How to Make Quick Money While a Teen
Many teenagers want to make fast cash. Maybe you want to buy clothes or music, but cannot take on a part-time job due to other commitments or your age. Perhaps you cannot wait a week for a check because you want to help out with the household bills. Whatever the case, you have options. According to a July 2008 U.S. Department of Labor fact sheet, federal child labor laws do not apply to work like "completing minor chores around private homes or casual baby-sitting."
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Instructions
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Market one or more of your talents or hobbies as a paid service to neighbors and friends. Consider washing cars, doing yard work, cleaning houses, pet-sitting, walking dogs, house-sitting, fixing computers, giving computer lessons, building websites, tutoring, coaching, or babysitting. If you have access to a vehicle or live within walking distance of a market or shopping center, consider shopping for groceries or running other errands.
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Research what other teenagers charge for similar services. Talk to friends, family members, and neighbors or look in the classified advertising section of your local newspaper.
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Decide what to charge. Flat rates work well for jobs like washing cars, doing yard work, and cleaning houses because you can estimate in advance how much time the job will take and charge accordingly; your customer will appreciate knowing exactly how much the work will cost. Hourly rates work well for jobs like running errands, babysitting, and giving computer lessons because it is not always possible to estimate in advance how much time these jobs will take.
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Advertise your services and fees. Talk to family members, neighbors, and friends. Let them know what a good job you will do and how reliable you are. Make flyers to hand out in your neighborhood or post on local bulletin boards.
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Be reliable. Call customers and potential customers back in a timely manner. Be there when you say you will be there. Call customers immediately if an emergency prevents you from arriving on time, even if you will only be five minutes late. Complete your job exactly as agreed.
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Set up recurring jobs. For example, if you shop for and deliver someone's groceries, ask him if you should come back in a week or two. If you walk someone's dog, ask her how many times a day she needs your help.
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Ask your customers for feedback. Find out whether they are happy with the work you did and whether they want you to do anything differently next time.
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Ask your customers to recommend you to others. Give them flyers to hand out to their friends and neighbors.
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Tips & Warnings
If time is an issue, do not offer too many services or take on too many customers.
Be aware of federal, state, and local tax and labor laws.
Know your community's regulations on posting signs.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit walking the dog image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
