This is Part 2 of our series on small business ideas for students. Read Part 1 here for freelancing, tutoring, and social media management. Now, let’s explore 5 more profitable ventures—from photography to dropshipping—that you can start with minimal investment!
Got an eye for great shots? A student photography business lets you monetize your skills while building an impressive portfolio. Whether you shoot with a DSLR or just your smartphone, this is one of the most creative small business ideas for students that can pay surprisingly well.
📸 Low startup costs – Use what you already have
🎓 Build your portfolio – Great for future careers
📅 Flexible scheduling – Shoot on weekends/breaks
💰 Multiple income streams – From gigs to stock photos
Campus parties
Graduations
Student organization events
Local community festivals
Pro Tip: Partner with student clubs for free exposure.
Senior Portraits
LinkedIn Headshots
Couple/Friend Sessions
Family Mini-Sessions
“30-Minute Campus Portrait Session” ($99) includes:
15 edited digital photos
3 social media-ready shots
Sell your best shots on:
Shutterstock (120 per download)
Adobe Stock
Alamy
Best Sellers:
Campus lifestyle shots
Study /work from home scenes
Trending social media backgrounds
Shoot for local Etsy sellers
Campus business merchandise
Food bloggers
Gear Hack: Use a white poster board and natural light for pro-looking shots.
Local apartment complexes
Student housing companies
Airbnb hosts
Smartphone (iPhone/Android with portrait mode)
Free editing apps (Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile)
Natural light (Golden hour = best free lighting)
DIY reflector (White foam board from dollar store)
Entry-level DSLR (Used Canon Rebel): $200
50mm f/1.8 Lens: $125 (new)
Basic Tripod: $30
📌 Campus bulletin boards (Physical + online)
📸 Instagram portfolio (Post before/after edits)
🎓 Partner with student influencers (Trade photos for promotion)
📧 Email student organizations (Offer discounted rates)
Facebook/Instagram ads targeting local students
Printed business cards left at coffee shops
| Service | Beginner Price | Intermediate Price |
|---|---|---|
| Event Photography | $50 – $150 | $200 – $500 |
| 1-Hour Portrait Session | $75 | $150 – $300 |
| Product Photos (per item) | $15 | $30 – $75 |
| Real Estate (per property) | $75 | $200 – $400 |
Note: Always charge for editing time!
Side Hustle (5–10 hrs/week): $300 – $1,000/month
Full-time (20+ hrs/week): $2,000 – $5,000/month
NYU student makes $800/month shooting graduation photos!
Always use contracts – Protect yourself with simple agreements
Backup files religiously – Use Google Drive + external hard drive
Specialize – Become known for one type of photography first
Raise prices gradually – Increase 20% every 6 months
A photography business is one of the most rewarding small business ideas for students because:
Turns your hobby into income
Builds marketable creative skills
Flexible around your class schedule
🚀 Your First Assignment:
Take 10 portfolio-worthy photos this week
Create an Instagram business account
Offer 1 free session to build your portfolio
Looking for a small business idea for students that pays well and fits around your class schedule? Becoming a virtual assistant (VA) lets you work remotely while gaining valuable professional experience—no degree required!
💻 100% remote work – Earn from your dorm or home
⏱ Choose your hours – Work between classes
📈 Build career skills – Marketing, admin, customer service
💰 Good pay – $15 – $50/hour depending on skills
Pick tasks that match your strengths:
📧 Email Management – Filter, respond, organize inboxes
📝 Data Entry – Input info into spreadsheets/databases
📅 Calendar Management – Schedule meetings/appointments
💬 Customer Support – Answer emails/live chats
📊 Social Media Assistance – Schedule posts, engage followers
✍️ Copywriting – Write emails/product descriptions
📈 Basic Graphic Design – Create simple Canva graphics
📢 Podcast/YouTube Assistance – Edit audio/video
Pro Tip: Start with general admin tasks, then specialize for higher rates.
✅ Create a professional email (e.g., yournameVA@gmail.com)
✅ Make a simple website/portfolio (Use Carrd or Canva – free options)
✅ Set your rates
$15 – $25/hr (beginners)
$30 – $50/hr (specialized)
Basic VA: 10 hours/month for $200
Social Media VA: 15 hours/month for $450
📍 Freelance Platforms
Upwork
Fiverr
PeoplePerHour
📍 VA-Specific Sites
Belay
Time Etc
Zirtual
📍 Direct Outreach
Local small businesses
Entrepreneurs on LinkedIn
Facebook groups (Search “Hire a VA”)
“Hi [Name],
I noticed you’re busy running [business]. As a virtual assistant, I help with [service]. Could I save you 5 hours/week? I’d love to chat!”
