Last updated: September 13, 2023
Do you need some passive income ideas for teens to help you gain some extra money?
Some of the best ways to accomplish this are listed below, so if you do not have time to tackle a full-time job then here are some part-time job ideas which you can try in your free time to get some extra cash into your bank account.
They can help younger and older teenagers alike build an understanding of money so they are able to support themselves and have financial independence in their future.
So, lets get on with learning some of the best passive income ideas for teenagers.
1. Create a Youtube Channel
In our modern society we have created lots of new sources of entertainment like video games. However, one that really stands out for a source of income is content creation.
It requires some hard work and dedication but it can be a fun, flexible way to earn some of your own money as a teen. This great idea that allows you to express yourself by sharing your favourite things with others through YouTube videos.
If you build an audience which is large enough you will be eligible to monetize your channel and earn some good money through sources like ad revenue from doing something you enjoy. In this respect, it’s one of the most popular passive income ideas for teens out there.
So what are you waiting for? Start a great side hustle as one of the content creators of our world.
2. Become a Pet Sitter
An excellent way to start earning extra income for young people is to become one of the many dog walkers and cat feeders of the world, also simply known as becoming a “pet sitter.”
When friends or family members with loving pets go on vacation, it’s rare that they will be able to take their loving companions with them. This makes a great opportunity for you to not only learn some valuable skills in the department of responsibility, but also it’s an easy way for you to earn some cash.
Dog walking and feeding pets daily certainly isn’t difficult, yet it still pays well for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start one of their own small businesses. It’s also even easier if you’re looking after one of these low maintenance pets.
3. Start your own blog
A good online business idea which teens should look into is starting their own blog. In fact it’s one of the best passive income ideas for teens looking to build a long-term source of money.
It’s such a great way to earn money as a teenager as it allows you to focus on a specific topic you are interested in and as long as you are able to write and understand how to publish it truly has no minimum age requirement.
From a 13 year old to young adults, creating blog posts is not only an active income source but also a way to relax and focus purely on what you are writing about.
Blogging is a flexible way to earn money as it works around your own time management as you are not required to work everyday since it is your own blog and you’re in control of it.
4. Sell online courses
One of the best side jobs for teens and students is selling an online course.
If you excel in a particular subject you can use it to your advantage and sell courses on it to others struggling in that area.
This is a great option to make money for teens who are good with computing and are able to communicate via the internet and video calls with others, teaching them how to develop their skillset in a certain area.
5. Affiliate marketing
If you are uneducated in affiliate marketing, a short explanation of it is allowing brands to use your website or content to help them sell and promote their items and products.
In return, you get a share of all funds coming from your advertisement and subsequent sale of a product.
This could include sponsorships in YouTube videos or affiliate links to a website from your blog which is positively described so the reader purchases the product from that company.
Much money can be made from this without much time being spent promoting the item or website. If you have a successful business such as being a blogger or content creator then you should consider affiliate marketing as a low effort yet effective source of income.
6. Managing social media accounts
Social media platforms are like a vast ocean full of individual social media accounts, which can be owned by anyone, from a random person to a busy company or celebrity.
Many people don’t always have the time to manage and post on their accounts as they are often busy working on other projects. However, they can have a social media manager do this for them.
While they are expanding their brand through various social media posts, nobody knows it may be a manager who is being directed to make these posts behind the scenes. There are different ways that you can be paid for this, like a certain amount per post or an hourly rate.
Either way it makes a fantastic side job if you are looking for a new source of income, and can be very low effort for the reward.
7. Rent out assets
One of the easiest ways to earn money as a teen is renting out items.
If you rent out something you don’t use, you could charge a decently high fee for someone else to use it and it really takes no effort from you.
An example could be a camera which you have just sitting at the back of your shelf. It could be making you money but instead it sits unused. Rent it out to somebody not willing to buy a camera permanently due to the price, and you will get some money for it.
If you repeat this it could sum up to a decently large amount of money over time. It’s simple, but an effective source of income for a teen looking for some extra cash.
Another example could be a bicycle. If somebody doesn’t own a bike yet needs one for a trip, like going mountain biking, they may be willing to splash out some cash to rent your bike if they don’t feel the need to pay for one permanently.
If you use your bike daily and don’t want to rent it out as you wouldn’t be able to use it yourself, then how about try renting it while you are away on vacation. Then it won’t affect you as on vacation you wouldn’t be using it anyway.
Other assets you can consider renting out are gaming consoles like a retro Nintendo 64 or a PlayStation.
So, in conclusion, consider renting out assets as one of your passive income ideas for teens as it could really add up over time and it requires minimal effort from you to do. Try it out, and you’ll see for yourself.
8. Try Twitch Streaming
Similar to YouTube in ways, Twitch, as I’m sure you know, is a video-streaming platform which allows the content creator to stream on the site.
However, unlike YouTube, Twitch is for live streams only, not pre-recorded videos. On the platform, you can stream about things which you are passionate about and grow an audience of others who enjoy your content and are interested in similar things.
If you manage to grow your account large enough, you can monetise it and earn a share of the funds made from your stream
Many have grown large audiences on the site and have therefore managed to earn money off their streams. If you are a good entertainer who is interested in not only making videos on a passion of yours but also earning some money, give Twitch a try.
You never will know if you will become successful on the platform unless you give it a shot!
9. Become a Freelance Writer
If you are a talented writer looking to use your skills to earn some money, you should try freelance writing. A freelance writer is somebody who can be hired by others to write for them in return for pay.
It is completely up to the writer when they work and they can work from anywhere they like. They can write for various things including blog posts, newsletters, press releases and more.
