All teens need to make money, either for clothes and books or for college, and it can seem impossible to make money as a teenager; it can be more difficult if you’re 15 years old. So, how to make money as a 15-year-old teen?
There are many ways to make money as a teenager, from babysitting to dog walking, and are various ways that you can save for a car, college tuition, or everyday expenses. Taking up a part-time job is one option, but which ones are the best? Here are 6 ways to get paid before you’re old enough to get a job.
Every day teenagers are looking for ways to make some extra money. With many of them looking for a part-time job that can fit into their school schedule, the following is an article about how one such teenager could make $2.00 in an hour with little effort at the end.
1. Start a Tutoring Business
Tutoring is one of the most popular alternatives to public school education. The time constraints of traditional schooling are eliminated in tutoring sessions, and learning becomes more focused on what children want to know about rather than trying to fit it into an already-too-long day schedule for teachers.
As a student, you will better understand the newcomer students. So from you, a child can learn anything from math and science to foreign languages, music, or art at any age.
Tutors make themselves available online and offline, so there’s always room for them in their students’ lives, whether they need help before bedtime every night or just once a week during lunch breaks. Tutoring is the number one and most popular way how to make money as a 15-year-old teen.
How to make money as a 15-year-old tutor? The following tips will help you become a part-time tutor while being a student:
1. Think about the following questions:
- What subjects are you able to tutor?
- How would you like to help different age groups?
- Would you be able to tutor students at your home, their home, or online?
- Are there any supplies you will need? (e.g., pencils, textbooks, workbooks, whiteboard, software for scheduling classes, online courses)
- What is your plan for attracting new clients?
- Are there any special licensing requirements in your area?
- Does tutoring out of your home require special insurance?
- Is it worth your time to charge a certain amount?
2. Get involved in a professional organization
Sign up for the Professional Tutors Association (PTA), the Association for the Tutoring Profession (ATP), or the National Tutors Association (NTA). Organizations promoting independent learning bring together professionals, paraprofessionals, volunteers, and private practice tutors. In addition to getting industry insider information, you will be able to network with other tutors.
Your services will attract more students and parents if you advertise that it meets the standards and specifications of PTA, ATP, and NTA. In addition to using their logos on offline and online marketing materials, you will also need to meet these qualifications.
3. Purchase high-quality equipment
By eliminating drives across town, providing tutoring online is a convenient and cost-effective way to save time, energy, and money. It will require an initial investment in high-quality equipment that allows students to have an enjoyable experience while interacting with you online. The following factors should be taken into account:
- A desktop or laptop that is up-to-date.
- It is essential to have a good webcam, microphone, and speakers.
- The internet connection is reliable and uninterrupted.
- You can download free videoconferencing software (e.g., Skype or Google Hangouts) from the internet.
- It should be well lit, quiet, visually attractive, and have no distracting background.
4. Decide on your fees
Depending on credentials, location, subject, grade level, and how many sessions, there may be a difference in rates. For example, tutors charge between $20 and $75 per hour, with the average range being $35-50 per hour.
The tutoring fee may be paid directly to the tutor or via an online payment platform. If you are teaching two or more students simultaneously in person, you may receive a discount for paying monthly or per semester.
If you have five or more students, you might also offer group rates for homeschool math tutorials. You might find this useful for siblings and friends studying the same subject simultaneously.
5. Keep an online profile (or several)
Among the various websites that allow you to build an excellent online profile as a remote tutor are Freelancer.com, Tutor.com, TutorComp.com, and Wyzant.com. Tutoring sites are notorious for charging meager rates ($8-12 per hour), which does not attract the correct type of tutor or student. Be sure to check the average tutoring rate of a third-party platform before signing up.
Make sure you only list yourself on search engine results pages on the first page.
You might be tempted to create a profile on as many sites as possible, but you end up spreading yourself too thin. I suggest sticking with one, or no more than a few, platforms that you are comfortable with and suit you well. You will be able to gather more students and reviews this way.
6. Use creative marketing and networking
You can advertise your services to parents and potential students in many ways. Distributing printed flyers and making yourself known by word-of-mouth are two old-fashioned methods that can be used. Other options include
- Investing in your website,
- Targeting fellow students at your college.
- Setting up a booth at a homeschool convention.
- Checking to see if the local school maintains a tutor list.
- Social media to increase online visibility.
Publish video or blog posts with educational tips on your topic. Whether they are shared by your friends and family or a large number of social media users, you reach a large audience without needing to invest a lot in advertising.
