has gone beyond Facebook into blogging about her passion for animals. Another wants to sell things on eBay.
The post is an excellent resource.
OH and dont forget to use the method that CAROL TOPP is using, CLICK BANK
he gets paid as an affiliate and anyone can do it and the lump sum of cash you accumulate over time with be rewarding. the effort you put in is how well you do.
Great article!
The only thing was that most of the article/freelance writing is only for people over the age 18. (Which I am not.) I was highly dissapointed, but will keep it in the back of my head for when I might need it in the future!
Thanks so much!
Bob,
I especially like suggestion 15. Blogging for money is a great way for any teen to get started earing some extra money online. Blogger and Wordpress are great free sites to get started on.
Ginger, you can charge easily up to 80 dollars on an average website construction service. Seperately, many post of being too you to complete some offers try squishycash, I’m fourteen myself and am finding it an excellent source of side income. Also for those 14 and up in my state you can ref for soccer games and get about fifty dollars each games.
Awesome list. Definitely skip #9.
hey its good to have at your teen age you know but sometime its difficult finding what kind of business to do. this site helps teens like me to know what to do. Thanks
Hey there I am a college student as well. I always hera about them but wonder if they are legitimate?! It is great that you have found some REAL ones can you email me a list please! thanks!!!!!!!!
This was sorta helpful, but i have 1 comment… who in the world would tell teens to sell plasma for some quick cash. There is no way a parent would even allow their child to sell any part of their body just to hang out with friends or buy something. You have to either be stupid or crazy to even recommend that!
plasma isnt part of your body really its blood. which you pump lots of every second
plus it pays really good. my sister has a special blood type (its o double negative or something like that. i have no idea. but its a special blood that newborn babies need or something and it pays A LOT) and she donates like three times a year or something
Exactly no one would ever sell their plasma for quick cash and not being mean but im not selling a body part to hang out with friends…like you said
I did for many years sell blood plasma.
Odesk is really a nice and trusted site for those who wants to work as part time or full time freelancer. There are lots of jobs in the site like designs, blog and article writing, virtual assisting, data entry and many more. I am a freelancer for over 4 years, I did start working at Odesk at my first year in college and I love it in payday because I have additional money for my allowance and other projects. Now, I am still writing articles and doing SEO works and I love it!
I love your list but I have one question. What programs or websites should I use to build websites for other people?
Selling plasma, in my opinion, frankly isn’t worth it. Left visible scarring and you have to buy expensives to build it back up again. You’re better off housecleaning.
also don’t you have to be a certain weight and age to do sell blood, i don’t think a 13 year old would be able to do anything on this site, most you need pay-pal accounts for, kids just house clean, babysit, or mow lawns, it doesn’t pay much but so few kids work now-a-days so people will need you more, also may pay more since your the only kid in town working,
be polite, do extra work free of charge when babysitting ask if you can do the dishes or something else for them, being nice pays off
I am actually 12 and planning to sell some of my photography at my dad’s work
Hello, I am searching for the ways to earn money over the internet and I have yours link. It is good and has much information for me and many others like me. I hope they will also get help from this blog.
Thank you so much for this effort.
I read your article for our 15 year old son. I am 36 and my wife asked me to post. You have gotten a lot of praise but I have to say I can make a really nice website with html5 css3 JavaScript jQuery PHP and MySQL but cannot get anyone to commit. I have marketed on Facebook and friends and family. I have about 20 active sites and none of them made me any money. I have a celebrity site that gets over 100 unique visits a day and I make about 50 cents a week from google adsense. I called over 500 small businesses and got 3 leads which turned into nothing. It seems that everyone you talk to has a relative or friend that either made them a website already that they are happy with or is working on it. The others don’t own use computers much and therefor are not interested. I keep reading how easy it is bit I quit my job 1 1/2 years ago to make websites fulltime and made $3000 and we are now in crazy debt. It was a very stupid move just cause I had a couple sites lined up. The best learning experience was email marketing. I sent out 1000 emails to legitimate addresses that I looked up and got ONE response. Maybe it’s the economy and this article is from 2009 but please help me if you still think it’s so easy.
