Which payment apps actually let a teenager get paid?
By Terry Rice · Published September 8, 2026 · Last reviewed September 8, 2026
We are a family that did this, not accountants or lawyers. Rules vary by state and change. Every claim here links to the source so you can check it yourself.
Almost none of them, if the teenager is the one being paid by a customer. Stripe is the only major processor that permits a 13 to 17 year old account holder, and only with a parent attached as representative. Kids debit cards can receive wages by direct deposit from an employer, usually starting at age 13, but they cannot accept customer payments.
Processors
| App | Minimum age | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 13, with a parent as representative | The only real exception. The parent is formally attached to the account. |
| PayPal | 18 | No minor version of the account exists. |
| Square | 18 | No minor version of the account exists. |
| Shopify | 18 | No minor version of the account exists. |
| Gumroad | 18 | No minor version of the account exists. |
| Ko-fi | 18 | No minor version of the account exists. |
The Stripe terms are in the Stripe Services Agreement.
Peer to peer apps
Venmo teen accounts explicitly forbid receiving payment for goods and services and cannot hold a business profile. Cash App requires 18 for a full account. These are for splitting a pizza, not for running anything.
Kids debit cards
These solve a different problem. They receive wages by direct deposit from an employer, in the child's name, usually from age 13. They are not built to accept customer payments and their agreements say so. If a parent pays the child W-2 wages through payroll software, that deposit works normally, because the child now genuinely has an employer, which is the arrangement IRS Family Help describes.
What this means in practice
The parent's business account takes the customer money and the child's card receives wages. Two accounts doing two different jobs.
Terms change. We checked these in September 2026 and we will update this page when they move. If you find one that has changed, tell us.