12 Unique Business Ideas for Students

Ever feel that itch to start something of your own as a student? The desire to build something from the ground up and be your own boss? You're not alone. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in many students looking for ways to gain experience, make some money on the side, and pursue their passions.

The good news is, there are plenty of options if you want to start a Business as a student. You have more flexibility than full-time employees, access to resources at your school, and lots of time to dedicate to a new venture. The key is finding an idea that fits your skills, interests, and schedule. Something you can start small while still in school and scale up once you graduate if it takes off.

We've put together a list of 12 unique business ideas for students looking to become entrepreneurs. These are flexible, scalable business concepts you can start today on a small budget. Take a look—your perfect student startup idea may be right here waiting for you.

Tutoring Services

If you're good with helping others learn new things, tutoring services could be an ideal business for you as a student.

Find Your Subject Area

Think about the topics you're best at and enjoy teaching. Math, English, music, coding, whatever you excel in - that's where you'll make the best tutor. Promoting a skill you have a natural aptitude for will make the work feel effortless.

Set Your Rates

Do some research to determine average tutoring rates in your area for your chosen subject. You'll want to price competitively, so check sites like Care.com, Wyzant and UniversityTutor.com. For high school topics, $20-50/hour is common. College subjects may demand $30-100/hour.

Build Your Website

Create a simple website to help you appear professional. Include details about your background, experience, availability and rates. This makes you easy to find and allows students to learn about you.

Market Your Services

Spread the word about your new venture! Tell family, friends, teachers, and post on community Facebook groups. Place ads on tutoring sites and your local classifieds. Send intro emails to area schools, libraries, and kids activity centers. Offer a free initial consultation and trial session.

Make it a Success

Be flexible in scheduling sessions based on students' needs. Focus on understanding their challenges and tailoring lessons to their learning styles. Provide helpful materials and resources. Give students your full attention - your success depends on their success!

With some hustle and the right skills, tutoring services can be a rewarding and profitable business for students. Use your talents to help others achieve and gain valuable real-world experience along the way.

Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is a great business idea for students looking to build their skills and make some money on the side. As a freelance writer, you can leverage your writing abilities to work remotely and on your own schedule for companies and clients from all over the world.

Finding Work

The key is finding work that matches your interests and skills. You might pitch to websites, online publications, and companies in industries you're knowledgeable about. Some places hire freelance writers to create blog posts, web copy, newsletters, ebooks, Social Media posts, and more. Search online job boards and reach out to sites you read regularly to express your interest in contributing as a freelance writer.

Build your portfolio by starting a blog to showcase your writing. You can then point potential clients to your site as a sample of what you can do for them. A strong portfolio, along with a well-crafted pitch, can help you land steady freelance work.

Setting Your Rates

As a student, you're still developing your skills, so don't price yourself out of opportunities. Many freelance writers charge between $25 to $100 per hour or by project, depending on experience. It's best to start on the lower end of that range and increase your rates over time as you gain more experience.

Freelance writing is a rewarding field for students that allows you to follow your passions, set your own hours, and gain valuable experience. While it may take time to build up your client base, if you consistently produce high-quality work, word will spread, and you'll establish a reputation as a reliable freelance writer.

Selling Handmade Goods

Selling handmade goods is a great business idea for creative students. Whether you make jewelry, clothing, art, or other crafts, selling your handmade creations allows you to turn your hobby into a profitable side hustle.

To get started, determine what you want to make and sell. Focus on high-quality, unique products that tap into current trends. Once you decide on your offerings, set up a simple website to display photos of your goods, or create an online store on Etsy, Shopify, or eBay. Be sure to take professional pictures of each item and write enticing product descriptions highlighting any special features or qualities.

Pricing

Price items at 2-3 times the cost of materials to ensure a good profit margin. Factor in your time as well. Check what similar handmade products are selling for to determine a competitive yet still profitable price range. Offer discounts and promotions to help increase sales.

Selling Venues

In addition to your own website and online marketplaces, explore other channels for selling your handcrafted goods:

• Craft fairs and maker markets: Rent a booth to sell items in person. This allows customers to see and touch your products, leading to more sales.

• Consignment shops: Approach local boutiques, gift shops, and clothing stores about selling your items on consignment. They display and sell the products, and you split the profits.

• Wholesale: Sell larger quantities of your goods to retailers who then resell to their customers. You’ll make less per item but can move more volume.

• Custom orders: Offer custom or personalized options for your products. This provides a unique service that customers will pay more for.

