Who doesn’t love a bit of extra cash? Whether you’re saving up for a shopping spree or just putting money aside for the future, every extra dollar you can earn as a kid goes a long way. And while doing chores at home might get you a little bit of pocket money, there are plenty of other ways to make money as a kid in Canada.
Here are side hustles, hacks and ideas to help you earn extra cash as a teenager or younger kid.
1. Play games online
How it works: Get-paid-to (GPT) apps like Swagbucks, LEO and Branded Surveys let you earn real money by doing things like completing surveys, signing up for special offers and, best of all, playing games on your phone or PC. All you have to do is download games and complete in-game milestones to earn rewards points, which can then be redeemed for gift cards or cash via PayPal. Just be aware that you’ll need to be 13 or older to use Swagbucks, at least 16 for LEO and Branded Surveys, and the age of majority for some other apps. Tools you need: A smartphone.
Find the most lucrative games. Use platforms like Reddit and conversations with your friends to find game offers that provide the highest payouts.
Read the terms and conditions. Check the fine print to find out exactly what you need to do, and in what time frame, to get rewarded.
Know when to cut your losses. If it becomes obvious that a game is going to require too much time and effort to justify the reward, move on to the next offer.
How it works: Love dogs or pets in general? Turn your passion for pets into a rewarding side hustle. Provide dog-walking services in your neighbourhood or, if you get the OK from Mum and Dad, consider offering overnight sitting services in your own home. Tools you need: Poo bags, treats, and an extra leash and harness, just in case.
Offer extra services. Go above and beyond and offer extra services to attract more clients. You could do things like picking up poo in the owner’s yard, running with dogs, or maybe even arranging doggy playdates with your own fur-baby.
Work in any weather. Be prepared to battle the elements. You might not feel like walking in the rain, but your highly energetic canine clients will.
Get your name out there. From flyers at local dog parks to community noticeboards and Facebook groups, there are plenty of simple ways to spread the word about your walking or sitting business.
3. Umpire sports matches
How it works: From baseball and basketball to hockey and soccer, community sporting organizations are often on the lookout for umpires. If you complete the relevant training, you can get paid to referee sporting clashes in your spare time. And as you get older, your experience increases and you advance through the grades, your pay rate will increase too. Tools you need: Depending on the sport, you may need protective equipment, a uniform, a whistle, a watch and shoes or skates.
Get fit. You’ll need to be in good physical shape to keep up with play and do your job properly, so make sure you stay active between games.
Ask for advice. Need help managing difficult on-field situations? Ask experienced umpires within your sporting association for their conflict resolution tips.
4. Babysitting
How it works: This old favourite is still as reliable a money-making option as ever. Parents of young kids are always glad for a night off, and if they know they can leave their children with a reliable babysitter, they’ll treat themselves to nights out a lot more often. Start by offering your babysitting services to friends and family, then rely on word of mouth or some basic promotion to grow your business. Tools you need: None.
Get first aid qualifications. Complete a first aid training course to help provide peace of mind to parents.
Ask questions. Take the time to speak to the parents about their children, their likes and dislikes, and whether they have any special care needs. Being well prepared is key to success.
Turn up on time. Show up at the appointed time to ensure a calm handover process and allow the parents to pass on any instructions. A late arrival leads to rushed goodbyes, stressed kids and parents, and forgotten instructions.
5. Wash cars
How it works: Another classic side hustle, starting your own mobile car-detailing business is a simple way to make money. You can start out by offering basic washes, then graduate to more complex detailing jobs like polishing or cleaning the interior upholstery as your skills and client base grow. Tools you need: You can start out with a bucket, sponge and some detergent. Offering more advanced services might require specialist cleaning products, a wet/dry vacuum and brushes or cloths for different surfaces.
Tips to succeed:
Start small. Start by offering to wash the cars of family friends and neighbours, then use word of mouth or even a door-knocking campaign to drum up more business.
Offer discounts. Consider offering multi-car discounts or savings for customers who refer you to their friends.
6. Yard work
How it works: Yards require a lot of work all year round. Lawns need to be mowed, snow shovelled, gutters cleaned, leaves blown and gardens weeded. And if you’re not afraid of a bit of physical labour, you could start your own side hustle doing yard work for neighbours. Tools you need: Basic gardening equipment like a shovel, rake, lawn mower and weed whacker. In some cases, homeowners might provide the tools you need.
Consider reinvesting. Instead of spending all of your earnings, you might like to use some of them to upgrade your gardening equipment and potentially take on larger jobs.
Focus on your neighbourhood. Find clients close to home to cut down on travel time and costs.
