business plan ideas for college students

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The Best 36 Business Ideas for Students on a Budget 2024

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When you are a high school or college student, you generally have huge batches of free time. There's no better way to spend them than becoming a student entrepreneur...

In the past decade, the world has seen many incredible businesses being started by college students (Facebook, just to name one).

Is it Possible to Start a Business While Being a Student?

The internet has removed many barriers that once prevented students from starting businesses. These days, there are no legal, financial, or knowledge restrictions holding you back from launching a side hustle while in school.

School and university demand many of your hours, but if you stay organized and make the best use of your hours, you will find time to both study and run your startup.

Best 36 Business Ideas for Students

1) sell used books.

Difficulty : Low

Investment : Low

Description : You finished your academic year, congratulations! Now check your desk… you have a pile of used books, right? In many cases, they end up in your house’s trash bins. However, there’s something better to do with them: sell them to younger students at a cheaper price than what a new copy is.

You'll probably, at least, make enough money to purchase the books needed for your next semester. The best of this idea is that it doesn’t require either any investment or much time.

Resources : Here’s an article on the 6 best places to re-sell old books and some tips on how to do it.

2) Flip Websites

Difficulty : Medium

Investment : High

Description : You buy websites that are exiting for a low price, grow them in 6 months to 2 years, and sell them at a much higher price for a profit. There are people who work full-time on this and make millions per year with their sites.

The key here is to buy a high-quality website at a low price. There’s a ton of information on what you should consider and check when doing it. At the same time, there are all kinds of free digital marketing courses that you will find useful if growing one of these websites.

Resources : Flippa , Empire Flippers, and Micro Acquire are three website marketplaces. Besides that, you should check out this article on how to find, evaluate and buy websites , as well as this review we've written about Micro Acquisitions course , which goes all about buying, growing, and selling sites.

3) Re-Selling

Investment : Medium

Description : There’s an ethical unresolved issue around re-selling sneakers, tickets, or whatever, but I’ve personally seen many people make loads of money buying items at a low price and selling them at a higher one. Re-selling works best with limited items (such as the mentioned tickets and some exclusive sneakers), as those who haven’t been able to purchase them are willing to pay more than their original price to have them once the item is out of stock.

The key when re-selling is understanding the market and anticipating which items will people be more willing to pay for once they run out. Note that it can be pretty risky; I know of a guy who bought 10 tickets for a concert and couldn’t re-sell them. He ended up inviting all of his friends for free with a huge loss.

Resources : This is a really inspirational article on how to re-sell sneakers and make a profit.

4) Writing Services

Description : Start a website that offers all kinds of writing services to students or businesses. It could be anything from sales & marketing copy, SEO content, essay writing, academic papers, or even simple proofreading.

There are already many trustworthy services online, and before starting out your own writing service, it is a good idea to work as a professional essay writer for a top website. After you have gained some valuable experience doing this, you can move on to creating your own essay-writing service. You could charge per hour or project.

+1 if the website invites other fellow students to offer such writing services and you charge a fee ;)

Resources : This article will help you decide whether you should or should not start freelance writing. If yes, make sure to check this one, which teaches you how to do it.

5) Play Cupid

Description : Set up a website or an app, exclusively for your college campus or local area, to let the singles meet. This will be much appreciated by the community and, with a small fee, the app could kick-off and be the Tinder of your campus or neighbourhood.

The app could, instead, be focused around networking. People could use it to meet other people and make new friends.

Alternatively, the app could also be focused around professional networking.

Resources : This Bubble template is a great and cheap point to start a dating app.

6) Motivational Apps

Difficulty : Hard

Investment : Medium 

Description : Motivational apps have a broad scope range. They could be for anything from academics to mental health.

Consider academics. The app could show events, seminars, or lectures and let the user log the attendance to these, getting award points in exchange. Such apps encourage improved productivity among students in a positive and fun way.

These rewards could be in the form of vouchers, coupons, or deals for any local service. For the sponsors, this would be a worthwhile advertisement option among the clientele too.

Similar apps could be designed for fitness, gym attendance, and other activities too.

The easiest way to monetize such an idea would be through ads.

Resources : There are many tools out there to build apps cheaply and fastly (even without coding). Check our Tools page .

7) Babysitting

Description : There will always be demand for babysitters and nannies. With both parents working and maternity and paternity leave shrinking in length, the market for this is only widening. If you have a knack with babies and have a pleasing personality, you are already good to go.

Resources : Here is a detailed article on how to properly set up your babysitting business and make the most of it.

8) Babysitting Network

‍ Difficulty : Medium

Description : You can create a sort of marketplace for babysitting. Other prospective babysitters could sign up for it and offer their babysitting services. Parents could select between the available babysitters and hire them through the platform. You could keep a commission.

Even if you are not able to do the babysitting job due to lack of time, you'll still make a commission from fellow babysitters who have signed up for the program.

Resources : Here is a long article on how to build and grow a nanny app.

9) Pet Sitting

Description : What’s better than babysitting? Pet sitting! Who doesn’t want to spend the whole day playing with dogs? There are busy workers and families taking holidays who need someone to take care of their loved pets.

There are two main ways to face this business idea. The most common one is to take pets for a one/two-hour walk every day/every two days. The second one would be to take care of pets of people taking holidays, for one to four weeks.

Resources : The Balance Careers has a huge series of resources for pet sitters.

10) Local Reviewer

Description : Every time we want to buy a product, the first thing we do is to look online for product reviews. Sure enough, all big cities have their own dedicated websites for such reviews from multiple sources. But what about small places or even campuses? There’s a huge opportunity there.

Start a website that reviews the local accommodations. You can make this exclusive for the campus itself or other accommodations in the area that students could rent out. This would work as a credible source rather than just word of mouth. There could also be options added to include listings and discussion forums. You can monetize this through advertising.

Resources : WPBeginner has a long article on how to build a review site using WordPress, which would probably be the cheapest and fastest way to do it.

11) Swap Website

Description : Swap websites are used to swap, sell, and borrow goods and services. For example, if a person needs something but only for a single use, it is best to rent it out rather than buy one.

On campus, there is more than one person who is willing to do that, but it is lacking a way to find that person. Such a website would simplify this while enabling people to save a few bucks.

Call it a new age barter system; especially on campus, there would be a lot of demand for this. Start this locally and then expand it later. There are loads to borrow and exchange from academic services, bikes, books, and even clothes. You can monetize it through advertising.

Resources : Here’s a list of 36 bartering and swapping websites to get some inspiration. We’ve also interviewed the founder of a shutdown swapping site who shared all the mistakes he made throughout his journey.

