Student life can become a bit drab sometimes, and searching for ideas to make extra money while pursuing academic success isn’t that simple. Online businesses are a great way for students to earn money without spending too much time away from their studies.
The internet has made it easier than ever to start a business. You don’t even have to be a business owner, you can do everything from writing an ebook or creating your podcast to selling some unique product on eBay or Etsy.
There are tons of ways to make money online as a student. Whether it’s getting paid for surveys, taking on freelance jobs, or selling your original artwork online, the opportunities are endless. Some students have embraced the internet to make money in ways their parents wouldn’t have dreamed about when they were growing up.
Online business ideas can take many different forms, and each one is unique in its way. They all require creativity and the ability to think outside the box, but once you find the right idea, there’s little else you need other than a good website design service and some basic software.
In this article, I shared 30 online business ideas that students can use to make money online. Make sure you read to the end to get a full insight into these endless opportunities.
1. Blogging
Blogging is one of the most popular eCommerce business ideas for college students. If you have something to say, why not put your thoughts online?
A blog can be an excellent way for you to express your creativity and share your interests with the world. It’s also a potential source of income if you know how to monetize it. Here are some quick tips:
Pick a platform: Joomla and WordPress are two popular options — both are free and easy to set up. Choose the one that’s right for you based on how much control you want over the aesthetics and features of your blog.
Choose a topic: If you’re going to be building a personal brand as yourself, then this will come naturally — just write about whatever interests you. But if you’re writing as part of a business venture, make sure there’s an audience out there interested in what you have to say.
Start writing: It doesn’t have to be perfect, just start putting words on the page and see where it takes you. The more you write, the better you’ll get at it — and the more traffic your blog will get, which means more money to be made.
Blogging might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about making money online. But it should be since there are so many benefits to starting a blog.
Unlike most other internet-based businesses, blogging is relatively easy to start and maintain. There’s no need for any special training or knowledge. If you can write a blog post, you can start a blog. All you need is an idea and the desire to share that idea with others.
2. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the process of promoting a product or service on your website. You get paid every time someone buys that product or service through your link. To make money from affiliate programs, you need to have a large audience that trusts you and is interested in the products or services that you promote.
This means that your blog must be about something that people want to know about or are willing to buy from you (and not just random, useless things).
Affiliate marketing is a simple way to make money online. It involves no cost at all. If you are new to Internet marketing, you can get started with affiliate marketing without having your website or products.
The best way to make money online as a beginner is by choosing affiliate programs that have high commissions and can give you instant payments against sales made through your link.
Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways for students to earn money from their blogs because it’s easy to get started, and there are no hassles with products that can be costly to create or maintain.
All you need is an affiliate program like the Amazon Associates Program, where you get paid a commission when someone buys a product from Amazon by clicking on your Amazon affiliate links. You can also try out other affiliate programs like Clickbank or Digistore24.
3. Dropshipping
If you’re a student looking to sell products online, dropshipping might be an excellent way to get started. Unlike other business models, it doesn’t require you to buy or store products. As a result, you can run your eCommerce store without investing a lot of time or money.
Dropshipping is one of the best online business ideas for students. It’s a simple eCommerce business idea where you can sell products without having to worry about inventory, shipping, or customer support.
If you run an online store, you probably know that running an eCommerce store is not a walk in the park. You need to worry about product and inventory management, shipping, packaging, and last but not least, customer support.
With dropshipping, a third-party supplier manages all these things for you. All you need to do is put up a website, display products, and sell them.
You can run a truly global dropshipping business that sells products worldwide without ever having a physical location or even being in the same country as your suppliers or customers.
4. Freelance Writing
It’s no secret that successful bloggers and content marketers have a lot of work on their plates. Most online business owners know they need to constantly create new content to keep things fresh and their readers engaged, but the time and effort involved in doing so can be daunting.
If you’re a creative writer or simply looking for another way to make money, starting your own content writing business may be a great option for you. The demand for unique content has never been higher, and this is where your skills can shine. The content writing industry is set up so that it’s easy for freelance writers to get paid well for their work.
You can start a content writing service as an online business idea for students. Writing is a growing niche, and many clients out there need help with creating content.
You can create a website with a portfolio and work samples. You should also offer some samples of your work for potential clients to see what kind of writing you are capable of.
There are a few benefits of starting this business:
- You do not have to invest any money because all you need is a computer and an internet connection.
- As long as you have sufficient knowledge, you can write about anything because your clients will provide you with the topics they want to be written about.
- You do not have to leave your home or study place since all the work will be done on the computer.
- If you manage to create new content every day, it will be possible for you to make more than 1000 dollars per month with this business model.
