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46 Best Startup Ideas for Students

• Startup Ideas
• Best Startup Ideas
• Student Entrepreneurs

Last Updated: January 12, 2024 By TRUiC Team

Whether you’re in high school, community college, or university, it can prove challenging to juggle a 9-to-5 job while finishing school. Launching your own startup company as a student offers the flexibility of creating your work schedule to align with a busy school schedule.

The first step involves selecting the right business idea for you based on your interests, the overall startup costs, and the amount of time you can dedicate to your business. This guide highlights the most unique and innovative startup business ideas for students to help you find the right one for you.

Recommended: Find more inspiration by checking out our list of the best startup ideas and top startups to watch in 2024 !

Startup Business Ideas for Students

Some of the most successful startups in history were created by students. Even if you are only looking for a little side-hustle income while you study, an innovative concept will undoubtedly set you apart from the get-go. Here are some of the best startup ideas for students we've sourced.

1. Tutoring

Are you proficient in a specific subject or do you have a unique skill? If yes, you can help other students by starting your own tutoring business. Any subject in which you excel — like math, English, or science — can provide a potential tutoring opportunity.

Tutoring businesses can charge by the session or the hour. You can easily market this type of business within your school, at the public library, or in community centers. Best of all, this startup idea has virtually no startup costs. 

2. App Development

While it might seem like there’s already an app for everything, the potential to create millions of apps for entertainment purposes or to solve everyday problems still exists. This startup idea can ideally suit tech-savvy students, but anyone can create a popular app with the right support during production and a great idea.

If you don’t currently have an app idea, don’t worry. Start brainstorming ideas by conducting an audit of daily tasks or problems an app could simplify or solve. Many of the most popular apps solve a common problem, making them more likely to have widespread appeal.

3. Freelance Writing

If you’re a skilled or talented writer, freelance writing might provide a great way for you to make money as you pursue your education. Freelance writers of all kinds are in demand by businesses and publications looking for temporary employees to write blog posts, articles, and other content.

One of the biggest benefits of freelance writing at a younger age is that you’ll gain experience that can help you later on as you establish a career. Sites like Upwork® and Writer Access® provide a secure platform for businesses and freelancers to connect.

4. Podcasting

Next up on our list of business ideas for students is podcasting. As the popularity of podcasts continues to grow , it’s an ideal time to start a podcast of your own. In fact, the podcast industry was valued at $18.52 billion in 2022 . The most successful podcasts feature engaging hosts and a specific topic that can attract interested listeners. You also must feel comfortable with interviewing and public speaking before you start a podcast.

Moreover, it’s best to choose a topic for which you have a passion and can see yourself dedicating a good amount of time to researching. For example, if you’re passionate about sustainability, your podcast could focus on interviewing other entrepreneurs who currently work to fight climate change.

Launching your own company? Build your startup website today with GoDaddy !

5. Tech Support

Do you have a knack for solving technical problems? If so, you may want to consider launching a tech support startup. You can run these types of online businesses entirely from your home and market it by posting flyers at schools, coffee shops, and libraries. You just need a phone, a website, and some technical experience. You also can charge by the job, the hour, or the type of device.

In this type of business, customers typically call or email with a technical issue and you, the tech support person, walk them through how to fix that issue. Alternatively, you can request your customers drop their computers off so you can take a first-hand look.

Check out our full list of tech startup ideas .

6. Digital Textbook

Digital textbooks are educational ebooks that provide a much-needed alternative to traditional textbooks in terms of both price and sustainability. With the introduction of ereaders and other devices, the market for digital alternatives to educational materials continues to grow. Whether you plan to write a digital textbook or start a website that’ll house popular digital textbooks, this startup idea can enable you to earn a profit while you provide a service to students and the educational system.

Online learning continued to gain popularity in the past year. Providing additional tools for students — or people who just want to brush up on a subject — by developing an educational technology (edtech) startup can make education more accessible to a larger fraction of society. Startup costs for this business idea can range from $12 to $27,209 , depending on the business model. 

Whether you plan to develop an app, create online courses, or build an online tutoring resource for students, you must first identify your target subject and platform. Additionally, successful edtech startups tend to offer a product that’s both effective and intuitive. Remember to consider those criteria during your product development process.

See our interview below with the co-founders of edtech startup Trashbots !

8. Meal Delivery Service

Faced with fewer dine-in options, people increasingly turned to food delivery services in the past year. In fact, the market is expected to experience a 14.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2023 to 2032. Starting your own meal delivery service can help small local businesses meet delivery demand, enable customers to enjoy their favorite restaurants, and provide a business opportunity that’ll work with your busy schedule.

To compete with the big names in meal delivery, connect with your local restaurant owners. Many popular food delivery apps and websites charge a substantial fee to deliver for restaurants. Your business can gain a competitive edge by offering quick delivery times and lower fees.

Check out our full list of  startup ideas for food lovers .

9. College Care Package Business

Going away to college often represents an exciting adventure. For families and friends seeking to support their favorite college students, a college care package business can take the guesswork out of what to send them with thoughtfully curated packages.

One benefit of starting this type of business is that you can operate it completely online. That’ll reduce your overhead costs and give you more freedom for your busy schedule. Offering a variety of packages for different types of students with customizable options will set your college care package business apart from the competition.

10. Ebook Writing

Today, you can accomplish almost everything virtually — even publishing a book. Ebooks provide an alternative to traditional publishing, making them cheaper for both authors and readers. Moreover, ebooks are far more sustainable than paper books.

To get started, you’ll need writing experience and a topic idea for your ebook. Whether you choose to write a novel or a cookbook, the ebook market offers a huge profit potential while requiring minimal startup and overhead costs. Especially considering that ebooks made up over 10% of book sales in 2022 . That makes this type of business a great choice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

11. Social Media Influencer

A successful social media influencer almost always understands how to create and effectively market a brand. If you think you’re up to the challenge, this can make a lucrative and exciting startup idea. Social media influencers with between 10,000 and 25,000 followers make $100-$250 per post , on average. 

Influencers earn money through brand deals. Because every industry has influencers, you’re more likely to generate a large viewership and build a strong brand if you focus on a specific industry or niche for which you have a passion. In addition, you’ll need to feel comfortable with public speaking and connecting with your audience in order to attract brands that want to work with you.

12. Mobile Coffee Cart

Many students work in coffee shops and cafes while pursuing their education. A mobile coffee cart offers a flexible schedule and the opportunity to network within your community. It also provides a relatively low-cost alternative to opening a brick-and-mortar cafe with many mobile coffee carts costing between $2,000-$5,000 to start. 

Customers typically hire mobile coffee carts to work events like corporate retreats, school events, and even weddings. Make your business stand out by offering a customizable drink menu that can complement customers’ event themes.

Feeling inspired? Learn how to launch your own company with our guide on how to start a startup .

13. YouTube Channel

Launching a YouTube channel is next up on our list of startup business ideas for students. YouTube has billions of subscribers worldwide, which means the platform offers a great opportunity for new channels and video content. Starting your own video channel can represent another form of blogging (called “vlogging”) or provide a space for you to teach a skill or share a hobby. If you have a passion for ceramics, for example, you could start an entire channel about your process from clay to kiln.

Social media platforms focus on making connections, and YouTube is no exception. Every industry or hobby has the potential to connect with thousands of YouTube subscribers, which you could parlay into a lucrative business venture. Especially considering the average YouTuber in the US makes $33 per hour on average. 

14. Review Website

Like most people, you probably search online for reviews before you spend your money at an unfamiliar business. Review websites hold businesses accountable by giving people insights about them so potential customers can make an informed decision.

You can easily start and manage this kind of website with a minimal budget, making it perfect for student entrepreneurs. In order to run a successful review website, you’ll need to gain credibility with customers and differentiate your site from larger review sites like Yelp.

15. Social Media Platform

Many social media users seek new platforms to explore so they can connect with others. Starting your own social media platform can provide a space to foster a sense of community as well as a potentially lucrative business venture. Moreover, it offers a flexible schedule — especially during the initial stages of operating your site.

To entice users to join your social media platform, focus on developing ideas that’ll make your site feel distinct from other platforms. For example, you could opt to cater to a specific demographic like gamers or musicians.

16. Livestreaming

If you already spend a lot of time playing video games, why not make it a business venture? Livestreaming essentially involves broadcasting live footage of your game as you play, using a platform like Twitch or Smashcast. Once you obtain the minimum number of followers (e.g., 500 on TWITCH), you can become a partner of the livestreaming site and begin to make money based on the traffic your streams generate.

17. Graphic Design

Many businesses and organizations need graphic designers to create visual branding for use on everything from signage to marketing materials. Because graphic design is a fairly broad industry, having a multifaceted skill set can prove extremely beneficial. For example, proficiency in logo design as well as typography or web design can help you book more clients and build your portfolio.

18. Dropshipping

If you like the idea of an ecommerce startup but don’t have the room to store items to sell, dropshipping could be the perfect solution. Dropshipping startups simply take customer’s orders online, but instead of filling orders themselves, they are sent to a third-party retailer for fulfillment. Essentially, your startup consists of customer experience management, marketing, and curating items for your dropshipping business. On average, dropshippers make $3,414 per month , according to ZipRecruiter. 

19. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a popular side hustle , but it can be a profitable business idea if you do it right. Through affiliate marketing, you will earn a commission on sales you drive for brands you partner with. What makes this idea particularly good for college students is that there is a relatively low barrier to entry. Be sure to pick products you're already known for, associated with, and to which you have market access. 

20. Website Development

Building websites can be a great way to make money as a student, particularly if you're studying something related. Almost everyone, from businesses to individual entrepreneurs, needs a website, and if you do a great job on the first few projects, you'll start getting business through word of mouth. This is another space with a pretty low barrier to entry as there are many open source tools available for developers.

21. Virtual Assistant

You don’t have to be in an office to help businesses and fellow entrepreneurs get organized. A virtual assistant startup is a great business idea for organized, task-oriented individuals. If this sounds like you, it is easy to get started by utilizing sites that can help you find work you’re interested in. Get a competitive edge by diversifying your skill set to make yourself eligible for a litany of job opportunities. Plus, this flexible position brings in $24 per hour on average in the US, according to ZipRecruiter.

22. Web Design

Web designers focus predominantly on the user experience aspect of web pages. If your field of study relates to design (or even if this is just a passion for you), a web design startup might be your best bet for a student business. To really hook the clients, pair up with a friend in the development space and offer your services as a package.

23. Handcrafted Products

Handmade, artisanal goods never go out of style. Plus, the market for handmade goods is expected to see moderate growth from 2023 to 2030 at a CAGR of 4.7% . Selling handcrafted products offers you the flexibility of selling your goods online, in established retailers, or at local markets. The first step involves determining the product(s) you’ll make. This could include food products, pet toys, wooden furniture, or many other items. To successfully sell handcrafted products, remember to focus on product quality and cater to the right niche market.

24. Cleaning Services

Next on our list of the best business ideas for students is cleaning services. You can start a successful cleaning startup in several ways. For example, you could start a house-cleaning business, an office-cleaning business, or a graffiti-cleaning business, among others. 

This type of startup has low initial costs and flexible hours. You can schedule as many clients as you can manage based on your availability. Overhead costs for cleaning services include marketing materials, cleaning supplies, and vehicle expenses, which means it'll cost very little to launch your cleaning startup. Notably, in the US, cleaning business owners make $127,973 per year on average , making this a lucrative business for students. 

25. Moving Company

If you ask people if they enjoy moving, most will answer with a firm “no.” That can make a moving company startup a potentially lucrative business idea. Not to mention, the industry has grown by 11.4% in 2022, meaning the demand for moving companies is increasing. You’ll need to hire a team and purchase a vehicle large enough to move furniture so this type of business has higher startup costs than other business ideas. But, that initial investment can pay off once you start booking jobs and generating positive reviews.

26. Planner and Journal Business

The right planner or journal can help even the most disorganized people manage their time more effectively. Journals also can serve multiple purposes, making them a valuable tool for many. Starting a planner and journal business can help fulfill the demand for these products while offering you a potentially lucrative business venture.

Planner and journal businesses can sell their products online or in established retailers like bookstores and novelty shops. To make your products stand out, consider giving them distinctive features like including time-management tips inside your planners or manufacturing your journals from recycled materials.

27. Social Media Marketing

If you're already spending a lot of time on social media platforms and you have a good understanding of the marketing end, why not turn that into a startup? Anyone with a product or service, especially local businesses, to sell today needs to be on social media, and many business people do not have the skills or the time to pull it off well. The multiple free scheduling and design tools available today also make this a pretty low-cost industry to enter.

28. Website Flipping 

Another website-based startup you can try is website flipping. People often allow their websites to go dormant either because they've closed their business or just aren't interested anymore. This is an opportunity for you to purchase this website at a relatively low cost, optimize it, increase the traffic, and flip it at an excellent profit when it is worth far more than it was.  

29. Motivational Apps

Mobile apps are really popular, and if they make you feel good and improve your life, all the better. Apps geared toward motivation do very well in most app stores, and they're relatively simple to build and maintain. You will need to come up with an innovative idea, though, but thankfully, there are many spaces to work within — meditation, mindfulness, inspiration, and productivity, to name a few. If you plan to develop an app of your own, you can also take advantage of university-led incubators or startup accelerators such as Techstars Mobility or Plug and Play Tech Center. 

30. Organization Service

Few people naturally possess strong organizational skills. If you’re one of those few, an organization service may represent the perfect startup idea for you. Professional organizing services not only help customers tidy up cluttered spaces, but also help them develop the organizational skills they need to maintain order going forward. One of the benefits of starting this type of business is you can operate it either in person by visiting customers’ homes and offices or virtually by conducting video consultations.

31. Errand-Running Service

Busy professionals, small businesses, and seniors typically need help running errands they can’t get to themselves. This could involve going to the post office, picking up dry cleaning, or taking a pet to a vet appointment.

To get started, you just need a vehicle, a phone, and some spare time. You can operate your errand-running business from home and market your services on bulletin boards at community centers, senior centers, or anywhere you can post a flier with your information. While this business idea isn’t the most lucrative, on average, errand runners make $15 per hour . If you can manage a fleet of errand runners, the earnings can add up. 

32. Language Learning Startup

If you’ve learned a foreign language, you know it’s difficult, especially for adults. However, knowing a second language is not only a fun pastime, but it opens up job opportunities and helps people connect with other communities. A language learning startup can be any product or service that helps people learn a new language, such as an app, instructional website, or written guides.

To make your startup stand out, focus on making learning a new language fun for users so that they want to reach for your product or resources again and again. If you opt for a tech-related language learning model, consider utilizing an edtech incubator to help develop your idea such as Berkeley SkyDeck, FasterCapital, or ASU Venture Devils. 

33. Virtual Event Planning

With businesses and organizations grappling with social distancing requirements in the last few years, the virtual events space has exploded, and hosting events online has actually become a game-changer for many businesses. As a result, a new critical skill has emerged: the need to plan these events. If you have great digital skills and you're pretty good at organizing people, look into virtual event planning as a startup. Again, there are many open-source tools available that make breaking into this space relatively cheap.

34. Clean Beauty Products

Green or “clean” beauty products are increasing in popularity across the US as we learn more and more about the harmful effects of some ingredients in traditional beauty products. In fact, the global clean beauty market is currently valued at $8.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $15.3 billion by 2028 . A green beauty product startup provides a better alternative, whether it’s clean skincare or cosmetics — the key is to create a product that is as effective as traditional products without the same damaging ingredients.

35. Software Startup

A software development startup is responsible for creating, distributing, and maintaining the programs that businesses use every day. This industry is experiencing exciting growth with annual revenue of $238 billion per year and an annual growth rate of 3.9% , which means this startup idea holds a tremendous amount of opportunity for entrepreneurs.

36. Snack Company

Do you have a go-to homemade snack that you know other people would love as well? If so, take your tasty treats to the next level by starting a snack company . Consumers are always looking for delicious new snack options with special ingredients or a twist on a classic snack. Growing your audience can be done by going to farmers' markets or local events and letting people try your delicious new snack!

37. Robotics Startup

It's not uncommon for robotics startups to be founded by students or recent graduates, especially if they are studying in the field at one of the more prestigious colleges with well-backed programs and grants for research. College can be an amazing place to discover new technology and brainstorm with fellow students, but you also want to ensure that you understand the industry you're trying to get into before you get too far ahead of yourself. 

With that said, definitely use the resources at your disposal if you're in a great robotics program and see where it can take you and your startup. Or, consider joining an incubator or accelerator such as AlleyCorp, MARL 5G Accelerator, or Buildit Accelerator to help develop your startup. 

38. Fintech

If you have a good understanding of both the financial and technology spaces, you may want to consider a fintech startup as your niche. Historically, student fintech startups that have focused predominantly on student financial issues have done really well. It's vital to understand your market, after all. When you start to delve into the world of finance, though, you'll need to ensure that you are complying with any state laws that govern the industry. After you've ticked that box, your fintech startup will be ready to go. For a startup idea like this, you may want to consider seed stage venture capital firms such as Precursor Ventures that have a history of deploying capital into promising fintech companies. 

39. Marketplace Website

Become the platform your community uses to sell and exchange goods and services by creating a marketplace website startup. Elevate the startup idea by prioritizing user experience and safety protocols. The key to a successful marketplace website is to create a positive experience for users that makes buying and selling items seamless and safe.

40. Sustainable Clothing Line

Fashion is one of the most wasteful industries on the planet. If you’re thinking about starting a clothing line, consider making it a sustainable one! Plus, the demand for these businesses is growing and is projected to continue that trajectory, forecasted to grow from $7.8 billion in 2023 to $33.05 in 2030 . A sustainable clothing line can make an impact by creating thoughtful garments that are long-lasting and ethically made out of sustainable materials such as linen or hemp.

41. Virtual Meeting Platform

With the virtual events space growing so considerably, the need for virtual meeting services has increased proportionately. This might mean anything from scheduling software for end-to-end management or perhaps even add-on apps that assist large companies with the management of various meetings simultaneously. There are several open-source tools available to help you break into this space.

42. Beverage Startup

If you have a great drink recipe or an idea for a special ingredient or function that will entice customers, start a beverage company ! A competitive edge in this industry is well-designed packaging that is catered to a target demographic and, of course, a delicious beverage inside. If you’re more of a connoisseur of beverages, a beverage distribution company is another lucrative startup idea that can be focused on a specific type of beverage such as beer, soda, or wine. Keep in mind that if you start a beverage company, you may benefit from a founder community such as Foodbevy to connect with other entrepreneurs in the space and grow together. 

43. SEO Services

Search engine optimization ( SEO ) is an essential tool for online marketing. However, to achieve a successful SEO service, you need to dedicate time and effort to creating content and staying on top of changes in search trends. Starting an SEO services startup offers customers an opportunity to cash in on this powerful internet marketing tool without spending too much of their own. To create a successful SEO services startup, you will need a deep understanding of SEO tactics and the software to do effective research. 

Looking for more inspiration? Check out our list of the top startups to watch in 2024 !

44. Online Courses

Online courses are a great way to use your existing knowledge to help college students, professionals, or anyone looking to expand their skill set in a niche market. This startup idea, on average, can bring in roughly $82,500 per year , according to ZipRecruiter. To create an online course, you will likely want to join an online course platform such as Udemy or Skillshare and utilize digital marketing strategies to get the word out about your course. However, a great online course can be one of the less laborious but still profitable business ideas for students.

45. Translation Services

If you speak more than one language, offering translation services can be a great way to leverage your skills to start your own business. A translation services business is often responsible for translating various documents while maintaining client confidentiality. This can be done to either provide grammatical and spelling help or to ensure the content of the translation matches the original document.

46. Become a Reseller

With the rise of apps such as Poshmark, Vinted, and Depop, reselling clothing, shoes, and even home goods has become a popular side hustle for students. While some sellers opt to resell items from their own closets, others choose to upcycle garments or scour local thrift stores for deals on items. This idea involves keeping an eye on trends as well as offering items seasonally to ensure you are selling an item when demand is at its peak. 

How to Choose a Business Idea

Starting your own business as a student can mean additional cash and valuable experience. However, choosing a profitable business idea can be challenging, here's a few tips to find the right business idea for you.

Research Time Dedication

Whether you're in high school or college, school is your number one priority. Therefore, you need to seek business ideas that will be doable with your current school load. Many online business ideas for students provide time flexibility and allow you to work on your entrepreneurial goals during spare moments.

Pull From Your Skill Set

What are you already well versed in? Pulling from your skill set allows you to build a strong foundation early on and capitalize on your existing knowledge. This could mean launching a tutoring business if you're highly educated in one subject or doing freelance work doing strategy for other local businesses getting started on social media platforms.

Follow Your Passion

Above all, when you're starting your own business you should choose business ideas that you're excited and passionate about. If you are passionate about your business idea, there is a higher chance you will dedicate the time and effort necessary to make it a profitable, sustainable startup. 

Explore More Startup Ideas

• Online Startup Ideas
• Startup Ideas for Social Entrepreneurs
• Sustainable Startup Ideas
• Startup Ideas for Education Entrepreneurs
• Startup Ideas for Teens
• Startup Ideas for Animal Lovers
• Tech Startup Ideas
• Startup Ideas for Food Lovers
• Side Hustle Startup Ideas
• Ecommerce Startup Ideas
• Low-Cost Startup Ideas
• Software Startup Ideas
• Profitable Startup Ideas

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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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50 Best Business ideas Suitable for a School

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Education Industry

Do you want to start a business to raise funds and score high in your school project? If YES, here are 50 small business ideas suitable for a school project.

Schools require that students carry out projects at certain intervals as part of their overall assessment. Such projects can be carried out in varied subjects, and the students are more often than not allowed to pick a topic that interests them most.

The idea of profit and making money can spark interest in school projects from otherwise disengaged students that is why schools also organize business projects. Business projects can be used to teach students analytical skills, personal finance, the nature of credit and debt, incentives, economics and fiscal policies.

