It's a tough job market out there
for everyone, but especially recent college graduates. With little firsthand
experience, it can be difficult to land that first job, which is of course
necessary to gain experience in the first place. Finding a job in your field is
certainly desirable, but for some the calling of launching their own business
offers more promise than interview after fruitless interview. Instead of
waiting around for their dream jobs to open up, many recent grads are choosing
to start careers as entrepreneurs. Here are eight low-cost businesses you can
start as a new college graduate.
Clothing
company
Did you dream of working in the
fashion world, but couldn't find more than a few low-level opportunities in the
field? If you have a great eye for design, you can strike out on your own and
start an independent clothing company. Knowing
how to sew or silk screen will help you get off the ground, but you'll
eventually need to find a good manufacturer to reach the next stage of growth.
As with any business, high-quality products combined with great marketing
skills are the keys to success.
Content
creation
Thanks to social media and the
24-hour news cycle, creative individuals like writers and graphic designers can
use their talents to produce high-quality, shareable content
for businesses and media outlets. A growing part-time economy of
freelance and contract workers makes it easier than ever to market yourself as
a professional freelance content creator. This can also be a great way to build
up your skills should you choose to seek a full-time job later on.
Electronic
repair
In today's tech-obsessed world, most
people have smartphones, tablets and
laptops that they use daily. With constant usage, there's a good chance that at
least one of those devices is going to crash or otherwise break at some point.
If you're a techie who can fix these issues with relative ease, you can offer
to repair people's electronics for cheaper than what the big retailers charge.
Get started by marketing your services to students at your alma mater who don't
want to wait for the campus IT department to fix their hard drives.
Event
entertainment
If you spent your undergrad years
tinkering with sound-mixing software and staffing the DJ booth at your college
radio station, starting an event entertainment company could be the right path
for you. With only your music collection and your laptop, you can get people
out on the dance floor at weddings and birthday parties, or simply provide
background music at more-casual events. DJ equipment is a big investment, but
plenty of companies offer daily rentals of speakers, subwoofers and other
accessories that you can use until you save up enough to buy your own.
Fitness
instruction
Were you constantly hitting the gym
after class? Turn your passion for fitness into a lucrative job by becoming a
fitness instructor or personal trainer. You'll have to put in a small amount of
time and money to get certified, but organizations like the Aerobics
and Fitness Association of America offer online certification
programs that you can complete at your own pace. Once you're a certified
trainer, you can look for openings at local gyms or work one-on-one with
clients at their homes. You can also find numerous programs for certification
to teach fitness classes like yoga or Zumba.
Graphic
design
Are you a wiz with software tools
like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop? Many small businesses are clamoring for an
affordable way to gain access to professional branding, such as logos, banners
and signs. If you're about to leave college with a toolbox full of graphic
design skills, consider launching a freelance design business that caters to
other entrepreneurs. Once you establish a network of contacts and a reputation
for quality designs, you can leverage past work into new jobs and possibly even
set yourself up with a full time job right out of college.
Handmade
crafts
Do you have a knack for knitting,
jewelry making or creating other small crafts? If you can produce a lot of
items quickly, you can open up an online storefront and sell
your creations to the public. Startup costs are extremely low if you purchase
your materials in bulk from a craft supplier, and if you can turn orders around
quickly, you'll make a profit in no time. You could even turn your store into a
full-time gig.
Social
media consultant
Want to put that marketing or
communications degree to good use? Consider starting a social media consulting
firm. Small businesses often have to take care of their own social media marketing.
But, with so many other responsibilities, the company's owners may be too
busy to come up with great strategies for each of the growing number of social
channels companies are expected to utilize. As a consultant, you can help
businesses determine the best tactics, posting schedules and content for your
clients' target audiences. As their follower counts grow, so will your
business.
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