Freelance writers can earn money writing for a variety of different clients. The pay is better than most jobs right out of college.
Freelance writing is one of the most flexible non-phone options, and it’s an easy field to break into without any experience at all! This is also an industry that can pay well, especially if you forgo content sites and work on finding private clients that will agree to the rates you set.
5. Website/App Development
Becoming an app or website developer is a great way to make money online. You can use your skills to build up websites and apps for yourself or other people, either for sale on the open market or to use for your purposes.
As a student, you can also use your programming skills to produce apps around issues that you care about. For example, if you are studying, you could create an app that helps to remind you of deadlines, write notes or organize group projects. You may even be able to turn some of these apps into viable business ventures.
If you have an understanding of how websites or apps operate and the skills to create them, developing websites and mobile apps could be a viable option for making money as a student. While this is not an opportunity that requires no money to start, there are many affordable web hosting services available, such as Bluehost hosting plans, that can make getting started easier.
Once you’ve built a website or app and published it online, you can market it by advertising on social media or creating paid ads on search engine sites like Google. You’ll also need to build a portfolio of your work so that clients can see what kind of website or app development skills you have.
6. Virtual Assistance
Virtual assistance services have been growing in popularity in recent years, thanks to the convenience it offers busy entrepreneurs who don’t have the time to do everything themselves.
Virtual assistance is one of the best online business ideas for students. It can also be a powerful tool to earn a decent income. As a student, you can take it up as a part-time job or start it as your full-time business.
There are many virtual assistant jobs available online. You can also get work as an assistant to real estate agents, authors, and website owners. The work of a virtual assistant is not time-bound. So, you have the freedom to schedule your work hours according to your convenience.
You provide support services such as administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients remotely from home. You use a wide range of digital tools and platforms to deliver services.
Many small businesses need help with creating various documents like Excel sheets or PowerPoint presentations. You might be asked to work on an occasional spreadsheet, or you might be hired to assist with a series of PowerPoint slides over several days.
If you want to get into the virtual assistance business, be prepared to do some networking. Some people start by offering their VA services on Fiverr, but you can also create your website and promote your services through social media.
7. Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is the act of recording financial transactions. Businesses use bookkeepers to record what they’ve received in revenue and what they’ve paid out in expenses. A bookkeeper tracks this revenue and expense information and other information that affects the company’s finances, such as loans and investments.
As a student, you may already be familiar with basic accounting principles if you took an accounting class or business class in school. If not, you can take a course at your local community college or online to learn the basics of accounting.
These courses are affordable and short-term, which makes them easy to fit into your schedule as a student. You can provide bookkeeping services for both individuals and businesses.
Bookkeeping is a great online business idea for students learning accounting and business management because it allows you to work with clients who need help with their finances, which means you can earn money while doing what you love.
There are no specific experience or qualification levels required to become a successful bookkeeper. The key skills needed are a passion for numbers, a good head for figures, and excellent communication skills. As long as you have these skills, there is no reason you cannot succeed in this lucrative work area.
However, if you’re looking to get ahead of the game and build up your confidence as a bookkeeper, then completing our bookkeeping course would be extremely beneficial to your career.
9. Language Translator And Transcription Services
You can make money on your own as a student by providing language translation and transcription services. Transcription and translation are both works from home jobs that are in high demand.
Translating usually involves taking one language and converting it into another language. However, most translation jobs require you to have a college degree or at least some experience in the field.
On the other hand, transcription is the act of transcribing audio recordings into text format so everyone can easily understand them. Transcription requires no experience or college degree, but if you want to make more money, it helps to understand certain concepts, like basic grammar and proper punctuation. There are several ways to do this:
- Set up a website selling your services. You might also have a blog where you talk about the benefits of learning a new language or how to improve your skills in another language.
- Build a following on YouTube or other video platforms and upload videos that explain how to speak, write and translate languages. If you’re an expert in multiple languages, create content that teaches viewers how to use their new language skills.
- Create an online course (or several courses) teaching people how to learn and use new languages. You could sell individual courses for each language you know.
- Set up a membership site where subscribers pay a monthly fee for access to your videos, courses, and articles.
10. Graphics Design
Graphic design is about visual communication and problem-solving through the use of typography, photography, and illustration. Graphic designers create visual concepts that inspire, inform and transform concepts into visuals using computer software or by hand.
Becoming a graphic designer is a great online business idea for those who have a knack for designing beautiful images. If you love designing digital items, you can create and sell your digital artworks like templates, fonts, graphics, and other assets on your online store.
If you are good at creating eye-catching presentations, you can design presentations for companies and individuals to help them explain their ideas more clearly.
Similarly, if you are good at making creative flyers or brochures, you can simply offer these services to companies or individuals.