Many schools allow their students to come up with their own products/services, plan the materials and resources they will need, propose an allocation of expenses, project their profit based on a given budget, and advertise and sell their products/services. These projects may be done regularly, like once in a term or quarter.

Most of these ideas are brought about to teach children about money, making profits, and how to save. Experiencing how to save, spend, earn money and keeping a budget at the same time are great ways for kids to develop a grasp of economics at a young age.

In this way, they also develop a sense of responsibility and will find out early on the essence of spending money wisely and saving for emergency purposes in the future.

For the student with an entrepreneurial spirit who may wish to choose a viable and profit making idea for his school project instead of doing the usual research that is normally done by students, here are 50 that would be just great for a school project.

Best Business ideas Suitable for a School Project

1. make cookies.

Quite a lot of people love cookies. And not just cookies but deliciously baked edibles like cupcakes, pound cakes, pretzels and just about anything home-baked. When used as an income source, cookies and baked goods are easy to make, easy to transport and pretty easy to sell.

Kids can learn to find the best quality ingredients at the cheapest price and come up with ways to streamline the production process so the business requires minimal time investment. Get a handful of good cookie recipes, some cute, inexpensive packaging and start churning out delicious treats that will help line your pockets.

2. Jewelry making

Kids who have an eye for fashion or who love to be creative can find jewelry making a rewarding and profitable business. It doesn’t have to be complex pieces with semi-precious stones. Wooden beads, painted glass and hemp bracelets are hot sellers.

Designed pieces may be sold online or at local trade shows and church bazaars and even to fellow students. This is also a suitable business idea that can be continued after school.

3. Get artistic

A lot of students are very talented and creative. Such students can take advantage of such creativity to produce various things that can be used for a school project. Young artists can design a variety of creative pieces, from canvassed art work to hand-designed greeting cards, which they can sell to make money.

Additionally, you can offer Logo design, brochure layouts and web design for people and small businesses in the community. It is a fact that a lot of people are making a living from selling their artworks.

4. Greeting cards

Teachers could leverage on the talents of students by letting them produce and sell handmade greeting cards. Greeting cards generally employ several creative and technical skills – poetry, prose, visual art and layout. Whether one kid does it all or several kids work together to deliver the goods, a greeting card business in these days of ecards, text and emails will be especially valuable around the holidays.

5. Gift baskets

Assembling and designing gift baskets are a great way for kids to express their creative side while sharpening their ability to identify what the market wants and finding innovative ways to provide them. The contents of a gift basket are as varied as the people who order them.

Whether a child sells pre-made baskets or accepts orders for custom baskets, the business comes with natural busy seasons like Easter, Mother’s Day, Christmas etc.

6. Recycling project

Another idea is to start a neighborhood recycling center that can be run on the weekends from a local park or right from the family garage. Recycling is big in the united states and many people are making a living from it.

7. Make candy

Making and selling candy is another lucrative but cost effective school project. Students can test their entrepreneurial legs by deciding to sell snack-sized candies to their peers between classes or during recess at school. Though some schools may be critical about this, but once your teacher approves, then you are good to go.

8. MultiMedia Rental

As a teacher, you can turn one corner of your classroom into a mini multi-media rental place. You may ask the class to bring the books, magazines, computer and video games, audio CDs, and DVDs that they are willing to have rented out to the other students in the school. Then teach them to come up with a code for each kind.

For instance, books can be coded with the letter B. Tape appropriate codes on all the items and record them all on a master list.

This will let you keep track of which ones are rented out and which ones may be missing. Next, also make sure to remind the students to place a rental card at the back of each item, which the borrower fills out with his name, grade level, section, and contact number.

This card shall be left with your student. When all of these things have been prepared, then it is now time to fix them attractively on shelves with labels and advertise the venture to the rest of the school community. This is a good way students can make money, and it is also a good business idea in the outside world.

9. Photo Booth

One hip service that kids of all ages will surely love is the photo booth. If you have enough of a budget, you may rent a real one to use and just charge more for each photo, but if the class budget is low, you can choose to rent or borrow from someone.

An alternative way, though, is to set up a good digital camera and a huge backdrop tarpaulin with a cool design that can go with a theme.

Do not forget to provide tons of funny, cute, and trendy props, wigs, and hats. You can fix your rates to be on a “per copy” basis. After your photo booth time, guide the students in uploading all the pictures in a computer and print them out. Now they are ready for delivery.

10. Food Festival and Product Bazaar

You may want to have the students go through the process of not only planning but preparing the products by themselves. The easiest food items to make and sell are sandwiches , shakes, juices, burgers, French fries with various dips, and other simple snacks.

You may ask kids to prepare cooked ingredients at home and just bring them to school. Booths can be decorated and set up according to their needs, and kids should have a shifting schedule as to who will be the sellers at a particular time.

However, if there are only a few students involved in one booth, all of them can stay there the whole time and just have different roles assigned.

One can be in charge of the payments, giving of changes, and keeping track of the earnings. Two or three can be the ones to prepare the products. Another one can be in charge of calling customers or going around to give free tastes to people milling about the area.

11. Garage Sale

Another business idea that is suitable for a school project is a garage sale. You can plan and set up a garage sale in school. Have the students bring items from their houses that they do not like or use anymore. Together, you can decide on the prices of the various items which can range from clothes, books, CDs, games, to bags, shoes and accessories.

There are so many things that you can sell, just be sure to monitor the pricing so as to guarantee low prices appropriate for used items. The students can learn to approximate the worth, depending on the kind of item, how old it is, and its present quality.

A space should be set up in a classroom, in the gym, in the cafeteria, or wherever the school will allow you to which the students believe will be a strategically effective location for your business project.

12. Computer Tutoring

Chances are that you have been using a computer for as long as you can remember. You know how to troubleshoot, how to organize files, and how to use Google to find whatever you need. Though these are essential modern skills and not everyone possesses them.

Therefore, you have the opportunity to impart your knowledge by using this as a school project where you can educate fellow students on how to set up a blog, navigate the Web, or sign up for RSS feeds.

13. Pet Photographer

This is can make a very exciting school project for students. You can also start a photography business that specifically caters to pet owners who want photo portraits of their furry friends. They could pay a token for these services.

14. Shoe Shine

In order to take advantage of this business, set one day in a week where students can bring shoe polish and brushes for shoe shining services for the school community.

Promote this project on the bulletin boards all over the school announcing where the shoe shine will be stationed. You may also want to provide a “home service” in which the students offering the shoe shine will be contacted and will then go to a classroom or office to give the service at a certain time.

15. Mobile lemonade stand

In this project, students are made to make the lemonade stand mobile. That is, they prepare the lemonade at home, pack it in a cooler and transport it to where customers want it. Students should create advertising brochures, posters and cards to let the community know their lemonade can be served anywhere.

They must also keep track of overhead costs, such as bulk lemonade mix, ice, disposable cups and gasoline or other transportation costs.

They will need to make sure these expenses don’t exceed revenues. Once they set the price for a cup of lemonade, they can ask each client how many people will be in attendance at the given event, and then calculate projected revenues beforehand.

16. Pet sitting

Kids can be great with animals and can provide short-term walking, feeding and grooming for pets whose owners are out of town. Students should develop their business plan, they should determine how much they’ll charge: either a flat rate for a given amount of time, whether a weekend or a whole week, or an hourly rate that will be fair and competitive.

Have student’s research professional kennels and pet-sitting services in their area to get a good idea of rates. In their advertising efforts, have them specify what services they will and won’t perform.

17. Pie shop

Selling homemade pies is another great business idea for a student’s school project. The students could set up a stand in a busy part of town to produce fries and snacks.

This could be during their practical session class or a time set aside by the school board for students to showcase what they have learnt for a period of time. The likelihood of this idea being successful is very high, especially if adequate hype and publicity is created around it.

18. Websites

For their school projects, and depending on their level of learning, students could undertake to design websites for small businesses or fellow students who have the need of a website. Also, student can create websites for historical movements, scientific theories, or literary concepts

19. Album Covers

An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. Students can create album covers for their school project. The album cover may be connected to a novel and the art work might present a relevant theme in the story.

Another use would be to have students create natural disaster album covers in a science class where the cover would depict and explain the event.

20. Advertisements

Students can create an advertising campaign to sell a particular product or a range of products. The product can be real or imaginary.  This can be used to teach them persuasion, as an assignment for speech class, or to reinforce skills learned in a consumer class.

21. Magazines

Students can create magazines covering large units of study such as the Industrial Revolution or Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, that way many articles can be written. Images may also be drawn or printed and added to the publication. This is a good business skill that if developed properly would be useful after their studies. These magazines can be sold or booked on subscription basis.

22. Inventions

The ability to invent something would always count as a plus for the inventor. Inventing something is a very good school project idea that can also be useful in the business world. Students can be encouraged to think out and create something.

Note that it must not be a new invention as it could be an upgrade of an already existing invention, but it should be something that can address a problem in nature or society.

23. Autobiographies

Students can be encouraged to write the story of their lives as a school project. This assignment may help them learn to write an autobiography, and more importantly to reinforce a broad range of writing skills in them.

24. Comic Strips or Books

Students and kids read a lot of comic strips. Students can be encouraged to create an illustrated comic strip or book representing events from history or a work of fiction. They have a better chance of selling these to fellow students or friends.

Creating a blog is a great idea for a school project. Students can create blogs for literary characters or historical figures. They can equally take it a step further by creating an actual blog for free at blogger .com where they can start developing their own personal blogs.

Alternatively, teachers can just have students write and organize articles on white printer paper if the internet is not available.

Putting up a play is another exciting idea for a school project. Students might adapt an existing story or create original works and plays that can be centered on any event in history. The skills and experience gotten from this project, when developed and honed can be applied in the real world movie industry.

Some very talented students have the ability to create very funny and interesting skits. In the real world, people have been known to make a living out of creating skits. Students can be encouraged to create a short skit to bring a historical event to life for their school project.

28. Poultry Farm Project

Another profitable idea for a school project is to encourage students who are studying Agriculture related courses to setup a standard poultry farm as a project. The bottom line is to ensure that the poultry farm accommodates varieties of birds.

This kind of project can be expensive hence they can access funding from the school authority or any other relevant institution.

29. Furniture Making Project

Students who are studying woodworks or any furniture related courses should be made to produce furniture that can be sold to people. It is another way of making money for the school. The bottom line is that if their finishing and marketing skills are good, they won’t struggle to make sales.

30. Arts and Crafts

Creating arts and crafts is ideal for students studying various art and crafts related courses. Once your students are able to produce quality painting, sculpture or handmade crafts, such can be sold in and around the school community.

31. Vocabulary Quilts

For a school project, you can teach students to create quilts with badges representing the meanings of vocabulary terms. The badges should have an image and a few words. This school project can help the students develop sewing skills for the future.

32. Graphics and Video Editing Project

Another art related projects that you can engage your students in is to advertise for people to bring their graphics and video editing jobs to the school studio and they will get it done at rock bottom prices. The truth is that if your students are pretty good; the project can be self-sustaining.

33. Make f riendship bracelets

Kids love making jewelry, and with inexpensive technologies like Rainbow Loom, they can produce substantial amounts of bracelets and offer them for sale. Making friendship bracelets, matching colored pairs or even embedding letter beads for names or phrasing will differentiate their product.

Explain profit margin and have them set a reasonable price for each bracelet above their raw material costs. They also need to research venues where they can sell the bracelets, such as local craft shows, community meetings or boutique shops.

34. Smartphone consultation

Students can tap into the emerging tech market by selling smart-phone consultation services. Your students will likely be more adept at handling smartphones, including basic operation and social media, than most adults.

Have them set a basic package for clients, such as a 30-minute tutorial, during which they will provide hands-on instruction and demonstration of someone’s phone. These tutorials can be offered for a flat rate. Students can advertise their services through social media, targeting their parents’ friends and other adults who may be struggling with new technology.

Students should specify what they’ll be covering in their tutorials so clients come prepared. Make sure students perform their services in safe, public places, such as in the school library or other community venues.

35. Errand Runner

The more people are pressed for time, the more they hate running errands. Therefore, you can start a business to run errands for those sets of people. For instance, you can pick up groceries, take the dog to the vet, pick up kids from daycare, and chauffeur older kids to the mall or to a friend’s house.

You need to be a jack-of-all-trades, but it is actually rather easy work, and it pays well. Seniors, upper-middle class families, and busy parents are all part of this target market. The student may or may not need a reliable car depending on the neighborhood, since it is a small school project, but a car would come in very handy.

You might also want to consider offering a “seniors discount” to get your foot in the door, or even working for free for the first few jobs in order to get some great testimonials.

36. Moving Assistant

Moving is stressful, especially when you have a lot of possessions or a large house to organize. A student can comfortably offer up services as a moving assistant to give people a hand. This is a popular service, especially for seniors who find packing and moving to be physically and emotionally difficult.

37 . Babysitter

One of the most popular part time jobs for students is babysitting, and this business can comfortably be taken up as a school project.

All you need is a great reputation or great references, and the ability to find local parents. Post fliers in your neighborhood advertising your services. Keep in mind that if you have special skills, such as CPR training you will stand out from the pack.

38. Scrapbooker

This is another exciting idea that students can use for a school project. The students can offer custom scrapbooking services to people who want to preserve their memories in a special way without doing the work themselves.

39. Home check

You can request to make or perform home checks for a small fee. While people are out of town, you can stop by their house and check to make sure the house is in good condition, give it a lived-in look, check light bulbs, flush toilets, and more. It is quite easy and can be done weekly for a flat fee, such as $20.

40. Leaf Removal

Leaf removal, just like snow removal, is a seasonal business, but that notwithstanding, it pays good money and it can also be used as a school project. During the fall, because of the leaf rain, you can offer leaf removal services to those who don’t want to rake their yards on their own.

41. Calendars

Students can take up creating calendars charting the dates of key events. This can be applied to an historical event (like a famous battle), a scientific event or the sequence of events in story. With the aid of good graphics design or drawing skills, the calendars can be made to be very attractive and colourful in order to bring in buyers or subscribers.

42. Snow Removal

If you want to earn some extra cash during the winter months, you can offer to shovel snow for local homeowners for a small fee. This business can be comfortably offered as a school project as it won’t take up much time of the students, and more importantly, they would get paid for it.

43. Personal Shopper

For those who enjoy shopping, you can build a business as a personal shopper and help others pick out the best items for them.

Students can also use this business idea as a school project. To get started, you need to figure out your demographics which may likely be seniors or people who are fashion handicapped and offer this service to them at your convenience and for a fee.

44. Picking up dry cleaning

You can decide to run to the cleaners for those who are too busy to handle this chore. This is a business idea and it can as well pass for a school project if you have a question you want to find an answer to or if there is a problem you are seeking to find a solution to. Example, what is the demographics of people who mostly request laundry pick up services?

45. Create a board game

There are lots of board games in the market and online, but that notwithstanding, you can create a board game for a school project, and if it is interesting, people would be willing to pay a token to play it. Putting the game online can save you on overhead costs. This project demands a lot of creativity before you can come up with something passable.

46. Graphic Designer

Depending on the class and if you have the skills, graphics design is a great business idea that could also be used for a school project. You can offer your services designing logo for both online and offline clients, but you have to make sure that you are very good at it.

47. Documentary

Some students who have portable camcorders could put it to good use for a school project. With adequate planning, preparation and skills, you can put together a documentary on any niche of your choice. You can record a documentary on the difference between how football was played in the 70s and today, or you can put together a video recording of how plants or animals behave in an unfamiliar environment.

48.  Aquaculture

An agriculture related project that can be given to students to do in a school in a bid to raise money is starting a fish pond.

The school authority can provide space for students to build their ponds. The students can choose to raise fish, shrimps, crabs, toads etc. in their ponds in a controlled environment. Aquaculture is a very profitable business in the real world so any training on it is very valuable.

49. Chemical Production Project

Students studying chemical engineering should be made to produce chemicals that can be sold in an around the school communities as part of their projects. Chemicals like pesticides, bleach and paints etc have a good number of buyers. The truth is that if their product is well branded and packaged it can compete for market share in their community.

50. Hatchery

Students can set up a mini hatchery where they can attempt to hatch the eggs of different birds to observe the process. They can equally decide to innovate a special brand of hatchery that is unlike the normal one used in the industry, or try to replicate the natural hatching process. A lot of findings still can be made from hatchery and the students can try to discover them.

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Designs Valley

Empowering Student Entrepreneurs: 10 Exciting Project Ideas to Explore

Table of Contents

Understanding Entrepreneurship Projects

Entrepreneurship project ideas, implementing entrepreneurship projects, overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship, learning from entrepreneurship projects, balancing entrepreneurship and education.

Before we delve into the thrilling world of entrepreneurship project ideas for students , let’s take a moment to understand why these projects hold such importance and the benefits they offer.

Importance of Entrepreneurship Projects

Entrepreneurship projects offer hands-on experiences that students won’t forget and will serve them throughout their lives. They allow students to apply their skills in a real-world context and creatively demonstrate knowledge ( Mindset & Milestones ).

These projects allow students to step outside the traditional classroom environment and experience a different form of learning—experiential learning. This form of learning is beneficial not only in the classroom but also in the workplace. It enables students to develop unique business ideas for school projects and test them in a safe environment before they venture into the real world.

Benefits of Entrepreneurship Projects

The benefits of entrepreneurship projects extend far beyond the learning experience. These projects can help students develop skills that will be valuable as they enter the workforce. Skills like leadership, problem-solving, and communication abilities are often honed during the implementation of these projects.

Furthermore, these projects often involve collaboration with a mentor, offering guidance and support for student entrepreneurs. This mentorship can help students navigate challenges and make informed decisions, providing a valuable resource in their entrepreneurial journey.

Another significant benefit of entrepreneurship projects is the network and connections built through these experiences. This network can open doors to future opportunities and partnerships for students. It can also provide a platform for students to share their low-cost business ideas with high profit and receive valuable feedback.

In conclusion, entrepreneurship projects are an innovative learning tool that can equip students with essential skills, provide valuable mentorship, and open doors to future opportunities. They serve as an excellent platform for students interested in entrepreneurship to explore, learn, and grow. So, let’s dive into some exciting entrepreneurship project ideas for students in the next section.

As students, you have a unique opportunity to explore entrepreneurship through projects that can be both educational and potentially profitable. Here are three entrepreneurship project ideas for students that you might find intriguing.

Tutoring Business Idea

One viable entrepreneurship project idea for students is to start a tutoring business . This idea leverages your academic strengths, allows you to help others, and can potentially generate a steady income stream. Tutoring businesses can charge by the session or the hour and can be easily marketed within your school, at the public library, or in community centers ( source ). Not only can this be a profitable venture, but it also provides a valuable service to your community. For more unique business ideas for school projects, check out our article on unique business ideas for school project .

App Development

Another exciting project idea is app development. This field offers the potential to create apps for entertainment purposes or to solve everyday problems. Many popular apps solve a common problem, making them more likely to have widespread appeal. This project would require some coding knowledge, but many resources are available to help beginners get started. The key is to identify a problem your app can solve, ensuring it has a clear purpose and target audience.

Freelance Writing Venture

If you have a knack for writing, starting a freelance writing venture could be a great entrepreneurship project idea. Freelance writers of all kinds are in demand by businesses and publications looking for temporary employees to write blog posts, articles, and other content. This option allows you to work on a variety of topics and can be done remotely, making it a flexible option for students.

These are just a few examples of entrepreneurship project ideas for students. The goal of these projects is to encourage you to think outside of the box and engage with classroom content in a deeper way ( Mindset & Milestones ). For more inspiration, take a look at our article on examples of business projects for students . Remember, the best projects align with your interests and skills, as they offer the greatest potential for success.

Once you’ve explored various entrepreneurship project ideas for students , the next step is to bring them to life. This involves selecting the right idea, conducting market research, and estimating startup costs.

1. Selecting the Right Idea

The first step involves selecting the right business idea for you. This choice should be based on your interests, the overall startup costs, and the time you can dedicate to your business ( source ). This is a crucial step as it sets the foundation for your venture.

Consider exploring our list of unique business ideas for school project to get started. Remember, the best business idea for you is one that aligns with your passion and skillset, has a viable market, and can be feasibly managed alongside your studies.

2. Market Research Process

After choosing your idea, the next step is market research. This is essential to understanding the demand for your product or service and identifying your target audience ( Litmus Branding ).

The market research process should involve:

• Identifying your target audience: Who are they, what do they need, and how does your product or service meet that need?
• Analyzing your competition: Who are they, what do they offer, and how can you differentiate your product or service?
• Understanding market trends: What are the current trends in your industry, and how can you leverage them?
• Evaluating pricing strategies: What are the pricing models in your industry, and what pricing strategy would work best for your product or service?

For more details, you can refer to our article featuring examples of business projects for students where we discuss market research in depth.

3. Estimating Startup Costs

The final step in implementing your project is estimating startup costs. This is crucial for budgeting and planning the financial requirements of the business ( Litmus Branding ).

Costs to consider include:

• Equipment and supplies: These are the tangible items you need to run your business.
• Marketing and advertising: These are the costs associated with promoting your business.
• Legal and administrative costs: These include costs like business registration, legal fees, and insurance.
• Operating expenses: These are recurring costs like rent, utilities, and salaries.

For ideas that require minimal startup costs, consider checking out our list of low-cost business ideas with high profit .

By following these steps, you can effectively implement your entrepreneurship project. Remember, each step is crucial and contributes to your venture’s success. Thorough planning and research will not only help you launch your project but also equip you with the skills and knowledge to navigate the world of entrepreneurship.

When diving into entrepreneurship, it’s essential to be aware of the potential hurdles that could arise. For student entrepreneurs implementing unique business ideas for school projects , these challenges can range from navigating legal complexities to managing time and resources to handling risk and uncertainty. Especially, women entrepreneurs are facing some odd challenges than men; let’s look deeper into the challenges and solutions for both of them.

1. Navigating Legal Complexities

One of the primary challenges I face as an entrepreneur is maneuvering through the intricate legal and regulatory requirements landscape. Starting and running a business involves complying with many laws and regulations. These can span from tax laws to employment laws to industry-specific regulations.

