Small business ideas for students in Nigeria
There were times when education was the key to success because even before you finish school, you would have been employed but we aren’t sure of that anymore, especially for Nigerian students.
We found ourselves in the kind of situation where your 7 years course turns to 11 years and at the time of the compilation of this post, Nigerian University has been on strike for months.
We have so many students at home doing nothing while some are stranded just trying to live.
The sole purpose of this post is to enlighten us on Small business ideas we can actually with no or little capital as a Nigerian student.
The following are Small business ideas for students in Nigeria.
This is one of the most lucrative businesses of the Century. On most occasions, you won’t be needing capital to start this business but on some occasions which I will consider the best occasion, you will have to pay some registration fee which isn’t too much for youth or students to afford.
Affiliate marketing is the process whereby you help a company or a brand to promote their goods or services and you have a commission from the goods sold.
We have so many affiliate marketing programs you can join as a Nigerian which include Selar, Expertnaire, and Learnoflix.
To get more information on these affiliate marketing programs, you can check out some posts on them.
2. Tutoring
Tutoring is quite an easy and achievable business idea you can venture in as a student.
If probably you are one of the bright ones, you can pick up tutoring.
You can start your own tutorial by starting an advert on social media or by going from door to door for an advert.
3. Blogging
We are in the information age where everyone is searching for knowledge in one way or the other.
It’s no longer news or a myth that we can all earn with blogging. Blogging is the act of managing a blog (a blog is a personal online diary where you can post something for people to read on the search engine).
There’s no limit to what we can earn as a blogger, looking at the lives of Linda Ikeji and the likes, we can see that blogging is quite a lucrative business idea for students in this country.
As of the time this post is been compiled, you can have your own personal blog if you have #15,000 to #20,000 for your hosting and domain with a design that is likely suitable for your level (you can always improve the design at any point in time)
Declaimer: As much as I recommend blogging for everyone, we should understand that blogging is not a quick get rich scheme because you will need to put some effort into it including consistent writing, posting, and learning.
4. Catering Services
Nigerians are known for merriments and parties every time. This is just our nature and in one way or the other, you can always make your money from what people love in this country.
As a student, if you know how to cook, then you can start a catering service where you cook for parties.
At first, this may look somehow because many people don’t know you yet but with a few projects from trusted friends, you can always find your way to the top.
5. Sales of wears
I don’t really need to lay much emphasis on this. We all know an average Nigerian citizen will pick nice wears over nice food.
We really cherish our look and I can guess that’s one of the reasons why the selling of wears is one of the most business ideas within youth.
I’m sure by now, you would have a lot of them on your WhatsApp status, Facebook, and Instagram.
However, one thing I noticed is that those wears and shows are quite expensive, we can’t blame the sellers because they will sell what they buy but why don’t you change your own tactics by going for the okirika ones.
Okirika wears as it’s popularly known are not as expensive as the new ones and most of them are even of high quality than the new ones.
You can also add shoes, wristwatches, necklaces, waist beads and so many things that are pertaining to fashion.
6. Wig Making
Ladies these days don’t have time to seat 5 hours braiding or weaving their hair. They will rather buy a wig and cruise it as they want.
I don’t see this as laziness though, I see it as a job creation opportunity for people who can make wigs.
Wig making and selling are one of the awesome small businesses we can start in this country and all you need to start this business isn’t a big capital.
You can start by making the wig only when people order it, then you can later start making them for random displays and sales.
I’m sure many people are wondering how they can start a wig business when they don’t even know how to make hair.
I’m happy to announce to you that we have a lot of youtube videos that can teach you every step needed to be a good and perfect wig seller.
7. Graphic Designing
Graphic designing is one of the most popular businesses you can start as a student as it doesn’t even disturb your education in case you resume back to school.
Everyone has been enlightened about the importance of owning a brand and a well-represented logo and graphics for advertisement.
This phenomenon has increased the need for good and competent graphic designers which you can be part of them by learning the skill.
The most fascinating point about this is the fact that you can learn it any time anywhere.
8. Copywriting
Whenever you read any ad copy or any internet adverts, you marvel at the level of competency displayed in the content.
Some people are making serious money through copywriting I’m telling you that the department isn’t full yet as you can still join them.