Hank,
There are many ways to make money online, you just have to learn as much as you can, do your research, and work what you learn. I am making money online. Was it easy? NO, but I didn’t give up. There are various places to get the word out about your website making services, you just need to search & find them. Post all over the place. If you don’t give up, you can do it.
The places listed on this site are good sources of making some extra money. I know, because I have done some of them myself.
Just don’t give up.
Best of luck to you
Lorna
Thanks for all the useful tips, my teens have just been laying about all summer and you’ve given them some ideas since they want to buy new stuff for the upcoming school year.
23 Ways For Teens?
I think only 5 of them are really working as he experienced them are:
Have a Garage Sale
Freebie Trading
Sell artitsles
blogging
Social Marketing Consultant
Hey thanks for the tips I am a teen myself and these Ideas are great. I generally gravitate toward making money online though because it is usually easier. Thanks
You know, I am not 18 and I do photography too. My dad works at a local organic market and says he can put some of my photos up for sail there. You know, thats always an option. Going to a local store and asking if you can put your photos up for a limited amount of time and see if they sell. That can work
I hope this helped!
Thanks so much for your ideas xD I find this kind of coincidental but I am actually a member of One Source Talent and hoping to get an acting or modeling carrier! I am also doing a bit of photography and writing some ideas for books I might like writing. I do however make websites, but they aren’t for a profit. I am quite young and not exactly sure how to make online profit…
Great suggestions. Thank you for all you do!!
very useful…will share link with friends…thanks for posting
why do you assume most teenagers are incapable of doing some of the things on this list? That’s misguided judgement in my opinion
wonderful suggession…. but why it is only for teen
I really like the ideas on ways teenagers can make money. I will be having my son and daughter try some of these. Important to learn these skills and responsibilities.
Thanks for the info.
Actually, you have to be 18 to participate in medical studies and donate plasma. But thanks for getting my hopes up anyway…
Great ways. But I think freelancing is the best way to make money you have suggested.
Yes, freelancing is very easy way to make money online, you may have any skill like blogging, link building, seo, programming etc. you can use your skill in freelancing.
Hi. I am going to be 14 in February. I want to earn money for a trip to Europe in summer of 2012 . I am trying to earn $2,000 -ish. Could I sell art since I am good at drawing ? Would it cost me money to sell them? Like a credit card? I don’t have one…. Any suggestions? I was thinking tumblr. But blogging is SLOW and nobody seems to notice my posts.
great article thanks.
To me your writing is not only for teen but for whom
interested and desire to make money on internet
or via internet. Informative writing.
Thank you for that article. I’m trying to earn money by creating website but earn money form a site takes too much time but this is still easy way when dollar comes from ad networks .
Great list of making money opportunities.
The easiest and fast are 3 and 7 (paid surveys and freelancer jobs).So if anyone need urgent cash, start with them.There are a lot of them that are with free registration.
I am 13 years old and I have been searching frantically to get a good small job that I can fit in between school. Even these little tasks I could do! My dream is to get a DSLR camera, preferably a Canon. I have been offered money for my picture so I wanted to take it to the next step. These 23 things were a big help to me!! Thank you so much!
Great list,
However, how can a kid under the age to have a job make money?
Affiliate marketing and blogging are great ways to make money also. And Odesk is a great place to work online/at home. This is a great list.
Excellent articles. Am a teen. After reading this, I have promise myself to attempt all those ways of making money in this articles.
Thanks
you do also realize he very specifically said that he wasn’t sure on some of them for age plus you may just not have found the right website because there are ones out there and you could even make money with them on deviant art plus he didn’t guarantee it would work it was just a suggestion and while were at it 18 year old are teenagers cause notice the teen in eighteen so think about things other than your screw ups next time
I Agree, it is hard to make money quickly on the internet. And with a part time job. You have to be motivated and creative to come up with ways to get what you are trying to accomplish well known.
We all know that all big websites like Facebook and Google are free but make money from selling advertisements based on how many they have visiting and using there sight.