Researching and understanding the legal obligations related to your business idea is essential. This knowledge will help ensure your business operates within the law and protect your interests and rights.

2. Managing Time and Resources

As a student entrepreneur, I often struggle to manage my time and resources effectively. Starting and running a business requires juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities. From conceptualizing low-cost business ideas with high profit to marketing them, it’s important to prioritize activities to make the most of available resources ( Indeed ).

Effective time management strategies and tools can help in this regard. It’s also crucial to develop a realistic budget and stick to it. This way, you can avoid overspending while covering all necessary costs.

3. Handling Uncertainty and Risk

Lastly, dealing with uncertainty and risk is one of the most significant challenges of entrepreneurship. Starting a business involves stepping into the unknown and taking on financial and personal risks. As a student entrepreneur, I often face the fear of failure and the pressure to succeed in an unpredictable and competitive market ( Indeed ).

To mitigate these risks, it’s important to conduct thorough market research before launching your venture. It’s also helpful to seek advice from mentors, peers, and industry experts who can provide guidance and support.

Overcoming these challenges is part of the entrepreneurial journey. It’s through tackling these hurdles that I, as a student entrepreneur, develop resilience, problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Remember, every challenge faced is a learning opportunity that brings you one step closer to achieving your entrepreneurial goals. For more insights, check out our article on examples of business projects for students .

Embarking on an entrepreneurship project as a student can be an enriching and transformative experience. It’s not just about creating unique business ideas for a school project or exploring low-cost business ideas with high profit . The real value lies in the learning journey and the skills, connections, and mindset you can develop.

1. Developing Essential Skills

Entrepreneurship projects can provide hands-on experience and valuable skills, helping you develop leadership, problem-solving, and communication abilities. These skills will serve you well in entrepreneurship and any career path you choose to follow.

As you work on your project, you’ll face real-world challenges requiring thoughtful solutions. You’ll need to make decisions, manage resources, and interact with diverse groups of people. All these experiences will enhance your ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and lead confidently.

2. Building Networks and Connections

One of the often-overlooked benefits of entrepreneurship projects is the potential for networking. These projects often involve collaboration with classmates, interaction with mentors, and sometimes even pitching to potential investors. Each interaction is an opportunity to build relationships and expand your network.

Collaborating with a mentor can offer guidance and support, helping you navigate challenges and make informed decisions ( Forbes ). These mentor-mentee relationships can be precious, providing insights from experienced entrepreneurs who have been in your shoes before.

The network and connections built through entrepreneurship projects can open doors to future opportunities and partnerships. You never know when a connection might lead to an internship, job offer, or business partnership down the line.

3. Fostering Creative Thinking

Entrepreneurship projects also provide an opportunity to explore your passions and interests. This exploration can lead to the discovery of innovative business ideas and solutions. Whether developing a new app, starting a tutoring service, or launching a freelance writing venture, these projects allow you to think outside the box and apply your creativity practically.

Moreover, entrepreneurship projects can foster a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset. They encourage you to think creatively, take initiative, and be resilient in facing challenges. Whether you decide to launch your own business, work for a company, or pursue further studies, this mindset can be invaluable.

Remember, the goal of these entrepreneurship project ideas for students isn’t necessarily to launch a successful business (though that would be a great outcome!). The primary goal is to learn about business, yourself, and how to make a difference in the world. So why not start exploring some examples of business projects for students today?

As a student eager to explore entrepreneurship project ideas , you may face unique challenges. This section provides insights on navigating these challenges, focusing on intellectual property considerations, balancing schoolwork and ventures, and finding the right partners.

1. Intellectual Property Considerations

One significant challenge you might encounter involves intellectual property rights. As a student, you must understand your school’s IP policy and navigate ownership issues VentureWell . Your ideas, designs, and inventions are valuable assets, and it’s essential to protect them. Start by familiarizing yourself with different forms of intellectual property protection, such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Also, consider seeking advice from legal professionals specializing in intellectual property law to protect your venture.

2. Balancing Schoolwork and Ventures

The challenge of balancing schoolwork with your ventures is another aspect you may grapple with. Managing a rigorous course load while working on your entrepreneurial projects can be daunting VentureWell . However, developing strong prioritizing and time management skills can help you overcome this hurdle.

Consider creating a detailed schedule that includes both academic assignments and entrepreneurship tasks, ensuring that both areas receive adequate attention. You may also find it beneficial to set specific goals for your entrepreneurial project and regularly assess your progress. Implementing an objectives and key results system (OKR) can help you stay focused and prioritize effectively.

Finding the Right Partners

Another aspect to consider when exploring entrepreneurship project ideas for students is finding the right partners. Teaming up with individuals who align with your vision and goals can significantly enhance your venture’s success VentureWell .

Conduct extensive due diligence to identify potential partners who bring mutual benefits. Consider their skills, experiences, and attitudes toward entrepreneurship. Remember, your partners will be crucial in your venture’s journey, so choose wisely.

Balancing entrepreneurship and education can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding with the right approach. Remember to protect your intellectual property, manage your time effectively, and choose your partners wisely. As you embark on your entrepreneurship journey, you are building a potential business and acquiring valuable skills that will serve you well in your future career.

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Fake Business Ideas for School Projects

Michele is a writer who has been published both locally and internationally.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Fake business ideas for school projects can be serious or funny depending on the parameters of your assignment. Show off your creativity and entrepreneurial skills by creating an original and comprehensive company.

Fake Product-Based Business Ideas

Some businesses are based on making or buying and then selling a specific product. Companies like Nike, Apple, and Nintendo sell products to consumers. Product-based business opportunities can take on all kinds of forms from small businesses with a charity component to large corporations giving students experience in lots of different business practices.

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Custom Pet Creator

Build a business where customers can choose all the features of their ideal pet thanks to genetic engineering. You'll need to think of every angle from how the pets will be ordered and created to how you'll stave off critics of this controversial process. The fun nature of this product and its real-world potential are ideal for a school setting because teens will need to explore building a business and the dilemma of ethics versus profit.

Replacement Robot

Have you ever wished you had a second version of yourself to cover for you on sick days or take a test you're not prepared for? Now you can with the Replacement Robot. Students may actually be able to build a robot prototype to use in testing their business, even if it's on a smaller scale. Creating a business teens can actually run takes their project to the next level in understanding the complexities of being an entrepreneur.

Rent-A-Cell Phone Center

Forget disappearing messages on apps, the ultimate way to call or message someone with complete anonymity is a Rent-A-Cell Phone Center. At your kiosks, anyone can pick up one of the provided cell phones and use it for any length of time. A mobile phone business project like this gives teens the chance to explore franchising within their business as that might be an option for how to get these phone centers all over the place.

False Combination Locks

Everyone has trouble opening their school locker combination lock at some point throughout high school. These false combination locks might have hidden buttons or levers or require the user to only turn to one specific number instead of the traditional three number opening method. This business takes a real world teen issue and provides a solution, which helps connect business lessons with real life.

Senior Painted Portraits

Teens today don't want to blend in with the crowd, they want to stand out as unique individuals. Start an art business where you paint senior portraits for teens. Instead of hiring a photographer for their yearbook photo or photos for home, students can hire you to paint a unique senior portrait. Since each product is completely original and takes time, students will be challenged to explore the feasibility of creating a business based solely on their own talent or skill.

Fake Service-Based Business Ideas

Service-based businesses provide experts who will do work for customers. Services are usually focused on one specific task or field. Examples of companies providing services are Uber, Chipotle, and lawn care businesses. Students will need to define their customer base and create service packages to best meet customer budgetary needs.

School Backpack Couriers

Tired of carrying around your overloaded, heavy backpack all day at school? With this business you can employ dozens of backpack couriers. These couriers can carry backpacks to and from school for students or all during the school day. Since the customer base is students, teens can do real market research in their own school for this business plan.

Personalized Sports Fan Section

For people who want to feel like professional athletes, you can give them the dedicated fan experience they've been hoping for. Athletes of any level can hire their very own sports fan section for an upcoming game or even the whole season. Include different tiers of packages like an inexpensive option where 3 to 5 fans who will hold a sign with your name on it and an expensive version that includes 20 fans. Students will have to consider all aspects of running a company with many potential employees.

Lunch Leftover Packagers

Those who pack a lunch and those who buy a lunch at school might have leftovers because of short lunch periods. Build a business where you can package up leftovers for students, staff, and the cafeteria. You can keep the leftovers refrigerated for the rest of the school day then have a pickup location near the main school exit at the end of the day or donate all the leftovers. This business option gives kids an introduction to working with food, which requires an understanding of government regulations.

Farm to Table Food Truck

Starting a food truck at your school or in your town is a simpler way to create a fake restaurant business. This small business option relies heavily upon networking because students will need to find farms who provide different ingredients and work with local governments or businesses to find places to park the food truck.

School Campaign Promotors

From student council campaigns to prom queen campaigns, high schoolers have many opportunities to market themselves. This business offers the chance for teens to hire a team of professional promotors who will do everything from design and hang posters to coordinate flash mobs for their campaign. Students will focus on learning about marketing techniques as they create this fun business.

School Project Success

The most successful high school business project ideas are ones that are creative and you're really invested in. Choose a type of business that suits your personality, talents, and skills and you're sure to get an "A." Starting a business as a kid can feel overwhelming, but if you follow a business plan, the process can be a lot simpler.

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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Business Idea Insight

Learn to develop a side business idea to launch

17 Business Ideas for College Students for 2022

Startup and business ideas for college students.

Starting a business in college can be a great way to make a living and pay for your way through school, if you do it right. Or, if you’re inspired by other great entrepreneurs who met their co-founders and launched the next biggest fortune 500 company, then starting a business in University may be your calling.

The great thing about business ideas for college students is that campuses can be the perfect place to validate a product or service offering too.

We are going to go over 17 business ideas. There is also both a range of small and large scale business ideas.

1. Voice-enhancement app

The voice-enhancement app would be a fun and cool app that people could download and use to enhance their voices for voice messaging. It would utilize their already installed messaging app, such as iMessage, and allow people to enhance their voices in cool and interesting ways, clip their audio files, and other fun features. They say audio is the next big thing as more and more people use it to type out texts, send regular voice messages, and use voice devices like the Amazon Alexa.

One co-founder would need to have a strong background in coding and software development, but this could easily be developed and launched from a college dorm room. If you wanted to take a different route, this could also be possibly created into an app that people could use. This idea would be worth validating if you want to try and create the next big social business idea!

2. Dorm cleaning service

Some people in college and university really miss having their parents or home maids clean their rooms. Now that they are at university, they may not want to clean their dorms by themselves. Leaving the perfect opportunity for you to charge them a fee to clean up the room.

It would be easy to do as you can simply market the business by going door to door in dorm buildings. Startup costs would also be very low since it costs could consist of cleaning supplies and a business license. After a while, and if you have a consistent clientele base, you could look into hiring other students to do the cleaning for you. The great thing about this idea is that it could be started from almost any college or university, and has the opportunity for expansion.

3. On-campus delivery service

There are many delivery services established that will delivery goods, packages, and food around cities, however, there are no or very few services that will deliver goods across campus. A professor may need a suit from the school dry cleaner delivered to the lecture hall. Or a group of students may need a bunch of food delivered to their dorms from the cafeteria. Saving them time so they can study. This would also be another business idea for college students that would be low-cost to start . You’d only need a bike, a strong bag for transporting things, and potentially a GPS if it was a large campus. This business idea could easily be expanded across other schools if you wanted to grow this idea beyond your own college.

4. Add-on online courses for college classes

If you have a strong interest and specialty in a set of college courses, you could create an online and easy to follow set of video courses that others could watch and learn from. Sometimes students need to hear the course information in different ways than the professor presents it, to fully understand the material.

Be careful though that you don’t copy the courses you just took, otherwise you could end up in legal trouble with the college. Your courses would have to have a different spin on how the material is taught. They could pay a simple fee for each course or a package deal if there were multiple courses. A background in video editing and course creation would come in very handy.

“Our extremely conservative estimate for the global tutoring industry is that it’s worth $100 billion (annually),” said Julian Dierkes, a professor with the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia (Source).

5. language transcription service.

If you are at a college or university abroad in a different country where they speak different languages, and you know both your home language and the native language in that country, you can start a transcription service.

By setting up a website where other people or companies can upload documents in one language, you could have an online portal of work that you can do in your dorm. When they upload it to your website, you could work on it, transcribe the document to their needs, and then send it back to them over your portal and a fee would be taken. This would be a great way to set it up so you don’t spend your precious time dealing with mail and hardcopy documents.

Again, this idea can grow into a large company if you hired other students to expand your workforce.

6. Research paper writing company

If you love to write and have a strength in writing research papers, this business idea for college could be perfect for you. Similar to the idea above, you could setup a website where other students from different universities around the state or country could send in their research paper requests, along with deposits for the work.

Then you could write the paper from the comfort of your dorm room and charge a fee for the end work. Many of these students will pay big money for a great finished product as it means they get a good grade when they really needed it.

However, one thing to watch out for is that some colleges and universities have policies about helping students in this manner. This is another idea that could grow with the help of other students.

7. Furniture Lending Service

Many college and university students move to their dorms with furniture specifically designed for their new room. But after a year they often end up throwing it out or selling it for pennies on the dollar as it usually does not accommodate other places well, and students don’t have time to sell the furniture. This means the students or their parents have wasted a lot of money on custom furniture of their dorm.

This college business idea would help stop that by allowing students to rent their dorm furniture. By working with local furniture shops around each campus, you can design furniture for each room and then charge a monthly or yearly fee to students. You could advertise to them online through Facebook or Instagram or Google to get them to know about your service before they come to the school.

8. Virtual assistant – professor niche

The virtual assistant is a great business model for college students as you can operate this business from your dorm room or house. As a virtual assistant, you would help other businesses and professionals with their online needs. This may be converting datasets in excel, transcribing audio, or simple data entry.

However, due to the current market competition for general virtual assistants, you could change your offerings to fit professors and college teachers. You could provide marking services, presentation preparation and development, and other tasks a professor would need done.

9. University/ College entrance consultant

As a new college or university student, you may now be qualified to help others get accepted into the schools you got accepted to when you were in high school. If you applied to several schools and got into them all, this will broaden your credibility.

For this business idea, you could set up a consulting service for wealthy families to coach their teen through the process of applying and getting accepted to their school of choice. A deposit for the work done, and a fee for the acceptance could be a good way to setup the payment systems. This could also be done online if you have the email packages and a great video calling system.

10. Senior companion service

There is no doubt that the 65+ community is growing around the globe. In some areas of the world, that group is poised to be the fastest growing demographic in the area! Meaning they will have a huge impact on business. If you are attending school in a place with a high senior’s population, this could be a great fit for you.

By advertising to the local communities about your service, you could charge a monthly fee to go and hangout with a single or group of seniors for the afternoon or evening. Possibly running chores for them in case they can’t or their family couldn’t anymore. This service would also have great potential to expand, as you can hire other students to take various shifts, and it would be a great way for them to meet others in the community while getting paid.

11. Textbook exchange service

The textbook exchange service is a classic college business idea that is hard to start and grow, but if done right, can have major rewards. This service would involve setting up an app or website where people from a certain school could upload their used textbooks for others to be able to buy or rent them.

Where this idea usually fails is that at the launch due to low stocks of the needed textbooks, and then the textbook buying season buys and the company runs out of money to sustain until the next semester.

If you are able to set up this website or exchange in advance with a great stock of textbooks, this would increase your chances of success. Similarly, if you chatted with the professors and teachers to confirm older versions of the textbook could be used for class, it would give students confidence that they can get the used book and still succeed.

This would be a great business to run as most of the work would be needed before the new semester, before any large assignments in class.

12. Notes Digitization service

If you can type fast, you could offer a note digitization service to other students, teachers, or university staff. This service could be charged on a per-word basis for you to type up handwritten notes into word documents, excel sheets, or even powerpoints.

If you like dealing with people in person and don’t want to run a business that is completely based online, this may be a great service for you to run. There would be a human interaction component, as you would always need to pick up the notes since they are a hard copy.

13. Dorm room greens service

I’m talking greens.

Many students want to have plants in their dorm, but may fail to keep them healthy, or simply throw them out after. Instead, you could offer a service where you can deliver and water the plants for them. Every few weeks or months, the plants could be switched out to a different plant at the student’s preference. You could also see if you could get help from the school to fund this since, as it would be costlier to startup with all the costs of plants, containers, soil, etc. Payments could be set up on a one-time or monthly subscription.

14. Campus electric scooter rentals

Campus committing doesn’t have to be boring and with this service, it won’t. The campus electric scooter rental would have 5-10 electric and push scooter racks located at various strategic points on campus. Students could then rent them for a per minute or single-use fee to get to their classes.

This is another larger scale business idea as the scooters would an expensive initial investment, but it has the potential to grow as you can expand to large cities with huge campuses.

15. Care-package subscription service

Many new university and college students miss home when they first move to school. And their parents miss taking care of them! This service would help solve that problem as parents could buy their kids care packages that could be delivered at certain times of the year. That way, the students don’t get as home-sick and they also get a great and healthy packed box of goods.

This business could partner with local food chains and suppliers as it would help them get their name out as well, so supplies could be cheaper or even free. Secondly, the willingness to pay by many families may be quite high, so the price point could be higher than most other subscription box services.

16. New grad employment consulting service

Graduating from college or university can be very intimidating. Especially for those whos programs didn’t prepare them to get a job when they left their studies. This is a nightmare reality that many new grads face, and many of them end up getting a job completely unrelated to their studies just to pay the bills.

This is another college business idea that could be potentially funded by the university, as it gives the institution a good reputation of helping their students and their alumni landing job opportunities. To start this, you could put together a resume and cover letter training packages, as well as mock interviews and other classes related to getting the job in the field they want. A single class-fee could be charged here.

Although the employment rates have returned to their 2007 average, there are millions of graduates every year, so 2% to 4% of 10 million is a healthy market size of around 300,000 people that could use your help. This idea could also be adjusted for high school students that need a job, as that market is larger and would be a good place to expand.

17. The ethical phone company

The large phone producers like Apple, Samsung, and Google continue to push the boundaries of what is acceptable for a company to do to its consumers. From purposefully draining and gaming the batteries phone life around the launch time of new phones, and the unethical pricing you’ll pay to get your device repaired, it is time someone start an ethical phone company.

This company would involve creating a phone that is not $1,000, but instead around $300-$500, with parts that can be interchanged and replaced as needed. Additionally, parts wouldn’t be made for the purpose to break in 6 months either. This phone company would be ethical, and that could appeal to a very large mass market across the world.

It would also be a great business idea to start in college because you may have access to students in other programs like computer science and engineering so they could help you make this a reality.

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Classroom Startups To Create and Learn: 50 Ideas To Bring Entrepreneurship Into The Classroom

T ell anyone, let alone a student, to imagine being the owner of a business and that person sits up a little straighter, a knowing smile embarking on a journey to their own special world of ideas. Everyone travels there sometimes, that point in time where we own our own business, celebrating independence and individuality, breaking from the pack.

And students, well, they dream it all the time.

Teaching kids about startups and small business inside a classroom not only meets any set of standards, it prepares them for life. Students learn about brainstorming ideas, setting goals, budgeting, and indulging their individuality while still learning to cooperate with others.

On top of that, with the job market constantly fluctuating and the dismal outlook portrayed by the news, it’s even more crucial to teach students about business. How teachers do this really just depends on their own individual personalities and preferences. However, this is the one time when a student should choose something they like first then the teacher can act as a guide.

These fifty ideas are broken into sections to make them easier to find according to subject areas, but they’re meant to work together. So, if you’re a Math teacher and want to introduce the basics of money then check out the Language Arts section for brainstorming ideas. Perhaps you don’t want to have students brainstorm on a sheet of paper but you could use that to spearhead a short discussion on tangible business ideas that would interest them.

Take this a step further depending on circumstances and use several ideas at once. We all know that a classroom mimics the real world. Some students show more talent in one area over another. Allow them to use those talents creatively while adding the business elements and see what happens.

LANGUAGE ARTS

The perfect place to begin thinking up ideas for a start-up lives in the Language Arts classroom.

1. Success Stories

Read success stories with students. This can range from news or feature stories to historical pieces. One such story about Sarah Breedlove Walker introduces students to “a rags to riches” journey of one of the wealthiest black women in the 1900s. See   econkids.rutgers.edu   for more information. If teachers compare that with a story of Oprah Winfrey and her millionaire status, students will learn and find great inspiration for building a business from the bottom up.

2. Brainstorming Bubbles

In the same way that a student would brainstorm an essay topic, students can create an idea web for different businesses they might want to start or even different products they might want to sell. It all depends on the grade level and the depth of the lesson.

3. Resume Writing

Every student needs a resume of accomplishments so incorporating a resume writing session into the startup process shows students at about a 4th grade level and above the importance of building a history of experience and knowledge. Explain that this would be presented to a prospective investor(s) or included with a business letter.

4. Business Letter

A business letter offers the Language Arts teacher a unique opportunity to build vocabulary and grammar skills while integrating further understanding of business opportunities. A student might write a business letter to solicit interest from investors or possible consumers. The point being that the student should present the value of the business on several levels through formal language.

5. Business Plan

Without a plan, anyone can lose his or her focus on a goal. Have students   write a business plan   and they’ll get a solid understanding of what it takes to start their own business. But, even before they sit down to do this, have them read through some short questions and answers about students and their own quest to become an entrepreneur.

6. Risks & Benefits

Along the way, students should weigh the risks and benefits of whatever business venture they choose. Try a really easy to use tool, “The Balancing Act” Activity, as a visual for students. You’ll find it at  www.econedlink.org   Just place a number on each one to represent the value to the overall plan.

7. Types of Businesses

Take students from start to finish through a business model. Give them a specific type of business to focus on, delving into the ins and outs of making this business work. For instance, if you were to focus on the chocolate industry, you could start with  www.hersheys.com , then compare it to a European chocolatier, then to a local small business. Show students the differences and similarities while providing them with invaluable details about starting and maintaining a successful business.

