31 Unique And Creative Side Business Ideas For Students
11 min readIn the world we live in today, anyone from any age group can become an entrepreneur provided you have the will. There are many low-cost business ideas for students and young entrepreneurs out there.
Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook as a teenager and grew it into a multi-billion dollar industry within a short time.
If he can do it, you can do it at that tender age, then your age does not matter. In fact, age doesn’t matter in business. Where there is a strong will, there is always a way to get started.
There are students who want to start making money online and offline but don’t know what to do. No matter what you want to do, just believe in yourself. Here is a good list of creative and unique low-cost business ideas for students and young entrepreneurs.
It is important to note that most businesses (if not all) can be done offline and online. Always remember that your imagination equals possibilities.
1. Start YouTube video branding
With the advent of powerful mobile phones, you can easily make and edit short videos with your phone which can be fully monetized on YouTube for free.
Your videos can be comical, dramatic, strange, odd or even a new dance skill you know. Just be creative. This is one of the top business ideas for students today.
2. Create promotional videos for companies
Some companies need teenagers and students to talk about their products on camera. Approach these companies with short video samples of what you can do.
3. Start a dog training business
Are you a dog lover? You can make money from training other people’s dogs as a student. There are thousands of dog owners who are ready to pay good money to students to help them train their dogs. This ranks as one of the top unique business ideas for students today.
4. Start a dog walking business
You can do this after school hours in the evening and on weekends. Dog walking also has the added advantage of keeping your body in top shape.
Look around you and approach dog owners with your offer. You can make short handwritten cards to advertise your services in your neighbourhood.
5. Start a retirement recreation centre
Most people tend to live a boring life after retirement. Lots of retired men and women are looking for something fun and exciting to do every day.
If you love people, especially those that are old and you have a great deal of patience and you also live in a place where lots of retirees live, then this is for you.
Be creative and you are on your way to great business. This is an opportunity to network and build a genuine relationship both on a personal and business level.
I can bet my lunch money that you have at least one active social media account. You can easily turn your knowledge into money by helping other people and small companies promote themselves.
7. Start selling homemade beauty products
You can start making homemade beauty products like soaps and perfumes with your own unique style.
You can start a small local company from this and you would be surprised that people will pay you for your products. You can easily play the student card on them since people are naturally inclined to support students.
8. Start a custom errand service business
People love the convenience and are willing to pay good money for this. You can be the one person to provide convenience to people in your neighbourhood.
You can save someone a couple of hours of their days or weekends and get paid for your services.
9. Offer language translation services
Are you skilled in other languages other than your native language? You can make good money from this by offering language translation services to individuals and companies both offline and online.
There are many businesses that want to expand in other countries and they are ready to pay people who can speak those languages.
Make a good business out of your skills today. You can start your services offline or use freelance services like Upwork to seek out clients online.
10. Become a personal fitness trainer
If you are a fitness specialist who knows a lot about the human anatomy, the gym and at the same time have the perfect body to show your skills. Then this is for you.
There are thousands of people around you who are ready to pay you to share your knowledge and expertise with them. Who doesn’t want an amazing body?
11. Become a green helper
This is simple and straightforward. You help create awareness for a green world. Companies will pay you to help them campaign for a greener environment. You will be paid to plant trees.
12. Start writing and selling books
This is an age-long business you can do if you love and enjoy writing. It is much easier today to self-publish a book than you can imagine.
With the emergence of eCommerce stores like Amazon, you can easily sell your book to a massive global audience online and offline.
13. Become a professional bodyguard
This is not a one-person business. You can start your own professional security business with a few of your friends.
The risk is high and can only be pulled off successfully if you work as a team. There are many wealthy and famous people out there who will pay you good money for their personal security.
14. Start a travelling salon
Looking good is good business and people will pay you lots of money for their convenience. You can open your own travelling salon on the go.
Go to other people’s homes and do their hair which results in more money in your pocket since you won’t have to rent a space of your own.
This is a little risky. Do this if only you can verify the identity of your clients and always let your family and friends know where you are headed at every point in time.
15. Start music lessons
You can teach people in your neighbourhood music lessons if you are good at music and play musical instruments.
You can start your own freelance music training school where you can offer custom music lessons to people in their homes for a fee. You can even go further by making short video lessons that you can sell online for a fee.
16. Become a sports coach
I was once in a local soccer academy created by coaches who were teenagers and students who taught me how to perfect my soccer skills.
I joined this academy for a fee and these people were making good money with their coaching skills. If you enjoy a certain sport, you should consider making money from it by starting your own sports academy in your neighbourhood.
You will be paid whatever price you charge if you can convince those around you that you are good. Sports coaching is good business no matter the level you are operating from be it local or elite.
