100 Ways to Make Money as a Kid, Sorted by Age and What It Pays

A child can make money by selling simple services, making things to sell, and earning online with a parent’s help. Most kids start with neighborhood jobs like mowing, pet care, and babysitting, then add craft sales and resale as they get older.

Most lists of kid money ideas stop at the lemonade stand and a few chores around the house. This one answers what actually pays and what a 9-year-old can handle without an adult standing there.

You get 100 ideas in 10 groups, each with an age note and a rough pay range. Most kids in these gigs earn $20 to $200 a month, which is real money toward a goal they picked themselves.

Neighborhood Service Jobs

These jobs pay $5 to $100 per visit, need no startup money, and suit ages 8 to 12.

Yard and outdoor work pays the best hourly rate available to younger kids, and it needs almost nothing to start. One satisfied customer usually turns into three more, since neighbors talk about who actually shows up.

1. Mow Lawns

Lawn mowing generates the most reliable recurring income for a kid in a suburban neighborhood. A single yard pays $20 to $40, and a weekly route of five yards turns into steady summer income.

Start with the two closest houses so the mower never has to cross a busy street. Pediatricians put the safe age for a push mower at 12 and up. Best for ages 12+ with supervision.

2. Rake Leaves

Fall cleanup is heavy, repetitive work that plenty of adults are happy to hand off. Charge $25 to $50 per yard depending on the tree count and whether bags need hauling to the curb.

But quote it only after walking the yard, never over the phone. Best for ages 9+.

3. Pull Weeds

Weeding pays less per hour than mowing, but it is far safer for younger kids and needs no equipment. Most neighbors pay $15 to $25 per garden bed for a thorough job.

Bring a kneeling pad and a bucket, and clear the roots rather than just the tops. Best for ages 8+.

4. Water Plants While Neighbors Travel

Vacation plant care takes about 10 minutes a day and pays well for the time involved. Ask $5 to $10 per day for indoor pots and outdoor beds, and line up clients a few weeks before the holiday travel season. Best for ages 9+.

5. Wash Cars

A bucket, car soap, and two microfiber towels cover the entire startup cost. Charge $15 to $25 per car, and add $10 more if the inside gets vacuumed and wiped down. Best for ages 10+.

6. Sweep Driveways and Walkways

Sweeping is the easiest job here to sell as an add-on. Offer it for around $10 on top of a mowing or car washing visit the same afternoon. Best for ages 8+.

7. Take Trash Cans to the Curb

Older neighbors often struggle with heavy bins on collection day. A weekly out-and-back service runs $5 to $10 per household, so it only pays once eight or ten houses have signed up. Best for ages 8+.

8. Clean Up Storm Debris

After a serious storm, downed branches and scattered debris appear on every property at once. Kids with heavy-duty contractor bags can earn $50 to $100 in a single afternoon while demand is high.

Skip anything near power lines and leave large limbs to adults. Best for ages 11+.

9. Wash Outdoor Windows

Ground-floor windows only, with no ladders and no second stories involved. Charge $2 to $4 per window, which puts most houses somewhere around $30 for the visit. Best for ages 11+.

10. Spread Mulch

Spring mulch deliveries leave a large pile that somebody has to move and spread. Kids with a wheelbarrow can charge $30 to $60 per yard of mulch, and the work goes faster with two people. Best for ages 12+.

Pet and Animal Care

Pet work pays $10 to $35 per visit or day, and most of it fits ages 10 to 12.

Pet sitting and dog walking let a kid earn money by caring for pet owners’ animals, usually within a few houses of home. Repeat business runs stronger here than anywhere else, since an owner who trusts someone rarely looks for a replacement.

11. Walk Dogs

Plenty of dogs need a midday walk that their working owners simply cannot fit in. A 20-minute walk pays $10 to $15, and three regular clients turn into predictable weekly income.

Checking Rover and Wag shows the going rate nearby, though both need a parent on the account. Start with dogs the child already knows, since an unfamiliar large dog is a real safety issue. Best for ages 11+.

12. Pet Sit

Feeding and checking on a pet while the owners travel pays $15 to $25 per day, close to what local pet sitters charge. Cats make the easiest starting point, because they need less handling than dogs and no walks.

Do a practice visit with the owner present before the first solo day. Best for ages 11+.