You can get courses on Udemy on how to be a better copywriter. This guide will show you all you need to know about copywriting even if you haven’t tried writing one before.
9. Vlogging
Are you the type who isn’t scared of the camera?
If yes, then I have an offer for you.
Why not pick up vlogging today and invest in it for the next 3 months.
Vlogging is the process whereby you post videos on youtube to attract likes, subscriptions, and views. You are paid for every view you get on your videos by AdSense. This is just the video part of blogging.
You can start vlogging for free as you don’t need any design or buy any hosting or domain.
10. Computer Repair
This is one of the most lucrative business ideas you can explore as a student. Checking out the level of students and offices using computers in this era, we will know that this business is so awesome.
All you need to be part of this business is to find a place you can learn how to deal with it and also read so much about it. With an investment of 4 months in the learning, I can assure you that you will really make a lot of difference.
Yes, you read it right. Crypto trading is one of the awesome business ideas I will recommend for a Nigerian student.
As far as I know about cryptocurrency, it has the tendency of turning you into a rich man within hours and also the opposite within minutes. It depends solely on how smart and conscious you are.
However, I will recommend hodling for anyone who is just starting up in cryptocurrency. As of the time this post is been compiled, the crypto world is experiencing what we call dip (a drastic downtrend) but to those with great vision, this is the right time to accumulate some coins that we know will surely rise after some time but I will strongly advise you don’t use any money you will be needing very soon or any money you can’t afford to lose.
You can read more on how to make money with cryptocurrency in Nigeria.
12. Forex Trading
Forex trading is just like crypto trading also. They both have the capacity to give you great profit and great losses also. If you can handle cryptocurrency, then you can really handle forex trading because they use almost the same techniques, the only difference is that they trade coins in cryptocurrency and we trade currency on forex trading.
You should learn from some experts before going into any of these two businesses because there are terms and terminologies you need to succeed.
13. App Development
The fact that we have a very high rate of phone users, has created a business opportunity for those who know how to create apps.
We are in the era of lazy youths or let me say smart youths who prefer the usage of apps to use websites.
Checking through the play store, don’t be amazed to see millions of applications and more are always added every day.
The apps include almost everything you will want. Apps on body fitness, food recipe, the bible, textbooks, and so many others.
You can learn how to create your own app also by visiting Udemy for relevant courses at a cheap rate.
14. Website Designing
Website designing is one of the most lucrative business ideas youth can make use of in this era. We have a lot of companies out there that are looking for good website designers and managers and this could be you.
Becoming a website designer doesn’t really require learning coding if you don’t want to but to increase your value, you can pick up coding also however, you can start by learning how to use WordPress and design the template.
For more information about how to become an expert in website designing, you can check out Udemy for the best course that will explain all you need to understand about it.
15. Freelancing
Freelancing isn’t longer new that you need to be told however, we may still have some people who haven’t heard about it.
Freelancing is the act of offering services on some freelancing platforms with Fiverr and Upwork being the most popular ones.
You can make a lot of money by offering your skill on Fiverr for any amount not lower than $5 dollars.
In addition, this business doesn’t need any capital to start at all. All you need is a skill that you can offer and a nice strategy to outshine your competitors because all those freelancing platforms have a lot of professionals on them.
16. Laundry and dry cleaning
This is another business idea for you as a Nigerian youth and student. Laundry and dry cleaning services have expanded and upgraded to some level of awesomeness, I can gladly recommend it to anyone who is a student.
We have a lot of busy adults and students who couldn’t do their laundry. This is an opportunity to make money through that.
Many think washing and drying cloth for your mates and anyone is like slavery. That is a poor mentality that we must erase.
Some of this business may not be our end but they can be a means to our end. If you have passion but no money to fund your passion, get to something first.
All you need to start laundry and dry cleaning is a small washing machine which can’t be more than #30,000, some set of basins, drying lines, and cloth pegs.
17. Barbing Salon
I don’t really need to say much about this because it’s what most of us can relate to.
As of the time this post is been compiled, a teenager’s head is barbed at the rate of #500 while an adult’s head is barbed at #1000.