What an incredible article. I guess you really do learn something new everyday. I am so glad I found your website. I will be back to read more as soon as possible. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with me. I really appreciate it.
The easiest and fastest way to make money online.
Wow, really nice article. My parents (and me as well) have accumulated an immense amount of stuff that we never use, so that ebay option sounds really good to me. Getting into program and web designing sounds like a good idea as well.
excellent
That is a great list Brother! I thought of some of those but not all of them. Now all the teens have to do is take the initiative to learn those skills and get customers so they can make money.
God Bless!
Chris’
This is a great resource for teens to teach them how to make their own money and get started on being responsible adults.
There are many good points listed over here, i wonder, i was searching something and got this at the top of search engine, there are many kids will get advantage from this article.
Thanks
Thanks for the tips. The service industry is the way to GO!
There are many ways to make money online. Some of the most successful internet marketers and entrepreneurs today started the online empires as young teenages. The opportunities to make money online are endless!!
Great article
I used one of the things on the list and over a 2 year period of time it earned me over $100,000
here are my two cents… earning money for finding typos online…they’re everywhere. Pretty cool idea I think. The site is http://www.TypoBounty.com
Great ideas here, but do most of them apply to kids who are under the age of 18? I know that clinical trials ask for individuals who are at least 18. Mystery shopping typically wants people who are 18 and over. I’m not even sure if the content writing sites are allowed to disburse funds to people under 18 years of age. Thanks!
Halina I would say some of them do but not all, I know some survey sites don’t required you to be 18.
Great resource and still and totally helpful and informative blog -I have to thank my my younger sister for pointing you out to me!
If you want to make money online taking surveys you should join surveyscout. it is not a survey companey but it has a database of the highest paying survey’s online.
I’ve got a couple of teens, 16 and 18. I’ll make sure they see this article for sure.
Hi, I’m 14 years old and am wondering if anyone could recommend sites to me. My strong points are using excel, word, and other programs along those lines. I’m a fast learner too, so can anyone refer me to some sites where I can earn some cash?
Thanks for sending me this link. I’m pretty sure that I’ve read this before.
And I’ve tried the plasma thing except that they wouldn’t take me.
Because my veins collapse. I don’t think I’ve been happier walking out of a building before in my life!
Thanks for the email to check this out. I do agree. I think I was having a poor me day when I contacted you guys! I’m doing better now and just plugging along! God will take care of us and I just need to be diligent with what he has provided and be able to rest assure that I’m on the right track!
i found a way to make some quick doe. i found these, “8 point and 7/16 wrench catv cable star key security tool” listed on eBay for $50.00 each. Found the source (newelectronx) that sells them for $5 to 15 bucks per piece. I sell them on craigslist for a good return. i’ve been making good money every since. i’m not wealthy yet, but income is going smoothly and sell aren’t that bad. profit is at least $35 per sale. if i sell eight pieces per day then i make like $280 which is better than a 8 hour job to me. so online selling works.. try it
Francisco Cerqueira, I checked out your blog and left my 2 cents there. Young people like us need help in this regard, so I like what your doin’ Keep up the good work!
I am looking into maybe starting a Hub, and I’m 15. Would it be a good idea to sign my mom up for AdSense and run the money through her?
thank you very much
Since my dad won’t let me get a job (wants me to focus on my school work) I will definitely try one of these out. I need money for my social life too, especially since I start my last year of high school in August. Thanks!
good site, nice info and terrific ways to make money online
Awesome list of ideas for teens to make extra money! I wish I had this many options when I was a teen!
When you sign onto the Web to check your email, you likely see at least one or two ads telling you about online survey programs. Although most people don’t take these things seriously, you can really make easy money with these various programs. In fact, there are several ways to earn money doing online surveys. Take a look at these tips to use that will help you make the most money you possibly can with online surveys.
Sign Up A Lot
When it comes to trying to make money using online surveys, the key is to sign up for as many free programs you can. Each program may only offer you a few survey opportunities each month. However, if you have ten companies offering you a few each month, you will have a better chance at actually making some money from your time. So, don’t be afraid to sign up as often as you can!
