Making money as a teenager can feel frustrating—especially if you’re under 15 and can’t get a traditional job yet. But the good news is that there are so many ways to start earning, even from home.
Today I’m sharing 18 different ways to make money as a teenager. I separated everything into three categories: online businesses, local businesses, and jobs. Let’s get into it!
Online Businesses for Teens
1. Redbubble
If you enjoy being creative, this is one of the easiest ways to start.
All you need to do is make some sort of cute design — you don’t even have to be an amazing artist or anything, just anything you can think of — and upload it to your store. When you get an order, Redbubble will turn it into a sticker, a t-shirt, a pillow, literally anything, and you make money off of that passively. Which is amazing!
This is especially great if you’re an artist. I’ve seen a lot of teenagers be really, really successful with this, and it’s super easy to manage because you only need to upload the art once and Redbubble handles shipping, customer service, all of that. Super easy and fun.
2. Etsy Shop
You might be thinking selling on Etsy sounds great, but what am I going to sell? Don’t worry, the product options are wider than most people realize. Here are some ideas:
Aesthetic Makeup Bags: They’re so cute, and there are tutorials on YouTube if you search “box makeup bag.” You don’t even need to be an amazing sewer, you just need a sewing machine.
Stickers: One of the most popular things to sell on Etsy.
Bookmarks: Paper isn’t that expensive, so people are basically paying for the design. If you can laminate them, that makes them feel really high-quality.
Aesthetic Candles: These have been trending for a long time and I think there’s still totally a market for them. You just need soy wax or beeswax, wicks, molds, and whatever essential oils you want.
Friendship Bracelets: There is definitely a market out there for these, especially if you make them super cute. You can do the classic braided style or go for something more like those Love Shack Fancy inspired ones.
Never steal anyone’s designs — always put your own spin on things!
Anything Handmade You Already Do: If you don’t have more ideas, just think about any handmade hobby you already have and sell that. This is something that can grow with you — start as a teenager and by the time you’re 20, it could literally be a full-time business if you choose the right product and put in the work and consistency.
3. Selling Your Old Clothes
Turn your closet into cash. This is something you can start today with zero investment.
Go through your closet, figure out what you don’t want anymore, wash what you’re parting with, and take clean, well-lit photos.
You can wear the clothes, hang them up, or lay them flat — just make sure the pictures look clean and professional. Don’t go crazy with filters because you want people to know the actual color of what they’re buying, but good natural lighting or a little brightening in Lightroom goes a long way.
Apps like Poshmark, Depop, eBay, and Mercari all work well for this.
Once your own closet is cleared out, you can level up by thrift flipping — buying pieces for a few dollars, refreshing them, and reselling at a profit.
4. Freelance Writing
A freelance writer basically writes content for companies or people on a job-by-job basis.
It’s super flexible, so if you have a big exam coming up or you’re going on vacation you can just pause.
Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are options, though they might have age requirements, but I’m sure there are other ones out there that you can do as a teenager, so make sure to look around.
5. Start a YouTube Channel
Every time you watch a video on YouTube and see an ad, the creator gets a little bit of money from that — it adds up over time!
It takes some time to get monetized, but for some people it’s shorter and for some it’s longer.
You can literally start with just your phone.
Don’t want to show your face? No problem! You can do faceless vlogs, or overhead craft and tutorial videos, which are both legitimate formats with real audiences.
Local Businesses for Teens
6. Tutoring Younger Kids
I know what you’re thinking — I’m not some genius, I can’t be a teacher! But hear me out. You don’t have to be spectacular — just be a few steps ahead.
You can teach math, english, art, and basic subjects, or a different language.
Parents are always looking for affordable help.
7. Dog Walking
Walk your neighbors’ dogs around the neighborhood right after school.
It’s flexible, it gets you outside, it pays, and research suggests spending time with dogs genuinely reduces stress, enhances your social skills, improves mood and your physical health.
Basically you’re getting paid to hang out with dogs and work out at the same time. It’s a win-win!
8. Car Washing
Look around—there are cars everywhere. Think about how many cars are on your block — all those people need their car washed and a lot of them do not want to do it themselves. May as well be you!
This is super low cost to start because you probably already have basic supplies: soap, water, and towels.
This is a great business to start because you don’t really need much. You just kind of need water, soap, and towels — which you probably already have, or you can buy for a really cheap amount.
9. Selling Baked Goods
This one has serious potential.
You could literally become “the cake person” at your school. Anytime someone has a birthday, a sports game, prom — you make the cake.
You can personalize them with people’s names, and honestly I think there’s less competition than you’d expect.
Here’s why: as a Gen Z person, you know exactly what another Gen Z person means by an aesthetic cake. A grocery store bakery? Not so much. You can also use social media to market directly to your classmates, which is such a huge advantage.
10. Photography
If you have a camera (or even a good phone), you can be a photographer. Of course you want to make sure you practice beforehand so you’re actually good, but here are some ideas:
School event photos
Senior pictures
Prom shoots
And if you charge less than a professional photographer, you’re going to get a lot of business.
11. Lawn Care or Snow Shoveling
It’s reliable, repeatable income.
There are probably a ton of lawns on your street, and those people don’t always want to mow themselves.
Get a lawn mower, charge per lawn, and try to lock in weekly or monthly clients because repeat business is everything!
Live somewhere snowy? Offer snow shoveling in the winter to keep income coming in year-round.
12. Window Cleaning
It’s low overhead, straightforward service, and plenty of neighbors who’d rather pay someone else to do it.
All you need is some window cleaner and a squeegee.
Jobs for Teens
Most of these will require you to be 15 or older, but requirements vary by location.
13. Camp Counselor
Summer camps are everywhere — church camps, girl/boy scouts camps, full-on sleepaway camps. This is genuinely such a good summer job because:
You work outdoors, spend time with kids, gain leadership experience, and walk away with something worth putting on a college application or resume.
14. Lifeguard
Lifeguarding requires training but tends to hire teenagers and comes with the bonus of working outside. It’s a genuinely fun summer job with real responsibility attached.
15. Remote Tutor
Teach kids online through Zoom—no commute needed.
You can apply through online platforms or just run it yourself as a little side business. You don’t even have to be super advanced — if you know the basics through fifth grade, you can tutor first through fifth graders.
Best part? You don’t have to leave your house. A win for any introverts out there. I’ve written a post about passive income ideas for introverts, you might want to check out.
16. Remote Babysitter
It’s basically like remote tutoring except instead of teaching, you’re just watching the kids, keeping them safe, and keeping them entertained — all over Zoom. Lots of parents actually hire for this and it’s a perfect job for teens.
I’ve seen teenage job groups on Facebook for this, and other jobs where you can post about your services.
17. Work at a Local Shop
Try places like:
Coffee shops,
Smoothie or juice bars,
Bakeries,
Frozen yogurt and ice cream shops
These places get slammed in the summer and around the holidays and often hire temporary positions just because they need the help. That’s your window — go apply!
18. Paid Internship
Paid internships are worth investigating. You’ll likely need to be 16 or older, but it’s worth checking with companies near you.
The experience you gain and what you can put on your resume one day makes it so worth it.
One More Thing
If you have free time and making money isn’t the only goal, volunteering — at an animal shelter, hospital, church, or care home — is genuinely worth your time.
It won’t make you money but it will give you something even more valuable like experience, purpose and personal growth.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to wait until adulthood to start making money.
Start small. Stay consistent. Try different things.
One idea could turn into something way bigger than you expect.
If you’re looking for more ways to earn, take a second to look at the side hustles students can do to make extra money.
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