2. Start Babysitting
As a teenager, it can be hard to find a job. How to make money as a 15-year old teen? How about babysitting? Babysitting is an excellent way for teens to earn some cash and provides them with flexibility around other activities, but they need guidance on how to get started. Here are tips and tricks that will help you land your very first babysitting gig as well as get called back for the next opportunity.
How to make money as a 15-year-old babysitter? Here are some ways to get a Baby Sitting job:
1. Train yourself
Put together a babysitting course and CPR/First-Aid classes for parents to find your qualifications appealing. If you want to watch infants, be sure to take infant CPR training. Parents will like that their children are in good hands with your credentials.
2. Set Proper Rates
The hourly rates for a babysitter depend on your location, the length of time they are needed, whether there are more children to care for, and the time of year (special occasions typically command higher rates).
In determining the rate of your services, find out what the going rate is in your area and stay within that range. If you charge one family a certain amount for their service, be sure to do this with another family if all things are equal (such as the number/age of kids). Word will spread about how much you charge.
The average fee for a teenager babysitter is $10 to $15 per hour. Teenage babysitters who are early in their career may work for less, and as they gain experience, the price will slowly increase until it reaches an average of about 10-12 dollars per hour.
For example, Washington State’s current minimum wage is at 11 dollars and 45 cents ($11.45), giving a teen 12 dollars/hour or higher is required to charge according to this law.
In contrast, other states, such as California’s current minimum wages (at 9$), would result in only 8$/hr charged from teens due to its unemployment baseline being much lower than WA State.
3. Impress the parents
Don’t view babysitting as a temporary gig. This is a real job, and the parents can also become references for future work. Arrive at least 10 minutes early (but not more), bring your notebook and pen to take notes from what the parents tell you about their kid’s preferences, and come prepared with entertainment for their kids should they need it.
If you are a sought-after babysitter, always have your “sitter bag of tricks” with you. And be sure to ask the parents about expectations and rules before going out for anything. For example, if there’s a nearby park, don’t just assume that it is okay to take the children there without pre-approval from the parents first.
4. Pay attention to the kids
To be a good babysitter, don’t spend your time on the phone or in front of the TV. Be attentive and interactive. Otherwise, you won’t get asked back. If children are in bed, stay around to check on them but only for a few minutes.
Don’t ever invite friends over when kids are home alone, and never leave kids unsupervised at any moment.
5. Cleanup before the parents arrive
One pet peeve of many parents is to come home after a night out and find their house in disarray. Leaving the place cleaner than when you arrived, or at least with all dirty dishes washed, will earn them a larger tip from the parent.
6. Don’t fudge the facts
If you want to tell the parents about something that happened while they were gone, be honest and let them know of any accidents or incidents.
It is important to note good behavior from the kids and keep up with their responsibilities. If the kid cleaned his room, brushed his teeth before bed without being told, or helped out around the house after he was done playing outside, then write it down and make sure to mention that to his parents. Parents need to know everything that happens to their kids and what took place.
7. Express Gratitude
Thank the parents for the opportunity to watch their precious children. Express your gratitude, and mention how much you have enjoyed spending time with the kids. Tell them that it would be great if you get a chance to babysit again soon and tell them how eager you are to do so – chances are they’ll call on you again.
3. Start Dog Walking
Teens can start dog walking as a part-time job. This is something that they could do on weekends and during summer vacations when school isn’t in session. There are many opportunities for young people who have finished school and are looking to earn some money. One of these is dog walking. This is great for someone looking for how to make money as a 15-year-old.
The following are some ways to get a Dog Walking job:
- Speak to your parents before attempting to become a teenage dog walker. Doing so will ensure your safety, and they may help you with the process.
- Before you start, decide what services you can provide. Some possibilities include pet sitting, grooming, or walking the dog. If you offer these extra services, it will take more time, but your salary will be higher. You’ll need to look at articles that tell you all of the jobs dogs need.
- Now that you’ve determined all the services you can provide, you would want to consider buying insurance. If one of your dogs gets into an accident, it wouldn’t be fair for them to pay for expensive veterinary bills. You could buy “Pet Sitter Insurance,” which does a pretty good job of helping with this type of situation.
However, there is something else to take into consideration: cost. As if working only during summer and not in other seasons, it won’t be likely that any accidents will happen, but if we work full-time, purchasing insurance becomes necessary and worth its costs.
- To find customers, you can use the services from Craigslist. You should post posters around your neighborhood that list all the services you offer, and keep in mind that dog walking is central to this list. Remember to add a phone number so potential customers can contact you as well. During an interview with homeowners, be polite and deliver a good impression so they will hire you as their new dog walker.
