9 low-cost business ideas for college students

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It takes money to have fun in college, and it’s no secret that tuition and costs go up every year.

But with classes scattered throughout the day and even at night, how can you add a job?

That’s why more and more college students are opting to go into starting their own business to fit their skills and limited time.

Here are 9 business ideas that cost little to no money that you can build while you’re still in college.

1. Residential cleaning service

In search of a part-time job that caters to your busy class schedule? A residential cleaning service can be a viable option.

In 2009, 21-year-old Kristen Hadeed posted an online ad offering residential cleaning services. After successfully cleaning her first home, Hadeed was able to build her network of clients solely off referrals.

“With cleaning, it’s a trust thing. When you trust someone, they’ll refer you,” explains Hadeed.

Cleaning homes granted Hadeed the flexibility to balance a heavy academic schedule while maintaining a part-time job based on her own availability. She eventually recruited other students to join her business, founding one of Florida’s largest independently owned cleaning services, Student Maid.

In the beginning stages, keep it simple, advises Hadeed, starting with an online ad for your services. From there, the opportunities will flow. To avoid heavy startup costs, require all of your clients to supply the majority of the cleaning supplies and use recyclable rags and a diluted white vinegar solution to clean.

For residential cleaning services, you can charge starting at $20 an hour.

Other advice? Always overestimate the amount of time it will take to clean, and charge an hourly rate in case you’ve got a large space.

2. Moving service

Whether moving back for the fall semester or moving home for the summer, movers can make an incredible income helping on-the-go students. A mover can make up to $200 for a single move. Stephen Vlahos and Cameron Doody noticed this need and created Bellhops, a student moving service, which has spread nationwide.

“It’s twice what students could make working at a pizza shop, plus they get regular tips,” Doody says. “And they can work whenever they want.”

What’s the catch? Being a mover is hard work and involves a lot of heavy lifting so having the ability to move large items and furniture with ease is a must.

Joining or starting a business like Bellhops where you’re able to have flexible hours and build your own schedule is great for college students. If you’ve got a large network already, spreading your services through word-of-mouth, social media, online ads, flyers and a website can jump start your entrepreneurial career for little-to-no startup money.

3. Child caretaker

Good with kids? A position as a babysitter or nanny is the perfect opportunity for a college student seeking a part-time job. Whether it’s taking care of kids on date night or picking them up from school, there’s a constant demand for babysitters.

Web babysitting services like SitterCity.com and Care.com make it simple and easy to promote your services and tap into a network of busy parents. Many colleges also offer their own career listing sites that connect students to local babysitting and nannying opportunities, though the best way to pick up new gigs is through trusted referrals.

Babysitting involves an incredible amount of responsibility, so it’s important to have confidence in your skills as a caregiver. Providing a background check and taking first aid and babysitting training classes are great places to start.

Babysitting rates can vary between $8 to $40 an hour depending on your experience, the city you live in, ages and number of children and the amount of responsibility (driving, cooking meals, handling pets, etc.).