Top 100 Unique Business Ideas For Students | Startup Ideas Without Investment

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Business Ideas for Students: Running a successful low cost business enterprise is not a laymans job, yet it cannot be impelled by factors like age or gender. The right attitude is what you need to make your mark in this world. If you are still in your college days and want to know about small business ideas for students, then you are in the right place. In this article, we have provided business plan ideas for students and how to start a business as a student. Read further to find out more.

List of 100 Business Ideas for Students in India 2024

A list of top 100 unique and innovative business ideas for students are tabulated below:

S.No Business Idea Business Category Type of Business Profit Returns Profit % in India
1 Digital Marketing Agency Marketing Online High 15-20%
2 Online Tutoring Education Online Moderate 20-30%
3 Event Photography Photography Offline Moderate 25-35%
4 Graphic Design Services Design Online Moderate 20-25%
5 Mobile App Development Technology Online High 25-35%
6 Custom T-shirt Printing Fashion Both Moderate 25-30%
7 Blogging Content Creation Online Low to Moderate 10-15%
8 Social Media Management Marketing Online Moderate 20-25%
9 Handmade Crafts Crafts Both Low to Moderate 15-25%
10 Fitness Coaching Health and Wellness Both High 20-30%
11 Language Translation Services Language Services Both Moderate 15-20%
12 Virtual Assistant Services Online Low to Moderate 15-25%
13 Mobile Repair Service Technology Offline Moderate 20-30%
14 Dropshipping Business E-commerce Online Moderate to High 20-30%
15 Stock Photography Photography Online Low to Moderate 10-15%
16 Freelance Content Writing Writing Services Online Low to Moderate 15-20%
17 Subscription Box Service E-commerce Both Moderate 20-25%
18 Virtual Events Planning Event Planning Online Moderate to High 20-30%
19 House Cleaning Services Cleaning Offline Moderate 15-20%
20 Drone Photography Photography Both Moderate 20-25%
21 Online Course Creation Education Online Moderate to High 20-30%
22 Resume Writing Service Writing Services Both Moderate 15-20%
23 Virtual Reality Arcade Entertainment Offline Moderate to High 20-30%
24 Meal Prep Service Food and Catering Both Moderate to High 20-30%
25 E-commerce Consulting Consulting Both Moderate to High 20-30%
26 Sustainable Products Store Retail Both Moderate to High 20-30%
27 Personal Branding Services Marketing Both Moderate to High 20-30%
28 Mystery Shopping Consulting Both Low to Moderate 10-20%
29 Car Detailing Service Automotive Services Both Moderate 15-20%
30 Virtual Yoga Classes Fitness Online Moderate to High 20-30%
31 Gaming Lounge Entertainment Offline Moderate to High 20-30%
32 Handyperson Services Services Both Moderate 15-20%
33 Instagram Marketing Marketing Both Moderate to High 20-30%
34 Travel Planning Service Travel and Tourism Both Moderate to High 20-30%
35 Podcast Production Media and Entertainment Both Moderate to High 20-30%
36 Plant-based Food Products Food and Beverages Both Moderate to High 20-30%
37 Computer Programming Classes Education Both Moderate 15-20%
38 Personalized Gift Baskets Retail Both Moderate 15-20%
39 Remote IT Support IT Services Both Moderate to High 20-30%
40 Wedding Planning Event Planning Both Moderate to High 20-30%
41 3D Printing Services Technology Both Moderate 15-20%
42 Local Food Delivery Food and Catering Both Moderate 15-20%
43 Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products Retail Both Moderate to High 20-30%
44 Digital Illustration Services Design Both Moderate to High 20-30%
45 Drone Repair Service Technology Both Moderate 15-20%
46 Home Renovation Services Home Services Both Moderate to High 20-30%
47 Remote Fitness Classes Fitness Online Moderate to High 20-30%
48 Dog Walking and Pet Sitting Pet Services Both Moderate 15-20%
