BUSINESS IDEAS FOR STUDENTS: (35+ ideas and easy guide)

You can agree with me that one of the great ways to graduate debt-free from college is choosing a part-time business.

Even if you’re using scholarships, or savings to pay for tuition, there is value in starting a business at college and earn an extra income. Apart from making some extra money, you can also gain experience and networking.

Somehow you like the idea of starting a business while at school but you really don’t know what business will be ideal for you as a college student. You don’t just want any business that will interfere with your studies. Good thing you’re here!

We have highlighted more than 35 lucrative business ideas students can do. Whether you want to work at night, over the weekend, or from the comfort of your home, determining when and for how long you’ll work is why these businesses are perfect for students.

Which Type of Business is Suitable for a Student?

Students have the ability to launch a wide variety of businesses, but it is extremely common for them to launch a service-based business. Some examples of lucrative business ideas that students commonly launch include cover letter and resume services, pool cleaning services, food delivery services, content writing services, graphic design services, gardening services, and more.

List of Lucrative Business Ideas a Students can do

Below are various business ideas for students, covering online ideas, business ideas for students with low investment, part-time business ideas for students, and everything in between.

#36. Offer Manicure and Pedicure service

If you’re good with designs and have a steady hand, you can earn a decent amount of money by offering fellow students’ manicure and pedicure service for a competitive price.

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. If you do a good job, word will quickly spread.

#35. Resell tickets

Buying tickets for shows and concerts before they sell out and selling them on for a profit can be a lucrative business idea for students. You can set up an account on ticket exchanges such as Viagogo and Biletto to sell on your tickets.

Buying tickets to popular music festivals and selling them on a few days before the festival starts is the most profitable. You can make anything from 30% to 500% profit margin for a sold-out event.

#34. Test and review new products

New products need testing before they launch to the market. Companies will look for people to send items in return for feedback which they can then use to improve their product before they sell to the public. You can get paid to test beauty, electronics, and other products.

Read Also: An MBA or a MBA: The right way

#33. Nightlife Promotions

If you have a large social media engagement and some good branding, you can become a nightlife promoter for an existing promo company overnight. 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.

#32.Organize student trips

Scout out some popular festivals or cities and organize a trip for students. You’ll earn a commission for setting the whole thing up and also likely to get a discount booking.

#31. Moving Advertisement

This is one of the easiest business ideas for students that pays. You can turn your car into a moving advertisement. Connect with a company willing to pay you to advertise their name on your car. Add the magnet or mesh to your car and drive around.

#30. Edit Your Classmates’ Papers

Proofreading and editing your classmates’ assignments is a nice business idea. Decide what you’d like to charge per page, then advertise in your dorm, classes, or on your student portal. You can also consider expanding your services to students worldwide by becoming an editor who can be found on websites such as Essay Edge or Scribendi.

#29. Creating online courses

Everyone is an expert at something that others really struggle with. As a student, you are in a great position to offer online courses. You can turn your knowledge into a resource that will help others and at the same time generate income for yourself.

There are many ways you can put up your course online. One of the popular ways is to make use of websites like Udemy.com. Some websites have millions of students and it will make it easier for your content to get to the eyes of interested people.

Read Also: 4 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS FROM FIRE DISASTER

#28. Photography

Photography is a great part-time business idea for students. It is basically, the art, application, and practice of light with a camera, usually via a digital sensor or film, to create an image.

If you’ve got an eye and some decent equipment, you can turn your hobby into some extra cash.

To start taking pictures, all you need is a camera, which can be anything from a basic smartphone to an advanced DSLR or a mirrorless camera.

#27. Freelance Writing

Another recommendable business idea for students is Freelance writing. This is the practice of writing for money while working on your own and not being employed by a company or organization.

As a freelance writer, you produce whatever written text is needed by your clients, either working from home or in a rented office space.

You can start by registering with services like Fiverr and Upwork; They can connect you with companies that need part-time and per-project freelance writers.

#26. Cover Letter/Resume Service: 

With the high rate of job turnover and lots of people needing jobs, people request for experts to get them a decent resume or cover letter. Rendering cover Letter/resume service will allow you make a lot of money by helping other people improve their odds.

