How much of a say should a parent have in how their teen wants to make money?

Most parents are enthusiastic about having a kid who seems to be a go-getter. They are the type to try to work on their independence from an early age, and start thinking about their future success long before many of their peers. A lot of moms and dads would take it that they have done something right as parents.

At the same time, not every teen who is keen to make some of their own money is going to do it in a way that gets the seal of parental approval. Adolescence is a time of experimentation in more ways than one, and that comes with even more potential to make mistakes than in many other times in life. They do not want to be doing something that could jeopardize their future. 

Parenting a teen is challenging in that it is important not to stifle their growth; at the same time, kids still need boundaries now and then. It is understandable that a parent may want to get involved if they believe that a teenager is going to make money in a way that they disapprove of.