15 easy ways your kids and teens can earn money

Many kids and teens are entrepreneurs in the making; some have more business chops than most adults! Offering a mix of chores, jobs, and other ways for kids and teens to start earning money is an excellent way to support passion and innovation while providing real-world practice in money management.

Once they start making money, you can use tools like Greenlight, the #1 family finance and safety app, to make it all click. The all-in-one debit card for kids lets parents automate allowances, set spend controls, and allow friends and family to send money. As they use it, kids can start learning how to save, spend, and even invest* wisely. 

Here are some of the best jobs your kids can do to start earning — and leveling up their money know-how. 

Kids (12 and under)

1. Take care of the pets

Among Greenlight families, taking care of pets is consistently one of the top five chores. Why? It’s a big help for parents, and a great life lesson for aspiring pet owners. Not to mention, kids love the extra time with their four-legged friends… even if it gets a little messy.

2. Start a business

Kidpreneurs are all around us, and here are two great examples:

• Henry H is an eight-year-old who runs a cookie dough business.

• Brynn is a 12-year-old on a mission to make masks and donate her profits to charitable causes. 

Kudos, kids!

#1 family finance and safety app.

#1 family finance and safety app.

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Use code GLBLOG for one month, on us.*

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3. Help with recycling

As a multi-step process, recycling is a simple place for kids to help:

• First, you rinse. 

• Then, you crush the cans or cut the cardboard.

• Fill up your recycling bin.

• Take it down to the end of the driveway (or wherever your family recycles). 

4. Start a garden

For green thumbs and eco-conscious kids, start (and maintain!) a garden. 

• Pick out fruit, veggies, or herb plants as a family.

• Earn money in Greenlight’s kids’ allowance app every time they water the garden. 

• Bonus: If your produce thrives, consider selling it at the local farmer’s market.

5. Earn Parent-Paid Interest

Help kids save and earn while teaching the power of compound growth. In addition to Cash Back** and Savings Rewards***, Greenlight also gives you the option to allot Parent-Paid Interest. The best part? It’s automatic and straightforward.. 

6. Help the neighbors with odds and ends

Looking for a feel-good chore? Ask the neighbors if they want help with outdoor jobs, such as:

• Raking leaves

• Mowing the lawn

• Checking the mail

• Hauling the trash and recycling bins out for pickup and back. (You may even get a bonus if you offer to occasionally wash out the trash cans to keep them clean!)

Teens (13-19)

7. Write a book (and sell it!)

Does someone in the family have a way with words? Try writing a book. Don’t take it from us — take a page out of 13-year-old Stephen M.’s book. He wrote an inspiring 33-page story about stuttering (and it’s selling on Amazon)! 

8. Get a part-time job

Part-time jobs can teach hard work and responsibility. Not to mention, it gives interviewing experience at a young age. Get inspired:

• 12 best jobs for teens

• 19 online jobs for teens and students to work from home

• 25 higher-paying jobs for teens

9. Help cook dinner

Teens can lend a hand in the kitchen in exchange for a “paycheck” using Greenlight’s Chores and Allowance app. It works for any chores around the house — running errands, laundry, the list goes on. 

10. Become a babysitter or pet sitter

Up for a little more responsibility? How about taking care of little critters… or little humans! 

• To babysit, consider getting certified with the Red Cross. And know how much to charge for babysitting. 

• Pet sitting doesn’t usually warrant a certification, but it does require a love for animals — and comfort with messes.

11. Create and sell

If your family’s closets are overflowing with gently used clothes, try having a sale. 

• Look to brands like Poshmark, Depop, or thredUP for reselling clothes. 

• Teens with graphic skills can also design their own clothes to sell on CafePress or Zazzle.

• Or, organize a family or neighborhood yard sale designed to make money.

12. Offer help as an assistant

Want a stay-at-home job? Try offering help as an assistant. 

• Gardening assistant

• Social media apprentice

• Personal assistant

Ask your friends and family members what they need help with – or try a job search tool like this.

13. Weeding and yard work

Outdoor maintenance jobs can be an excellent way for teens to earn some extra money. From weeding to picking up sticks to mowing the lawn, there are a lot of people who will happily pay to keep the outside of their house looking nice.

14. Cleaning the nooks and crannies

Every house has areas that need cleaning but are often forgotten. Offer seasonal or deep-cleaning for things like:

• Baseboards

• Blinds

• Appliances (like the refrigerator!)

• Windows

 If you love organizing, add cabinet and pantry sorting and de-cluttering to your list of services.

15. Other odd jobs

Like to mix it up? Think up different tasks to tackle every day. Offer your services to help do things like:

• Break down boxes for recycling

• Moving items around the house

• Organizing garages and sheds

• Dusting and vacuuming

• Sorting and folding laundry

Or any other odd job your family or neighbors may need help getting done.

One last thing

Earning money is the start of a lifetime of lessons (and there’s something out there for everyone). With tools like direct deposit and flexible allowance options, Greenlight puts kids way ahead of the pack on their journey to financial independence.

Teach the value of hard work. Assign chores and allowances, track progress, and help kids learn to earn and manage money with Greenlight. Try Greenlight, one month, risk-free.†

*Available with Greenlight Max and Infinity plans.

**Greenlight Max, Infinity, and Family Shield families can earn 1% cash back on spending monthly. To qualify, the Primary Account must be in Good Standing and have a verified ACH funding account. See Greenlight Terms of Service for details. Subject to change at any time.

***Greenlight Core families can earn 2% per annum, Greenlight Max families can earn 3% per annum, Greenlight Infinity families can earn 5% per annum, and Greenlight Family Shield families can earn 6% per annum on an average daily savings balance of up to $5,000 per family. To qualify, the Primary Account must be in Good Standing and have a verified ACH funding account. See Greenlight Terms of Service for details. Subject to change at any time.