13. Scoop Dog Waste

Yard waste cleanup is unpleasant, which is exactly why people pay someone else to do it. Weekly service runs $10 to $20 per yard, and almost nobody competes for the work. Best for ages 10+.

14. Wash Dogs

Outdoor dog washing during warm months costs nothing beyond shampoo and access to a hose. Charge around $15 for small dogs and $25 for large ones, with towels included.

Ask the owner about skin conditions before using any shampoo. Best for ages 11+.

15. Feed Cats for Traveling Neighbors

A daily 10-minute visit covers food, fresh water, and a quick look around the house. Ask $12 to $18 per day and bill for the entire trip up front rather than collecting daily. Best for ages 10+.

16. Clean Litter Boxes

This works as an add-on to cat sitting or as a standalone service for busy owners. Weekly cleaning pays about $10 per box, and most homes with cats have more than one. Best for ages 10+.

17. Clean Fish Tanks

Tank maintenance is detailed work that most owners keep putting off. A monthly clean pays $20 to $35 depending on tank size and algae buildup, but learn the water change process properly first.

Mistakes here kill fish. Best for ages 12+.

18. Feed Chickens and Farm Animals

In rural areas, morning and evening feeding happens every single day, holidays included. Rates run $15 to $30 per day for a small flock, covering egg collection and water refills too. Best for ages 10+.

19. Make and Sell Dog Treats

Simple peanut butter and pumpkin biscuits cost under $1 for a full batch. Bagged treats sell for $6 to $10 at markets and to neighbors who already know the family.

Skip chocolate, grapes, and xylitol entirely, since all three sit on the ASPCA’s list of foods that poison pets. Best for ages 9+ with kitchen help.

20. Sew Pet Bandanas

Straight-line sewing on cotton fabric scraps makes a good beginner sewing project. Bandanas sell for $8 to $12 each and cost roughly $1 in materials to produce. Best for ages 10+.

Ways to Make Money as a Kid Online

Online earnings range from $0.50 per survey to $75 per design job, and every option needs a parent-held account.

This is the fastest-growing group of ideas and the one most lists cover poorly. The same ways to make money online work for adults, just without the account limits.

Nearly every option needs a parent-held account, though, since the platforms require sellers to be adults.

21. Take Paid Surveys

A handful of survey panels accept younger users with a parent’s permission and supervision. Payouts stay small at roughly $0.50 to $3 per survey, so this works as pocket money rather than a real income source.

Panels like Swagbucks take sign-ups from age 13 with a parent’s consent. There are survey sites built for kids and teens that screen out the adult-only panels. Best for ages 13+.

22. Sell Printables on Etsy

Coloring pages, chore charts, and simple planners get made once and then sell indefinitely. Files list for $3 to $8 each with no shipping, no inventory, and no cost per sale.

Opening an Etsy shop runs $0.20 per listing and needs an adult account holder.

The first few listings rarely move, though, so plan on a shop of ten or more. Best for ages 11+ on a parent-run shop.

23. Make Roblox Items and Game Passes

Kids already playing Roblox can design shirts, accessories, and game passes inside a world they understand. Popular items earn a few dollars a week, while an item that catches on earns considerably more.

Payouts convert through Robux, so check the rules on Roblox’s creator hub before counting on the money. Best for ages 11+.

Now for the tricky part: almost none of these online options pay anything in the first month. Craft tutorials, game walkthroughs, and printable shops all need a stock of work before the first sale arrives.

Kids who want money this week should look at the service jobs instead.

24. Start a YouTube Channel

Channels take many months to earn anything, so treat this as a slow project rather than an income plan. Craft tutorials and game walkthroughs are the most realistic starting topics for a young creator.

Monetization requires clearing the YouTube Partner Program bar of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours first. Best for ages 13+ on a parent-managed channel.

25. Sell Digital Art

Commissioned drawings, avatars, and profile pictures sell for anywhere from $10 to $50 apiece. Kids who already draw every day can turn that existing habit into paid orders fairly quickly.

Take payment up front, since unpaid custom work is the most common way young artists get burned. A parent-run Fiverr gig collects the money before the work starts. Best for ages 12+.

26. Publish a Short Ebook

A 30-page story or activity book can be listed through Kindle Direct Publishing with no upfront cost at all. Royalties start small, usually just a few dollars a month, and grow only with more titles. Best for ages 12+ on a parent account.

