While summers usually bring sun and the opportunity to relax or travel, for college students the season also offers new opportunities. Starting a small business during your time in college can help you reduce tuition fees and gain real-world experience during summer. It may even become a flexible side gig once classes begin again.
Even better news: There are many ways to plan your summer around a subject you appreciate, and make money while working your own schedule. There is no shortage of small business ideas for college students. But which one is right for you?
Explore low-barrier solutions that you can begin with minimal or no initial investment or prior experience. The future is bright for those who seize it.
BONUS: Take this quiz to find out your personality type and get business suggestions customized to fit your particular profile.
Benefits of starting a business when you are a college student
School can give you the necessary academic foundation to pursue your dream profession However, starting your own business will teach you valuable lessons that aren’t taught in the classroom. There are many advantages to making a business decision in college. You don’t have to wait to capitalize on them.
You can gain real-world experience working in the business world. Business schools can provide you with formulas and theory However, nothing compares to doing business to learn the basics.
Develop skills that might not be taught within the curriculum. Build your capacity in empathy managing stress, delegation, customer service, and so on. Students who run businesses have an advantage ahead of other graduates once they’re in the workforce.read about it source from Our Articles The skills you learn out of the classroom can be just equivalent to the ones you’ve learned in the classroom.
Develop your professional network. By the time you graduate you’ll already have a contact list full of people to talk to about references, tutoring, and even jobs.
Explore an industry before you graduate. Studying fashion management? You can start your own business selling clothes online to gain a taste for the fashion industry.
Flesh out your resume. As a new graduate, your CV may be pretty sparse. But if you’re the owner of your own business at school, you can include «CEO» as a top-notch accomplishments.
Earn extra cash. Saving to pay expenses and reduce debt is a good idea for those looking to ease the burden once you graduate. An occasional retail job could be an additional source of income, however, when you’re the boss, the earning potential is up to the individual.
Earn money with a flexible schedule. The usual struggle of coordinating your part-time work around studying and classes can create stress. You can work on your business with an able schedule and get all-in on your vacation.
For parents and teachers Have a child who is seeking an opportunity for summer? Find age-appropriate business suggestions for teens , or business plans for kids . Then help them begin a venture that sets them up for great success.
13 business ideas for college students
If you’re just out of high school or taking a break in the middle of your senior year of college, you’re in the right time to make the most of it. What else do you have this much potential and youthful energy to take a leap?
There are plenty of profitable business ideas for college students that require little up-front investment, and may even be run from your living room (or living room).
Launch a business with Shopify prior to your graduation
1. Start a tutoring business
Help students from high schools by helping them with summer classes or helping college students get ready for the subjects you did well in last semester.
2. Sell handmade goods
If you’re a creative person If you’re a creative person, break your routine of the books to work with your hands and sell handmade items. Your products can be sold through an online shop, marketplace, or in-person events like a market in your local area.
3. Start a business that is based on a community service
What is the type of service you could offer in your community? Create a simple website to announce your availability for child care, pet-sitting delivery, personal shopping landscaping maintenance, cleaning services–there are endless options for products to sell apart from items.
4. Try dropshipping
Dropshipping lets you sell goods to customers , without having to purchase products in advance or manage inventory. This is a great option for people with expertise in marketing and design. The product is less important than how you curate, market, and position them.
5. Get started with a business that is community-focused or not-for-profit
If your objective isn’t to earn money, but instead to gain the skills and experience you need, it’s possible to create an enterprise that’s cause-driven and gives an amount of money to a charity or local organization you are passionate about.
6. Promote content for monetization or a personal brand
If you’re already a minor star on any of the social media platforms, like TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram try leveraging your rapidly growing fan base to earn revenue. Make sponsored content or set up an e-commerce store to offer merchandise to fans.
7. Print-on-demand items for sale
Print-on demand goods are a possibility to establish an enterprise with a small cost, and is one of the simplest online business ideas for those who are creative. If you’re artistically inclined it is possible to print your artwork on anything from camp mugs to t-shirts. This can be a great start-up idea which you can create in your spare time, and then run without much supervision.
8. Start a career as an independent contractor
Be available to take on work as a freelancer, such as copywriting, editing or illustration, or whatever you do best. Create a portfolio website or listings on sites like Upwork. This business opportunity is profitable and has very low costs for starting and can make your a lot of money.
9. Create experiences
Following years of insecurity about travel, travelers are looking for relationships in person. Do you have the ability to design and sell tours to tourists, as an example? Imagine biking or taking culinary tours of your city’s favorite spots. Students from universities may provide their own perspective on the area that they study.
10. You can become a reseller
If you’ve got an eye for potential, scour local buy-and sell sites or thrift shops for interesting vintage treasures. You can create a unique experience by refurbishing old interior decor or vintage clothes and selling them through a dedicated website or online marketplace.
11. Shop at pop-ups and markets
Make your own vegetables and create preserves, bake cookies craft handmade items or collect and preserve vintage. Whatever you are skilled at or interested in take a look at ways to make money from selling items in markets during the weekend or temporary pop-up shops.
12. Run a summer camp program
Eliminate burnout among parents after many years of trying to balance child care and schooling at home. Pick one of your interests, such as math drama, math, or exploration. You can then create a stimulating program for children.
13. Offer technical services
There are several services you can provide to your fellow students or to the local community, including editing assistance, translating services, to write essays in addition to transcription services, as well as tech support. Local businesses could also require assistance in marketing on the internet. Display your expertise on your campus at a college or reach a wider audience on the social networks.
What can I do to start an enterprise while a college student?
Making the first steps is as simple as deciding whether to take the plunge. For the majority of the suggestions listed above, it is possible to make an online store in minutes and get a impression of the tools before signing up to a strategy. You can learn as you go along with free resources for entrepreneurs like this blog. Shopify blog.
What business concept for college students is best for you? In the end, your venture will reflect your passions and capitalize on your strengths. Ask and answer questions like:
- What is it that I am good at?
- What are my skills which could be beneficial to others?
- Do any of my passions or interests grow into a small business?
- What’s important to me ? And what are my beliefs?
- How much time do I have the ability to commit to a new company?
- What is the cost to create a business?
- What resources can I draw from in my college to help me to start my own business?
The answers to these queries will serve as a basis for your business plan and brand guidelines.