17. Start a blog around your business
Blogging is one of the best ways to make money online if and only if you blog right.
You can position your blog to earn decent money when you are able to provide solutions to people’s problems on your blog. This is how to build a blog around your business.
You can start by choosing a particular topic you really enjoy talking about and start writing about everything you know about the topic.
This will draw attention to your blog. You can make money from your blog by offering a service or just by advert placement. And you can do this during your own hours.
18. Start a counselling service online
You can start a counselling business online right from the comfort of your home using your computer, webcam, or online counselling forums.
Improve other people’s lives and help make the world a better place. You can make good money doing this.
19. Sell your pictures online
Turn your passion and hobby into a money-making machine. Almost every teenager and student today have hundreds of funny, crazy, and hilarious pictures on their mobile phones.
You can easily sell your pictures online and make passive income for years to come.
20. Start a website design business
You can help small businesses and individuals design and set up their business and personal websites respectively.
21. Start developing mobile apps for businesses
Mobile application is a multibillion-dollar industry. Every business is going mobile and mobile apps have never been so popular.
If you fancy coding and have some programming skills, this is the best time to take a cut of your own millions from this industry.
22. Start a logo creation business online
If you are a creative genius, then you should start your own logo designing company either offline or online. A lot of individuals and companies spend a large amount of money on creating a perfect logo. This is yours for the taking.
23. Start a pet grooming business offline
Keeping pets can be very tasking for most pet owners. You can provide your pet grooming service to pet owners in your neighbourhood if you love pets or even animals generally.
You can start your own mobile pet grooming service in your neighbourhood. Creativity is the master of invention. Be creative and get those big bucks coming in.
24. Become a home-based computer skills teacher
Don’t be surprised by this addition. There are still millions of people in the world today who don’t know how to do the basic things on their computers such as using word processors, checking emails, downloading from the internet, etc.
Some of these people are afraid of learning outside because of their ego or (fill in the gap). Make yourself available in your neighbourhood and offer to teach them these skills in the comfort of their homes for a fee.
You will be amazed by the large sum you will make from teaching other people the basic computer skills you take for granted. Be creative in your approach.
25. Become a resume writer
There are several companies that are making millions of dollars every year just by writing resumes for people. This is because a good resume is one of the most important papers in a person’s life and no one wants to mess it up.
If you can write a good resume, you should also consider offering this as a service in your neighbourhood. Ask around your neighbourhood and make yourself available for this service.
26. Start writing business proposals for companies
If writing is your area of interest, then you can make money in the business niche by writing business proposals for small businesses in your neighbourhood. You can take your skills online to a more global audience. You will earn a lot of money in this niche.
Many people have great treasures lying useless in their garages. If you are good at making sales and negotiating deals, you can approach people in your neighbourhood with a convincing offer to help them sell stuff in their garage and get a percentage of the total sales made in return.
Don’t worry about the rejections, it is a common thing associated with sales. Be persistent and make sure to earn their trust in the process. Your results should speak for you in the long run.
28. Start a personal branding agency
Have you ever wanted a personalized cap, shirt, or piece of jewellery? It is the next cool thing to ice. I have always wanted one of those. It makes me feel special and unique from the crowd.
If you can offer me this service, I am ready to pay you good money for this. Don’t forget that there is huge money potential in this niche for you. Just be creative in your approach.
29. Start a home-based health care services
Do you have a sound background in medicine or health and you genuinely love taking care of people? Having home-based health care is something most people are willing to pay for.
This business is good for you if you are a teenager or student who is studying health-related professions.
30. Become a home-based tutor online
Your knowledge of a particular subject can earn you good money as a teenager or student. You can offer extra-murals to your friends and fellow students in their homes.
Your knowledge of science, mathematics and other technical subjects can fetch you good money.
31. Sell seasonal goods online
What about selling seasonal goods like Christmas decorations, Halloween costumes, Valentine gifts, etc. You can easily start selling these items in their peak season. Establish yourself as a specialist and you are in for good business all year long.
You have unlimited opportunities in the business world as a teenager or student. Don’t let your age hinder you from being the next big thing in the entrepreneur world. Think outside the box.
Break the box and remove all limitations from your path. Always remember that your imagination equals possibilities.
I would love to hear more about you and your business. What do you do and how can I help you? Also, kindly suggest to me related topics you would want to read about.
I am Adeyemi Adetilewa, a media consultant, entrepreneur, husband, and father. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Ideas Plus Business Magazine, online business resources for entrepreneurs. I help brands share unique and impactful stories through the use of public relations, advertising, and online marketing. My work has been featured on the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, Addicted2Success, Hackernoon, The Good Men Project, and other publications.
