Earning your first 100 dollars as a teen might seem tough at first. Honestly, it’s probably easier than you expect.
You don’t need any fancy skills or a regular job to start making money. Teens can earn their first 100 dollars by doing surveys, selling things they already own, offering services like babysitting or yard work, or finishing quick tasks online.
The trick is to pick methods that fit your life and what you actually like doing. Some ways let you earn money right from your phone. Others involve helping out people in your neighborhood.
Mixing different approaches can help you reach your goal faster.
How to Make 100 Dollars Fast, Proven Simple Methods
You can hit your first $100 by taking online surveys, freelancing on popular platforms, or doing local gigs. Each method works for different schedules and skill levels.
Earn with Online Surveys and Reward Sites
Survey sites pay you just for sharing your opinions about products and services. Swagbucks and Survey Junkie are two solid options that accept teens as young as 13.
Swagbucks gives you points for doing surveys, watching videos, and even shopping online. Gift cards start at just 300 points, which equals $3. For PayPal cash, you need at least 500 points, or $5.
Most surveys pay somewhere between 50 cents and 3 bucks. Survey Junkie is all about surveys and pays in points. You need 500 points, which equals $5, to cash out. This is now easier to reach than it used to be when the minimum was higher.
Each survey usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. Nobody gets rich off surveys, but they’re simple to do while watching TV or during a break from homework.
To make 100 dollars fast, sign up for a few sites and check them daily for new surveys. If you finish five surveys a day, you could earn $5 to $15, depending on how long they are.
Common Mistake: Many teens sign up for survey sites but give up after just a few days when they realize it takes time to accumulate earnings. The key is consistency. Set a realistic daily target, like 15 to 20 minutes, and stick with it for at least two weeks before deciding if it’s worth your time.
Freelance on Platforms Like Fiverr and Upwork
Fiverr and Upwork connect you with people who need help with things like graphic design, writing, video editing, or social media. You need to be at least 13 for Fiverr, with a parent or guardian owning the account. Upwork requires you to be 18.
On Fiverr, when teens work through a parent-owned account, you can set up gigs starting at $5. Teens often offer logo design, photo editing, short writing projects, or social media posts. Set your prices based on how long each task takes.
Upwork works a bit differently. You apply for jobs posted by clients and send in proposals explaining why you’re the right fit.
Start with small projects to build up your reviews. These online jobs for teens need some skills, but you can pick up the basics from free YouTube tutorials.
At first, your jobs might take longer as you figure things out, but you’ll get faster with practice. If you finish three to five projects a week, you’ll hit $100 before long.
Take On Gigs, Chores, Babysitting, and Pet Care
Local gigs are a quick way to earn cash without waiting for online payments.
Babysitting rates for teens typically range from $10 to $16 an hour, depending on your experience and how many kids you watch. More experienced sitters in some areas can earn up to $18 per hour or more.
Start with family friends or people who already know you. Pet care is another option. Walking dogs can earn you anywhere from $15 to $25 per walk for a 20 to 30 minute session.
Feeding pets while owners are away can bring in $25 a day. Sometimes, just playing with pets after school is enough.
Ask neighbors with pets if they need help during busy weeks. Yard work changes with the seasons.
Rake leaves in the fall, shovel snow in winter, or mow lawns in summer for $20 to $25 per yard. Mowing three lawns in one afternoon can get you $60 to $75.
Make a simple flyer with your services, rates, and phone number. Hand it to neighbors or post it on community boards.
If you take care of five dogs for a week at $15 per walk, that’s well over $100 before you know it.
Pro Tip: Create a simple tracking system using a notes app on your phone to record every service you provide, the date, customer name, and amount earned. This helps you stay organized, follow up with repeat customers, and quickly see which services earn you the most money per hour of work.
Creative Earning Ideas for Teens Who Want More Options
You can turn things you already own or simple local services into real money. These methods work because they solve problems for people nearby and let you work on your own time.
Sell Unused Items or Crafts
Your room probably has stuff you don’t use that someone else would pay for. Old clothes, video games, books, and electronics can all bring in cash.
Online platforms make selling easy.
- Facebook Marketplace lets you list items for free in your local area
- Poshmark is great for selling clothes and accessories
- eBay helps you reach buyers across the country for unique items
- Mercari lets you sell almost anything right from your phone
If you like making things, handmade items can earn even more. Stickers, art prints, friendship bracelets, and custom clothing designs all sell well.
Sites like Etsy let you run your own shop and reach customers who want something unique and handmade. You can also make digital products like phone wallpapers or printable planners.
These cost nothing to make after your first design, so every sale is pure profit. Start by cleaning out your closet and making a list of what you could sell.
Take clear photos in good lighting and write honest descriptions about each item’s condition. Sometimes, just putting in a little extra effort with photos makes all the difference.
Start a Paper Route or Local Side Hustle
A paper route can give you steady income by delivering newspapers to the same houses each week. Most routes pay somewhere between $200 and $500 per month.
You’ll usually only need an hour or two each morning before school. For a lot of teens, that’s a pretty manageable schedule.
Local services can bring in quick cash since neighbors always need help with everyday tasks. Dog walking pays $15 to $25 per walk for sessions lasting 20 to 30 minutes. You can often walk a few dogs at the same time to increase your earnings.
Pet sitting works especially well on weekends when families go out of town. It’s not too complicated, and you might even get to play with some cute pets.
Yard work services people will pay for
- Mowing lawns, usually $20 to $40 per yard
- Raking leaves in fall
- Shoveling snow in winter
- Pulling weeds and basic gardening
Car washing is another easy option. You can set up in your driveway with some basic supplies and charge $10 to $20 per car.
If you want, offer interior cleaning for a little extra. That’s a nice upsell if you’re comfortable with it.
Ask your parents to help you spread the word to neighbors. Make up some simple flyers with your services and contact info, then hand them out on your street.
Pro Tip: Once you’ve completed a job well, don’t be shy about asking satisfied customers if they know anyone else who might need your services.
Word-of-mouth referrals are the fastest way to build a regular client base, and people are usually happy to recommend someone who did a good job for them.
