Small Business Articles
Top 10 Small Business Opportunities For The College Student
June 02, 2008
College is a great time to gain knowledge and learn new skills that will help you plot the course for the rest of your life, but one of the unfortunate side-effects of college are college loans. With the price of tuition, books, dorm rooms and fees skyrocketing over the past few years, many students routinely graduate with well over $50,000 in debt. If you don't want to spend the rest of your life paying off your loans and your changes of a rich uncle dying are slim, keep in mind that working while in school is one of the best ways to pay for school as you go and minimize the debt you walk away with at graduation. Before you head down to the student bookstore and get a job making minimum wage, consider some of the small business opportunities available for college students. A small business can be run right out of your dorm room and can give you the financial freedom to stay in school while building your business knowledge and providing real world experience you just can't get in the classroom. Here's a look at some of the small business opportunities for the college student.
1. Nerd Force
Nerd Force is a small business franchise opportunity that connects the technologically illiterate with, well, nerds. You may have seen one of their bright yellow Scion Xd's rolling around on campus and these nerds mean business. With over 250 million computers in use in the US, the demand for highly trained computer technicians is exploding. This small business puts you in command of a fleet of on-site technicians and has proven to be a very successful business model. If you're interested in computer repair and have thought about starting a small business, you can't go wrong with this one.
2. ACFN
ACFN is an ATM small business franchise that can generate high revenue with very little effort involved, perfect for the busy student. The franchisee purchases the ATM machine(s) and places them in high traffic locations (preferably locations that aren't too close to a bank) and the ATM's generate income for you by charging the customers a convenience fee. Your job will essentially be to keep the ATM functioning and stocked and then collect your pay. This franchise is ideal for the student as it will leave plenty of time for class and studies and what little work is required can be done around the student's schedule.
3. Tax Centers of America
As far as low-cost, small business opportunities go, Tax Centers of America gives you plenty of bang for your buck. With a total investment cost averaging less that cost of one years' tuition, Tax Centers of America can help a student develop a recession-proof business that will generate a healthy income. Tax Centers of America also provide training and instruction to get the franchisee going and no, you don't have to be a CPA to take advantage of this small business opportunity.
4. Doo Care
It may not be glamorous, but Doo Care provides dog waste removal services and have pioneered an industry that is still relatively untapped very lucrative. Doo Care provides waste removal for busy families, the elderly or any of the nearly 50 million dog owners in America. With such a high demand and very few businesses stepping in, it's easy to see how a Doo Care franchise could really clean up.
5. Infinite Marketing
Video business cards are a great way to get your name or the name of your business out there and Infinite Marketing provides small business franchises that help businesses get creative and promote themselves in this new and exciting way. The Video Business Card (VBC) delivers a personal video message from business owners, professionals, and corporate executives explaining the benefits of doing business with them. These small business card shaped discs can also include direct links to your web site and e-mail, on-screen and printable documents, slide-show, music, maps, directions, and more.
6. Club Z In-Home Tutoring
Club Z is a small business where you can take your love for learning and knowledge and use it to help kids who are having a tough time keeping up or need some extra help with a particular subject. The Wall Street Journal has recently ranked CHILD LEARNING and COMPUTER CENTERS as one of the best franchise opportunities with a 14% annual growth, and with a low startup cost and zero net-worth requirements, this is a great choice for a entrepreneurially minded college student.
7. MonitorClosely.com
Digital technology has transformed the face and the business behind video surveillance. MonitorClosely.com is a home-based business with tremendous earnings potential. With the advancements in digital technology, the quality of surveillance systems has significantly improved while the cost of equipment has continuously decreased. This makes the surveillance a viable option for a much larger group of people and makes the sale, setup and ongoing support of surveillance equipment a high-growth industry and makes a great small business for students because it allows you to work as little or as much as you want depending on your needs and your schedule.
8. Stay At Home
As the baby boomer generation nears retirement age, the elderly population in the United States is expected to nearly double over the next 15 years approaching nearly 75 million. Many of these elderly people will require some form of professional care, and Stay At Home provides the training and experience to get you started in this rapidly growing industry with no professional medical training required. Stay At Home is a pioneer in the non-medical in-home care industry and helps elderly people in need of care while building a healthy business for the compassionate entrepreneur.
9. Lil' Angels Photography
Lil' Angels Photography represents a great small business opportunity for any student interested in either the artistic side or the business side of photography. Specializing in children's portraiture, this low-investment, home-based business provides the perfect creative outlet for the student entrepreneur while also cornering enough of a niche-market to make it very financially viable as either a part-time or full-time small business.
10. HouseMaster
The home inspection industry is a market that performs well whether it's a sellers market or a buyers market because this service is needed any time a home is going to change hands. Not only is HouseMaster ranked as one of the best in the home inspection business, they also stand behind their brand and they're confident that you will too. In fact, in the first year of your franchise, if you're not completely satisfied, they will refund your franchise fee. Try getting the same guarantee from the dean regarding your tuition.
All of these franchises would make great small businesses for the student looking to get a head start in the business world or simply trying to keep on top of tuition costs and student loans. With a small business franchise, you'll enjoy the confidence of a proven business plan, in-depth training and ongoing support as well as a proven brand to stand by your business and assure your customers. College is a great time to start out in the business world and start working your way up and a franchise is the perfect way to step into your first business with the best chance for success.
