Top 10 Best Side Hustles For Teens

The teenage years can be a difficult and confusing time for most people. As you’re slowly inching toward adulthood, you’ll eventually need to take responsibility and become self-sufficient.

Getting a job can make things easier, though, at this point, you might not have a lot of time since you’re still focused on school. After all, it’s hard to start a business as a teenager.

Luckily, there are lots of quality gigs that can help you earn more money and learn to become responsible. We’ve compiled an elaborate list of the ten best side hustles for teens, along with their pros, cons, and requirements. 

Best Side Hustles for Teens Overview 

1. Tutoring 
2. Pet Sitting
3. Sell Stock Photos Online
4. Freelance Writing
5. Social Media Management 
6. Deliver Food
7. Completing Online Surveys
8. Dropshipping
9. Babysitting
10. House Cleaning / Domestic Errands

Why Should You Consider a Side Hustle as a Teen? 

Despite being so young, there are several reasons to consider a side hustle for teens:

• Earn extra cash: Once you start doing a side hustle, you’ll earn an extra income alongside your monthly allowance, which your parents give you. This can help you get things that you really want but don’t have the budget for. 
• Get started early: By starting out as a teen, you’ll get a head start building your resume over other people who aren’t working right now, which will help you qualify for better jobs. 
• Gain experience: Even a part-time job can be considered professional experience later on in life. Having work experience from a young age will put you far ahead of many people. 
• Networking: Knowing the right people is a cheat code and can be helpful in every aspect of life. And having a part-time job now will help you learn networking early on.

Top 10 Best Side Hustles for Teens 

Here are the best side hustles for teens you can get right away:

1. Tutoring 

Tutoring helps you earn extra money while revising and relearning the concepts you’re teaching. And in the process, your understanding of the subjects improves dramatically. 

You can offer tutoring services both online and offline. Teaching people online has more advantages over offline classes. 

You save time, energy, and money that would have been spent commuting. You can also teach students in different cities and countries, allowing you to teach more students if you want. 

Multiple sites allow you to connect with people looking for tutors, and signing up with them is a great way to get started online. 

To tutor offline, you can look for students in your local area so you can save time traveling. 

What You’ll Need to be a Tutor 

• Understanding of the Subject: You need to make sure that you have a fair grasp of the basics of the subject you’re teaching. 
• Good communication skills: You must be able to communicate new ideas and lessons to other people in a way that they can understand. To achieve this, try to simplify concepts as much as you can and use examples that they can relate to. 
• Internet and Device: If you’re planning to teach online, you need to have a working internet connection and a device that can be used to attend video calls. 
• Patience and adaptability: As a teacher, patience is one of the most important qualities you should have. Your students might ask you to repeat explanations multiple times or take things slow. In such a situation, you should be able to adapt to their capability without compromising on the quality of teaching. 

Pros 

• Stay in touch with the subject: Provided you are teaching a subject that you’re also studying, tutoring is a great way to stay in the loop and keep refreshing concepts. 
• Conserve time and energy (Online): Teaching online will help you save time, energy, and money, which you can invest back into your studies as a school-goer. 

Cons 

• There may be a lot of competition: You may have to compete with more experienced tutors to get jobs, which can be tough. To compete, you might have to accept lower rates. 
• Can be stressful: This is true, especially in offline classes, where you might have to travel long distances to teach students. But even in online classes, it might be stressful to keep up with certain students who might need extra attention. 

2. Pet-Sitting 

If you are generally comfortable with dogs, a pet-sitting job is a simple way to make more money. 

It will be extra beneficial if you have experience training dogs or have a pet yourself. This will help you gain the trust of pet owners. You can also offer additional services to increase your earnings, such as dog walking.

Having experience with other animals is an added bonus and will open up more opportunities for you to find jobs as a pet sitter. 

What You’ll Need to Provide Pet Sitting Services 

• Experience in dealing with animals: Pet sitting is a job that requires prior experience. You should be 100% certain that you can take care of animals and discipline them if they get out of hand. 
• Good communication skills: They will help you establish trust with the pet owner. You’ll also need to give the clients updates about the behavior of their pets and inform them if anything is wrong. 
• Knowledge about grooming, caring, and health: As a pet sitter, you may be required to groom animals (bathing, combing, clipping nails, and cleaning their ears) and pay attention to their health, diet, and day-to-day behavior. 