8. Classroom Jobs vs. Entrepreneurship

Create a sense of responsibility by giving each student a job and add a twist. First assign jobs such as white board cleaner, agenda and date manager, art director, and so forth. Assigning more important names to jobs works really well with older students. Then listen to complaints and allow them to switch out jobs for a couple of week. Ultimately ask a series of questions to get them thinking: Would you be happy doing this when you’re out of school? How could you turn one of these skills learned into a business of your own? Or, do you prefer working for someone else? What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? All of this will help them understand responsibility and decide what route works best for them.

Math might be the obvious way to introduce students to business, but it’s not the easiest class to teach kids about entrepreneurship. Is an accountant an entrepreneur? Does a mathematician start a small business? Not really, but a student doesn’t have to be categorized and shouldn’t be, so teachers are free to open up the possibilities.

9. The Million-Dollar Question

Simply ask a question: Do you want to be a millionaire? Then, ask some more questions and help guide students through an engaging lesson full of percentages, decimals, data analysis, number sense, solving equations, and problem solving. This lesson requires small stories and flexibility so keep that in mind when approaching any obstacles. Check out  www.treasurydirect.gov   for details.

10. Make Money

Starting a business may begin with an idea or a desire for independence but no business moves forward without money. That old adage, which seems obvious to an adult, “You gotta have money to make money,” isn’t so apparent to a kid. So while teaching them the facts of dollars and cents for any grade level, instill this concept into them and have them list possible sources of funds.

11. Budgeting

Then ask the practical question of “How much money will you need?”

Depending on the business type, students need to decide how much money they’ll need by   creating a budget .

12. Banking

Then, ask, “How will you get that money?” Help them answer through your own personalized lesson or by sending them to the bank. Now you have kids learning about borrowing money from the bank. Teachers can take many avenues to get to the point where students borrow the money. Along the way, there are more than enough learning opportunities, from learning about interest on loans to problem solving. Check out the various lessons for grades K-5 at  www.discoveryeducation.com . Teachers can also find ideas to carry into higher grade levels.

13. Saving Money

For some basics on saving money try using  www.handsonbanking.org

It will introduce students to some of the core concepts necessary to move on to bigger and better ideas. Considering that adults struggle with saving money, this seals an important issue into their minds—the younger, the better.

14. Spending Money

One of the single most serious aspects of dealing with money involves spending it. Students need a heavy dose of reality when it comes to simpler consumer spending, let alone spending for their own business. Some sites do a great job at conveying the importance of this with facts and information, but  consumerjungle.org   cuts to the chase and gets right to the point. Use it to teach students how to spend wisely and carefully.

15. Turning a Profit

Exemplifying what turning a profit means to a group of students seems simple enough, but it’s challenging. If students haven’t even had a job, how can they possibly grasp the reality of turning a profit from a small business start-up? Well, that’s what teachers are for and that’s why teachers have great resources such as  www.richkidsmartkid.com   Video games help teachers introduce ideas and lessons broken into grade levels help teachers cement some important concepts including the idea of making a profit.

16. Balance Checking Accounts

Many people find balancing a personal checking account difficult not because it’s a difficult concept but because there are so many bills to pay. Taking some time to show and discuss paying bills and balancing accounts helps students with basic level of responsibility.   The mint   offers simple, digital lessons.

17. Supply & Demand

Because most students love video games,  Gazillionaire!   Is a great tool that will challenge students to build a small business and turn it into an empire. The player is offered a special opportunity to trade on the seven planets of Kukubia. By introducing students to the idea of creating a trade company, it provides them with important lessons in supply and demand.

All of the previous ideas should converge with science. We need science to carry us through into the future so pushing it forward with full force means getting down to business.

18. Biotechnology

Students create their own biotech companies. Break students into groups and have them come up with their own version of a biotech company. Each group elects a CEO and so forth. Check out   blogs.biochem.ncsu.edu   for details.

19. Electric Cars

Students learn science, technology, engineering, and math skills when engaging in programs like the one that   Arcimoto and the Eugene Water and Electric Board of Oregon created . The two organizations designed a program to inspire students to create small, electric vehicles. Students also learn that there’s a consumer benefit, which means that they can make money, find financial security, and create their own company.

20. Water Conservation

Because water conservation means survival, it only follows that students think of new ways to build businesses with this in mind. Depending on the grade level or the depth of knowledge, have students explore some of the companies out there already then discuss in groups of two or more some of their favorite companies. Afterward, tell students to make them better. Continue from there by having them create their own. Try   angel.co   for searching company profiles.

21. Recycle to Create

Introduce students to recycling with something as simple as a crafting or art project. Then, show them how this can turn into a business. There are   plenty of businesses that revolve around reusing materials . From robots to origamis, students learn and the business side motivates them to continue learning.

22. Solar Energy

Numerous lessons tackle the need for solar energy, but we all know the hulking and immediate cost to the consumer remains the reason why most of us don’t use solar energy. So, here’s your chance to teach students about solar energy and challenge them to come up with their own companies that would make this necessity affordable to the general population. See  www.need.org   for lessons then add the business challenge.

23. Observe Consumer Behavior

Conduct an experiment with consumer behavior. Introduce students to the stock market and link that with checking the news. But, more importantly, have students observe their own and their family and friends’ consumer behavior. That will make this so much more interesting. Then, have them come up with economically effective ways to solve or enhance some of the behaviors they’ve observed.

24. Robotics

Robotic hands, snakes, spiders taken to a consumer means convenience and opportunity. Besides the competitions and exhibits that already exist, challenge students to find a market for it. Tell them to break it down into a cost-effective analysis. That will give them a better idea of what their product is worth to them and the consumer.

25. Electronics

Everyone loves their electronics so focus on finding ways to improve, market, or repair them. Ask some basic questions to get them started such as how can we use electronics to improve everyday life even more? Or, how could you take a product that already exists and market it differently so that more people buy it perhaps for another purpose. One student found success with an electronics repair business through the   Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship .

26. Nitty Gritty

Have students get their hands dirty, quite literally, by planting an herb garden or growing specific vegetables and then selling the items. It could be used to show students how value and profit works and how getting your hands dirty means you have to work hard as well as smart when starting a business.

27. Computer Science

Take a current topic such as the creation of Clinkle Corp., a start-up set to become the portal with which consumers exchange money, and use it to teach. A student at Stanford University   formed Clinkle   then brought together a group of students who are now helping him build the company. Your students learn about competition and innovation.

28. Inventions

Inventions and business should go together. That’s why young inventors need exposure to the business world. Start by showing them one of the   TEDTalks   called “Pranav Mistry: The Thrilling potential of Sixth Sense” or one that you think might be more fitting for your classroom. That will serve as inspiration. Ask: How will this invention affect the world around you? How should it be marketed? How can the inventor hold on to a majority of the profits? Show them the reality, that most inventors retain only 1% of profits. That’s why learning about business is so vital to students’ success.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Using social studies to teach business skills offers both teachers and students a wider view. Opening students’ eyes to how companies conduct business around the world gives them an added form of inspiration.

29. The History of Business

Have students compare the various types of economic systems over time. This will help them understand where money came from and why. It will also help them understand how the credit card has changed the way they understand value, often disregarding the prices of various products and services.

30. The Global Market

Find some familiar businesses such as McDonald’s or Wal-Mart and contrast them with other more unfamiliar businesses specific to a certain region. Show the students the differences in marketing and supply and demand as well as a slew of other specifics that always change the dynamics of success.

31. Business Travel

Teach students how to take their business idea around the world. Explore how it might change the economy in various areas and teach several other concepts while allowing them to create and discover. Teachers can use this resource www.econed.org and the book How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World to teach a lesson or adjust it according to the grade level.

32. Location, Location, Location

A rule of thumb engrained in the business world remains the powerful mantra Location, Location, Location. Some believe this determines success or failure for a business. Now, with the advent of the Internet, that mantra may take new leaps and bounds or fall by the wayside. Nevertheless, it’s important to introduce students to the concept and help them decide whether it’s valuable to their business ideas. The   U.S. Small Business Administration   guides students through this and other pathways.

33. Currency Exchange

Take the business around the world. Let students choose parts of the world where they think their product would sell or their business would thrive. Then, have them determine exchange rates. You might want to stick to one continent, but it’s always more interesting when they choose. Students will not only learn by using world maps but also begin to understand the value of money across continents. Start with  www.clevelandfed.org

Various types of clubs help students socialize in an environment where they can be themselves so why not use the clubs to see the business side of their interests. Clubs often organize events or fundraisers to promote themselves so teach them some business skills along the way.

Too much of the time students are encouraged to become lawyers or doctors by their parents and teachers when in fact those students have a better chance at success in the arts. Teaching students business skills and, in particular, entrepreneurship through their talents gives them a sense of empowerment.

That power has also morphed into another advantage for the reclusive artist. Many artists aren’t social, but they need the social element to sell their art. Now, with the popularity of social media, artists can use this to their advantage.

35. Kickstarter

Kickstarter stands as great place to sell a small business idea so why not use it to introduce young artists to the idea of selling their art as an entrepreneur. Artists such as PaperFrank raise funds for art shows. Other art lovers raise funds for projects such as the Beauty for Ashes Project attempting to build a studio out of plastic bottles in Nicaragua.  www.kickstarter.com

36. Online Stores

The next step might be to show how students can set up an online shop. Of course there’s so much more to business and entrepreneurship than just creating a place to sell the product, but it gives them a resource and a starting point for motivation. Try  www.etsy.com   for a popular spot.

37. Boot Camp

Give students an art/entrepreneur boot camp and vary it according to age and/or grade level. Students need to know the ins-and-outs of survival in the business world if they plan on pursuing a career in art, so giving them some strong basics in a limited amount of time can work wonders. Pick up some good ideas from  www.startup-australia.org   or  www.nyfa.org

38. Student Bazaar

Set up a school-wide or community-based bazaar complete with tables and booths, depending on resources and the amount of students willing to participate. Invite all types of artists including food artists to show off what they can do and sell it too.

39. Art Gallery

Set up the classroom as an art gallery that features certain artists with pricing labels and so forth. Block the room off into sections for various artists or have a running theme that’s featured throughout the different artists’ work.

40. Craft Show

A craft show gives students a chance to find different avenues for marketing their art or even using their unique abilities to create crafty items. For instance, if they like bracelets, a group of them can get together and sell them.

41. Graphic Arts

There are so many ways for students to use work generated on the computer or scanned into it. Show students how to add graphic elements to their art, build collages with photography or create brochures, mini magazines, and so forth. Explain the benefits of having a small graphic arts company. Even intertwine this element with a student gallery showing or any of the other events.

42. Brand Art

Have students create their art on T-shirts, notepads and mugs. Once they have a brand name, have them set a plan for selling their product.

43. Vendors

Have the students approach vendors, gift shops and book stores with their product. To enhance this lesson, pull from some of the initial lessons under Language Arts and Math if necessary.

44. Trunk Show

Normally, a trunk show would be for an established designer’s new line and for a select audience or vendor to get a first look at a new item. So, when assigning something a trunk show for a group of students or even an entire class, remember to reiterate this and establish the importance of the presentation.

45. Project Runway

Creating a competitive environment out of a single project and offering prizes for the winners gives students a taste of how difficult following through on a goal can be but also how rewarding a win can make you feel. Use this to show them how designers start their own lines. The website for the show Project Runway has some great clips to show students.  www.mylifetime.com

46. Make Music & Sell

Different sites offer a full-service venue for independent musicians to control what happens to their work and build an audience with it. Check out  www.topspinmedia.com   for a community that helps them get their music heard.

47. Talent Show

There’s nothing new about a talent show, but the approach and the expectations should be. The talent show might have digital elements and, even more importantly, all musicians and dancers and so forth must be required to sell themselves. They might make promotional items, hand out business cards, or sell T-shirts. The idea is that they connect their music to a monetary value.

48. Poetry Café

Sharing poems in a makeshift café or even an actual café shows students that their work needs to be heard and enjoyed by others. Reading and talking about poetry while selling coffee and cakes gives students a chance to see how money’s made in the process.

49. Film Festival

From short films to introductions to feature films and even music videos, a film festival offers students the opportunity to flaunt their talent and their hard work. Some top high schools take this very seriously. Check out  dashdispatch.wordpress.com

50. Advertising Agency

Give the students a chance to create their own advertising agency. Create small groups of three or four students and have them come up with campaigns in print and digitally. Take them to a site such as  www.razorfish.com   to give them a real-world example. Depending on the time and extent of lessons, challenge them to help come up with unique ad campaigns for products they know and love. Make sure they place a value on their work and research how much ad agencies charge for various types of work. Compare large ad agencies to the smaller ones.

Showing students a sense of their own independence and matching that with their interests demonstrates just how much they can do with all of their skills and talents. Helping students learn more about the world they live in and how they interact with it keeps them interested and provides them with valuable information critical to their ability to find happiness and success in a perpetually changing world.

By Open Colleges

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Smart Side-Hustles: 13+ Business Ideas for Students Success

Are you a student who is looking for business ideas for students to start alongside with your studies? If yes, then you are a student with a high wisdom and goal oriented personality, because many students believe that you can’t be a student and do business at the same time. Of Course you can do that. I have a bunch of business ideas for students that I can share with you, and you can be a student at the same time take along with those businesses, which will generate money for you and you can use that money to support yourself in many aspects.

In this article, I will explicate the recent business ideas for students, in which you can take as an opportunity for you, and with your persistence and dedication, you can earn a living while you can continue your studies too.

So before wasting time let list them and explain them in detail;

• Digital Marketing  
• E-Commerce 
• Web Designer 
• Handmade Craft
• Social Media Management 
• Photographic 
• Fitness Trainer
• Sell Ebook Version
• Affiliate Marketing
• Delivery Service  
• Content Writing 

1. Digital Marketing 

Table of Contents

Digital marketing is a market domain that has expanded for the past decade, and it is still thriving everyday. Every business is working on its website inorder to boost their presence in the digital world . You can start to launch your own digital marketing service, where you can focus on how to influence the media about your website. There are many high-paying digital business ideas you might explore such as being a digital marketing analyst, content writing specialist, company specialist, social media marketing agency, video marketing firm and many more. As a student i believe this will benefit you alot

2. E-Commerce

We can say that for the last decades, ecommerce (electronic commerce) has dominated in the global market due to technological advancement. E-commerce is the process of buying and selling of goods and services over an electronic network, primarily the internet. It can be from business to business or from business to consumers etc.

 This platform provides you the chance to earn a living, where you can deal with companies under contracts, on which you will be given goods and you have to sell those goods to wholesalers, or maybe from the wholesalers to retailers to the final consumer using the internet, and you can earn commission from that.

3. CV Writing 

Are you a good Cv writer? If yes, then this is a golden opportunity for you. Many students, after their graduation, find it difficult  to write an impressive CV for a job application. There is huge competition in the job market. Managers strictly scrutinized applicants’ cvs before giving the final shortlists. So applicants are looking for people who can put an impression on their CVs, so that they get the chance to be the right applicant to be employed, so you can take this opportunity to write CVs for people applying for jobs.

4. Web Designing 

Due to the advancement of technology, the global market is becoming more competitive, every business wants to be the best good or service provider, that is why we have new developments like digital marketing, social media marketing, search engine optimization etc… all of these components are used by the businesses, but all of these can only take place when you have a website. So venture into website development and help companies/businesses develop their own websites where they can promote, give ads for their product, and you can charge huge money for that.

Remember either large or small businesses want to have a website,so the demand is very high, go for it and you will succeed.    

Are you a genius in your field of study? Take the opportunity to be a tutor in your expert area. Organize study classes, where you can help your fellow students and charge them money for that. They will be willing to pay if you are good in the area they are interested in. We have different kinds of students, some are slow learners and some are fast learners, so you target the slow learners and start your business by taking them classes, assisting them on their assignments and other work. Start with a small amount until they recognize your ability then you can increase bit by bit.

6. Handmade Craft

You might think that handmade craft is a traditional business right? But I can tell you that the demand for craft products is high. These products are used for different purposes, some people use it to give it as a gift to their loved ones and some use it for domestic purposes. You can make product like artwork ,baskets, buckets, jewelry etc 

 You can make these items  and sell them. You just have to modernize it and make it look attractive.

So if you have the skills. You can use it as a business idea and you will succeed.

7. SEO Expert

Search engine optimization is an essential technique for internet marketing and SEO experts is making sure that their website remains first at the search engine result. SEO plays a crucial role in digital marketing, it helps to increase website traffic. If you have knowledge on SEO it is a great opportunity for you to work with high companies  because it is a tool that is playing a vital role in businesses and companies.

8. Social Media Management 

Nowadays, students are very adept at social media. It is a good idea to direct your social media expertise into lucrative businesses by offering social media management services. Companies have realized the importance of social media and are employing young students to manage their social media. Having a vast knowledge in this area can open your door to be employed in a prominent company to manage their social media. This could be you,so wakeup and grab the opportunity. Get the knowledge about social media and then get the chance to work with large companies and you can earn and start your own business in the future.

9. Digital Photography

As a student you can start a digital photography business, which can earn you money and you can venture into it as a business of your own. Digital photography has completely revolutionized the industry and made the film based photography industry obsolete. In today’s time, many youths are benefiting from this business, they got the chance to travel to many places just to run a show. As a student there are many school events, where you can render your service and get something out of it such as induction day, graduation ceremony, school sport events and many more. So this is among the business ideas for students you can adopt.

10. Fitness Trainer 

There are numerous people who have the passion of going to the gym for physical exercise, and they want to build body muscle, but they don’t know how to start nor do they have a trainer who can guide them. This gives you the opportunity to open a gym station and be a trainer. You only need a station and the training materials, then inform the people and you also do advertisements, or write posters and paste them to the public, this can also be a business idea for you.

11. Selling Ebook Version

With the rise in e-commerce and technology the best classic business you can adopt can be selling ebooks out- of- copyright works. You easily convert out-of-copyright works into audio or ebook format and then sell them to popular platforms. With less effort, also little knowledge you  can adopt this business and you can be ranked among the top business ideas for students. Not only that, you can also open it as a business where you can earn a lot.

12. Delivery Services

Being a delivery service man and at the same time a student is not and it is a way of earning a living. Many youths are acquiring jobs from this, and with time they can establish their own business, why not you as a student?  We have many companies that are looking for this service, companies like amazon, flipkart, zomato mesho et.. so this is a moment where you can start earning money for yourself and take along with your studies. Later in the future you can grow your own business on a large scale when you are able to save at the moment you are working.

31+ Easy Small Business Ideas To Become Entrepreneur In 2023

These 2 Are The Best And Affordable Business Ideas For Students That You Can Start With: 

13. affiliate marketing .

This is a simple internet business where you can promote a company product online, and you will get commission from the sales of the brand. As a student you can be able to do this and it can’t affect anything from your studies. Inoder to succeed in this business you have to choose a company product that is well recognized, affiliate the product to the buyers by giving them a clear insight about the product, its benefit and you can also give demonstration on how to use the product if there is necessary. If the customers buy the product you will get a commission on that. The most important thing in affiliate marketing, is to convince the buyers to choose the product you are promoting over its competitors.

How Can I Become An Affiliate Marketer?

Basically, there could be six steps that can help you become an affiliate marketer. Let us discussed them below:

• Choose A Niche

When starting affiliate marketing, finding a niche is the first thing to start with. Firstly, you choose a niche based on popularity, profitability, market 

demand etc.. you can choose some popular niche as;

• Health and fitness
• Blogging and making money online
• Fashion shop
• Personal finance 
• Find The Best Affiliate Program

In affiliate programs, there are two types: affiliate network and in-house program. An affiliate network can either have macherant, where you have to sign in and create an account for the program or you can have the publisher which is already created; you only choose from the programs available and then publish. It is the best for beginners.

• Choose A Publishing Platform

The advantage of affiliate marketing is that, you can do it at any platform such as websites, youtube,social media, podcast etc,

• Produce Traffic

You can generate traffic by creating good content,you can do it in writing content or video content.

• Promote Your Affiliate Links

This is where you promote your link by convincing customers. You can do it by posting ads on facebook, attracting customers, uploading videos and many more, and making use of the media to get in touch with your customers.

After all, you have to adopt very wish tips to maximize your affiliate earning by following this tips:

• Open and promote a brand that you believe in and it has high market demand.
• Be transparent 
• Build relationships and trust with your audiences 
• Create a quality content

With these you can succeed in your affiliate marketing. yes!

14.  Content Marketing 

Content writing is among the prominent business ideas for students, it has given them the opportunity to enhance their creativity and showcase their talents. In today’s time, we can say content writing is flourishing at a high speed and it has boosted the market for digital marketing as well. 

Content writing plays a crucial role in our today’s time such as providing product descriptions, press releases, and many more. Visitors to websites are provided with accurate information with right references.

This is an opportunity as a student to start writing essays, articles or any topics which you know will be high traffic on that topic, and this cannot interfere with your studies. With this you will earn money on that, just provide content with high traffic with good references and you can succeed.

How To Start Content Writing For Your Business?

You can start your content writing with just four simple steps, but remember that there can be challenges involved too, but you can seek help from web developers to assist you.

The four steps are as follows:

Make A Plan

This is the first step in everything that you are doing. In this step you are clear on your business model, creating your business plan, identifying your audience,and there should be crystal clear on all the details about  how you are going to run your business, and remember about the organization also, which is among the most important in your business and content writing business. Do not forget to choose a niche, because niching make it easy for you to find your way out. In your niching you can consider the following

• Is it profitable?
• What is your professional experience?
• What are you passionate about? 

After this point, you can choose the name of your business, type of writing                          you are going to adopt, and then move to the next step. 

1. Set Up The Technical Aspect

This step could be the hardest part, because it is where you have to set up a professional website, so get a way out in this step can difficult, the reason is that, we have many websites and they competition could be high, but luckily there are many options for web hosting and sites builders which are easy and affordable to get such as, wordpress, webflow, spotify etc. You only need to buy a host and a domain and you will get your website within a couple of days. So what is included here is that, websites creation, portfolio, and your social media platforms such as facebook, twitter, instagram etc.

