Are you a teenager looking to make money online through quick and easy ways? Although legally speaking, you can’t get a job until you reach fourteen years of age (According to FLSA, 14 years is the minimum age requirement to get a job in the US). However, there are certain platforms and professions that allow teenagers (13 years and above) to register as freelancers, website owners, graphic designers, and content creators to register on their platforms for an online work opportunity. These opportunities can help you earn money from home as a teen to cover your pocket expenses or more.

In this blog, we will discuss the top six ways to make money online for teens, which are legal, safe, and remunerating.

Ten Quick and Easy Side Hustles for Teens

Whether you want to earn pocket money or gain professional experience before landing a regular job, the following ten easy online job opportunities are perfect for teens:

1. Build a Website to Show Off Your Skills to the World 

As a teenager, if you have a creative hobby like writing, photography, or even fashion designing, a website can be a global stage to show off your skills and creativity. It can be your own space to connect with the worldwide audience who share similar interests or may like to collaborate with you for events, sales, or future job opportunities.

However, we understand that building a website from scratch may be difficult if you are not a tech geek in your teenage years or don’t know how to build a website without writing long-form code.

Don’t worry, with platforms like Neo, building a custom website without any coding is a matter of seconds. You can build a free one-page site or a full-fledged, powerful website using AI.

Here’s how you can build a website using Neo:

Step 1: Open Neo’s Website and click on ‘Get started’.

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Step 2: Sign in with Neo, and tell what your site is about.

Step 3: Next, describe your business idea. You can also choose to skip this step and directly move to generating the site.

Step 4: Once you click on ‘Generate Site’, Neo will start building your website.

Your website is ready, you can click on ‘Edit this’ to customize according to your preferences as template, colours, font style, images, etc. Further, if you have a registered domain, you can choose to build a website with the same. Or else, Neo can help you in registering a domain for free (a .co.site domain extension) and even create a professional email plan.

2. Become a Social Media Influencer

Becoming a social media influencer can be one of the quickest side hustles for teens. According to a CNBC survey, 57% of Gen Zs want to be a social media influencer. You do not need any investment, nor any technical knowledge or assistance. Your creativity, influencing personality, and the ability to connect with people online are just what you need to become a successful social media influencer. Identify your forte, you can be good at creating funny reels, sharing technical, lifestyle, fashion, or gaming tips, or sharing product or movie reviews, or any other content that you feel can attract your viewers or followers' attention. Once you gain popularity as an influencer on social media, you can collaborate with brands to promote their products and earn a good income working from home.

3. Become an Online Tutor for Little Brains

Even the little ones of grade 1, 2, or 3 are running in the race of getting an A+ in all subjects. This can be your opportunity to provide online classes for subjects like English, Grammar, Science, Math, or even crafts or any other special language. You can offer tutoring services through a website, Zoom or Google Meet sessions, or register on platforms like Tutorpeers or Wyzant. 

Plus, if you want to earn extra money as an online teen tutor, you can prepare lesson recordings, study materials, and practice sheets for the kids. By providing these as extra services, you can top up your wallets.

4. Become a Freelance Writer or a Blogger

Freelance writing or blogging is one of the best online jobs for teenagers. There are several platforms like Fiverr, UpWork, and Medium that offer freelance writing jobs for teenagers at prices that can easily fill your piggy banks. You start your gig on registered platforms and make money on an hourly basis or on the basis of the number of words.

The average pay for a teenage freelance writer and a blogger can differ based on the platforms and company requirements. Like on Fiver and Upwork, freelance writers have an average pay of $22/hour; however, you can take the payment on the basis of hours or words written. 

Also, if you are working for a content agency, then you need to set your payment according to the agency’s rules. 

5. Become a Vlogger and Earn on YouTube

Turn your video recording and editing skills into a side hustle to earn money from home as a teen. You can create a channel on YouTube using a custom email address and share recorded videos about your everyday life as a teenager going to school or college. Or if you are a gamer, you can post videos on YouTube regarding gaming tips and tricks to win different online games. 