Most freelance writers, however, choose to specialise in a certain area of writing, such as focusing mainly on niche blog posts or writing for press releases or newsletters.
As previously stated the job is very flexible, allowing you to work around your own hours and work from pretty much anywhere, whether it is from your own house or apartment or from a rented out office. It can pay well if you are able to write informative content and have the time to put effort into your work.
10. Create a Mobile App
One of the various ways for a teen to earn money is to develop their own mobile app or game.
It is not only a great way to earn money, but also a way to increase your knowledge on computers and development skills. You can learn basic development skills on the internet and apply them to your project. You can make games on your passions or just something which is trending at the moment.
If you spend enough time on your app or game it is very possible that it could become popular on the app store and you could earn some cash from the people using your app and playing your game. It’s one of the best passive income ideas for teens if you have the knowledge to do it.
Many games which you could make if you learnt enough about development have exploded on the internet and would’ve made the creator a good amount of money. So, why don’t you try to develop your own mobile app? It is always worth a try, and you’ll never know if you could earn some money from it unless you give it a shot.
11. Try selling your art online
If you are an aspiring artist looking to get your name out there while also making some money then you should try selling your art online, and doing commissions of art for others.
It is one of the best digital products that teens can sell online and can also be an escape from reality, being able to enjoy the relaxation of art while also earning some money from it.
It doesn’t have to just be online either, as you can do it in real life and paint portraits for friends in exchange for some money.
If you feel your artwork isn’t quite good enough yet you could always practise for a while first using other people’s online courses until you feel like you are able to make art people would be willing to purchase.
It can be a very peaceful hobby for teens and it’s also possible to make it a reliable source of income as long as you are able to frequently produce new pieces of art to sell.
12. Invest in Vending Machines
As a teen looking for a way to make money, investing in a vending machine can be a great way to make some cash.
If you are able to purchase a vending machine, while it may be expensive, you can quite easily earn the money back and more.
If you stock it with snacks, when people buy them you can come once a month and take the money out of the machine. If you do this for long enough, you are most likely going to earn all of the money back from the machine and profit from it.
However, a vending machine will be an expensive purchase, so it may take a while to be able to save up to afford one.
If you can, you should attempt to buy one in a more busy, public area so there will be more potential customers in the proximity of your vending machine.
It may take a while to earn back the up-front cost of the vending machine, but if you are stock it up often enough it is quite easy to profit from it over time.
13. Write then self-publish your own book
Like freelance writing, writing your own book and then self-publishing it later is a great passive income idea for teens.
It is a great way for young people to use their skills and expertise in writing to earn some money. As well as the financial aspect of it, writing your own book can be a break from reality, and is a good way for you to relax with the peace of mind in knowing you can make money from it later once you have self-published it.
You can truly write about any subject which interests you. For example, you can write fiction novels, like children’s stories perhaps, or you can write about non-fiction events, like real horror stories or an informative piece about the history or geography of our world.
It is important to consider, however, the fact that it is not guaranteed that you will make money from your creation. If your book is not successful you will not earn much money from your book, which could be seen as a waste of time for more serious young writers.
So, make sure you have this in mind if you are going to try writing and self-publishing your own book.
14. Sell your photography online
If you’re interested in photography and looking to earn some money through your talents then try selling your art online through websites like Shutterstock.
It can be a great passive income stream for teens, but you must be a decently skilled photographer to do so. It requires some experience and a creative mind to take photographs that will sell, but if your photography is deemed good enough by customers it could make you a nice amount of money.
Not only should you follow popular photography trends in order to get your work to sell, but you should also be able to use your imagination to create new images never done before.
So, in conclusion, if you are a teen looking to make some money, try the passive income idea which is selling your photography online.
15. Selling digital products
Our final passive income idea for teens is selling digital products online.
Some of these products, including selling online courses, photography and art, have already been mentioned but there are many other digital products you could sell.
An example of this could be Ebooks and audiobooks which can be profitable. Some audiobook ideas include children’s stories, short stories for a Kindle along with health, fitness and dieting books.
Another digital product you could sell is music. If you are a musical artist looking to gain publicity and money then try selling your music as it may earn you some money.
To summarize, selling digital products can be a profitable passive income source for teens with plenty of different selling options.
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The ultimate guide to passive income ideas
Frequently asked questions
A good side hustle for a younger teen (age 14) could include starting a small business in lawn mowing, by asking people in your neighbourhood if you can mow their lawn for some money. Pet sitting is also a good way to earn some money, as is running basic errands for people. This could include very simple errands such as dry-cleaning or food shopping.
The easiest side hustle for a 14 year old would be selling items (like clothing) on sites such as eBay or Vinted. It takes minimal effort from you as all you do is list the item on the site and wait for offers to come in. You then agree a price with the customer and they pay by either coming to you and collecting the item then paying in person, or paying online then you send the item to them.
Young kids make money by selling fresh lemonade in their neighborhood in the summer, or by doing chores around the house. They can also do odd jobs around the neighbourhood, such as snow shovelling in the winter for their neighbors or mowing the lawn for neighbors.
At age sixteen, there are lot of opportunities to make money. Ones of these is becoming a camp counselor at a summer camp for younger kids. They could also participate in online surveys. Many online surveys pay the internet user to fill out their surveys. While it would be a small amount of money, if you fill out many surveys that amount could slowly add up.
Rental properties is a reliable passive income stream which a young adult and upwards could try. If you invest in real estate, purchasing some properties and then renting them out to others could be a good way to earn a healthy amount of money passively. You could also dive into investing in the stock market if you are willing to spend a good amount of time researching and gaining knowledge on stocks likely to make you money in the not so distant future.
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