Your children don't have to wait until they turn 18 to start earning money. With the right know-how, they can equip themselves to earn some cash outside of school. There are many ways that kids can start making money, whether it's setting up their own business or doing chores for pocket money. If they're keen to make money but not sure how to go about it, they can start thinking about what they like doing. Perhaps they have some skills that they could put to good use or start earning money from their hobbies.
Learning how to make their own money is a great skill for kids to develop that will benefit them for their entire life. It helps them learn the value of a hard day's work and empowers them to make responsible decisions about saving and spending their money. If they have a GoHenry kids debit card, they can use it just like a standard Visa debit card, giving them a sense of independence while also helping them get used to paying with a card rather than cash.
Need more inspiration? Check out our guide for some great ideas for how kids can make some extra money.
Our favourite ways to make money as a kid
- Game reviews
- Video game streaming
- Start a business
- Blogging
- Youtube channel
- Sell garden produce
- Dog walking
- Pet sitting
- Tutoring
- Games tester
- Weeding
- Washing cars
- Washing dogs
- Video game tournaments
- Running errands for elderly neighbours
- Selling hot drinks
How kids can make money through their hobbies
Most children have hobbies they dedicate some of their spare time to because they find them fun. But, while they may not have got into their hobbies with the idea of making money, some of them can turn into great money spinners that generate real income. Depending on how they focus their interests and talents, they can generate real money by doing something they would be doing anyway. Here are some great ideas for hobbies that kids can make money from:
How kids can make money gaming
Is your child an avid gamer? There are several ways to make money gaming as a kid. For instance:
Game reviews
If your child is aged 13 or over, they can post videos on YouTube, Twitch or Facebook Gaming of themselves playing video games and sharing game reviews, walkthroughs and tips. They can even stream their gaming live. They make money through advertising, brand sponsorships, subscriptions and viewer donations.
Video game streaming
Kids getting paid to play video games? It sounds like a dream, but video streaming has made it a very lucrative reality for many people. As many as 18% of kids earn money through online gaming. Youngsters aged 13 and over can record themselves and upload to video-sharing sites like YouTube or stream live on platforms like Twitch. Streamers typically make money by displaying adverts, working with brands, selling subscriptions and viewer donations.
Tutoring
Tutoring other people to play games is a great way to earn money as a kid. If your child is good at gaming, they can help other people brush up on their gaming skills by passing on their knowledge and skills.
Tournaments
If kids think they're good enough at gaming, they could enter into gaming tournaments to earn cash prizes. These competitions have big sponsors, which can mean big prizes. But they need to keep in mind that they'll be up against some amazing gamers.
Games tester
As video game testers, they can try out video games before they've even hit the shops. They'll be paid to check for any glitches and ensure that the entire game is playing correctly.
How kids who love animals can make money
If your child is passionate about animals, then the good news is that there are several ways kids who love animals can make money.
Training dogs
If your child has successfully trained the family dogs or even a friend or relative's dog, they could market their dog training skills to other pet owners.
Washing dogs
Washing a dog can be challenging for some owners, but it's a necessary task of having a canine companion. Why not begin a dog wash service for neighbours' and friends' pets?
Making pet treats
Dog owners love nothing more than to spoil their animals. So, with this in mind, kids could start their own pet baking business and make healthy and homemade pet treats to sell to friends, neighbours and local markets.
Pet sitting
For many pet owners, a big dilemma when planning a holiday is what they will do about their animals. As many owners would rather their pets stay home than go to a boarding kennel, starting a pet-sitting business is a great way to make money. It typically involves keeping animals company, feeding and walking, and tending to their needs.
Dog walking
If your kid is an animal lover, dog walking is a fun way for them to earn extra money. They can start a dog walking business by asking neighbours and friends if they need help walking their dogs or drum up business by printing out flyers with your mobile number.
Making dog toys
If your child enjoys crafting, they can combine that with their love of animals to create dog toys to sell to owners. They will have to do some research first to ensure the use of safe materials for dogs to play with. Once they've created a range of dog toys, they can look at selling them to friends, neighbours and even at local markets and fairs.
How kids who enjoy cooking can make money
Many children enjoy cooking and there are plenty of ways to make money from it.
Baking cookies and selling them to friends and family
For any youngster who loves to cook, baking cookies and selling them to family, friends and neighbours is a great way to earn cash. They could even put their cookies in decorative containers to make them look professional. Just ensure they note the ingredients that go into their baked goodies in case any of their customers have allergies or certain dietary requirements.
Writing their own cookbook
If your child has been cooking for a while, collected many recipes, or even created their own recipes that other children and adults may enjoy, why not use them to make a cookbook? It could be a hardcopy recipe book or an e-book and as simple or as detailed as they like.
Start a cooking blog
For children who love cooking and sharing recipes, cooking stories and connecting with other young people, a blog is a great, fun way to make money. It will take a bit of time to build up a following, but once it starts getting attention, it could become quite profitable.
Offer cooking classes to other kids
If your kid is confident in the kitchen and has gained some good cooking skills, why don't they start a cooking class to teach other aspiring young chefs? They can advertise the classes among their friends and classmates or in the local paper.