49 Gaming Accessories Store Retail Both Moderate to High 20-30%
50 Interior Design Consultation Design Both Moderate to High 20-30%
51 Online Language Courses Education Online Moderate to High 20-30%
52 Vintage Clothing Resale Fashion Both Low to Moderate 15-25%
53 Handwritten Letter Service Services Both Low to Moderate 10-20%
54 Sustainable Fashion Brand Fashion Both Moderate to High 20-30%
55 Mobile Hair Salon Beauty Services Both Moderate 15-20%
56 Remote Counseling Services Health and Wellness Online Moderate to High 20-30%
57 Social Media Influencer Marketing Online High 25-35%
58 Grocery Delivery Service Food and Catering Both Moderate 15-20%
59 Fitness Apparel Brand Fashion Both Moderate to High 20-30%
60 Cooking Classes Culinary Both Moderate 15-20%
61 Personal Finance Consulting Consulting Both Moderate to High 20-30%
62 Outdoor Adventure Guide Travel and Tourism Both Moderate 15-20%
63 Custom Sneaker Design Fashion Both Moderate to High 20-30%
64 Language Editing Services Writing Services Both Moderate 15-20%
65 Meal Kit Delivery Food and Catering Both Moderate 15-20%
66 Organic Farming Agriculture Both Low to Moderate 10-20%
67 Bookkeeping Services Financial Services Both Moderate 15-20%
68 Virtual Music Lessons Education Online Moderate 15-20%
69 Street Food Stall Food and Catering Offline Low to Moderate 10-20%
70 Sustainable Beauty Products Beauty and Skincare Both Moderate to High 20-30%
71 Personalized Fitness Plans Fitness Both Moderate 15-20%
72 Language Interpretation Services Language Services Both Low to Moderate 10-20%
73 Virtual Fashion Styling Fashion Online Moderate 15-20%
74 Carpooling Service Transportation Online Moderate 15-20%
75 Mobile Car Wash Service Automotive Services Both Moderate 15-20%
76 Educational YouTube Channel Media and Entertainment Online Low to Moderate 10-20%
77 Sustainable Packaging Retail Both Low to Moderate 10-20%
78 Bicycle Repair Service Automotive Services Both Moderate 15-20%
79 Virtual Assistant for Seniors Services Online Low to Moderate 10-20%
80 Sustainable Home Products Retail Both Moderate 15-20%
81 Online Dating Consultant Services Online Low to Moderate 10-20%
82 Event Ticketing Platform Technology Online Moderate to High 20-30%
83 Social Media Analytics Consulting Online Moderate 15-20%
84 Food Blogging Content Creation Online Low to Moderate 10-15%
85 Outdoor Fitness Classes Fitness Offline Moderate 15-20%
86 Gaming App Testing Technology Both Moderate 15-20%
87 Home Energy Audit Services Both Low to Moderate 10-20%
88 Mental Health Workshops Health and Wellness Both Low to Moderate 10-20%
89 Virtual Home Organization Services Online Low to Moderate 10-20%
90 Online Dating App Development Technology Online Moderate to High 20-30%
91 Local Artisan Marketplace E-commerce Online Moderate 15-20%
92 Antique Restoration Services Both Moderate 15-20%
93 Sustainable Tech Accessories Fashion Both Moderate 15-20%
94 Personal Security Consulting Consulting Both Moderate 15-20%
95 Fitness Retreats Health and Wellness Both Moderate to High 20-30%
96 Remote Graphic Design Internship Design Online Low to Moderate 10-20%
97 Eco-Friendly Event Planning Event Planning Both Moderate 15-20%
98 Dog Agility Training Pet Services Both Moderate 15-20%
99 Travel Blogging Content Creation Online Low to Moderate 10-15%
100 Sustainable Transportation Service Transportation Both Moderate 15-20%

What Are the Business Ideas for Students With Low Investment

There are many students out there who want to start their entrepreneurship journey. The urge to start business as a student is due to various reasons such as proving, skip the long queue to be financially stable, to hustle and some times to even find a smart solution. Hence to help those students who wants to start a online business as students, we have provided a total of 32 business ideas. Read further to know what they are.

