The rules on working as a teen, which apps you can use at what age, how scams aimed at teens work, and what to do if something goes wrong. Rules shown are for: ; change country in the top bar. Read it once now and come back when anything feels off.
None of these slow a good business down. They only get in the way of people trying to use you.
Before any job in someone's home or car, an adult you trust has the address, the customer's name and the time you will be back.
Hand over items you sold in a busy place or at your own door with an adult nearby. Never go into a stranger's house alone for a sale.
Real jobs and real brand deals pay you. Anyone asking for a "starter fee", "training kit" or "registration" first is selling to you, not hiring you.
No genuine customer needs your passwords, one-time codes, card PIN or online banking login. Ever.
Receiving money and sending it on, even "just this once" for a friend, can make you part of a crime. See money mules below.
Price, job, date and how you get paid, written in a message or the simple agreement on the Toolkit page. Memories disagree, texts do not.
If someone pushes you to hurry, keep a secret or move to a private app, stop and show an adult. Good customers can wait a day.
The law limits your hours for a reason. A side hustle that wrecks your exams is a bad trade.
These rules cover being employed by someone else, like a café or store job. Running your own small business (self-employment) is treated differently, but the same limits are a sensible guide for school weeks. Rules change, so check the official site.
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| Federal rule (FLSA) | Ages 14–15 | Ages 16–17 |
|---|---|---|
| Youngest age for most non-farm jobs | 14 | |
| School day | 3 hrs | No federal limit |
| School week | 18 hrs | No federal limit |
| Non-school day | 8 hrs | No federal limit |
| Non-school week | 40 hrs | No federal limit |
| Times of day | 7am–7pm (9pm from June 1 to Labor Day) | No federal limit |
| Hazardous jobs | Banned until 18 (driving for work, power tools, roofing and more) | |
Self-employed gigs like lawn mowing, pet sitting or video editing are usually outside the hours rules. You still need a parent for contracts, bank accounts and most platforms, and tax rules still apply.
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In Canada, employment standards are set by each province and territory, so the rules depend on where you live. Most places let you work at 14 with limits during school, and some allow younger teens to do "light work" with a parent's consent or a permit.
Check your own province's employment standards site before taking a job. Employers must follow the stricter of the rules that apply to them.
Self-employed work like snow shoveling, tutoring or reselling is not covered by employment hours rules, but you still need a parent for contracts, bank accounts and most platforms, and tax rules still apply.
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| Rule (England, typical) | Ages 13–14 | Ages 15–16 |
|---|---|---|
| Youngest age for most part-time jobs | 13 (some exceptions like acting and modeling with a license) | |
| Term time, per week | 12 hrs | 12 hrs |
| School days | 2 hrs | 2 hrs |
| Saturdays | 5 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Sundays | 2 hrs | 2 hrs |
| School holidays, per week | 25 hrs | 35 hrs |
| Times of day | Not before 7am or after 7pm | |
| Breaks | 1 hour after 4 hours of work; 2 weeks off work in the school holidays each year | |
Self-employed teens are not covered by the employment hours rules, but you still need a parent's agreement for contracts, bank accounts and most platforms, and tax rules still apply.
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In Australia, child employment rules are set by each state and territory, so they vary a lot. National workplace rights (pay rates, awards) come from the Fair Work system.
Junior pay rates usually apply to under-21s under awards. Check Fair Work for your award's rates and your state's child employment rules before you start.
Self-employed work like mowing, tutoring or reselling is not covered by employment hours rules, but you still need a parent for contracts, bank accounts and most platforms, and tax rules still apply.
Signing up and getting paid have different age limits. Most platforms let 13-year-olds post, but payouts usually need 18 or a parent's account.
| Platform | Use it | Get paid | Under 18, what to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 13+ | 18+ LIVE gifts and Creator Rewards | Grow an audience now; brand deals go through a parent who signs and receives payment. |
| YouTube | 13+ | 18+ for Partner Program, or a parent's AdSense | A parent or guardian can link their AdSense account to your channel. |
| 13+ | Mostly 18+ for monetization tools | Teen accounts are private by default. Use it as a portfolio and contact point. | |
| Twitch | 13+ | 18+ for Affiliate payouts (or meet the age of majority) | Stream for practice; payouts need an adult account holder. |
| Roblox | All ages | DevEx rules cashing Robux needs age, verification and a minimum balance | Read the current Developer Exchange terms with a parent before you build expecting cash. |
| Etsy | 18+ | 18+ | 13–17 can sell through a parent's account under their supervision. |
| eBay | 18+ | 18+ | Sell through a parent's account. |
| Vinted (UK and Europe) | 18+ | 18+ | Sell through a parent's account. |
| Facebook Marketplace | Adults | Cash or parent | Let a parent list and handle messages; meet buyers in public with an adult. |
| Depop | Check terms | Check terms | Read the current terms for your country; payouts typically need an adult account. |
| PayPal / Stripe / Square / Shopify | 18+ | 18+ | Use a parent-run account or a teen card a parent controls. |
| Fiverr / Upwork | 18+ | 18+ | Find clients directly (local businesses, creators you know) instead. |
In the US, Canada, the UK and Australia alike, selling marketplaces and payment apps need an adult account holder. Some apps use the "age of majority," which is 19 in some Canadian provinces. Rules change often, so check each platform's own terms before you rely on this table.
