If you’re a kid looking to make money, luckily there are many different methods to get started.
With today’s technology, you can even make money online as a kid, something previous generations lacked.
In this post, I’ll explore how to make money as a kid, some of the best ways for kids to make money, and how kids can make money fast to set themselves up for a better future. Let’s get started!
Best Ways for Kids to Make Money
Do Your Chores to Make Money as a Kid
Many families have weekly chores that can be completed to earn money for completing small tasks.
Some of the most common chores include:
- Washing the dishes
- Feeding pets and animals
- Cleaning and vacuuming rooms
- Washing vehicles
While the pay for completing chores might not be massive, it can be a good way to earn some extra money each week if your family is on the same page.
If you’re a kid looking to learn more about money, Brian from Kid Wealth has some great resources you should check out!
Dog Walking
Kids are a great option to walk dogs to make money. The only thing needed is your time to get started.
You can find dog walking jobs through friends and family or use an app like Rover.
Usually, pet owners will require their dogs walked a few times per week, giving you the opportunity to make money each week. You can expect to earn around $20 for every 30 to 40 minutes of dog walking.
Make Money as a Kid Cleaning Houses
House cleaning is an excellent choice for kids to make money. With some basic supplies you can get started making money in no time.
You can find homes to clean from friends and family or browse on various social media websites like Facebook and Nextdoor.
Depending on the number of homes you clean, you can easily make a couple of hundred dollars per week.
Car Washing and Detailing
For some kids, washing and detailing cars can be a fun and satisfying method to make money.
You’ll need to purchase some basic cleaning supplies to get started, which can cost less than $100.
You can expect to charge anywhere from $20 to over $50 per car depending on the level of cleaning you complete.
Similar to other service jobs, you’ll want to approach friends and family to find work before browsing social media websites. If you’re looking for more, check out my guide to starting a mobile car detailing business!
Babysitting
If you’re old enough to watch younger children, babysitting is a superb way to make money as a kid.
Typically you’ll be tasked with watching a child or group of children while the parents are away.
This typically lasts anywhere from 6 to 10 hours and you can make anywhere from $15 to $20 per hour (depending on the number of children) plus a free meal!
Babysitting can be more lucrative than other side hustles for kids. Some babysitters will make business cards and flyers to pass out around their neighborhood to find work. If you go this route, include basic information including your name, contact information, and anything else you think is vital to securing the job.
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House Sitting
Depending on your age, you might be capable of house sitting while homeowners are away. This usually entails living at a home full-time while the owners are away. You might also be delegated to complete other tasks involved with staying at the home like feeding any pets and getting the mail.
This is an extremely easy way to make money as a kid because it only requires your time and presence to get paid.
Start a Blog to Make Money as a Kid
Starting a blog can be a great way for a person of any age to make money if they are motivated enough.
While starting a blog as a kid certainly brings its own challenges, it also provides a unique opportunity to learn and develop skills that can last a lifetime.
There are a few main steps to starting a blog as a kid.
First, you’ll need to find a topic that you’re interested in or passionate about. It doesn’t need to be something you’re very skilled at (although that can help!).
Once you’ve selected a topic, you’ll want to find a domain name that suits your niche. If you’re under the age of 18, you’ll likely need to ask your parents or legal guardian to purchase the domain name.
After your domain name is purchased, you’ll need to purchase hosting. Similarly to purchasing a domain name, there’s a good chance you’ll need a legal guardian to complete this step.
Once you’ve purchased hosting, you’ll need to create your website and get started blogging! You can start researching and writing about topics you find interesting. You can choose to purchase a WordPress theme or build your own. This will usually cost less than $100.
In total, you can get started with a blog for less than $200 for each year with hosting and domain renewal fees.
Take Surveys Online
If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to make some money as a kid, try taking surveys online.
Companies are willing to pay for your opinions and thoughts so there’s no reason not to cash in.
Some of my favorite survey sites are listed below. As a bonus, most sites will offer a signup bonus when you register for a new account!
- InboxDollars – $5 bonus for new sign-ups
- SurveyJunkie – earn up to $50 per survey
- Swagbucks – earn $5 instantly for new sign-ups
Do Yard Work for Neighbors
Doing yardwork for neighbors can be an excellent method for kids to make some money on the weekends.
Whether you’re picking up leaves, pulling weeds, or laying mulch, yard work is a great way to make money. You can earn anywhere from $10 to over $15 per hour for your time in the sun, making it a high paying option for kids.
The only downside is that it can be exhausting.