1. Jewellery Maker

Jewellery making is an ideal startup business for college students. You do not need to be a certified jeweler or make huge investments to pursue your career as a jewellery maker. Simply hone your creativity skills by watching online tutorials.

Start your business with simple designs that are wearable and fashionable, made without using expensive metals like gold and silver. Promote your business from your campus and gradually you can start selling on the e-commerce platform.

Casestudy – This Flipkart seller turned her Jewellery Making hobby into a successful online business.

2. Campground Business

Campground management is a real-time business that can be started by most of the students. If you are a student and who loves exploring places, then it is time for you to start a campground business. There is no one on earth who says no to tourism. Most of people get attracted to the word tourism, but cannot execute the same, due to poor planning. Hence, as a student, you can organize campground tours.

Start with a small camping tour through trekking; plenty of people would show interest in this. Successfully execute this and create trust with your customers. That’s it. People will automatically trust you, and then you can get multiple clients for your business. This is one of the most successful camping businesses in India. Just make sure you take care of little things such as safety, housekeeping, and property management, and you will earn a good amount of money through this.

3. Social Media Management

Social media management is one of the best online business ideas for students. Established companies do not have the time to manage their business on social media platforms and hence are on a lookout for outsourcing the job for them.

As a social media manager, you need to manage your clients social media networks and implement strategies to boost sales. Follow other influencers in the same field to learn new techniques and your start-up will definitely skyrocket over the time.

4. Tutoring

There are many tutoring platforms, like Chegg, Wiingy, Embibe, and Doubtnut, that recruit students on their education platforms. Candidates are given question-and-answer tasks on these platforms, where the student is responsible for clearing the academic doubts of their users.

Also, if you are in university, you can approach websites such as Superprof and Varsity Tutors and create your profile. By creating your profile on these websites, you will get requests to clear specific doubts or even complete their assignments. Also, these websites pay the doubt-solvers in dollars. Thus, it is a very good business idea for students at home. Therefore, working from home has a wide array of advantages.

5. Delivery Service

In todays fast-paced world, delivery service turns out to great side business ideas for students, especially. It is easiest to implement and requires minimal investment.

Start your delivery service that caters to client various needs like drop or pick-up, doing grocery shopping or even getting food delivered at home. Professionals or elderly people are the ones who need this service desperately.

Start your website and keep the interface simple as people can easily order their desired service. Set up a margin, nearly 20% on the total costs and charge your clients at the time of delivery. Market your business through word-of-mouth or social media platforms, and get your revenues rolling!

6. Freelance Writer

Freelance writing is one of the best businesses for students. There are many freelance platforms, such as Fiverr, Truelancer, Upwork, Toptal, etc. As a student, you can easily start earning money from these freelance websites because you can register for free and do the work you need. All of these platforms are available for working as a freelance writer. Apart from freelance writing, students can also explore various other types of jobs such as web design, data entry, coding, marketing, graphic design, etc.

Earning as a freelance writer on these platforms comes down to offering quality services to clients and marketing yourself well. Here are some tips to set yourself up for success:

  1. Develop an attractive profile that demonstrates your writing skills and experience.
  2. Set a fair rate and make sure to communicate it clearly to potential customers.
  3. Offer a variety of services, including writing, editing, and proofreading services.
  4. Market yourself on social media, forums, and other platforms.
  5. Be responsive to customer inquiries promptly and professionally.
  6. Follow up with past customers and ask for reviews or referrals.
  7. Be patient and remember that success as a freelancer doesnt happen overnight.

7. Web Design and Development

For companies, making a strong online presence is extremely crucial for survival. Modern technology has shifted to paradigm from offline business to using apps and social media platforms to connect with potential customers. However, most of the companies do not have the time or resources to develop their websites in-house.

Hence, as students turning into website designer and developer is a great business ideas for students with minimal startup costs. You can start as a freelance web designer by creating interesting logo designs for doing complete website revamps. Advertise your work by communicating with professors and fellow students and gradually reach out to the larger community.

