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Side Hustles

25+ Great Ways To Make Money As a 13-Year-Old Online and Offline

<a class="txt-link" href="https://www.nichepursuits.com/author/peterk/">Peter Karanja</a>

By Peter Karanja

Last updated: July 8, 2024

how to make money as a 13-year-old.

When you buy something through one of the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

 

Are your parents struggling to pay bills, or do you want to build a great foundation for your future? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll share lots of awesome ways to make money at 13 years old online and offline!

Some of the easiest ways of making extra money include designing T-shirts, selling food, babysitting, starting a blog or a YouTube channel, selling things at school or on Etsy, doing chores, or even getting an online job. 

So be sure to check each option to see if any best match your personality and interests!

In a hurry?

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Contents

  • Great Ways To Make Money As a 13-Year-Old Online
    • Design T-shirts
    • Start a Blog
    • Create an App
    • Start a YouTube Channel
    • Become an Influencer
    • Proofreader
    • Be a Virtual Assistant On Social Media
    • Freelancing for Various Digital Services
    • Self-Publish Your Own Books
    • Open a Shop On Etsy
    • Transcribe 
    • Flip Products Online
    • Complete Online Surveys And Other Small Tasks
    • Review Songs
    • Tips to Stay Safe while Making money online as a 13 Year Old
  • How To Earn Money As A 13-Year-Old: Offline 
    • Create Printables
    • Sell Food and Beverages
    • Painting
    • Golf Caddy
    • Deliver Newspapers (And Food)
    • Review Calls with Humanatic
  • How To Make Money As A 13-year-Old at Home
    • Yard Work
    • Babysitting
    • Sell Stuff Online That’s Not Being Used Anymore
    • Do House Chores
    • Help In The Family Business
    • Pet Care
    • Offer Car Washing Services
  • Seasonal Ways For Making Money As A 13-Year-Old
    • Pool Maintenance
    • Hanging Christmas Lights or Removing Them and Wrapping Gifts
    • Shovel Snow
  • How Can A 13-Year-Old Make Money At School?
    • Tutoring Students
    • Preparing School Meals
  • Can A 13-Year-Old Work?
  • Wrapping Up Making Money as a 13-Year-Old

Great Ways To Make Money As a 13-Year-Old Online

Maybe you only want to work in the online world from the comfort of your home. Whatever the reason, a 13-year-old can make money working online through these tried and true ways:

  • Designing T-shirts
  • Starting a blog
  • Starting a YouTube channel
  • Being a virtual assistant on social media
  • Self-publishing your own books
  • Starting a shop on Etsy
  • Transcribing
  • Holding online classes

Design T-shirts

Expected Pay: Above $70, quality and quantity dictates the pay

Did you know that you can design T-shirts online?  To be successful in designing T-shirts to make money online, settle on one niche. 

How To Make Money As A 13-year Old

Image Source: Pexels: Photo by kira schwarz from Pexels

Choosing a niche makes you an expert, and many people start to identify you with that niche. As a result, they may start marketing you to others – if they love your work. 

A few tips would be of help before starting out. For example:

Know Your Interests and Passion

While you aim to make money as a 13-year-old, I wouldn’t recommend picking a highly profitable niche if you don’t have any interest in it. Having a passion for that niche makes it incredibly easy to excel and make money online. 

So, be cautious about your passion and interests before starting. 

For example, if you’re a cartoon enthusiast, you could design T-shirts with cartoons on them. 

Use Templates

Templates such as those on Canva simplify online T-shirt designing (don't miss our guide on how to make money with Canva here). This also means you spend less time designing several T-shirts. 

What’s more? With the available custom designs, it’s possible to make unique t-shirt designs that would earn you a decent income. 

Do Dropshipping

You don’t have to print out the T-shirts yet if you don’t have any customers. All you need is to learn how to dropship. Here’s how it works.

