How to Make Money as a Teen

There are a hundred "how to make money as a teen" lists out there, and most of them stop at the fun part — getting the cash. This one goes one step further, to the part that actually changes your life: what you do with it. First, though, the ways to make it.

Local services — the fastest cash

The classic teen money-makers still work because people always need them, and you can start this week with almost no money (younger sibling? here's how to make money as a kid):

• Lawn care and yard work (mowing, edging, leaf and snow removal)
• Babysitting and pet-sitting / dog-walking
• Car washing and detailing
• Tutoring younger kids in a subject you're good at

Turn one of these into a real little business and it's more than pocket money — it's a story and a skill. Just ask Zane, who built Zane's Lawn Care and invests hundreds a month.

Online and skills-based — scalable income

• Reselling — thrift flips, sneakers, trading cards, marketplace arbitrage
• Freelancing a skill — graphic design, video editing, writing, simple coding
• Making content — if you're good at it, though treat it as a long game, not a quick payday

A traditional job

Once you're old enough (often 16, sometimes 14–15 with restrictions), a part-time job at a store, restaurant, or local business is steady, reliable income — and it comes with a paycheck that counts as earned income, which matters a lot for the next part.

The step every list skips: keep some of it working for you

Here's what separates a teen who makes money from one who builds money: investing a slice of it. And you have a superpower an adult would kill for — time. Money you invest as a teen has decades to compound, so even a small piece of every paycheck or mowing job can grow into a genuinely life-changing amount.

Even better: the money you earn (from a job or your own hustle) unlocks a custodial Roth IRA — where it grows completely tax-free for life. That's the single smartest home for a teen's earnings. Ready to set it up? Here's how to start investing as a teenager.

MemoryBank is an education and display tool, not a broker or a financial advisor — this is about the habits, not specific investments.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best ways for a teen to make money?

The fastest are local services you can start this week — lawn care, babysitting, pet-sitting, car washing, tutoring. More scalable options include reselling, freelancing a skill (design, editing, writing, coding), and, once you're old enough, a part-time job. Turning a service into a small business, like a lawn-care hustle, can earn the most and teach the most.

How can a teenager make money online?

Realistic online options for teens include reselling (thrift flips, sneakers, trading cards), freelancing a skill such as graphic design, video editing, writing, or simple coding, and creating content — though content is a long game rather than a quick payday. Skills-based freelancing tends to pay the most, the soonest.

What should I do with the money I make as a teen?

Spend some, sure — but invest a slice of it, because that's what turns earning into wealth. Money invested as a teen has decades to compound. If the money is earned from a job or business, a custodial Roth IRA lets it grow completely tax-free for life, which is the smartest home for a teen's earnings.

Why does earned income matter for a teen?

Because earned income — wages from a job or profit from your own business — is what makes you eligible to fund a Roth IRA. So the money you make isn't just spending money; it's the key that unlocks one of the best wealth-building accounts there is, at the age when it has the most time to grow.

How much money can a teenager make?

It varies widely by what you do and how much you hustle — a few local clients can add up quickly, and a real small business can earn more than most part-time jobs. The bigger point isn't the amount; it's what you do with it. Invested young, even modest earnings compound into a large head start.

What to do this week

1. Pick one money-maker you can start now — a service, a skill, or a job application.
2. Make your first dollar, and keep simple records of what you earn.
3. Decide on a split — even setting aside 10–20% to invest builds the habit that matters most.
4. Open a custodial account with a parent and put that slice to work — then watch it grow in MemoryBank.