8. Content Creation

The need for good content for businesses is ever increasing. There is always a growing demand for fresh content to promote products, create a brochure and build a customer base. College students can easily start their career as content creators without any investment.

A good command over English and flair for writing is all that you need to turn into a money-making business. Hiring students on an ad-hoc basis for creating good content also turn out to be a feasible option for businesses as well.

9. Animation and Video Creation

Do you like to make short animated movies or videos Thanks to YouTube and other social media video sites, this has become one of the most profitable business ideas for students. Digitalisation has heavily contributed to making animation and video creation business bigger and bigger.

As college students, you can produce your own low-cost feature films or create advertisements for established brands. There is also a great potential for video marketing. Businesses are hiring video creators to create conspicuous videos for their products to get a competitive edge over their business rivals.

10. Pet-Sitting Service

Pet Sitting services are a highly profitable venture nowadays, as most residents have pets and are always looking for people who would look after them while they are at work. Some even hire pet sitters just so they can take them out for a walk or play with them. A highly trained professional is not required for doing this job. An individual who is good with animals, can maintain hygiene and genuinely cares about the pets can do this job.

You can spread the word around regarding your services through pamphlets, social media as well as word of mouth. You don’t need to invest a tonne of money into it, instead, you can earn good money, as people pay hourly for pet-sitting services.

11. Affiliate Marketer

Affiliate marketing is the practice of promoting someone else’s products or services while earning a commission each time a customer uses your affiliate link to make a purchase. You can achieve this through social media and youtube posts. It is a brilliant business strategy because it has minimal costs and requires no product manufacturing, shipping, or customer support. All you have to do is promote the product and you get paid for it.

The most important thing to do to get started is to find your niche. Research and understand different products and industries and figure out what interests you. Remember, if you want to make this into a proper business you will have to interact with the niche you choose for years.

Once you have chosen your niche and made social media accounts to promote it, start sending out your affiliate links to the people you know; this way you will gain more traffic. This online business for students has a lot of scope and limitless possibilities.

12. Event Promoter

Are you leading your group in almost all social events at college If yes, why not market your skills as an event promoter and capitalize on it. The need for professional experts in managing events, big or small, has grown exponentially.

Event promoter is a sensible small business idea for students that can be started with moderate capital investment. Success is guaranteed in this enterprise if you have good negotiating skills, right contacts and impressive marketing techniques.

13. Resume or Cover Letter Writing

If you are good at resume or cover letter writing, then you can simply offer the same service. You can advertise your services on professional platforms such as LinkedIn to attract clients. Further, you can join Facebook groups of students and market your services.

These days, there is a huge demand for resume and cover letter-writing jobs.

14. Online Course Development

With EdTech booming in recent days, online course development is a wide business opportunity. There are many Ed-Tech companies that cannot hire a large number of teams to develop their content; hence, they outsource their content to agencies.

Hence, if you have friends who are good at online course development, you can approach any small Ed-Tech and talk about content outsourcing. If they are willing to outsource, grab the opportunity and start developing the online courses and modules. Gradually, if one Ed-Tech works with you, then gradually all the Ed-Techs will start working with you.

15. Remote Technical Support

If you are a student who is well versed in technical assistance, then go for a remote technical support job. In this job, students will be assisting their customers with technical assistance who are working from various geographical locations. This can be one of the great business ideas for school students.

16. Selling Organic Vegetables and Fruits

Who doesn’t love to be healthy Yes, the demand for organic products has been increasing day by day. There are many people who have recently started switching to organic products due to various reasons such as huge demand, high price, less competition, etc.

Hence, selling organic vegetables and fruits is one of the best businesses for students who look to make a profit. Even if you don’t have land, you can grow vegetables and fruits on your home terrace and sell them.

Still not convinced Read this article about a 56-year-old woman who earns $60,000 per month solely through organic terrace farming.