There are loads to borrow and exchange from academic services, bikes, books, and even clothes. You can monetize it through advertising.

12) Design Services

Description : All kinds of businesses have design tasks. So, you can create a site that offers different types of design services, such as logos, flyers, packaging, or even websites, and niche down to local businesses or even other students starting their own startups. This is a great startup idea for students and you could charge per hour or per project.

When you are a student, it can be hard to get businesses to trust you. There are many ways to achieve it, such as showing them previous high-quality work, offering one free project, and connecting them with your previous clients.

Resources : You may be asking how to build a portfolio if you’re just starting and have never had clients, right? Here’s a tool that generates fake client briefs for you to design and showcase in your site.

13) Digital Marketing Services

‍ Difficulty : Hard

Description : Digital marketing has grown a lot in the last decade, with the emergence of eCommerce and online businesses. The businesses that don’t digitalize themself and ignore working on their internet profile and presence are missing a huge percentage of clients.

There probably are many local businesses looking for help on their digital marketing strategies. You can reach their owners and provide them with a free consultation to show you know about the subject. You could help them with local SEO , social media management , and Google Ads / Facebook Ads campaigns, among other strategies.

Resources : Make sure to check out Acadium , a tool connecting businesses looking for digital marketing work to be done, and students who are willing to learn and do that work. They provide great free digital marketing courses on different topics.

14) Development Services

Description : Having a website is a must for any kind of business, and most local ones tend not to have one. There’s a huge opportunity there.

Learning to code is super accessible for everyone. There are thousands of free development courses, books, articles, and videos, so “I don’t know how to code” is definitely no longer an excuse. And if you don’t want to learn, you can even build a website without coding. This site was built with Webflow , a powerful visual web design tool.

Resources : Google “free web development course” and you will get 3.2B results… I think that’s enough ;) You should also check this complete guide on web development freelancing.

15) Cleaning Services

Description : Publish an online ad offering cleaning services in your neighborhood. Do a great cleaning job and build trust with your clients. Ask your clients for a referral and you will soon be cleaning the houses of all your neighbors.

That’s actually what Kisten Hadeed did and the origins of Student Maid, a really successful cleaning company in Florida. You can charge per hour and keep initial investment really low by asking clients to supply you with the needed equipment. 

Resources : This article from Entrepreneur.com teaches how to get started in this industry.

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16) Pool Cleaning Services

Description : Cleaning pools is an alternative to the already mentioned cleaning neighbor’s houses business idea. It’s definitely not as easy, as it requires to be educated on what you’re doing. You might even need legal permissions to work on it, depending on where you are based. On the side, it requires some investment in equipment and products to be able to carry out the job.

Both the difficulty and investment issues come with a big chance of making great money. You can easily get paid $40-60/hour. Note that the business would mainly run during the summer seasons.

Resources : This article provides detailed information on how to set up and grow a pool cleaning business.

17) Moving Service

Description : Both neighbors and students need moving services eventually, whether it's because the academic year has finished and the student is moving back to their homes, or because a neighbor has rented a new house. You can make money (at least $200/moving) if you find it easy to pack items and move boxes.

Resources : Here’s a long article on how to start a moving company, some tips for growing it, and the recommended price you might want to charge.

18) Transcription Services

‍ Difficulty : Low

Description : Transcription services are needed in all kinds of fields, such as law, medicine, and businesses. It also doesn’t require either fixed hours or many skills. On the side, there are many forms of transcription, including video podcasts and recorded lectures, so you will probably be able to select the niche that interests you.

No formal training is needed in order to be able to do transcription services. Good listening abilities, great knowledge of English grammar rules, and fast typing skills would be a perfect combination to get high-quality work done fast.

Resources : Here’s a motivational story on how Benjamin Walker grew a transcription business to +$1M/year.

19) Translation Services

‍ Difficulty : High

Description : Offering translation services isn’t as easy as offering transcription ones. You will need to be bilingual in both languages and know the grammar rules of the two of them. Businesses may not be really willing to offer advanced translation work to students, but they might be if it is basic and unimportant translations.

You could start by translating lectures, books, and articles for professors. There’s a ton of high-quality content in other languages - professors might want to share it with their students but they can’t as it isn’t in the student’s native language. That’s where you can help and charge per word translated.

Resources : Here’s a whole content site dedicated to the business of translation.

20) Photography Services

Description : If you love taking photographs, you can take your hobby and talent into a photography freelancing business. Both students and local businesses may need your services whether because they want to update their Tinder profiles or because they are looking to promote their recently-launched products.

In the beginning, you can start offering all kinds of services, but as you grow the business, you will probably realize there’s a ton of competition and you will need to niche and focus on one segment or one specific photography service in order to be different than the rest.

The biggest issue for this kind of business is the cost of the photography equipment, which, if you’re moving from one place to another, can break and make it even more expensive.

Resources : Make sure to check this guide from Bplans on how to start a successful photography business.

21) Photography Portfolios

Description : Good photography skills need to be appreciated before they get lost in that Instagram page. Any campus will have a few fellows with exceptional skills in photography and videography. It would be easy to make a database of students who are interested in and create a platform to sell their work to others.

The platform could charge a fee to either the photographer or the customer. On the side, it could also work hand in hand with a photography club giving more chances and connections to both sellers and buyers by offering more exposure.

Resources : Here’s a no-code template to build such an app.

22) Food Delivery Services

Description : Create a platform to deliver quick eatables, like sandwiches and smoothies, made by local businesses. Start by targeting firms with employees in younger age groups, who often go out to grab a meal during lunch breaks. This is a gold mine, with food deliveries for simple items that don't break their wallet, the business would be exponential. With options to schedule deliveries made earlier to arrive at lunchtime, this could actually be a problem solver for the firms.

Take a step further and make these homemade too. This way, it is not necessary to rely on multiple third-party services. The food will be authentic, tasty, and have a personal touch to the service.

Resources : Steven Long was the founder of Chowdy, a Toronto-based food delivery startup making $110k/month which had to shut down due to some legal issues. Ali Jiwani is the founder of MealSurfers, a Canadian food startup that made an exit when it was making $7k/month. Make sure to check those two stories and learn from both the wins and mistakes of each.

23) Deliver Food Hampers

Description : How often have you thought about that mac and cheese your mom makes so deliciously. Or even wondered when you are finally going to eat something healthy?

Well, the lack of time or will to go to a grocery store and cook something is in the least probable category. And the parents are well aware of this too. So design an app where parents can make such orders for kids that would be delivered to them. 