2. Organize The Logistics

Logistics will involve registering your business ,hiring good writers, setting up a tax account,and also keeping a strong privacy and security of your details. Also keep separate of all the necessary things with your personal information details.

3. Find Clients

This is the last step in how to start a content writing business, and it is among the most crucial parts, because content writing is a competitive and a challenging thing too. The most difficult thing is when you are new to the clients, it is not easy for them to trust you at the starting point, and you have many competitors who are making sure they are the best, so here you to have the right platform, where you can get in touch with the right clients for your service. There are many platforms where you can get clients like facebook, instagram, cold emailing, twitter etc..  

At this juncture we can conclude that, there are many business ideas for students that you can take alongside with your studies, and there can be no interference in your study. With the advancement in technology, we have e-commerce business, content writing, digital marketing, affiliate marketing, social media marketing, search engine optimization and many business ideas for students which you can start with and you can be earning a lot of money from that. You only need to have a strong wisdom and then dedicate yourself to the business of your choice and go on with it,you  just need to believe that it is possible to carry out a business alongside your studies, so do not feel lazy to grab these golden opportunities around.

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52 student business ideas and startup opportunities

Struggling to come up with ideas for businesses to start at university, college or school here is a list of the best businesses and enterprises you can start while studying as a student.

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I got exceptionally lucky with my degree. I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by incredibly smart people who taught me enough to pass my exams at the last minute. I survived three years at a top university and managed to walk out with a 2.1 BEng, despite having skipped 99% of my lectures. I was far too busy frantically trying to come up with a great business idea so that I could start my own business at university .

15 startup ideas that can change your life

Top 100 ways you can make money online, 3 reasons for tech entrepreneurs to target the student market .

Universities should be a breeding ground for startups. Where else can you tap into resources for marketing, video, development and design for free? Not to mention networks like the university TV station, radio station and social media channels to help get the word out, as well as countless societies and clubs. It’s not just about the vast available resources, either – many students are actively seeking work experience, the majority of whom would work on an exciting project for free to use as a reference when applying for jobs after graduation.

Enough background information! This post walks you through a bunch of student business idea, covering online ideas, academic ventures, simple services you can provide, and everything in between.

1. Photography

If you own a decent DSLR, you have everything you need to get this venture off the ground. Partner up with venues directly or latch onto an existing promotions company and become the *official photographer* for specific venues or nights. Get that *official* locked down so that nobody else can get in on the action. Then turn up at the start of the event, sling on a lanyard and get snapping! Venues love posting pictures on social media after big events as it’s excellent marketing, so make that your business model!

Amp your service up to another level by creating a photo booth. Photobooths cost thousands of pounds and are mostly pointless. You can recreate one for a fraction of the price by grabbing a rail and a shower curtain and heading down to your local party store for a bunch of silly props. For £20 ($25), you’ve got yourself a photo booth service which you can sell, watermark and distribute through venues’ social media. Simple!

2. Trade on eBay

My flatmate and I did this throughout our time at university. We bought tablet computers from China and sold them for a profit on eBay. A friend of mine made a fortune buying white headphones (iPhone style) in bulk and selling them on individually.

Another friend purchased jewellery making kits, made necklaces and bracelets and sold them individually. Pick something with a significant markup, buy on mass and invest in some envelopes and parcels, and you’re on your way.

3. Become a tutor

I’ve already spoken about how lucky I was at university. I wouldn’t have done half as well without some serious support from some knowledgeable people.

Looking back on it, the amount of time and value that my friends invested in me was outrageous, and they really should have charged for it! Tutoring isn’t anything new, and it doesn’t need a long description: where there are students, there are tutors. That’s a fact, so why not leverage it? My focus would be around exam time.

4. GPS tracking business

The £2.26 billion GPS tracking industry is taking off at speed, and luckily there’s a lot of room for new entrants. The competition is low, and there’s plenty of opportunities to find a niche. You can focus on markets such as family and pet GPS tracking, tracking for consumer vehicles, expensive equipment and  business fleets , as well as GPS monitoring services for governmental organisations and NGOs.

Even better, you don’t have to develop your own hardware or even your own software. You can simply sell GPS trackers by dropshipping or buying them in bulk. Then, you can combine GPS tracking hardware with white label software, put your own branding on it, and sell it all as a package – this is one of the newer, top startup business ideas for this year.

5. Videography

Video opens up a new arm of a photography business. You can make promotional videos for specific nights out, or branch out from nightlife altogether and make video advertisements for local companies, or even businesses listed in this guide. Just like photography, if you own a decent camera and have a copy of Final Cut Pro, your costs should be covered straight off the bat.

Go crazy and create a photography or videography company where you hold exclusive rights across every venue or event and license out the photography itself to other students for a cut!

6. Nightlife Promotions

This guide isn’t just about making money; it’s about coming up with  business ideas . Sure, you can become a nightlife promoter for an existing promo company overnight, but why be the little guy?

If you have a big social media following,  access to a network  (like a society) and some good branding, you can pitch to run your own events. Pick the quietest night of the week and approach a big venue with a solid plan. For zero upfront hiring fees, you can have a shot at running your own promotions company, make it work and before you know it, you’ll be running events all over the city.

7. Laundry service

If there’s one thing students can’t be bothered to do, it’s laundry. You can capitalise on the laziness of your fellow students by offering to wash, dry and deliver their clothes for a modest price. You can also target busy professionals or parents that don’t have the time to do their laundry. Make sure you brush up on different fabrics, so you don’t accidentally ruin anyone’s favourite jumper.

Leaflet dropping is a speedy way to market your services. It’s a good idea to target blocks of flats where there might not be any washing machines on-site – head to a laundrette or max out your washing machine, and you’re quids in.

Pretty much every business idea listed here needs some form of design. Whether you’re studying design or are just a keen artist, there’s a definite market here. Design flyers, websites, banners – think how many popup banners are around at the start of the school year. Make some slick business cards and start handing them out to anyone that might be interested.

9. Prom makeup

If you’re reading this guide word-for-word, you’ve probably realised a recurring theme, and that’s playing to student seasonality. Just as students need to move every year (see cleaning, removals), school leavers go to prom every year in the thousands.

Makeup artists cost a tonne of money, so if you’re a dab hand at makeup, invest in some quality products and start hitting up all your peers to find clients.

10. Become a fitness instructor

When I was at school, I joined the gym for £100 ($124). While that may sound like a bargain, it was a complete waste of money. Why? I had no idea what I was doing. I would’ve gladly paid for a personal trainer. In regular gyms, PTs can charge up to £100 an hour for a session – the same as the ANNUAL membership fee! Set up shop closer to £20 ($25) an hour and you’ll crush it.

11. Become a budget nutritionist

Students love to budget, be that wearing a duvet as a coat to avoid heating bills, or eating beans on toast every day for a year. Having a small budget for food doesn’t mean you have to be unhealthy.

Put some time into researching cost-effective, healthy meals, and you pave the way for nutritionist revenue. Maybe you could partner with a fitness instructor and sell a joint package.

12. Flyering

There are plenty of businesses around the country that specialise in flyer and leaflet distribution. For university students, there’s no better place to hand out leaflets than on campus.

You can leaflet drop through doors without a license, but if you’re planning on handing them out in a busy place or on private property, make sure you have the required paperwork. Target nightclubs and student startups as your initial clients.

13. Grocery delivery

Just like laundry, this is a classic *lazy economy*. As a student, you need food. Supermarkets can charge £5 for 3-day delivery. You could charge £2 per person per £20 worth of food to manage weight and complexity, and go every day.

Amazon makes a killing on 2-hour delivery slots in London. You can extend our business into general delivery, such as delivery from any department store which would otherwise take a week. However, be careful not to spend all your time making little profit. For the effort to be worth it, you need to scale.

14. Gourmet cooking

In my first semester at Southampton, somebody in my building almost burnt the block down by putting a pizza in the oven and forgetting about it. Amazingly, somebody else in the same building later tried to cook pasta without any water and promptly fell asleep… cue the fire engines.

Students don’t have enough income to hire a full-time chef. Still, for weekly dinners (we had a flat lunch every Wednesday) or special occasions (Easter, Christmas, dates, anniversaries) there’s probably a market if you know your way around a kitchen.

15. Discounts

When I was at university, I started a discount company called Student Hero. We approached every club in Southampton and asked for an exclusive discount. It didn’t have to be the best, but it had to be exclusively for us.

We did the same thing with other popular places like Pizza Hut and Krispy Kreme. After just a couple of days walking around your local city, you can put together something of real value for thousands of people. Package your deals as an app or discount card and sell it to other students.

You can also sell advertising on the app or card in the form of logos. We charged six venues £200 a logo, which covered all our design, print and manufacturing costs straight away.

16. Nightlife Entertainment

Nightlife entertainment can cover a range of things, but here I’m talking about supplying venues and promoters with what they need to run events, minus the hassle.

Perhaps you’re a DJ or a band; maybe you own sound equipment, perhaps you own a foam machine. Become the go-to supplier for every venue for the main events of the year, and you’ll have an easily scalable business.

17. Become a campaigner

As far as I’m aware, this is yet to be turned into an actual business. Every year in Southampton, the whole place becomes insanely active for the sabbatical nominations, where people campaign to win positions like Student President for the upcoming year.

For the effort that goes into these campaigns, you’d think the candidates were running for the White House, with speeches, lecture campaigning and viral videos. If they’re running like full-blown government elections, why not commoditise it like one? Become the authority and supplier of all things campaign-related.

18. Create listings and reviews

My first foray into startups came through a listing site. Make a catalogue of every single shop, nightclub, event and activity that may be of interest to a student at your university.  Create a website  like Yelp, add a personal review and open up the platform for student reviews. Market it on to first-year students.

19. Write student news

The news industry is one of the most competitive in the world. In the UK, you have at least five mainstream newspapers to choose from every day and countless online news outlets.

Why isn’t the same true at your university? Just because there are union-backed media, that doesn’t mean there’s no room for innovation. A friend of mine created a student news website which did phenomenally well. Add in advertising and partnerships, and you’ve got a real business opportunity. One benefit of being unaffiliated? You can set your tone and be as blunt as you like.

20. Start a blog

With the right time and effort, any blog in any niche can become profitable. This website is a blog – this post may be an “ultimate guide”, but in reality, it’s just a very, very, very long blog post. If you’re passionate about a specific topic, buy a domain for £6 ($8), set up a  WordPress site  and get writing. Aim for 500+ words per article and share it on your social media. When you have real traffic going through the blog, add  Google Adsense to start making money .

21. Become an affiliate

Being an affiliate goes hand in hand with starting a blog. An affiliate marketer is somebody who sends traffic to an  eCommerce site  like Amazon and gets a commission on any sale they’ve generated through their link.

A great example of this is tech – if you’re a bit of a geek and are strongly opinionated, start a blog writing reviews for new tech with an affiliate link to each product. If you get good traction, you can eventually get the products for yourself for free from brands in return for a review. You can then sell these products on or gift them through a marketing campaign.

22. Work as a freelancer

I wouldn’t have survived starting up a business if I didn’t have an alternative revenue stream. My primary revenue came from freelancing. Over time, this became a full-time revenue stream, and I worked as a freelancer for six months straight. If you have an online business idea and you’re skilled in any online discipline like the design, copywriting, A/B testing, coding, set up a profile on  UpWork  or  PeoplePerHour  and start bidding on jobs! These platforms are reviewed-based, so go above and beyond for your first 20 customers to get great reviews, and it’ll snowball.

23. Host webinars

This idea is an extension of tutoring, but if you’re terrific at one particular subject, you can host webinars across the country to tutor people from other universities too. Charge a small amount to participate, or charge people to download the recording afterwards.

24. Write CVs and resumés

One thing that people generally suck at is talking themselves up on paper. It’s one of those things that is a lot easier to do for somebody else than for yourself. If you’re great at writing in a punchy tone, you can  build a business  by writing CVs and resumés for your peers. If a client gets a job using the CV you wrote, ask them for a testimonial to put on your website, detailing who they are and where they now work. Before you know it, requests will be pouring in.

25. Offer PR services

Another idea for the writers out there. Press releases are the business equivalent of a CV. There are opportunities left, right and centre to help local businesses with PR. You can team up with your university’s blog too and start offering your help as a service. If you want to do this at scale, check out the freelancing suggestion in the Everything Else section of this guide.

26. Proofread essays

The prank of choice at my school was to cmd-f-replace words like “a” with a swearword on someone’s homework, just before they turned in their assignment! Start proofreading your friends’ assignments for a modest fee, such as a pound ($1) per 1000 words. You need to scale to make money, but you’ll get faster and faster with practice.

27. Halls cleaning

I swear by this idea as one of the best small and self-sufficient businesses you can start at university. Print out some flyers and go door-to-door around your halls of residence.

You can get going with zero experience (assuming you know how to do the dishes) and there’s no cost beyond cleaning supplies. If you wait until your first booking to buy cleaning products, your idea is instantly profitable. This idea can scale too. By managing the commercial relationship with students, you can build a cleaning empire around your university, hiring friends, classmates, or anybody you know to clean, and take a cut yourself.

28. End of tenancy cleaning

I’ve kept this separate from halls cleaning for a reason. Halls cleaning is all about scale by numbers – you take on a large volume of in-and-out jobs for which you charge a small fee per person, room or flat. For anyone who’s rented a student house and had to clean it at the end of the year, you’ll know this is a much bigger job.

Once the semester is up and it’s time to leave, students are required to deep-clean their entire house, scrubbing the walls, cleaning all the appliances and windows, sponging alcohol stains out the carpet. Professional cleaning companies can charge upwards of £200 ($250) for a single day’s work. As a student, you can easily undercut this. With thousands of students doing this every year in every university, there’s enormous revenue potential.

29. Start a sandwich delivery business

A revelation when I was at university was a household offering a 30-minute delivery for any sandwich of your choosing. You can capitalise on hungry, lazy students by

That in itself was worth a mention on this list, but you can do it with anything. The trick is to focus on something straightforward and cheap, like sandwiches or crepes, and have a swift turnaround time. BBC Dragon Duncan Bannatyne made his fortune selling out of ice cream vans. Maybe you can be the first sandwich Dragon! One crucial caveat – if you’re selling food, make sure you have all the required paperwork.

30. Flipping burgers

Burgers weren’t on my initial draft, but then I remembered that the sports fields at Southampton university are miles away from any form of take-out. Athletes, and more importantly, sports fans, need to eat! You’d make a killing if you set up a simple burger store near the action.

Buying frozen burgers in bulk is very cost-effective, and you could sell them for £3 ($3.7)/burger for an insane markup. As above, be sure to get the necessary paperwork and be aware of any allergens in your food before you sell.

31. Start a student removals business

I moved house six months ago and paid £200 ($250) for just half a day for a removal company to move all my stuff. You can hire a van for an entire day for significantly less than £200, and students don’t have furniture, making it far quicker – if you’re efficient, you can move 10+ people per day.

That’s a fantastic  profit margin  and a great form of exercise. The best part? Students move every year, so just like cleaning, your market is close to guaranteed.

32. Test and review new products

If there’s one thing students love, it’s freebies. Most freshers will grab enough free pens at the Freshers’ Fair to last them a lifetime. This idea will earn you freebies and some cash, all in one.

New products need testing before they launch to the market. Companies will look for people to send items to in return for feedback which they can then use to improve their product before they sell to the public. Beauty companies and electronics companies tend to be two of the most common industries looking for testers – ideal for students who covet these expensive items.

Sign up to ProductTestingUK to get going. You’ll need to answer a few questions to see what products you’re eligible to test. When you’re a match, you’ll receive the product in the post and have to test it out and leave feedback. A lot of brands will let you keep the product for free, and some will pay you on top of that. In some cases, you can even resell the product you’ve tested to make even more profit – but be careful to read the small print first.

33. Get paid to fill out surveys

Paid surveys are a lazy student’s dream. You can flick through the questions while sitting on the bus, watching TV or even while dozing off in the back of lectures.

Businesses use surveys as market research, to figure out the demographics of their target customers and find out what they look for in a product or service. There are hundreds online which will pay you for your opinion, and take only a matter of minutes to complete.

Sign up to a few websites to find as many paid surveys as possible. Worth checking out Swagbucks , Onepoll , Lifepoints and Toluna . Be sure to check the payment for each survey. Some pay in cash, whereas some offer vouchers or gift cards instead.

34. Start a Youtube channel

A fun money-maker is starting a YouTube channel! You can do this on your own or with your mates – all you need is a camera and an idea. It can be anything from a pranks channel to a makeup channel or even just a day-in-the-life of a student.

Becoming a hit on YouTube takes some hard graft, but an innovative idea can take off overnight. The biggest challenge is producing regular content – try and think of something sustainable. Funny videos tend to go viral, which is a good place to start in your bid to achieving YouTube fame.

YouTube can earn you big money if you get enough views. Per 1000 views you’ll roughly get £5-7 in ad revenue. The benefit of uploading a video to YouTube is that it’ll rack up views over time without you doing anything, making it a nice passive earner. If you’re lucky enough to reach YouTube stardom, you can get paid partnerships with brands if you promote their product in one of your videos.

35. Buy and sell limited-edition streetwear

Students dig fashion. Wearing designer brands or dressing in current trends is never more important than when you’re at school or uni. If there’s one thing students will splurge their cash on, it’s limited-edition streetwear.

Limited-edition items sell out in a matter of minutes, leaving many disappointed. If you’re a bit of a keyboard warrior, you can buy these items and sell them on for a sizeable profit. For tips on hot products and market trends, follow @flipping_supreme and @hustle_the_hype on Instagram, successful resellers who give free advice on upcoming trends.

Consider using Fillr , an app which auto-fills your details, to reduce your checkout time. You can sell your items on through Depop, or higher-end sites like Grailed , StockX and Stadium Goods which sell only exclusive items.

36. Test websites and apps

Much like testing and reviewing products, apps and websites require the same kind of testing, called usability testing. You’ll have to use a website or app and give feedback on how easy it was to use and how well everything functioned. You’ll need a laptop and a microphone, and you’re good to go.

Companies list testing opportunities on sites like UserTesting , TryMyUI and Webusability . Sign up and create a profile and complete some short online training. You’ll then be able to choose from a list of websites and apps and start earning.

UserTesting is the biggest site for website testing and can earn you up to £10 for just 20 minutes testing. Other sites offer anywhere between £1 and £36 per test – not bad for a side hustle!

37. Enter competitions

Entering competitions may seem like a potluck, but enter enough, and the odds will be in your favour. There are thousands of competitions online which are free to enter – spending a few hours completing as many as you can is likely to see you some decent rewards.

You can find competitions anywhere on the web, but to save time, use sites like The Prize Finder , which lists links to hundreds of free competitions all in one place. You can win anything from cash, a new phone or even a car. The smaller competitions tend to have better odds.

I recommend setting up a new email address to enter competitions, so you’re not inundated with promos on your personal account. Be sure to check it regularly though, in case you’re a winner!

38. Start matched betting

Lots of students turn to gambling when they’re strapped for cash. But there’s now no need to take gambling risks, as you can now use no-risk matched betting to earn big money.

Most gambling sites and bookmakers offer a “free bet” now and then, usually to new customers, where you’ll get a free bet after you place your first bet. To bet risk-free and win some cash, you place your first bet on the promo site, bet against yourself on another betting site to cancel out the risk, and then use your free bet to bet on anything you like in the comforting knowledge that you can’t lose any money.

Take the time to learn the proper process by reading up online – most failed attempts at no-risk betting come down to human error. Always check the T&Cs before you sign up and be careful – betting can be addictive.

39. Find Fiverr gigs

You can make a profit out of almost any skill. Posting an ad on Fiverr is a quick way to start earning money. You can offer photography skills, essay writing help, a typing service – the list goes on. Fiverr attracts a lot of visitors to its site so you’ll quickly find interested customers.

To get going, create a profile on Fiverr and write a listing for the “gig” you’re offering. Interested customers will contact you through the site where you can negotiate a fee and timescale. Gigs start from £3, but you can earn upwards of £100 per project depending on the service and the competition.

If you can, include a portfolio. This can be a collection of samples of your work or previous jobs you’ve done for other clients to give prospective customers a taste of what you can offer.

40. Sell your notes

Why not make money on work you’ve already done? You can make serious money online by selling your notes. Websites like Stuvia have made it even easier to get cash for your study material. You can sell anything study-related, from GCSE and A level revision notes, to university lecture notes and even essays.

Selling on Stuvia couldn’t be more straightforward. Once you’ve made a profile, you can upload as many documents as you like and set a price for each. It’s a good idea to offer a free preview to encourage people to pay for your notes. Typed notes tend to sell better and are easier to upload and download.

Remember that your target audience is other students, so keep your prices low to sell as many as possible.

41. Resell tickets

For keyboard wizards, buying tickets for shows and concerts before they sell out and selling them on for a profit can be a lucrative money-maker. You can set up an account on ticket exchanges such as Viagogo and Biletto to sell on your tickets. For uni students, some universities have their own buy/sell Facebook pages where you post the tickets close to the event.

To make money, you’ll need to buy a fair amount of tickets, which means you’ll need enough capital to buy them in the first place. Be aware, too, that it’s illegal to resell tickets for some events, including sports matches, without the club’s express permission. Always check the T&Cs before putting your tickets up for resale.

As a secondary ticket seller, you can make anything from 30% to 500% profit margin for a sold-out event. By far the most profitable idea is buying tickets to popular music festivals and selling them on a few days before the festival starts, just when FOMO hits and people are willing to pay ludicrous amounts of money not to miss out.

42. Run a coffee or snack stall

Make the most of the daily footfall on campus or at a local hotspot in town by setting up a snack or coffee stall for a tasty profit. The markup on a cup of tea or coffee can be up to 90%, making it a nice little earner.

Make sure you get permission from the relevant authorities or property owners before you start. If you can get your uni on board, your best bet is setting up outside hotspots like the library – particularly if you can undercut the coffee machine prices.