Case Study: 56-YO YouTube Star Reaps Rs 60K/Month From Organic Terrace Garden

17. Child Caretaker

In the current scenario where both the partners share financial responsibility, the need for a good and trusted child caretaker is ever-increasing. All you need to do is take good care of the child until one of the parents return and get paid handsomely for it.

Child caretaker is an ideal side business for students seeking a part-time job. You just need to be patient to handle children tantrums and deal with them responsibly. There are also several babysitting training classes to give you a hang of it.

18. Online Coaching Service

In school, if you are a good student theres always a favourite subject you never get tired of reading. Isnt it a great idea to earn a few bucks by giving tuitions on a subject that you have mastered Online coaching service turns out to be one of the lucrative student business ideas that is equally satisfying. Moreover, it is a small business idea for students with zero investment.

Since the coaching is online, you can give sessions at your service during the evenings or late nights. As there are no overheads, all the earnings that you make will be your profit.

19. Voice Artist

You can find jobs where there is a need for voiceovers, like video explainers, book reading, storytelling, etc. Nowadays, there are a number of opportunities in the market. LinkedIn, Fiverr, Upwork, etc. are the job posting sites where one can search for jobs available under such profiles. If you have a good voice, then you can explore multiple projects such as news reading, commercials, broadcasts, documentaries, narration, etc. One can easily earn around $5,000 to $10,000 just by completing a project.

20. Start One’s Own Food Business

Food is an emotion in India. Tea, coffee, momos, Chinese snack items, salads, etc. are some of the low-investment, easy food business ideas that can be started by students in their free time. If nothing, then just on weekends for a few hours. One can also start a cloud kitchen food business if finding a place is a hassle. Also, there are many food delivery apps selling home-made food. So starting a home-made food business is great for students because you can earn well.

What Is EMC And Business Blaster

EMC: Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum, abbreviated as EMC is a framework that allows students to build their own career path by dreaming big, introducing innovations, and diving into the world of untapped opportunities to become a trendsetter. The purpose or objective of EMC is to mold the mindset of the students in a way that they aspire to become their own boss, stimulate creativity, and learn to overcome challenges during their formal education. As a result, they will become productive and responsible citizens of the nation.

Business Blaster: Business Blaster is the practical component of EMC as it involves the execution of the above-given vision of EMC. It is applicable to grades 11th and 12th. Additionally, it puts the vision of EMC into action. So, in Business Blaster, the students have to discover business opportunities or unsolved problems in society, craft business plans and implement them accordingly. Furthermore, the students can brainstorm individually or in a team. Every participating student/team will be given seed money of Rs. 2000 and they can use it to either earn profit or create a social impact.

This article discussed some inspiration for crafting EMC business ideas as well as business blaster ideas for students.

How to Start a Business as a Student

Freelancing as a student or starting one’s own small business can be a great way to gain experience and make some extra money. Here are some steps you should take to get started:

  1. Identify what your business will offer Define the products and services you will provide.
  2. Set up a website and create an online presence Create a professional website for your business, and create social media profiles.
  3. Develop an effective pricing strategy Determine a fair price for your products and services that reflects the value you offer.
  4. Find and secure customers develop a marketing plan to connect with potential customers.
  5. Manage finances Set up a system to manage debts, invoices, and payments.
  6. Track progress

FAQs on Business Ideas for Students

The frequently asked questions on entrepreneurship ideas for students:

What are the startup ideas for students in India
Starting a business as a student can be a great way to gain experience and make some extra money. Here are business startup ideas for students:

  1. Tutoring: Offer tutoring services to those in need of academic help.
  2. Event Planning: Put your organizational skills to work to plan events for businesses, schools, and other organizations.
  3. Food Delivery: Start a food delivery service for local restaurants.
  4. Virtual Assistant: Provide administrative support to busy professionals.
  5. Mobile App Development: Design and develop mobile applications for businesses.
  6. Blogging: Write and manage blogs for companies or individuals.
  7. Graphic Design: Create graphics such as logos, flyers, posters, etc. for businesses.
  8. Organic Terrance Gardening: Terrace gardening is becoming more popular in most urban locations throughout the world as people have less space to grow plants. Growing vegetables and fruits organically from your terrace is one of the best business idea.