And if you love designing and creating logos, why don’t you take your skills to the next level? You can become a logo designer and start offering your services through an online marketplace such as 99designs or Fiverr.
If you want to become a graphic designer as an online business, there are several platforms where you can find work as a freelancer. You can start a graphic designing business from home with zero investment—no need to invest in costly software for it. Just learn about design on YouTube and practice it on your PC.
Even if you aren’t well versed in designing, you can still work as a virtual assistant to a designer. You can earn good money by providing your services as a VA to some designer or company.
11. Filling Out Online Survey
Online surveys are a great way to make some extra money while chilling on the sofa or even if you’re on the bus. They are relatively quick, and you can do them in your spare time. Online surveys are one of the best online business ideas for students because they are easy to start and manage.
Surveys are used to gather information on a target audience. Whether they’re used to market products, services, or any other type of business, surveys are important tools that businesses can use to gather information about their audiences and make informed decisions.
Survey companies will pay you for your time to help them in filling out surveys for researchers they are conducting. This is a great way to earn some money while you’re on a break from school. When you sign up with a survey company, you’ll be asked to provide some personal information so that they can match you with surveys that fit your demographic profile.
Once you start taking surveys, you’ll earn points for each survey that you complete. These points can then be exchanged for cash.
Companies are looking for certain demographics when they create surveys, and not everyone is qualified. That’s why it’s important to sign up with multiple survey companies so that you’re more likely to qualify for the ones that pay cash rather than just offering entries into sweepstakes or other prizes.
Before signing up with any survey company, research them online to make sure they’re legitimate. You don’t want to waste your time completing surveys for a company that’s going to scam you out of your earnings or sell your personal information.
12. Digital Marketing
Online marketing has become the most powerful tool, with basic advertising and promotional methods have taken a back seat. It is a way of getting attention, using means like email marketing, search engine optimization, and social media marketing.
The trend of online shopping has also led to massive growth in e-commerce. People buy products from various brands based on the reviews and ratings they see online. Hence, it is no surprise that online marketing has become one of the most sought-after services in recent times.
You don’t need formal training to start your digital marketing agency. However, it’s important to develop some basic skills so that you can effectively market yourself and your clients. You might be interested in offering website design services, SEO services, email marketing services, social media management services, and other types of digital marketing.
I recommend starting with a single service you’re passionate about so that you can build up your experience before trying more advanced services.
You can start your own Digital Marketing Business by first taking on a few clients and then expanding your operations as you gain experience. There are many courses available online that help you learn and understand the basics of digital marketing. You can also take up a short course in any local institution or study on your own by reading books and blogs.
13. Online Ticketing Agent
Do you love to get tickets booked for your friends and family members? If yes, then you can make money as a ticketing agent. You can book tickets for trains, flights, hotels, etc.
Most people consider it a headache to stand in long queues and book a ticket. As an online ticketing agent, you can help them with their ticket booking process. You will get paid a fixed commission on every booking that you make.
Like any online business, you need to make sure your customers can find you. Make sure your website is attractive and easy to navigate. Also, make sure you prominently feature the benefits of using your service on your site. For example, if you’re saving people time, make that clear right away because time is valuable. If you’re saving people money by getting them better seats at a lower price, then make that part of your unique value proposition.
One of the keys to success as a ticket broker is being able to target the parts of the market where there’s a shortage of tickets or high demand for tickets. For example, suppose there’s a big convention or festival in town, particularly one that’s focused on an interest or hobby that you’re knowledgeable about. In that case, this could be an opportunity for you to get some tickets and sell them at a premium.
It’s important to note that becoming a ticket broker isn’t an overnight business. You’ll often have to work months in advance to get the best deals on tickets and build up your client base over time.
14. Vlogging On YouTube
YouTube is one of the most popular websites on the planet, receiving billions of views a year and paying out millions to the content creators that it hosts. If you have a great idea for a video, you can take advantage of the high-profile platform to receive millions of views for practically no cost.
While most people prefer watching a well-produced video, there are plenty of instances where people just want to see a real person giving their honest opinion about something. That’s where being a YouTuber can come in handy.
Suppose you’re considering getting into the YouTube business. In that case, it pays to think about what kind of videos you want to produce, how often you’ll post, and the level of production quality that you want to maintain. Creating content for YouTube is a time-consuming task with little financial payoff until your channel becomes popular (unless you already have a few thousand subscribers willing to pay you for your work).
However, unlike starting an eCommerce store or selling products on Amazon or eBay, YouTubers don’t need to worry about creating hundreds or thousands of product listings or managing inventory. There are also no shipping and customer service hassles associated with it.
