Did you know that there are fast selling business ideas for students that you could start from anywhere including remote locations while earning a decent income to support yourself through school?
I first learned about some of these ideas years ago when I wanted to start a side business as an undergraduate. From that time till date, I have seen how these ideas have provided a source of income for students, including myself.
Over the years, new innovation in technology like AI, Big Data, Digital Marketing etc. has created a bigger demand and opportunities, making it a lot easier to start a side hustle while still in school and so many people have keyed into this.
And in this guide, I’ll be sharing with you the key business ideas you can take to start in school as a student, regardless of your location or the course you’re studying.
Things to do Before Starting a Business in School
The fact you have the right business ideas does not mean you have to jump right in and get started. The following are some of the things you have to sort out before getting started:
Identify your Goals Clearly
Know exactly why you want to get started and the things you want to achieve with your business. This guides you in deciding things like the duration of time you can actually invest in your business to actually achieve the goals etc.
Pick out your Skills
You need skills to start a side hustle in school but you also need the right skills. Understudy the fast-selling skills in the industry you plan to get on with. If you do not have the necessary skills, jump on a skill acquisition program and get the right skills.
Choose your Niche Wisely
There are a lot of niches you can get ideas to start a business as a student. But, not all of the niches are exactly right for you. For instance, you want to choose a niche that will give you ample time to study while still getting you to make a decent income. This is important.
Get a Brand
You need a brand that is visible to your target audience if you really want to make sales with your side hustle as student. So, after you’ve brushed up your skills and settled for a domain, you need to create a brand and a portfolio that will be clearly visible for your target audience.
Promote your Business
Again, you need visibility to make sales. Outside getting a website and setting up social media, you want to create content, optimize your website, invest in storytelling and promote your student side hustle across important platforms where your audience can see your work.
There are a number of other important steps you have to take before using these ideas I’m about to share but the above steps are enough to get you started on the right spot.
That said, the following are the key student business ideas you can use to start a small business in campus.
Freelance Writing
Table of Contents
Freelance writing is one of the most popular business ideas for students. Nearly anyone with a smartphone can start this right from their dorm room or any location.
With expansion in digital marketing, a lot of businesses are in need of content writers for their blog, social media pages and other platforms. As a student, you can take up these opportunities, offer these services while get paid in return.
If you have a specialized skill like SEO writing skills, Legal content marketing skills, Medical SEO Content skills etc. that makes it even better as you could choose a very specific niche to specialize in, instead of being a generalist.
If you do not have a specialist skill and you want to gain that, you can also start with the writing skills you have while learning and pivoting towards a specialist niche as you keep growing.
There are a lot of places to get freelance writing gigs, from LinkedIn to Freelancer, Upwork, Fiverr etc., you can look up for jobs on these platforms including directly from your own digital platforms.
Graphics Design
With social media platforms and storytelling becoming even more popular across countries, a lot of brands are on a lookout for freelance graphics designers that can create their visual content.
This makes graphics design one of the top business ideas for student entrepreneurs.
I have seen a number of graphics design opening that had a very competitive salary. And most of these opening do not discriminate between students or non-students provided you can get the jobs done and delivered when they need it.
If you have Graphics Design skills, you can get started with this as your top pick. Where you do not have the skills and you’re interested in learning, you can jump on available graphics design training programs across the web.
With tools like Canvas etc., you can start your journey into graphics design, creating stunning images for brands of different kinds.
Social Media Management
Social media management is one of those business ideas for students with very low entry barrier in terms of skills requirement.
With a decent content creation and social media skills, you can get started with this idea while learning and improving on your skills as you grow.
Considering that there are a lot of business and personal brands in need of social media managers, if you have a good portfolio and you can position yourself strategically, you can get a number of clients for a start.
One notable thing about social media management is that it is very flexible. Outside being able to create and schedule posts, you can take on more than one client at a time while managing your academics conveniently.
This is a great student business idea for girls and boys. And you don’t even need a personal computer to start this unless you want to get one.
Online Tutorials
Do you have a special skill, experience or ideas that people would like to pay to learn? Then starting an online tutorial could be just the right student business idea for you.
And there are many ways you can start an online tutorial and get to earn from it as a student. For example, you can package it as an on-demand class where students contact you and you take them on the classes at a pre-determined rate.
Outside that, you can also package it as a digital product where you sell on platforms like Udemy, Selar etc. without getting directly involved with the trainings.