College is a great time to gain knowledge and learn new skills that will help you plot the course for the rest of your life, but one of the unfortunate side-effects of college are college loans. With the price of tuition, books, dorm rooms and fees skyrocketing over the past few years, many students routinely graduate with well over $50,000 in debt. If you don't want to spend the rest of your life paying off your loans and your changes of a rich uncle dying are slim, keep in mind that working while in school is one of the best ways to pay for school as you go and minimize the debt you walk away with at graduation. Before you head down to the student bookstore and get a job making minimum wage, consider some of the small business opportunities available for college students. A small business can be run right out of your dorm room and can give you the financial freedom to stay in school while building your business knowledge and providing real world experience you just can't get in the classroom. Here's a look at some of the small business opportunities for the college student.
1. Nerd Force
Nerd Force is a small business franchise opportunity that connects the technologically illiterate with, well, nerds. You may have seen one of their bright yellow Scion Xd's rolling around on campus and these nerds mean business. With over 250 million computers in use in the US, the demand for highly trained computer technicians is exploding. This small business puts you in command of a fleet of on-site technicians and has proven to be a very successful business model. If you're interested in computer repair and have thought about starting a small business, you can't go wrong with this one.
2. ACFN
ACFN is an ATM small business franchise that can generate high revenue with very little effort involved, perfect for the busy student. The franchisee purchases the ATM machine(s) and places them in high traffic locations (preferably locations that aren't too close to a bank) and the ATM's generate income for you by charging the customers a convenience fee. Your job will essentially be to keep the ATM functioning and stocked and then collect your pay. This franchise is ideal for the student as it will leave plenty of time for class and studies and what little work is required can be done around the student's schedule.
3. Tax Centers of America
As far as low-cost, small business opportunities go, Tax Centers of America gives you plenty of bang for your buck. With a total investment cost averaging less that cost of one years' tuition, Tax Centers of America can help a student develop a recession-proof business that will generate a healthy income. Tax Centers of America also provide training and instruction to get the franchisee going and no, you don't have to be a CPA to take advantage of this small business opportunity.
4. Doo Care
It may not be glamorous, but Doo Care provides dog waste removal services and have pioneered an industry that is still relatively untapped very lucrative. Doo Care provides waste removal for busy families, the elderly or any of the nearly 50 million dog owners in America. With such a high demand and very few businesses stepping in, it's easy to see how a Doo Care franchise could really clean up.
5. Infinite Marketing
Video business cards are a great way to get your name or the name of your business out there and Infinite Marketing provides small business franchises that help businesses get creative and promote themselves in this new and exciting way. The Video Business Card (VBC) delivers a personal video message from business owners, professionals, and corporate executives explaining the benefits of doing business with them. These small business card shaped discs can also include direct links to your web site and e-mail, on-screen and printable documents, slide-show, music, maps, directions, and more.
6. Club Z In-Home Tutoring
Club Z is a small business where you can take your love for learning and knowledge and use it to help kids who are having a tough time keeping up or need some extra help with a particular subject. The Wall Street Journal has recently ranked CHILD LEARNING and COMPUTER CENTERS as one of the best franchise opportunities with a 14% annual growth, and with a low startup cost and zero net-worth requirements, this is a great choice for a entrepreneurially minded college student.
7. MonitorClosely.com
Digital technology has transformed the face and the business behind video surveillance. MonitorClosely.com is a home-based business with tremendous earnings potential. With the advancements in digital technology, the quality of surveillance systems has significantly improved while the cost of equipment has continuously decreased. This makes the surveillance a viable option for a much larger group of people and makes the sale, setup and ongoing support of surveillance equipment a high-growth industry and makes a great small business for students because it allows you to work as little or as much as you want depending on your needs and your schedule.
8. Stay At Home
As the baby boomer generation nears retirement age, the elderly population in the United States is expected to nearly double over the next 15 years approaching nearly 75 million. Many of these elderly people will require some form of professional care, and Stay At Home provides the training and experience to get you started in this rapidly growing industry with no professional medical training required. Stay At Home is a pioneer in the non-medical in-home care industry and helps elderly people in need of care while building a healthy business for the compassionate entrepreneur.
9. Lil' Angels Photography
Lil' Angels Photography represents a great small business opportunity for any student interested in either the artistic side or the business side of photography. Specializing in children's portraiture, this low-investment, home-based business provides the perfect creative outlet for the student entrepreneur while also cornering enough of a niche-market to make it very financially viable as either a part-time or full-time small business.
10. HouseMaster
The home inspection industry is a market that performs well whether it's a sellers market or a buyers market because this service is needed any time a home is going to change hands. Not only is HouseMaster ranked as one of the best in the home inspection business, they also stand behind their brand and they're confident that you will too. In fact, in the first year of your franchise, if you're not completely satisfied, they will refund your franchise fee. Try getting the same guarantee from the dean regarding your tuition.
All of these franchises would make great small businesses for the student looking to get a head start in the business world or simply trying to keep on top of tuition costs and student loans. With a small business franchise, you'll enjoy the confidence of a proven business plan, in-depth training and ongoing support as well as a proven brand to stand by your business and assure your customers. College is a great time to start out in the business world and start working your way up and a franchise is the perfect way to step into your first business with the best chance for success.
