A neighbor is going on vacation and is looking for someone to feed their cat. A relative needs help sorting the garage. At 15 years old, these everyday situations represent real opportunities to earn money legally, provided you know the rules governing the work of minors and choose the right paths.
Work for minors at 15: what the law really allows
Before starting any paid activity, one must understand the legal framework. For those under 16, the Labor Code imposes strict restrictions: prohibition of night work between 8 PM and 6 AM (unless exempted), two consecutive days of mandatory rest, and exclusion from any task considered dangerous.
A point often overlooked: apprenticeships are accessible from the age of 15 if the young person has completed their 9th grade. Time spent at the vocational training center counts as work time, with enhanced protection applicable to minors. This information is included in the official document from Service-Public.fr dedicated to apprenticeship contracts.
As detailed by the Solidarité Etudiante website, there are plenty of options once this framework is established. Parental consent is necessary for any activity involving a contract or registration on an online platform.
Local services: earn money without a platform
The most accessible tasks at 15 do not go through any website. They arise in the neighborhood, within the extended family, or through local word-of-mouth.
Pet sitting and garden maintenance
Walking a dog, feeding a cat during vacations, watering plants, or mowing a lawn: these services are negotiated directly with the neighbor or relative involved. No platform, no commission, and cash payment agreed upon between the two parties (with parental consent).
The rate is set before the first task, even informally. Specifying the duration, frequency, and price avoids misunderstandings. One can also offer a weekly package to retain a regular client.
Babysitting and homework help
Babysitting remains one of the most common ways to earn money at 15. Parents in the neighborhood often look for help on Saturday nights or during school vacations. For homework help, a good level in a subject is enough to get started, especially with younger children.
Feedback varies on this point, but offering a first free session often helps to convince a hesitant family.
Sell your items online: Vinted and other platforms
Too-small clothes, completed video games, books already read: reselling on platforms like Vinted is a simple way to turn unused items into income. However, registration requires parental consent since the account is linked to a payment method.
Here are concrete steps to increase your sales:
- Photograph each item from multiple angles, in natural light, against a neutral background. An ad with blurry or dark photos sells much slower.
- Write an honest description that mentions the actual condition, exact size, and any defects. Transparency reduces disputes and returns.
- Set a realistic price by consulting similar ads already published, then adjust after a few days without sales.
Selling a few items regularly each month generates additional income without requiring initial investment. You use what you already have.
Make money online: surveys, cashback, and web tasks
Several apps and websites pay users for micro-tasks: answering surveys, testing apps, or activating cashback on online purchases. These earnings remain modest when taken alone, but accumulated over several months, they represent a real supplement.
Paid surveys and task apps
Paid survey platforms offer a few cents to a few euros per completed questionnaire. Patience is the determining factor: you often need to accumulate a minimum threshold before you can withdraw your earnings.
Here are a few precautions to keep in mind:
- Never share your credit card number or sensitive data to register on a survey site. If the site asks for payment, it’s a warning sign.
- Prefer well-known platforms and check reviews from other users before creating an account.
- The CNIL launched FantomApp in 2025, a tool designed to help teenagers protect themselves on social media. Protecting personal data is a priority before any online activity.
Cashback on everyday purchases
The principle of cashback is simple: you get a percentage of the amount spent when making an online purchase through a partner site or browser extension. For a teenager who already shops online (clothes, accessories, games), activating cashback means recovering a fraction of each expense without extra effort.
Create content or sell your skills at 15
A teen who knows how to draw, edit a video, or master graphic software has a real marketable skill. Selling digital illustrations, offering video editing for small creators, or managing a social media account around a specific passion are concrete avenues.
However, creating paid content exposes one to an issue that idea lists rarely address: the protection of the minor’s image and personal data. Sharing one’s face, contact details, or location on a YouTube channel or TikTok account carries real risks. The 2025 CNIL report also notes an increase in complaints regarding privacy violations, particularly on social media.
In practice, it’s better to create under a pseudonym, not display your address or school, and seek parental advice before each publication involving your image.
Earning money at 15 relies less on a miracle trick than on consistency. Combining two or three activities (local services, reselling items, online surveys) allows for building a regular income without encroaching on school time. The legal framework protects, opportunities exist: it’s just a matter of choosing those that fit your schedule and skills.
