College student starting out

[MistaDobalina]

So I'm 19. I'm going to be a sophomore in college in Austin next year.

I've never done anything related to business besides an accounting class I took in high school ...but I know I want to start a business in college.

I just have no idea what. I think that a lot of my ideas I have right NOW are just WAY too ambitious for me to get into. I know that I have what it takes to not only build a business but to GROW a business...but I think it would be best if I had something small-to-medium sized to start out with. Something to get experience with.

I need advice on what I should start out doing while in college. I'd love to graduate with near-debt free because of some successful business I own.

I like filmmaking/music/sports...typical stuff. Of course I'm open to crazy ideas I would never think of. (like i heard of people starting college moving businesses at their colleges)

Thanks to anyone who read or responds to this

[Gaulkin]

College kids love beer and parties, do something with that.

[MistaDobalina]

Haha. Oook. What? Event planning? Wait I see it now: an online party community to find out where the parties are? I'll also provide decorations for themes, cups, pong balls, etc?

Someone else please bash this idea out of my head..I hate it when I get an idea stuck in my head like a song..

[KKoher]

someone mentioned it on this site before...but renting out dorm stuff seems like a pretty good idea for a college business...Everyone living in a dorm, or or in an off campus apt. needs a microwave, coffee maker, mini fridge...etc...

[zharlene]

If you like film making and music, why don't you try to make creative ads for companies & small businesses? An ad of about 30secs - 1min is already $100+

Cheers.

[MistaDobalina]

yes i like the ad idea. i would need video editing software to do it from my laptop. but that's a great idea.

as far as the renting out appliances...i could see it.

please keep the ideas coming...thank you guys.

[pboychuk]

Hey, I am 20, a Junior at UGA, and would consider my income good for a college kid, I am basically involved in retail sales. However, I have run businesses since i was 16, there is really a lot to learn. A few words of advice, dont go too cliche when trying to develop your business ideas. People will say do what you like, and do what you enjoy latidada, That advice is easy to give but, its hard to follow through with. I would personally suggest, looking at the money first. Once you have money then you can do something you like and enjoy. College is a great market, I havent exploited my college market because I dont have the time, But, just think of ways to get "daddys money" from all the college kids.

[eliz4biz]

UGA! I KNEW there was some reason I immediately liked you! haha No, I didn't attend there, but I'm from GA.
You sound wise beyond your years! You are going to be very successful! Oh good grief, I just sounded like I was reading your palm or something!

Mista, there was someone posting on here the other day about video ads. You may could take his lead and join up with him. I'll look up the thread if you need me to. Let me know.

[rossco1]

Haha. Oook. What? Event planning? Wait I see it now: an online party community to find out where the parties are? I'll also provide decorations for themes, cups, pong balls, etc?

Someone else please bash this idea out of my head..I hate it when I get an idea stuck in my head like a song..

lol mate.. whose going to invite randoms from the internet to their party...

[rossco1]

someone mentioned it on this site before...but renting out dorm stuff seems like a pretty good idea for a college business...Everyone living in a dorm, or or in an off campus apt. needs a microwave, coffee maker, mini fridge...etc...

craigslist, local classifieds generally do the trick in solving this problem...

[ChosenList.com]

In the mean time you can check this thread out...

Easiest Way to Start an Online Business

[JohnnyBudZ]

Hey, I am 20, a Junior at UGA, and would consider my income good for a college kid, I am basically involved in retail sales. However, I have run businesses since i was 16, there is really a lot to learn. A few words of advice, dont go too cliche when trying to develop your business ideas. People will say do what you like, and do what you enjoy latidada, That advice is easy to give but, its hard to follow through with. I would personally suggest, looking at the money first. Once you have money then you can do something you like and enjoy. College is a great market, I havent exploited my college market because I dont have the time, But, just think of ways to get "daddys money" from all the college kids.

haha never realized you were from atlanta, I grew up in Buckhead.

But anyways, that basicly sums it up. You may not have the options to pick and chose untill you have the $$$...and trying to get "daddys money" is ALWAYS a great idea, I think someone earlier had an idea of a beer pong store?

That sounded pretty good to me...

[CDRamming]

A possible idea I am looking at for one of my entrepreneurship courses (given money to start and run your own on-campus business) is a DVD kiosk. There is not a movie store within 2 miles of our school and very few people, especially freshman and sophomores in dorms have cars. Many people watch pirated movies on sites like alluc.org and what not but those are closing down. So we are looking make a facebook group with weekly voting for upcoming movies to stock the kiosk. Use facebook to market to your college, you can place ads to just people at your school, make a group and communicate really well for cheap or free. While the capital for the machine is high initially if you analyze the market and DVDs people would be most likely to rent you could pay it off quickly. You could also get the campus debit card (I assume you have one) to work in the machine and give the school XX% of the profit for your placement of the machine and that you accept their card.

[Lambo]

arrange pub crawls

[MistaDobalina]

Hey, I am 20, a Junior at UGA, and would consider my income good for a college kid, I am basically involved in retail sales. However, I have run businesses since i was 16, there is really a lot to learn. A few words of advice, dont go too cliche when trying to develop your business ideas. People will say do what you like, and do what you enjoy latidada, That advice is easy to give but, its hard to follow through with. I would personally suggest, looking at the money first. Once you have money then you can do something you like and enjoy. College is a great market, I havent exploited my college market because I dont have the time, But, just think of ways to get "daddys money" from all the college kids.

Thanks for the advice. Yeah, I have very little money to work with. For instance i want to make movies, but can't buy a simple camcorder . However, I could always find money for a business if I needed to. Yes, I should contemplate on how to get some of "daddy's money"...

UGA! I KNEW there was some reason I immediately liked you! haha No, I didn't attend there, but I'm from GA.
You sound wise beyond your years! You are going to be very successful! Oh good grief, I just sounded like I was reading your palm or something!

Mista, there was someone posting on here the other day about video ads. You may could take his lead and join up with him. I'll look up the thread if you need me to. Let me know.

Yes, I think maybe you're referring to the ChosenList.com posts? If not, please refer me to the right one..

haha never realized you were from atlanta, I grew up in Buckhead.

But anyways, that basicly sums it up. You may not have the options to pick and chose untill you have the $$$...and trying to get "daddys money" is ALWAYS a great idea, I think someone earlier had an idea of a beer pong store?

That sounded pretty good to me...

A beer pong store....interesting. i'll have to check if there's already a place that makes them in austin...but it sounds descent.

arrange pub crawls

In downtown austin all of the good bars are within walking distance from each other...but i'm not sure exactly what you mean?


and @rossco - i meant like a facebook with focus on parties and events where the people actually know each other. but at the same time i was being sarcastic...haha