Start a YouTube Channel to Earn Money
Similar to blogging, starting a YouTube channel can be a good option for kids looking to earn some extra cash.
You’ll start by exploring several topics that interest you and crafting your channel in a way that entertains others.
To get started, you might want to invest some money into a video camera and background as well as some video editing software.
Depending on the type of equipment you choose, it can cost anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to well over $1,000 to get started.
Become a Video Game Streamer to Make Money as a Kid
Kids love video games so using them to make money can be an excellent idea.
By streaming video gameplay, kids can make money by monetizing their channel with ads or affiliate links.
It can be difficult to gain significant traction as a video game streamer and you’ll need to be extremely skilled playing games to go viral.
If you’ve got the skills, you can get started for very little and have the ability to make millions of dollars for some of the top streamers.
Offer Holiday Setups
Putting up Christmas lights can be a pain for homeowners. Many of them would be more than happy to shell out some money to have it completed for them.
Kids can offer holiday setups and tear-downs to make money in the winter months.
This requires virtually no money to get started and you can charge between $250 to over $1,500 per setup depending on the complexity.
Grow a Social Media Following
Kids and teens make great candidates to grow a social media following to make money.
There are multiple methods to growing a social media following depending on your skills and wants.
Once your following starts to build, you can promote affiliate links and work with brands to make money from your followers.
Start a Pressure Washing Business
Similar to yard work, pressure washing offers kids a way to make money working outside.
To get started, you’ll need to have access to a pressure washer which you can do by purchasing one or renting one from a local hardware store. You can learn the basics of pressure washing online through various YouTube videos and websites.
There are many different types of pressure washing ranging from driveways to fences and even house exteriors. For kids, you might want to limit your work to driveways and fences as home exteriors are more dangerous and will require additional equipment including ladders or scaffolding.
You can choose to price your projects per hour or by the job depending on what you feel comfortable with. It’s common to earn more than $20 per hour with pressure washing. You can check out my guide to starting a pressure washing business for more info!
Complete Oil Changes for Friends and Family
If you’re on the handy side and enjoy working on vehicles, consider doing oil changes for friends and family to make money as a kid.
You can charge around $50 to $100 per oil change and they can take as little as an hour.
You’ll need some supplies to get started including a car jack, funnels, motor oil, and some other handy tools but it can be relatively easy.
Mow Grass
Outside of other yard work, mowing grass can provide a steady income for kids. Because homeowners will require weekly lawn care, this provides an opportunity to make money throughout the summer months.
Depending on the size of the yard, you can charge between $25 and over $100 per mow, which can add up over the course of a month.
You’ll need to purchase (or rent) a lawnmower, trimmer, and blower to provide superior service and make more money.
Sell Baseball Cards
Baseball and other legendary sports cards have become extremely lucrative over the past few years.
There’s a good chance as a kid you might have some laying around.
You can check their value on websites like eBay to get a better understand of how much money you can make. Some cards can easily sell for over $1,000 or more.
If you find some, try these places to sell sports cards!
Also, don’t forget you can also sell Pokeman cards and Yugioh cards for cash.
Sell Old Video Games
Similar to baseball cards, old video game consoles and games can also be worth a significant amount. Browse through your collection and take inventory of any consoles or games you might think would be worth some money.
You can then browse eBay to see how much they are worth and sell them to make money.
Become a Photographer
Photography can be an easy way to make money as a kid because it requires little equipment. You’ll need to purchase a digital camera and photo editing software but that’s likely the only equipment beginner photographers will need.
You can start by taking portraits of friends and family before moving on to more complex scenes.
It’s common for photographers to sell various packages with digital photos depending on the amount of time the shoot will take.
Sell Stock Photography
If you’ve already developed your photography skills, you can expand into stock photography as another income stream.
Stock photography allows you to sell photos online for anyone to use and you’ll receive a portion of each sale you make.
There is a market for just about every form of photography whether it be landscape photography, drone footage, or portrait photography.
The amount of money you can make as a kid selling stock photos can be almost limitless. If you can take great pictures that become popular, you can easily make over 5 figures selling photos online.
Sell Candles from Home
Candle making can be a creative and fun way to make money from home. To get started, you can check out my guide to candle making to learn how to make candles and sell them. The process is much easier than you might think and it takes less than 20 minutes to make a scented candle.
The materials needed to get started will often cost less than $100 depending on your needs so it can be a very affordable side hustle.
You can craft your candles to suit your audience’s wants to improve sales and make more money.
Collect Recyclables
Collecting aluminum and plastic recyclables can be another way to make some extra money each month as a kid.