27. Sell Stock Photos

Clear, well-lit photos of everyday objects, pets, and nature scenes sell over and over. Each download pays roughly $0.25 to $2 on a library like Shutterstock, so volume matters much more than any single great shot.

Anything with a recognizable face needs a signed release, which is why objects and landscapes are the easier start. Best for ages 12+.

28. Test Websites and Apps

Some usability testing platforms accept teenagers with documented parent consent. A single 15-minute session on UserTesting pays around $10, though the work comes irregularly. Best for ages 13+.

29. Build Minecraft Skins and Maps

Custom skins sell for $3 to $10, and detailed adventure maps bring noticeably more. This turns hours the kid already spends in the game into something that pays, especially through the official Minecraft Marketplace rather than private trades. Best for ages 10+.

30. Coach Younger Players

Kids who are genuinely strong at a game can teach beginners for $10 to $20 per hour. Sessions run over voice chat with a parent within earshot the entire time. Best for ages 13+.

31. Design Simple Logos

Free design tools put basic logo work within reach of a careful beginner. Small local businesses pay $20 to $75 for a clean mark they can put on signs and cards, which is where freelance design gigs start too. Best for ages 12+.

32. Sell Sticker Designs

Sticker sheets print cheaply and ship in an ordinary stamped envelope. A sheet selling for $2 costs somewhere around $0.40 to produce, which leaves a healthy margin.

Most young sellers list them on Etsy next to their printables. Best for ages 10+.

Things Kids Can Make and Sell

Handmade items sell for $3 to $25 each, cost under $30 to start, and work for ages 8 and up.

Handmade goods are the simplest way to make money at home, usually for under $30 in startup costs. Entrepreneurship teaches a child real money skills here.

They set prices, track what supplies cost, and see the profit for themselves instead of just hearing about it.

33. Friendship Bracelets

Embroidery floss works out to roughly $0.50 per finished bracelet. They sell for $3 to $6 at school events, craft markets, and to neighbors who want a small gift. Best for ages 8+.

34. Beaded Jewelry

Buying beads in bulk drops the material cost under $1 per piece. Finished necklaces and bracelets sell for $8 to $15, and offering custom colors or initials pushes that to the top of the range. Best for ages 8+.

35. Slime

Slime still sells well to younger kids at fairs, markets, and school events. A container costs about $1 in supplies and sells for around $5 with decent packaging.

Label the ingredients clearly, though, because plenty of parents avoid borax entirely. Best for ages 8+.

36. Candles

Soy wax, wicks, and simple jars come out to roughly $3 per finished candle. Completed candles sell for $12 to $20 with a good scent and a clean label.

Hot wax makes adult supervision non-negotiable for this one. Best for ages 12+ with adult supervision.

37. Bath Bombs

Baking soda, citric acid, and a little oil make an entire batch for a few dollars. Individual bombs sell for $4 to $7, and gift sets of three sell even better.

Humidity ruins them, so they need a dry storage spot before market day. Best for ages 10+.

38. Painted Rocks

Smooth rocks and a set of acrylic paints cost almost nothing to get started. Painted garden markers, house numbers, and kindness rocks sell for $3 to $8 each. Best for ages 8+.

39. Keychains

Resin, polymer clay, and beaded keychains are all quick to make in batches. Each finished piece sells for $5 to $10 depending on complexity. Best for ages 10+.

40. Hair Scrunchies

Scrunchies use small fabric scraps and need exactly one straight seam. They cost under $1 in materials and sell for $4 to $6, or three for $12. Best for ages 9+.

41. Greeting Cards

Hand-drawn cards sell steadily around holidays, birthdays, and the end of the school year. Charge about $4 each, or $18 for a set of five in a simple sleeve. Best for ages 8+.

42. Perler Bead Art

Fused bead characters, coasters, and magnets are popular with other kids. Each piece costs roughly $0.75 in beads and sells for around $5.

An adult handles the ironing step, which is the only part with any risk. Best for ages 8+ with ironing help.

43. Tie-Dye Shirts

Plain cotton shirts bought in multi-packs run about $4 each. Finished tie-dye shirts sell for $18 to $25, especially in school or team colors. Best for ages 10+.

44. Handmade Soap

Melt-and-pour soap base is beginner-safe and skips lye handling entirely. Bars cost roughly $1.50 to make and sell for $6 to $9 wrapped nicely. Best for ages 11+.

