Teenager money making ideas

[Eightytwenty]

My DC is too young to get a job but I am keen to encourage him to earn some money this summer. My idea was to give him an ‘investment’ that he could use to start a mini business (e.g. for supplies or marketing). Haven’t moved beyond dog walking or grass cutting - but also don’t want to take business away from professionals.

Anyone got any good ideas for what a 15 year old boy could usefully do?

Certainly not dog walking unless he is insured with public liability insurance! Maybe more of a pop in service to feed pets whilst people are away (with your supervision). I used to pay teens to do this when we had small animals but only ones I knew admittedly.

He can get a job at 15 though, try local cafes many will take on a few extra kids in summer holidays...

Maybe not over summer but refereeing for younger local football teams. Pays really well. My daughter is doing her ref course as soon as she’s 14

Check if any newspaper rounds are going. Some friends teen DCs make quite a lot from this.

At 15:

Pot washer in a kitchen - hotel, cafe, restaurant
Waiting staff at the same
Serving in a shop

Lots of employers prefer young teens as they are cheaper (no minimum wage)....

www.e4s.co.uk/jobs/1-top-jobs-under-18s.htm

Please don't suggest dog walking, it needs to be someone who is experienced and insured. How would he handle a dog fighting, a runaway etc? It's not the easy work people think it is.

That’s a good shout. He’s been playing football since he was very small.

Don’t worry dog-walking (& gardening) ruled out.

Obviously wrong that you need to be 16 to get a job so that is something to consider. However ideally wanted him to try to ‘build’ something. Know that sounds incredibly w..k.

He could do pet check up maybe.
I often end up feeding guinea pigs or emptying out cat litter for my neighbours.If you offered his services I'm sure some would be happy to take him up on it for say £5 per visit.

I appreciate wanting him to build something but other than the six week summer how much time will he dedicate to it after that when doing GCSEs/a levels. Much easier at that age to get a job you turn upto every week unless he has a passion to start his own business.

That is a totally fair consideration. Answer not much / if any. We’re in Scotland and next year is significantly more intensive than lower sixth or what ever it is called now.

That could be an option.

Could he do a set of football skills training videos or similar? And then do online coaching for children out of season?

You could look at a boring teen job as a learning experience that would be useful when he becomes a serial entrepreneur billionaire in the future: getting up to do boring bits even when he doesn't want to and treating staff well. Not as fun as starting a business, but equally valuable skills.

That certainly seems to be a way that some kids are finding fame and fortune. Something to do with rasberries and weeds in last nights chat (don’t ask me!).

Yes don’t disagree with that.

i want mine to get really “normal” jobs to get some idea of routine daily grind and what it takes to earn money. As they won’t be paying board, in their case it’s good employers will pay them less or they’d have too much free cash to understand what it’s like to have to make that stretch to cover normal living expenses and be counter productive. They don’t really appreciate where all the Frappuccinos come from at the moment.

Babysitting, cleaning cars(?) exterior and interior, weeding, doing shopping for elderly people. Watering plants. Feeding pets for people on holiday.
turoring younger children in math?

Get him on a lifeguard course this summer and he can make a killing the following and every school holiday and weekends. Life guarding and Waitrose are the most sought after jobs here. (Waitrose have good benefits and you don't have to Chuck stuff down the conveyor at a million miles an hour)

You got it within the first few suggestions. Trust me, refereeing is a licence to print money for the youngsters.

My boy started at 14 and is level 4 now. He gets £30 per match and can do 2-3 per weekend plus midweek games. Thats £360 per month minimum. None of his friends could get anywhere near that income working at pubs etc when he was at school.

Its a life skill too. It teaches youngsters to deal with adults on a mature basis. It teaches them to deal with the more unpleasant side of adults attitudes (With amazing support from the refs association). It also follows them in adult life because it doesnt matter what part of the country you are, register with local FA and you have an income. My lad can run up to 30km in a week to so he is fit as a fiddle.

Finally, my lad bought his first car for £3k at 17 before he even got his provisional licence from savings from refereeing. At 19 he was working part time as well and had saved enough to buy himself a BMW 1 series.

All because he did his referees qualification when he was 14.

@nearlyspringyay life guarding courses are 16 + round here

Following this thread my ds has now signed up for a refereeing course this summer. Had no idea you could do it at 14.

Love the refereeing info. Who knew?! He is part of a club so easy route to find out. Life guarding would also appeal but given he has ADHD wonder if he would be able to pay sufficient attention.