With some time and effort, you can build a thriving handmade business. Stay active in your local craft and entrepreneur communities to network, gain new customers, and continue improving your skills. A successful handmade goods venture could even turn into a full-time job after college!

Dog Walking or Pet Sitting

As a student, a flexible side gig like dog walking, pet sitting, or both can be a great way to earn some extra money. Many pet owners have busy schedules and need help caring for their furry friends.

Offering to walk neighborhood dogs a few times a week during times that work with your class schedule is an easy way to get started. You can charge $10-15 for a 30-minute walk. Pet sitting, where you watch pets in the owners’ homes, pays a bit more at $25-30 per visit. Some owners may want overnight sitting for $50-75 per night.

To find clients, ask your vet, groomer, and local pet shelters if they know of anyone needing services. You can also post on community Facebook groups, NextDoor, and college housing message boards. Don’t forget to create profiles on sites like Rover, Wag, and Care.com.

Once you land some clients, make sure to get details on the pets’ needs, feeding schedules, medical concerns, and favorite toys or treats. Obtain keys or alarm codes for home access, and find out where supplies are kept. Discuss your rates and the scope of services in advance to ensure you and the owners are on the same page.

When walking or sitting, give the pets your full attention. Play with them, brush or bathe them if needed, and provide any medication as directed. Clean up after them, and leave homes just as you found them. Take pictures during your visit to share with the owners and build trust.

Building great relationships with pets and their people can lead to steady work and word-of-mouth referrals. While the jobs may seem simple, you’re providing an important service. With some time and experience, a pet care business could turn into a viable long-term career.

Social Media Management

Managing social media accounts for businesses is a great side hustle for students. Many small companies don’t have the time or skills to effectively leverage social platforms, so they’ll gladly pay someone else to do it.

The Role

As a social media manager, you’ll create and post content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to increase brand awareness and engage customers. You may also monitor accounts, respond to comments and messages, and analyze metrics to see what’s working.

The key is to understand your client’s business, brand, and target audience. Figure out the best types of content and optimal posting schedules for each network. You want to spark interest and drive traffic to their website or store.

Getting Started

To become a social media manager:

-Build your skills. Take free online courses on content creation, social media marketing, and analytics. Stay up-to-date with the latest platforms and best practices.

-Create a portfolio. Start managing social media for a local business, friend’s company or your own brand. Showcase your work and results.

-Set your rates. Fees vary but average $25-$75/hour. Consider offering packages like a certain number of posts per week or a monthly retainer.

-Find clients. Promote your services on neighborhood Facebook groups, Nextdoor, and freelance websites. Reach out to small businesses in your area. Ask friends and family for referrals.

-Deliver great results. Focus on high-quality content, frequent posting, and meaningful engagement. Measure and report on metrics like impressions, reach, and link clicks. Make data-driven recommendations to improve ROI.

With some experience under your belt, social media management can become an exciting and profitable venture. The flexibility is ideal for students, and the skills you build will benefit you for years to come. Why not start today? Build that portfolio and land your first client—you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Resume and Cover Letter Writing

As a student entrepreneur, one of the first services you can offer is resume and cover letter writing. Many people struggle with effectively articulating their skills, experience, and career goals on paper. You can help them out by:

• Reviewing their existing resume and cover letter and providing constructive feedback on how to improve the content, formatting, and overall impact. Help them quantify accomplishments and use powerful verbs to describe responsibilities.

• Interviewing them to get a better sense of their background, qualifications, and objectives. Then crafting an entirely new resume and cover letter from scratch that highlights their strengths and matches their needs.

• Staying up-to-date with the latest resume and cover letter trends and best practices. Things like concise yet compelling bullet points, an impact summary statement, and a clear career narrative are key.

• Targeting the resume and cover letter for specific positions. Customizing the content, emphasizing relevant experience, and matching the language and keywords listed in the job posting. Personalization is key.

• Proofreading carefully to ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors before finalizing the documents. Double check that formatting is consistent and visually appealing as well.

• Providing the service at an affordable rate for students and recent graduates. As a student entrepreneur yourself, you can offer very competitive pricing.

Resume and cover letter writing is a straightforward service with the potential for repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals. Many clients will come back to you again in the future or refer other job seekers to you. While the work can be tedious, it allows you to gain valuable experience helping others achieve their career goals. And that can be very rewarding.

Running Errands for Others

Running errands for others is an easy business idea for students with minimal overhead. All you need is reliable transportation, a phone, and some free time in your schedule. Many people are too busy to handle routine errands and tasks themselves and will gladly pay for the convenience of someone else doing it for them.