You can transport your stash to your local recycling center routinely and get paid for your collection.
Depending on the weight and type of recyclables, you might be capable of making between $50 and $100 each month.
Flip Shoes
Shoe flipping can be a fun way for kids to make money especially if they’re into fashion.
By purchasing a pair of shoes and selling them for a profit, the amount of money you can make is limited to your ability to find deals and sell effectively.
There are tons of things you can flip for a profit, and shoes are on the list!
Paint Fences
Paining fences is an easy way to make money for kids and teens over the summer. You’ll need to be comfortable working in the sun to get the job done.
You can charge per hour or for the whole project but it’s common to make over $20 per hour painting fences.
Stain Decks
The sun can be very hard on wood. Because of this, you must protect your wood using stain to ensure it lasts longer and remains stable.
Deck staining is a great option for kids because you don’t need any special skills to complete the job.
To get started, you’ll need to purchase some brushes and other supplies which you can get for less than $100.
Depending on the size of the deck, you can charge anywhere from $200 to over $1,000.
Shovel Snow
In the winter months, homeowners dread going outside only to find their driveway consumed with snow.
They will gladly pay for someone to remove the snow so they can get out of their house.
You’ll just need to purchase a shovel and some salt (optional) to start making money shoveling snow but it can pay well. If you want to up your game, consider purchasing a snowblower to expedited the process and make more money.
Depending on the size of the driveway, you can charge anywhere from $30 to over $100.
Invest Money to Make Money as a Kid
You might think you need to be 18 to invest in stocks, and that’s typically the case. But with the help of a legal guardian, you can invest as a kid to make money.
The catch here is that you’ll need some money to get started. Depending on what your investing goals are, it could be quite costly.
You can get started by investing in a low-cost ETF or mutual fund that is well diversified.
Become an Assistant
There are many families that just need some extra help around the home. You might be tasked with going to the grocery or picking up some afternoon coffee.
Becoming an assistant can be a good option for kids and teens because the only thing required is time, something many kids have.
Your pay will likely be anywhere from $10 to $15 per hour of work.
Build Websites for Companies
While this method will require some knowledge, many kids have an interest in technology.
Offer web design and development services to small businesses in your area to make money.
This side hustle can be a great way to make money. Most websites will cost anywhere from $950 to over $5,000.
You’ll need to have a good understanding of how to build a website which can be learned online through YouTube videos or several blogs.
Cell Phone Repair
With nearly every American carrying a smartphone, there is a massive market for cell phone repair.
Whether it’s cracked screens, battery replacements, or antenna issues, cell phone repair can be a great business for kids to start to make money.
Depending on the issue with the device, you can make anywhere from $50 to over $100 per repair.
You’ll need to invest in some tools to get started, all of which cost less than $50.
Open a Lemonade Stand as a Kid
The first business many kids will start is a lemonade stand.
This iconic business has been run by kids for decades and it can be a fun way to make some extra money on the weekends.
Depending on your area, it can be easy to make $25 a day on your lemonade stand.
Sell Baked Goods to Make Money
Similar to a lemonade stand, selling baked goods like cookies and scones can be a fun way to earn money as a kid.
You can choose to set up a stand or promote your items on social media to sell them.
You can make around $25 per day selling baked goods.
Have a Garage Sale
Many kids have a plethora of old toys, games, and other items that can easily be sold at a garage or yard sale to earn money.
This is a good idea for both parents and kids to make money on junk that isn’t used often.
Build an App
Just like building websites, creating and developing an app can help kids make money and acquire skills. You’ll need to be tech-savvy to get started, but you can learn how to code through various resources online.
Review Products and Services
If you’ve ever seen a video or post online about a specific product, there’s a good chance the company is paying for that service.
Depending on your platform, you can make a significant income reviewing products online. You can create YouTube videos or write blog posts reviewing products to make money as a kid.
Tutor Other Students to Make Money
If you do well at school, consider tutoring other students and charging them for your time.
Depending on your knowledge and area of expertise, you can charge anywhere from $15 to over $30 per hour.
Complete Homework for Other Students
If there’s one thing kids hate, it’s homework. By completing homework for other students, you can easily earn some extra money.
Depending on the type of homework, you could charge anywhere from $15 to over $30 per assignment.
Teach Another Language
If you’re bilingual, you can easily monetize your skills. There are plenty of others looking to learn another language so teaching them how can be a great way to earn some extra money.
Depending on the type of language, you can charge around $20 per hour for your knowledge.
Start a T-Shirt Business to Make Money Online
Selling t-shirts online is a great option for kids and teens looking to make money and there are various avenues to get started.
