Everything you need to start this weekend
Free tools, copy-ready messages, an invoice maker, a money tracker, free courses and competitions. You can build a real side hustle with nothing on this page costing a penny.
What you need, in the order you need it
Do not set up everything on day one. Get each stage working before you add tools for the next.
Idea
Pick one thing people near you already pay for.
- Notes app: list 20 problems you see
- Google Forms: ask 10 people what they would pay for
- Hustle Finder on this site
First customer
One paying person beats a perfect logo.
- Canva: a one-page flyer
- A text or WhatsApp message to neighbors (template below)
- Carrd or Google Sites: a one-page site
Getting paid
Cash, bank transfer or a parent-run account.
- A teen bank card a parent controls (examples below)
- Invoice maker (below)
- A notebook or sheet for every payment
Growing
Ask happy customers for reviews and referrals.
- Review request template
- CapCut: before and after videos
- Calendly or Google Forms for bookings
Running it
Track money, time and customers every week.
- Google Sheets tracker (copy below)
- Notion or Trello for jobs
- Save a slice of every payment for tax and kit
The free tools that actually get used
Every tool here has a free plan that is enough to start. The age note matters: many sign-ups and every payment app need 18+, so a parent or guardian runs the account with you.
PayPal, Stripe, Square, Shopify, SumUp and most selling sites need you to be 18, in every country we cover. Under 18, the honest route is a parent-run account, or a teen card that a parent controls, with the money passed to you. Never borrow an adult's login without them knowing: it breaks the platform's rules and can get the account closed with your money inside.
Teen cards and accounts a parent controls
Examples for · change country in the top bar
Greenlight
Debit card and app for kids and teens, with parent controls, chores and investing.
Step
Teen-focused card and account with a parent sponsor.
Chase First Banking
A parent-owned account for kids and teens, linked to the parent's Chase account.
Mydoh
Smart cash card and app for kids and teens, with parent controls.
KOHO
Prepaid card and app. Check the minimum age and whether a parent account is needed.
Your bank's youth account
Most big Canadian banks offer free or low-fee youth accounts. Ask a parent to compare them with you.
GoHenry
Debit card and app for ages 6–18 that a parent controls. Good for receiving pay.
Rooster Money
Pocket money tracker and card, parent-controlled.
Starling Kite
A debit card for ages 6–16 added to a parent's Starling account.
Spriggy
Prepaid card and app for kids and teens, with parent controls.
CommBank Youth and Kit
Youth accounts and a money app for kids, linked to a parent's CommBank account.
Your bank's youth account
Most Australian banks have youth savings and spending accounts. Compare fees and interest with a parent.
Examples, not endorsements. Compare fees and read the terms with a parent.
Messages and documents you can send today
Swap the words in [brackets] for your own. Short, specific and polite wins. Read each one out loud before you send it.
Look professional from your first job
An invoice asks for money. A receipt proves it was paid. Fill this in and copy it into a message or email. It opens with an example so you can see how it works.
Keep a copy of every invoice and receipt. Number them in order (SDW-001, SDW-002...) so you can find them at tax time.
One sheet that runs your whole business
Every serious business knows three numbers: money in, money out, and who its customers are. A single Google Sheet covers all three until you are much bigger.
- Open a blank sheet at Google Sheets.
- Press Copy columns, click cell A1 and paste. The headers and three example rows drop into place.
- Add a row for every job, sale or cost the same day it happens.
- Once a week, filter by Status to chase anyone who has not paid, and by Customer to find people to ask for a repeat booking.
Profit is the Amount column for income minus the Amount column for costs. Add a cell with =SUMIF(C:C,"Income",F:F)-SUMIF(C:C,"Cost",F:F) to see it live.
| Date | Customer / supplier | Type | What | Paid by | Amount (£) | Status | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-04 | Mrs Patel | Income | Dog walk x5 | Bank | 40.00 | Paid | Ask for review |
| 2026-10-05 | Pet store | Cost | Poop bags, treats | Card | 6.50 | Paid | Keep receipt |
| 2026-10-11 | Mr Jones | Income | Dog walk x3 | Cash | 24.00 | Unpaid | Remind Friday |
Courses that cost nothing and teach real skills
The same material founders and university students use. Pick one and finish it before starting another.
People who want to back young founders
These programs give teens mentors, start-up money, prizes or a place to test an idea. Ages, deadlines and rules change every year, so check eligibility on each site before you apply. Ask your school too: many run these through a teacher.
Fifteen books worth your library card
Most libraries lend these free, including as audiobooks through apps like Libby or BorrowBox. Read one a month and you will know more about business than most adults.