🛠 Trello/Asana – Task management
📅 Calendly – Scheduling meetings
📧 Grammarly – Error-free emails
💬 Slack/Discord – Client communication
All have free versions!
| Experience Level | Hourly Rate | Monthly Income (20 hrs/week) |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | $15 – $20 | $1,200 – $1,600 |
| Intermediate | $25 – $35 | $2,000 – $2,800 |
| Specialized | $40 – $50 | $3,200 – $4,000 |
A UCLA student makes $2,500/month managing emails for 3 small businesses!
🔥 Start small – Take 1–2 clients to build confidence
📌 Create systems – Use templates for repetitive tasks
⏱ Track time – Use Clockify (free) to log hours
📈 Upsell services – Offer additional help as you learn new skills
A virtual assistant business is one of the best small business ideas for students because:
Requires no upfront investment
Builds resume-worthy skills
Can grow into a full-time remote career
🚀 Your First 3 Steps:
Pick 2 services to offer
Create a Fiverr/Upwork profile
Reach out to 5 potential clients this week
Want to run an e-commerce business without dealing with inventory, packaging, or shipping? Dropshipping is one of the best small business ideas for students because you can start with minimal upfront costs and manage it between classes.
💰 Low startup costs – No need to buy inventory upfront
🌍 Work from anywhere – Manage your store from your laptop
📦 No shipping hassles – Suppliers handle fulfillment
📈 Scalable – Start small, grow big
Focus on specific, passionate audiences rather than general products:
🎓 Campus Life – Dorm decor, school spirit gear
💻 Tech Accessories – Phone stands, laptop sleeves
🐶 Pet Lovers – Custom pet tags, funny pet shirts
🌿 Eco-Friendly Products – Reusable straws, bamboo toothbrushes
🎁 Gifts Under $30 – Affordable impulse buys
Pro Tip: Use Google Trends and AliExpress to validate demand.
| Supplier | Best For | Order Fulfillment Time |
|---|---|---|
| AliExpress | Cheap products, worldwide shipping | 10–20 days |
| Spocket | US/EU-based faster shipping | 2–7 days |
| Zendrop | Automated fulfillment | 7–14 days |
| Printful | Custom print-on-demand | 2–5 days |
Start with AliExpress (lowest risk).
Drag-and-drop store builder
100+ free themes
Built-in payment processing
Free WordPress plugin
Need hosting (~$3/month)
Essential Pages:
Homepage (Clear value proposition)
Product Pages (High-quality images + bullet points)
FAQ/Shipping Policy (Builds trust)
📌 TikTok Organic – Film “unboxing” videos of your products
📸 Instagram Reels – Show products in use with trending sounds
📌 Pinterest SEO – Create pins linking to your store
Facebook/Instagram Ads ($5/day testing budget)
TikTok Ads (Great for Gen Z products)
Ad Copy Tip: Focus on pain points (e.g., “Tired of messy dorm rooms? This organizer fixes it!”)
🛒 Add urgency – “Only 3 left in stock!”
📞 Live chat support – Use free tools like Tawk.to
💰 Offer discounts – “10% off first order” pop-ups
Shopify Plan: $29/month
Domain Name: $14/year
Marketing: $50 – $200 (testing budget)
~ $100 – $300
| Products Sold | Average Order Value | Profit Margin | Monthly Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | $30 | 20% | $300 |
| 100 | $45 | 25% | $1,125 |
| 300 | $50 | 30% | $4,500 |
Real Example: A student made $8,000 in 4 months selling minimalist jewelry!
❌ Choosing oversaturated products (e.g., phone cases)
❌ Poor product images (Always use supplier photos + lifestyle shots)
❌ Ignoring customer service (Reply to emails within 24 hours)
Dropshipping is one of the best small business ideas for students because:
Start for under $100
Learn e-commerce & marketing skills
Passive income potential once set up
🚀 Your First 3 Steps:
Pick a niche (Use AliExpress to research)
Set up a Shopify store (Use $1 trial)
Launch 1 TikTok ad ($5 test budget)
Love working out, yoga, or nutrition? Fitness and wellness coaching is one of the most rewarding small business ideas for students—you get paid to help others while staying healthy yourself! Best of all, you can start with zero upfront costs and scale while balancing studies.