Once clients show interest in your T-shirts and they make payment, make arrangements with the printing companies. Share the design with them; once they’ve printed the T-shirt, ask them to ship it directly to the clients. 

Large printing networks, such as Printiful, could help as they offer print-on-demand services. You may also try out Printify.  

Whenever possible, design T-shirts for both genders and people of all ages and sizes to broaden your market. 

Start a Blog

Expected Pay: $500 – $2,000

Many kids out there have started blogs to make money online, even at 13 years old. A good example would be Alex Know It All, who is probably 13 today. Though she started her site at 7, she is an excellent example of kids who have started blogs.  

Seek inspiration from kids who own blogs and start one today.  All you need is money to buy hosting and a domain name.

You could use your name as a domain name, for example, Jenniferbrown.com, or choose any other that you like. 

How To Make Money As A 13-year Old

Image Source: Pixabay

Discuss the plan of starting the blog with your parents or guardians and ask them to help you with the initial cost to pay for hosting and domain name.

How much you’ll need depends on the hosting company you choose. While some are expensive, others are considerably affordable.

Great Hosting Companies To Consider

  1. Namecheap
  2. Iridium Hosting
  3. SiteGround
  4. Bluehost
  5. HostGator
  6. Hostinger

I suggest you avoid the pricey ones since you’re just starting. 

Some of the ways to earn from your blog include affiliate marketing, display ads, direct ads from companies, or selling your own products.

And the awesome thing about this route is that over time, you'll earn passive income as you follow SEO best practices and rank more and more pages.

Especially if you follow The Authority Site System which teaches you exactly how to get your site up and running, and most importantly - growing!

Get 40% Off The Authority Site System Here

Create an App

Expected pay: Potentially 6 to 7-figures 

Creating and selling an app can be a lucrative online business opportunity - even for a 13-year-old. 

And while it may sound daunting, with some coding skills and a great app idea, you could develop the next viral app sensation to make money online.

The key is to identify a problem that needs solving or a service that could make people's lives easier or more entertaining. Think about apps that could help students with homework, teach new skills, or provide an engaging game experience.

Once you have an app concept, you'll need to learn coding through online tutorials, coding camps, or courses. Popular programming languages for app development include Java for Android apps and Swift for iOS apps - and there are even tools that we’ve reviewed like Adalo that can help!

After building your app, you can submit it to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Once approved, your app becomes available for download, often with an upfront fee or in-app purchases.

Successful apps can generate revenue through downloads, in-app advertising, premium features, or subscriptions. Keep updating your app with new features and listen to user feedback to improve it over time.

And while certainly not easy - creating and selling your own app lets you showcase your skills, build an entrepreneurial mindset, and potentially earn a lucrative income stream as a 13-year-old.

Start a YouTube Channel

Expected Pay: Ranges between $0.10 and $0.30 (PHP 5 and PHP 15) per view 

YouTube is one of the best ways you should consider when looking for ways to earn money online as a 13-year-old. Surprisingly, as long as you’re sharing educational information, you could attract fellow teenagers and their parents. 

Consequently, you could attract a huge audience to your channel when making live streams, which you can then monetize through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or even selling online.

Just check out EvanTubeHD’s channel, which is making over $1.3 million annually! What’s more? He is only 13 years old, like you!

Just make sure to know what you’re getting into!

Growing Up as a Child YouTuber

So, what’s stopping you from starting your own channel as a 13-year-old? 

Become an Influencer

Expected Pay: Varies, and can range from free products to thousands per sponsored post

Thanks to social media, becoming an influencer is actually a possible opportunity for 13-year-olds. By building a strong online presence and engaging content, you can build a following and monetize your influence.

The first step is to choose your niche and platform. Popular options include Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, focusing on areas like fashion, gaming, comedy, or a specific interest you're passionate about.

Consistently create high-quality content that resonates with your target audience. Share your personality, and expertise, or provide entertaining and valuable information. Engage with your followers by responding to comments and fostering a community.