Sell garden produce
While this idea may not strictly involve any cooking, selling garden produce is a great way to capitalise on the increasing demand for fresh, homegrown fruit and vegetables. It does take a lot of time and patience, and unpredictable weather conditions can affect how much product you will have to sell. But if they are able to generate a reasonable yield, they can sell their harvest to local farmers' markets, friends, and neighbours.
How kids can make money online
The internet is offering today's youngsters an endless world of money-making opportunities. Even if they aren't old enough to get a traditional job, they are many ways that kids can make money online, for example:
- Blogging
- YouTube channel
- Paid surveys
- Video game streaming
- Selling their skills (designing logos, selling handmade crafts, tutoring)
Youngsters who want to start a YouTube channel must be at least 13 years old, but they won't be able to monetise it until they are 18. However, their parents can set up a YouTube channel on their behalf so they can start sooner.
Seasonal jobs where kids can make money
Depending on the time of year, there are plenty of seasonal jobs where young people can make money. During the summer months, when it's dry and sunny, kids can make extra cash by:
- Helping in the garden by mowing, pulling weeds, raking leaves and watering plants
- Washing cars
- Window cleaning
- Dog walking
Kids can also set about earning money during the winter by:
- Selling handmade Christmas gifts
- Providing a gift-wrapping service
- Selling hot chocolate or tea at the local park, car boot or market,
- Shovelling snow for family and neighbours
- Salting pavements
- Running errands for elderly neighbours
- De-icing neighbours' cars
How can young kids learn the value of work and earn pocket money?
Your kids might be able to earn pocket money by helping out with chores at home. Think about whether you'd be willing to pay your kids' pocket money for extra help around the house. This means going above and beyond what they might already be doing to help around the house.
Here are a few ideas of chores you can suggest to your kids to help them earn pocket money:
- Washing the family car
- Doing the laundry and ironing
- Vacuuming
- Mopping floors
- Tutoring younger siblings
- Mowing the lawn
- Walking the dog
- Putting the bins out
- Cooking meals
Alternatively, you can check our age-appropriate list of chores.
Start a business as a kid and earn money
Your kids don't have to wait until they are adults before starting a business. Many kidprenuers have successfully set up their own business. According to the latest GoHenry Youth Economy Report, 4% of young people already have their own businesses, and 26% want to start their own businesses in the future. However, if they're under 18, they won't be able to set up a business bank account, raise finance or get credit. So, they will need you on board to help them. Check out our guide to helping your kid launch their own business.
Small business ideas for kids
If your child has their sights set on being an entrepreneur or you think they already have a good head for business, why don't they set up their own small business? It's a great way for kids to learn about what it takes to run their own business while earning money at the same time. Small business ideas for kids can include anything from making their own things to sell to babysitting and dog walking. Some business ideas may take a little time to set up and need some initial investment. Still, if they do their research and keep track of their finances successfully, it could prove to be a great money spinner for them and a fantastic way for them to learn business sense and financial skills.
Need more inspiration?
If you are looking for more inspiration for ways kids can make money, here are a few more ideas:
Jobs for 8-year-olds
There are plenty of jobs that 8-year-olds can do to earn some money, whether around the home or outside. These jobs include setting the table, washing dishes, watering the garden, feeding the cat or helping younger siblings.
Jobs for 9-year-olds
By nine, kids can take on a little more responsibility with what jobs they do for money. Many jobs are ideal for youngsters this age. Jobs for 9-year-olds range from vacuuming, dusting and doing laundry to doing odd jobs for neighbours, selling homemade crafts or planting flowers.
Jobs for 10-year-olds
By the age of ten, kids will likely want to start being treated more like adults. But while they might not be entirely independent yet, there are various jobs ideal for 10-year-olds looking to earn some cash. Some of the best jobs for 10-year-olds include walking the dog, pet sitting, selling items online, helping neighbours, washing cars and vacuuming.
Jobs for 11-year-olds
While they may not be old enough to get a part-time job, there are plenty of ways your 11-year-old can make money. Getting a job at this age is a great way for kids to take on more responsibility and learn about the value of money. Some ideal jobs for 11-year-olds include online surveys, selling online, petsitting, making beds and vacuuming.
Jobs for 12-year-olds
If your 12-year-old is looking to earn some money, unfortunately, they have to wait until they are 13 before they can get a part-time job. However, in the meantime, there are plenty of great jobs for 12-year-olds, including helping younger siblings, cleaning the car, petsitting, dog walking, vacuuming and selling homemade crafts.
Where should your kids keep all the money they've made?
If your child is aged 6 to 18, their earnings can go into a GoHenry account. Then with a GoHenry prepaid debit card, they can spend their earnings online, in-store or withdraw cash from ATMs. If they are over 13, they can also use it wherever Apple Pay is accepted. As their parent, you can set up regular transfers or make one-off payments to their account. And thanks to Giftlinks, other people can also top up their GoHenry prepaid debit card account. It's easy to set up a GoHenry account.
While your kids might not be old enough to get a proper job just yet, there are still many ways they can earn some money. With some creative thinking and hard work, they can find the perfect way to make money as a kid that they'll also enjoy.
Related articles:
Guide to entrepreneurship for kids
PayPal alternatives for under 18s
