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For college students, starting a side hustle is a great way to earn extra cash while still being able to maintain a flexible schedule for school or a primary job.

What is a side hustle? It’s essentially an extra stream of income that can take many forms, such as freelancing, selling products online, driving for a rideshare service, or even starting a small business.

And in today’s gig economy, it’s easier than ever to get started with a side hustle as more and more opportunities arise for people to earn supplemental income.

1. How to Start a Side Hustle

Decide on the type of side hustle that’s right for you.

There are two main types of side hustle ideas that are especially suited for college students who are juggling work and school:

• Classic and app-based side hustles

If you want to start earning extra cash right away, consider popular options like driving for a rideshare service, babysitting, delivering food orders, shopping for groceries, walking and caring for pets, and more.

For a seamless experience, go through top apps such as Uber, Rover, DoorDash, Instacart, etc.

• Skill-based and interest-based side hustles

Another approach is to identify what you’re good at—and also what you love.

For example, maybe you’re a crafty person who loves jewelry and always receives compliments on the pieces you wear. Why not learn how to make earrings or bracelets and sell them online?

Perhaps you’re a natural writer who enjoys organizing information and helping people succeed. Consider becoming a freelance resume writer or consultant.

Or maybe you’re exceptionally savvy with social media and can provide your services to local businesses for a fee. There are so many creative side hustle ideas out there that could help you monetize your natural abilities.

2. Determine if there’s market demand.

If you’re starting your own side hustle vs. a pre-established option, take a look at the market around you. Are there potential customers or clients who would pay for your products or services? Or is the market already saturated?

Maybe there are multiple online sellers who make similar jewelry, but very few at the local level. Perhaps you’d have better success marketing yourself as a local artisan who sells products at craft fairs.

You can also think about establishing a niche that positions you as an expert in a particular area—such as focusing on social media for restaurants vs. general businesses.

3. Create a simple business plan.

It typically isn’t necessary to create a formal business plan for a side hustle—especially when you’re first starting out or going through an app.

However, it can be helpful to jot down your goals, target audience, pricing strategy, marketing ideas, and how much time you can realistically dedicate to your business each week. This will help keep you motivated and on track.

4. Look into legal matters.

Depending on your side hustle, you may need to register a business, get permits, or pay taxes. It’s always a good idea to talk with a tax professional about any questions you may have.

5. Consider growing your business skills.

Raritan Valley Community College offers a number of different programs for business-minded students and budding entrepreneurs.

These include degree and certificate programs such as Business Management Marketing, Bookkeeping, and more.

RVCC also offers professional development courses that can translate into freelance opportunities, such as Project Management, Makeup Artistry, Microsoft Office Training, and more.

The RVCC Difference

If you’ve been researching “college near me,” you probably already know there are a plethora of higher education institutions across the state of New Jersey. Rest assured that Raritan Valley Community College is one of the best options in the NJ area.