Extra Income Business Ideas for College Students

Many students use their time and skills to earn money by starting a business while still in college. It is not only a great way to earn an income, it is also an excellent opportunity to gain experience, particularly if the business is related to the student’s specialization. If you are looking for a way to earn from what you can do and what you know, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are 10 business ideas for college students that you might want to consider:

1. Work study programs – Work study programs are a form of financial aid. If you qualify, you will be given a paying job based on your current study program, interests and needs. These jobs usually pay minimum wage but can still be a good source of extra income. Plus, you gain valuable experience as well. There is also a possibility that if you find work in your field of study, the job may even open doors to gainful employment after you graduate.

2. Researching Scholarship for Students – Another excellent business idea for college students is researching about available scholarships. Each year, students from all across the nation will be looking and applying for scholarships. Although information about these scholarships is usually free, not every student has the time or patience to do research on the ones they can qualify for. This is where you come in. By offering a minimal fee, you can help other students find a good scholarship fit.

3. Become a virtual assistance – Virtual assistance is one of the fastest growing careers today. Basically, you will perform a secretarial, clerical, administrative, assistant role but you will be doing it from a remote location like your home or your library where every you can get an internet connection.  As a virtual assistant, your job will be to providing support services for your clients. The pay is good (you get paid per hour or per project) and the time is flexible.  Check out elance.com for thousands jobs waiting for you to complete.

4.  Repair Computers and Laptops – If you have the skills, this can be an excellent income opportunity. Plus, you can even do business inside the campus. You can charge a flat fee or a graduated fee basis depending on the nature of the job required.

5.  Transportation Services – If you have a car or have access to a vehicle, offering transportation services can be profitable. You could earn from car pooling or for providing vehicles for field trips, excursions and parties. If you have a contact person who owns a car rental business, you could even arrange to fix in-campus transportation needs for a commission.

6.  Tutoring Students – This is a time-honored means of earning money while in school and is one of the top business ideas for college students. You can charge by the hour and change your fees based on the difficulty of the subject matter or length of the project.

7.  Affiliate Marketing – If you have a computer and Internet access, becoming an affiliate can be a good way to earn an income. As an affiliate, you will sell or promote a company’s products or services and earn a commission or a fixed amount for every successful sale made by your referrals. If you have a good network of contacts and can tailor your ads to attract a target audience, you can earn quite well from this opportunity.

8.   Article Writing – Most article writing jobs are sourced online, usually by individuals or companies who are seeking copywriters and ghostwriters to produce content for their websites. Most jobs are on a per-project basis while others pay on a per-word basis. There are also companies that keep a pool of writers who are given access to assignments as they come. The pay varies but if you can write well and fast and are able to self-edit, this job can offer a steady source of income.

9.  Paid Surveys – With a computer and an Internet connection, you can sign up to several companies that offer paid surveys. Basically, all you have to do is sign up for the service and participate in surveys which are usually available online. You do have to qualify for certain surveys since participants are usually filtered based on age, gender, location and interests. This is to ensure that the results will be relevant to the product or service for which the survey is being performed. You could earn cash, prizes or a chance to win in a sweepstakes draw that offers bigger prizes.

10.  Sell Products Online – Build a website (or use one of the many free templates available) and sell products online. You could also open an account on eBay, Craigslist and eCrater and become an online entrepreneur. These companies allow account holders to buy and sell virtually anything online – books, e-books, shoes, jewelry, toys, gadgets, clothes, even used items. Buyers usually pay cash or use a credit card but either way, you get to earn extra income without even leaving your home or dorm room.

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