College students can take advantage of the free hours, the weekends and holidays to start a small business. As a young entrepreneur, you will get some extra cash to sustain your lifestyle and reduce the amount you need to borrow on student loans. Additionally, you get to learn new skills that can be helpful once you graduate. For some students, working while studying is solely for the purpose of paying bills whereas for others it’s the foundation of their full-time employment. Regardless of the motive, a small business venture is an opportunity to learn, earn and contribute to the growth of the economy. Some of the ideas you should consider as a student include:
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is an easy business for students because you don’t require stock to get started. You simply get paid for referring people to sellers. You can be an affiliate for both products and services. Products can be promoted through a website, social media, email and YouTube. However, be sure to check if the program has any restriction as to where you can post their affiliate links. Also some sites like Quora prohibit the use of affiliate links and including them can get you banned. The best products to promote are the ones that you have used and had a good experience with.
Sell Services on Fiverr and Upwork
Another great way to earn is to sell a service on Fiverr and Upwork. Examples of services you can sell on such platforms include writing, marketing, web design, programming, customer service and transcription. Alternatively, you can approach individuals and companies directly and sell your services to them. To get clients fast, market your services extensively on social media and forums and consider outreach. Look into sites such as Byte-Notes.Com that offer students guest posting opportunities to showcase their knowledge and skills and get some exposure.
Start an Ecommerce Store
Opportunities in the ecommerce industry have increased significantly over the years as more consumers move to online shopping. There is so much you can do online as a student. Examples include selling your crafts on Etsy; printing T-Shirts and selling them via your website; starting a subscription box business for beauty products, healthy snacks or magazines on Shopify; and buying goods on wholesale and reselling for a profit. Start small with your apartment as your warehouse and expand as your business gains popularity.
Design a Course
If you are an expert in something, consider turning those skills and knowledge into a course and selling it online. Udemy is one of the platforms you can use to sell your course. Alternatively, you can identify your target and sell to them directly.
House Cleaning
If you don’t mind some strenuous work, a house cleaning business is another venture to consider. You will have to learn how to clean professionally because when clients hire you, they will expect a spotless house. Also, you will have to familiarize yourself with the best cleaning products, preferably the natural ones. However, you don’t have to be the one who cleans the houses. You can hire other student or cleaners to do the work as you manage the marketing, finances and customer service.
Working part time as you study has many advantages. However, you should not let work get in the way of your studies. Have a time plan and don’t handle business affairs when you should be studying.
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