Did you know there are a lot of ways teens can make money from the comfort of their own homes? Not only does the Internet provide plenty of money-making opportunities for teenagers, but it also allows them to flex their creative muscles for minimal costs.
If your teen wants to start generating online income, check out how teens can make money online.
Related: Teaching teens about money management, Financial literacy for kids
How much money can teens make online?
The amount of money that teens can make online can vary widely depending on several factors, including their skills, experience, the platform they use, and the amount of time they spend working. Whatever they choose to do, make sure they understand that it may take time to build up a reliable income stream. Additionally, you should ensure that they are aware of online safety practices and the need for money management while working online.
How old do teens have to be to start making money online?
While many online jobs typically require you to be at least 18 years of age, there are many ways teenagers can earn money online, regardless of their age. Just be sure they double-check the terms and conditions of any platform or company they sign up with to ensure they are eligible to start earning. Certain platforms like Etsy and eBay have age restrictions, and you, as the parent, may need to set up a parental account (which you are responsible for) for them to work through.
How to get your teen started
It’s not always easy to get started or discover what you want to do. The following tips can point your teen in the right direction.
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Start by identifying skills and interests. Get your teen to think about what they’re good at and what they enjoy doing. This can help them find job opportunities that align with their strengths and passions.
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Show them how to research job opportunities that match their profile. Look for freelance job sites, online tutoring platforms, and other online marketplaces that offer opportunities for teens.
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Help them create a professional online presence. Creating a professional presence is important if they’re looking for work online. This includes having a LinkedIn profile (you can set one up from the age of 16) and a professional email address.
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Build a network. Show them how to connect with people who are already working in your field of interest. Join online forums, social media groups, and other online communities where you can meet people who can offer advice and support.
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Encourage them to be persistent: Finding online work or creating an online business can be challenging, so it's important for them to be persistent. Encourage them to keep applying for jobs and improving their skills.
Ways for teens to make money online
Some of the best ways for teens to make money online are:
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Start a vlog
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Stream video games
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Offer your digital skills as a service
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Manage a social media account
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Become an influencer
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Complete online surveys
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Create an app
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Be an online tutor
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Test websites
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Sell photographs to image sites
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Sell on online marketplaces
1. Start a vlog (YouTube)
Vlogs are hugely popular and could help teens to earn a decent amount of money. However, it can take time to build an audience and generate income with this method, and while children aged 13-17 can have their own account and channel, they will need your parental permission.
There are a lot of different platforms that can be used, but YouTube is one of the best teens can utilise. It is easy to get started, and you can follow many great in-depth guides. Teenagers just need to choose what they want to vlog about and start recording.
YouTube stars can earn a lot of money, though earnings are based on how many people subscribe and like their videos.
Related: How to start a successful Youtube channel for kids
2. Stream video games (Twitch, YouTube)
If your teen loves video games, why not become a streamer and start earning money from their hobby? Platforms such as Twitch and YouTube allow people to stream their gaming sessions to an audience. The more people subscribe, follow, and interact with them, the more they earn. People can stream any game, and there is the potential to become a well-known figure in the gaming industry. Though bear in mind with Twitch that as a live streaming platform, there are some risks to be aware of, such as inappropriate content, unwanted contact (via private messages or 'whispers'), lack of appropriate moderation and scams/phishing. So be sure to talk to your kids about these things before use.
3. Offer your digital skills as a service (Fiverr, Upwork, PeoplePerHour)
If your teen has digital skills, they can offer them as a service to earn money online. They could be skilled at web design or can create high-quality copy for businesses. These types of skills have the potential to earn your teen a good income, and they could transition into full-time freelancing once they have a good portfolio.
4. Manage a social media account
Businesses today rely heavily on social media to connect with their audience. The trouble is that maintaining social media platforms takes a lot of time and effort, so many businesses outsource their social media requirements. Look for freelance social media management jobs that ask you to make content such as videos, images, and even content.
5. Become an influencer on social media
Influencers can earn a lot of money through social media, and your teen could become one with the right know-how. They will need to develop a large following in order to be classed as an influencer and post content that people love and want to follow. Encourage your teen to think about what type of influencer they want to be, such as a beauty or travel influencer. Then, they can start to work on building up a following on their chosen platform. Once they have an audience, brands will pay to advertise their products. The amount teens can earn from these advertisements will depend upon how well-known they become. Though before taking this route, it’s also important to be aware of the risks of being in the public eye. Alongside safety and privacy issues, there is a risk of cyberbullying, so make sure you manage and oversee what’s happening on their accounts.
6. Complete online surveys
While teens aren’t going to earn a huge amount of money with this option, it is still worth mentioning because of how quick and easy it is to get started. Various online sites allow teenagers to fill out surveys for cash. A couple of the best options are Swagbucks and YouGov (16+). It will take time to build up extra cash with this method, and they will need to check how much they need to earn before they can withdraw their money.