As your following grows, brands and companies may approach you for sponsored content or partnerships. This could involve creating sponsored posts, reviewing products, or becoming a brand ambassador.

To boost your chances of success, collaborate with other influencers in your niche, interact with your audience, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and platform features.

While building an influencer presence takes time and effort, the payoff can be significant. Top influencers can earn thousands of dollars per sponsored post or collaboration, not to mention free products, exclusive experiences, and other perks.

Just remember to be authentic, follow platform guidelines, and prioritize quality over quantity when creating content. With dedication and creativity, becoming an influencer is a viable way to make money online as a 13-year-old in today's digital world.

Proofreader

Expected Pay: $10 - $30 per hour

Nexct on our list of creative ways to make money as a 13-year-old online, proofreading can be an excellent online job for 13-year-olds with strong writing and editing skills. Many individuals, businesses, and writers need an extra set of eyes to catch errors in their documents, articles, or website content before publishing.

As a proofreader, your main tasks are to carefully review written materials, identify spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes, as well as check for consistency in formatting, style, and facts.

To get started, sign up on freelancing platforms like Fiverr or Upwork and create a gig offering your proofreading services. In your profile, highlight your attention to detail and language proficiency.

You can proofread a wide range of content, such as essays, blog posts, e-books, resumes, and even short stories or poetry. Rates can vary, but most proofreaders charge by the word, page, or hour.

The best part? 

Proofreading is one of the most flexible online jobs you can do from home in your spare time, making it an excellent option for a 13-year-old looking to earn some extra cash online!

Be a Virtual Assistant On Social Media

Expected Pay: Approximately $19.78 per hour

Being a young social media enthusiast means that you can respond to many inboxes and comments in a day. That’s what most companies are struggling to do – even the small businesses around your home. 

However, each of these businesses understands the power of social media and would gladly appreciate any help that would:

  • Make their profits skyrocket
  • Create brand awareness
  • Keep their social media pages active 
  • Respond to (potential) buyers and convince them to make sales 

Approach any business owner you know and ask them to hire you as their virtual assistant. And as traffic on their social media increases, simply ask them to increase your pay for your online job accordingly.   

Freelancing for Various Digital Services

Expected Pay: Varies based on services offered

Along with the examples of online jobs covered above, there are also other general services that you can offer. 

With a computer and internet access, you can start your own miniature freelance business from home.

Popular Freelancing Services Teenagers Can Offer

Writing and Editing: Those that excel at writing, can offer services like proofreading, editing, article writing, or even creative writing like short stories or poems.

Graphic Design: Do you have an eye for design? Freelance your graphic design skills to create logos, social media graphics, brochures, or other visual content for clients.

Tutoring: Share your knowledge by tutoring other students online in subjects you excel at, like math, science, languages, or test prep.

Video Editing: With video creation booming, you could offer video editing services for YouTubers, businesses, or individuals needing promotional videos.

Again - to get started, create profiles on freelancing platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer.com. Showcase your skills, portfolio, and competitive rates in your gig descriptions.

You can also promote your services locally through social media, classifieds, or word-of-mouth referrals from family and friends.

Freelancing allows you to earn money flexibly while developing valuable skills that can open doors to more significant opportunities in the future.

Self-Publish Your Own Books

Expected Pay: Books costing $2.99 to $9.99 give a 70% royalty and 35% for books costing less than $2.99 or more than $9.99 

When thinking about ways to make money as a teenager online, how about you self-publish a book? Books, like blogs, are a great way of expressing yourself as a 13-year-old. You can also write about pets, family members, and school life. 

Thankfully, you don’t have to publish the book – simply self-publish your book on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). 

How To Make Money As A 13-year Old

Image Source: Pixabay

So, there would be no need to get hard copies unless you want them. Why? There are more than 197 million people visiting Amazon every month to buy products. Why couldn't it be your book?  Self-publish today. 

