How to Make Money As a Teenager: 15 Smart Ways Teens Can Make Money

Earning some extra money as a teenager opens up tons of possibilities – from saving for coveted items to gaining valuable financial experience. But where should you start?

In this post, we’ll explore over 15 realistic strategies for teens to start making bank, backed by real-world examples from money-savvy youth just like you!

Paid Task Opportunities

Completing small paid tasks locally or online is a simple way to bring in cash without making a massive time commitment. Let’s check out hot options:

1. Become a Babysitter or Pet Sitter

Babysitting and petsitting for families, friends or community members offer flexible income possibilities with minimal barriers to entry.

To establish yourself as a competent sitter, proactively:

• Create online or paper flyers to promote your services
• Highlight any first aid/CPR training
• List availability for evenings, weekends or school breaks
• Share any past childcare experience even with younger siblings or cousins

Get the word out by asking parents at your church, tutoring families or neighborhood Facebook groups. With some hustle, this can easily net $10 to $20 per hour or more.

Top sites to create your professional babysitter profile include:

• Sittercity
• Care.com

2. Become a Virtual Assistant

Demand is skyrocketing for online administrative or creative support in the new virtual workforce. With strong communication and tech skills, teenagers can offer social media management, data entry, writing, web research, email management, scheduling and much more.

Some easy ways to start promoting your VA services include:

• Creating an account on Fiverr or Upwork
• Joining local Facebook Groups and offering cost-friendly packages
• Making a basic website through Wix showcasing your services
• Listing availability to assist busy professionals or side hustlers

At $5 to $20+ per hour, tasks add up fast while allowing you to gain career experience from home.

3. Complete Online Surveys

Online surveys won’t make you rich but offer effortless extra income with 100% flexibility. Popular options include:

• Swagbucks – Earn cashback and gift cards for normal internet searching, plus paid surveys and games
• Survey Junkie – Quick registration process with surveys paying $1 to $5 each
• Toluna – Broad survey selection also allowing you to test unreleased products and services

While individual survey payout is modest, collectively across sites this generates noticeable side cash requiring very minimal effort.

4. Test New Apps

App developers desperately need feedback from real-world users to identify bugs and request feature improvements before launch.

By providing valuable user input through sites like UserTesting ($10 per test) or TryMyUI (up to $60 per test!), you can pocket easy money with flexible hours.

Some key perks:

• No past experience or training required
• Tests take about 20 minutes
• Payments process via PayPal right after completion

This offers a unique opportunity to shape future mobile applications while getting compensated.

Money-Making Hustles

Beyond one-off paid tasks, explore more ongoing side hustles with earning potential through platforms giving you broader exposure and sales opportunities.

5. Sell Crafts or Art on Etsy

Homemade jewelry, wall prints, t-shirt designs, candles, terrariums, knitted goods…if you can dream it you can profit from it on Etsy.

Top reasons this creative marketplace is perfect for teens:

• Low fees – Just a $0.20 USD listing fee per item + 5% of each final sale
• Options galore – Over 80 million shoppers provide instant exposure for your wares
• Keep effort minimal – No need to manage shipping or inventory
• Scale up easily – Expand product listings and eligible variants once initial traction

Some Etsy shops have grossed over $100k annually! But start small, test demand for your offerings and build gradually.

Check out this step-by-step Etsy set up guide when you’re ready to begin legally selling. Parents may need to assist with tax requirements.

6. Resell Thrift Store Finds

Flipping products for profit has become hugely popular thanks to shows like TLC’s Extreme Couponing and resources like the /r/Flipping subreddit.

The concept is simple – source discounted or free items from thrift stores, yard sales or clearance racks then resell at higher prices.

Clothing, shoes, vintage collectibles, video games and electronics tend to offer best profit margins but get creative! Top teen flippers even buy craft supplies or seasonal decor items in bulk then break into smaller lots.

You can peddle goods across platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark or local consignment stores.

Some helpful reselling tips:

• Start small while learning the ropes before investing serious cash
• Calculate allowable profit margin before purchasing inventory
• Title listings clearly and take appealing photos
• Share success stories and pics showing off the flips on your social accounts

Flipping takes some patience but ultimately pays off nicely!

7. Teach a Skill or Hobby

Share your specialized knowledge by offering local classes in things like:

• Music lessons
• Tennis coaching
• Tutoring
• Arts and crafts workshops
• Dance class
• Cooking basics
• Computer assistance
• Swim instruction
• Fitness bootcamps

Top ways to spread the word about your service offerings include:

• Hanging flyers at community centers, libraries and noticeboards
• Running Facebook or Instagram ads targeted locally
• Asking family and friends to refer people they think would benefit

Once you start securing students, this offers recurring revenue from a hobby you already enjoy! Just be sure to clearly outline class logistics like group sizes, rates and materials needed for the best experience.

For even simpler money earning, create tutorial or lesson videos to post on YouTube monetizing through their Partner Program over time.

Profit With Content Creation

Beyond physical products or services, a hugely valuable (and often free) asset teenagers have is unlimited creativity! Generate cash by creating popular digital content within your niche interests.

8. Launch a YouTube Channel

YouTube opens up endless money making possibilities if you can create videos that engage, entertain or educate viewers.

Thanks to Google AdSense, channels of all sizes can start monetizing their content through advertisements almost immediately.

Income grows exponentially the more views, likes and subscribers you drive.

Top-earning channels produce consistent content focused on things like:

• Gaming playthroughs and commentary
• Comedy and parody sketches
• DIY tutorials
• Product reviews
• Celebrity impersonations
• Science experiments
• Music covers
• And more!