This will have the personal touch and love of a package coming from home itself. You could monetize it by taking a shipping fee.

Resources : Entrepreneur.com has a complete article about food hamper businesses. You should check it out!

24) Blogging

Description : Is there anything you really enjoy talking about? Are your friends tired of listening to you talk about it? Then start a blog about that topic, build an audience, and monetize it through ads and premium content.

 The startup costs of building a blog are super low nowadays (with a domain and hosting would be enough, so less than $50/year) and the information to grow such a site is free all over the internet.

When we started this site, we had 0 knowledge of how to grow it. Nowadays, it receives +150k users every month from all over the world. Note that it took us 3 years to build such an audience. Consistency is key when blogging.

Resources : GrowandConvert is a content marketing agency that has an amazing blog related to creating and publishing content on the internet. Backlinko is another blog that publishes content-related articles, particularly about the search engine optimization of these. 

25) Video Classes

Description : Visual media often makes things easier. That is precisely the reason why we are all so hooked up on Youtube, without having a clue why we are watching a cat playing piano at 3 am. The thought is simple, won’t lectures be so easy to understand with such visuals? With a creative mind and some graphic design skills, it could be put to use for this.

The idea is to make a visual representation of any lectures and offer them to tutors and students. It would make studying so much better and more straightforward. You could monetize it by pricing every video or through a monthly subscription.

Resources : Here’s a great guide on how to make videos look professional without investing much money.

26) Class Notes

Description : We all know those students who are pretty lazy to actually take notes or those others who tend to miss classes under any kind of excuse, right? Those students would be your niche market if you set up a class note business.

There are some people who are really great at taking lecture notes, being able to summarize the information in a nice-looking and concise way. If you are that kind of person, you should consider re-selling your notes to other students. You could sell them independently per class or in packages of all the notes related to one exam or to one semester.

Resources : Make sure to check this well-known book , in which Sönke Ahrens shares his unique technique to take smart notes that are easy to study and learn from.

Description : Where there are students, there are tutors. If you stand out in one subject, you can probably teach it to someone else who struggles to understand it. A common trouble-maker subject is Maths, but note that there are many math tutors as well.

Schools and professors tend to be helpful with students starting their tutor businesses. Some schools even have a database of tutor students, so make sure to check if there is one in your school. The monetization model would be per hour; you can charge anything between $10-$100, depending on the subject, the concepts taught (how advanced they are), etc.

Resources : This article is super inspiring for anyone starting a tutoring business. The writer shares how he is making $1,000/week as well as lots of recommendations and mistakes you should avoid.

28) Organize Trips

Description : It is a known fact that most of the group plans for a trip but never happens. The WhatsApp groups have seen hundreds of failed plans. It is the time that someone takes responsibility and get things done.

Organize trips to various destinations which could be for events, festivals, or even just weekend trips. You can charge a commission or a fixed amount for an all-inclusive deal.

Resources : Here’s a detailed guide from Bplans on how to start a travel agency.

29) Event Organizer

Description : Lots of students enjoy parties and socializing, so why not capitalize on it? Everyone is willing to spend $10, $30, or even much more on a great party. These can take all forms and shapes, from organizing a small meetup at a nightclub to running Project X 2.

What will you need? Excellent communication skills to convince everyone they can’t miss such a party (social media is a MUST to promote it!) and advanced organization abilities to make sure everything is in the right place at the right time.

Resources : Here’s a long article from Capterra explaining how to turn those small parties/events you have maybe carried out in the past, into a profitable business.

30) Campus Newsletter

Description : This is quite a unique business idea for students. If your campus doesn't have a newsletter already, it is time to start one. The source of money from this could come from advertisements from local businesses or even other student startups.

The newsletter could be sent as emails rather than printed versions or both. As a third party, a student can even make a deal with the college to create brand awareness among potential students using the letter. It could be used for promotional purposes, branding, and lead generations outside the campus too.

Resources : Here’s an article on 7 tips to create a school newsletter.

31) Campus Podcast

Description : Instead of a campus newsletter, you could do a podcast. It could be an interview podcast, talking with students and professors, or more like a solo podcast, talking about the news, events, and things going on in the campus.

The equipment needed is pretty cheap, with the possibility of recording even with your phone. As for monetization, it could be done through sponsorships from local businesses or premium content for those who love the podcast.

I haven’t personally seen this on many campuses, which makes me think this is one of the most innovative and unique business ideas for students on the list.

Resources : Here’s an article on the 5 steps required to start a school podcast.

32) Language Course

Description : Do you excel in any language? Do you enjoy teaching other people? Then you should set up a Skype language course and sell classes to people from anywhere in the world while staying in your home. You could easily charge $20-$60/hour and work part-time on it.

Growing your client base is all about building an online presence and getting referrals from your existing customers. In the beginning, you could boost your initial customers by providing them with a free 1-hour call.

Resources : Here’s a long guide for beginners on how to make $30/hour teaching languages and 6 places to get your first clients.

33) Bookkeeping

Description : You don’t need to have a finance degree in order to be able to manage a local business’s bookkeeping records. An online course or even just some Youtube videos would be more than enough to start with. As all businesses require such work to be done, you probably won’t have big issues finding your first customers.

The initial investment costs are super low, as you can ask the business owner to supply you with the needed tools. As for monetization, most bookkeepers charge per hour and the amount depends on the complexity of the tasks ($30-$100 or more).

Resources : Here’s a detailed video on how to start a bookkeeping business in 2021.

34) Jewelry Business

Description : This is a great startup idea for students because jewelry making isn’t as hard as it sounds. You can easily learn about it through online courses and Youtube tutorials. You will then need to practice a lot until you start getting great results. Profit margins can be really high when you achieve a nice looking product.

There’s a ton of competition in the jewelry space so you will have to identify a niche. Social media (particularly influencers) are among the most usual strategies carried out by this kind of businesses.

Resources : Shopify has a detailed guide on how to start such businesses. Besides that, a few years ago we interviewed , on this site, the founder of a jewelry business that shut down and then emerged again with a new business model just to start making +10k/month.

35) Baking Business

Description : Selling cakes, cookies, bread or other baked goods can be another startup business idea for students. You can easily post an online ad or some leaflets around your campus. Make a client happy, and you will have 3 new ones. The food industry works a lot with word of mouth.

There are two main ways to monetize this. The first would be to prepare the goods based on requests from customers. The second could be to produce 100 cookies, rent a bike, and wander around the campus and neighborhood looking for hungry people. The chosen price for the cookies would be cheaper than if it’s a requested job.