You can monetize your YouTube channel to earn money by showing ads to your viewers. You can either join the YouTube AdSense program directly or display third-party ads on your videos.
15. Start A Campus Podcast
College and university campuses are the breeding grounds of many success stories. After all, if you can make it there, you can make it just about anywhere. And if you don’t know what you’re doing with your life yet, running a podcast is as good an option as any. Podcasting is an excellent way to earn money while you’re studying.
Campus podcasts are more than just audio versions of your school’s newspaper or yearbook. They are also very underutilized assets that can be used to promote the school’s programs, alumni, and events.
Getting started with a campus podcast is simple enough. The first step is to come up with content ideas that will attract an audience and keep them engaged until the end of every episode.
Once you have the content figured out, all you need is a computer, some recording software (you can start with Audacity), and an internet connection.
While you can be the sole producer, editor, and host, it’s much easier to produce a successful podcast with partners. So get together with some friends and choose a topic that will appeal to your fellow students.
Once you’ve chosen the topic, decide what format you want to use for the podcast episodes – interview show? Advice? News? Comedy?
While it’s meant for students, there’s no reason why professors or administrators shouldn’t get in on the action as well. After all, they’re just as much a part of the school as everyone else.
You don’t have to be an aspiring radio host to start your podcast. If you want to talk about something that interests you, start recording! As long as you regularly upload new episodes, your listeners will keep coming back to hear what’s new. And if you need help with the technical aspects of podcasting, there are plenty of courses on Udemy that will teach you how to start a successful podcast in no time.
16. Start A Campus Newsletter
Starting a campus newsletter is a good online business idea for students in college. It can be a great way to develop your writing skills. You can start making money from this online business idea if you have the right software and equipment.
You can seek advertising contracts from local businesses to help them promote their products and services on campus. Your audience is mostly college students, so you need to choose products and services that appeal to them.
If there are no advertisers, you can still make money publishing your content in the newsletter. You can charge a subscription fee for every issue published, or you can make money by providing information about relevant products and services to your readers.
The first step is to choose a topic for the newsletter. If you’re attending a community college, for example, you might create a newsletter about local news, sports, or events and happenings at the school. Or, if you’re attending a four-year university that’s not in your hometown, it may be more interesting and useful to focus on things like local dining options, entertainment venues, and events in the area.
Writing articles and creating content doesn’t have to be difficult if you are passionate about your topic. And it doesn’t have to take up all of your time. By outsourcing some of your content creation needs (for example, creating images using Canva or finding articles on other relevant topics), you can free up time to focus on other aspects of your business such as building relationships with advertisers or finding new subscribers.
Start by thinking of ways you can add value to your readers’ lives. What would they find interesting? What information would they need? What do they need help with? You’ll likely come up with plenty of ideas for articles just by answering these questions.
17. Online Video Classes
Online video classes are a great way to share your expertise with an audience that you may not be able to gather in real life. You can record a video every time you teach a class, upload it to your website and monetize it. If you are good at a particular subject, you can make a video class and earn money by selling it to students.
Many people around the world have already started creating video classes on craft, cooking, drawing, writing, and more. This is a great online business idea for students who want to make money online and have a good command over their subject. There are various ways you can do this: by recording your video course and selling it on an e-learning portal or creating a subscription-based business model. Here’s how you can start:
- Choose your topic of expertise
- Create a course outline
- Start recording your lectures
- Edit the videos and create high-quality content
- Upload them on a learning portal like Udemy, Skillshare, or Teachable
18. Editing And Proofreading
One of the best business ideas for students that offers all these benefits is editing and proofreading. This venture is especially a great idea if you have excellent English comprehension skills, enjoy reading, and are willing to take the time to check through clients’ work.
The editing and proofreading industry has been growing rapidly in recent years, with more and more people choosing to freelance from home. If you have a good eye for mistakes in written text, spotting grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, typos, etc., this could be the perfect online business idea for you.
The good thing about this venture is that it’s also easy to start up, being an online service. You don’t need any special equipment or office space and can operate from anywhere in the world as long as you have a computer, an internet connection, and access to Microsoft Word, Grammarly, etc.
All you need to do is set up a website where people can find you and post information about the services you offer. You should also have samples of your work available on your site so that potential clients can see what they will get from hiring you.
You can then market your services by joining relevant forums where people post requests for proofreaders, social media, etc. There’s loads of work available on sites like Upwork or Flexjobs, and most people will be quite happy to pay you to do their homework!
19. Social Media Management
Social Media Management is one of the top online business ideas because it’s not just something that can be done by anyone. It requires having an eye for design and understanding how people interact with online content. If you want to make the most of this opportunity and earn money online, you’ll need to invest in the right apps and software.