Follow Through
The most important aspect of making money online with surveys is following through. If you simply delete every survey opportunity that is offered to you, you won’t make any money. So, after you sign up for survey programs and choose to participate, you really need to follow through. In some cases, if you pass on too many of the surveys, you will be taken off their lists and not offered any surveys at all. So, if you are dedicated to making money online with surveys, you need to follow through.
Be General
When it comes to getting more opportunities offered to you through online services, you will need to be as general as possible. Many of these online survey programs will ask you to fill out questionnaires to allow them to know how old you are, if you are married, if you have children, and so on. The more general you can be on the surveys, the more you will likely qualify for. So, be sure to check all of the boxes you can! For instance, instead of just checking the box that you have children be sure to tell the company their genders and ages.
Overall, there is money to be made with online surveys. Be sure to use these tips on ways to earn money doing online surveys and before long you will enjoy those extra funds rolling in. In addition, many survey companies will often send you free merchandise or coupons as well. You may even be asked to test out various products. It is a lot of fun to participate in online survey programs, so go ahead and give it a try. A typical survey takes less than ten minutes and might even be enjoyable to you. Just don’t tell too many of your friends, or you might not get as many survey opportunities as you would like!
If you think old school there are other ways to make money such as collecting bottles,cans an news papers to sell for money. Other ideas include cleaning and doing errands for seniors or at a Senior community center.
Right on with the opening statement. You didn’t want to work, but you did. That’s what 21 millionaires I interviewed did to create millions so it surely will work to make a few bucks for a teenager.
I am looking into maybe starting a Hub, and I’m 15. Would it be a good idea to sign my mom up for AdSense and run the money through her?
I would say some of them do but not all, I know some survey sites don’t required you to be 18.
these are really good ideas especially the ones on survey. I was wondering what if my country is not listed in the category to register as a member? how can i be able to register? i would really like to do the survey one…
any ideas for a 15 year old who wants to make some cash this summer? most of these are for 18 and older… and all the babysitting and mowing jobs in my neighborhood are taken!
Ellie, are you any good with social marketing and search engine optimization? You might approach your local chamber of commerce to let them know you could help small businesses with that aspect of their business for a reasonable price. Hopefully they can help you through it.
Whatever it is you end up doing, work hard at it and good things will come, even if it’s just working hard at looking for a job! Maybe consider a part-time job you can keep when you return to school if it isn’t too intense.
I was looking for ways that my teen, Mariah, could earn money, however, it’s my hope that I can too!
Great list!
My wife and I started our online furniture business by posting ads on Craigslist and have grown it to where it supports us both full time.
We use Ebay and have our website and have just in the last few weeks ventured into blogging as a result of finding your blog.
do you have any articles discussing online work for 11 years old? No it’s not me since i am not 11 years old. i just found a question in yahoo answers about an 11 year-old yahoo user looking for a part time job. I have posted a URL of this article to his question and he/she would definitely check your post and ask about it.
thanks
I like online surveys.They are awesome…I make more than 500/mo.I would recommend you to join only free surveys.Most of them are legitimate.I’ve spend a lot of time and money for paid surveys … and they were scams.
Hi I’m only thirteen and I need ways to earn $950.00 to be able to participate in my school’s Show Choir. (Fees cover costumes, transportation, lodging, etc.)
My parents won’t pay for it because it is too financially exhausting and I think that if a make a majority of the amount needed they will supper me with my decision to participate in Show Choir. I’ve always wanted to do Show Choir and when they told me no, I was devastated. This is my last chance to take part in this amazing experience and I don’t want to lose it. Please help!
Thanks,
Jamie
Hi it’s still Jamie from the show choir request….i meant to say that I hope my parents will support me in my decision…I hate typos
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I’m 15 years old and tying to raise money to go on this really amazing trip to the Mediterranean. I’m having a problem though: I live in a REALLY small town, I haven’t lived here long, and I actually want to work for the money. Do you have any ideas that I could maybe use to get the money?? I have to raise $7,000. At most places around here, you have to be atleast 16 to get a job, because I tried. So, help!!!