Scammers target young people because they are online a lot, keen to earn, and less likely to tell an adult. Knowing the pattern is most of the defense.
You will not be in trouble for asking for help. The people below deal with this every day.
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Free, confidential support any time for anyone in distress, including feeling overwhelmed by threats or money trouble.
Call or text 988988lifeline.orgReport sextortion and online exploitation. They also run Take It Down for removing images of under-18s.
report.cybertip.orgNational child abuse hotline. Counselors answer 24/7.
1-800-422-4453Report scams, fake jobs and fraud to the Federal Trade Commission. Also tell your bank straight away.
reportfraud.ftc.govFree, confidential, 24/7 support for young people, by phone or text.
1-800-668-6868 · text 686868kidshelpphone.caCanada's tipline for reporting online sexual exploitation of children, including sextortion. Can help remove images.
cybertip.caReport scams and fraud. Also tell your bank straight away.
1-888-495-8501antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.caReport online sexual abuse, grooming or blackmail to the police's child protection team.
ceop.police.ukChildline and the Internet Watch Foundation can help remove nude images of under-18s from the internet.
Report Remove on ChildlineReport scams and fraud to the national reporting center. Also tell your bank straight away.
actionfraud.police.ukFree, private counseling for young people aged 5 to 25, any time, by phone or online chat.
1800 55 1800Report serious online abuse, image-based abuse and sextortion, and get help removing content.
esafety.gov.auThe Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation takes reports of online child sexual exploitation.
accce.gov.auReport scams and check current scam alerts. Also tell your bank straight away.
scamwatch.gov.auStop replying. Do not pay. Screenshot the messages and the account name. Block and report the account. Tell an adult you trust, and contact the reporting service for your country listed above. Paying almost never makes it stop, and it is not your fault.
Got a job offer, brand deal or "opportunity" in your DMs? Tick everything that is true about it.
Rules exist because these can hurt someone. Following them also makes you look more professional than most adult sellers.
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Most states have "cottage food" laws that let you sell some home-baked, non-perishable foods (like cookies and bread) directly to customers, often with a label and sometimes a permit or registration. Rules, sales limits and allowed foods differ by state and city.
Selling home-made food is regulated by your province and often your local public health unit. Many allow low-risk baked goods at farmers' markets or events, sometimes with a permit and food handler training.
Anyone selling food regularly should register with their local council at least 28 days before starting. It is free. Get a basic food hygiene course (around Level 2) and keep your kitchen clean and separate from pets.
Food businesses, including home-based ones, usually need to notify or register with their local council, and must follow the Food Standards Code. Some states have specific rules for home kitchens and market stalls.
Know the major allergens where you live (including peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish) and label every product that contains them. One wrong label can put someone in hospital.
Fragrance oils can be hazardous. Many countries require warning labels on scented products (for example CLP labels in the UK and EU). Soaps and bath products may count as cosmetics with their own rules.
Anything made for young children must meet toy safety rules, which can mean testing and certification (for example CPSC rules in the US, UKCA or CE marks in the UK). Small parts, magnets and loose buttons are the big risks. Most teen makers avoid selling items as toys.
Covers you if you damage property or someone gets hurt because of your work: a car scratched while detailing, a dog that escapes. Worth thinking about once you work in people's homes or at events. Ask a parent whether their home insurance covers any of it.
Do not sell stickers, prints or clothes with logos, characters or song lyrics you do not own. Platforms remove them and brands can send legal letters. Make your own designs.
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Thresholds change and states have their own taxes. Check irs.gov for current figures.
Thresholds change. Check canada.ca for current figures.
Thresholds change. Check gov.uk for current figures.
Thresholds change. Check ato.gov.au for current figures.
Every time you get paid, move 20% into a separate pot. If you never need it for tax, it becomes savings or new equipment. Either way you are never caught short.
Your teen does the work and makes the decisions. You keep them safe and handle the parts the law reserves for adults.
Most payment and selling platforms need an adult. Open the account in your name, set clear rules about access, and pass earnings on promptly so the business feels like theirs.
A parent-controlled teen card or account lets customers pay your teen directly and lets you see what comes in and goes out. Examples in the US include Greenlight and Step.Examples in Canada include Mydoh.Examples in the UK include GoHenry and Rooster Money.Examples in Australia include Spriggy. See the Toolkit page.
Where they can work, how late, who they can meet, and when they check in. Write it down together, once, instead of arguing it out job by job.
Sign agreements and approve big purchases. Let them price, pitch, and occasionally fail. Losing £20 on a bad batch of stock at 15 is cheap tuition.
Sudden secrecy about an online "job", new money they cannot explain, a new phone or gifts, or requests to use your bank account. These are common signs of money mule or grooming approaches.
A custodial Roth IRAAn RESP now, and a TFSA once they reach the age of majority,A Junior ISAA long-term investment account in your name for them turns a summer of mowing into decades of compounding. See the Money page.