Resources : Here’s a detailed article on how to set up and grow such a business. You should also watch this video from the founder of a “late-night cookie delivery service” in his college city.

36) Youtuber

Description : Becoming a YouTuber looks like a easy and lucrative career. Many see it as a great business plan idea for students because you make videos on a niche that you enjoy and then make money off them through ads and sponsorships. But the reality is that becoming a well-known YouTuber is not an easy feat. 

Behind every famous one, there is a long, painful journey of hard work. Start by creating content and keep iterating from there with the help of your audience. It won't be an overnight success, but if you keep going for some time, you'll see amazing results.

Resources : Here’s an article about a checklist to become a successful Youtuber.

How Can a Student Start a Business?

Or in other words, how do you become a student entrepreneur?

The list of business plan ideas for college students mentioned above is nonsense if you don’t now take action toward the chosen business.

If you are a Business student, you probably have an idea of what are the steps that involve setting up and launching a business. However, all kinds of students read this article, so here are some common steps that entrepreneurs carry out:

1) Decide on the idea

All of the business ideas for college students on the list are really interesting ways of making money, but you definitely can’t work on them all.

To decide which to focus on, make sure to think about what you enjoy doing in your free time, what you excel in, and what would you be willing to keep doing even if it doesn’t bring money (or it means negative numbers). We have compiled a list of both online business ideas and offline business ideas so you can pick the one that best suit your needs and skills. We hope we came up with some innovative startup business ideas for students that you would have never imagined.

Make sure to also consider your initial investment. Some featured in the list are business ideas for college students without investment or little resources, while some others will require a few hundred or thousands to start.

Note that some of the above are business ideas for students in university (or would work better with them) and others are business ideas for students in school (those that don’t require much money and getting physically involved).

2) Decide on a niche

Nowadays, there are businesses of all sizes and shapes. Building one has become so easy that the internet is full of websites, millions of videos are uploaded to Youtube every second, and thousands of LLCs are formed every day.

This means that there’s a lot of competition in any industry. The best solution for students who don’t have enough resources to invest in research and development and build a unique product or don’t have the capital required to set up a huge factory and win over competitors through economies of scale (= low pricing), is to focus on a niche.

A common niche could be to geographically limit the business so that you just focus on people within your neighborhood or your college campus. Another could be to focus on people with certain interests and likes.

3) Choose a name and a brand style

Here’s a detailed article on how to choose a name for your startup. The key is to brainstorm many, evaluate each option, and ask for feedback from your partners.

As for branding, here’s another article on how to build the brand of a business. There are free tools to do it. Don’t spend much money/time on it, at least at the beginning.

4) Launch the business

It’s now time to push the LIVE button for your business.

This needs to happen as fast as possible so that you quickly validate whether it is worth it to keep pushing towards that business idea or it’s better to move to a new one from the above list of entrepreneurship ideas for students.

There’s a common issue entrepreneurs face when launching new startups that’s called “ paralysis by analysis ”. They keep improving the product, adding features, changing the design, etc, and spend months and months without launching it.

This is exactly what you need to avoid, especially if this is your first business. 90% of startups fail (I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this), so you need to launch fast, validate early, and move to another business if it didn’t work.

5) Market your business

You pushed the LIVE button and you didn't get any sales, right?

The “build it and they will come” phrase is a completely unreal myth . It will take you blood, sweat, and tears to get your first clients.

Do some advertising, go outside your home and deliver leaflets (there actually are some unique business ideas for students at home above, in case you’re too lazy), knock on your neighbor’s doors, send cold messages to potential customers that you found on Facebook groups, etc.

6) Make sure your customer is happy

Many of the college business ideas tend to market themselves by word of mouth and referrals. That is why it’s essential to make sure that each of your clients is happy with the results.

Interact with your customers, ask them what they think you could do better next time, provide them with a discount if any parts of the job were done incorrectly… there are so many ways to make your client happy, even if the price of the service is high or the quality of the work wasn’t the best.

If the business is going well, you will soon find yourself with many tasks under your belt and little time to work on them, along with studies and extracurricular activities.

That’s when you might start considering hiring your first employee. In order to avoid the risks of going into negative numbers during a bad month, you can work on a commission-based wage.

In this stage, the selection of new team members is essential. Remember that word of mouth can be a key way of promotion and marketing. If you hire someone who has zero knowledge of the tasks they are required for, delivers low-quality work, or mistreats clients, you will soon find yourself ceasing operations.

Now It’s Your Turn!

There is no direct and simple answer to the question of how to start a business in college.

As smooth as the above startup ideas for students may sound, they will all inevitably require a lot of dedication and perseverance.

There is an abundance of resources at your fingertips, from valuable classes to school technologies, and access to professors. So make use of them in the best way possible, and if the idea still doesn’t seem feasible, lay the groundwork for it.

You would be getting practical knowledge and work experience before finishing the course. Even if it fails. Remember that college is the time to blossom and experiment, and it is only the beginning of your life journey.

If you have any questions, have other small business ideas for students you think we’re missing, or want us to help you with your new startup, make sure to reach us at [email protected] !

Which Business is Best For Students?

Here are some of the best businesses: flip websites, re-sell sneakers or tickets, baby or pet sitting, deliver writing, design or development services, start a blog, sell your class notes, become a tutor, organize others’ trips, organize parties, and create a campus newsletter or podcast.

What Kind Of Business Can a Student Start?

Students can start all kinds of businesses, but it’s really common that they start a service-based one, such as house cleaning, pool cleaning, food delivery, content writing, content transcription, graphic design, and website development, among others.

First, decide your business idea and choose the segment of the market that you’ll be serving. Then, choose a business name and design your business’ brand. Once it is launched, market your business in your neighborhood or campus. Finally, hire employees and scale it!

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Small Business Trends

18 business ideas for college students to consider and pursue.

For many, college is a time of learning and growth. Yet, it’s also an ideal period to explore business ideas for college students.

The drive to earn extra money and the entrepreneurial spirit can align perfectly in these years. Starting a business during this phase can significantly expand opportunities and empower students to immediately apply what they’ve learned.

Read on to discover some prime ideas tailored for those eager to embark on college business ventures.

Here’s a word from Adam Erhart about the “7 Best Businesses for Beginners to Start in 2023.” Some will look familiar, like pet sitting, but the ones like honeybee and goat rental services are truly unique! It’s a good watch and supplement to the article:

Why Should College Students Start a Business?

