What can I sell to make money as a student? Amber’s “New From Old” enterprise is a real family example of how a young person can buy, clean, advertise and resell second-hand items for profit.
Instead of waiting for the perfect idea, Amber looked for useful items, solved simple problems for buyers and learned valuable business skills along the way.
What Can I Sell to Make Money as a Student?
What can I sell to make money as a student? That is a question many kids and parents ask when they want a simple, practical business idea.
There are hundreds of possibilities. Yet when chatting to parents, they often tell me they would really like their kids to have a little business enterprise of their own, but they just can’t think of a good idea.
Here’s the tip: think about the problems or needs your local community has. Then ask whether a kids’ enterprise could be built around solving one of those problems.
Another angle is to consider what skill your child already has and how they could put that skill to good use.
Brainstorming What Students Can Sell
If your child is wondering, what can I sell to make money as a student?, start by brainstorming ideas on paper. Keep going until you have exhausted all possible ideas, whether or not you intend to use them.
Try asking neighbours what issues or problems they have and add these to your list.
Generally, people have time issues. That is where a business idea can begin. Not enough time to mow the lawn, clean large rubbish bins, chop wood, tend to the kids’ homework, clean windows, rake leaves, tutor younger children, pull weeds or clean the car — you get the picture.
If you are still stumped, this blog is full of real family enterprise stories and practical kids business ideas.
Amber’s “New From Old” Resale Enterprise
Amber’s “New From Old” enterprise has been going great guns right from the beginning. Her money jars are filling up, and really she hasn’t had to do much work at all.
She reached the goal she set a while back and is now preparing to take her business to another level. We’ll talk more about that in a later blog.
If you are new to our blog and haven’t yet followed Amber’s enterprise journey, you may like to start with Kids Business Ideas: Amber’s Kids Biz Program.
Amber’s resale enterprise in action:
Finding Things to Sell for Profit
Amber makes the fortnightly trip to the local Recycling and Waste Recovery Centre. It sells anything salvageable.
The guy who runs the place now knows Amber and understands that she is running her own business. Through this process, Amber has developed important skills in negotiating and connecting with a network.
When she identifies an opportunity, she confidently strikes up a deal with the Recycle Man.
Much of the stuff for sale is really not worth the effort to resell. It is a bit like looking for a gold nugget among the boulders. Over the months, Amber’s ability to pick profitable items has improved and she now has an eye for a bargain.
This is one reason the question, what can I sell to make money as a student?, is so useful. It teaches children to think carefully about value, demand and effort before spending their money.
Learning What Is Worth Buying
The items that can be resold are generally the ones that solve people’s problems. Pet cages, baby toys, storage items and exercise equipment are good examples.
These items need to be well presented and in good condition. Amber looks for opportunities that don’t require spending lots of time and money fixing them up.
Ideally, she buys things that just need a good clean, a lick of paint or a new set of batteries.
Amber has also learnt from her mistakes. She once bought a perfect condition four-man tent still in its new box for $10, only to discover later that it had no pegs or poles. Buying pegs and poles new would blow her costs out and leave her running at a loss.
That one was put down to experience. Does anyone have free pegs and poles?
What Can I Sell to Make Money as a Student? Research First
Sometimes Amber sees a possible opportunity but holds off buying it until she has done her research.
She works out what it will cost to repair or tidy up the item. Paint brushes, varnish, batteries, sandpaper and labour all need to be considered.
Then she looks at what others are selling similar items for online. By doing her research, Amber has a better idea of how much she can pay in order to make a reasonable profit.
For older students ready to take a business idea further, Business.gov.au has helpful information on starting a business when you’re under 18.
Writing Ads and Making Sales
Amber sells almost all her items on Buy and Sell Bunbury Facebook. She set up her own Facebook page for the sole purpose of participating in the buy-and-sell market.
She writes her own ads, uploads her own pictures and converses with customers online and on the telephone.
When a buyer arrives, Amber presents her goods and collects payment.
Real Examples of What Amber Sold
We’ve watched Amber continuously grow in confidence with her enterprise. She has found and built her own business around solving problems, using creativity and communicating with people.
Some of the items Amber acquired and on-sold for profit can be seen in the pictures on this blog.
The five outdoor toddler toys were bought for a good price. She scrubbed them, put new batteries in one, charged the battery in another and sold them all for $60.
The aquarium and pet cages just needed a clean, and she made a profit of $25.
Her corner display required screwing together, and she made a profit of $20.
Her current project is a very large timber outdoor table. She paid $10 and hopes to sell it for a profit after sanding it back and varnishing it.
Amber has also been collecting succulent plants from friends. Her plan is to paint decorative ceramic pots and plant hardy succulents in them, then sell them at a market day.
What Students Can Learn from Amber’s Enterprise
This story is a practical answer to the question, what can I sell to make money as a student?
Amber’s answer was simple: find items people need, buy carefully, improve presentation, advertise clearly and communicate well with buyers.
She also talks about her goals, buying assets and gifting money in the original video clip. You can view it here: Amber reflecting on her business and goals.
It will be very interesting to see where her entrepreneurial journey takes her as she grows older. She loves writing, so maybe she will write a book about her journey one day.
Key takeaway: If your child is asking, “what can I sell to make money as a student?”, start with simple resale opportunities. Look for useful items, check the costs, solve a buyer’s problem and learn from each sale.
Where to Next?
If you enjoyed this family enterprise story, you may also like:
- Kids Business Ideas: Amber’s Kids Biz Program — the beginning of Amber’s enterprise journey.
- Business Ideas for Kids: Finding Enterprise Ideas — how to help children find practical ideas.
- Business Ideas for Students: Chayse the Candy Man — another real example of kids learning through enterprise.
- Honey Pot of Gold — Flynn’s real-life honey enterprise story.
- Family Enterprise Stories — more real examples of children learning through business and initiative.
We would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment.