Video summary

Als Schüler & Teenager Online Geld verdienen: So gehts!

Main summary

Key takeaways

Finance

Finance-focused summary (money-making for under-18s; Germany)

Legal / tax basics (Germany)

  • Tax liability applies regardless of age: if you live in Germany, you’re liable for taxes—age doesn’t matter. However, the exact outcome depends on income type and income amount.

Main income types discussed

  1. Part-time job (klassischer Nebenjob)

    • Requires parental/legal guardian consent.
    • From age 13: part-time work is allowed (e.g., babysitting, gardening).
    • Time restrictions (as described in the example):
      • Up to 2 hours/day (example stated).
      • Not allowed during school/class.
      • After 6 p.m. only if over 15 and no longer in full-time compulsory education.
      • Work hours mentioned: up to 8 hours/day, 5 days/week.
      • Night work restriction: not between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., with exceptions (e.g., restaurants/bakeries).
    • Minimum wage note:
      • Minimum wage exists, but it’s described as not applying to students without completed vocational training (presented as an exception).
    • Income / wage tax mechanics:
      • The employer withholds wage tax and remits it to the tax office.
      • The employer needs the minor’s tax ID and date of birth.
    • Key number:
      • €10,908 tax-free allowance for 2023.
      • If earnings are ≤ €10,908, no income tax is due.
      • The allowance is described as increasing year to year, with a mention of “over €11,400” for the next year (year not clearly stated).

  2. Freelance / self-employment (Freelancer)

    • Freelancers don’t need to register a business (as stated).
    • Still, you must inform the tax office when starting freelance work.
    • Registration with the trade office / commercial register is described as voluntary.
    • Potential advantage (as claimed): may avoid trade tax.
    • However, it still requires timely income and sales tax returns if you exceed the tax-free threshold.
    • Freelance eligibility depends on a catalog of qualifying activities—many “teen ideas” may not qualify.
    • Example provided:
      • Noah started at 16 as a freelance editor and graphic designer
      • Mentions 19% VAT
      • Parents’ permission was needed; then a tax ID was received about two weeks later

  3. Running a business (business license / Gewerbe)

    • If you don’t qualify for freelance, you may need a business license.
    • For minors, the described process includes:
      • Business plan + parental permission
      • Approval by the guardian through the guardianship court (the court makes it legally binding)
      • Then register with the trade office
    • Uncertainty examples mentioned:
      • Some cases were rejected due to academic performance
      • Others were accepted with an application + CV + interview

Investment / ETF guidance (explicit recommendations)

  • Strong stance against minors investing immediately:
    • Recommendation: avoid investing in ETFs/stocks under 18, mainly because the time-to-money is described as inefficient (earning small amounts early vs. learning skills).
    • The narrative frames it as: early investing may not even match minimum wage earning potential.
  • Suggested alternative for teens:
    • Use the time to learn and build skills (and pursue education).
    • Use pocket money, but prioritize career-building over early portfolio building.
  • “Stay away from” items mentioned:
    • Trading
    • Dropshipping
    • Freelance flipping (with a described personal/platform-style workflow such as Fiverr / Source → Upwork, though it’s characterized as not the preferred approach)

Step-by-step / framework provided (career & wealth strategy)

  1. Step 1: Use your time while “your backpack is empty”

    • Focus on evening reflection and choose a direction early, before responsibilities increase (family, duties, etc.).

  2. Step 2: Skills mapping (choose “no-brainer skills”)

    • English
    • Programming (major programming languages)
    • Video editing
    • AI fluency / dealing with AI
    • Social media expertise, including understanding algorithms
    • Filming, speaking, presenting, selling

  3. Step 3: Travel for growth

    • Encourages trips (e.g., solo weekend trips) to gain impressions/creativity and break routines.
    • Warns against “gap-year roaming” as a default; treat it as experience rather than an ROI plan.

Overall conclusion: monetization tends to work better after reach/brand builds, not via immediate discount-and-sell loops.

Brand / reach monetization concept (non-market “earning” strategy)

  • The argument is that success goes farther only after building:
    • rapport
    • reputation
    • reach
    • brand awareness
  • Warning implied: starting social media only to sell immediately tends to produce weak results.
  • Suggested approach: build an audience first; later monetize more effectively (example scenarios mentioned: 10,000 or 100,000 followers at ages 16/18).

Key numbers & timelines mentioned

  • €10,908 tax-free allowance (2023)
  • Next year described as likely “over €11,400” (exact year unclear)
  • Working time examples:
    • Up to 2 hours/day (part-time job example)
    • Up to 8 hours/day, 5 days/week (as stated)
    • No work between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. (exceptions: restaurants/bakeries)
  • Freelance timeline example:
    • Parents permission → ~2 weeks → tax ID issued → can start

Disclosures / disclaimers

  • A legal/ethics disclaimer is included:
    • “Disclaimer: this is all individual.”
    • Encourages considering broader context from “last episodes” (e.g., talent/ability).
    • Emphasizes he must avoid giving advice someone could replicate without context.
  • Financial-advice style caution:
    • Not framed as “financial advice,” and he avoids “copy-paste” recommendations, describing it as individualized.

Tickers / assets / sectors mentioned

  • ETFs, stocks (general categories; no ticker symbols)
  • Fiverr, Source, Upwork (platforms; not securities)
  • AI (as a skills domain, not an asset)
  • No explicit mentions of bonds, commodities, FX, or company-specific financials

Presenters / sources mentioned

  • Presenter: Torben Platzer (referred to as “Torben,” and “Torbenplatzer”)
  • Example guest/source: Noah
  • Other commenters/messages referenced:
    • Henry (greeting)
    • Felix (message example)

Original video