Pros 

• Can be a stress-free job: If you can bond with the animal you’re asked to look after, pet sitting can be a stress-free job. It can also help you unwind and relax while providing you with a little extra spending money. 
• Long hours not needed: Based on the requirements of the client, you’ll only be working for a few hours daily on average. This will provide you with extra time to devote to your academics.

Cons 

• Pay can be quite low: While pet sitting is a decent way of earning extra money, the pay isn’t always good. In case you have to travel, the amount of profit you make can be very slim. 
• Risk of dangerous animals: If you are unable to bond with the animal, or if they are untrained and have poor temperament, you are at risk of getting injured. 

3. Sell Stock Photos Online 

If you have a passion for photography, you can earn money online by selling your photos. 

There are two benefits to doing this as a side hustle. 

First, you get to earn money by doing what you love. This way, you develop your skills and are essentially paid to learn your craft. 

Second, you get to establish a portfolio of work you can showcase later to get better opportunities in the world of professional photography. 

You can set your hours, and if it gets lonely, collaborate with other photographers and go out on photo walks to scenic locations. 

You can start selling photos on sites such as Shutterstock, Alamy, SmugMug, Adobe Stock, and 500px. 

The rates you will receive for each photo vary based on the policies of the site. 

Some allow you to set the rates you want, but others have flat rates and offer a percentage of what they receive. 

What You’ll Need to Sell Stock Photos Online 

• A DSLR camera and lenses: Most stock photo websites offer high-resolution pictures, which means your iPhone is not going to cut it. 
• A good understanding of photography principles: Study the various elements of photography and implement them in your work to get snaps that people will purchase. 

Pros 

• No time constraints: Unlike other jobs, you won’t have to follow set hours. You’ll be able to work in your spare time, whenever that is, for however long you want to. 
• A source of passive income: If you can find a way to market your images, it can be a great source of passive income for you where you don’t need to trade your time for money.  

Cons 

• Getting started can be expensive: Photography equipment such as a DSLR camera and a set of lenses can be very expensive. So, if you don’t have the gear already, finding the revenue to get started can be challenging. 
• The amount of revenue generated can be low: The amount of revenue earned per picture can be quite low, considering the site you put it on and the rates you charge. 

Related: The best cameras for teenagers

4. Freelance Writing 

Writing blog posts, emails, and social media content are among the most frequented gigs for writers, but teens can make decent money this way too.

You get to decide how much you work every day and learn better time management as you’ll be given strict deadlines for your articles. Payment is either a flat rate per project or per word. The amount you can receive varies based on the niche you’re writing in, as well as the client. 

Most writers find work on platforms like Upwork, Problogger, LinkedIn, or FlexJobs.

What You’ll Need to be a Freelance Writer 

• A working device and internet connection: Since freelance writing is a completely remote job, you’ll need a stable internet connection and a device such as a phone, tablet, or computer. 
• Good grammar: Being thorough with grammar in the language that you want to write in is essential to being hired as a freelance writer. 
• An understanding of SEO: SEO optimization is how you let search engines like Google find the post. Having an idea of linking and keyword usage can ensure that you’re qualified to be a content writer.  

Pros 

• Maintain a flexible schedule: Since you don’t need to work fixed hours, you can easily attend school and give time to your studies without compromising on work. 
• No commute: As you’ll be working online, you don’t need to spend any time traveling. You can work from anywhere, as long as you’re connected to the internet. 

Cons 

• High competition for work: Regardless of niche, there are a huge number of writers competing for work. And even though there’s an abundance of work out there as well, you might find starting out a bit difficult. 
• Irregular work: One of the major drawbacks of working as a freelancer is that you might have to go through periods of no work, even as a beginner. This can be a positive if you have exams coming up, but challenging to deal with otherwise. 

5. Social Media Management 

As a social media manager, you’ll be looking over your clients’ social media presence on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly twitter), and more. 

If you love being active on social media, this job is best suited to you. 

To get hired, you’ll need to showcase your knowledge about social media platforms to potential clients. 