You can choose to start a drop ship t-shirt business in which orders are shipped directly from the manufacturer to the customers. This will save you money on inventory costs and help you to ship your products faster. You’ll need to have a website to sell your products or you can choose to sell them on e-commerce sites like Amazon or eBay.
Another option is to bulk order and ship your t-shirts yourself. This will offer significantly higher margins for your business, but you’ll need to have some money upfront.
No matter which method you choose, starting a t-shirt business can be a great idea for kids and teens to get creative and make some money!
Referee Kids Sporting Events
There are likely hundreds of small sporting events ranging from soccer games to swim meets in your city giving some kids the opportunity to make some money on the weekends.
You can easily make anywhere from$25 to over $50 per weekend as a referee.
Flip Books to Make Money
While physical books have been forgotten about by many, there are many people who still collect them. This brings kids a great method to make money.
The best way to make money flipping books is by searching out garage and yard sales to find books that people will often sell for less than one quarter. Then you can list these books on an e-commerce website like Amazon or eBay for a profit.
Depending on the number of books you can find and sell, you can easily make a few hundred dollars per month.
Water Plants for Neighbors
There’s a good chance your neighbors might need some help watering plants, especially while they are away from their homes.
You can make anywhere from $10 to $25 watering plants depending on the frequency of work.
Become a Bicycle Mechanic to Make Money as a Kid
Kids all around the globe have used bicycles as their primary form of transportation for years.
With that much adoption and use comes a similar demand for those capable of fixing and cleaning bicycles.
Depending on your skills, you can charge anywhere from $20 to over $50 per repair. These skills can be learned through YouTube videos or mechanic books.
Make and Sell Jewelry
For some kids, making jewelry can be a great option to make money and get creative. You can sell your jewelry to friends and family.
Depending on the type of jewelry you plan to make, you can easily get started for less than $50.
Sell Art
Some kids can be extremely talented when it comes to art. There can be a large demand for some custom pieces.
Drawings of pets or family members can be extremely popular around the holidays, offering you a chance to cash in.
Depending on the level of detail of your pieces, you could easily charge $100 or more.
Get Paid as a Freelance Writer
You don’t necessarily have to be older to become a freelance writer. For kids who are skilled at writing and editing, working as a freelance writer can be a great way to make some extra money while growing your skills.
Freelance writing can pay very well, too. Depending on the type of work, you can easily earn around .25 to .50 cents per word written.
You can find work on various freelance websites like Fiverr or Upwork or you can choose to work directly with companies.
Test Apps and Websites for Companies
Many companies will look for people to test their apps and websites. This offers both kids and teens a great way to make money in their free time.
The pay ranges but you can expect to earn around $15 per hour of testing. You can try websites like UserTesting to get started.
Become a Mystery Shopper
Many larger companies will pay people to visit their stores as a mystery shopper to get a better understanding of how their store is operating. You’ll be tasked with specific instructions to complete the job and you’ll be asked to answer questions after your visit.
The pay will range depending on the store and company but it’s common to make around $50 to $100 per visit.
Enter a Video Game Tournament
Another way to make money with video games is by entering tournaments and winning cash prizes.
Because so many kids and teens enjoy video games, this can be a fun way to win some money. The downside is that you’ll need to be among the top video game players in order to win money.
How to Make Money Fast as a Kid
If you’re a kid looking to make money fast, my favorite method is to sign up for various websites that pay you cash instantly.
Swagbucks and InboxDollars both offer a $5 bonus for free when you register. You can then use these websites to make money taking surveys or watching videos online.
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Can Kids Start a Business to Make Money?
You might be wondering if you can start a business as a kid and there isn’t one simple answer. There’s a good chance you’ll need to be at least 18 years of age to start a business, but if you have a legal guardian, they might be able to establish the business for you.
What You Need to Know About Making Money as a Kid
Making money as a kid is a great way to get ahead financially. But you’ll need to be smart with your money to do so.
As your income increases, you’ll want to ensure you save your money to truly reap the benefits. You can even consider investing the remains of the money you’ve made to further boost your income over time.
Related: How Old Do You Have to Be to Invest in Stocks?
Final Thoughts on How to Make Money as a Kid
Believe it or not, there are many different ways for kids to make money in their free time.
Between walking dogs, washing cars, and doing yard work for neighbors, making money as a kid is easier than you might think.
Try a few of them and see which one you like best. You can also check out these online jobs for teens for more inspiration.
What’re your favorite ways to make money as a kid? Comment below!
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