Earning Money Legally: A Guide for 11-to-13-Year-Olds

Can an 11-to-13-Year-Old Earn Money?

Yes, but with limits. A business can’t legally employ children under 13, and part-time jobs are only allowed at the age of 13 under strict conditions.

That said, informal work, such as helping neighbours, washing cars, or pet sitting, is usually acceptable as long as it’s safe, supervised, and doesn’t interfere with school.

Once your child turns 13, they can work part-time if they meet the following criteria:

• The job is light and age-appropriate.

• The local council issues a child employment permit.

• The work is limited to set hours, school holidays, or weekends.

  
  

We’ll cover the legal stuff below. But the key thing to know is that there's a significant difference between earning a few quid from a neighbour and formal employment.

What jobs can someone over 13 perform?

Permitted Jobs for Children Aged 13 and Over (UK Guidelines)

Job Type	What You Can Do
Paper Round	Deliver newspapers, magazines, or leaflets door-to-door.
Shop Work	Help stock shelves, tidy displays, or assist with light duties in a shop.
Family Business	Carry out simple tasks in a family-owned business (as long as it's safe).
Office Work	Do basic admin tasks like filing, photocopying, or making tea.
Hairdressing	Sweep floors, wash hair, or keep the salon tidy – no cutting or colouring.
Café/Restaurant	Wait tables or clear dishes (but no kitchen or cooking duties allowed).
Car Washing	Wash cars by hand at private homes – not in commercial car wash locations.
Riding Stables	Help with grooming or mucking out, always with supervision.
Farm or Garden Work	Pick fruit, weed, or water plants – no machinery or heavy lifting.

Now it's likely that your child may struggle to find these kinds of jobs, after all most businesses are unlikely to want to be employing very young youngsters, in this world of health and safety and risk anaylsis, and the jumping through hoops to get a licence for them to be employed, unless they are working for family or friends, but that doesn't mean that they can't go 'freelance' and look at jobs they can do, with your help, that can earn them some extra money.

Jobs That Kids Could Do for Family & Friends

Here are a few simple, tried-and-tested ways young entrepreneurs aged 11–13 can earn some extra money safely and legally:

Dog Walking and Pet Sitting

This is a favourite for animal-loving tweens. It’s a fun way for your youngster to gain valuable experience with responsibility. As a dog walker, they can stay active and spend time outside, rather than sitting and watching TV. Plus, they make some of their own money in their free time, which is a win-win!

Your child could pop in to feed a neighbour’s cat or take a friendly dog for a short walk (with your supervision if needed).

Things to Consider

• Always meet the animal first. Not all pets are friendly with strangers. Some dogs may be nervous, excitable, or reactive, especially around children. Meeting them in advance helps ensure safety. A calm introduction helps your child build a connection, making walks or visits much easier.

  
  

• Ask for clear written instructions, such as feeding times and daily routines. If possible, observe the pet owner performing the task once so you know exactly what to expect.

  
  

• Only agree to jobs your child can manage safely and that you’re willing to help with, in case they change their mind or can’t follow through.

  
  

• A typical 30-minute walk might earn around £5–£10.

  
  

Car Washing

Car washing is a classic starter job. It’s a simple way to earn some cash and helps kids understand that effort equals income. I know it's how I got started in the world of earning money; that 50p I earned cleaning my parents' cars felt like a fortune!

Tips to Help Them Get Started

• Use a sponge and bucket only (no pressure washers!).

  
  

• Practice on the family car first. Make sure they know how to do it properly and avoid scratching the car, as that could be costly or embarrassing.

  
  

• Offer extras like cleaning windows or vacuuming.

  
  

• Charge a flat fee of around £5 for an outside clean.

  
  

Encourage them to create a little flyer. With their parents’ help, they can share a message on social media platforms or local WhatsApp groups. One or two regular customers are all they need, ideally friends, family, and neighbours.

Garden Help

Older neighbours or relatives often need help keeping their gardens tidy.

Jobs Could Include:

• Sweeping leaves

• Watering pots

• Pulling weeds

• Planting bulbs in spring or autumn

  
  

It’s great for kids who enjoy the outdoors and don’t mind getting a bit muddy. It also provides good exercise, keeping them away from tablets and YouTube!

Household Chores

From vacuuming, dusting, mopping, tidying garages to cleaning bins, there are numerous ways to lend a hand close to home.