Food and Drink Businesses

Food stands bring in $30 to $150 per event, and every one of them needs a parent and a check on local rules.

Food sales need a parent involved and a check on local rules first. Many towns allow small occasional stands without a permit, but cottage food laws vary by state.

45. Run a Lemonade Stand

The lemonade stand is the classic first business a kid runs, and it still works when the location is right. A spot near a park, a game, or a yard sale brings in $30 to $80 in an afternoon.

Selling cold water alongside it often doubles the total. Best for ages 8+.

46. Sell Hot Chocolate in Winter

Cold-weather sports fields are full of parents standing around with nothing warm to hold. Hot chocolate priced at $2 a cup costs roughly $0.30 to make, including the cup and lid.

Check with the league first, since some fields restrict outside sellers. Best for ages 9+.

47. Hold a Bake Sale

A bake sale converts a kid’s baking skills into cash in a single afternoon. Cookies and brownies at $2 each can clear $60 to $150 at a genuinely busy event. Best for ages 9+.

48. Take Cookie Orders

Pre-orders mean no guessing and no leftovers. A dozen decorated cookies sells for $18 to $30 depending on how detailed the work gets. Best for ages 11+.

49. Make Cake Pops

Cake pops travel well and photograph well, which helps them sell through word of mouth. Each costs under $0.60 to make and sells for $2.50 to $4. Best for ages 11+.

50. Bag Flavored Popcorn

Kettle, caramel, and cheese popcorn all bag up cheaply and keep for several days. A bag costs about $0.50 to produce and sells for $3 at events. Best for ages 9+.

51. Sell Candy Grams

Around Valentine’s Day and finals week, candy grams practically sell themselves. A $0.40 candy attached to a handwritten note sells for $2, which is a strong margin for very little work.

This pairs naturally with other school money ideas during the same weeks. Best for ages 9+.

52. Sell Frozen Treats

Homemade fruit popsicles cost around $0.35 each using juice and simple molds. They sell for $2 at summer events, pool areas, and neighborhood gatherings. Best for ages 9+.

53. Sell Fresh Eggs

Families keeping backyard chickens usually end up with more eggs than they can use. A dozen sells for $5 to $8 to neighbors and to a parent’s coworkers.

Some states limit egg sales, so check the local rules first. Best for ages 8+.

54. Book a Farmers Market Table

A kid can sell homemade food and crafts at a farmers market stand for a booth fee of $10 to $30. The USDA’s farmers market directory lists them by zip code.

One strong Saturday often covers that fee many times over, especially with a mix of products. Markets usually require an adult on the booth, so plan on a parent attending. Best for ages 10+ with a parent present.

Selling Things You Already Own

Resale is the fastest option here, paying $0.50 to $150 per item with nothing to buy first.

This category needs no skill, no supplies, and no startup money. Most kids are sitting on $200 to $500 of things worth selling across a closet and a toy bin.

55. Sell Old Toys

Sorting through outgrown toys clears space and raises cash in the same afternoon. Complete sets and recognizable character toys sell best in local buy-and-sell groups.

eBay and Mercari both reach collectors those groups never will. Best for ages 8+ with parent posting.

56. Sell Outgrown Clothes

Children’s resale shops often buy on consignment, which means they pay you only after the item actually sells. Brand-name pieces in good condition bring $3 to $10 each, whether at a local shop or through a resale site like ThredUp or Poshmark.

Wash and fold everything first, because stained items get rejected at the counter. Best for ages 9+.

57. Sell Books

Used bookstores and online buyback services take whole stacks at once, which makes this fast. Our guide to flipping books covers which titles are worth listing.

Expect $0.50 to $3 per book depending on condition and demand. Best for ages 9+.

58. Sell Video Games

Older physical games hold their value considerably better than most families expect. Popular titles resell for $10 to $40 each, and complete cases with manuals bring more.

Local game shops pay less than eBay but hand over cash the same day. Best for ages 10+.

59. Sell Trading Cards

Sports and collectible cards have an active, knowledgeable buyer base year-round. Common cards move in bulk lots on eBay, while a single rare card can fund months of savings on its own.

TCGplayer is where serious card buyers actually shop, and it prices each card for you. Best for ages 10+.

