College is often seen as a time in students’ lives when they can explore their interests and prepare to enter the job market. For many students, this translates into internships and part-time jobs in the field they’ve chosen; however, some choose the entrepreneurial approach and start their own business while in college.
The benefits? They gain real-world experience, make money while still in school, and distinguish themselves in a crowded job market after finishing college. And there are plenty of creative business ideas for students, which makes it much easier to embark on this journey.
Let’s explore below some of the best low-investment business ideas which can be started easily right from the dorm room or laptop, without neglecting college responsibilities.
What Are the Best Business Ideas for College Students That Fit Around Classes and Exams?
Coaching or Mentoring
Suppose you’ve mastered a skill. Why not consider coaching others? Coaching and mentoring essentially involve sharing what you know with others to help them succeed and can be a great way to make money as a college student.
Basically, you have to help clients set goals, create action plans, and use strategies to ensure they accomplish their objectives. Some coaching business ideas you could try including nutrition and dietetics coaching, skill development and professional development, and management and performance, to name a few.
The time investment required for this type of business is between two and four hours a week for preparation, plus sessions themselves, and some time dedicated to promotion.
You can choose from different formats, group workshops, one-on-one sessions, or even virtual coaching via Zoom, and start by providing help to people who are already in your network. Once you gather a few testimonials from them, you can build on that.
Branding and Marketing
If you are a marketing or design student and want to put your skills into practice, why not set up a mini-branding agency? You can help other brands create branding packages and logos and help them plan their marketing campaigns. And a great place to start building your skills is local businesses.
However, you need to build a strong reputation and network, so it’s helpful to engage with other professionals in the field as much as possible to gain valuable connections. And obviously, do your best to build relationships with clients and show in every possible way that your agency is trustworthy.
As your business grows over time, you can get more people on your team so you can delegate tasks and innovate, and also invest in more advanced tools that will help ensure the sustainability of your business, such as project management software, SEO platforms, a business password manager to help with the security and management of different accounts, and more.
Social Media Management
If you enjoy keeping up with trends on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok, social media management may be an excellent gig for you. Many small businesses need support to stay consistent on social media, grow their audience, and create valuable content, because they don’t have the expertise or the time to do it themselves.
You can offer to schedule posts, create social media content, engage with followers, or plan entire campaigns for them, starting with a few clients and scaling as you go. The best part of this gig? You can work remotely and fit it perfectly around your classes.
Freelancing
Whether what you do best is editing, illustration, copywriting, consulting, or graphic design, it can be a great idea to make yourself available for freelance work. You can either create a listing on a freelancing platform like Fiverr or Upwork or set up a portfolio site, side projects also count.
Be sure to state clearly what you’ve done and incorporate before-and-after images, branding mockups, and writing samples, because this will help clients understand what you deliver.
Keep in mind that when you’re first starting out, it may be necessary to undercut slightly before you can land your first few jobs. For example, $10 to $20 per hour is a good rate for those who’re just getting started in freelancing, such as editing, writing, virtual assistant services, and so on.
You can later increase your rate as you build reviews and move to $25- $40 (or even more) depending on your speed, niche, demand, and complexity.
Selling Handmade Goods
Do you have a crafty streak? In that case, you can take a break from your college books and get to work with your hands. Selling handmade goods is a great business idea for a college student because crocheted décor, handmade jewelry, and stitched tote bags can be easily made in your home, garage or college dorm, and you can then sell the items on an online marketplace, an ecommerce store, or even in-person, at a local market or another event where you can bring homemade goods.
Here’s a little warning, though: launching this kind of business will require a bit of upfront investment and a steadier time commitment compared to the previous ones. You’ll have to pay between $100 and $300 for tools, materials, packaging, and basic marketing, including listing fees, a domain, and social media ads, but this is for a basic setup only.
If your business involves more specialized crafts, such as custom woodwork or jewelry, your materials will cost up to $1,000. If you think you can commit to it (both in terms of financial resources and time investment), then it’s definitely worth considering this business idea, especially if you’re passionate about it.
The Bottom Line
This is by no means a comprehensive list of business ideas for college students, and it’s important to remember that what may work for one person might not be ideal for another. It’s essential to choose a business idea that fits your skills, schedule, and interests, and that allows you to build income without overlooking your responsibilities as a student.
Remember to start small, focus on building a business that gives you flexibility, and definitely don’t forget to maintain clear boundaries between your college life and your business.