If you’re a detail-oriented person who’s good at keeping things on track, you can turn this skill into a profitable side hustle by offering your services as a social media manager. You don’t have to have formal training or experience—you just need to have the right personality type to succeed at this job.
Having a knack for staying organized can help you turn a chaotic social media presence into an organized and efficient marketing strategy. As a social media manager, you’ll be responsible for publishing posts, responding to questions, creating engaging content, and running social media advertisements.
You’ll spend your time using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to engage potential customers and grow followership. Your ultimate goal will be to convert people from being casual browsers of your pages into passionate fans of your brand.
In addition to being a good business idea for students, this one also gives you the option to work from home or anywhere else where there is a computer and internet connection.
20. Animation And Video Creation
The internet has made it possible for professionals such as graphic designers and other creative professionals to showcase their work online. If you are gifted in this area, you can start a business where you create animation and videos for clients. This is a great business idea for students who have a knack for creativity.
Animation and video creation is fun and interesting way to get into the world of online business. It can be done as a hobby, or it can be done as a full-time job. They are used in many types of marketing campaigns today and can be quite lucrative if done correctly.
There are many different ways to make money with this type of online business. For example, you could create animated videos for companies that need them for advertising purposes. You could also create video tutorials for people who want to learn how to do things such as Photoshop or other programs.
Another way to make money from animation is by making animated movies. If you have any experience with using Flash or other programs like it, then you will find that creating your animation movies is much easier than you think. Even if you don’t have any experience with these programs, there are plenty of tutorials available online that can help you create the perfect movie that will attract viewers and customers alike.
If you love creating videos, then this may be an ideal way to get started in the world of online business. Just remember that it takes time to build up your reputation so that people will trust your work enough to buy from you regularly.
21. Online Event Promotion
Creating an online event promotion website is a good business idea. You can start this as a student. This business needs just a few things like an event organizer and a little bit of money to get started.
You are not required to be an expert in the field of event management or have experience in this field. If you have done some research on the internet, you will see that many people are making good money by doing this.
There are various things you can do as an event promoter. You can work with unknown bands and promote concerts for them, promote charity events to get donations for your charities and organizations, and promote any kind of event related to entertainment, business, or anything else.
To begin this gig, all you need is a Facebook page or group, which will allow you to create events and promote them. Then you simply have to contact venues and let them know that you have an event they may be interested in and give them the details.
22. Accommodation Reviews Website
Starting your own accommodation reviews website can be a great idea and potentially profitable too. You can get started with this type of business with low or no money at all if you have the motivation, drive, and determination to make it work.
The main reason starting an accommodation reviews website is a great idea for students is that many people on the internet are looking for rooms to stay in different parts of the world.
If you can offer them good quality content about various accommodations in different parts of the world, it will help them find their ideal accommodation much easier.
Many people don’t know where to look for when searching for good rooms to stay in different parts of the world. They often depend on friends and family members who have visited that place before to recommend some places they can stay at that place.
If you can write informative articles about various accommodations around the world, it will be helpful for such people because they will not have to depend on their friends and family members anymore to recommend hotels or homestays to stay at when visiting new places.
23. Build Chatbots For Businesses
The use of chatbots has increased drastically in the last few years. The increase in users demanding an immediate and interactive response from businesses is one of the major reasons for this rise in demand. With the growing number of internet users, more businesses are adopting chatbot services to improve the quality of services they offer.
Benefits Of Chatbot Solution:
- Cost-effective
- Available 24/7
- Quick Response with a customized experience
- Perfect sales tool to sell products or services
- Improve the quality of customer service
There is no doubt that chatbots are the future of customer service. They can be used to automate 24/7 customer support, book appointments, schedule deliveries, and much more, all without the need for human intervention. The fact that they can be easily integrated into messenger platforms like Facebook Messenger and Telegram means they are likely to be the preferred customer service method of the future.
As a student, it’s not easy to balance academics and entrepreneurship. However, if you’re looking to start a business while studying in college or university, one of the best options would be to start a chatbot development business.
With companies looking for ways to integrate chatbots into their processes, this presents a huge opportunity for students who are willing to learn how to build chatbots and become experts in this field.
24. Market Research Consultant
Market research involves collecting information about the target audience, including their age, gender, and income level. A market researcher conducts research by interviewing customers, running surveys, and doing focus groups. Many different types of businesses rely on market research consultants to help them understand how they can make their businesses more attractive to consumers.
You don’t need to be an expert in anything to become a market research consultant. You just need the ability to conduct basic online research, so it’s a perfect online business idea for students who may be focused on their studies rather than working on a part-time job.