This isn’t a job they can advertise as a service. Instead, it's work they could perform at home for friends, family, or neighbours. Young people who show a willingness to perform simple tasks and work hard build valuable skills about home maintenance.

But Is It Legal?

Here’s what you need to know:

• Children under 13 cannot be employed in the UK, regardless of the job's size or scope.

  
  

• Informal work (helping neighbours, family, or friends) is fine as long as it’s occasional, safe, and supervised. Parents will likely be involved.

  
  

Once Your Child Turns 13:

• They can be employed part-time with a child employment permit from your local council.

  
  

• Their employer applies for this permit and must complete a risk assessment and obtain parental consent.

  
  

• The job must not interfere with school or be unsafe.

  
  

Working Hours for 13-Year-Olds (England)

Term Time:

• Max 12 hours per week

• No more than 2 hours on a school day

• Max 5 hours on a Saturday

• Max 2 hours on Sunday

  
  

School Holidays:

• Max 25 hours per week

• No more than 5 hours per day Mon–Sat

• Max 2 hours on Sunday

• Only between 7 am and 7 pm

• Must have a 2-week break during the summer holidays

  
  

For full details, visit: gov.uk/child-employment.

Let Them Lead, But Stay Involved

Help your child come up with business ideas, but let them take ownership.

This means:

• Writing out their prices

• Making a little sign or flyer

• Practising what to say when offering their services

• Keeping track of their earnings

  
  

If they’re nervous, role-play a few conversations. If they need help with pricing, discuss what seems fair and achievable.

Pocket Money and Chores: What’s Fair to Pay?

One of the best ways to get your kids to start thinking about rewards linked to effort is pocket money, and there's no age minimum for giving your kids pocket money! Just be sensible about what the kids should be doing for health and safety reasons!

Let’s be honest, it can feel a bit much paying your kids to clean up, especially since they often make the mess, but when it comes to extra household jobs, a little reward goes a long way in teaching money confidence.

Think of it as an early lesson in earning: do the work, get paid. It’s not about rewarding every tidy-up, but recognising when they’ve gone beyond their usual responsibilities.

So, how much do UK parents usually pay?

Based on independent surveys and UK banking data, here’s what children typically earn per task:

🧹 Chore	Typical Payment
Washing the car	£3.00 – £3.50
Babysitting/caring for siblings	£3.00 – £5.00+
Bathroom or deep cleaning	£2.00 – £3.00
Vacuuming/tidying shared spaces	£1.00 – £2.00
Gardening or weeding	£1.30 – £2.00

These aren’t set in stone pricing rules, just a rough guide on the 'going pocket money rate'.

Some families pay per job, others include them in a weekly allowance. Either way, it’s a brilliant chance to help kids understand the value of money and feel proud of what they’ve earned.

Teach Smart Money Habits Alongside

Doing the job is only part of the learning. Once your child starts earning, talk about:

• How to split money between saving and spending

• What they’re saving for

• What they might like to treat themselves to

• Whether they’d like to donate to charity

  
  

This is where nimbl is so useful. If your child has a nimbl prepaid debit card, you can help them:

• Track their income in the app, so they can see how their efforts pay off.

• Set up savings pots for different goals, maybe for spending money on a holiday or a new game.

• Understand how much they’ve earned, what they’ve spent money on, and how much is remaining.

  
  

Once a child starts earning, their attitude toward spending often changes. They realise that buying something with their hard-earned money feels different from spending money just given to them.

A few pounds here and there might seem trivial, but these habits can lead to wise financial behaviours over time.

Reflect and Celebrate

Once your child has completed a few jobs, take time to discuss their experiences.

Ask open questions like:

• What went well?

• What was harder than expected?

• Did they earn more or less than anticipated?

• Was the job easier or more tiring than they imagined?

• Would they pursue this job again, or try something different next time?

  
  

These reflections help them identify what kinds of work they enjoy, what they excel at, and what they would prefer to avoid in the future.

This also reinforces the connection between effort and reward. It encourages them to strategise for future jobs, whether it’s improving pricing, making flyers, or preparing better.

Even if they only did one small job, it still counts. These early experiences serve as building blocks for confidence, informed decision-making, and financial awareness.

If you supported them through this process, give yourself a pat on the back! Guiding them through their first paid experience is a significant step toward raising financially confident young teens.

This is a collaborative post in conjunction with nimbl, the pocket money card and app for children aged 6-18.