Teenagers have always been interested in finding ways to make money. Some enjoy the thrill of the chase or becoming their own boss while others just want some extra money to buy the latest iPhone. Whatever you need the money for, the internet is a great place to start, and there are a lot of ways through which you can make money online as a teen.
You can sell stuff online, find part-time jobs, or start your own business. The sky is the limit! Just make sure that you do your research and select the approach that is most appropriate for you.
In this guide, I am going to outline some of the most popular ways through which you can make some extra money online as a teenager but you have to bear two things in mind:
- There is nothing like free money. Whatever side hustle you decide to do, you will need to put in some kind of effort in order to get paid.
- Some of the companies listed require you to be at least 18 years old before they can hire you. Do check the terms and conditions of any company before you sign up if you are below the age of 18.
1. Get Paid Just for Using the Internet.
Swagbucks is one of the easiest ways to make money online as a teenager as it requires little effort to start earning.
With Swagbucks, you get paid for doing everyday things on the internet that you would otherwise not get paid for. To get started, create a free account, and then set the app as your default search engine instead of using your normal Google Chrome or Bing.
As you use Swagbucks as your default search engine, you get rewarded with points and these points can be exchanged for gift cards from your favorite stores like Amazon and Walmart or for Paypal cash.
Swagbucks also provides a range of additional opportunities to earn money, such as:
- Doing daily online surveys of up to $35 each.
- Watching viral videos and your favorite shows.
- Playing games like Solitaire.
- Introducing your friends and family to Swagbucks. You will get paid 10% of each referral’s lifetime earnings on the app.
Register with Swagbucks right now and receive a $5 welcome bonus.
2. Get Paid to Type Files
If you are a fast or even average typist, transcription can be a great way to make money online as a teenager.
A transcriptionist is someone who converts audio into text.
Your responsibility as a transcriptionist is to simply listen to an audio file and type exactly what you hear. These audio files could be lectures, Zoom meetings, or documentaries among many others.
The vast majority of transcription companies are general transcription companies, and you will find yourself transcribing files from a wide variety of unrelated fields such as Sports, Medicine, or even History.
Most transcription companies don’t require much from you to get started, only a computer, an internet connection, and a pair of headphones.
In most cases, no prior experience is necessary to start working as a transcriptionist. However, you might need to pass a quick competency test in order to be admitted into most companies.
Additionally, you must speak English well. You must possess outstanding writing abilities as well as impeccable grammar and punctuation.
Most transcription jobs pay an average rate of $10 to $20 for each audio hour transcribed.
Related Post: 19 Work-from-Home Transcription Jobs
3. Flip Stuff for a Profit
If you are a teenager with a knack for selling, you can make a good amount of money selling brand-new and second-hand items online. You could buy merchandise and physically resell it to your friends in school if you are a student. However, since this post is on how to make money online, we will explore how you can flip items over the internet.
First, you need to find a product to resell, of course. Some of the easiest products to sell to other teenagers include iPhone dongles, trendy clothing, and Apple AirPods.
You don’t have to limit your customer base to teenagers only though. As long as you find a good product and a ready target audience, you can sell anything to anybody.
Second, you need to find a place to buy your inventory at a cheap price if you are not selling your own second-hand belongings. You could use online wholesalers like Aliexpress and Alibaba or visit thrift stores.
Finally, find a platform to sell your goods. If you want to flip clothes, you should consider a platform like Poshmark. For electronics, you can use eBay. You can also flip anything on Facebook Market.
4. Sell Crafts on Etsy
Etsy is an e-commerce site where people can sell unique crafts like hand-made bracelets.
This site is a great way to get paid for doing work that you are actually passionate about, and I would recommend you try it if you’re a gifted jeweler, painter, photographer, knitter, or any other type of craftsman.
You can sell physical products on the website but if you’d rather do something easier, you can try selling digital products like planners, journals, and stickers.