Open a Shop On Etsy

Expected Pay: Varies on the cost of your products

While Etsy doesn’t allow accounts to be managed by anyone under 18 years, a 13-year-old can create an account as long as it is owned by the parents/guardians. 

Nothing restricts you from selling whatever you want on Etsy, which is a marketplace for selling anything you can think of making, including digital and physical products. 

You can sell stuff online in all sorts of categories and verticals, such as calligraphy, pet accessories, jewelry, fidget spinners, and more. To make the most out of Etsy, consider selling your products during holidays. 

Unfortunately, when selling on Etsy, you must part with 6.5% (effective as of April 11, 2022) of your sales in Etsy charges. Included in the charges is the cost of packaging and delivery.  

You can check the reviewed Etsy fees and payment details.

Transcribe 

Expected Pay: $0.70 to $30 per minute of the audio file

Transcription is a great way of making your own money as a 13-year-old. Nonetheless, if your payment will be channeled through a PayPal account or other international modes of payment, you might have to use your parents' details to create an account. 

Unlike most online job examples listed here, transcription needs several skills before starting. For example, you should have:

  • Ability to listen to all details carefully
  • A fast typing speed to make good money in one hour or per audio

While sites such as AccuTran Global hire teens to do transcription jobs, you must be fluent in English. However, fluency in English is only a must when handling English audio. For others, you should be fluent in the language used. 

Be ready, though, for one-hour audio – you may spend about 5 hours transcribing if you’re just starting. Some take up to 10 hours! 

Don’t fret yet! There are typing tests you can undertake to increase your speed. 

They include:

  • The Typing Cat
  • Typing.com
How To Make Money As A 13-year Old

Image Source: Unsplash

Some of the tools you’ll need to kick-start your transcription business include:

Hardware

  • A tablet or computer
  • High-quality headphones: Buy headphones that cancel background noise to keep your ears safe (and also check out our Krisp review).
  • Infinity USB Foot Pedal: You can use it to control audio using your feet.

Software

You may find certain software helpful, including:

  • Audio Enhancer
  • DFX Audio Enhancer

Speech recognition software might also be helpful, such as: 

  • Braina Pro
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking
  • Transcription Audio player
  • Express Scribe: For personal computers or Mac

Flip Products Online

Expected Pay: Varies based on the products and initial product sale

Most teens, as well as adults, are only familiar with flipping items offline. That's the old school way! But if you’re thinking of ways to make money as a 13-year-old online from home, Digital flipping means selling products online. 

You can flip anything you want, for example:

  • Websites
  • Home appliances
  • Furniture
  • Bikes
  • Branded items such as caps and T-shirts
  • Musical instruments

But what is flipping? Flipping is where you buy an item and then sell it for more than you paid. For example, you may buy a motorcycle at only $7,000 but sell it at $10,000. 

Flipping online has several pros, for example:

  • You reach many people within a short time.
  • There’s less effort involved.
  • For those who polish and paint furniture, you could make incredibly huge profits. 
  • You don’t need a physical shop.

Like every other business, flipping items online has some cons:

  • You can buy a fake product unknowingly.
  • Capital is needed since you only flip what you have.
  • Some items might need repair before flipping.

To make huge profits as a 13-year-old teen, you must:

  • Be able to identify items that are worth more than their market price.
  • Have a camera to take photos, if necessary.

Where can you source items for flipping?

  • Families who want to get rid of old assets
  • Thrift stores
  • Garages
  • Assets your parents no longer use
  • Churches trying to get rid of old chairs or musical instruments such as keyboards 

Now that you already have in mind what you can flip, where do you sell your products? 

You can sell your products anywhere, including, 

  • eBay
  • Your Facebook page
  • Facebook Marketplace
  • Facebook flipping pages
  • Craigslist

Complete Online Surveys And Other Small Tasks

Expected Pay: Varies with the company and type of survey or tasks

Various companies are always sending out surveys to collect data that can help them improve their services. And guess what? Some of these paid survey sites are available to teenagers.

