How Can You Get Money at 13 Years Old?

Earning money as a 13-year-old provides a valuable opportunity to develop financial literacy and important life skills. This experience encompasses lessons in budgeting, time management, and customer service. Engaging in age-appropriate work fosters responsibility and independence, helping young individuals understand the direct correlation between effort and reward.

Earning Through Local Services

Local services offer accessible avenues for a 13-year-old to earn money. Babysitting is a common option, requiring a responsible demeanor and ability to care for younger children. A babysitting course, like those from the American Red Cross, provides valuable skills in child care, first aid, and emergency preparedness. This training can increase parental confidence and justify a higher hourly rate, typically $14 to $25 per hour depending on location, experience, and the number of children.

Pet care services, including dog walking, feeding, or pet sitting, are practical for animal lovers. Building trust with pet owners through reliability and consistent communication is essential. Yard work, such as mowing lawns, raking leaves, or weeding gardens, can be a consistent income source, particularly during warmer months. For tasks involving power equipment, parental supervision and training are essential for safety.

Washing cars for neighbors or family friends provides a straightforward service that requires minimal startup costs, primarily soap, sponges, and water. Tutoring younger children in subjects where a 13-year-old excels, such as math or reading, demands patience and a grasp of the material. Offering house-sitting services, involving collecting mail, watering plants, or checking on a home, requires trustworthiness and attention to detail. Consistent communication with clients and active parental involvement for permissions and transportation are fundamental to establishing a positive reputation and securing repeat business.

Exploring Digital and Creative Income

Leveraging digital skills or creative talents can open up earning opportunities for a 13-year-old, requiring parental oversight due to online platform requirements and safety. Creating and selling handmade crafts online, such as jewelry or art, is possible, but platforms like Etsy require account holders to be at least 18. Any online shop must be set up and managed under a parent or legal guardian’s account, with minor activities closely supervised and all financial information under the parent’s name.

Content creation, through platforms like YouTube or personal blogs, offers income potential, but has strict age and eligibility requirements for monetization. The YouTube Partner Program, which allows creators to earn from ads, generally requires individuals to be 18. If a creator is under 18, a parent or guardian can sign the partnership contract and link the channel to their AdSense account for payments. Parental guidance is essential to ensure online safety, privacy, and adherence to platform rules.

Participating in online surveys or micro-tasks can provide a small income, but many legitimate survey sites primarily cater to users aged 18 and older. Some platforms, such as Swagbucks, may permit participation from individuals aged 13 and up with parental consent. Compensation for these tasks is typically low, often a few cents to a few dollars per completed survey, meaning it is not a significant income source. Developing skills in graphic design or simple video editing could lead to small projects for family, friends, or local businesses, allowing a 13-year-old to apply creative talents.

Starting Small Ventures

Entrepreneurial ventures allow a 13-year-old to create and sell products or services on a small scale, with minimal startup costs. A lemonade stand teaches basic sales and customer interaction. While many small operations are informally permitted, check local guidelines for permits or food sales if planning a larger operation. Pricing for lemonade often ranges from $0.50 to $2.00, depending on location and competition.

Selling homemade baked goods, such as cookies or brownies, can be a popular choice, with parental permission and supervision for baking and sales. Depending on local “cottage food laws,” certain non-hazardous foods prepared at home can be sold directly to consumers, though informal sales to neighbors are often less regulated. Growing and selling produce from a home garden, like fresh vegetables or herbs, offers another avenue for direct sales.

Offering specialized services, like basic tech support for older relatives with device setup or software issues, can fill a niche. Similarly, organizing and decluttering services for family or friends can be valuable for tidying spaces. For any small venture, effective pricing, local marketing through word-of-mouth or flyers, and excellent customer service are essential for success. These activities foster creativity and problem-solving skills, beneficial for future endeavors.

Understanding Formal Work Opportunities

Formal employment opportunities for 13-year-olds are limited due to federal and state child labor laws. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) generally sets the minimum age for most non-agricultural employment at 14. Traditional employers, like retail stores or restaurants, are typically unable to hire a 13-year-old for most positions.

Specific exceptions exist under federal law for individuals under 14. These include delivering newspapers, acting in theatrical productions or movies, and working for a parent in a solely owned, non-hazardous occupation. State laws can impose stricter limitations on job types, hours, and conditions. For most 13-year-olds seeking to earn money, informal methods discussed previously are generally more viable and accessible than traditional employment.