Whether or not you are responsible for the growth of the account can be negotiated. Most of it depends on engagement and the kind of content that the account is posting. 

You should be able to write up reports of how the account performed over a period such as a quarter or a year. 

The responsibilities of a social media manager range from answering DMs to running campaigns and creating content for clients if needed. 

What You’ll Need to be a Social Media Manager: 

• Knowledge of metrics: You should be thorough with the most important metrics on social media sites that can boost the reach of the account and the performance of posts. 
• Awareness of the latest trends: Following the trend (if you’re not setting it) is the name of the game on social media sites. You need to know what’s going on across the platform to constantly innovate.
• Exceptional time management skills: You’ll probably be working under tight deadlines while managing social media accounts. To keep up with your responsibilities, you should have impeccable time management abilities. 
• Ability to craft engaging content: Social media managers need to do a bit of everything. Writing catchy hooks, creating reels, and coming up with campaign ideas – all of these things are vital to the growth of an account and something the client will be expecting from you. 

Pros 

• Polish your skills: Since you’ll have to be proficient in a lot of different activities, using them as part of your side hustle will polish them over time. 
• Develop creativity: Some brands will allow you to use your creativity to influence their social media presence without interfering. This will give you a lot of freedom to express yourself and come up with new ideas. 

Cons 

• Can be very stressful: Social media management can often be a thankless job, which also poses a lot of stress if you’re solely responsible for managing the performance. 
• Time-consuming: First, you’ll have to create posts and upload them on behalf of the client. Next, you’ll have to stay up to date with what’s going on by consuming a lot of content yourself. As a student, this can be quite time-consuming and distracting. 

6. Deliver Food 

If you’re 18 and have a driver’s license or are of the legal age to drive in your city, you can consider being a food delivery driver.

Owning a car isn’t enough to be eligible for this gig, so you should check the requirements of the company you want to work for. Some companies also provide vehicles to drivers, which means you can apply as long as you have a license. 

Payment can be hourly or daily, and you get to choose your shifts and work only in your free time.

What You’ll Need to be a Food Delivery Driver:

• Driver’s license: You should be of the legal age to drive in your city and must have a driver’s license to get hired. 
• Knowledge of the streets: Most companies offer a guaranteed delivery period. To comply with their requirements, you should have a fair idea of the shortcuts and roads of the city. 
• Time management skills: To be a delivery driver, you should have impeccable time management skills so that you can meet tight delivery times. 

Pros 

• High demand for online orders: The amount of people ordering in has gone up significantly, and you’ll find no shortage of work opportunities. 
• Tips can raise your salary: Most people pay tips to their delivery agents, which raises the final amount that they earn from the job.

Cons 

• Can be physically stressful: Although zooming through the streets can offer mental relaxation, it might be physically tiring after a long day at school. 
• Base pay is low: Since delivery business owners are aware of the tips that drivers receive, the base salary that you receive will be quite low. 

7. Completing Online Surveys   

Some sites like Swagbucks, Opinion Outpost, Survey Junkie, and OneOpinion allow you to make money online by completing paid surveys. 

But you should be aware that many online survey sites don’t pay and could even sell your information. 

Answering online surveys is a seemingly effortless way to earn extra money, but there is a significant risk involved as well. 

What You’ll Need to Make Money Online Through Paid Surveys 

• A working device and internet: You should have a working mobile, tablet, or computer and a stable internet connection to participate in online surveys.
• Meet the criteria: Some survey sites accept everyone, while others only need a specific type of people based on their location, age, gender, and others. It depends on the site, but these surveys are usually for companies doing market research, so they will need answers from a specific type of consumer.

Pros 

• Bare minimum requirements: You work from home and only need a device and internet to start making money. There are no minimum qualifications needed to sign up for survey sites. 
• Free to sign up: Most legit survey companies allow people to register for free and pay them right after their participation is completed.

Cons 

• Scam potential: There are a lot of online surveys that promise ways of making a few extra bucks for teens but are scams. The number of such sites is constantly rising.
• Income potential: Many of these sites don’t pay well, and that’s if they pay at all. Survey sites often provide other rewards like gift cards instead of cash.