Promote your errand-running service on neighborhood Facebook groups, Nextdoor, and by posting flyers around your area. Offer services like:

• Grocery shopping and delivery. Pick up groceries from a provided list and bring them to the customer.

• Prescription or package pickup and drop-off. Retrieve items from local stores or the post office and deliver them.

• Dry cleaning drop-off and pickup. Take dirty clothes to be cleaned and return the cleaned items when ready.

• Meal prep and delivery. Cook meals from provided recipes and ingredients and deliver the finished meals.

• House sitting. Stay at someone’s house while they’re away to accept deliveries, water plants, walk pets, etc.

You can charge either an hourly rate, a per-task fee, or offer package deals and subscriptions for repeat customers. Keep good records of the errands you run, tasks completed, hours worked, and mileage driven for your business accounting. Build up reviews and testimonials from happy customers to help land new clients.

Running a successful errand service requires efficiency, timeliness, reliability and trustworthiness. Do quality work, provide friendly customer service, and maintain clear communication with your clients. Keep them up to date on the status of their errands and tasks. With some dedication, an errand-running business can be a simple yet rewarding endeavor for an entrepreneurial student.

Mobile Car Wash Service

A mobile car wash service is a great business idea for students looking to become entrepreneurs. You can operate this type of business with low startup costs and flexible hours that work around your class schedule.

To get started, you'll need some basic equipment like a pressure washer, hoses, sponges, towels, and cleaning solutions. You'll also want a portable generator to power everything. Load all your gear into a trailer or van and you'll be ready to hit the road.

Market your new business by creating social media profiles, distributing flyers in neighborhoods, and partnering with local businesses like auto parts stores. Offer special discounts and promotions to attract new customers. Keep your prices affordable and competitive.

Once you land your first gig, do a great job! Clean the interior and exterior of the vehicle thoroughly. Vacuum seats and carpets, wipe down vinyl and plastic, clean windows inside and out, and make tires and rims shine. Your goal is happy, repeat customers.

After you gain experience, consider expanding into other areas like:

•Detailing - Scrub upholstery, polish trim, protectant treatments.

•Denting/scratch repair - Fix minor dings, dents, key scratches with touch up paint.

•Odor elimination - Remove smoke, pet, and musty smells from vehicle interiors.

•Headlight restoration - Polish and seal oxidized, cloudy headlight covers.

A mobile car wash service is a simple but rewarding business. You get to work outside, set your own schedule, gain real-world experience, and build a loyal customer base. With some elbow grease and entrepreneurial spirit, you'll be well on your way to becoming your own boss in no time.

Photographer and Videographer

As a student photographer or videographer, you have a creative skill set that many small businesses need but may not be able to afford full-time. Offering your services for events like weddings, parties, or product promotions is a great way to build your portfolio and make some money on the side.

You'll need professional equipment like a high-quality camera, tripod, lighting and sound equipment for video. Build a strong portfolio of your best work to show potential clients. Offer packages at different price points depending on the number of hours covered and the types of shots or footage included. For example:

• Basic: 2 hours of casual candid and portrait shots, or short promotional video.

• Standard: 4 to 6 hours including getting ready shots, ceremony, reception and some staged portraits. For video, a 3 to 5 minute highlight reel.

• Premium: 8+ hours with an additional engagement shoot, drone footage (if certified), and a longer feature video.

Market your services through your school, local event venues, wedding planning companies, and by building a professional website to help establish your credibility. Be sure to obtain proper permits and insurance for commercial work.

Compared to a full-time career, the hours may be more flexible to work around your class schedule. The pay can vary significantly based on your skills, experience, location, and the types of events you cover. According to recent surveys, student videographers and photographers typically charge between $50 to $150 per hour, or $500 to $3,000 for complete wedding packages.

Building a photography or videography side business is challenging but rewarding work. With time and experience, you can turn your passion into a successful entrepreneurial endeavor during school and beyond. The opportunity to be your own boss and do creative, meaningful work is worth the effort. Sharpen your skills, provide exceptional service, and your business is sure to thrive.

Food and Beverage Services Like Baked Goods or Coffee Carts

Food and beverage services are always a popular option for student entrepreneurs. Here are a few unique ideas to consider:

Baked Goods

If you have a talent for baking, consider starting a baked goods business. Make cupcakes, cookies, brownies or other treats to sell to students and faculty. You can sell your goods at school events, club meetings or set up a small stand. Promote your business on social media to get more customers. All you need is access to an oven and a few essential supplies.