Also, if you are a wanderlust who loves to record every moment of your travelling experience, share the recordings on your YouTube channel and earn money. Once you have your community or followers on YouTube, brands may also collaborate with you to promote their products in your videos or even pay you to travel to different places and share your recorded journey on YouTube.

6. Fill Click-Through Surveys

Although filling out online surveys won’t pay you much to build up your savings, it can be an easy way to start and earn money from home as a teen when you are not a tech wiz or a creative head. You may take surveys related to any topic, industry, or idea that interests you. Fill in the surveys in yes/no, true/false, or select from MCQs. 

A survey may take a maximum of 5-15 minutes to fill out and submit. This could be the easiest way to make money online for teens like you, in your spare or free time. Platforms like Swagbucks and PrizeRebel allow teenagers (age 13 years and above) to sign up on the platforms and earn money in terms of gift cards, PayPal cash, vouchers, coupons, Bitcoins, and cash backs. 

7. Start Selling Your Products on Online Platforms.

If you are a pro at making handicraft items such as wall hangings, artworks, pottery, handmade jewellery, etc, you can start selling them online and make money sitting at home. There are several online platforms, like Etsy, eBay, Amazon, and many more, that allows you to create an account for your online shop on their platform. 

Just add attractive, clear photographs of your products with a relevant description with a competitive price on the platform. You will start earning money on a regular basis once your products gain popularity. Also, you can set up your own website and build your own digital presence. 

8. Test Mobile and Web Software Applications

There are several platforms like Usertesting, trymata, Userlytics, and many more that pay you to test their software or mobile applications. Just register on their platforms, give a sample test to qualify that you know how to test mobile or software applications, and start receiving projects or assignments for testing. 

The payment for such testing services usually depends on the complexity of the test application or on the basis of the number of hours you worked. You can create your own .test email address to keep track of emails sent for your work, and avoid mixing professional and personal emails. 

9. Try Affiliate Marketing

Why not use your social media influencing skills to make money for the products you promote? You do not need any technical skills to start affiliate marketing. Just enter the product link in your Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok posts, stories, or descriptions. 

Now, whenever a visitor purchases a product by opening through the link you shared, you get a commission on each purchase. However, the commission rate may vary according to the brand, type of product, or the number of followers you have on your social account.

10. Become a Virtual Assistant for a Small Business

Even a small business requires people to manage spreadsheets, Word documents, and scheduling meetings and appointments. If you, as a teenager, are efficient in handling basic office tasks like creating company Word documents, maintaining Excel sheets of purchase and sales, or arranging meetings, appointments, and answering official calls, then you have the required skills. Use them to apply for a virtual office assistant for small businesses and organizations.

The Bottom Line

The digitally transforming online world today offers immense opportunities for teenagers to make money while sitting in the comfort of their homes. However, it is important to remember that:

• Your personal data and information are not for sale. Do not share any data that could risk you personally or financially. 
• No online jobs for teenagers should ask you to make an upfront investment to get the job. 
• Seek parental guidance or take help from your near and dear ones before you start a side hustle. 
• Always find the right job that is safe, legally allowed, and does not require any personal commitments from the teens. 

Whether you start an online side hustle as a content creator, vlogger, blogger, or build a creative business online from home, a dynamic website can be a perfect place to display your skills to the world. Build an AI smart website with Neo to earn big gains in the long term. 

FAQs

1. Is it legally allowed to apply for a job as a teenager?

The legal age to apply for a job might vary according to the country's norms; however, there are several online jobs that allow teenagers (above 14 years) to apply for freelance or part-time jobs with good payments.

2. Does every company ask for parents' permission to register for an online job as a teenager?

It is not necessary that every platform requires parental permission. However, it is always best to seek guidance from parents or elders before registering on any online platform for a side hustle to ensure that the platform is right for you and does not compromise your data privacy and security.

3. Which are the highest-paying online jobs for teenagers?

Graphic designing, online blogging, YouTube content vlogging, and affiliate marketing can offer you the best pay once you establish your name with your skills.

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