For snacks, you can buy wholesale or even bake the goods yourself to save on further expenses.

43. Run a car washing service

Offering to wash people’s cars is a speedy and cheap way to earn some extra bucks. You can either sell door to door or offer the service in car parks, provided you’ve got the right permissions. You can sometimes get consent from local supermarkets or sports clubs to provide your services in their car parks. You’ll need some cleaning supplies and access to water, and you’re good to go.

How much profit you make depends solely on how efficient you are. You can charge anywhere between £3 and £15 for a carwash – the lower end will get you more customers, but you’ll have to get through more per hour to earn a decent profit. If you’re opting for a door to door sales technique, target large estates so you can get around as many houses as possible in a small space of time.

44. Offer childcare

A popular way to make money as a student is to offer childminding and babysitting services. Parents are always looking for minders to look after their children after school or while they enjoy a night out. It’s an easy cash-in-hand option for students who have experience working with kids.

To find local families, you can post on local Facebook groups, advertise at bus stops or drop round flyers in your neighbourhood. You can also reach out to local primary schools to see if they’ll pass on your service, but you will need a DBS check for schools to consider endorsing you.

45. Sell your baked goods

For Bake-Off enthusiasts, selling cakes, cookies and other treats can be a fun way to earn money. You can get going from your kitchen at home with some basic baking supplies. You can advertise your baked goods on Facebook groups or by putting up flyers at school or uni.

If you’ve got a car or bike, you can offer to drop round your products in your local student area, or sell door to door. Some schools and unis will let you set up a bake sale on their grounds, although this is usually reserved for charities. If you start making a profit, you can consider paying for a stall at local farmers markets and fates.

Talented bakers can charge higher rates for custom made goods, such as premium birthday cakes or wedding cakes.

46. Become a painter and decorator

Why not offer to paint and decorate for money? It requires little to no previous experience and is popular with homeowners who don’t want to pay the high prices charged by professionals. Many customers are happy to provide the materials, too.

To find customers, reach out to family friends and neighbours. If you’re living in a house-share at university, you can contact your landlord to see if they need any painting or decorating services. Many landlords own several properties in student areas and will often need someone to carry out touch-up jobs during the holidays.

47. Set up a pet sitting company

Are you obsessed with animals? One of the nicest ways to earn money as a student is to offer to pet sit. Pet owners are always in need of help looking after their pets when they need to leave the house. You can offer to feed or look after people’s pets while they’re at work or on holiday and benefit from all the animal love in the process.

Decide on the type of service you want to offer. You can go round to people’s homes and feed their pets while they’re away, which works well for self-sufficient animals like cats and rabbits, or offer to look after pets at your own house – provided you’ve got permission from your housemates!

Some pet owners, usually customers with dogs, will ask you to live in their property to take care of their pet while they’re away. This can be a great option during school or university holidays as you’ll get to stay in a nice house and benefit from free food and a furry study pal.

You can market your services by posting flyers in the local area or posting on Facebook. Some Vets and pet shops will let you put an ad in the window, too.

48. Start a dog walking business

Speaking of pets, for canine-crazy students who enjoy being outdoors, walking peoples’ dogs is the one for you. Many dog owners don’t have time to walk their dogs once or twice a day or need help when they’re sick or injured.

The standard rate varies from £8-15 per dog, per hour. To make more money, you can walk several dogs at a time if they’re all in the same area by using a master harness, provided they’re friendly with other dogs.

Start by reaching out to all your friends and family who have dogs. If that doesn’t work, you can market your service by putting up a post on sites like  Gumtree  or BorrowMyDoggy .

49. DJ for parties and events

With more and more young people getting into techno and house music, students are increasingly turning their hand to DJing. Disc jockeys are in high demand for local student nights, house parties or more formal events like weddings and big parties.

If you’ve got some good music playlists, your own mixing deck or some high-quality speakers, you can charge your friends and peers to play at their events. Start off your marketing by word-of-mouth and reach out to friends and family over Facebook and Instagram. Once you gain experience, you can partner with venues and events companies who need disc jockeys for bigger events.

50. Set up a nail salon

A professional manicure can cost anywhere between £15 and £30. If you’re the arty type and have a steady hand, you can earn a decent amount of money by offering to do your friends’ and fellow students’ nails for a competitive price. You can charge £5-10 and fit in two or three clients an hour, earning you a sizeable profit.

Invest in some high-quality nail polish and consider investing in a nail lamp to set and dry the varnish for a more professional finish. Reach out to all your friends and ask any customers you get to recommend you to their circles – chances are if you’re undercutting the high street prices and do a good job, word will quickly spread.

51. Become a hairdresser

Even the most basic trim can cost upwards of £30 at a professional salon. For a more ambitious style or at a higher-end salon, it can be triple this figure. If you’re brave enough, why not earn some cash by cutting your mates’ hair for a third of the price?

You can invest in a decent pair of hair scissors for as little as £10. To learn the basics, you can find hundreds of video tutorials on YouTube. Start by offering to cut your friends’ hair and if you get good results, branch out to friends of friends or put up an ad on Facebook, or stick up a flyer in university halls of residence. Start with basic cuts and if you want to experiment with trickier styles, consider offering the haircut for free to give it a go before you start charging.

Take before and after pictures of all your customers. If you get good, you can start an Instagram page showing your results to grow your business.

52. Offer a house sitting service

House sitting is a super chilled way to make money. Some people don’t like leaving their houses empty when they go away on holiday for fear of thieves. Others have plants, animals or crops that need tending to while they’re gone.

As a house sitter, you’ll move into someone’s property for the duration that they’re away so that the house is always occupied. You might have to feed some animals or water some plants. Occasionally property owners will ask you to carry out some decorating, cleaning or basic property maintenance while they’re gone, too.

In most cases, house sitting couldn’t be an easier job. Instead of doing nothing in the comfort of your own home, you’re getting paid to do nothing in the comfort of someone else’s! Hanging out in someone else’s house can be a lot of fun, particularly as people seeking house sitters tend to have luxury homes. They’ll usually provide a full fridge or money for food – what more could you want?

It takes a lot of trust to allow someone free reign over your home while you’re away. For that reason, it’s best to market your services to friends and family and ask them to spread the word to people they know – even a loose link will build far more trust than an online advert.

53. Set up an events and party planning business

Eat, sleep, rave, repeat… the typical student knows how to party! If that sounds familiar to you, consider turning your party knowledge into a business. You’ll need excellent organisational skills and plenty of contacts.

For most parties and events, the planners will be responsible for the venue, food and drink, music and decoration. Try and build up a good relationship with any suppliers you use, as you might be able to strike up a deal with them to get a discount on party supplies or decorations.

This is a business that you can quickly market through word of mouth referrals. Spread the word to your friends and acquaintances by posting on social media. You can also drop flyers round to your neighbours.

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Teaching Introduction to Business with Mini-Projects

Article Summary

• Mini-projects are quick, low-stakes assignments that help bolster student understanding
• When supplemented by MindTap activities and textbook readings, mini-projects help students relate course material to real-world applications
• Mini-projects can build student confidence in speaking, engaging with others and presenting in class

Dr . Elizabeth Cameron is a Professor of Law, Cybersecurity & Management at Alma College

Teaching Introduction to Business provides a unique opportunity to inspire students to study Business and kickstart their careers. Actively engaging students in class discussion can excite them about the course topics, improve assessment scores, increase Business majors and improve retention .

One way to do this is by using mini-projects. Mini-projects are quick, low stakes and engaging exercises that help students apply course material in a memorable way. The key is to not overcomplicate the exercises or make them too time consuming.

Professors can use a bonus point incentive to grade these or mark them as engagement points. I assign mini-projects frequently and don’t award points because students love them so much that they willingly do them. These projects are also scalable for larger classes and can be done in breakout rooms with the most interesting ideas being shared with the entire class.

As an instructor, I have found the “Why Does it Matter to Me?” and “Learn It” assignments in MindTap to be a great prelude to mini-projects. The “Why Does it Matter to Me?” assignments help students better understand why the content matters in real life. Then, when the professor links the pre-learning to a mini-project, it cements this knowledge. The “Learn It” sections are also great ways for students to learn terms, definitions and elements. All of this advance learning application in MindTap helps improve the value of mini-projects and results in higher assessment scores.

Below are some of the mini-projects with MindTap that have been successful in my Introduction to Business class. For these activities, I reference chapters in my Foundations of Business , 6th Edition text. All of these mini-projects can be done face-to-face or online with modifications.

1. What Motivates You?

This goal of this mini-project is to have students link motivation theories to real-life application.

Before Class : Have students read chapter 10 on motivating employees, complete MindTap assignment(s) and come prepared to share one item that motivates them.

During Class : Ask students to identify one strategy to motivate employees when money is not an option. This is fun because you will see students build on each other’s comments, whether in the classroom or online. As a follow up activity, ask students, “How would you motivate your classmates?” If you assign group work like I do, this helps your students encourage one another.

2. Stranded at Sea & The Key to Effective Decision-Making

This project focuses on building critical thinking and identifying a problem or opportunity in the decision-making process. I actually led this assignment on Microsoft Teams and it worked just as well as in person.

Before Class : Have students read assigned chapter 6 on management and complete the corresponding activities.

During Class : Go over the steps in the decision-making process then ask students to comment on which step they think is the most difficult. They will have a variety of answers, with few students saying it is hard to identify the problem or opportunity (as not everything is a problem).

Next comes the fun part. Tell an outrageous stranded at sea fact pattern using numbers based on the size of your class, such as:

“The students in the class are traveling by ship to Portugal for a business conference and a sudden storm erupts. The ship sinks into the ocean and the only survivors are the students in the class — all others have perished. Your professor is not with you and is unlikely to immediately look for you. No remains of the ship are visible. You see that four of the students are hurt, and six students have no life jackets.”

Then, have students sit on the floor and “tread water.” Ask, “What is your problem or opportunity?” Students will start with food, sharks, water, injured classmates, etc., which are all symptoms of a greater problem or opportunity. A student usually spots an island. If they don’t, you can interject with this fact.

Once students are on the island, ask the question again: “What is your problem or opportunity?” Students will suggest getting food, starting a fire, helping the injured, etc. Then ask, “Are your problems over once you reach the island?” Typically, at least one student will say no, and that the problem or opportunity is “How will we function? Who will lead and how will we survive?” If the problem or opportunity is misdiagnosed, more people will perish.

Whether online or in-person, make sure to have students “tread water” to put them in a real frame of mind. Also, make sure to embellish the facts each semester as this exercise becomes legendary.

After this exercise, students will have learned a valuable lesson that correctly diagnosing the problem or opportunity is key to effective decision making.

3. Product Classifications

This project helps students better understand the product classifications and how marketing tactics change for each classification.

Before Class : Have students read the content on consumer product classifications in chapter 12, complete MindTap assignments and come to class to class prepared to talk about a product they purchased and its classification (i.e., convenience product, shopping product, specialty product, etc.). I give an example of a unique woven beach mat I purchased while in Hawaii.

During Class : Students will bring a variety of examples such as food, clothing, sports equipment or technology. What is very helpful about this assignment is that students often misclassify these goods. They correct themselves and revise their classifications as they hear their classmates’ examples.

In person, students give answers in a round robin fashion. When teaching online, I allow students to give verbal answers or post in the chat. Students enjoy this activity because they like talking about what they purchase and why. They leave with a solid understanding of product classifications and how businesses market products differently.

4. Shark Tank Analysis  

This project lets students pull together information from all chapters in the book and apply it to a real-life entrepreneurial venture. I discuss the assignment on the first day of class and have it submitted in the last few weeks of the course.

Before Class : Have students select an episode of Shark Tank and focus on one entrepreneur’s pitch. Students then write a one-page reflection on issues, concerns, recommendations and other connections to the course with little repetition of the facts.

During Class : Each student gives a five-minute presentation that demonstrates how their business learning applies to that entrepreneur’s pitch. Students also provide business recommendations to the entrepreneur. For online courses, you can use Bongo within MindTap to have students record a video presentation.

It’s amazing how students notice the topics that were covered in the course. I was also very surprised by which Shark Tank episodes interest students and how fun these class discussions are. For example, “ Squatty Potty ” was more engaging and hilarious than expected. If you have many sections or a large class, consider putting students into teams for this project.

5. Vacations and Hotel Stays

This mini-project aligns with the chapter on marketing and market segmentation. This is a new concept for most students and not always easy to understand.

Before Class : Have students read chapter 11 on building customer relations, complete MindTap assignments and think about a vacation they took, jotting down where they lodged and why.

During Class : Do a market segmentation mapping on the physical or virtual whiteboard with all the places students have stayed. Student answers typically include cheaper hotels (i.e., Super 8) mid-range (i.e., Holiday Inn) above mid-range (i.e., Sheraton) and some real high end (i.e., Ritz-Carlton). For online classes, expect the chat feature to blow up as students really engage with this activity.

After this exercise, students will better understand target markets and the ways that businesses segment the market to target a service or product to a specific group of people.  

6. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

This project aligns with the “building customer relationships through effective marketing” marketing chapter and sub-topic. The exercise blends discussion on effective CRM, best management practices, marketing follow-up and effective business communication.

Before Class : Have students read chapter 11 on building customer relationships, complete MindTap assignments and think about a business that they continue to frequent because of great customer relationship management. Or, have them consider a business that has lost their patronage and why.

During Class : I put students into groups to discuss, then have them share their most interesting CRM story with the class. When time permits, I let all students share their stories.

After listening to their classmates’ stories on effective and ineffective CRM, students have a better understanding of the importance of a solid CRM plan.

Final Thoughts on Teaching Introduction to Business

Mini-projects are fun for discussion, but they also build student confidence in speaking, engaging with others and presenting in class. As an unintended benefit, these mini-projects also improve attendance, college retention and class friendships.

Every professor can benefit by letting students do more of the discussion. I believe learning goes full circle, and that professors learn as much from our students as they do from us. And above all, students learn a lot from each other. Share the floor, and you will find students more engaged and more excited about the material and your course.

For more teaching resources, check out this post on promoting student collaboration virtually and in person.

Related articles

The Complete Guide to Business Ideas for College Students

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More than ever, young people are starting businesses. We’ve long since passed the days when starting a business in college was an outlier. Coming up with strong ideas that will launch a profitable business is more important than ever.

The life of a college student is hectic. While there may be some free time, most students have a full plate of work, classes, homework, and socializing. Starting an independent business with the right business idea can make a student’s crazy schedule easier to manage because it’s more lucrative and flexible than most part-time jobs. It’s also a great way to build a solid foundation for the future.

Finding the right business idea in college can be tough because founders and inventors still in school often don’t have enough real-world experience or connections to get investor funding, anticipate urgent pain points, or recognize whether their ideas are viable. This can lead to products that aren’t practical, wasted energy and time, and administrative and legal complications. 

Why College Business Ideas Are So Important

There are many benefits to starting a business while pursuing a college degree. It’s a chance to earn extra income with flexible hours. Running a business offers professional experience and a chance to try out different niches and industries. College can be challenging for hands-on learners, and starting a business in college provides an opportunity to apply the theories and ideas that come up in the classroom.

26% of entrepreneurs start two or more businesses in their life. With each business, owners and founders learn new tools and strategies that contribute to future success. A classroom can be the best place to test a risky idea. Coming up with business ideas in college isn’t a strategy for leaving school early; it’s an opportunity to make the most of your college investment. A college campus is also a great place to build a business toolbox. 

College startups offer an opportunity to hone skill sets that may be useful in the future. For example, if your business ideas are primarily mobile apps, you may want to take computer science classes to learn how they are made (not necessarily to make them yourself). Relevant college courses that relate to your business ideas can provide a better foundation for communication with your future team and help you set realistic expectations for your industry. 

Learning new skills can also connect you to people who share your passion and help hone your business ideas. Starting a business in college can also make it easier to narrow your sights on the right job after graduation.

Even better, students have access to heavy discounts to set up technology for a new business.  Colleges may offer copying and printing services, free Wi-Fi, extensive libraries, and private online resources that make it easier and less expensive to launch a business. And there’s no better place than a college campus for word-of-mouth advertising.

How To Develop Business Ideas As a College Student

42% of startups fail because the business idea isn’t something customers need. Instead of running with any business idea while in college, focus on the right one. 

When you’re trying to find the perfect product to sell, there are three questions that you should ask:

• What do people need?
• What do you love?
• What do you know?

Let’s dive into each of these further.

1. What do people need?

Start with your daily life and any problems you run into regularly. Many of these problems won’t seem like a big deal, like the fruit you buy at the grocery store molding before you can eat it. But you aren’t the only one to encounter it. You could invent or find a dropshipped product that can slow the molding process and keep your fruit fresh to solve this problem. Or maybe you want to address financial planning and budgeting for students with an app.

As you’re looking for problems to solve, think about the industries the problem relates to and other related problems. Then keep brainstorming about what manufacturing and development might look like or the supply chain. 

It might feel like these concerns are too complex to worry about yet. Still, if you plan to start a business while in college, you’ll soon realize that thinking about any new ideas from every possible angle is necessary for success. 

Excellent planning can cut down on risk, open up exciting avenues for growth, and help build the relationships any startup needs.

The problem you aim to solve does not need to require a product. Perhaps you encounter an issue of time, such as needing someone to walk your dog during the day while you work.

Other examples of business ideas that may solve a problem include:

• App development
• Dog walking
• Virtual assistant
• Tech support
• Affiliate marketing

When looking for problems to solve, involve others. Ask friends or family members what daily issues they’d like to fix, mitigate, or solve. Research what people search for or buy online and what issues they aim to solve or prevent.

2. What do you love?

Another great source for business ideas is your hobbies and passions. The business idea will connect to the communities you are already part of. The challenges and pain points will be easy for you to understand because of your experience and expertise.

Launching a business is more than making money. It’s easy to bail on a struggling business when it’s not a passion project, so coming up with original ideas is a better strategy than pulling from a list of someone else’s college business ideas. 

The right business for college students won’t just turn a profit. It will be a mission to dedicate significant time and energy to. Maybe you made memes for fun in high school. You could build a business in social media management in college. Find an area you already have relevant experience in and turn it into a service you can offer for profit. Other passion-based business ideas might be:

• Creating or testing video games
• Starting a blog
• Running a podcast
• Editing term papers
• Creating crocheting, knitting, or sewing patterns
• Logo and graphic design

Think about the things you already enjoy and see if there’s a way to turn that into a profitable venture.

3. What do you know?

For some, the first step toward a new business idea will pop up while on campus. For example, suppose you were at a career fair and noticed that students asked for assistance with grad school applications or career advice. In that case, you might think about creating a career consulting and application review service for students on campus. 

There are a ton of business ideas that would work at any college or university. Make the most of college connections, classrooms, and concerns. These business ideas can work on any campus:

• Tutoring/teaching
• Event planning
• Personal training or exercise classes
• Moving and packing services
• Lawn care/landscaping
• Painting and general handyman services

Consider what you already know how to do and who you know that may be looking for help. Use these answers to identify where you can make a difference.

Quick Tips To Improve & Refine Your Business Ideas 

Whether you’re just starting or have been playing with business ideas for a while, these quick tips can help you hone your loose thoughts into a tight business idea to start while in school.

Find a niche

No matter what business idea comes out on top, there will be stiff competition. In addition to popular local businesses, any new company will compete with a rapidly growing online market. 

It may seem counterintuitive, but the most effective way to grow an audience for a new business is to select a small and specific segment of people to market to. For a baking business, this might mean limiting baked goods to custom-decorated cookies or wedding cakes. For a personal trainer, focus on a specific type of exercise or a single type of fitness you excel at, like strength training for endurance runners. 

Every industry can benefit from innovative ideas, and the deeper you go into an area of interest, the more potential problems and solutions will rise to the surface. 

Ask a mentor

An excellent resource for college business ideas is the campus community. College is typically a moment where there is more time to try new things, meet new people, and learn from experts in different areas of study. 

These qualities make any college campus a hotbed of exciting and valuable business ideas. Set up an appointment with a mentor or professor on campus, organize a meeting with like-minded friends to brainstorm ideas, or set up a spot on campus that’s ideal for meeting new people and collect their opinions about your latest product ideas.

If you can find an expert or professor in the field of your general business ideas, having a mentor can be extremely valuable for first-time entrepreneurs. 

Read reviews

If you have a niche but haven’t settled on “the” business idea yet, start reading product or service reviews in your area of interest. You’ve probably had multiple “Aha!” moments scanning reviews in the past but didn’t write your ideas down because you were too busy shopping! 

Reviews are also a great resource to refine and develop an idea that’s still in progress. Learn from someone else’s mistakes before investing your time and energy in a new college business.

Be sure to look at negative reviews, too. As you read through what actual users and customers have to say about products and services in the area you’re interested in, you’ll see where companies are doing things well and where there is a problem to solve or a challenge that needs addressing. Researching user experiences is part of a broader concept called market research, which includes identifying pain points.

Long-Term Strategies for the Right Business Ideas for College Students

While the above tips are things you can start doing right now to come up with business ideas, these tips and strategies are looking to your long-term success.

Practice giving and receiving feedback

Students in creative majors get a lot of practice taking criticism since most writing and visual arts classes focus on making projects and participating in classroom critiques. Most other majors don’t get as much of this experience, but it’s essential to learn how to accept and use critical feedback on your ideas, especially if they have significant personal meaning. 

Criticism can be tough to take and sometimes our emotional responses to criticism can overpower the value of the critical input that we receive. Try to remember that anyone offering feedback is a potential future customer. There’s a good chance that anything that you’re hearing in a critique will come up again once people are paying for your products.

Practice giving constructive criticism and asking for it back from others on your ideas, business plan, and more. Don’t get defensive. Instead, reflect on the feedback and see if it makes sense with what you’re trying to build and accomplish. 

Remember, just because you receive feedback does not mean that you’ll implement all of it. Think critically about all feedback and criticism you receive and identify what makes sense to use and what doesn’t.

