Finding a job you love can be very difficult, but you can turn your favorite hobby into a job you love. Just imagine: you no longer have to follow someone’s instructions, you no longer have to waste time on something you think is pointless, and now you are your own boss. You do what you love and you love it – sounds like the job of your dreams. And it is entirely possible to make it a reality if you study all of the risks and thoroughly comprehend the situation.
In this article, you will learn how to make money as a student from your favorite business and all the nuances of such activity. Enjoy reading!
What hobby can become a business
Almost any kind. For example, if you love knitting and all your friends tell you’re really cool, you can knit for sale or to order. Same with baking and cooking. And if you love to read and are into literature, you can start your own blog. Or if you have a talent to write stories or essays? You can provide a write my essay help for students.
Any hobby can become a business. But is it worth thinking about it? Definitely worth it if every day you go to your hated job and count the hours until you return home. You don’t have to quit right away, because you can try yourself in a new industry for a start, and when it comes up, you will start working for yourself.
How to start
At the very beginning, you need to think through the idea. It’s not that hard to do. Ask yourself a few questions:
- What will I create?
- What is unique about my idea?
- How am I better than my competitors?
- How will it benefit people?
- Who will be my clients?
For example, you paint custom portraits in different styles. Such a portrait can be gifted or ordered, and the client can choose a photo, style, and color scheme. Your clients are solvent men and women over 18 years old. They like original gifts.
Remember that your offer must cause a “wow! I want one of those!” kind of reaction in a potential consumer. When you can find your niche, your offer will be in demand. But it must be different from others and have its own unique characteristic. It is the wrong choice of a niche without the demand that is the main mistake for beginners.
Conduct a survey among your relatives and friends (you can ask them to ask their acquaintances) to test the viability of your idea. Only one condition: you must ask them to be as honest as possible and not to spare you, otherwise you might make a mistake and miss your chance.
Idea: Create an anonymous Google form that fully describes your idea and nuances, and your friends answer honestly. You can also leave it in some discussions on social networks. That way you can check the viability of the idea for sure.
How to write a business plan
You will be able to determine whether your idea is viable or not thanks to the business plan. You must make the following points:
- Describe your idea;
- Study your competitors, write down their strengths and weaknesses, and highlight your advantages. This way you have a better chance of attracting customers and setting a good price;
- Define your target audience;
- Decide how you will tell a potential audience about your product;
- Make a financial and production plan. To do this, calculate how much it will cost you for the cost of goods, rent, advertising, shipping, and other costs. Then think about what price you can set to start with, what price you need to make your labor pay off. After that, you can try to adjust the figures, such as finding cheaper raw materials.
How to set the price
The easiest way to calculate is by the formula: cost of materials + costs + your labor = cost price. Cost x2 = price.
Remember to take into account all of the materials utilized when determining the cost. Shipping, taxes, rent, advertising, and other expenses are examples of costs. As a result, if you don’t rent space or pay for shipping, you don’t need to factor this into your budget.
Steps to turn an idea into reality
1. Name and logo
This is a required step. You’ll utilize them to create client-facing social media pages and printed materials. You can hire designers if you can’t come up with one yourself or don’t want to waste time.
2. Packaging
This is also an important attribute because it determines the first impression of the client from the received goods. Of course, a client will be happy to receive a purchase in a beautiful Kraft paper or box, even if it increases the cost.
3. Wholesale suppliers
To reduce the cost of your goods, you need to find places where you can buy them in bulk. And the nearest supermarket is not the right place for this.
4. Delivery terms
“How will you deliver the items?” “Is the goods delivered solely in the United States?” “Is there self-delivery?” “By courier or by post?” and so on are all crucial considerations. Of course, if you’re selling a service rather than a product, you may skip this step.
5. Photos and description
It’s already a great plus if you have beautiful, high-quality photos. They should be done in the same style, from several angles, and with attention to detail. Showcase your well-designed portfolio and examples of work if you provide a service.
6. Online store
This is the last step. Your website serves as a digital business card. You can utilize social media, such as Instagram, to showcase your work, as well as provide reviews and consumer feedback. The most important thing is that the customer can locate all of the information they need and ask you a question that you can quickly answer.
Where to find customers
To accomplish so, you’ll need accounts on popular social media sites and a steady stream of followers. You don’t have to upload solely photos of your work to attract people to subscribe to you. Share hobby-related advice, experiences, and news that customers may find interesting and valuable. Show the work process and publish reviews so that the visitor does not get the impression that it’s a deception.
Create a giveaway right at the start of your business, and award prizes in the form of your work or services. This is also a form of marketing.
You can employ advertising, but you must be careful not to make a mistake and waste money when setting it up. If you need advertising but are hesitant to do it, hire a specialist in targeting advertising.
A few ideas for implementing a hobby in a business:
Music
There are several techniques to make money in this area that have already been proven:
- Tutoring;
- Participation in live concerts;
- Performances in cafes and restaurants;
- Videos with covers on YouTube and TikTok.
Streaming resources are also available. Even though the payouts are minimal, it’s a fantastic place to start. Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music are examples of such services.
You’ll need specialized equipment to record videos for YouTube and TikTok, including a laptop or PC, a microphone, and headphones. Of course, you can shoot on your phone, but video quality now plays a critical part and affect the views.
Cooking
This is a very popular field, and it appeals to both men and women. Cooking to order is, of course, the simplest way to get started. Begin with your friends, who will promote you in their circles and on social media.
You can start your own YouTube channel where you can talk about your cooking experiences, favorite recipes, and demonstrate the cooking process. You can apply for commercial use of the channel and earn money after you reach the required number of subscribers.
Foreign language
Professionals who are fluent in a foreign language are always in demand. However, how do you turn it into a beloved pastime?
- Tutoring. You may provide classes online using Skype, Zoom, and other platforms thanks to the Internet. You’ll be able to plan ahead of time and avoid wasting time on visits to students;
- Articles written by yourself. You can sell them on content marketplaces like Advego and Etxt. You can also sell articles that you have translated.
- Part-time work on stock exchanges. You can discover a variety of tasks here, such as conducting a conversation, translating the site interface, and so on. In addition, many firms are always looking for remote translators, people who can provide quick essay writing service, and copywriters. These are all potential sources of income.
Photography and filming
If you love photography and are going to or have already purchased a professional device, then you can get money from it. For example:
- portrait and product photography;
- wedding, family, holiday and other types of photoshoots and video shoots, which are always popular;
- pet photography;
- work at events in clubs and restaurants;
- photo restoration and so on.
A separate branch of income is the sale of your photos on stock websites. The benefit is that you may do it in your own time, during school or work breaks. You can also choose your own photography category.
This list might go on indefinitely. You’re only limited by your creativity and patience. Don’t be scared to try, since you never know when you’ll get another chance.