If you’re a college student, here are some benefits you can obtain by starting your own business:

• Earn extra money: What college student couldn’t earn extra money? Starting a business can help you cover tuition, books, or living expenses. With a particularly profitable business idea, you could even save serious money for graduation when you’re on your own.
• Get a head start on your career: Many people start their careers once they’ve graduated from college. But if your dream is to start a business, jumping into entrepreneurship during college means you’re even closer to your goals upon graduating.
• Build an impressive resume: If you’re interested in a more traditional career path, acting on startup ideas during college still holds many benefits. Potential employers may notice your ambition, creativity, and leadership, giving you a better chance of scoring your dream job.
• Take advantage of networking opportunities: You have access to lots of help while in school, from other students and teachers to business centers and student organizations. Connect with others who have connections to your industry to share ideas or partner on a new venture.
• Start in a low-risk environment: Many college students have loans or parental assistance covering living expenses during college. Once you graduate, you may have extra expenses, a mortgage, or a family that makes you risk-averse. Starting young allows you to really jump in without doing any major harm to your future.

Read more: A College Student’s Guide to Launching a Startup

Our Methodology: The Best Business Ideas for College Students

In guiding college students towards successful entrepreneurial endeavors, we employ a specific set of criteria tailored to their unique needs and constraints. Each criterion is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 denotes the least importance and 5 indicates the highest importance in our review process:

• Importance: 5
• We prioritize business ideas that require minimal initial investment, considering the budget constraints typical for college students.
• The business should offer flexibility to accommodate a student’s class schedule and academic commitments. Ideas that require less time commitment or allow for variable working hours are preferred.
• Importance: 4
• Business ideas that provide students with valuable skills and experience, contributing to their resume and professional growth, are highly valued.
• Importance: 3
• We assess whether the business idea has the potential for growth and scalability, either during the college years or after graduation.
• The idea should cater to a genuine market need or demand, and it should be feasible for a student to implement with limited resources.
• The business idea should have a clear path to generating income, even if it might not be immediate, to ensure it’s financially worthwhile for the student.
• Given the digital proficiency and online engagement of most college students, business ideas that leverage digital platforms or online marketplaces are considered advantageous.
• Importance: 2
• Ideas that incorporate ethical practices and potentially provide a positive social impact resonate well with the values of many college students.

By applying these criteria, we aim to help college students identify business ideas that are not only feasible and flexible for their unique lifestyle but also provide opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Ideas for Local Businesses Founded by College Students

There are many startup business ideas you can run in your college town. If you’re looking to serve others in person as a university student, here are some small business options.

1. Tutoring Business

If you excel in a particular subject, help your fellow students as a tutor. You can charge for Expanding your knowledge is a great way to both help others and earn. If you’re proficient in a particular subject, why not share your expertise?

By offering tutoring sessions, you can charge either per session or establish packages for longer periods. Don’t limit yourself to just college peers; high school students can also benefit from your insights, broadening your client base. This business has a low startup cost and can be a great way to help others.

2. Cleaning Business

Every space, whether a home or an office, requires regular cleaning. If you’re seeking a venture that’s evergreen, a cleaning business might be your answer.

Start by investing in essential cleaning equipment, and then promote your services to homeowners and businesses in your locality. With consistent service quality, you can establish a steady client roster and scale over time.

3. Essay Writing

For the eloquent writers out there, a business opportunity awaits. Students constantly face challenges in crafting the perfect essay. While you shouldn’t write assignments for them, providing templates, outlines, or even just guidance can be invaluable.

Moreover, offering editing services ensures their work is polished and ready for submission, adding another potential revenue stream. There’s almost no startup cost, and you can scale with additional services.

4. Delivery Service

The modern world thrives on convenience, and delivery services are in vogue. If you have access to a car or even a bicycle, start your own delivery business, with high market demand in many areas.

Deliver meals, groceries, or essential items around the campus or the local town. While apps can be useful partners, a more personalized approach with posters and word-of-mouth can also yield customers.

5. Plan Local Events

For those who find joy in bringing people together and orchestrating memorable events, an event planning service is a viable business. From birthdays to corporate gatherings, events are numerous and varied.

While much of your organizational work might be digital, being present on the ground, especially on event days, ensures everything aligns with your vision.

6. Personal Trainer

Physical well-being is on everyone’s list, making personal training a sought-after service. If you’re passionate about fitness and health, leverage that to help others in their fitness journey.

By collaborating with local gyms or offering specialized sessions at clients’ homes, you can craft unique workout plans catering to individual needs.

7. Photography Business

The world of photography is vast and constantly evolving. If you possess a quality camera and have a knack for capturing moments, this business might be for you.

Whether it’s covering local events, offering portrait sessions, or even landscape photography, the possibilities are vast. Additionally, the digital space provides avenues like online galleries or stock photo platforms to monetize your work further.

8. Food Delivery Services

In today’s fast-paced world, convenience is a key selling point, and food delivery taps into this need. If you wish to zero in on this niche, establish collaborations with local eateries that lack a delivery component.

Instead of just being the middleman, establish a business framework, either contracting with the restaurants directly or setting up a personalized delivery service where you charge customers a specific fee per delivery. There’s tons of demand for this service, and many digital platforms can support your growth.

9. Sports Coach

Sports play a pivotal role in many students’ lives, providing both physical fitness and discipline. If you possess athletic skills and a knack for teaching, consider venturing into coaching.

Local schools often seek skilled individuals to enhance their teams. Alternatively, offering private coaching sessions to student-athletes can provide a more tailored experience, improving their skill set significantly.

10. Pet Sitting Business

Pets are cherished family members for many, and ensuring their well-being is paramount, especially when owners are away. If you share a deep affinity for animals, this business avenue can be both emotionally and financially rewarding.

By providing a trustworthy and loving environment, you can watch over dogs, cats, or other pets in the comfort of their homes, providing owners with peace of mind during their travels. There are even digital platforms you can use to market this service and connect with clients.

Summary Table

This table provides a concise summary of local college business ideas:

Initial Investment :

• Low : Minimal financial outlay (like just promoting services online or using skills and tools you already have).
• Moderate : Some investment is needed for equipment, renting space, or initial inventory.

Target Market : A general classification of the primary audience that the business aims to serve.

Online Business Ideas for College Students

Online small businesses often allow college students to serve a niche market for a low initial investment. Here are some opportunities to consider if you’d like to start a business online.

11. Develop Online Courses

The e-learning industry is booming, with many individuals seeking knowledge online. If you have expertise in a particular subject or skill, consider structuring it into an online course.

Whether you’re conducting live classes or creating pre-recorded modules, the flexibility allows students globally to benefit at their convenience, all while you generate revenue.

