The idea of starting a business in college may seem a bit intimidating, but it’s also an incredible way to make some extra money, build your résumé, and possibly even start a lifelong career. Here are seven college business ideas that are perfect for students ready to take the entrepreneurial plunge.
1. Tutoring Service
If you really know your stuff in a certain subject, why not use it to help others? Tutoring can be as easy as helping students on campus with the subject you know best. Alternatively, you could sign up with a local school to provide extra help for students in subjects they might struggle with. This could be mathematics, science, languages, or even playing a musical instrument.
2. Freelance Writing or Editing
It’s an easy option for the linguistically gifted: you can choose to work full- or part-time as a freelance writer or editor of everything from blog posts to articles, from résumés to college papers. If you want to work for a single company, try essay writing service for students Academized. It’s a service that gladly hires skilled writers. If you lean towards freelancing for different companies, try Upwork and Freelancer.
3. Graphic Design Services
With more businesses moving online all the time, demand is growing for graphic design services. If you have the necessary gift and knowledge of software like Photoshop, Illustrator, or Figma, you could make good money selling design services.
You could try the following:
- Logo Design: Creating unique logos that represent a brand’s identity and values.
- Website Design: Crafting the visual layout, color scheme, and overall graphical appearance of websites.
- Marketing Materials: Designing brochures, business cards, flyers, and other promotional print and digital materials.
- Social Media Graphics: Producing eye-catching graphics for use on social media platforms, including banners, posts, and ads.
- Packaging Design: Developing the visual and physical packaging for products to enhance their appeal to consumers.
4. Social Media Management
It can be difficult for small businesses to have a strong social media presence. If you are a wizard of the Web, you could build a business managing the social media accounts of local businesses – creating, scheduling, and posting content to their social media accounts as well as replying and interacting with their followers.
5. Tech Support
Given the reliance on technology for work and personal use, it’s easy to see why tech support careers are always in demand. If you’re tech-savvy and have a knack for solving software and hardware problems, you could set up your very own tech support service, helping people set up networks and rid their systems of viruses and other nuisances.
6. Handmade Goods
You could also earn money from your hobby by turning it into a business. Websites such as Etsy might be the key if you create jewelry, pottery, or clothes. Selling your passion, such as photos or handicrafts, can help you make money and express your feelings.
7. Event Planning
If you are neat and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing a project through to fruition, you might consider starting an event-planning business as a student, planning anything from student parties and other events to weddings. Networking skills and an eye for detail are key to success in this role.
From Classroom to CEO
But while working a side hustle as a student is about earning money now, each of these business ideas will give you a taste for entrepreneurship and the chance to develop transferable skills that will come in useful whatever you end up doing in the long run.
At the same time, because each can be run at your convenience, around your studies, and often without too much upfront money, these are surely among the most practical business ideas for students.
