Know which sites are reputable
For teens already busy with school, homework and extracurriculars, squeezing in a part-time job can be tough. That’s why it may be appealing to make money from online gigs, which can give teens more control over their hours and workload.
However, many moneymaking sites require participants to be at least 18, and the ones that are open to minors may not be reputable or worth your time. It’s important to know the details before signing up. To help you choose the right option, here’s what you need to know about six frequently mentioned moneymaking websites available to teens.
Freelancing
If you have a skill that others might pay for, such as writing, coding or managing social media accounts, there are websites that can help you launch a freelance business. Here’s a breakdown of two options available to teens:
Fiverr: This site is geared more toward professional, full-time freelancers, but the listings include things that teens may be able to handle, like writing emails for a marketing campaign and coaching people through tough levels of videogames. Listings, also called gigs, start at $5, but you set your own rates. You get paid 80% of your listing price — Fiverr keeps the rest — and there are additional fees depending on how you withdraw earnings.
Freelancer.com: With over 900 categories to choose from, like Photoshop, design and data entry, teens can find a variety of opportunities on this site to make money. It usually helps if you have an existing portfolio of work to showcase your skills. But depending on the category you choose, that may not be necessary.
You have to be at least 16 to use Freelancer.com. Those under 18 need to use an adult’s account. With a free membership plan, you can bid on eight paid assignments a month. The site charges a 10% or $5 fee, whichever is greater, if you are awarded a fixed-price project. There’s also a transaction fee of 2.3% plus 30 cents if you get paid via credit card, PayPal or Skrill.
Selling stuff
If you have things to sell — cool stuff you’ve made or items sitting in your closet that you’re willing to part with — large online marketplaces can connect you to an array of customers. Here are two sites to consider:
Etsy: ETSY, +0.96% This site is usually the go-to option if you have art or handmade objects to sell. LeiLei Secor, who runs the Etsy shop DesignedByLei, started selling her handmade jewelry on the site the summer before her junior year of high school. She has since used her earnings, which have surpassed six figures, to pay for college.
Before opening your own store, there are a few things you should know about Etsy: It costs 20 cents to list an item, so you’ll need access to, and permission to use, a parent’s PayPal account or credit card to get started. There’s a 3.5% fee for each item sold, and if you use Etsy payments — which isn’t required — you’ll pay an additional fee of 3% plus 25 cents per U.S. sale.
To have your own store, a parent or guardian has to manage your Etsy account, send a statement of permission to trust@etsy.com and provide a credit card or PayPal account to handle all payments. You will also have to disclose your status as a minor in your profile’s “about” section. Check out the full list of requirements for minors selling on Etsy.