Besides completing paid online surveys, some companies like Swagbucks and InboxDollars will require you to complete small tasks such as watching videos, watching ads, reviewing a film, or play a video game.

While answering online surveys will pay you in cash, others can pay you with a gift card or credits that you can redeem. Other survey sites that may be willing to work with teenagers include:

  • Survey Junkie
  • Idle-Empire
  • SurveyTime
  • AppKarma
  • SlicethePie

Review Songs

Expected Pay: $5 - $20 per review

Music lovers with a talent for critiquing and reviewing songs, there's an opportunity to make money online by sharing your thoughts and opinions.

Many artists, both established and upcoming, are eager to receive honest feedback on their new releases. And by offering detailed, well-written song reviews, you can provide valuable insights to help musicians improve their craft and connect with their audience.

To get started, you can sign up on freelancing sites like Fiverr and Upwork or opinion and survey sites like SliceThePie.

Alternatively, you can start your own music review blog or YouTube channel, sharing your thoughts on the latest releases or your favorite tracks. As you build a following, you can generate income through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or even direct payments from artists seeking your opinion.

When reviewing songs, be sure to provide an objective analysis of the lyrics, melody, instrumentation, and overall production quality. Share your personal opinions while respecting the artist's creative vision.

With a keen ear for music and the ability to articulate your thoughts effectively, reviewing songs can be a fun and rewarding way to make money online as a 13-year-old music enthusiast.

Tips to Stay Safe while Making money online as a 13 Year Old

Making money online can be really exciting for young teens, especially if this is your first time making money. With all of these online jobs, one thing to stress is the importance of staying safe.

Personal finance expert and founder of MakingSenseofCents.com, Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, explains, "To stay safe online, teens should avoid sharing personal information like their full name, address, or phone number until they confirm with their parents that it is okay. They should use secure websites and talk to a parent before signing up for anything. It's also important to be cautious of scams and only use trusted sites. I think talking everything over with parents is extremely important, and I would do that before starting any type of job - both online and in-person."

How To Earn Money As A 13-Year-Old: Offline 

Whether you want to work away from or within your home, there are several offline jobs available to you as a 13-year-old.

They include:

  • Creating printables
  • Selling food and beverages
  • Painting
  • Golf caddying
  • Delivering Newspapers
  • Reviewing Calls

Let’s discuss how you can earn money with some of these methods. 

Create Printables

Expected Pay: $7 in a day, based on your pricing and the product

Do you have any design skills? Don't let them go to waste when you can earn money online by creating printables. You can use tools such as Canva to create printables to help your fellow teens plan their homework and school work effectively. Busy moms would also love to have a plan for their (sometimes) hectic days at home. 

To help other 13-year-olds who want to start making money online, create trackers to help them save more money in the best way possible. Other printables you can create include calendars and planners for adults, such as teachers and neighbors. 

But where do you sell these printables? One of the sites you can sell your printable is Creative Market. You may also try Etsy. Though I’ve given an example of the printables you can create, don’t limit yourself to just these – you can create any printable you wish and still earn money online from it.

Sell Food and Beverages

Expected Pay: Varies based on location and population

So, you might be thinking, how can 13-year-olds make money with food and beverages? Well, as long as you apply all the set laws in regards to the sale of food, selling food and beverages is a profitable business. 

To avoid frustrations and food spoilage, set the business on a busy road with high foot traffic. Alternatively, identify days when certain roads are busy and set a tent there.

Depending on the weather, you could make:

  • Fresh fruit juice
  • Lemonade
  • Burgers
  • Other quick foods

Remember, though, what attracts most people to a certain food vendor is the cleanliness and quality of the food. Be sure to observe hygiene and offer well-cooked food. Avoid preparing more than you can sell in a day to prevent food spoilage. 