12. Social Media Platform

The power of social media is undeniable in today’s interconnected world. If you possess technical skills, consider developing a niche social platform tailored for your university or a specific interest group.

Such a platform could operate on subscription models or rely on advertising, depending on your target audience and the value proposition.

13. Web Design

In this digital age, a strong online presence is crucial for businesses and individuals alike. If you have a flair for design combined with technical prowess, web design can be a lucrative avenue.

By offering customized website solutions, either charging per project or on an hourly basis, you can cater to a wide array of clients, from local entrepreneurs to larger corporations.

14. Sell Online

E-commerce is a dynamic sector with immense growth potential. If you have unique products or can source them, establish an online storefront. Whether you’re leveraging existing marketplaces or designing your own website, ensure efficient inventory management.

For those with limited space, drop-shipping or partnering with print-on-demand services can streamline operations, letting you focus on marketing and customer service.

15. App Developer

With the proliferation of smartphones, apps have become an integral part of our daily lives, presenting an incredible business opportunity. If you have coding skills and a unique idea, consider developing your own app.

This can either be a standalone product where users pay a fee or a freemium model with in-app purchases. Always ensure that your app brings significant value to encourage users to invest.

For those who might not want to launch an independent app, there’s a thriving market where businesses seek developers to bring their digital visions to life through contractual arrangements.

16. Market Research

In today’s competitive market landscape, businesses are in constant need of insights to tailor their strategies effectively.

By offering research services, you can assist them in gathering crucial data. This could range from online surveys that gauge consumer sentiment to in-depth focus groups that dive deep into product feedback or usability studies to optimize products.

Position yourself as a trusted intermediary between companies and the information they seek, and monetize this essential service.

17. Translation Services

In our globalized world, bridging language barriers is invaluable. If you’re proficient in multiple languages, leverage that skill by offering translation services. This could involve translating business documents, marketing materials, or even literary works.

As businesses expand internationally, there’s an increasing demand for professionals who can accurately and effectively communicate messages across diverse linguistic landscapes.

18. Transcription Services

The digital age has seen an explosion in audio and video content, from corporate webinars to podcast episodes. This surge has concurrently increased the demand for transcription services.

Whether for accessibility reasons, content repurposing, or detailed analysis, turning spoken words into written text is an invaluable service. If you possess keen listening skills and a fast typing speed, this venture could be a perfect match.

Ensure accuracy and timeliness in your transcriptions to build a reputation in this expanding sector.

This table provides a concise summary of online college business ideas:

• Low : Minimal costs, primarily relying on skills, online platforms, and minimal tools.
• Moderate : Some investment in specialized tools, software, advertising, or initial inventory.
• High : Significant financial outlay, particularly for development-heavy projects or infrastructure.

Target Market : Gives an overview of the primary potential clientele or user base for the specific business.

Local vs. Online Business Ideas for College Students

To assist college students in understanding the potential opportunities available, here’s a table showing the differences between local and online business ideas:

What Business Idea is Best for College Students?

The best college business ideas vary based on each student’s skills and goals. However, some options that can be both fun and profitable include web design, managing social media platforms, tutoring younger students, and running a writing service.

Read more: Small Business Ideas for Beginners

What Business is Most Profitable for Students?

The profitability of a student business idea can vary widely based on the market, business plan, and startup costs.

However, online businesses tend to be inexpensive to start, and thus can be quite profitable. Popular ideas include digital marketing, graphic design, and running a YouTube channel.

Image: Envato Elements

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12 Unique Business Ideas for Students

Business Startup Checklist

• September 7, 2024
• 17 Min Read

Starting a business can be one of the most challenging and opportunistic endeavors for any student.

Not only will this help you earn some money, but it will also help you gain real world experience.

So, what are the business opportunities a student can consider?

Well, anything that excites you and takes you closer to your ultimate professional goals. Something that’s flexible and allows you to focus on your education as well.

So let’s explore these possible business ideas in this blog post. We’ve compiled a list of 12 unique business ideas for students that are easy, convenient, and bode well with the current economy.

But before that…

Why should students consider starting a business?

Academics equips you with the skills essential to succeed professionally. However, there’s no way better than getting practical exposure to test and develop your skills.

We firmly believe that every student should start their own venture, no matter how small, to get a practical understanding of the business world.

This has numerous benefits, some of which include:

• Gaining first-hand experience in the practical world and learning professionalism.
• Learning soft and hard skills such as marketing, customer satisfaction, communication, empathy, risk assessment, and many more.
• Adding an unignorable accomplishment to your resume.
• Building a humongous professional network of mentors, professionals, and even potential business partners.
• Helping you understand your likings and dislikes to determine the course of your career.
• Lastly, helping you earn extra bucks to pay off the college loan or even bigger things.

That said, a business helps you learn the ropes of the professional world helping you make a soft launch to the real marketplace.

Criteria for choosing the right business idea for students

College students are bustling with exciting ideas to start their own business. However, you can’t invest your energy and resources in every idea that pops into your head.

You need to choose a business idea that’s right for you.

Here’s how:

• Identify your interests and determine if you have adequate skills to turn them into a business venture.
• Evaluate the competition for similar business ideas in your geography. You may want to cancel out an intensely competitive or saturated marketplace.
• Research and understand the regulatory requirements for your business. The stricter the regulations, the more difficult your entry will be.
• Determine how much time you can allocate to your business idea. Investing in a full-time venture when you have time limitations can cause chaos.
• Lastly, how much can you invest to turn this idea into a profitable venture?

Answering these questions will help you pick profitable business ideas most suited to your circumstances. This way you won’t overcommit or overburden yourself with the new responsibility.

12 unique business ideas for students

We’ve gathered a list of a few business ideas for college students that you may consider starting. The list includes a couple of offline and online businesses making them suited for almost anyone.

Let’s check.

1. Passion based businesses

Guiding the most successful businesses are the entrepreneurs who are extremely passionate about what they do.

As Steve Jobs once said, the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

So, as a college student looking for profitable business ideas, you must consider monetizing your passion. This can help you make money while doing what you love.

Now here are a few innovative startup business ideas to turn your passion into a money-maker:

Personal chef and catering services

There’s a huge demand for personal chefs by high-income busy professionals, celebrities, and families with specific dietary needs. More so for chefs specializing in vegan or high-nutrient diets.

If you fit this bill, consider turning your passion into a well-paying business.

Healthy foods startup

The market for healthy food items is growing rapidly all across the world. Whether it’s healthy snacking, no-sugar alternatives, easy-to-cook healthy meals, or sauces—there’s a lot to explore in this market segment.

