The teenage years are the perfect time to start a side hustle. It allows teenagers to explore their entrepreneurial spirit and discover what kind of career they would like to pursue while earning some extra money. Many teens want the ease of a part-time or summer job, but others are eager for more. They want to explore sales, time management, and earning potential from a young age. Both side hustles and part-time employment will help teens acquire these life skills. There are ample opportunities for side hustles for teens in Canada, as we will explore in this article.
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Teenagers always want extra cash, so why not learn how to earn some independently? Learning how to earn an income of your own is a valuable life skill. Some parents have their children do chores in exchange for an allowance. Whereas others may advise their kids to find a job if cash is tight in the household. Many teenagers have become resourceful in how they can earn money, particularly with the rise of the Internet. Of course, side hustles can grow into ongoing and lucrative businesses.
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Teens will want to tailor their side hustles to their skills, interests, and schedules. In the modern day, teens can leverage their digital platforms to access and grow side hustles. They can navigate real-world and online side hustles with creativity and ease. Continue reading to get ideas for your side hustle!
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When can teens start earning money?
In Canada, the legal age to work is different in each province and territory. Generally, teenagers can start working as early as 14 or 15 years old in most regions of Canada. Here is a general guide to the age of work in Canada:
14 Years Old
In Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, teens as young as 14 can work in certain jobs. There are restrictions in some sectors of work, with various sectors having higher age limits. For instance, physical labour jobs in the mining industry may not be suitable for a 14 year old because it can affect their physical health as they’re still growing. Further, there are restrictions on hours and types of work allowed. Parental consent may be a requirement for some jobs.
15 Years Old
British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Nova Scotia allow teens to start working at age 15. Again, there may be restrictions on the number of hours and types of work. Parental consent may be a requirement.
16 Years Old
In most provinces and territories, teens can work without as many restrictions once they reach 16 years of age. However, some limitations on late-night or hazardous work may still apply.
Teens and their parents should be aware of the local rules related to work and employment in their area. There are often restrictions on working hours during school days and types of work allowed for safety reasons. This is for the protection of youth and prioritizing their education and development. Additionally, some jobs may have their own age requirements. It is important to understand the legalities before starting any job as a teenager in Canada.
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Here is a comprehensive article on How Old Do You Have to Be to Work? A noticeable employment sector with significantly reduced age limits is the entertainment industry. While this industry may have reduced age limits, work for minors would be heavily regulated. It is important to note that side hustles may not follow the same restrictions as work through an employer. However, parents and guardians should keep an eye on their kids who are working on a self employed basis to ensure it’s lawful and appropriate.
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Best Side Hustles for Teens
The best side hustles for a teenager will be something they are interested in. Consider skills, hobbies, and local demand when figuring out a suitable side hustle. Always ensure compliance with legal regulations, especially when working as a minor. In general, here is a list of side hustles accessible from a young age.
1. Tutoring
If you excel in math, science, or any subject you can tutor others in that subject. You can tutor students younger than yourself, or students your age who are falling behind. Sharing your knowledge is valuable and can be exchanged for money. Tutoring can be done locally or online. If you choose online, consider Tutor.com or Chegg Tutors.
2. Babysitting or Pet Sitting
Everyone who has children or pets needs help taking care of them at some point. Teenagers offer great solutions to babysitting, pet sitting, and animal walking. These care services fill a need and are often found in your immediate neighborhood or community. Teenagers can seek out further opportunities through online platforms, like Rover.
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3. Photography
If you have a good camera, a decent eye, and an interest in photography, you can earn money. People need photographers for modelling/professional photos, real estate, events, weddings, and family photos. There is an opportunity to earn significant money with photography, plus it’s fun!
4. Handmade Crafts
If you enjoy making cards, jewelry, art, candles, soaps, or any crafty product, you can sell it. Online retailers like Etsy offer easy-to-access online stores. However, you can start at local markets or community events and move up from there.
5. Yard Work
Many people need help maintaining their yards or clearing snow, especially elderly people or busy parents in your community. Services in this sector can be simple lawn mowing and snow shoveling. They can also evolve into complex gardening and landscape services. This can be a door-to-door service in your neighborhood, or something advertised online.
6. Home Cleaning
In today’s modern age, many people do not have time to clean their homes the way they would like. A side hustle can be to provide basic cleaning services for households in your area.