Check out the YouTube Partner Program once you hit eligibility requirements.

With enough effort devoted to video creation and channel branding this can fund your future tuition!

9. Create Printables

Beyond videos, printable templates, planners, art and activity sheets are all the rage right now.

These digital downloads require some initial effort to design but earn totally passive income over time as other educators, moms, organizers or DIYers purchase and use your creations.

Some popular niches to explore include:

• Teacher printables – Phonics games, classroom posters, learning activity sheets, homework templates etc.
• Hand lettering designs – Wedding seating charts, quote images, banners, birthday cards, planner stickers and more
• Fitness and health trackers – Workout logs, weight loss charts, habit trackers, meditations, yoga poses, sport drills etc.

Leading marketplaces to upload and sell your printables include:

• Etsy
• Creative Market
• Teachers Pay Teachers – Specifically for educator lesson plans and classroom content

Study top-selling listings across these sites to identify in-demand templates then design your own to plug unmet needs!

10. Start Blogging

Like YouTube, blogging represents a strategic long term play allowing you to share knowledge, establish authority and drive referral traffic to monetize in diverse ways.

Some proven models popular with teens:

• Product blogs – Share deals, coupon codes and buying advice around things like clothes, shoes, gaming gear, books, beauty items etc. Monetize with affiliate commissions.
• How-to sites – Teach something like drawing tutorials, coding skills, photo editing, instrument lessons, study techniques etc. Earn from ads, digital products or sponsored posts over time.
• Travel blogs – For teens who journey often, document your adventures abroad and outdoor exploits then integrate travel affiliate links or pursue sponsorships.

Easy site builders to start with include Wix and WordPress.

While blogging itself may not produce instant tangible earnings, over 1-3 years the compounding impact of quality content, SEO and social promotion can become quite substantial.

Location-Based Opportunities

The final set of money making ideas involve leaving your bedroom and interacting IRL!

11. Get a Traditional Part-Time Job

Places like grocery stores, retail shops, restaurants, gyms, hardware stores and more are often hiring. Predictable hours and reliable paychecks make part-time jobs worthwhile despite modest baseline wages.

Reach out locally or check listings on sites like Snagajob to explore what’s available in your area. Having basic customer service skills goes a long way.

Aside from income itself, early jobs provide networking, time management and responsibility lessons to boost future career prospects.

12. Walk Dogs

Combining pets and exercise, apps like Wag! or Rover make it simple to find local dog owners needing someone to walk or play with their pooch while they’re stuck at the office or traveling.

Create a profile outlining your availability, previous dog experience, service rates and any special skills like administering medication.

Background checks instill homeowner confidence. Once approved, grab gigs from your phone then go complete the 30 minute – 1 hour dog adventures! At $15 to $25 per walk income adds up.

And you’ll stay active meeting furry friends rather than just binge watching Netflix.

13. House or Plant Sit

Similarly, apps like TrustedHousesitters connect homeowners with trusted sitters to watch over their abodes and green thumbs for weeks or months at a time as they travel abroad or relocate.

Main duties involve:

• Watering indoor/outdoor plants
• Feeding pets
• Getting mail
• Maintaining general upkeep

In exchange you’re given free lodging with full home access! For teens who love exploring properties and snuggling animals this provides major value beyond basic cash perks.

Sign up specifying your locations/duration/availability then browse listings to submit interest in gigs that excite you. Vetting questions ensure proper matching.

14. Become a Youth Sports Referee

Refereeing sports you play and understand like soccer, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse or hockey offers predictable pay supporting local league games and tournaments.

• Earn up to $30 per game in many regions
• Possibility to referee over 5 games per week during peak seasons = $150+ weekly
• Gain transferable public speaking, decision making and conflict management skills
• Stay involved with a sport you love

Reach out to community youth recreation departments, high school athletic directors or check sites like FindRefJobs to apply.

Note there is often an upfront certification course and uniform fee but this initial investment pays dividends over time. Become a fixture in your regional referee network for years of lucrative assignments.

15. Become an Event Staffer

Concert venues, festivals, conferences, amusement parks and stadiums frequently hire seasonal workers to assist with setup, takedown, customer service and operations.

Expected duties may include:

• Setting up chairs, tents, stages, fencing etc
• Distributing programs or merchandise
• Answering basic attendee questions
• Maintaining cleanliness
• Assisting vendors with inventory

Pay averages $10 – $15 per hour with more earned for overnight shifts or managerial duties. Hours are long but the behind-the-scenes environment and perks make it worthwhile for teens who love events!

Search sites like Event Staff for local opportunities or ask family friends connected with major venues. Leverage major summer festivals and live show tours happening through your town.

Let’s Get This Money, Teens!

There you have it – over 15 realistic ideas to start making bank as a busy student with limited time!

The most successful teen entrepreneurs:

• Pick 1 or 2 ideas that genuinely interest them rather than jumping sporadically
• Establish goals for monthly income based on hours willing to invest
• Stick with the hustle through challenges before claiming defeat
• Reinvest profits to upgrade equipment, expand product listings, hire VA help etc scaling the concept

With consistent effort devoted to the right business model, you will reap major financial (and personal growth) rewards!

Soon that coveted car, dream trip, college tuition or early retirement can become reality one small money making endeavor at a time.

Let me know in the comments which strategies resonated most or if you have any other teenage money making tips! Now get out there, work hard and start getting paid!

Disclaimer: The information provided on MoneyBert.com is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information. Investments carry risks, including potential loss of principal. For detailed information, please read our full disclaimer here.