Have all types of clients in mind, even those with food intolerances. When choosing the type of food and drinks to sell, consider their diet, too.  

Painting

Expected Pay: Approximately $18 per hour

Painting jobs are some of the most lucrative odd jobs a 13-year-old can do. This is one of the local businesses kids can start. You can paint walls, fences, and rooms, among others. Nonetheless, you'll have to confirm with your parents if painting jobs are safe for you. Why? Some paint smells may cause chest problems later. 

It’s highly recommended that you wear appropriate clothes for painting tasks to avoid getting into trouble with your parents once your clothes get paint stains.  

Painting

Image Source: Pexels: Photo by Stephanie Ho from Pexels

When you’re ready to start a painting job, discuss the wages before commencing the task. This is especially vital if you’ll be painting for a couple of days. Consequently, you won’t have to worry about being underpaid after completing the task. 

Golf Caddy

Expected Pay: $15-$20 an hour for beginners and $25-$30 for experts

Do you know any golf enthusiasts who could possibly hire you as a golf caddy? Get in touch with them. Ask them to hire you to be a caddy. You must be ready to walk under the scorching sun while carrying the player's bag and clubs. 

However, you may not be paid as much as other caddies because you may not be in a position to offer all the services other caddies offer. For example, you may not be able to offer golfers moral support or the advice they need while playing. But it’s still a viable way to make extra cash.

Even so, avoid seeking caddy jobs from golf companies, as they may be unwilling to hire a 13-year-old. 

Deliver Newspapers (And Food)

Expected Pay: About $500​ every week or 10 – 15 cents per newspaper delivered

Do you own a bike and want to use it in ways that pay good money? Start delivering newspapers. 

Not only can this become a reliable source of income for you after 13, but it can be a connection point with people who could hire you to do other odd jobs. For example, while delivering a newspaper, you could see a bushy yard that you could ask to trim and earn money. 

What’s more? You must can not only deliver newspapers in the morning, but you can  deliver them in the evening after leaving school as well. It depends on what agreement you have with the client.

Review Calls with Humanatic

Expected pay: $1 – $4.50 per hour

Have you ever tried making a call to a company’s customer service rep after buying a product or paying for a service? Do you remember being notified that your call would be recorded to ensure quality service? 

Well, there are people hired to listen to the past conversations made on calls to determine if the services rendered were as per the companies’ set standards.  

You can apply for such jobs as a 13-year-old. Beware, these odd jobs may not pay that much based on which company you’re working for.

However, there’s nothing required beyond listening to the calls and reviewing them. It could also turn out to be fun when you listen to dramatic calls. Besides, you can review calls from home or an office.

How To Make Money As A 13-year-Old at Home

Stay home with your parents or guardians while still making extra money as a 13-year-old. Oh, the joy of playing with your siblings and learning more skills from your parents as you help them out! 

There are many jobs you can do at home. For example, 

  • Yard work
  • Babysitting
  • Disposing of your parent’s old items on their behalf
  • Doing house chores
  • Helping in the family business
  • Pet walking
  • Washing cars

Yard Work

Expected Pay: $15.21 per hour

Yard work can be time-consuming. Therefore, busy moms and working dads may not have enough time to do yard work. They would gladly accept hiring you to do yard work around their house.

Such tasks could include raking, blowing leaves, or mowing the grass. After every successful job, ask the client if you could do the same job for them every weekend or at the end of the month (depending on which job you’re doing and get even more ideas for online weekend jobs here). 

Yard Work

Image Source: Pixabay

Impressed clients would likely agree to it. Sadly, yardwork is only suitable for areas where homes are surrounded by yards.

Babysitting

Expected Pay: $10 – $25 per hour

According to the tracking app RoosterMoney, babysitting is among the most lucrative jobs since it’s one of the jobs that makes teens accountable. 