#25. Housesitting

Housesitting is one of the easiest business ideas for students. It is the act of staying in someone’s house while they are away in order to keep it safe.

Most housesitting jobs will demand you taking care of a pet; although it comes with additional pay, it does take time out of your life- You’re committing your time to ensure the pets are well fed. You can start by connecting with online services like Care.com make.

#24. Painting Service

Painting service is a lucrative business a student can do and earn a good income. You can schedule time on weekends and during the summer to paint houses or join a painting company. It can pay well if you have the right connection.

#23. Makeup Artist

Rendering makeup services is a recommendable part-time business ideas for students. If you are skilled and can deliver a quality service, you can do makeup for weddings and make about $300 to $400 per service.

#22. Food Delivery

Food delivery is another legit business idea one can adopt. You simply register with any eatery or restaurant then deliver food. Clients that need these services are within the campus. All you do is wait for an order to come in, pick up said order from the restaurant, and deliver.

#21. Tutoring

For those talented in subjects that like math, chemistry, French, or another subject that tends to stump others. Tutoring will make the best business idea for you as a college student.

If you have true knowledge of a subject in demand, you will earn big bucks for tutoring services because parents are willing to pay.

#20. Lawn and Gardening Services

This service can make a part-time business idea for students who enjoy spending time outdoors. To get started, you may have to invest in a weed whacker and mower. You don’t need to worry because your investments will pay off quickly.

After acquiring the working tools, advertise to local homeowners, and you’ll likely find that they’re much more willing to pay a college student than one of those large landscaping companies.

#19. Houses and/or Offices Cleaner

If you can handle dust and grime, then cleaning homes and offices can prove to be good side hustle. Dozens of businesses, families with busy parents, or the elderly needs cleaners to take care of their surroundings.

You don’t necessarily need to register with a cleaning or waste management agency, you can advertise yourself and work alone so as to choose your own rate either per hour or per room.

#18. Fitness/Personal Trainer

This is a very lucrative and legit business idea for students. You can offer an average of 45 minutes session.

Also, people need an expert to guide them on every step of the way in exercise prescription and instruction. You can motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to them.

To get started, advertise at local gyms and music stores, community websites, and schools, then choose your own hours and rates.

#17. Review apps and websites

As a college student, you can get paid to write app reviews and also participate in focus groups through sites like Apperwall and UserTesting.com.

#16. Babysitting/Childcare

Babysitting is a good business idea for students that love kids. Parents need people who can take care of their kids while they are away for their personal business.

This kind of service will require a background check and first aid certification before you can work. Find babysitting jobs via sites and apps such as Bubble, UrbanSitter, and SitterCity.

Read Also: Most Valuable Fashion Brand [3 lessons to learn]

#15. Become a translator

If you understand and can also fluently speak another language, you can use your skill to earn some cash. You can work anywhere. Translation services typically require you to pass a test before you can get matched to or approved for a job.

You can connect with potential clients through sites such as UpWork, Translators Café, and Gengo.

#14. Sell old textbooks

This is a common business idea that pays. You simply turn your old books into cash by selling via online providers.

You can utilize platforms like TextBookRush, Chegg, BookScouter, and Cash4Books. To get started, you register, enter the book’s ISBN, get a price quote, sell it, and ship it using free shipping labels from the vendors.

#13. Drive service

Offering Drive service will make a great business idea if you’re fortunate enough to own a car. You are in control of your own schedule. As a driver, you’d pick up passengers anytime you can- could be in between classes, on the weekend, only on certain days.

Popular companies like Uber and Lyft offer ride-sharing services. To register, you must meet specified driving requirements, carry the proper insurance.

#12. Moving Advertisement

This is apparently the easiest of all business ideas for students listed in this article. All you need is Connect with a company willing to pay you to advertise their name on your car, add the magnet, or mesh to your car, and drive around.

Read Also: How To Conference Call On Android for Business

#11. Shovel Snow During the Winter

This service is recommendable for college students who live in a wintery climate. Shoveling snow may be a hard task to do but it pays well.