As a market research consultant, you’ll help businesses and organizations determine what their target audience thinks of their products and services or what kind of new product they should introduce.
You can work with businesses that already exist, or you can start your own and help other businesses develop their products or services.
Of course, you’ll need to conduct market research yourself before starting this business. Fortunately, there are dozens of free resources you can use to learn more about conducting market research.
25. Self-Publishing On Amazon
Self-publishing on Amazon is now a viable business idea and many authors are making five to six-figure incomes from this business.
If you can write, don’t let it go to waste. You can generate a huge income by writing an ebook and selling it online. You’ll need to do some research on the book’s target audience, which will inform how you write it, the kind of cover you design, and even what price you set for it.
The more specific your niche, the less competition you’ll face on Amazon and other sites. For example, suppose your book is about how to knit a sweater, and no one else has published anything about knitting sweaters recently. In that case, there won’t be much competition for readers’ attention — which means that people are more likely to buy your book.
Your first step is to write your book. The more you focus on writing, the better it will be for you as well as your readers. If you want, you can get some help from a professional editor. But if you are tight on budget, you can always use free editing tools like Grammarly and Ginger to ensure that the content is error-free.
Create a Cover for Your Book – This is not something that most people would want to do on their own. So, if you don’t have any experience in designing, then hire someone who can help you create an attractive cover for your book.
Convert Your Manuscript into Kindle Format – Once your manuscript has been edited, it’s time to convert it into Kindle format using Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform.
26. Sell Stock Photos Online
Stock photography is the supply of photographs licensed for specific uses. It is used to fulfill the needs of creative assignments instead of hiring a photographer.
Since the internet has become the easiest way of communication and reaching out to people, you can make use of it for selling your photos. The best part is that you don’t need any investment to start your own photography business. All you need is a good camera, a computer, and an internet connection. There is no limit to the number of photos that you want to sell as long as they are of good quality.
The first thing that you need to do is figure out what type of photography you want to do. Do you want to shoot portraits, or do you want to shoot landscapes? The answer to this question will help you determine how much time and effort you will have to spend on your business.
Next, you will need to decide whether or not you want to use your equipment or hire someone else to take care of it for you. If you decide that you want to use your equipment, then the next step is going to be figuring out how much money you are willing to spend on this business idea.
There are many ways to make money from your photographs and your photo-taking skills. You can sell your photos online, through a stock photography agency, or even by selling them yourself. You can consider having a website or social media handle to help in protecting your photo brand.
- Have a website – You need to build a place where people can find you online 24/7. A website is your best bet when it comes to building trust with your clients because it shows how serious you are about your business and how serious they should be when hiring you.
- Use social media – Over 2 billion people are using Facebook every month! Sharing photos on social media for free will help you grow your brand and get more clients over time. Just keep in mind that some platforms are better than others, depending on your type of photography.
27. Data Entry
Data entry is one of the easiest ways to earn money online, as it takes no existing skillset. If you are not quick at entering data, you will soon be with the right training. Data entry is essentially the transcription of data from one format into another. For example, it could involve transcribing information from paper documents into a digital format like MS Word or Excel.
Data entry workers such as virtual assistants and typists are employed to input data into a computer system or spreadsheet. Most data entry work involves entering data into a computer system or some type of secure file system and may include other types of clerical activities. Data entry work often requires strong keyboarding skills and keen attention to detail, since often the employer cannot afford expensive errors.
Data entry jobs come in all shapes and sizes, from transcribing audio files or handwriting-to-text conversion. Data entry clerks will take recorded audio files and type them into written documents. The average pay per hour is $13.50, according to Glassdoor, but this varies depending on the company hiring, and the skill level required.
There are many places where you can find work as a data entry clerk, including freelance websites such as Upwork, Guru, and PeoplePerHour. You can also source work on job boards such as ProBlogger and FreelanceWritingGigs. As with any work-from-home job, you must do your research before applying for any position.
28. Sell Your Artworks Online
If you have a bit of artistic talent and don’t mind putting in some time upfront, then making money selling your artwork online is another great idea for an online business. There are plenty of sites where you can sell your art online and continue to earn from it again and again.
If you’re a creative person and have a few pieces of art that you’d like to share with the world, then creating listings or ads on sites like Etsy is one way to go about it.
Another option is to create a site specifically focused on selling your work. You may want to set up a portfolio website that includes samples of your work if you have a lot of pieces or even just one or two major ones. You can also include contact information so people can get in touch with you there if they are interested in buying your art.
Either way, once you’ve created your artwork, all you’ll need to do is find places where people will pay for it. Some sites make it easy to upload your images and sell them on various products, including iPhone cases, t-shirts, and posters. The great thing about these sites is that once your design goes live and someone buys it, they’ll handle production, including shipping, so all you do is upload the artwork.