Hi Katherine,
Give http://www.gofundme.com/ a try, you might be surprised how generous people are
Surveys usually pay about 25 cents per survey….. not a great way to spend your time!!!
DON’T DO THE SURVEY SITES!!!!!!!!!
I have no idea why everyone says they’re a good way to make money…I’ve been around these so-called “surveys” a lot, and let me tell you, it’s cheap, greedy, spamming a$$holes that make these.
They really aren’t surveys at all, actually, theyre just ads where you fill out your information… apparently survey is code for “spam”. They never go through, or if they do actually go through, they pay under 50 cents. One leads to another which leads to another which leads to another, and before you know it, you’ll have made a nickel while about 40 obscure and/or shady companies will have gotten your address and phone number.
Bottom line: do not listen to those people who say “They’re a great way to earn money!” Just run… run and plug your ears… THEY AREN’T SURVEYS!!
THEY AREN’T!!!! THEY’RE SPAM!!!
So true… so true!!
I have been using it and have gotten paid from them, so I can confirm that it isn’t a scam. But it is work and requires a good amount of reading (of their directions) to do it well, if you don’t do that then it is pretty tough to figure out
Love the post will be back again to visit and tell friends about excellent site and original posts.
I think these are some great ideas – particularly the ones involving the internet and websites. Kids today are so involved in the latest technology I think they could definitely show us grown ups a thing or two. I would suggest 1 specific idea, a website that shows, step by step, how to use the most recent technology. That could be phones, tablets or software on a computer. There are a lot of adults who really need the help and so many kids just seem to know how to do these things intuitively.
Thanks! This is a great list. Being a teenager myself, I have been looking for different ways to make money and some things on this list have definitely caught my eye. Another thing I have discovered, of you have more of an appreciation for crafts, is to make products out of duct tape. People seem to have interest in unique things like this. I have recently been asked to create a beach-themed check book. It does take a bit of practice and patience, but soon enough, if you stick to it (no pun intended), it will definitely be worth it. You would also need a non-stick cutting board, as these help very much in duct tape craft-making, scissors (which are also sold in non-stick form at craft stores) or an Exacto knife if you are very careful, and a model of whatever you are making so you know what size to make it, such as a wallet or checkbook. They have great examples of crafts to make at ducttape.com and other websites. If you get serious enough in your duct tape business you can even make a website to sell them on or even sell them on etsy.com for more of a profit, such as shipping if you want to charge for that, which I may do when I get good enough. Good luck!
-Bree
I work for a computer game company. #30 is a violation of the Terms of Service for every online game and, if caught, will result in the account being permanently banned.
and it may be a term of service violation for the games your company own but not others .
I am 57yrs old and just lost my part time job so I am willing to try anything legal I have been in the nursing profession I Have also worked in the medical aid industry but right now I need whatever is out there I have got 2 little 5yr old girls I have taken on and they need so much I really want to provide or be able to So I will definitely try this
Hi Bob,
Just wanted to let you know that the Teen Cash Machine closed up shop and is no longer active. It’s all little frustrating – I think we spent like $200 or so on this program and the program was pretty solid. Nevertheless, all emails I’ve sent to the owners get kicked back…maybe there was a power outage in Australia? If you know these guys and have details as to what may have happened I would appreciate it. I trust you and Jonathon, but I’m losing faith in your Aussie counterparts! Please let me know if you can find anything out; thanks!
Nick, I have found that to be true. It is a bummer because it was a helpful program, but while I did have contact with the creator for a while, I have tried to contact him over the last year or more and have never gotten a response – so my only assumption is that they have closed up shop.
I think that your website is a good place! to learn make money, thanks!