Will Carmichael, who is the CEO of RoosterMoney,  says that it’s a lucrative job because parents view babysitting as a job with a higher level of responsibility.

Besides, Carmichael says that it’s common with older kids. Therefore, babysitting isn’t for nannies and moms alone. As a 13-year-old, you can do it easily. While it’s not a task for everyone, teens who love playing with kids can be great at it. 

So, if you love being around kids, arranging the toys for them, or feeding them, babysitting could be your best way of making extra money as a 13-year-old. 

Sell Stuff Online That’s Not Being Used Anymore

Expected Pay: Varies based on the asset and its current status

This is a good idea if you’re a social person who interacts easily, even with strangers. However, if you have a large number of followers on your social media pages, you could market or make sales easily. 

Don’t worry if you want to use social media accounts to market your parents’ or guardians’ assets. Create an excellent post, add a call to action, then boost your post. Not only will you create awareness within a short span of time, but you’ll also make sales – even in a single day! 

Do House Chores

Expected Pay:  $14 to $28 a week

You can’t ask your guardians to pay for every other chore you do at home. Not possible! But it makes sense to ask them to pay for jobs they pay others to do. For example, knowing how to start a window cleaning business, removing cobwebs, or organizing the bookshelves and shoe racks.

Most of these jobs aren’t regular. Sometimes your parents only want them done over the weekend. Negotiate with them. Be respectful when negotiating on the pay – they’re your parents or legal guardians. 

Help In The Family Business

Expected pay: $4.25 per hour

If your parents or guardians have their own business that has no age requirement, ask them to give you a payable task. 

Depending on the type of business your family does, you would help with jobs such as: 

  • Typing and printing
  • Customer service representative (send and receive emails on behalf of the family business, make and receive calls)
  • Filling vital documents
  • Data entry work

If you don’t have any of the above skills, start by offering menial jobs, such as cleaning the premises and arranging the shelves. 

Pet Care

Expected Pay: $10-$30

Pet care services usually include ensuring the yard is free of pet poop when you pet sit, playing with the pets, dog walking, taking them out to swim, and ensuring they’re clean. 

Most pet owners have busy schedules, and they don't have enough time to exercise their pets. With most of them know the benefits of exercising a pet, they would consider hiring a 13-year-old to walk or petsit in their absence. 

How To Make Money As A 13-year Old

Image Source: Pixabay

For simple tasks, such as walking a dog, you can dedicate about one hour after school for that.  Be cautious, though – this could be a risky job, especially when walking a nervous dog. Ensure that the pet is well-leashed to avoid it being a nuisance to people, which could eventually get you into trouble. 

During school holidays, you can add the number of services you offer. For example, you can offer pet training and cleaning services. The rule of thumb is to offer services other pet care providers aren’t offering. It becomes easy to charge more. 

Offer Car Washing Services

Expected Pay: $12.49 on average

According to the Rooster's CEO, a car washing service is among the best, top-paying jobs. Surprisingly, he explains that since car washing is among the big physical jobs, kids earn high amounts. 

Moreover, dealing with people’s cars is a high-risk job – hence, car washing wages are high. 

So, if you haven’t thought of washing cars as a way to earn money as a 13-year-old, you’re missing out on a great opportunity. 

Seasonal Ways For Making Money As A 13-Year-Old

If you still need to consider more jobs or if none of the above works for you, try out these seasonal jobs for a 13-year-old. 

  • Pool maintenance
  • Hanging Christmas lights or removing them
  • Shoveling snow

Pool Maintenance

Expected Pay:  $16 – $21

After winter, pools need maintenance. So, as soon as summer kicks in, let your neighbors know that you can vacuum their pools, clean tiles, and test the water chemistry. 

You could also skim and brush your client’s pool. 