Your role is to walk around a neighborhood offering to shovel driveways and walkways. Do not wait for the snowy day, always advertise your services in advance.

#10. Search Engine Marketing

Search engine marketing (SEM) is listed among the best business ideas for students. It is a form of Internet marketing that involves the promotion of websites by increasing their visibility in search engine results.

You can run paid adverts to companies and to get their website to appear on the first page of the search engine.

#9. Pool Cleaning Service

Pool cleaning is a lucrative business a student can do and get money fast. You don’t need to worry about how to get clients, check out online classified ads. There you will find existing pool cleaners looking for help with their existing projects.

#8. Graphic design

Graphic design is the most common legit business idea for students. It has helped a lot of college students pay for their educational expenses.

Companies and individuals all over the world that are ready to offer you anything from $25 to $200 to design business cards and Logos for them.”

You can also sell your services and designs on sites like Etsy, 99 Designs and Café Press allow side hustling designers to.

#7. Car Wash

Car Wash is one of the best business ideas for students. If you are sure of providing a professional interior car detailing services, you can take Car washing as a side hustle.

If you want to operate a self-service system, you have to get the modern Conveyorized automatic car wash.

#6. Podcasting

If you find talking much easier, you can take up podcasting as a side hustle. A podcast is a series of spoken word, audio episodes, all focused on a particular topic or theme. Just like with blogging, you choose a Niche for your Podcast and provide quality content.

#5. YouTube Video Blogging

Video blogging is highly lucrative and therefore will make a good online business idea for students who have a gift for video. It’s estimated that video bloggers on YouTube get roughly $7.60 per 1,000 views of their videos.

You get paid based on the advertisements displayed on your videos which means the more people that watch your videos, the more you get paid.

#4. Virtual Assistant

Another great lucrative business a student can do is to become a virtual assistant. You can earn several hundred dollars or more per month by responding to emails, handling basic writing and organization, research tasks, and more.

#3. Interior Decoration

If you enjoy furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things, you can turn your passion into money by offering interior decoration services. As an interior decorator, you will often paint walls, hangs wallpaper, selects and places furniture, installs window treatments, and adds accessories such as throw rugs.

#2. DJ

if you are good at small audio mixing with crossfader and cue functions to blend or transition from one song to another, then DJ job will make a great part-time business idea for you.

You can DJ on weekends and work for parties and events. You start by investing to get a mixer and some speakers, but after that, you can profit.

#1. Laundry Service

Busy and demanding city life is making more people willing to pay laundry businesses to take care of their dirty laundry. As a college student, you can offer to get paid by washing, drying, and ironing clothes for your friends and neighbors.

How Do I Start A Business As A Student?- Easy Guide

Starting a business as a student in today’s world is not much of a challenge as technology advancement has taken care of a lot of things. You don’t necessarily need to jump one interview for another or tie yourself to one gig.

To get started on a good note, first, identify the skills that can translate into a side gig, ask yourself questions like, “what am I good at?”, “Is there anything I can do that allows me to get paid going about my day-to-day routine?”

Next, find a good platform that will connect you to your potential clients or audience.

Once you’re able to fix that, you’re essentially on the path to becoming your own boss.

READ ALSO: Customer Satisfaction: 10 types of customers that will kill your business. (examples)

What are the Most Successful Small Business?

• Car wash services
• Food delivery services
• Car repair
• Care for newborn and pregnant women
• Personal trainers

What Business Can I Star with no Experience?

The following is a list of businesses that require little or no experience

• Dog Walking Business.
• Home Landscaping.
• Blogging.
• Personal trainer.
• Catering or Bartending service.
• Mobile Car Washing and Detailing

How Do I Choose a Business Name?

As a student, follow these steps when choosing a business name

Wrapping Up

When choosing a business idea, consider the one that will enable you to make money without interfering with your studies.

The business ideas highlighted in this article will help you pay down your student loan debt, save some money, or get some extra pocket cash. Don’t ignore the career benefits that a gig can bring you in the future(Opens in a new browser tab)