Come up with a business plan

Do you want your new business to last beyond college, or is it just something for right now? Starting any business is a commitment, so it’s smart to think about the long-term costs and benefits of each business idea. 

As you evaluate each of your business ideas, ask yourself:

• What will it take to scale? (tools, resources, labor, etc.)
• What are the risks?
• Will you need to hire help to make it work?
• Does the idea require skills and knowledge you don’t have yet?
• What kind of funding will the idea need? 

As you are getting ready to launch your new business, take the time to write a real business plan. Business plans include details like your market research, your specific products and/or services, your sales and marketing strategies, your plan for funding and investments, and more. You may not think you need one yet, but having a detailed business plan increases your chances of success with your new company.

You can use business plan software to assist in this step. A great software we recommend for beginners is LivePlan . LivePlan will walk you through the entire business plan process piece by piece, and even includes templates so that you aren’t starting from scratch. With the tutorials and support for first-time business owners, you can’t go wrong with LivePlan. 

LivePlan’s Standard package is just $15 per month and includes step-by-step instruction, a pitch builder, over 500 sample plan templates, financial forecasting, and financial statements. Plus, it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Start small and grow slowly

An initial great idea doesn’t always lead to a great business. What can seem like tiny details in the planning process can have a significant future impact on the product, marketing, and sales. Take some time to experiment and test ideas before jumping on your first inspiration.

The right business idea for a college student like you won’t be the best business idea for everyone. A valuable business idea should be fit for your unique skills and abilities. It should be something you can create and run in the extra time you have available during the school year and holiday breaks. You’ll also want it to be something you enjoy or care about enough that you will put your business ahead of the friends and activities outside of school that are also vying for your time and attention.

When a business sees early success, it can feel like every moment should go toward growing the business. But if your business idea gets big too fast, you’ll be unable to balance school and work, and both will suffer. Look for ideas with growth potential that you can start small, like a t-shirt business on campus. As school becomes less demanding and your marketing and business operations skills improve, you’ll find the right time to add new products, expand to other campuses, or start utilizing social media.

As you start coming up with business ideas, this guide for starting a business for under $100 will walk you through creating a business plan, naming your business, and setting up hosting and a domain name.

The most budget-conscious way to launch a new business is to start an ecommerce site. This simple guide, How to Start an Online Store and Make Your First Sale , has everything you need to start selling with your new business idea!

And after launching your business, don’t sit on branding! Here is a guide to building your brand and why it is your most powerful marketing tool.

Make your website better. Instantly.

Keep reading about operations.

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70 Small Business Ideas for Anyone Who Wants to Run Their Own Business

Published: March 19, 2024

A good business idea may seem hard to come by, but with some planning and preparation, you can easily launch a small business to supplement your income — or become your own full-time boss.

Maybe you already have an idea of the business you’d like to start. But while you might feel ready for a new venture and passionate about your idea, you might be looking for some direction.

To help get you started, here's a list of small business ideas separated into a few sections:

• What makes a good small business?

Best Small Business Ideas

Best businesses to start with little money, home business ideas.

• Online Businesses Ideas

Easy Businesses to Start

Business ideas for students, creative small business ideas, how to start a small business at home, starting a small business: faq.

The first step to becoming a successful entrepreneur is finding a business idea that works for you. In this article, you’ll find dozens of small business ideas you can start from home and scale up as your clientele grows. Let’s get started.

What makes a good small business idea?

Not all small business ideas are made equal: Some require more effort and funding than others, while some can be launched with few resources — or resources you already have. As a potential small business owner, you’ll want to save as much money as possible on training, rent, supplies, and other necessities.

Let’s go over what makes a good business idea:

• Requires little to no training . A good small business idea will ideally leverage your existing field of expertise and require little to no training. That will not only shorten your time-to-launch, but also lessen your expenses, since training courses can cost a significant amount of money. Plus, you’ll be more confident offering services that you feel prepared to deliver.
• Requires low setup costs. Your business should be cheap to start. Maybe you only need to purchase a website domain or buy a desk for your garage.
• Requires little hands-on inventory or supply management . A great business idea needs few supplies and little inventory management. If you want to sell physical goods, you can either try drop-shipping and manually make goods in small batches.
• Is based online . The best small business ideas are based online and can be carried out from your personal computer. This will automatically lower your commuting costs and give you greater flexibility over your personal and work life.
• Can sustainably be managed by few people . As a small business owner, you won’t have the funds to hire other people to help you run your business — at least not at first. A good business idea should give you the ability to run your business on your own.

Free Business Startup kit

9 templates to help you brainstorm a business name, develop your business plan, and pitch your idea to investors.

• Business Name Brainstorming Workbook
• Business Plan Template
• Business Startup Cost Calculator

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Airbnb Co-founder, Brian Chesky, said, “If we tried to think of a good idea, we wouldn’t have been able to think of a good idea. You just have to find the solution for a problem in your own life.”

If you’re like Brian and you’ve already thought about a solution for a problem you encounter in your life — or you’re on the path to doing so — then starting a small business may be in your future. It may also be for you if you dream of clocking out of your nine-to-five job for the last time and becoming your own boss.

Below, we include the best ideas for you to start your small business — with resources and examples to help you get started.

1. Handyman

8. Life/Career Coach

If you have experience navigating career, personal, and social transitions successfully, put it to good use as a life or career coach. Many of us are looking for guidance in our careers — and finding someone with the time to mentor us can be tough.

Life/career coaches don’t come cheap, but they are able to offer clients the intense and hands-on training and advice they need to make serious moves in their personal and professional lives. After all, everyone needs some uplifting advice from time to time.

To start your life/career coaching business with confidence, you can look for a certification program (like the Life Coach School’s or Diane Hudson’s ), then apply your skills as you acquire new clients.

A resume writing business is economical, has few overhead costs, and has few educational requirements. We still recommend having an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree and a few resume samples on hand. If you still feel that you need to brush up on your resume writing skills, you can take a course like Coursera’s or LinkedIn Learning’s .

Once you’ve gotten resume writing down, you can expand your business to include cover letter writing and even offer career coaching services in conjunction with these services.

10. Freelance Writer

If you have writing skills , there’s someone out there willing to pay you for them. Write blog posts, magazine articles, and website copy galore — just make sure you have a body of work built up to share with potential clients. Even if you create a few sample pieces to have on hand, they’ll help exhibit your work and attract new business.

To become a freelance writer, it’s essential to choose a specialty. For instance, you might choose to only write for publications in the healthcare industry (maybe because you were previously a healthcare worker) or focus on lifestyle publications. Whatever the case, specializing will help you find your niche market and gain confidence as a new freelancer writer.

There are no educational requirements for freelance writing, but you do need strong writing skills. It also helps to enjoy writing. While certification may be beneficial, getting practice and writing every day is more important. Try these writing prompts to start.

11. Landscaper

Mowing, tree-trimming, and seasonal decor are all neighborhood needs. If you have or can acquire the equipment, a landscaping business can be a lucrative affair. It’s also a great choice if you enjoy doing it for your own home and have a good eye for landscape design.

The good news is that you can start small. For instance, you could offer your neighbors seasonal planting services and start with a few perennial plants, or simply offer mulching services.

To grow your landscaping business, you should consider taking some formal training. The following organizations offer courses:

• New York Botanical Gardens

After completing a course and getting enough experience, you can apply for a certificate from a landscaping organization. While a certificate isn’t necessary to work in the field, it can build your credentials and help you make industry connections to take your landscaping business to the next level. The Association of Professional Landscape Designers offers one potential certificate you could pursue.

Some states require licensure, especially if you’ll be using pesticides and fertilizers. Be sure to review the requirements for your state.

Learn some of the basics now with this video on landscape design from Lowe’s:

12. Videographer

Video production requires you to have invested in the equipment up front, which can be quite expensive. But that’s also what makes your services so valuable. Make sure you have a reel of your work to share or create a website with several selections of your work available for interested viewers.

There are no educational or licensure requirements for starting a video production business. As with writing and other creative arts, though, it pays to specialize. Real estate videos differ radically from wedding videos, and wedding videos differ radically from in-studio interviews and testimonials. By specializing, you target a highly specific customer who’ll benefit the most from your services, and you can also skill-up more effectively in one shooting style.

While you can find general classes on videography, you should consider taking a class in the type of videography you’d like to do. For instance, you could take The Complete Wedding Videography Course .

Hot tip: If you’re interested in specializing in video marketing, check out The Ultimate Guide to Video Marketing and download our starter pack below.

13. Photographer

Start by conducting photo shoots for your family and friends. As you build a body of work, ask for referrals and reviews. Photography businesses often grow by word of mouth, so create a Facebook page where you can tag recent clients. Photos where you tag those clients will show up in their friends’ newsfeeds, where they can view your work. You can also ask them to leave reviews on your Facebook business page.

Like with a video production small business, you’ll want to specialize. Will you do product shoots or portraits? How about wedding or fashion photo shoots? Once you specialize, you’ll be able to create a body of work that most accurately represents your strengths.

There are no educational or licensure requirements for starting a small photography business. Still, we recommend investing in a few photography courses, especially if you haven’t used your camera in a while. Some courses you might start with include:

• Cornell’s Digital Photography Certificate Program
• New York Institute of Photography’s Course

From there, seek courses that help you build skills in your chosen specialty.

If you’re not sure where to start with freelance photography, take a look at Erica Clayton’s journey into the business below. Her advice? Give yourself a firm deadline to turn a profit.

14. Bed and Breakfast Owner

Some consulting industries are more competitive than others, so be sure to complete your research before starting a small consulting business. One way to find out how competitive a consulting niche is by doing keyword search . If your target niche is highly searched or is already dominated by big companies, you may have a harder time breaking in. You can use keyword research tools to uncover keyword volume and local demand.

12. Event Planner

An event planning business is an excellent choice if you have great organizational and interpersonal skills, and it’s relatively cheap to start. You might choose to specialize in a specific type of event — like weddings or company meetings — or set yourself up as an event planner of all trades.

The good news is that event planners are always in demand. It’s not an easily automated job, so this small business idea is set to thrive regardless of the digital landscape. To start, you’ll want to look for a platform that will easily allow you to advertise your availability, such as event planner directories like Eventective and WeddingWire .

If you’re highly organized, detail-oriented, and have experience planning large events, it might be time for others to benefit from your skills.

13. Personal Assistant

Personal assistants help business owners and executives take care of administrative tasks. To launch a freelance personal assistant business, you should leverage networking opportunities on LinkedIn and attend small business events at local chambers of commerce. Most local business owners might not even know they need a personal assistant until you market your services to them.

If you’re an organized, highly-detailed person, the life of a personal assistant might be for you. Don’t want to be tied to one office or person all day, every day? Consider becoming a virtual assistant, which allows you a more flexible work environment.

To become an assistant, choose a niche — will you be helping women business owners specifically? Do you have a specific field of expertise, like bookkeeping? A website can also go a long way, and be sure to print business cards for you to hand out during networking events.

14. Consignment Shop Owner

If you have an eye for style but don’t want to invest in the inventory of a brand-new boutique, consider starting a consignment shop. It will allow you to curate a collection of clothing that matches your goals and aesthetic without the overhead of a boutique selling entirely new garments.

The beauty of a small consignment business is that you can now start one online. You can sign up on a platform such as Poshmark , Depop , and even Etsy , then easily start selling your own used fashion from home.

Once you’ve defined your niche — such as vintage clothing, unique locally made art, or colorful shoes — you can begin sourcing new products from your local stores and thrift shops.

15. Caterer

If the personal chef gig is too restrictive for your schedule, consider catering instead. Pick your projects, work on fewer but larger events, and hone in on your time management skills.

Becoming a caterer is a natural step for those who are used to cooking for large events — for instance, you may have already catered your friend’s wedding or brought a 20-person meal to a potluck (that counts, too!).

It’s essential that you have enough temperature-regulated storage for the meals prior to each event, and that you arrange for reliable, temperature-controlled transportation to and from your home kitchen. Alternatively, you can lower your costs by inviting customers to pick up their order at your home.

16. Gym Owner

Kickboxing gyms, yoga studios, CrossFit, oh my! Turn your passion for fitness into a community for others by creating your own gym — start one from the ground up, become an affiliate, or open a franchise location.

Available franchise opportunities include Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Pure Barre, Planet Fitness, Crunch Fitness, and more. Be prepared to take out a loan to finance your franchise — most agreements start with fees upward of $20,000. But the payoff can be tremendous due to brand recognition. You’ll have no trouble recruiting new members as long as you use local marketing strategies .

Alternatively, you can create a local studio, but ideally, it should be for a specific activity instead of general fitness. Yoga, pilates, bootcamp-style gyms, and martial arts perform well as independent fitness studios.

17. Boutique Agency Owner

What’s your specialty? Whether it’s marketing, social media, or PR, it might be time to start your own agency. Many other small businesses need this type of help but don’t have the resources or volume to necessitate a full-time position.

To start an agency, you would ideally have worked in your specialty for a number of years. You should also be prepared to interface directly with clients, fulfill their requirements, and temper their expectations (if they want results in an unreasonably short amount of time).

Consider building a small team and learn from other entrepreneurs who’ve successfully started their own agencies, like Duane Brown of Take Some Risk .

18. Coffee Shop Owner

Turn your caffeine addiction into something a little more lucrative. Opening a franchise or buying an existing shop are lower-risk entry points to the coffee game, but they usually require a little more cash upfront. Starting a shop from scratch requires more planning and work — but it also maximizes your earning potential in the future.

A coffee shop is an excellent fit if you already have a full-time remote job and wish to supplement your income with a small business. You can manage the coffee shop as you work at one of the tables, but be sure to have the budget to hire an experienced barista who can pick up the slack.

If you would like to open a coffee shop and run it full-time on your own, you’ll need to undertake barista training, understand worldwide coffee sources, and have excellent customer service skills.

19. Moving Company

A truck, moving equipment, manpower, and the correct permits and insurance are the building blocks of starting your own moving company . Before you buy your first fleet of trucks, however, start small with a moving van and keep your costs low.

Still sound like too much of an initial investment? Consider offering packing services only, which have a much lower financial barrier to entry. You can partner with moving companies and offer to do their packing, or have them refer clients to you.

You could even take a niche approach to the industry as Astro International has by offering international moving services.

2. Vending Machine Owner

Since 2015, the growth rate for vending machine businesses has increased 1.4%. Even as social distancing restrictions are still in place, this business can still be lucrative if you choose the right locations. High-traffic is key — places like hospitals, schools, and community centers are smart places to start placing your machines to generate enough revenue to cover cost and turn a profit.

3. Social Media Manager

Do you have a knack for social media? As a social media manager, you can use your skills to manage the social media accounts for companies and even individual people. Influencer marketing has become more common and many influencers rely on marketing agencies or employees to help them run their social channels.

Online Business Ideas

If you want a business idea that you can run entirely online, check out the ones below. These ideas are ideal for those looking for a passive income stream. In other words, you shouldn’t need to do too much manual work to launch these businesses from your home or preferred business location.

1. Become an online reseller.

To become an online reseller, all you need is some business savvy and some funds to invest in product stock from manufacturers — or, of course,the willingness to sell your own used items. Generally, this is a low-touch but high-performance way of creating a passive income online business.

Online resellers usually use a platform, such as Facebook Marketplace or Amazon Sellers, to sell either their own or manufacturers’ stock. The benefit of using Facebook Marketplace is that you can begin today with your own Facebook account, and simply list items that you already own.

Interested buyers typically drive directly to your home for pick-up — but if you’re not interested in human interaction, you can leave it outside and have the buyer pay via an online platform.

Blogging is one of the most accessible small businesses to start, and there are countless niches to choose from. That said, because there are many blogs online, you’ll need to learn blog SEO and keyword research to ensure your audience finds you. That way, you actually make money out of your blogging efforts.

The great news is that a small blogging business has a ridiculously low overhead. All you need is a custom domain and your time for writing blog posts.

5. Home-Baked Goods Seller

Warehouse-made, store-bought chocolate chip cookies will never compare to a batch made with love in someone’s home. Simple desserts can be easily baked and packaged to sell at local events or around your neighborhood. Use custom labels and watch the word spread about your goods!

You can begin a baked goods business easily by opening a Facebook and Instagram profile. Facebook and Instagram are both excellent platforms to market your goods, show pictures of your previous baked products, and even showcase happy clients.

Build a loyal following slowly, and save on costs by asking clients to drive to your home to pick up their order. Choosing a niche can be helpful here, or baking in a specific style that can’t be found at grocery store bakeries. The overhead can be especially low if you already have most essential baking supplies.

6. Ecommerce Store Owner

Do you create, collect, or curate anything special? Consider starting an ecommerce store and turning your hobby into a full-time job. Whether you need somewhere to sell all that pottery you’ve been making, or an excuse to search for the sports memorabilia you love tracking down, an ecommerce store can make it financially viable for you to pursue your passion.

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Starting an ecommerce store is simple and easy. You can set up a shop using an ecommerce website builder , all of which start at a minimal monthly subscription (some even start at free). Be sure to take good photos of your products and write descriptive product pages .

If you don’t have inventory, you can always own an ecommerce store by using dropshipping . Instead of creating and shipping your products yourself, you’ll instead partner with a dropshipping website and have them mail out the orders directly to your client.

7. House Cleaner

With a low barrier to entry, house cleaning can be a great way to start doing what you love — soon. Consider advertising to homes in your neighborhood and get more bang for your buck by earning a few small businesses as clients as well. They’ll usually bring in a higher paycheck for a similar amount of work.

To become a house cleaner, you should be prepared to invest in cleaning supplies and accessories, or be willing to use your own. If you plan to serve small businesses, you should buy industrial janitorial supplies so you can get work done more effectively.

Need some inspiration? This small business cleaning service grew virtually overnight on Instagram after their content went viral during the pandemic.

Learn more about choosing the right structure for your business from the Small Business Administration.

6. Create a business bank account.

Once you have a legally formed business and have been issued an Employer Identification Number (EIN), open a bank account specifically for your business. Having a business bank account is essential for keeping your personal and business finances separate which can help you gain an accurate picture of your business’s cash flow and financial health.

Additionally, keeping your personal and business finances separate makes bookkeeping and tax preparation easier.

Many banks offer business checking and savings accounts. Business checking accounts typically do not have a limit on the number of transactions that can take place, and issue a debit card that can be used for making business purchases. However, these checking accounts do not accrue interest.

Business savings accounts typically earn interest over time but have a limited number of transactions that can occur each month. When you’re just starting out, look for a business bank account that does not have a minimum balance requirement so you are not penalized for having low funds as you work to build your business.

7. Determine if your business idea works well from home.

Ask yourself whether your business idea will work well from home. Some businesses simply aren’t suited to be based from home. If you want to run a dog boarding center but live in an apartment without a backyard, you might want to consider a dog walking business instead.

8. Set up an office.

If your business idea is well-suited for being run from home, it’s still important you have a designated workspace. While a home office might not be possible, consider setting aside a corner in your living room or putting a desk in your bedroom for a space that inspires you and creates the conditions for success.

Need a more professional space? If you conduct client-facing work requiring you to be on video calls, no one wants to see your rumpled sheets in the background. Check out local coworking spaces for memberships that earn you access to conference rooms, desk space, and more.

9. Get to work!

You’ve put in the hard work, but I’ve got bad news — it’s only going to get harder. But most entrepreneurs will agree that the payoff of being your own boss, making your own hours, and working on projects that you’re passionate about will pay dividends for the rest of your life.

What are the types of small businesses?

The types of small business structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and corporations.

• Sole Proprietorship — The simplest type of business structure is a sole proprietorship, which is also the easiest to start. As a sole proprietor, you are personally responsible for the business's liabilities and profits, and you have complete control over your business. If you are a solopreneur, you are automatically considered a sole proprietor.
• Partnership — A partnership is a business model involving two or more individuals who agree to share the business‘s profits and liabilities. Each partner contributes to the business and shares the risks and rewards. It’s essential to have a partnership agreement that defines each partner's roles and responsibilities to ensure clarity and prevent potential misunderstandings.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) — An LLC, or limited liability company, is a common option for small businesses because it protects its owners by separating personal assets from the company's liabilities. To form an LLC, the business owner must file the required paperwork with the state.
• Corporation — A corporation is an independent legal entity distinct from its owners. It provides limited liability protection to its shareholders, who are not held personally accountable for the company's debts. Corporations have formal requirements and often raise capital by issuing stocks or shares.

Which business type is best?

The best business type is a limited liability company (LLC). Operating as an LLC means that your personal assets are separate from your business assets. If your business goes bankrupt, your personal holdings won’t be affected. That said, it’s also one of the costlier types, requiring a fee paid to the state.

The easiest business type to start is a sole proprietorship. The main downside is that there’s no differentiation between you and your business.

It's crucial to seek advice from legal or accounting professionals to determine the best business structure based on your unique needs and objectives. Each structure has advantages, legal requirements, tax implications, and flexibility considerations.

How do I create a business idea?

To create a business idea, determine your skill set, work preferences, startup budget, and available resources. It’s important to strike the right balance between what you can feasibly offer and what you can feasibly afford in the short and long term.

We recommend starting with your skill set so that you can easily determine the niche in which you can effectively compete. For instance, if you have ample experience as a writer, you might consider starting a freelance writing business. But if you know you’d prefer to work with clients face-to-face, you might choose to start a ghostwriting business instead. That’s why it’s so important to take your work preferences into account, as well.

After that, take a look at your budget and determine the type of business you can start based on the resources at your disposal. For instance, you might not be able to afford a physical office or location, so a location-based business will likely not be a good fit. In that case, starting an online business is your best option.

What resources or tools can I use to refine and validate my business ideas during the brainstorming process?

Online market research tools like Google Trends, Keyword Planner, and SEMrush can provide insights into market demand, competition, and keyword trends related to your business niche. Industry reports and market analyses from reputable sources such as IBISWorld, Gartner, Statista, and industry-specific publications can offer valuable data and trends to inform your decision-making. Ensure you know the industry risk before embarking on your small business venture.