60. Run a Garage Sale

A weekend sale clears several categories at once and turns clutter into cash quickly. Kids running their own table typically make $50 to $200 depending on what they contribute.

Our walkthrough on selling everything you own covers pricing and layout. Best for ages 9+.

61. Rent a Flea Market Table

Flea market tables generally cost $15 to $40 for the day. Sellers who bring a hundred or more small items do far better than those with a dozen big ones.

An online flea market works the same way without the table fee. Best for ages 10+ with a parent.

62. Return Bottles and Cans

Recycling bottles and cans is a low-barrier income stream with zero startup cost. In deposit states, a large bag comes back as $5 to $15 at the machine.

Ask two or three neighbors to save theirs and that total climbs fast. Best for ages 8+.

63. Sell LEGO Sets

Complete sets with instructions and the original box sell for far more than loose bricks, and retired sets often resell above their original retail price. Loose bricks still sell by weight, so nothing has to be thrown out.

BrickLink is the dedicated LEGO marketplace, and it lists parts down to the individual piece. Best for ages 10+.

64. Sell Old Electronics

Old phones, tablets, and handheld consoles almost always still have buyers. Working devices bring $20 to $150 depending on the model and storage size.

Swappa usually pays more for phones than a trade-in kiosk, since buyers there purchase directly.

Wipe every device fully and remove account locks before it goes anywhere.

The short version? Selling what you already own is the fastest possible route to a first $100, but it only works once.

Everything else on this list can be repeated next month. Best for ages 11+ with parent help.

Seasonal Money Makers

Seasonal work pays the most per hour, from $10 per driveway to $300 for a weekend car wash.

Seasonal work pays a better hourly rate because demand spikes while nobody is available. The window closes fast, though, so the kid has to be ready before it opens.

65. Shovel Snow

A single heavy snowfall can easily be the best earning day of the entire year. Driveways pay $20 to $50 each, and neighbors book whoever knocks first.

Line up commitments before the storm rather than walking the street during it. Best for ages 11+.

66. Salt Icy Walkways

Salting is light work that fits neatly onto a shoveling route already underway. Add roughly $10 per property.

Mention that you use pet-safe salt, since a lot of these customers have dogs. Best for ages 10+.

67. Sell Snow Cones

A hand shaver and a few syrup bottles cost around $40 to get started. Cones sell for $2 to $3 at parks, ball fields, and neighborhood events all summer. Best for ages 9+.

68. Hold a Summer Car Wash

A group car wash on a visible corner draws steady traffic on a warm weekend. Two kids working four hours can clear $150 to $300 between them. Best for ages 10+.

69. Paint Pumpkins and Fall Decor

Painted pumpkins sell for $10 to $20 through October, and supplies run about $3 each. Painted gourds and small fall signs extend the same setup for several more weeks.

Here’s the thing. Two or three well-timed seasonal pushes a year often out-earn a year-round gig that never quite takes off. Best for ages 8+.

70. Wrap Holiday Gifts

Wrapping is the December chore most adults quietly dread. Charge $3 to $6 per gift depending on size and how awkward the shape is. Best for ages 10+.

71. Make Holiday Ornaments

Clay, wood, and beaded ornaments cost roughly $1 each in materials. They sell for $8 to $15 at craft fairs and holiday markets through November and December. Best for ages 9+.

72. Take Down Holiday Lights

January light removal is a job almost nobody actually wants to do themselves. Ground-level work pays $30 to $60 per house, with no ladder work involved. Best for ages 12+.

73. Run a Summer Play Camp

Older kids can run a structured two-hour morning camp for younger neighborhood children. Four kids at $10 each per day works out to $200 across a five-day week.

A parent needs to be home, and a simple daily activity plan keeps it from falling apart. Best for ages 13+ with a parent home.

74. Sell Garden Vegetables

Extra tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini move quickly in late summer when everyone has too many. A small stand or a table at a parent’s workplace brings in $20 to $50 per week.

There are more ideas in our guide to making money from a garden. Best for ages 8+.

Jobs Around the House

Paid household projects run $3 to $100 each, depending on whether the job is nightly or one big cleanout.

These work best framed as paid projects, not regular chores. Agree on the price and the finished standard before work starts, and you’ll prevent almost every argument that follows.

75. Deep Clean the Garage

Garage cleanouts take hours and routinely get postponed for years. Agree on $40 to $75 for a full sort, sweep, and reorganize with donations boxed up.