As a student, you can reduce the price for mates to attract them and know if you’re good at what you do, you will make a lot of money.
You can start a barbing business by learning from a professional barber within 3 to 6 months.
All you need to start on your own is 2 clippers and at least, a set of combs, as a student, you may not need a shop yet.
18. Course Creation
The internet is full of people looking for knowledge one way or the other while we also have people who have what those ones are looking for.
Do you have any knowledge of any trendy things?
Is it on blogging, vlogging, app creation, content writing, or marketing?
You can compile a course on it and sell it online.
We have so many platforms where you can sell your course. Udemy is a place where Experts sell their video courses.
You can record a comprehensive video on a particular topic and sell it on Udemy or Selar.
19. Shoemaking
This may sound so ridiculous but it’s a very awesome, trendy, and lucrative business that students can start.
Checking out the list of some shoes online, I realized how lucrative the business is because by calculating the material they use in making those shoes and the price they want to sell them, I was marveled by the huge profit.
There is a huge difference between a shoemaker and a cobbler.
A cobbler only amends tattered shoes while a shoemaker constructs a shoe and designs it. A lot of students know the awesomeness of wearing a made shoe than buying all those industries made shoes and that’s an opportunity for you.
Starting a shoe-making business requires training.
20. Selling perfume oil
This is another mini business you can start as a student. The perfume oil is a very cheap product with much value as it’s considered more effective than a perfume.
Using a small bottle of perfume oil on you can have the scent of that cloth till the cloth becomes tattered.
The scents are always stringer and they come in different flavors.
You can purchase a small bottle of perfume oil as low as #300 and resell it for #600 or more.
21. Data Vendor
The sales of a product are determined by the size of the market. Ask yourself, how much data have you used this month.
Data vendor is one of the most lucrative businesses you can start as a student. Average Nigerian students and youth use up to #10,000 data per month.
This is a wide range market that you can tape from. You don’t need so many customers.
Convince just 10 of yours to buy data from you and you will have #100,000 per month.
22. Phone and phone accessories sales
I hope you know how much they are selling iPhones right now? But we still have friends who buy them.
They buy chargers, earpieces, phone pouches, and so many phone accessories.
This is a very good business you can start as a student. You don’t need much capital to start phone accessories sales.
You can start with just #50,000 but when it comes to phone sales, you will need some money to start that because we don’t really have cheap phones anymore.
However, you can use tactics.
Connect with someone who has a phone store and help them advertise their phone. Ask about the prices of the phone, ask for a discount and add your own profit.
Whenever you have buyers, take them to the store and seal your deal. Pay the store for their phone and you have your own profit.
You are at no risk at all.
23. House panting
House painting is one of the skills you don’t have to learn before doing and can make money for you.
Yes, I said you don’t have to learn it but you should try and improve it.
The reason for that is, that the painting has left the place it was yesterday. We have so many awesome painters who do a lot of crazy stuffs in rooms and offices.
This is actually what you can work on because no painting institute will teach you how to be creative. Creativity comes from the mind and that’s one thing you need as a painter.
Start by panting your own room in the most awesome way, then invite your friends into the room. If the room is good and beautiful, you don’t need to tell them you did the painting as they will ask that themselves.
You just gained some customers. You can watch YouTube videos on crazy painting styles.
24. Fashion Designing
Fashion designing is a very common and lucrative business you can start as a student also. However, you will need to enroll in a fashion designing academy to know about this but there’s a place of creativity that can’t be sidelined.
You can learn how to sew nice readymade gowns and shirts, jeans, and hoodies.
Brand it in your own way and find boutiques that are interested in marketing it for you.
Learning within 6month or more will do you a lot of good on this part.
25. Baking
You don’t like cake? Hands in the air.
We all know cookies, cakes, and pastries.
Baking is one of the most awesome businesses you can start as a student because youth are known for their food combination and craving.
You don’t need too much to start this business. All you need is to get yourself to YouTube and learn how to bake, get a nice moderate oven which can be gotten for just #15,000, and get some necessary equipment which includes a turntable, scale, spatula, skewer, and so many cake materials.
You can start by giving free cakes and cookies to people around you. This is a way of rehearsing and building relationships.
Good luck with your endeavors to make money.