These training can be hosted virtually, physically, at designated location or as a physical product. Choose what works for you and your students.
Regardless of your preferred mode of teaching your tutorials, it is very important to get the right skills before hosting your classes. Where you’re not too confident about your skills, get them brushed up before getting started.
After you’re all set up, promote and get your tutorials and trainings in front of the right audience if you want to attract a decent number of students.
Virtual Assistant
There are now a lot of virtual assistant opportunities for people in developing countries, including Nigeria and most African and Asian countries, making virtual assistance services one of the best business ideas for students.
As an undergraduate student, with the right skills, there are a number of Virtual Assistant services you could offer while earning an income on campus.
This includes services like performing admin tasks, website management, content writing, book keeping, customer services etc.
A lot of brands now see virtual assistants as a more cost-effective option to run their business. This has increased the demand for virtual assistant services. And you can leverage this demand to get yourself in front of potential clients.
You can start this with getting the right skills, building your brand and portfolio and then getting across your services to your target audience.
There are virtual assistant jobs on LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Upwork and other platforms. Get yourself on this platform and get strategically positioned to get the jobs that matches your skills and goals.
Content Creation
Content creation is one of my favorite business ideas for students. If you’re a creative person or someone that likes to write, this could be one of your best options to start a side hustle on campus.
There are many ways you can build a student business around content marketing. For example, you can create content for others and get paid in return, create content and post on your own digital platforms while earning using ads or join content creators’ programs where you get paid for your content.
In addition to this, you can choose to create written content like blog posts, white papers, ebooks etc. you can also opt for long form or short form video content or even audio podcasts.
I will not also forget to mention that you can use this option to build a long-term business that will last beyond your school days.
Whichever option you choose to go for, it is important that you commit to creating and sharing high value content targeted at meeting the specific needs of your target audience.
Also, you must take steps to promote and share this content to get it across to as many people as possible.
Video Editing & Videography
If you have the right editing skills, video editing could be one of the top business ideas for students you’d want to look into as you start your side hustle.
It’s very simple. Growth in demand for video content on platforms like YouTube, Instagram among others has created a surge in the demand for video content creators. And you could position yourself to meet this demand.
The good thing is that video editing can be paced so that it doesn’t interrupt your academic work.
Also, to make even more out of this skill, you could pair it with social media management, photography or any other relevant skill that could complement it. This gives you the chance to charge better for the services.
You can find jobs for video editing from your social media platforms to job boards on LinkedIn, Fiverr and other platforms. And you can also position yourself to get jobs via referrals.
Catering & Food Business
Away from digital businesses, if you’re not tech savvy (which I don’t see any reason why you’re not) or if you’re not interested in digital focused businesses, catering or food business is one of the top business ideas for students you could start right on campus.
This is going to be very straightforward if you know how to cook simple student fast food and meals consumed in student area.
You can start this by getting a spot on campus or you can offer to make meals on demand for friends, colleagues and their friends while getting paid in return.
To be successful in this niche, you have to be a decent cook. You also must understand how to network and get your business in front of potential clients.
Laundry & Drycleaning
Laundry and dry cleaning is another of the top offline business ideas for students on campus that nearly anyone can start with just a bucker and some soap.
You do not need to invest a lot of funds in this business before getting started. That means you can start from outside your lodge (if that is permitted) or anywhere else that is convenient for you.
You can start with your fellow students as your first clients. A good marketing using word of mouth etc. can give you a head start.
If you do not want to head right into starting your own laundry business, you can consider providing freelance laundry services either in partnership with other laundry brands around your school or meeting your clients directly and individually.
Regardless of the option you’re choosing, be sure that you’re making a choice that will give you the chance to focus on your study without disruptions.
Final Words
Starting a business as a student is very possible. A lot of people have done it before you. And there are a lot of business ideas you could start as a student, grow it and expand your sales even after school.
But before getting your hands in on entrepreneurship in school, you must understand and choose your priorities wisely.
Considering that some business ideas can be tasking, you want to go for those ones that will still leave you with ample time for your studies. Also, where you do not have requisite skills, take on lessons, trainings to upskill. Join our digital skills academy to get started or pick up some other ones online.
And when you finally do start, do not forget to learn, unlearn and relearn. Measure your growth and strategies at intervals. And be sure to pick yourself up and get back on your feet if you ever feel lost.
Now that you’ve learned about the key student business ideas you can use to start your own business, tell me in the comment section, the biggest challenges you’ve faced when it comes to starting a business as a student.
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