29. List Products Online
If you’re a crafty entrepreneur, you can make money by creating listings for your goods and services on Etsy.com. To start, register for an account by entering your email address and a password. Next, create a profile that includes your shop name and location and other information such as the types of products you sell and the price range of your goods. You can choose to create a public or private Etsy shop to connect with potential customers.
Once you’re done setting up your shop, you can start listing products. Each product listing should include a photo of the item, the item’s title, price, quantity available, and shipping costs. In addition to these details, you can also add tags to each listing to categorize it in searches. Once an order comes in, use the Etsy seller app to manage orders and communicate with buyers on the go.
30. Data Analytics
Data analytics is one of the most profitable online business ideas for students. Data analytics is a quickly growing field that can be highly lucrative for skilled, experienced professionals. Businesses are willing to pay a lot for good data analytics because it can help them make better business decisions. The rise in big data has also increased the demand for experts who can analyze and interpret large amounts of data.
As more and more data keeps getting generated every day, there’s a huge demand for people who can analyze it to make sense of it all. As a result, the market for data analysts is booming. The world is loaded with data, and this data needs to be analyzed and interpreted so that the companies can use it to create better strategies, services, and products. Data is also one of the biggest assets of any company.
As a data analyst, you will be responsible for analyzing the data and interpreting it to use it to make better products and services. You will need to understand how to interpret the data, analyze it, present it, what tools you need for the job, what skills you need for the job, and so on.
Data analytics is not just a job; it’s also an online business idea. If you have the analytic skills and know-how to interpret large amounts of data, you might be able to start an online data analytics consulting business. You’ll need to hire others to help you collect, organize, and analyze the raw data, but this is a low-cost online business idea with great potential if you’re good at what you do.
Even if you don’t have any formal training in statistics or mathematics, you can learn the basics of analyzing data from various online sources. Or, you can sign up for an online course on Udemy.
31. Creating And Selling WordPress Themes
Creating and selling WordPress themes is a popular online business idea for students. If you like to code, you can create a variety of custom themes for WordPress users. But if you don’t have the coding skills to build one from scratch, plenty of tools let you create and customize premade WordPress themes.
The best part about creating this business idea is that you can start it with little to no money. Plus, you can easily create a WordPress theme with some of the best free tools.
What’s more, you can sell your themes on ThemeForest, which is one of the largest online marketplaces for WordPress themes. You’ll also be able to create a sales page for your theme on your website, allowing you to promote and sell it directly to your audience.
Premium WordPress themes are all the rage these days. If you can create them, there’s a good chance you could make good money from this online business opportunity. Here are some tips for writing and selling premium WordPress themes:
- Choose a target audience – Premium WordPress themes are created for niche audiences, so choose an audience that you can create a theme for rather than trying to cater to everyone. For example, if your specialty is in creating clean, minimalist designs, it’s going to be difficult to create an ugly theme.
- Design an original theme – Creating themes that look like someone else’s design is asking for trouble (i.e., copyright infringement). Instead, get inspired by other popular designs but make sure you have your twist on things.
- Create a demo site – Once your theme is ready, you need somewhere to showcase it. Create a demo site and send traffic there via social media or PPC advertising.
- Sell the theme – There are two ways to sell premium WordPress themes: either through third-party marketplaces or on your site. If you want to make more money from each sale and not pay a percentage fee to the marketplace, selling on your website is the way to go.
32. Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a way of improving the visibility of your website in search engines. It’s about understanding how the search engines work and what terms people are searching for online.
If you can get to grips with SEO and understand how it works, you can make money as an SEO consultant. The main thing to remember is that SEO is a long-term game. You won’t see results overnight, but by doing the right things for your website, you should see results over time.
You don’t need to be an SEO expert when you start, but it helps if you have a basic understanding of what SEO involves. Thankfully, there are many training videos and articles that can help you learn these things, so it’s not too difficult to get started with this business idea as an online student.
SEO consultants are very popular in the digital marketing industry and are also the most profitable. You can start your SEO consulting business by using your laptop or computer with an internet connection. As a student, you can do it as a part-time job to make extra money.
On the other hand, if you are not willing to start your own business, you can get a job as an SEO consultant at any company or startup that needs it. Here is how you can become an SEO consultant:
- Learn the basics of search engine optimization (SEO) from Google’s Webmaster Guidelines to optimize websites and rank on top of the results page.
- Create a blog and share your knowledge with others through articles and tutorials. It will help you to get more clients.
- Ensure that you have enough knowledge about the different SEO techniques like on-page optimization, off-page optimization, link building, etc.