Even on a tight budget, you can start your healthy food startup with a limited product line. Restrict your business geographically, at least, initially till you build a considerable customer base to beat local businesses.

Eventually, you can build a full-fledged competitive business out of it after you gain real world experience.

Live streaming

Love playing video games? Well, how about making money off of it?

All you need to do is broadcast the live footage of your game and build a considerable following base. Once you have a considerable follower base, you can start making money from different platforms.

Photography services

Have a knack for capturing unique frames? Well, better get paid for this talent as people across the world are willing to pay excellent amounts to photographers and videographers.

Depending on whether you specialize in wildlife, human portraits, nature, or landscape—build a brand and reach out to your target audience .

You may need to invest in photography equipment and editing tools to offer photography services of the highest quality.

But here’s what’s important to note: It’s a well-paying endeavor that may turn into your full-time profession eventually. This makes every penny of investment worth it.

Fitness coach

Individuals engrossed in health and fitness can start by offering coaching services to interested audiences.

This can be strength training, bodybuilding, pilates, yoga, HIIT classes, or anything that can gather an audience.

Now, you don’t need anything to start fitness coaching. However, getting a certification would indeed help build credibility. Then you start coaching online using video calling or social media platforms.

But if you’re planning to start a brick and mortar fitness center or franchise, you would require substantial investment and permits. In such cases, it’s better to get started with a business plan to validate your startup idea.

• Blogging/Vlogging

Any passion of yours can be used to turn into a blog or vlog—be it baking, cooking, fashion, lifestyle, travel, gaming, or something of a niche market.

While these endeavors may not pay initially, once you build a significant audience, brand partnerships, and affiliations will bring significant money.

Now, turning passion into a business idea may seem exciting. While it indeed is, you need to upscale and skill yourself consistently to turn this passion into a sustainable business.

The above list was just a small part of passion-based businesses for college students. Now, you can choose any passion that interests you and build a business out of it.

2. Digital services

Another list of business ideas for college students revolves around digital offerings and services. Some of these include:

Freelance writing

There’s a very huge segment for witty, smart, crisp writers who can make copies, write blog posts, or ghostwrite. If you have that knack to be a brand’s voice, freelance writing is something you should explore.

It’s best if you can pair your freelance writing services with SEO knowledge. This will enhance your chances of landing clients quite significantly.

Graphic design services

Almost every business out there needs help with logos, brochures, product designs, invitations, and web designs. Depending on your skills and the accessibility to tools, you can start pitching clients for your graphic design skills.

This is one of the best ways to monetize your skills while working on your own timeline.

Web development and app building

You may not be a professional website or app builder currently. But you can learn the basics, and that’s enough to get started in this field.

Approach the clients that have basic requirements for web or app development and work on their projects during your free time.

However, if you have an advanced degree, certification, or knowledge of complex web and app development, you can start onboarding clients with complex requirements. Not only will it pay you well, but it will also build you a worthy portfolio to acquire high-ticket clients ahead.

Social media platform manager

Can you help build an online presence for brands on social media platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, and X? Social media management might be a perfect business for you.

You don’t need certifications to offer these services. Just your creativity and ability to keep up with trends can help you acquire clients. Offer them results and their recommendations will help you acquire more clients.

Virtual Assistant (VA)

Do you have management and organizational skills? Well, you can choose to be a virtual assistant for local businesses, busy entrepreneurs, and professionals.

All you need to do is line up their schedules, manage the meetings, maybe manage their social media, do some data entry, and offer customer service.

Well, the service offerings change depending on your skill and the requirements of the clients. However, it more or less remains within the same scope.

While this was just a gist, there are tons of other digital services you could be offering as a college student. Explore what you’re good at, market your services, and onboard a few clients to get started.

3. Pet care services

College students fond of pets can make a few extra bucks every month by offering pet sitting or pet care services.

This includes feeding, walking, playing, and bathing the pets. You may also be required to administer medication or take the pets to their regular vets and grooming appointments.

Now, if you’re from a small town where pet care isn’t easily accessible, you can consider starting your own small business. Even in a town or city where pet sitting or care services are accessible, you can start your own venture by recognizing your unique competitive edge.

For instance, you can build a brand offering pet care, grooming, and vet services along with a one-stop store offering everything for pets and pet owners.

4. Gardening and cleaning services

Another neighborhood service you could consider offering is cleaning and gardening.

All you need is a couple of equipment costing anywhere up to a hundred dollars to get your first cleaning gig.

The market demand for professional cleaning services is extremely high in metros and fast-paced cities. However, even in small towns, wealthy families, older individuals, and working professionals are looking for efficient cleaning and maintenance services.

If you can build a reputation and offer reliable services, you can build a competitive advantage geographically. Then you can consider scaling your business with advanced equipment and wider service offerings to beat other local businesses (your competition).

5. Dropshipping

Have great designing and marketing skills? Well, you can build a sustainable dropshipping business without getting bogged down in logistics complexity.

All you need to do is set up your online store, market it properly, and build relationships with suppliers. Now, whenever a client purchases through your site, the order would be directed to the supplier, and they would take care of the delivery.

Additionally, you may offer after-sales services to build credibility and trust for your business.

6. Handcrafted business

People are going crazy over handcrafted products and if you’re someone who could sell products that are quality handmade, you have a chance to build a financially sustainable business.

You could be offering anything from scented candles to handcrafted perfumes, frames, bags, and literally anything that might have a niche market.

Now, you can set up an online store, exhibit at a pop-up store, or simply choose to sell on an online marketplace like Etsy. You can limit this business geographically till you navigate the shipping and logistics to sell your products.

7. Moving company

No one likes moving and the complexities it involves. If you can figure out a way for people to move efficiently, this business is perfect for you.

You can start out small right in your local area or city. All you need is a rented truck to help move people’s belongings from one place to the other.

Hire a couple of people from your class or local community on an hourly basis, get insurance, and invest in safety materials to safeguard delicate items. Now, market your services personally (go door-to-door) or share the word on your social media platform. To stand a better chance, start with your immediate neighborhood.

8. Educational businesses

Academically bright students can undertake one of these educational ventures to start making money.

Language learning classes

If you’re proficient with a language that’s much in demand at your campus or in your geographic area, you can consider starting language classes.

You can set up an online class, pre-record the class, or offer private tutoring as well.

Online courses

Similarly, if you’re proficient in certain subjects, you can build online courses to ease the learning for other students.