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7. Reselling
Imagine buying a Disney-themed mug worth $40 for $2 at a garage sale or thrift store. You can turn around and resell it for its actual value and pocket the $38 difference. Reselling can be a fun and engaging side hustle. Online platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace are great platforms for flipping items.
8. Language Translation
If you are bilingual or know any number of languages, you can offer translation services. This can be to translate audio or written words. This side hustle is often high paying!
9. Music Lessons
Are you an excellent guitarist or pianist? Or maybe you’ve mastered another instrument in your school band classes. You can teach music lessons to others. Teaching younger children to read sheet music, play chords or even proper vocal technique can earn you money while being rewarding.
10. Gig Apps
TaskRabbit, Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, and GigHound are a small list of all the gig apps you can use to make money. These apps allow you to deliver food, perform odd jobs, grocery shop, and much more. There may be age restrictions when signing up to accept gigs from different apps.
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Best Online Side Hustles for Teens
Many teenagers may want to take advantage of online side hustles. This can be convenient if you have a busy schedule between school, hobbies and sports. While some of the above options can be online or in person, below is a list of online side hustles for teens to explore.
11. Video Editing
TikTok and Instagram Reels have made video a standard content creation and marketing tool. With such high volumes of videos online, they need editing. Content creators and businesses will hire teens willing to edit videos to streamline their content. This can be true for a number of other platforms too, such as Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn.
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12. Freelance Writing
Getting words on a page may not seem like a money-making side hustle, but it is! Many people do not have the time to create content and will pay others to do it. This can include blog posts, social media captions, articles, or any sort of copywriting. There are a number of ways to make money through freelance writing as a teen. You can start with online platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
13. Graphic Design and Illustration
Logos and images are often the first things customers see of a brand or business. Teens can have a great eye for aesthetics and trending colors and imagery. With a little artistic ability and an understanding of client needs, graphic design could be for you. This can include any imagery a brand uses, logos, social media graphics, or characters. You can start your hustle on Upwork and Fiverr, similar to freelance writing. This side hustle does not need to be tailored to businesses only. Often individuals will pay for inventive products, such as fun t-shirt designs for a kids sports team.
14. Social Media Management
No one understands social media platforms and their potential like teenagers. A lot of companies will pay for this expertise and to have someone dedicated to posting content or engaging with followers. Teenagers can be very successful social media managers, especially compared to older generations who didn’t grow up with the tech.
15. Virtual Assistant
Many individuals or companies need a virtual assistant to help with scheduling and answering emails. Virtual assistants can also help with other administration and customer service tasks remotely. Teens hoping to have a work-from-home side hustle can explore this.
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16. Online Surveys and Market Research
There are many online surveys and market research companies that will pay money for your participation. Teens can sign up for online surveys, focus groups, or market research studies. Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Respondent.io are some of the platforms used to gain money from this side hustle as a starting point.
17. E-commerce
Operating an online store can be a very informative and lucrative side hustle for teenagers. E-commerce is more accessible than ever. It can be as simple as selling handmade goods or art on Etsy, or reselling items on eBay. It can be as complex as starting your own dropshipping brand on Shopify.
18. YouTube Channel
There is a YouTube channel for every niche and interest these days. The best part about this is, that new niches and interests are constantly explored. Teenagers can create and monetize a YouTube channel focused on their specific interests, no matter how strange! YouTube content can include gaming, tutorials, vlogs, or educational content. In fact, some teens and kids under the age of 18 have made millions on YouTube and other social media platforms. Here are YouTube’s monetization policies.
19. App Development or Coding
Teenagers can learn a variety of skills very rapidly. Coding languages can be a very lucrative skill set to learn. They allow you to create apps, websites, or software solutions for clients or personal projects. If a teen knows how to code, they can sell their services for app development.
Before doing any online side hustles, consider your strengths, interests, and available time. Make sure that you are complying with age restrictions and legal requirements, especially when dealing with online platforms and transactions. Ask your parents for assistance if you need it!
Choosing a Side Hustle as a Teen
Choosing a side hustle as a teen can be an exciting and great opportunity to learn valuable skills. Make sure you align your side hustle with your skills and interests. Consider what you enjoy doing and what you’re good at. Are you passionate about certain subjects, hobbies, or activities? Identifying your strengths and interests can guide you toward the perfect side hustle. Maybe you’ll even find somethig that isn’t listed here but is best suited towards your personality and skills. Good luck with your hustle!
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