8. Dropshipping 

If you’re interested in running an online business, you might want to check out dropshipping. 

You run your own business and sell products on an online store without having an inventory. 

The overhead costs are quite low, and the profits can be significant if you market your products properly. 

If you’re looking to lead your customers to an already reputed site, you can try an online marketplace like eBay, Amazon, or Facebook.

What You’ll Need to be a Dropshipper 

• Find a supplier: Whatever you’re planning to sell through your online business needs to be provided via a supplier. 
• An item niche: If you’re planning to start an online store, you need to settle on a niche of items to sell. 
• Marketing skills: You’ll be a business owner responsible for promoting and selling your products, so knowing some advertising or social media tips and tricks is crucial.

Pros 

• Can be very profitable: The profit margins vary from product to product, but the low overhead leads to higher profits in the long run. 
• You’re in charge: You can work during your free time and determine your own schedule since you’re not working under anyone. 

Cons 

• Can be time-consuming: Even though there’s no strict amount of time you need to work, setting up your business can take a lot of time. 
• No control over supply chain: You aren’t in control of the inventory and are dependent on the supplier. Items could go out of stock any time, disrupting your business. 

9. Babysitting 

Babysitting is one of the side hustles for teens that doesn’t require any minimum qualifications. 

As long as you can take care of things around the house and are good with children, you can apply for these jobs. 

Traditionally, most people find babysitters through references. 

So, you’ll have to put the word out in your locality or city if you want to go down this route. 

You can also try registering for childcare services online to raise your chances of getting hired. 

Babysitters are usually paid an hourly or daily rate as agreed upon with the client. 

What You’ll Need to be a Babysitter

• Being good with children: As a babysitter, it is essential that you are good at dealing with children. You’ll have to take care of them, ensure that they are eating properly, and also tutor them if needed. 
• Good communication skills: It goes without saying that you’ll need to be a good communicator to establish trust with the clients and bond with the child. 
• Knowledge of basic caregiving: You should know how to treat a cut, how to cook a basic meal, CPR, and how to interact with children and make them feel safe. 

Pros 

• No minimum qualifications needed: You don’t need to be the best at academics or have a diploma to get hired as a babysitter. 
• Low-stress job: Since you only spend a few hours with the children and have fun, it can be a relatively stress-free experience to earn money. 

Cons 

• Clients can be challenging: Having to deal with mischievous kids can be difficult. Parents who aren’t understanding or don’t pay on time can be even more challenging to deal with. 
• Minimal pay: If you’re looking for the highest ROI on your time, babysitting might not be for you since the pay is on the lower side. 

10. House Cleaning / Domestic Errands 

Among the most common side hustles for teens is running errands and offering cleaning services to get paid. 

From mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, and cleaning cars to grocery shopping, many errands can be run for extra money.  

What You’ll Need 

• Contacts and references: Put the word out in your local area or ask a friend to refer you to someone who needs help maintaining their house. 
• Physical capabilities: You should be able to do some light lifting, walking, or other light physical activity. 

Pros 

• Low-stress jobs: Odd jobs often aren’t very stressful to execute. 
• Decent ROI: You won’t need to exert yourself too much or spend too much time to earn extra money. 

Cons 

• One-off jobs: Odd jobs like cleaning the house or mowing the lawn are often one-off jobs, which means you won’t have recurring income. 
• No realistic growth: You’ll only be using some basic skills, and there’s nothing that you can add to your CV apart from community service. 

Similar Jobs 

Here are some other side hustles that you might be interested in: 

• Best Work From Home Customer Service Jobs: If you want to make money without leaving the home, find out the best remote customer service jobs that you can take up. 
• Virtual Assistant Jobs for Beginners: Learn how to get started in your career as a virtual assistant and the essential skills you could learn in the process; 
• Best Graphic Design Jobs: A step-by-step guide to finding jobs as a graphic designer. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Wrapping Up

Some of these side hustles for teens pay good money for your time, while others require little commitment but pay less too. Take some time to assess your skills and pursue a side hustle that matches your long-term goals and skill set. 

If you liked this article, please let us know what you found most helpful in the comments. Please also share it with a fellow teen in search of side hustles.