Target seasonal needs. From shovelling snow in winter to mowing fast-growing lawns in late spring and early summer, know what services are in demand at different times of year.
7. Cleaning
How it works: You know those annoying or occasionally disgusting jobs around the home that lots of people hate doing? Stuff like cleaning out garbage bins, picking up dog poo in the yard, pressure washing the driveway or even cleaning the pool? If you don’t mind getting dirty, you might find plenty of people in your neighbourhood who are willing to pay you to take care of those chores for them. Tools you need: Basic cleaning supplies like a mop, bucket, microfibre cloths and cleaning products.
Start local. Knock on doors and talk to your neighbours to find out if they have any cleaning jobs they want done. Start with people you know, then consider doing a letterbox drop or local Facebook group post to spread the word.
Be reliable. Show up on time, be polite and do a thorough job. Tick those three boxes and you’re sure to get repeat customers, not to mention plenty of word-of-mouth recommendations.
8. Start a print-on-demand business
How it works: Print-on-demand offers a simple business model for young entrepreneurs. It allows you to create your own unique designs to get printed on t-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs, posters and more. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about storing or shipping any inventory; print-on-demand platforms like Printify and Gelato can do that for you. Tools you need: You’ll need some sort of design software. A free Canva plan is a good place to start.
Get help from your parents/guardians. You generally need to be 18 or older to open an account on a print-on-demand or e-commerce platform, so you’ll need assistance from a parent or guardian to get started.
Focus on Canadian platforms. If you’re targeting Canadian buyers, consider using a print-on-demand platform that can fulfill orders within Canada, such as Printful or Gelato.
9. Sell toys, games and clothes
How it works: Do you have toys you no longer play with, video games you’ve finished, and clothes you’ve outgrown? If they’re in good condition, turn them into cash by selling them to people in your area. You could set up a yard sale at home or get a parent’s help to list them on a platform like Facebook Marketplace. Tools you need: None.
Research prices. Check what other similar products are selling for near you so you can set competitive prices for your items.
Set prices high. Set prices a little higher than what you hope to get for each item. This will allow room to negotiate.
10. Work as a tutor
How it works: If you’re an older teen with a strong academic background, you could offer tutoring services to high school and elementary school students in your area. From mathematics to biology, use your specialist knowledge and study skills to help your young proteges improve their grades. Tools you need: It depends on the subject. Some require nothing more than basic stationery supplies, but math (for example) could require a scientific calculator.
Communicate with parents. Maintain regular contact with the parents of kids you’re tutoring to keep them up to date on each student’s progress, strengths and areas where they could improve.
Ask for word-of-mouth referrals. A good tutor can be hard to find, so if parents are happy with your work, ask them to recommend you to any friends who may be searching for a tutor for their child.
11. Hold a bake sale
How it works: Fancy yourself as a great home cook? Put your baking skills into action to bring in some extra pocket money. Bake a few batches of cookies and other sweet treats, secure yourself a high-traffic location, then let your mouthwatering displays of baked goods attract one buyer after another. Tools you need: An oven/stove, cookware and cooking utensils.
Stick to popular treats. Dish up classic favourites like brownies, cookies and cupcakes to ensure there is plenty of demand for your yummy treats.
Offer free samples. Entice buyers by offering small free samples of your signature baked treat.
12. Create and sell printable products
How it works: From calendars and diaries to budget planners and educational worksheets, printables are digital products that people can buy, download and print out. You can design your own printables using a design program like Canva or Adobe Creative Cloud, then sell them on sites like Etsy. Tools you need: A computer and graphic design software. Start with Canva Free, but you may want to upgrade to the advanced tools of a Canva Pro account.
Target a specific need. It’s very hard to stand out in the crowded printables market, so be very thorough when choosing your niche. What sort of printable could help you in your day-to-day life? What about your siblings, parents or friends? If you can help solve a real and common problem, you’ll boost your sales.
Don’t neglect practicality. It’s easy to get caught up in making your printables look as eye-catching as possible, but don’t forget to ensure that they serve a practical purpose too. They should be easy to read and understand, have a natural flow, and leave ample space for writing.
13. Deliver flyers
How it works: It’s not particularly glamorous or exciting, but delivering flyers for money is simple, honest work. Find a delivery route in your neighbourhood and apply for the role. If you’re hired, you can stay active and get paid at the same time. Tools you need: Some sort of bag, satchel or cart for transporting flyers. Comfortable shoes and a hat are important too.
Plan your route. Take the time to plan out your route so you can complete your deliveries as efficiently as possible.
Sort your delivery routine. From pre-rolling and bundling flyers to loading them into your bag for quick and easy access on the go, preparing before you set out will ensure faster delivery times.
