Guide for Minors to Make Money Online｜How many of these 26 methods have you tried?

Want to earn some extra pocket money for yourself? But there are no suitable job opportunities nearby? Online work might be your solution. From doing surveys to starting a YouTube channel, teenagers actually have quite a few options.

Key Premise: Age requirements vary; some can start at 13, while others need to be 18+. You must tell your parents what you want to do, ensure it's not a scam, and make sure you have a legal payment method (like PayPal or a bank account).

Lazy Quick Money-Making Method (Easy to Get Started)

Take Online Surveys (13 years+) - Platforms like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie are readily available. Although the payout is not high ($0.5-5), you can do them anytime and anywhere, making it possible to earn some pocket money.

Test Apps and Games (13+) - Platforms like Scrambly require you to play games and provide feedback. You can earn coins to exchange for gift cards or cash. The key is that you can make money while playing, it's basically free money.

Watch Videos and Ads (13+) - MyPoints allows you to earn points by watching ads and playing mini-games. It's monotonous but mindless, suitable for when you're lying down scrolling on your phone.

Share Your Network Connection (Ages 13+) - Honeygain allows you to share your internet speed for profit. If you share 6GB of data daily and run it for 8 hours, you can earn about $20 a month. This is passive income, earning while you sleep.

Skill Monetization (A bit of a barrier but earns a lot)

Virtual Assistant (13 years old+) - Helps small business owners with emails, scheduling, and data organization. $15-25/hour starting. It's best to help friends or family, as the trust level is high.

Social Media Management (13+) - Small businesses need someone to manage Instagram/Facebook. Understanding algorithms, selecting images, and being able to write copy are valuable skills. The hourly wage could be $10-30.

Freelance Writer (No age limit) - Write website copy, advertisements, blogs. $50-500 per piece, depending on difficulty. However, you must be 18 years or older to sign an NDA (legal requirement).

Graphic Design/Video Editing (Ages 13+) - If you know Canva/Adobe, you can help YouTubers and small businesses with design/video editing. These two skills are especially valuable and can lead to long-term projects.

Online Tutoring (Ages 13+) - Tutor peers or younger children. There is a market for English, Math, and Programming. Hourly rate $15-50, and you can also help people learn knowledge.

Data Entry (16+) - Input data into the system. It sounds boring but stable, with an hourly wage of $10-15. Friendly for fast typists.

Entrepreneurship Autonomy (High ceiling but requires time)

Open an Etsy Store (18+, or using a parent’s account) - Sell digital products (E-Printables, templates, design materials) without needing to buy materials. A passive income model that allows for multiple earnings from a single investment.

Create a YouTube Channel (No age limit but must be 18+ to earn money) - Creative content can earn thousands to tens of thousands monthly. But the premise is persistence, having followers, and having sponsors. Parental help is needed to manage the account.

Write a Blog (No age limit) - Write about topics you are interested in, earn money through advertisements, product promotion, and sponsored articles. There may be no income in the early stage, but it is worthwhile in the long run.

Design and Sell T-Shirts (No Age Limit) - Use Canva to create designs, and print-on-demand platforms to produce. 0 inventory, 0 risk; only spend money on production when there's an order.

Reselling Second-Hand Items (18+) - Sell clothes on Poshmark, resell second-hand goods on eBay. If you understand the market (like sneaker cards), you can make a good profit.

Investment and Financial Management (Long-term Results Required)

Open a Fidelity Teen Account (ages 13-17) - Parents assist with account opening, you can directly trade stocks and buy ETFs. $50-100 account opening bonus. The key is to learn financial management and prepare for the future.

Buy Bitcoin (13+) - Step card users can buy and sell Bitcoin in small amounts and earn rebates. It's not a quick way to make money, but you can learn investment knowledge.

Deposit into a high-yield account (Any age) - Similar to Chase First Banking, although the interest is not much, it is principal-protected. Don't spend it all, save at least half.

⚠️ Pitfalls You Must Know

1. Age and identity - Most require PayPal/bank account, all must be 18+. You have to use your parents' account.

2. Tax Issues - In the U.S., an annual income of $12,950 or more requires filing taxes; freelance income of $400 or more requires filing taxes. Don't evade taxes, as young people can often receive refunds.

3. Information Security - Do not fill in personal information randomly. Sensitive data such as social security numbers and addresses should only be provided to reliable platforms.

4. Payment Method - Understand how the platform pays. Some only give gift cards (Target, Amazon), while others give cash. It's pointless if you can't deposit money.

5. Don't be fooled - “Quick money” and “$5000 monthly income with 0 risk” are traps. Real money comes from actual labor or skills.

Final Words

You don't have to choose just one. Some people use a combination of questionnaires and videos, or work part-time while starting a side business. The key is to find a rhythm that suits you and not let it affect your studies. Money is not the most important thing; learning how to make money, manage money, and save money are the skills that will accompany you for a lifetime.

Which one do you want to try the most? Or have you already made money on a certain platform? Let's chat in the comments.