Still, you can add the necessary chemicals into the water to balance the pH.  You may not get high pay if you don’t have:

  • The appropriate skill
  • Education
  • Many years of experience 
  • Certifications

Hanging Christmas Lights or Removing Them and Wrapping Gifts

Expected Pay: $5,000 – $15,000 every season

Christmas comes once a year, but there are many decorations to put out during this time. A lot of gift wrapping, too. No family wants to be left out. 

It becomes easy to get at least one or all of these jobs:

  • Hanging Christmas lights
  • Removing Christmas lights
  • Wrapping gifts for loved ones during Christmas 

The competition could be stiff, though. Offer exceptional services to win clients. Let them know why they should hire you and not another 13-year-old.

To know how much to charge, factor in the following:

  • Demand and current competition
  • Location
  • Amount of time involved in the labor
  • Your level of experience
  • Money management: How much more money do you need to buy the material for the decorations to still turn a profit
  • The size of the Christmas tree

Shovel Snow

Expected Pay: $25 – $75 per hour

Though shoveling snow involves other jobs, such as snow throwing and blowing, this is a well-paying job.

Before winter approaches, post on social media pages or spread the word that you can help with shoveling snow. Better still, create posters so that even passers-by read them. 

To ensure that you don’t miss any opportunities, add your contact or email address so that any potential clients can get in touch with you.

Avoid pushing away clients with exaggerated prices, though. Also, be available when called to shovel snow. 

Offering great services when shoveling snow would make your clients hire you for landscaping tasks which come after snow removal. 

How Can A 13-Year-Old Make Money At School?

Charitable jobs are common in school, but you want to earn money. You can make money by: 

  • Tutoring students
  • Preparing school meals

Tutoring Students

Expected Pay: $15-$75

Are you good at certain subjects that other kids in your class aren’t good at? Great! Start making extra money as a 13-year-old. 

Tutoring students is particularly good if you have been awarded for being the best in your class or school. Or, if you were declared the best student after a math or science contest, consider tutoring others.  Avoid frustrations by tutoring only what you’re good at.

Tutoring

Image source: Pixabay

People have a way of identifying others with what they’re bad at or good at. Expect the same – after a couple of days, the whole school will have nicknamed you with regard to your services. 

A few preparations would be necessary, though:

  • Set a rate
  • Choose a venue for holding the classes
  • Create a timetable for your students
  • Evaluate yourself – how well do you know the syllabus?

To start, offer discounts. For example, offer a discount to the first 10 students to join your class. Also, allow students to ask you questions away from your class at no cost. 

Answering their questions could win them into your tutoring class. 

Preparing School Meals

Expected Pay: Varies based on the menu

Feeding teens in school can be a difficult thing to do because they have diverse tastes for different meals. You can tell by what they say about what they expect to eat at school on that day.

Some will say the food isn’t enough. Others find it too little to make them full, while others feel it’s too cheap for them. 

Living in their midst means you understand their pain points and can deliver to their satisfaction.

Before you start:

  • Decide which foods to cook, preferably what isn’t available in the school
  • Know how much you need to get started. Ask your parents to help you start off if you don’t have enough money yet
  • Create a menu based on the weather conditions
  • Start advertising your business using flyers, social media, and word-of-mouth

Can A 13-Year-Old Work?

It can be scary to even think of working as a 13-year-old because the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act strictly prohibits kids (14 years and below) from working. Don’t fret, though. As a 13-year-old, there are jobs the Federal Labor laws approve. A few examples include babysitting, acting, and helping in the family business among others, etc., as we discussed earlier in this article. 

Wrapping Up Making Money as a 13-Year-Old

And that wraps up my guide on how to make money as a 13-year-old. Who knew there could be so many ways to make a few dollars? Don't limit yourself as a teen. On the other hand, nothing comes on a silver platter – you have to work hard to live a debt-free life. 

As Mary Hunt says, you start to spend your own money wisely when you work hard as a teen instead of misusing it.

Consequently, if you can save money, debt-free living becomes possible and easy all your life. You can also help your siblings (if any) to start budgeting money so they can have the same.

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