7. Create an app and sell it
If your teen wants to earn a lot of money online, app development is one skill they’ll want to focus on. If your teenager can create and sell an app, they could make a lot of money. While it helps to have coding experience, they don’t necessarily need it. There are ways to develop an app without any existing knowledge. This is one of the most lucrative ideas teens can follow to earn money online.
8. Be an online tutor
Does your teen have any skills or talents they could share with others? Online tutoring is becoming extremely popular and is fairly easy to set up. They’ll just need access to video software such as Skype or Zoom and join a tutoring site (many are free).
9. Sell photographs to image sites
Online image sites need great pictures to market their products and build their businesses. Your teen can turn their camera roll of cool pictures into their next income project. Foap.com allows teens to make an online portfolio that brands and companies can look through to choose images they’ll pay to use. Teens investigating how to make money online under-18 will need a parent’s consent to sign up for a Foap account.
10. Sell stuff online (eBay, Decluttr, Amazon Marketplace, Facebook Marketplace)
If you’re asking how to make money online under 18, entrepreneurship and selling stuff online is an excellent option for kids 13 and older. Your teen can use their arts and crafts skills to create products to sell. Thrifty kids can practice online business by selling old belongings through eBay, or an online marketplace like Etsy or Facebook Marketplace. Bear in mind that you must be at least 18 to sell on these platforms. However, under-18s can use a parent’s account with their permission.
Related:
How to sell on eBay as a teenager
How old do you have to be use Facebook marketplace?
11. Online transcriptionist
Teens who have excellent typing skills can work as online transcriptionists. They can transcribe audio or video recordings into text documents for individuals or companies. This job requires good listening skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently and accurately.
12. Customer service rep
Once your teen turns 16, they can earn a regular paycheck as a customer service representative. While the pay may start as low as minimum wage, customer service jobs can be an educational entry into the workforce, teaching valuable job skills.
13. Online proofreader
Your teen can literally Proofread Anywhere by becoming an online proofreader. Your up-and-coming writers can get experience in the field and practise their grammar skills. Teens must be 18 or older to use most proofreading job platforms.
14. Blogging
Another opportunity for younger teens asking how to make money online if they are under-18 is blogging. While it takes time to get a blog up and running, any teen can build an income from ads and affiliate marketing as their audience grows. Kids can start posting their work on public blog sites or develop their own. Two popular platforms for blogging are WordPress.
15. Website testing
Tech-savvy teens can also make money online by testing websites. Look for common website problems and even test mobile apps before and after they go live. Check out UserTesting.com to get started (teens aged 16-17 must sign UserTesting's Minor Contributor Addendum, and minors must have a parent or guardian to create the account on their behalf).
16. Virtual assistant
A virtual assistant job might be a good fit if your kid knows how to schedule appointments, handle emails, or type up documents. Virtual assistant job responsibilities vary widely, and so can the pay, but countless companies and professionals need VAs. Ask small businesses in your area or check reputable websites with job listings online.
17. Podcasting
Do you have a radio personality living at home? It might be time to hand them a microphone and let them start their own podcast. Sponsors and ads can make podcasting a lucrative business, allowing kids to make money discussing topics they’re passionate about.
18. Online Researcher
Teens who have good research skills can offer their services as online researchers. They can work with individuals or companies who need assistance with researching specific topics, gathering information, or analysing data. This can be an interesting and challenging job for teens who enjoy learning new things and exploring different subjects.
Tips for teens looking for ways to make money online
Teens should consider how to stay safe online, avoid scams, and a few other key tips before diving into online money-making. Other tips include::
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Keeping parents in the loop. Many online money-making opportunities will require a guardian/parent to help out. Teens may need to get a parent's help when setting up an online business, accounts, and ways to be paid.
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Watch out for scams. While there are plenty of opportunities to make money online, there are also many scams. Remind teens to keep an eye out for any opportunity that asks for money upfront or seems too good to be true.
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Be safe on the internet. Most kids know the basics about not giving personal information away online, but they should also look into ways to stay safe online as a business or entrepreneur. Consider setting up a separate email account, avoiding malware, and only sharing information with trusted sources when necessary.
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Use online jobs to prepare for their career. As they start looking for ways to make money online, consider how their idea can help them learn skills they’ll use down the road. Their online money project could be a great addition to their resume or set them up for success in their career.
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Set up PayPal or a bank account with parental help. They’ll need a place to receive money and manage their finances. Parents could consider setting up a PayPal account for easy payments (they will need you to open and manage this for them as you need to be 18 to open a Paypal account) and help kids set up their own bank account to start practising money management.
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Consider any tax liabilities. Go to Gov to find out whether you need to pay Income Tax and National Insurance.
Get your teenager their own prepaid debit card with GoHenry
When your teen starts making money, a GoHenry account can be invaluable. With a GoHenry teen debit card, your child can access their hard-earned money to make purchases online and in-store. You can also set up regular payments to top up their account, and there's the added peace of mind of parental controls as your child begins to understand the value of money and the power of savings.
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