14. Help elderly neighbours
How it works: Are there any elderly people in your neighbourhood who could use help running errands and doing odd jobs? We’re talking about things like small grocery shops, picking up prescriptions, weeding and watering gardens, providing in-home tech support, posting letters and collecting mail. By offering to help out, you could earn yourself a little extra spending money. Tools you need: Depends on the odd jobs you’re asked to do. Many don’t require any equipment, but some do. For example, you may need some basic gardening tools to help an elderly neighbour maintain their garden, but they might provide the tools you need.
Advertise your services. Some older people might not spend much time online. So while you can certainly advertise your services on local community Facebook groups, nothing beats introducing yourself in person if you want to get noticed.
Companionship is key. For some older people, the human connection and companionship you can provide is just as important as any errands you can run. If you’re willing to sit down and simply have a conversation with the people you help, you will make a big difference.
15. Get a part-time job
How it works: OK, so this option won’t appeal to everyone, but it’s a great way to get some consistent income each week. From grocery and retail stores to fast food outlets, there are plenty of businesses out there that regularly employ teenagers part-time. The work might not be particularly enjoyable, and the hourly rates are not particularly high, but you’ll be surprised just how fast your bank balance grows if you’re willing to work. Tools you need: Typically none. But if you’re going to spend most or all of your shift on your feet, a good pair of shoes is a must.
Use your connections. Rely on your friends, family and acquaintances to find out about job opportunities and to recommend you for positions. It’s all about getting your foot in the door any way you can.
Do some interview prep. Your first job interview is a daunting experience, so practise answering questions with your parents or just by yourself to help prepare.
Maintain balance. Don’t take on more shifts than you can handle, as this will eat into your study time. Make sure your education remains your top priorit. It will pay off in the long run.
How much can you make as a kid?
It depends on the side hustle you choose. On the most basic level, you might make a few bucks a week doing odd jobs for your neighbours or playing games online. Sell toys and clothes you don’t need and you might make a couple of hundred dollars, while holding regular bake sales and selling handmade crafts will probably make you a little but not a lot.
Where your money-making potential really starts to increase is if you can find a side hustle that produces consistent income. Let’s say you’re a dog walker and you build your business up to five regular customers that need their dogs walked three times a week. At $15 a walk, that’s $225 a week.
Or let’s say you’re tutoring local high school kids for $40/hour. If you tutor 3 kids in individual 1.5-hour sessions every week, you’ll earn $180 per week.
And if you work an $18/hour part-time job for 15 hours each week, that’s an extra $540 in your bank account each fortnight.
What are the best ways to make money as a kid?
The best ways to make money as a kid vary depending on factors like where you live, how old you are and what skills you have.
If you’re a teenager in the suburbs who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty, mowing lawns, doing yard work and taking on other seasonal jobs can be quite lucrative. If you love animals, offering your services as a dog walker and pet sitter can be a nice little money spinner. If you’re a people person in a big city, things like tutoring gigs and babysitting will help you earn a decent hourly rate.
Maybe you want to make money online with minimum effort? If that’s the case, you could look into playing games and completing surveys for money. Just note that you’ll need to be at least 13 years old—or 16 or 18 in some cases—and these methods won’t make you rich.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to find the most lucrative side hustle that’s a good fit for your lifestyle and skills.
Bottom line
There are lots of simple ways to make money as a kid or teenager. Some of them aren’t for everyone, and some require more work than others, but all of them are realistic options if you want to boost your bank balance. So if you’re keen for extra cash, get out there and start hustling.
Frequently asked questions
There are a few ways you can earn extra income at home, such as selling your unused possessions, starting a YouTube channel, and playing games or answering surveys online. But while they might provide you with a little more spending money, don’t expect them to make you rich.
There are lots of ways you can make $500 as a kid in Canada, but don’t expect it to happen overnight. Dog walking, pet sitting, tutoring and doing yard work are just a few of the most lucrative options for kids and teens, but it might take you weeks or even months to make $500.
Most money-making opportunities for kids and teens require you to put in some sort of work, whether that means washing cars, doing yard work or running errands for elderly neighbours. But it’s also possible to make a little extra money using get-paid-to apps like LEO and Swagbucks. These apps let you earn cash for playing games and completing surveys, but payouts are small. They’re also not available for younger kids, as you will generally need to be at least 13, 16 or 18 years old to qualify.
That’s entirely up to you, so don’t be afraid to spend some of it and treat yourself. At the same time, it’s also a good idea to put some of your earnings aside in a savings account where they will earn interest. Learn more in our guide to the best youth bank accounts in Canada.
Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 20-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.
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