- You are now a certified dog walker, and the experience will be worth it. You might get tired at times, having to walk for long periods – but we want you to endure through those rough patches. It will be wonderful to put “dog walking” on your resume someday, increasing your chances of finding a job exponentially.
- The Fees Structure
The fee for walking a dog is $5.50 an hour with a minimum of 2 hours, or $10 total. There is no charge if the walker brings their pet along to play and company your pets while on walks.
If you want some fantastic photos taken of your pup, we’ll take those too at just another small price-tag addition ($3).
4. Start Writing for Websites
Anyone considering becoming a writer and wondering how to make money as a 15-year-old while fulfilling their dreams should consider writing.
How to make money as a 15-year-old writer? Have a look at these websites:
Figment — Written for the teen reader, Figment is an online community dedicated to reading and writing stories. Addictively fun, users can rate stories on whether they made them laugh, blush or cry. The site often runs contests and features work from well-known authors who sometimes drop in for chats with the website’s community members.
Wattpad — Wattpad is an online reading platform that allows authors to share their work. Well-known writers such as Margaret Atwood and Cory Doctorow even post their positions. Teens can find and follow their favorite authors, releasing serial novels if they want to. The website has 25 million members, so there’s always a growing audience for new work posted here – which may lead to big-name book deals for successful Wattpad writers.
Teen Ink — The Young Authors Foundation provides the Teen Ink community, a magazine week after week devoted to writing and publishing articles about art by teens. The website for Teens Ink also offers nonfiction essays and poetry written by our talented young writers.
One Teen Story — One Teen Story is a nonprofit’s monthly magazine, usually written by a well-known author who writes for teens. If you’re drawn to that form of writing, you should consider sending them a piece.
NaNoWriMo — National Novel Writing Month is a fantastic thirty-day adventure for any writer, but it might be especially inclined to attract teens. In November, would-be novelists attempt to write a 50 000 word (or more) book in thirty days. For those with heavy homework demands that are under 18 years old, the Young Writers Program might be a better fit as they can set their own word count goals before November ends.
Tumblr — Blogging is a great place to express yourself, but it also provides some help for people who need creative writing inspiration. Here are three blogs you may like: The Writer’s Helpers (for advice on grammar and plot); Writing Prompts (providing prompts with visuals from a ninth-grade teacher); John Green’s Tumblr account (the Tumblr account of YA author John Green).
5. Become an eBay Expert
Yes, it is possible to run an eBay / Amazon business at 15 if you’re wondering how to make money as a 15-year old teen. The account holder must be 18 years old or older to register the account themselves, while users under 18 may use it with permission from the parent in charge.
How to make money as a 15-year-old eBay expert? To start with this business, you can sell things that you no longer need but still have some value to someone who does. If it goes well for you and is profitable for both parties involved in the trade, move on to buying old unwanted items from family members or friends local to your neighborhood before reselling them online.
Before paying anyone anything, make sure what they are asking for their item is fair and reasonable; selling an item worth $4 for $10 (you get 80% of the profit) will only encourage people not willing enough to go through the process selling themselves.
It’s also essential that after every purchase, take time out each day reading articles about how successful sellers do their businesses and watch videos on YouTube that provide all kinds of help related to running an online store.
- The Fees Structure
The fees structure is different for sellers and buyers. Sellers pay $0.20 per item when they list their items on eBay or relist an item that has sold with zero bids (no matter if it was initially recorded at auction or as a Fixed Price).
6. Work at a Restaurant
The best jobs for teens are in the food service industry. You get to meet lots of new people, serve them good food, and make some money on the side. Restaurant work provides an environment perfect for building customer-service experience, time management skills, and social interaction with others around you. Which can help give you a head start as an adult who needs to interact with many different people daily.
How to make money as a 15-year-old restaurant worker? A lot goes into being successful at this job, though; not only do they need the appropriate credentials but excellent hygiene practices too, these two things will come up again below.
The first most important thing about working behind any kind of counter is that it doesn’t matter if it is flipping burgers or slinging hash: show up on time every single morning or don’t bother coming back because no boss wants someone who just does what they feel like doing when their there regardless how long their break ends up being.
- The Fees Structure
Working at a restaurant earns you an hourly wage of $11 to 13 per hour and an employee-training program that can take six weeks.
Conclusion
Earning money as a teenager is a great way to learn valuable skills like balancing your budget, saving money, and spending wisely while also making some cash. And the best part is that there are plenty of great opportunities to earn money that don’t involve getting a job. You can find a babysitting gig, walk someone’s dog, or find a retail job that works with your schedule.
The possibilities are endless, and the best part is that you don’t need to be old enough to have a job to start earning money. Hopefully, now you know how to make money as a 15-year-old.