💪 No certification needed to start (but get one later to charge more!)
📱 Run it 100% online – No gym rental fees
⏱ Flexible hours – Train clients between classes
❤️ Make real impact – Help peers reduce stress & gain confidence
Virtual 1-on-1 sessions (Zoom/Google Meet)
Custom workout plans (PDF guides)
App-based coaching (Trainerize, TrueCoach)
Pro Tip: Offer a free 15-minute consultation to attract clients.
Dorm room yoga flows
Park bootcamps
Live-streamed HIIT classes
Platforms: Instagram Live, YouTube, or dedicated apps like Zoom.
Custom macros for student budgets
Simple 15-minute meal prep guides
“Dorm-Friendly” nutrition plans
Use Canva to design beautiful PDF guides.
Intermittent fasting for busy students
Pre/post-natal fitness (for student moms)
Injury rehab programs
Sell workout plans on Etsy
Monetize a fitness TikTok/YouTube
Affiliate marketing (protein powders, gym wear)
Choose one service to start:
✅ “4-Week Dorm Room Workout Plan” ($29)
✅ “30-Day Stress Relief Yoga Challenge” ($29)
✅ “30-Day Stress Relief Yoga Challenge” ($49)
✅ “Student Meal Prep Blueprint” ($39)
Post before/after pics of your own fitness journey
Offer free trials to 3 friends (ask for testimonials)
Speak at student health clubs
Boost an Instagram post targeting local students
Run a $1/day TikTok ad showing a quick workout tip
Check in weekly with clients (voice notes > long emails)
Record personalized form videos using your phone
Create a private Facebook group for accountability
| Service | Beginner Price | Certified Pro Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1-on-1 Training | $20/session | $50 – $100/session |
| Group Class | $5 – $10/person | $15 – $25/person |
| Meal Plan | $30 one-time | $99/month subscription |
| Yoga Program | $49/course | $199/course |
📱 CapCut – Edit workout videos
📅 Calendly – Schedule client calls
💬 WhatsApp Groups – Client communication
📊 Google Sheets – Track client progress
| Clients/Hours | Monthly Earnings |
|---|---|
| 5 clients (5 hrs/week) | $400 – $1,000 |
| 10 clients (10 hrs/week) | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Digital Product Sales | Passive $500+ |
Real Story: A Stanford student earns $2,800/month coaching 15 peers via Zoom!
NASM CPT ($699) – Gold standard for personal trainers
Yoga Alliance 200HR ($500 – $3,000) – For yoga instructors
Precision Nutrition L1 ($799) – Top nutrition cert
Tip: Start without these, then invest when profitable.
A fitness coaching business is one of the best small business ideas for students because:
Turns your passion into profit
Helps others while keeping you accountable
Scales through digital products & online coaching
🚀 Your First 3 Steps:
Pick 1 service to offer this month
Post 3 fitness tips on Instagram/TikTok
Message 5 friends offering a free session
Pick a business that fits your budget—many small business ideas for students require little startup cash.
Outline your goals, target audience, and pricing strategy.
Use social media, word-of-mouth, and free tools like Canva for promotions.
Set a schedule that balances studies and business.
Use apps like QuickBooks or Wave to manage income and expenses.
Pick a skill you enjoy (e.g., photography, fitness).
Start small (test demand with low-cost methods).
Scale gradually (reinvest profits into tools/ads).
Freelance writing, tutoring, or selling digital products require minimal startup costs and can be done from home.
Set a fixed schedule, prioritize tasks, and avoid overcommitting.
Not necessarily—many ideas like freelancing or affiliate marketing require no upfront investment.
Use social media, campus bulletin boards, and word-of-mouth referrals.
Yes! Many successful entrepreneurs started small while in school.
Check if you need a business license or tax ID, depending on your location and business type.
By exploring these small business ideas for students, you can turn your skills into income while still focusing on your education. Ready to get started? Pick an idea and take the first step today!
These small business ideas for students prove you don’t need a big budget to start earning. Whether you’re snapping photos, managing social media, or selling products online, the key is taking action today.
🚀 Your Next Step:
➜ Try one idea this week (even 1 hour counts!).
➜ Bookmark this guide for motivation!
Missed Part 1? Click here for freelancing, tutoring, and more!
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