Not only educational topics, you can build online courses around any passion and proficiency of yours and sell them on an e-learning platform. This can be baking, app development, language, content writing, musical instruments, photography, anything.

Market your online course to your intended audience, offer supported services, and grow your business sustainably.

Personal tutoring

If you’re good at academics, you can offer personal tutoring services to the junior students at your campus or even high school students. This will help you keep up with your skills and also make money.

Additionally, you can grow this venture by launching your own coaching classes. This way, you would make more money while catering to the large number of students—resulting in a full fledged tutoring business.

9. Translation services

While the easy accessibility to AI tools and automated translators has made the task easier for many companies, there’s still a thriving demand for sharp translators. Translators who could maintain the tone, context, and meaning of a text while translating.

If you’re someone with a solid grasp of language, you can start taking translation gigs. Most research institutions, law spaces, medical spaces, and international businesses would seek your services the most.

10. Flipping websites

Flipping websites is another exciting endeavor tech and marketing enthusiasts can undertake. Here, you take low-performing websites, revamp them in a few months, and sell them at higher profits.

People are making millions every year just by flipping websites. If you find a way to make this work, this could turn into a successful business venture.

You can even offer to maintain websites after selling as a marketing strategy or make a few extra bucks.

11. Bookkeeping

Small and medium-scale businesses prefer getting their accounting outsourced from freelancers and agencies. This is despite the easy accessibility of accounting and bookkeeping tools.

Well, college students who are good at numbers can consider this opportunity. By managing books for neighborhood businesses, you can take loads off the businesses and fill your pockets. Not only that, this could be a great experience for your professional career ahead.

Additionally, you can set up a website and increase the list of service offerings to expand the scope of your bookkeeping business.

Now, you don’t need a degree to manage books for people. However, certification from accounting tools and accredited institutions can help you get high-ticket clients a lot easier.

Are you someone great at organizing, managing, and bringing life to the parties? Well, starting an event management company is a great business idea.

Start locally. Approach people to offer you an opportunity to manage their corporate and personal events. Be it a birthday party, a press release for a local company, or organizing a pop-up show—the opportunities are endless depending on your locality.

Build a website or a social media page, promote your work, and market the services to give your event venture a kickstart.

These were just some business ideas for college students who want to start their own business. However, the list is in no way limited to these 12 ideas. Fellow students can explore, research, and identify the best business ideas suited to their skill sets.

How to get started with your business idea

When you make up your mind to pursue a business venture, the journey ahead gets less overwhelming.

Now, follow this step-by-step guide to turn your profitable business idea into a successful venture.

1. Choose a business idea

First thing first, choose a business idea that you want to execute.

However, don’t limit your choices to the list above. There are tons of small business ideas that you can explore.

Now, evaluate different startup business ideas and choose the ones that complement your strengths. Conduct some basic research to evaluate the market condition, startup costs, and feasibility of the launch. Additionally, ensure that you have enough resources, investment, and time to commit to this business venture.

Once you have such a business idea, it’s time to take things forward.

2. Validate with a business plan

Now, a business idea may sound fantastic in your head. But is it really a profitable and sustainable idea?

Well, you can only prove that through a business plan.

Writing a business plan won’t just help you validate the business idea. It will also help you think about your overall business model in great detail.

Business planning will help you find answers to questions such as:

• What should be your product offering?
• Who would be your target audience?
• Who would you be competing against?
• How will you market your business?
• What sales channels will you use?
• Will you hire people or run everything solely?
• What are the startup costs to start this business idea?

Writing a business plan is an immersive and taxing exercise. However, it’s worth it for the benefits it offers.

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3. Launch your idea

Once you validate your idea, get essential licenses and insurance. Acquire essential resources and develop your product.

For instance,  if you’re planning to offer online courses, you must have your recorded classes ready before launching them.

Acquire essential funding and hire people if essential. Build a basic stock to serve your customers initially and outline a flow of operations in your business.

Lastly, ensure that your business is compliant with regulatory requirements.

4. Market the business

One of the most important parts of starting a business is marketing.

As college students, you may find this job intimidating. However, it will teach you practical lessons about dealing with people.

Depending on your business type and geography, you can choose to market your business through a website, social media, in-person meetings, or local advertising.

Fellow students can also advertise their services on campus newsrooms and blogs to get better coverage.

Dedicate considerable time initially to get the customers onboard. Thereafter, you can promote their testimonials to build creditworthiness for your brand.

5. Improvise and scale

Don’t wait for your product or service offerings to be perfect. Start catering to the customers and make essential changes to your approach with their reviews.

Consistently learn, innovate, and improve your business to solve customer’s pain points adequately. Once you acquire a sustainable base, consider scaling it with additional capital and service offerings.

While this list of business ideas is limited, the possibilities for you aren’t. Students can start literally any venture to grow their career professionally.

Starting a business helps you take the gears of your life in your hands. It gives you practical exposure and a money bank to fuel your future dreams.

What are you waiting for? Get an edge over your classmates by starting your own business.

Choose a business idea and build a business plan with Upmetrics to test its viability.

Launch your idea and let the real world experience your talent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best business idea for college students.

Some of the best business ideas for college students include offering digital services, freelancing, tutoring, neighborhood services, and selling handcrafted products.

What are low-cost college business ideas?

Some of the best low-cost college ideas that involve minimum time commitment and investment are:

• Dropshipping
• Affiliate marketing
• Freelancing designing and writing services
• Cleaning services
• Translation services
• Pet care services
• Web/App building
• Photography business

How can students market their business ideas effectively?

Students must market their business ideas at their campus, college fairs, and local events especially if their target audience is other fellow students and neighborhood families. Additionally, they can experiment with social media, emails, print advertisements, brochures, websites, and paid ads to promote their business vigorously amongst their target audience.

How do I choose the right business idea as a student?

Students must evaluate their interests and skills to determine the type of business idea suitable for them. Additionally, time commitment, budget constraints, and regulatory requirements should also be considered before finalizing a business idea.

What are business ideas for students with low investment?

Some of these business ideas for students require zero or minimum investment: 

• Tutoring business 
• Freelancing (writing, designing, social media, VA)
• Web and app development

Can students get funding for their business ideas?

Yes, students can get funding for their business ideas through grants and scholarships. Additionally, they can also win funding through pitch competitions and events. If your business idea promises significant potential, it stands a chance to win investments from VC firms and angel investors.

About the Author

Riya Shah is a skilled content writer experienced in various areas of writing, currently working with Upmetrics. Fascination with reading led her to be a writer. Highly creative, focused, imaginative, and passionate. Read more

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