From Playground to Profit: Kids’ Side Hustles Reveal Push for Financial Freedom

As kids across the UK settle back into the new school year, many have business on the brain after a summer of side-hustles, according to a new report from GoHenry, the money app helping kids learn to earn, save, spend and invest.

GoHenry’s latest Youth Economy Report – based on insight from over 1.3M GoHenry kids* and 2,000 6-18-year-olds in the UK – shows 63% of kids and teens planned to launch a side-hustle over the summer and over two in three (68%)¹ already have their sights set on being an entrepreneur when they’re older.

Influenced by the age of social media and emerging tech innovation, digital side hustles are booming with online reseller (11%), technology business (10%), social media influencer and content creator (9%) emerging as the most popular side hustles for kids and teens. While more traditional jobs like bake sales, lemonade stands (9%) and pet care (6%) still feature in kids’ money-spinner plans, this clear shift indicates the future direction of business, with over one in five (21%) six-year-olds setting out to launch tech ventures (vs. 10% overall).

While money (68%) is their main motivator, young people are turning to entrepreneurialism to give them something to do (37%), and to even learn a new skill and challenge themselves (35%). Kids are also using their side hustles as a force for good, with 15% saying they started or plan to start their business to give back to their local community, rising to 22% of 6-year-olds.

Lila, age 7 from Norfolk, has her own 3D printing business: “I’ve been running L’il Toybox for about six months. I pick what toys to print on my 3D printer, Dad helps me with my Etsy shop, and we sell at fairs too. I spend about eight hours a week on it and have made nearly £800 so far.”

From playground to profit

Kids aren’t just picking up an extra pound or two; side hustles are proving a lucrative way to earn extra money and boost their financial freedom. Just over one in eight (13%) kids and teens have already made more than £1,000 from their side hustle in the last year.

But it’s not just side hustles that are boosting earnings. Last summer, GoHenry kids and teens earned over £1M* from pocket money tasks like babysitting, ironing, washing the car and cleaning*.

Kids are also thinking carefully about how they use their money. Almost half of kids surveyed (46%) plan to put their extra side hustle earnings into a savings account for the future (rising to 56% of 6-year-olds), while 30% plan to reinvest it in their business.

This is reflected in the saving habits of GoHenry members, who stashed away a staggering £22m* last summer, squirrelling away, on average, 38%* of their summer earnings.

Future founders 

Side hustles aren’t seen as hobbies anymore, but instead as a launchpad to lifelong careers. GoHenry data shows that over a third (35%) of kids and teens want to run a side hustle full-time when they’re older.

Even those eyeing a traditional path aren’t letting go of their entrepreneurial streak, as almost half of kids and teens (48%)² plan to juggle their side hustle alongside a 9-to-5. The new data indicates that a full-time 9-to-5 could become a thing of the past, with fewer than 1 in 10 (9%) kids and teens saying that it’s their future goal.

In terms of the skills needed to achieve their entrepreneurial ambitions, financial education tops young people’s list of must-have skills for entrepreneurs:

1. Financial education (34%)

2. Coming up with creative ideas (34%)

3. Solving problems and thinking fast (32%)

4. Not giving up easily when things get challenging (30%)

5. Communication skills (30%)

Louise Hill, Founder of GoHenry, said: “Our Youth Economy Report paints a compelling picture of how ‘kidpreneurism’ is booming, with young people making the most of their free time, to set up businesses, stash away savings and do good in the community.

“With just over two in three kids saying they plan to be an entrepreneur when they’re older, we need to make sure young people have the support to make these dreams a reality. This starts with ensuring that every child receives a proper financial education. This is why we’re calling on the Government to make money lessons compulsory from primary school as part of its upcoming Curriculum & Assessment Review.”

Read GoHenry’s latest Youth Economy 2025 Report here.