Coffee Cart

For the caffeine-addicted crowd, a mobile coffee cart might be perfect. Obtain the necessary permits to operate and find a high-traffic location on campus to set up shop. Serve freshly brewed coffee, espresso drinks and tea. You can also offer muffins, scones or other snacks. Keep your menu simple but high quality. If your coffee is amazing, word will spread fast.

Food Delivery

On-demand food delivery is popular with students. Sign up with services like UberEATS, DoorDash or Postmates to deliver meals from local restaurants to students in dorms or off-campus housing. You get the flexibility to work when you want and can make decent money, especially during peak meal times and late-night. All you need is a reliable mode of transportation and a phone to get started.

Meal Prep

For students with busy schedules, meal prep services are a lifesaver. Cook meals in bulk on the weekends, portion them out and deliver or have customers pick them up. You can focus on healthy, balanced meals with options for different dietary needs. Keep your menu varied and prices affordable. Market your business to students, faculty and other local professionals. With some skill in the kitchen and effective time management, this can be a rewarding venture.

These are a few unique food and beverage business ideas for students to get started. With hard work and persistence, any of these has the potential to become a thriving enterprise. Give one a try and you'll be well on your way to becoming an entrepreneurial success story.

Event Planning and Promotion

Planning and promoting an event requires a lot of work, but it can be an extremely rewarding experience. As a student entrepreneur, event planning is a great business idea if you have good organizational and communication skills.

To get started, determine what type of event you want to plan and promote. Some options include:

• Fundraisers
• Conferences
• Weddings
• Birthday parties
• School events

Once you decide on an event category, build your team and delegate tasks. Assign people to help with elements like:

• Venue scouting and booking
• Vendor coordination (catering, entertainment, decor, etc.)
• Creating and distributing marketing materials
• Managing RSVPs and guest lists
• Overseeing setup and cleanup

Promoting your event is key to its success. Use social media platforms to spread the word, create an event page, and share updates. You can also design eye-catching flyers to post around town. Don’t forget to pitch your event to local media like newspapers, radio stations, podcasts, and influencers. Offer them free tickets or access in exchange for promotion to their audiences.

On the day of the event, arrive early to ensure everything is set up properly. Greet guests, manage the schedule and flow of activities, and be available to handle any issues that arise. Most importantly, work with your team to make sure everyone has an enjoyable experience.

With some experience under your belt, you'll get better at anticipating challenges and streamlining processes. Event planning as a student business allows you to be creative, build useful skills, and make connections that can lead to more opportunities down the road. By providing a valuable service to your community, you're also able to generate income to help fund your education or life as an aspiring entrepreneur.

Mobile App Development and Coding

Developing mobile apps is a lucrative business. As a student, you likely have a pulse on the latest technologies, trends, and what your peers are interested in. Tap into that knowledge to build an app that solves a problem or provides entertainment.

To get started, determine if you want to build an app for Android, iOS or both. Learn to code in Java for Android or Swift for iOS. You’ll also need to become familiar with the software development kits (SDKs) and application programming interfaces (APIs) for each platform.

Once you have the technical skills down, brainstorm app ideas. Think of pain points you or your friends experience that could be solved with an app. Or develop a fun game or social app tailored to students. Run your ideas by others to determine which has the most potential.

When you have a solid concept, create wireframes and a basic design for your app. Figure out the key features and functionality needed to build a minimum viable product (MVP). Keep it simple to start, you can always add more later.

Build your app and test it thoroughly to work out any bugs. Then submit it to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for approval. This can take days or weeks. In the meantime, create a website to help promote your new app.

Launch your app and spread the word on social media. Encourage friends, family and new users to download and rate your app. Monitoring reviews and user feedback will help make improvements to future updates. Stay on top of trending technologies to keep your app up to date.

With some programming knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit, you can build and launch your own mobile app. Developing in-demand apps that provide real value to users can lead to an exciting new career as a student entrepreneur. The opportunities are endless.

Best Ideas

So there you have it, 12 creative business ideas perfect for students looking to dip their toes in the entrepreneurial waters. Whether it's tutoring your peers in a subject you excel at, walking neighbors' dogs, or selling trendy phone cases, there are plenty of opportunities out there if you look for them. The key is finding something you genuinely care about and turning that passion into a money-making venture. Starting a business isn't easy, but with hard work and perseverance, you absolutely can build something great. Who knows, maybe one of these ideas will inspire you to create the next big thing. You'll never know until you take that first step. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start hustling! The future is yours for the taking.