If you have an interest in digital marketing and want to learn about search engine optimization, then you can consider a career in SEO. Several established companies hire new graduates for entry-level positions in SEO. Alternatively, you can start your SEO agency and offer services to local businesses.
33. UI/UX Design & Audit
The user experience is what makes or breaks your site. You can have the most beautiful, feature-rich site on the web, but if it’s difficult to use and navigate, no one will want to visit it.
The good news is that you don’t have to be a design expert or even an expert in any field. If you’re a student with an eye for design, you can help people improve their sites through UI/UX audits.
If you have good knowledge of web designing software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketch or Figma then you can create logos, mockups, and illustrations for websites. You can offer these services on sites like Fiverr or Upwork where you will find thousands of people looking for freelancers to get their job done. As a UI/UX designer, your earning potential is around $50 – $100 per hour depending on the type of project.
Designing and auditing websites is a great way to make money on the side as a student. You can use your skills to improve the user experience of any site that you visit. For example, you could audit and redesign a local business website, or you could create a mock-up for your friend’s blog.
Even if you do not have any professional experience, there are plenty of resources online that can help you learn UX/UI design, such as Springboard, Udacity, and General Assembly.
When starting this business, it can be helpful to conduct audits on sites that you visit regularly. The audits will allow you to practice implementing best practices in UI/UX design while developing an eye for improvement. As a bonus, they might also help you identify problems with sites that your friends use which may result in referrals.
34. Become A Social Media Influencer
The influencer marketing industry is growing a lot in the past few years. Many brands are following influencer marketing to grow their business. A social media influencer is a user on social media who has a large number of followers and can persuade others by his or her authenticity and reach.
Today, we are living in the digital era where every single person has an account on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. So it’s a great time to start your influencer marketing agency or business as an Influencer Marketing Expert. You can help brands reach new audiences by collaborating with influential people on social media.
To become a social media influencer, you need to follow the following steps:
- Engage with your audience. This can be done through likes, shares, comments, and content. Engage in conversations with fans and followers regularly.
- Be an expert in your field, whether it’s fashion, fitness, makeup, or food. Know what you’re talking about and sell yourself as an expert in that field.
- Be yourself – don’t try to be someone else. Your fans will respect you for that – they follow you because they like you!
- Use analytics to see what people are talking about and what they respond to the most. It’s important to know which posts do well so that you can continue putting out quality content!
Making money as an influencer is as easy as being yourself on social media and attracting followers through your posts. As you grow, brands will begin to reach out to you and ask to be featured in your posts, or even better, to pay you to post about them.
35. Social Media Marketing
Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat have become popular ways for people to interact with their friends, family, and favorite brands online. As the younger generations continue to grow up online, the number of consumers who flock to social media sites has increased dramatically over the years, making it an ideal place for companies looking to sell their products online.
You can start a social media marketing online business pretty much anywhere in the world. You just need access to your phone and the internet. You can help businesses run adverts and market their products using social media. If this is something you would like to do, here are a few tips you should take note of:
- Choose the right platforms – Not every social media platform is equal. If you’re trying to sell products online, Facebook and Instagram are must-haves. Pinterest is a great platform for visual products like clothes and household goods. Twitter can help you connect with customers and influencers in your industry.
- Set goals – While it’s tempting just to jump into social media marketing without thinking about it, that’s unlikely to be effective. If your goal is just “get more followers,” or “sell more stuff,” you’ll have a hard time determining whether your efforts were successful or not. Instead, set concrete goals that are measurable and achievable within a specific time frame — something like “generate 2000 new visits to our website in the next month.”
36. Tutoring Service
Tutoring is an integral part of some people’s education, which makes it a natural service to turn into an online business. You can start tutoring on your own, or partner with another tutor to run a tutoring service under your name. Whether you’re looking to make money or help others learn things they need to know in the workplace, the possibilities are endless.
There are online tutoring sites and forums designed specifically for students who want to become tutors, but there are other specialized sites that cater specifically to different learning styles.
37. Career Counseling
Career counseling is a booming business, and the need for it is growing. By its nature, this field can be a bit strange to those outside the industry. But in reality, people are just looking for answers to questions that are important to them.
Some career counselors use the internet to help clients. But others have used the Web as a tool to reach out to clients who can’t afford a counselor in person. For example, online career counseling for adults with learning disabilities is becoming more popular in Europe and Australia.
We hope you found the above list of 25 online business ideas for students helpful. The great thing about being a student is that you have much more free time to be creative and innovate than other people who might need to work to put food on their table.
We have given you only a small glimpse into this truly vast field of opportunities; there are thousands and thousands more out there for you to discover, create and develop.