Thank you very much for those lovely advice. They were very informative and hopefully it will help me become in my blogs. I’m not a teenager but I’m currently employed as a security guard and my income were genuinely small and sometimes I have to borrow. It’s not really easy. I’m tired of firms ripping off their employees’ monthly incomes. It’s not really fair that these big firms makes all the big bucks and you have to sacrifice a lot for a few small bucks. No sir thanks to your words of wisdom I’m gonna try to be a successful blogger. Once again thanks.
I love the list, if I may add Instant Payday Network is really great money free to start and makes me an average of $230 daily.
Give it a try no risk. Sorry my previous post had misinformation
This is some great info for earning online! Your site is useful. Many thanks for sharing!
I reallz loved the fiverr one because the easiest way to make money online and even offline is to solve other people’s problems.
I was hesitant to join fiverr but I gave it a try since it is completely free.
In half an hour I got my first order.
Here is some golden nuggets to make it work on fiverr. Don1t try to come up with creative ideas on your own.
At first juts try to browse categories you are familiar with then order the results by ratings. This way
you can get an idea what is working on fiverr and what is not.
If you can make your service slightly better or just mroe attractive than some of the top sellers
then you have a winner.
Remember, no matter how shy you are ALWAYS use videos because it sells your gig better than any text.
Hope I could help you in your online ventures.
How much can one make taking the surveys online if it’s legit?
Not enough to even bother…. really,.. it’s a huge waste of time…. you might make $1.50 after filling out many of these so called surveys.. and then you will begin receiving spam.. and you have to wonder is that where it came from… after all they have all your information.
Another good way to make some fast money is to take your old clothes, books, jewelry, furniture that you don’t want any more to a resale store that gives money back for your clothes. Make sure the place you are taking them to is one that does cash back, some resale shops only do store credit for your clothes. But I am a freshman in high school and I do this frequently with my clothes. Resale stores give you from 1/8 to 1/4 of the profit they will make from your clothes. That is a really good profit. I sometimes clear $60-80 off of the clothes, books, movies, jewelry that I take in to resale shops. A good nationwide resale shop to take your clothes too if you are a teenager is Plato’s Closet. They give cash back or will do store credit. They take clothes that are currently in style and also take books, jewelry, shoes, movies, and CDs. Plato’s is also really good about taking name brand items like Miss Me’s and True Religion, and so on.
Great article!About 4) Take online surveys.A lot of people think that all paid surveys are scams.Actually that is not right.If you want to find quality and legitimate survey sites and start making money today, follow my tips.1)Join ONLY legitimate and free survey sites.You can find them on Google, but DON’T type broad keywords like “surveys”, or “paid surveys”.Instead, try something more specific, like “paid surveys with free registration” or “how to find legitimate surveys for money”.That way you will find better results.2)NEVER share your credit card information or your SSN.3)Try to find more information about the survey companies you plan to join by typing “YourSurveyCompanyName” + scams, forums, review.That way you will find more information about every site, you are interested in.4)Join several free survey companies.That way you will make more money.Hope that helps.
My Likes:
Cashcrate is my favorite site and the one that I’ve received the most checks from. I’ve been doing it for about a year now and honestly have never had a problem with it. Cashcrate is one of the most popular GPT sites having 990,000+ members. First of all it’s free to sign up and it’s been around for years. Cashcrate has many types of offers that you can complete for money. There is an entire section of absolutely free offers. This means you fill out surveys and get paid. Simple as that.
Their referral system is great too. When you sign up a person you earn 20% of your level 1 referrals. If you can collect quite a few referrals, that can turn into some excellent income from others doing work! Cashcrate not only pays you 20% of your level one referrals, but they implement a 2 level referral system. That means anyone who signs up under your referrals, you will also earn 10% of their earnings. When a referral gets to the $10 minimum you get an automatic $3 bonus! Not only can you earn all that money, but once you get more referrals, your referral percentage increase up to 30%. This is why Cash crate is the best GPT site. Your earning potential is unlimited.
My Dislikes:
If you live outside the US, Canada or UK you won’t have many offers.
Yes, but Joseph… exactly how much do they pay per survey? I tried them, and I was lucky to find one that paid more than 25 cents!!!!! That’s not money… really! It’s change!
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