Because customers can readily download their purchases from the website, digital products eliminate the need for packaging and shipping, leaving you with ample time to actually live your life and enjoy your teenage years.
With millions of active customers eager to buy handmade goods online, Etsy is one of the best platforms to sell your work and make fast money online.
5. Sell Digital services on Fiverr
Another place where you can showcase your artistic prowess and make money online as a teenager is Fiverr.
On this freelancing website, you can get paid for offering digital services such as the following:
- cartoon illustration
- logo design
- tattoo design
- invitation card design
- voiceovers and voice impressions
There are many on-demand services that you can offer that don’t require any professional experience on Fiverr. If you peruse the categories, I’m sure you’ll find something that merely demands natural skill.
To get started, just create an account on the platform and list the service(s) that you want to sell. Fiverr uses a ‘gig economy’ model where you get paid per each gig or job that you do.
This means that you can work whenever you want or whenever you are free. You are not required to show up every day.
Additionally, you get to decide how much you want to charge your clients for the services that you offer.
It is, however, a good idea to set lower prices at first and then raise them as you attract more clients and get good feedback.
6. Get Paid for Online Homework Help
If you are a brainiac who enjoys helping fellow students succeed, then you can make money tutoring online.
Quite a number of tutoring sites will give you a sizable sum of money in exchange for your academic excellence. You can get paid for assisting college students (if you are in college) as well as high school students with their homework, assignments, past exam questions, or providing extra lessons.
Chegg, Course Hero, Livingstone Research, and Studypool are some of the best homework-help sites where you can make an average of $20-$35 per hour.
Since millions of students visit these tutoring sites every day in need of assistance with their homework, it is simple to actually start earning money on those platforms. To get started, simply select the subject you believe you can tutor and fill out an application on the websites.
The benefit of working as an online tutor is that you may communicate with the students without having to meet them in person. You typically work on the questions that students pose on the platform and send the solution to their inboxes.
Normally, in order to get hired by one of these sites, you must be 18 years of age or older, enrolled in college, or pass a competence test for the subject that you wish to tutor.
7. Start a YouTube Channel
If you are a creative teenager with a flair for video editing and have something interesting to share with the world, then you can make money by starting a YouTube channel.
YouTube is one of the easiest, most popular, and highest-paying ways to make money online as a teenager.
You can start your channel solo or with friends. You will need to film yourself doing something interesting or funny and then upload the videos to your channel. The more views your videos get, the more money you will make.
Here are some Youtube video ideas to get you started:
- A week in your life as a high school or college student
- Outfit Ideas
- Makeup tutorials
The best thing about YouTube is that it generates passive income, meaning that you don’t always have to work every day in order to get paid. The platform will pay you every month for old videos that you uploaded in the past, as long as those videos continue getting fresh views.
To start a channel, you need not be an expert in videography or have expensive equipment. A smartphone with a good camera is all you need.
The first step is to come up with a catchy name for your channel and create a channel logo. You also need to be at least 13 years old and have a Google account to start a YouTube channel.
8. Become an Online English Teacher
Online English teaching comes in last on our list of teen-friendly ways to generate money online.
If you are a teenager with excellent English communication skills, you can make money by teaching English online to students in countries where English is not the first language.
You can work with students of all ages and help them improve their language skills in a one-on-one setting. As an online English teacher, you will thus have to use video conferencing software, such as Skype or Zoom, to deliver your lessons.
The great thing about this job is that it arrives with a lot of freedom in terms of schedule. You can work whenever you want and for however long you want.
There are many websites that offer online English jobs, such as iTalki, Magic Ears, and Preply. To get started, you will need to create a profile and submit an application.
Most online English teaching jobs pay an average of $20 per hour.
Related Post: Teach English Online Jobs: No Experience
CONCLUSION
So there you have it: eight ways to make money online as a teen! Whether you are looking for a short-term solution or want to create a more stable, constant stream of income, there is surely an option for you on this list. Just remember to be safe and do your research before starting any new venture, and always be fair to your clients. Good luck!
