💰 Ages 13–17: Future Investors
Side Hustles and Income Generation: Turning Passion into Profit
Welcome to the world of earning your own money!
As a future investor, you're at the perfect age to start exploring side hustles—small business ventures or gigs you can do outside of school to earn extra cash.
Whether you want to save for a car, invest, or fund your weekend outings, side hustles are a powerful way to learn real-world financial skills and grow your independence.
🔍 What is a Side Hustle?
A side hustle is any activity you do to make money on the side, outside of your regular responsibilities like school or chores.
It can be something as simple as dog walking or as creative as starting your own small business online.
The key is that
you’re in control—you choose what you do, when you do it, and how much you charge.
✅ Why Start a Side Hustle as a Teenager?
- Gain Financial Freedom – Start earning your own spending or saving money. No need to wait for your next pocket money handout.
- Learn Valuable Skills – From communication and budgeting to marketing and customer service, running a side hustle teaches real-world life skills.
- Fuel Your Passions – Love drawing, photography, or baking? Turn what you love into income.
- Prepare for the Workforce – Gain experience that looks great on a resume or uni application.
- Start Early with Saving & Investing – The sooner you start earning, the sooner you can learn to save and even invest your income.
💼 Popular Side Hustle Ideas for Teenagers
Here are some teen-friendly ways to earn an income:
1. Pet Services
- Dog walking
- Pet sitting
- Feeding pets for neighbours while they're away
2. Tutoring
- Help younger students with maths, English, science or even music lessons
3. Lawn Mowing & Gardening
- Offer simple yard services in your local area. This one’s great if you enjoy working outdoors.
4. Selling Handmade Goods or Crafts
- Make and sell things like bracelets, candles, baked goods or artworks through local markets or online platforms like Etsy (with adult supervision).
5. Reselling Clothes or Collectables
- Got clothes you no longer wear? Or collectables lying around? Learn how to resell them on platforms like Depop or Facebook Marketplace.
6. Content Creation
- If you love being online, explore creating content for YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok. Some teens build side incomes from affiliate marketing or sponsored posts (note: always follow platform age guidelines and get parental permission).
7. Freelance Services
- Are you great at graphic design, coding, or video editing? Try offering your services to family friends or community groups.
🛑 What You Need to Know Before Starting
Before jumping in, here are some important things to keep in mind:
✅ Check Age Requirements & Legal Stuff
Some platforms and payment services have minimum age requirements. For example:
- PayPal requires you to be at least 18 (or use a parent/guardian account with permission).
- ABN (Australian Business Number) – If your side hustle grows into a small business, you may need an ABN and consider things like tax. This is usually only necessary when you're making significant income.
✅ Be Safe Online
If you’re using online platforms or dealing with people you don’t know, always talk to a parent or guardian. Use safe communication and never share personal information without checking with a trusted adult.
✅ Track Your Earnings
Start a simple spreadsheet or money journal to track:
- Income from your hustle
- Expenses (like supplies or advertising)
- Profit (what’s left over)
This teaches budgeting and helps you understand what’s working and what’s not.
💸 Where Should the Money Go?
You're making money—awesome! But what should you do with it?
1. Save Smart
Set goals and open a high-interest youth savings account. Whether it’s for a new phone, holiday, or uni fund, start saving now.
2. Spend Wisely
It's okay to treat yourself—just remember to budget. A good rule of thumb: spend 50%, save 30%, and invest or donate the remaining 20%.
3. Learn to Invest
By 16 or 17, you might be ready to explore investing with a parent’s help. Learn the basics of shares, ETFs, or micro-investing platforms.
👨👩👧👦 Involve Your Parents or Carers
It’s always a good idea to talk to your parents or carers about your side hustle ideas.
They can:
- Help you brainstorm
- Guide you with legal or financial paperwork
- Support you with transport, supplies, or promotion
📚 Side Hustle Toolkit: Free Resources for Teenagers
MoneySmart for Teens (by ASIC) – www.moneysmart.gov.au
Starting a Business Guide – business.gov.au/guide
Youth Business Australia – ybafoundation.org.au
Downloadable Budget Tracker – Create your own or download a teen-friendly version to track income and expenses
🚀 Final Thoughts: Start Small, Dream Big
Side hustles aren’t just about making a quick buck—they’re about discovering your talents, building confidence, and learning how to make smart money moves.
So whether you’re washing cars on weekends or selling digital art online, every dollar earned is a step towards your financial future.
You’ve got the creativity.
You’ve got the drive.
Now go and create your own hustle!
