10 Exciting Ideas for Students to Cash in as Entrepreneurs
Flipping burgers, serving coffee, checking people in at the fitness centre. The traditional jobs for college students aren't too exciting. They don't exactly pay well, either.
Universities will be able to charge tuition fees of up to £9,250 per year from autumn 2017. On top of that, there is the cost of living as a student, which of course is even more expensive in the capital. Your typical part-time minimum wage job just isn’t going to make a dent in your bills.
Luckily, thanks to the Internet, entrepreneurial college students have more ways to make money than ever before, all without leaving their dorm rooms or apartments. If you have some time to spare each week, some talent, and a need for cash, here are a few ways to get to work.
Online Tutoring
You got into college. That means you earned decent grades at some point and are probably pretty strong in at least one subject. Whether you're training to be a teacher or not, online tutoring is a way to use your smarts to earn some money.
Some subjects are more in demand than others, so if you're good at math and science, you're in luck. A few websites hire and train tutors and match them up with students. It's a good idea to apply to a few tutoring sites, to make sure you end up with the most opportunities.
Writing, Editing, and Proofreading
If you love to write or consider yourself a grammar nerd, finding online gigs that involve editing, writing or proofreading can be a good way to pad your wallet.
Although print media has been on the decline for years now, there are a lot of websites that need reliable writers. How much you can make depends on what you charge and what clients are willing to pay. Rates range from a few pence per word to hundreds of pounds per article.
To get started, you can sign up for a freelancing site, create a few writing samples, and describe your interests or abilities. You can also be more proactive and call companies near your uni to see if they need help creating copy for their websites or other materials.
Sell Your Talents
Are you in school for graphic design, film or video production, or acting? You can sell your talents online to companies that need them. Fiverr can be a great resource if you're looking for a way to offer your services and talents.
Although the site got its name because it originally offered gigs for just $5, you are now free to set your own price. You can sell logos for $50 to $100, a 30-second video or commercial for $500 or voice over work for $200. Payment is available in GBP through a Paypal account.
Sell Your Social Media Savvy
Sometimes, the olds just don't get it when it comes to social media. That's where you, a digital native who was pretty much raised on Facebook, come in.
As brands must develop a social media presence or risk being forgotten, they are more likely to look for social media managers or people to handle daily posts and respond to followers. If you've got a decent following on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, brands are going to want to work with you.
Pay varies for social media gigs, but the national average is just over £25,000 per year.
Do Research for Others
If you feel like you live in the library or that you're always searching through online databases, you might as well cash in on your developing research skills.
People and companies will often pay researchers a decent amount to find information for them. For example, you can work as a court researcher, or conduct genealogy research for families and charge hundreds of dollars per projects.
Translate
There are more than 6,000 languages in the world. If you are fluent or nearly fluent in more than one, you can turn your multi-lingual abilities into cash by finding work as a translator.
You can look for translation work on freelancing platforms or sign up for a translation specific site.
Make Websites
If you know how to code and have an eye for design, you can earn a decent amount as a college student making websites for others. The average wage for a web developer is around £24,833, although this career path could open up plenty of opportunities for better-paying roles down the line. While you probably won't earn much as a part-time, work-at-home college student, what you'll make will still beat the hourly wage of a burger flipper or barista.
Be a Travel Agent
People often think that travel agents are doomed or that there's no way to earn money booking other people's vacations, thanks to DIY websites. But some people would still rather have someone else plan their travel for them.
If you love the idea of travel and want to live vicariously through the travel plans of others, being a virtual travel agent can be your dream gig. You can make a website to advertise your services or partner with an existing program to get started.
Dabble in Real Estate
Having a roommate is part of the college experience. But what if you could profit off your roommate? If you live in a two or three-bedroom apartment, and your landlord is cool with it, you can try subletting or renting the extra rooms to a roommate. Instead of splitting costs equally, you can charge the roommates enough to cover your portion of the rent.
Make and Sell Things
Do you knit, crochet or do another craft in your spare time? Why not try selling the things you make for some extra cash? You can set up an online shop on Etsy or sell your items at area craft fairs.
Your time is limited when you're juggling classes and extracurricular projects. If you're able to find work that you can do at home and that pays you well, you'll be able to enjoy the college experience, without going broke.
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