12 Business Ideas for College Students To Start
Summer solstice is approaching, Stargazers, and with it comes long, hot days. For those of us in the full-time working realm who have a few vacation days saved, summer is a time to sit back and sip some sunshine.
But if you’re a college student, summer may look more like opportunity—opportunity to reduce tuition debt, gain some real world experience, and set yourself up with a flexible side gig once classes resume.
The future is bright for those who seize it. Even better news: there are ways to design your summer around something you enjoy, where you set your own hours and make money. There is no shortage of clever small business ideas for college students. But which one is right for you? Well, it might depend on your entrepreneur personality type.
In short, your summer startup should reflect your interests and leverage your strengths. Join us as we explore ways to make the most of your summer break and answer questions like:
- Which is the best business for college students like me?
- What is the best business for beginners?
- What are the most successful small businesses?
- How do I get started?
- What are the benefits of starting a business as a college student?
7 benefits of starting a business as a college student
If I could leap back in time, do it all over again, I’d have dipped my toes in entrepreneurship much earlier. The lessons I learned from side gigs have helped me grow personally and professionally. There are several benefits to pursuing business ideas in college—and it’s not too late for you to cash in on them:
- 📊 Gain real world experience in business. Sure business school can teach you theory and formulas, but there’s nothing like doing business to learn the ropes.
- 🛠 Learn skills that may not be taught in the classroom. Strengthen your skills in empathy, delegation, stress management, customer service, and more. Student entrepreneurs have a leg up on fellow graduates once they hit the job market. The skills you learn outside the classroom become just as valuable as those learned in a lecture.
- 🤝 Build your professional network. By the time you graduate, you already have a contact list full of people to approach for references, mentorships, and even jobs.
- 👩🏻🎓 Try out an industry before you graduate. Studying fashion management? Try running your own business selling clothes online to get a taste for the industry.
- 📝 Flesh out your resume. As a new graduate, your CV may be pretty sparse. But if you run your own business in college, you can add “CEO“ to your list of accomplishments.
- 💰 Earn extra cash. Saving to pay expenses and minimize debt is a good idea if you want to lessen the burden after you graduate.
- 📆 Enjoy an income source that works around your studies. As your own boss, you make the hours. The common struggle of scheduling a part-time job around studying and classes can add stress. Work on your own business on a flexible schedule and then go all in on your summer break.
12 business ideas for college students
Whether you’re fresh out of high school or you’re on break before your senior year of college, this is your moment. When else in your life will you have this much time—and youthful energy—to make a leap? There are plenty of business ideas for beginners that require little upfront investment, and can even be run from your home (or dorm room).
Before we look at specific ideas picked for your personality type, get inspired by this list of the best business types for college students:
- Teach, mentor, or tutor. Help high school students with summer studies or younger college students prep for classes that you aced last semester.
- Sell handmade goods. If you’re creative, take a break from the books to work with your hands. You can sell your goods through an online store, marketplace, or in-person event like a local market.
- Start a service-based business. What services can you offer in your city or town? Launch a basic website to advertise services for childcare, pet-sitting, delivery, personal shopping, maintenance, landscaping—there are endless possibilities.
- Try dropshipping. Dropshipping lets you sell goods to customers without ever having to buy product upfront or manage inventory. This is a great idea for those with skills in design and marketing. The products are less important than how you curate, market, and position them.
- Start a community-focused business or non-profit. If your goal isn’t to make money but to gain skills and experience, you could start a cause-based business that gives back to a charity or community organization that you care about.
- Monetize content or a personal brand. If you’re already a minor superstar on a social media platform like TikTok or Instagram, consider leveraging your growing audience to make money. Do sponsored content or set up an online store that sells merch to your fans.
- Sell print-on-demand goods. This is another great option for starting a business on a low budget. If you have creative skills, you can sell your art or graphic design printed on anything from t-shirts to camp mugs.
- Become a freelancer. Make yourself available to take on freelance work like editing, copywriting, web design, or whatever it is that you do best. You can set up a portfolio site or create a listing on a site like Upwork.
- Create experiences. While the world emerges from lockdown, the masses are craving in-person connections. Can you create and sell experiences to tourists, for example? Think biking or culinary tours of your city’s favorite spots.
- Become a reseller. If you have an eye for potential, scour local buy-and-sell sites or thrift stores for interesting and vintage finds. You can curate a unique experience by fixing up old home decor or vintage clothing and selling them on a dedicated website.
- Sell at pop-up shops and markets. Grow your own veggies and make preserves, bake cookies, make handmade goods, or curate vintage. Whatever your skill or interest, consider how you can make extra cash selling at weekend markets or a temporary pop-up.
- Run a summer camp program. Alleviate parent burnout after a year of tenuous childcare and schooling. Choose one your interests—say math, drama, or wilderness exploration—and create an engaging camp program for young kids.
But wait, how do I get started? It’s as easy as just doing it. Set up an online store and get a feel for the tools before committing to a plan, then learn as you go with free entrepreneur resources like the Shopify blog.