How to Start a Side Hustle While You’re at School

It's time to earn some extra money.

It feels like every person on Insta and TikTok has got a side hustle, right? Whether it’s photography, selling candles or gift consulting (yes, this is actually a thing), having a side business is a great way to make some extra cash.

Here’s the thing: you don’t have to wait until you finish high school or uni to start a side hustle. In fact, you might already have one like babysitting, dog walking or blogging that you could focus on growing.

While the prospect of getting your biz set up can feel overwhelming, there are simple steps you can take to make it less daunting.  

So, without further ado, here’s how you can start a side hustle while you’re still studying.

Figure out if you’ve got time.

Starting a side hustle is super exciting, but you’ve gotta be able to put in the time.

You’ll want to weigh up how many hours you’re spending at school, uni, completing homework or assignments, and extracurricular activities.

If you’re truly serious about your side biz, you might want to consider carving out some time in your schedule to dedicate to planning and running your side hustle.

Ask yourself what problem you want to solve.

When it comes to deciding what your side hustle is going to be, you might find yourself sitting on the couch and staring at the wall for a while. That’s completely normal.

A good place to start is to ask yourself what problem you want to solve. Think about the businesses you support and how they help you (for example, food delivery services stop you from being hangry).

If your side hustle is offering a solution to a problem, you can bet that people will find your services useful.

Think about how you’ll promote your services.

Once you know what your side hustle is going to be, it’s time to think about how you’re going to get your services noticed.

With so many social media platforms out there, you’ll want to contemplate which one is most appropriate for the demographic you’re selling to. Maybe your product is perfect for a pretty Insta feed, or you want to share information via TikTok videos.

Of course, you’ll also need to set up a place for people to buy what you’re selling or book your services. Websites like Etsy, Squarespace, Wix or a self-hosted WordPress are good places to start.

Otherwise, word of mouth is another effective option. If a customer or client is happy with your services, it’s likely they’ll tell their mates and fam.

Apply for an ABN if you need one.

And that brings us to the technical stuff (soz).

If you’re starting a side hustle and you plan on earning sweet dollars, you may need to get an Australian Business Number (ABN).

An ABN makes it way easier to keep track of all your side hustle transactions for tax purposes. Plus, you’ll be able to identify your biz to others when ordering and invoicing.

Not everyone is eligible for an ABN, so head here to find out if you should apply for one (it’s free!).

How you can get more help with starting a side hustle.

Feel like you need some more guidance before taking the plunge and starting your side biz? That’s understandable.

By upgrading your membership to Student Edge Plus, you can access learning experiences from industry experts that’ll help you take control of your future. We’ve even got a course on Finding Your Side Hustle Mindset, presented by The Australian School of Entrepreneurship!

Now, go forth and turn your side hustle dreams into a reality. 

Header Image: @marcute via Unsplash