→ Download Now: Market Research Kit [Free Download]

Additionally, joining entrepreneurial communities, forums, and social media groups can provide opportunities to seek feedback, network with like-minded people, and gain insights from experienced entrepreneurs. Finally, consider conducting surveys or interviews with potential customers to gather feedback and validate your business concept before investing significant time and resources.

What are some of the most successful small businesses?

Every small business has the potential to be successful and profitable, provided it’s backed by a strong product-market fit and a robust business plan . These two elements are essential. Maybe postnatal services are one of the most successful small businesses to launch, but if you live in an area with declining population or a large elderly population, then that small business idea won’t yield a high return on investment.

Think carefully about the market where you’re launching your business, and you’ll be more than likely to see lasting success.

What are the top growing small businesses?

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150+ Stunning Product Ideas for School Project: Academic Ingenuity

• Post author By admin
• October 12, 2023

Unlock your creativity with a variety of innovative product ideas for school projects. Find inspiration, guidance, and step-by-step suggestions for your next educational endeavor.

Imagine this: the bustling energy of a classroom, students eager to roll up their sleeves and dive into a world of creativity. That’s what school projects are all about – an adventure in learning that’s hands-on and exciting.

In this article, we’re going to explore some amazing “Product Ideas for School Projects.” These ideas not only ignite students’ imaginations but also turn learning into an unforgettable experience.

So, let’s embark on this journey into the world of education, where knowledge becomes captivating projects, and the classroom is transformed into a hub of innovation!

Table of Contents

The Importance of School Projects

School projects are like the secret ingredients that make education truly exciting. They’re not just tasks; they’re the gateway to an adventurous learning journey. Here’s why they matter so much:

Hands-On Learning

School projects are your passport to a world of doing. They let you get your hands dirty, figuratively and sometimes literally, as you take what you’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to real-life situations.

Critical Thinking Playground

Think of projects as brain workouts. They challenge you to put on your thinking cap, identify problems, and find creative solutions. It’s like mental gymnastics that make your brain stronger.

Creativity Unleashed

When you’re working on a project, you’re not just following rules; you’re an artist creating a masterpiece. Your creativity knows no bounds as you brainstorm, design, and innovate.

Learning That Sticks

Unlike cramming for a test, projects offer a deeper understanding that sticks with you. You remember because you’ve lived it, not just read about it in a book.

In simple words, school projects are your backstage pass to a world of fun learning, creativity, and becoming a problem-solving wizard.

Product Ideas for School Project

Check out product ideas for school project:-

Science and Technology

• Simple Machines Exhibition: Create models or demonstrations of various simple machines to showcase their functions and applications.
• Astronomy Observation: Set up telescopes to observe and document celestial objects, such as the moon, planets, or stars.
• Wind Turbine Design: Design and build a wind turbine to explore renewable energy sources.
• Electric Car Prototype: Construct a small-scale electric car model and discuss the importance of electric vehicles in reducing pollution.
• Biodiversity Study: Conduct a study of local biodiversity by identifying and documenting different species in your area.
• Water Filtration System: Build a water filtration system to purify water from various sources, emphasizing the importance of clean water.
• Microscope Exploration: Create slides and study microscopic organisms or cells using microscopes.
• Rube Goldberg Machine: Design a complex, multi-step machine that performs a simple task, showcasing principles of physics and engineering.
• Homemade Greenhouse: Build a small greenhouse and grow plants, learning about climate control and plant growth.
• Renewable Energy Awareness Campaign: Develop an educational campaign or presentation on the benefits of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.

Arts and Crafts

• Art Restoration Project: Restore a damaged or aged piece of artwork, documenting the process.
• Origami Art Exhibition: Create intricate origami sculptures and host an origami art exhibition.
• Clay Sculpture Workshop: Teach fellow students to sculpt with clay, leading a hands-on workshop.
• Tie-Dye Clothing Line: Design and produce a line of tie-dye clothing items, highlighting the art of tie-dyeing.
• Mural Painting: Collaborate on a mural project to beautify a school wall or community space.
• Jewelry Making Workshop: Host a jewelry-making workshop to teach others to create unique jewelry pieces.
• Pottery and Ceramics: Develop your pottery skills and host a ceramic art exhibition.
• Quilt-Making Project: Create quilts and explain the history and cultural significance of quilting.
• Photography Portfolio: Build a photography portfolio focusing on a specific theme or subject.
• Digital Art Showcase: Create digital art pieces using software and present them in a digital art gallery.

Environmental Studies

• Community Clean-Up Initiative: Organize a community clean-up event to raise awareness of environmental issues.
• Zero-Waste Challenge: Challenge students to reduce waste and document their progress.
• Birdhouse Construction: Build birdhouses to promote local bird conservation and habitat.
• Composting Program: Establish a composting program within the school to reduce organic waste.
• Sustainable Fashion Show: Host a sustainable fashion show featuring clothing made from recycled materials.
• Eco-Friendly Gardening: Design and cultivate a sustainable garden with an emphasis on native plants and pollinators.
• Recycling Awareness Campaign: Create posters, videos, and presentations to educate others on the importance of recycling.
• Water Pollution Study: Investigate local water pollution sources and their impact on ecosystems.
• Energy Efficiency Audit: Conduct an energy audit of the school to identify opportunities for energy conservation.
• Urban Green Space Design: Develop plans for creating green spaces in urban areas to enhance local environmental quality.

History and Social Studies

• Historical Newspaper: Create a newspaper featuring articles, stories, and ads from a specific historical period.
• Time Capsule Project: Collect items, letters, and artifacts to create a time capsule representing the present era.
• Heritage Food Fair: Organize a heritage food fair featuring dishes from various cultural backgrounds.
• Living History Museum: Transform your classroom into a living history museum, with students in costume, presenting various historical figures.
• Family History Documentary: Create a documentary about the history and experiences of your own family.
• World Cultures Fair: Host a fair showcasing the traditions, food, and culture of different countries.
• Archaeological Dig Simulation: Simulate an archaeological dig to teach excavation and historical analysis.
• Local History Project: Research and document the history of your local community.
• Historical Podcast Series: Develop a podcast series discussing significant events or figures from the past.
• Historical Board Game: Create a board game based on a historical period or event, making learning history fun and interactive.

Language and Literature

• Book Club and Author Study: Form a book club and delve into the works of a particular author or literary genre.
• Poetry Slam: Organize a poetry slam competition where students can perform their original poems.
• Language Learning Podcast: Create a podcast where students discuss language learning tips, cultural insights, and interviews with native speakers.
• Library Revamp Project: Redesign and rejuvenate the school library to promote a love for reading.
• Creative Writing Anthology: Compile a collection of students’ creative writing pieces, including short stories and poetry.
• Shakespearean Play Adaptation: Choose a Shakespearean play and adapt it to a modern setting, possibly performing it.
• Literary Analysis Symposium: Host a symposium where students present in-depth analyses of famous literary works.
• Spoken Word Poetry Event: Organize a spoken word poetry event with students performing their own poetry and spoken word pieces.
• Book Drive for Charity: Collect and donate books to local charities and organizations to promote literacy.
• Literary Magazine Production: Create a literary magazine featuring students’ essays, stories, and artwork.

These projects cover a wide range of subjects and interests, offering students a diverse array of options to explore and learn in a hands-on, engaging manner.

Tips for a Successful School Project

Alright, let’s talk about the secrets to nailing your school project and making it a blast:

Know Your Destination

First things first, set clear goals. What’s the big idea? What do you want to learn or achieve? Knowing this keeps you on the right track.

Think of your project like an epic quest. You’ll need a game plan. Create a timeline, list the stuff you need, and break it down into manageable steps.

If you can team up with classmates, do it! Working together brings fresh ideas and makes the journey more exciting. Plus, it’s just more fun.

Keep your project materials and notes organized. It’ll save you from that last-minute scramble and make you look like a pro.

Unleash Your Creativity

Don’t hold back; let your creative juices flow. Try new stuff, experiment, and put your own spin on things. Projects are where you shine.

If you’re puzzled, ask questions. Teachers, friends, or your folks can give you tips and save the day.

Polish and Shine

When you’re done, take a step back, and give your project a good once-over. Fix any boo-boos and make it sparkle.

Practice Makes Perfect

If your project involves presenting, practice your lines. Confidence on stage can earn you some major brownie points.

Get Feedback

Before you hand it in, ask for feedback. What do the experts (a.k.a. your teachers and peers) think? Their advice can be golden.

Enjoy the Ride

Remember, it’s not just about the destination; it’s about the journey. Soak in the adventure, the discoveries, and the good times.

With these tips in your back pocket, your school project will not only be a success but also an unforgettable adventure. So, gear up, be the hero of your project story, and get ready for an awesome ride!

New Product Ideas for School Project

Check out new product ideas for school project:-

Smart Hydration Bottle

Design a water bottle that tracks your water intake and reminds you to stay hydrated.

Self-Cleaning Lunchbox

Create a lunchbox that keeps your food fresh and safe through self-cleaning technology.

Solar-Powered Backpack

Develop a backpack equipped with integrated solar panels to charge your devices while you’re on the move.

Real-Time Language Translation Glasses

Invent glasses with language translation capabilities to break down language barriers.

Posture-Improving Wearable

Construct a wearable device that monitors your posture and provides feedback for improvement.

Home Delivery Drone

Build a drone capable of delivering food and packages to your doorstep, enhancing convenience.

Homework and Chores Helper Robot

Design a robot that assists with homework and chores, making daily tasks more manageable.

Engaging Educational Video Game

Create an educational video game that combines learning and fun to inspire students.

Study Collaboration App

Develop a social media app dedicated to helping students connect and collaborate on their studies.

Stylish School Uniforms

Innovate a new, stylish school uniform design that offers comfort and fashion.

Ergonomic School Desks

Construct ergonomic school desks that promote better posture and reduce fatigue.

Interactive Classroom Technology

Invent interactive classroom technology to make learning engaging and effective.

Healthy School Food Program

Introduce a school food program focused on serving nutritious meals to all students.

These ideas serve as a starting point for your school project. When selecting a product idea, consider your target audience’s needs and the potential positive impact your creation can have on the world.

With careful planning and execution, your project can make a real difference in the lives of students and beyond.

Good Product Ideas for School Project

Here are some innovative product concepts for a school project:

An eco-conscious school lunch container crafted from recycled materials, designed to be either compostable or biodegradable, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

A backpack harnessing solar power to charge electronic devices while on the move, providing a convenient and eco-friendly energy source for students.

The “SmartQuill” – a cutting-edge digital pencil capable of digitizing notes and drawings, while also offering language translation features to facilitate better communication.

A wearable device tailored to monitor both students’ physical activity levels and their academic progress, encouraging a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

“EduPlay,” an educational game that immerses students in the worlds of science, mathematics, or history, making learning engaging and enjoyable.

A social networking app called “ConnectU” that helps students connect with peers who share similar interests, fostering collaboration on various projects and initiatives.

Innovative classroom furniture designed to encourage collaboration and creativity, enabling more interactive and dynamic learning environments.

An extensive school-wide recycling program aimed at simplifying waste disposal for students and staff, contributing to a cleaner and greener school campus.

A student-led enterprise focused on selling sustainable products or services to the school community, aligning with environmental consciousness and responsible consumption.

A community service project addressing local issues and educating students about essential social and environmental matters, promoting active involvement in the community’s welfare.

These concepts are just a starting point. When selecting a project idea, remember to assess the needs of your target audience and the potential global impact of your product.

Through meticulous planning and execution, you can create a product with a meaningful, positive influence.

Business Product Ideas for School Project

Check out business product ideas for school project:-

A subscription box service delivering age-appropriate educational toys and activities to children, fostering their learning and creativity.

A personalized tutoring service that connects students with qualified tutors, helping them enhance their grades in specific subjects.

A web design and development service specializing in assisting small businesses in creating and maintaining their websites, ensuring a strong online presence.

SocialBoost Pro

A social media marketing service that aids businesses in creating and managing effective social media campaigns, expanding their digital footprint.

DesignSavvy

A graphic design service offering businesses professional marketing materials, including logos, brochures, and flyers, enhancing their visual branding.

CopyCrafters

A copywriting service dedicated to crafting compelling marketing copy for websites, social media, and other promotional materials, elevating brand messaging.

VidVisionary

A video production service enabling businesses to create high-quality video content for websites, social media, and marketing materials.

PhotoPerfect Pro

A photography service providing businesses with professional product, service, and team member photography, elevating their visual content.

EventElevate

An event planning service that collaborates with businesses to meticulously plan and execute successful events, such as trade shows, conferences, and product launches.

StratifyNow

A business consulting service aimed at aiding small businesses in developing and implementing strategic plans to achieve their goals.

CashGuardians

A bookkeeping service helping small businesses effectively manage their finances and maintain organized financial records.

SocialSphere Management

A social media management service offering businesses expert management of their social media accounts and campaigns, ensuring a strong online presence.

These ideas provide a foundation for your school project. When selecting a business product idea, take into account your skills, experiences, and the specific needs of your target market.

With thorough planning and execution, you can establish a successful business that delivers valuable products or services to your customers.

Commercial Product Ideas for School Project

Check out sommercial proudct ideas for school project:-

A smart toothbrush equipped with tracking technology to monitor brushing habits and offer feedback for improved oral health.

A wearable sleep tracking device providing insights on sleep quality and personalized tips for enhancing rest.

StressMaster

A smartphone app designed to help users manage stress levels and improve overall well-being, offering practical stress-reduction techniques.

A personalized fitness tracker that assists in setting and achieving fitness goals, offering tailored workout plans and progress tracking.

SmartLife Hub

A smart home system enabling remote control of lighting, thermostat, and other devices through a smartphone, enhancing convenience and energy efficiency.

A self-driving car that prioritizes safety and convenience in transportation, reducing the risk of accidents and making commuting more efficient.

VirtuExplore

A virtual reality headset allowing users to experience diverse locations and cultures without leaving their homes, promoting cultural immersion.

A 3D printer empowering users to design and produce custom objects for various applications.

A voice assistant capable of handling daily tasks, including setting alarms, sending messages, and playing music, offering hands-free convenience.

A smart food system that tracks eating habits and provides nutritional recommendations to enhance diet and overall health.

EcoPower Pro

A sustainable energy system delivering clean and cost-effective energy to homes and communities, promoting environmental responsibility.

MediRevolution

A novel medicine with enhanced efficacy and fewer side effects compared to existing treatments, improving healthcare options.

EduTechXplore

A groundbreaking educational technology designed to make learning more engaging and effective, fostering a dynamic learning experience.

These concepts offer a starting point for your school project. When selecting a commercial product idea, consider the needs of your target market and the potential global impact of your product.

Through meticulous planning and execution, you can develop a commercial product that has a significant positive impact.

Innovative product ideas for school project

Check out innovative product ideas for school project

NeuroLink Prosthesis

A smart prosthetic limb controlled by the user’s thoughts, offering enhanced mobility and independence.

EcoCell: The Everlasting Battery

A self-recharging battery with self-healing properties, reducing the need for conventional electricity sources.

AnimalTalk Translator

A device capable of translating animal thoughts into human language, promoting understanding and communication with our non-human companions.

NutriSustain

A novel sustainable food source designed to combat world hunger by providing nutrition while minimizing environmental impact.

A groundbreaking medicine with the potential to cure currently incurable diseases, such as cancer, revolutionizing healthcare.

EduXcelerate

An innovative educational technology system personalizing and enhancing the learning experience for students.

GreenEnergy Revolution

A clean, efficient, and affordable renewable energy system, contributing to a sustainable future.

SafeSpeed Transit

A swift, safe, and eco-friendly transportation system, prioritizing both speed and environmental responsibility.

ConnectXpand

A cutting-edge communication system enabling people to connect in innovative and meaningful ways.

AI for Good

A transformative artificial intelligence platform designed to address some of the world’s most pressing global challenges.

PosiLink: The Positive Social Network

A forward-thinking social media platform fostering positivity and productivity, in contrast to existing platforms.

SustainaModel

A sustainable and equitable business model aimed at creating a more responsible and fair business environment.

These ideas serve as a springboard for your school project. When selecting an innovative product concept, embrace creativity and think boldly. Challenge the status quo and strive for originality in your ideas.

Cool Product Ideas for School Project

Check out cool product ideas for school project

A smart water bottle that monitors your hydration levels and sends reminders to stay hydrated.

FreshGuard Lunchbox

A self-cleaning lunchbox designed to keep food fresh and safe, reducing food waste and promoting health.

SolarSprint Backpack

A backpack equipped with integrated solar panels, allowing on-the-go device charging.

Glasses that offer real-time language translation, facilitating communication across cultures.

A wearable device that tracks and improves posture, promoting physical well-being.

FoodFleet Drone

A delivery drone capable of delivering food and packages directly to your doorstep.

HomeworkHelper Bot

A robot designed to assist with homework and household chores, lightening the load on students.

EduQuest: The Adventure Game

An innovative educational video game that makes learning enjoyable and engaging.

StudyConnect

The Collaborative Campus App”: A social media app that connects students, fostering collaboration on academic projects.

ComfyChic Uniforms

A modern and comfortable school uniform that promotes style and comfort.

A school desk designed to improve ergonomic posture and reduce fatigue for students.

InteractiveClassTech

Cutting-edge classroom technology that enhances interactivity and the effectiveness of learning.

NourishEd: Healthy School Meals Program

A school food program providing nutritious meals for all students, promoting health and well-being.

SmartHaven Control

A smart home system that empowers students to control and optimize their home environments.

EduReality Explorer

A virtual reality headset for educational purposes, allowing virtual field trips and immersive learning experiences.

ProtoCraft 3D Printer

A 3D printer for creating prototypes of new products and custom educational tools.

ProgressPulse Wearable

A wearable device tracking students’ physical activity and academic progress, providing valuable feedback.

MentorMatch: Career Exploration App

A social media app connecting students with mentors from various industries, assisting in career exploration and skill development.

These ideas are a great starting point for your school project. When selecting a product idea, consider the needs of your target audience and the potential global impact of your product.

With careful planning and execution, you can develop a captivating product that brings positive change.

Fake Product Ideas for School Project

Check out fake product ideas for school project

These fake product ideas are intended for humor and creative exercises, not for actual production or use.

The Midnight Snacker’s Dream

A pair of glow-in-the-dark pajamas with built-in snack dispensers for nocturnal cravings.

Rainbow Ray Glasses

Eyewear that claims to make the world appear in vibrant rainbow colors, providing a cheerful outlook.

Instant Hair Growth Helmet

A helmet that promises to grow a full head of hair in seconds, making bad hair days a thing of the past.

Unsinkable Socks

Socks that supposedly keep you afloat in water, ensuring you never sink during a swim.

The Silence Speaker

A speaker that plays silence, perfect for those moments when you need some peace and quiet.

The Time-Travel Toaster

A toaster that boasts the ability to transport you to different eras while your toast gets perfectly browned.

Universal Language Gum

Chewing gum that claims to instantly teach you any language, even fictional ones like Klingon or Elvish.

Invisible Umbrella

A device that “creates” an invisible shield from rain, keeping you dry without the hassle of carrying an actual umbrella.

Flavor-Changing Toothpaste

Toothpaste that transforms your taste buds, so brushing your teeth tastes like dessert.

The Pillow Pet Translator

A pillow that purportedly deciphers your pet’s thoughts and feelings.

What should I make for my school project?

Have a close look at what should you make for school project:-

Mini World in a Shoebox

Create a miniature world in a shoebox, showcasing a historical event, a scientific concept, or a natural environment. This hands-on approach brings your subject to life.

Passion Poster or Presentation

Dive into a topic that truly excites you, be it a current event, a social issue, or a fascinating scientific discovery. Share your findings through a visually captivating poster or a dynamic presentation.

Artistic Expression

Let your creative juices flow by producing an art piece, whether it’s a painting, a drawing, a sculpture, or a musical composition. Showcase your unique perspective and style.

Lights, Camera, Action

Create a video or podcast on a subject that’s close to your heart. It’s a great way to combine storytelling with technology and reach a wider audience.

Develop a computer program or website that tackles a real-world problem or provides a helpful service. You can make a digital impact with your coding skills.

Invent an educational game or puzzle that entertains while teaching. Learning through play is always engaging.

Wordsmith’s Playground

Channel your thoughts and emotions into writing. Craft a captivating story, a moving poem, or an insightful essay that resonates with your audience.

Science Sleuth

Embark on a scientific journey with an experiment or research project. Hands-on exploration can reveal fascinating discoveries and lead to valuable insights.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Develop a business plan or marketing strategy for a new product or service. Show off your strategic thinking and creativity.

Community Catalyst

Give back by organizing a community service project that makes a positive impact on your local community. It’s a chance to make a real difference while learning.

When selecting your project, choose something that ignites your passion and aligns with your skills. The best projects are those that challenge you in a way that’s enjoyable and rewarding.

In a nutshell, finding the right school project idea boils down to creativity, problem-solving, and a dash of innovation. The key to success? Identifying a real problem, coming up with a practical solution, and explaining it effectively.

Whether it’s brainstorming with your buddies, doing some solid research, or just following your passion, remember, the most rewarding projects often come from genuine dedication and a desire to make a positive change in your school or community.

So, dream big, work together, and seize this opportunity not just for a grade, but as a chance to learn and grow while bringing your cool ideas to life. Your school project is a chance to let your creativity and enthusiasm shine. Don’t hold back!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i choose the best school project idea for my child.

Consider your child’s interests and the educational value of the project. It should be engaging and align with their curriculum.

What are the benefits of hands-on learning through school projects?

Hands-on learning enhances retention and comprehension, as students actively engage with the subject matter.

Can school projects improve a student’s problem-solving skills?

Yes, working on projects that require solutions to real-world problems can significantly improve a student’s problem-solving abilities.

How can I help my child succeed in their school project?

Provide guidance, resources, and encouragement. Ensure they understand the project’s objectives and offer assistance when needed.

Are there any online platforms for sharing school project ideas?

Yes, there are websites and forums where teachers, parents, and students can share and find innovative school project ideas.

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