What are the online business ideas for students
Here are some online best business ideas for students:

  1. Tutoring: Offer tutoring services to those in need of academic help.
  2. Online Coaching: Provide coaching and guidance to people looking to improve their lives.
  3. Virtual Assistant: Provide administrative support to busy professionals.
  4. Content Marketing: Write and manage content for blogs, websites, and other platforms.
  5. Affiliate Marketing: Promote products and services of other businesses and earn commissions.
  6. Selling Handmade Goods: Create and sell handmade products on sites like Etsy.
  7. Dropshipping: Set up an online store and source products from suppliers.

What is the innovative business ideas for students
Some of the innovative business ideas for students are:

  1. Terrace Gardening: To start this business, all you require is a terrace. You can grow organic vegetables and fruits and sell them. Because organic foods are both expensive and scarce, you can easily earn money by selling organic stuff from your terrace.
  2. Local Reviewer: You can visit your nearest restaurant, spa, temple, hotel, or mall and post a review on your social media handles. By doing so, people will start liking the content and wait for you to review it. As a result, many customers will ask you to visit their location and write a review about it. For this, you can charge money and start earning.

What are the examples of business projects for students
Depending on the level of knowledge and experience, there are many different types of business projects for students. Some examples include creating a business plan, conducting market research, developing a website or app, creating a marketing campaign, starting an e-commerce store, and launching a crowdfunding campaign.

What are the business proposal ideas for students
Some business proposal ideas for students could include opening a tutoring business, starting a virtual assistant service, creating a debt collection agency, launching an online advertising platform, offering a car detailing service, and creating an event planning service.

What is business product ideas for students
Some product ideas for students may include developing an app, creating a new type of clothing, launching a subscription box service, creating a gaming system, starting a web hosting business, offering a 3D printing service, and creating a new type of learning tool.

Wrapping Up

There is no defined age for starting your entrepreneurial journey. Your graduate certificate is not the key to unlock your potential. Implement any of these business ideas for students that suit you best and make your dream come true. The seeds of your hard work and labour will take its time to make a haul. Be persistent in your efforts and you will be undeniably ahead of the game.

Starting your entrepreneurial journey has never been more easy, thanks to the new concept of shared or coworking spaces. Startups, young entrepreneurs or freelancers can now work conveniently in these new-age workstations without investing a big chunk of their money.

Platforms like myHQ are turning everyday coffee shops into working zone for young entrepreneurs at nominal rental plans. All myHQ cafes are furnished with basic office necessities and have dedicated zones for myHQ members to let them work peacefully without any disturbance. Join the myHQ community and interact with interesting professionals, who share the same vision as yours!

FAQs on Top 100 Unique Business Ideas For Students

Which Business is Best for Students?

The best business for students is one that requires minimal startup costs and can be managed alongside studies. Options like tutoring, freelance writing, graphic design, social media management, or selling handmade products online are ideal because they offer flexibility and allow students to develop valuable skills.

Can a 16 Year Old Start a Business in India?

Yes, a 16-year-old can start a business in India, but legal restrictions apply. Minors may need parental consent, and some business structures require an adult co-owner or legal guardian. It’s crucial to understand the laws around business registration, taxation, and permits to ensure compliance.

How Can I Make Money as a Student?

Students can make money through part-time jobs, freelancing, or small businesses. Popular options include online tutoring, content creation, social media management, delivering food, or selling items online. These opportunities offer flexible hours and require minimal startup investment.

How can I Start my Own Business With no Money as a Student?

Starting a business with no money requires creativity and leveraging available resources. Students can consider service-based businesses like tutoring, dog walking, or social media management. Using free tools for marketing, networking, and building a customer base is essential. Partnering with friends to share resources or using school facilities to conduct business can also help.

Read on for more inspiration

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