Split it across two sessions, though, or it tends to stall halfway. Best for ages 11+.

76. Organize Closets

Sorting, folding, and boxing donations takes a real afternoon. A single closet project pays around $20 to $40, and finishing with everything visible and reachable is what makes it worth paying for. Best for ages 10+.

77. Sort and Fold Laundry

Laundry never ends, which makes it a reliable recurring job rather than a one-time task. Charge $5 to $10 per load washed, dried, folded, and put away. Best for ages 9+.

78. Wash Interior Windows

Inside glass gets ignored considerably longer than the outside does. Charge about $2 per window using a squeegee and a simple vinegar solution. Best for ages 10+.

79. Clean Baseboards and Trim

This is slow, detailed work that nearly every adult skips entirely. A whole-house pass is fairly worth $25 to $40.

Two cloths, one damp and one dry, working room by room. Best for ages 9+.

80. Vacuum and Detail the Car

Interior detailing on a family car takes about an hour done properly. Charge $20 to $30, or more for a minivan with three rows. Best for ages 10+.

81. Handle Dishes on a Set Schedule

A fixed nightly rate works better than renegotiating the same argument every evening. Something like $3 per night adds up to roughly $90 across a month. Best for ages 8+.

82. Reorganize the Pantry

Checking expiration dates, wiping shelves, and grouping similar items takes an afternoon. Pay for the job typically lands between $20 and $35. Best for ages 9+.

83. Paint a Fence or Shed

Painting is a large job where the progress shows with every stroke. A fence section pays $50 to $100 depending on length and condition.

Scraping and prep take longer than the painting itself, so price for both. Best for ages 12+.

Skills and Teaching Gigs

Teaching pays $8 to $25 per hour, the highest steady rate on this list, and mostly suits ages 12 and up.

Teaching pays a higher hourly rate than nearly anything else here. It also builds experience and references that help later, when a kid moves on to side hustles for teens and real employment.

84. Babysit

A child often earns their first real income by providing babysitting services to neighborhood families. Rates run $12 to $20 per hour, and a Red Cross babysitting certification raises both the trust and the pay noticeably. Best for ages 13+.

85. Work as a Mother’s Helper

A mother’s helper watches younger children while a parent stays somewhere in the house. It pays $8 to $12 per hour and serves as the standard step before solo babysitting.

Here’s why: parents get to watch how the helper handles their kids without ever leaving the house. That is exactly what turns into a real babysitting job six months later. Best for ages 10+.

86. Tutor Younger Kids

A strong reader or math student can tutor children two or three grades below them. Sessions run $10 to $20 per hour, usually at the younger child’s kitchen table.

Asking a teacher for a referral is the fastest way to find the first two clients. Older teens can move up to paid online tutoring jobs at 16. Best for ages 12+.

87. Teach Tech to Older Adults

Phone settings, video calls, and photo sharing confuse a lot of people. Patient kids charge $15 to $25 per session and often end up with standing monthly appointments.

Write the steps down on paper afterward. Best for ages 12+.

88. Teach an Instrument

Several years of lessons is usually enough background to teach an outright beginner. Half-hour lessons pay $12 to $20 locally, and a parent-run Lessonface profile opens that same rate to students anywhere. Best for ages 13+.

89. Coach a Sport Skill

Pitching, dribbling, shooting, and swimming drills all work well as one-on-one sessions. Charge around $15 per half hour at a local park or field.

Younger players improve fastest on one specific skill, so keep each session narrow. Best for ages 13+.

90. Run a Craft Class

A two-hour bracelet or painting class for six kids at $12 each brings in $72. Supplies for the whole group cost somewhere around $15 total.

Running it at a library community room removes the cost of a venue entirely. Best for ages 12+.

91. Start a Homework Help Club

An after-school group session serves several kids at once instead of one at a time. Four kids at $8 each works out well for everyone involved. Best for ages 13+.

92. Teach a Language

Bilingual kids can teach conversation basics to beginners of any age. Sessions run $12 to $20 per hour and work equally well in person or over video, which is how italki and Cambly run their lessons. Best for ages 13+.

Bigger Business Ideas for Older Kids

These earn $40 to $360 per week, need a parent as a partner, and fit ages 12 to 14.

These take more planning and usually need a parent as a partner. They also produce the highest earnings on this list.

Teens ready for regular employment instead can look at jobs that hire at 15.

93. Build a Recycling Pickup Route

Collect deposit containers from twenty neighbors each week and keep the refund value. A steady route earns $40 to $80 per week for a few hours of collecting and sorting. Best for ages 12+.

94. Run a Vending Machine

A used machine costs $300 to $800, and a parent has to sign the location agreement. A well-placed machine nets $50 to $150 per month after restocking costs.

Location decides everything here, so secure the spot before buying the machine. Best for ages 14+.

95. Start a Lawn Care Route With a Friend

Two kids working together can handle roughly twice the yards in an afternoon. A route of twelve lawns at $30 each brings in $360 a week through the growing season.

Settle how the money splits before the first yard, in writing. Best for ages 13+.

96. Sell Firewood Bundles

Split and bundled wood sells for $6 to $10 near campgrounds and roadside stands. The main input is labor rather than materials, especially with access to fallen wood.

Seasoned wood outsells green, though. Plan on several months of drying. Best for ages 13+.

97. Repair Bikes

Flat tires, chain issues, and brake adjustments are all learnable from Park Tool’s free repair guides. Basic repairs bring $15 to $40 each against a starter tool kit of about $60. Best for ages 13+.

98. Photograph Small Events

Birthday parties, team photos, and small gatherings pay $50 to $150 per session. A phone camera and decent natural light are genuinely enough to start with.

There is more on selling photos once the bookings turn regular. Delivering edited photos within two days is what separates a repeat booking from a one-time job.

A parent-run Thumbtack profile brings in bookings beyond friends and family. Best for ages 14+.

99. Flip Thrift Store Finds

Buying underpriced items and reselling them online is a real, learnable skill. Good flippers double or triple what they spend, though the first few buys usually teach expensive lessons.

Stick to one category, like shoes or board games, and that knowledge builds much faster. Poshmark suits clothing flips specifically, and Depop skews younger for streetwear and vintage. Best for ages 13+ with a parent account.

100. Print Custom T-Shirts

A heat press runs about $200 and produces finished shirts for roughly $6 each. Team, event, and family reunion shirts sell for $20 to $25 apiece.

A parent-run Shopify store handles orders once word spreads, and Printful prints and ships them for you if the heat press is out of budget. Best for ages 14+.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to earn 100 dollars fast as a kid?

Selling things you already own is the fastest route, since it needs no skill and no startup money. Old video games, LEGO sets, and outgrown clothes can clear $100 in a single weekend.

If you would rather earn it than sell it, five mowed lawns or one heavy snow day gets you there in about a week.

How can a kid make $500 fast?

$500 takes a repeating service rather than a one-time sale. A weekly lawn route of five yards at $30 each reaches $500 in roughly a month.

Pet sitting across a holiday week, at $20 per day for two or three clients, is the other realistic path.

How to make $1,000 as a kid?

Plan on three to four months and stack two or three income sources together. A summer lawn route is the most common way there, often combined with car washes and craft sales.

Older kids running a small printing or resale business can reach it faster, though startup costs eat most of the first month.

How can a kid under 10 make money?

Kids under 10 do best with supervised jobs close to home. Pulling weeds, sweeping driveways, returning bottles and cans, running a lemonade stand, and selling friendship bracelets all work at ages 8 and 9.

Most pay $3 to $25 per job, and a parent handles pricing and any money that arrives by app.

What are free ways to make money as a kid online?

Every online option here is free to start. Survey sites, digital art commissions, Roblox item design, and stock photos all cost nothing upfront, though payouts stay small at first.

The one requirement is a parent-held account, since the platforms will not let a minor register.

How can an 11-12 year old make money?

This age can handle nearly everything on the list except power tools and solo babysitting. Dog walking, pet sitting, yard work, car washing, craft sales, and mother’s helper jobs all fit well.

Online options work too, as long as a parent holds the account and handles payouts.

The Bottom Line

The best first idea is whichever one a kid can start this week without buying anything. Neighborhood service jobs and selling unused items both qualify.

Two habits keep the whole thing from falling apart. Set the price before the work starts, and move earnings into savings the same week they arrive.

Most kids who succeed at this aren’t doing anything clever or unusual. They picked one service, told ten neighbors about it, and showed up when they said they would.