40 common Startup Ideas for recent Univ Grads to Dads -

IDEAS in ALPHA: Apps, Architect, Blogging, Biz Consultant + Misc, Content Creation, Data Analyst, Drone Videographer, eCommerce Biz, E-Zine, Flyers, Graphic design, IoT Service, IT support, Language Translation, Marketing, Market Research, Nutritionist, Personal Fitness Trainer, Podcasting, PR, SaaS, Sales & Mktg, Social Media consulting, Solar, Tour Guide to CR, Training, Transcription service, Tutoring, User Testing, Video Reviews, Videographer, Web Developer, Website design, Webinars, Writing Service, YouTube\Vlogger.

Startup Ideas for Univ Grads to Dads

Some Grads or Dads dream of getting a nice job in a promising company, but there are also Grads who are interested in launching their own Startup – founded by one or more Grads – to develop a unique product or service, then bring it to market. Qualified? There’s something special about being your own boss, but do you have what it takes to build a profitable company single-handedly or with a Partner? It mostly depends on your skills and your idea. Keep in mind that 50% of all startups fail in first 5 years, so you better use a good plan to increase your possibility of success.

1. App Development – general

If there is one type of startup business that is really skyrocketing, it must be App develop-ment. The number of Smart-phone users has been increasing at a steady rate and it’s natural to see the growing demand for Mobile Apps. According to the report, more than 5B people use Smart-Phones in the world today. They all need mobile apps for everything from entertain-ment to online shopping to communication. Univ Grads who know their way around app development should definitely give it a try, especially if you know that a single product can earn you a fortune if you know what the audience really wants & needs.

2. App Developer – VR/AR

The virtual Reality (VR) software market is expected to reach $37B dollars in revenue by 2022. A good chunk of that revenue could be burning a hole in your pocket. All you have to do is learn how to develop immersive VR & AR experiences. The internet is full of resources & communities of like-minded people to help you along the way. Reach out. Many love to help !!!

3. Architect . . .

are paid on a project-by-project basis. This industry heavily relies on freelance Architects. To start you’ll need a degree level qualification in architecture and have specialized in one of the key aspects involved (3D building render, drawing, site inspection, material assessment,etc). Typically, as a service-based business you’ll been paid on an hourly basis and in some cases you may have retainers for long-term projects. You can market yourself by creating a list of local and national architecture firms, Emailing them your portfolio -with a list of the services you can offer. You can also choose to work directly with a Client by offering your services on freelancer sites such as Upwork to work with business owners on individual projects varying in scale

4. Blogging . . .

is alive and thriving. It’s still free to get started, but be patient. It will take a while to get exposure and grow your audience. These days, the competition is fierce. There are over a billion Websites & Blogs, and over 200 million are active. A good knowledge of SEO is essential, as is creating excellent content.

Top Bloggers can earn high six figures despite working only 20 or so hours every week. If you need a platform for Blogging, you can easily create your own website with an affordable web host like Dreamhost.

5. Business Consultant

Consultants are in demand across all aspects of business. Consultants typically work on a project by project basis providing expert advice to their clients on particular subjects they specialise in. The most common types of business consultants include marketing, software, development, management, etc (with further specializations in these areas such as IT or SEO). Most consultants charge an hourly or day rate (day rates can range from $50-150/hr depending on the area and the demand/amount of expertise a consultant has, etc). The advantage of consultancy is you can work from your own home or onsite for Clients where needed. They find potential Clients thru networking or directory listings, then you have to sell yourself by showing your approach and how much value you will bring to the Client.

6.Consultant – Misc

If you are knowledgeable and passionate about a specific topic (business, social media, marketing, software, design, leadership, communication, etc.), starting a Consultant business can be a lucrative option. You can start your consulting business on your own, then grow your business and hire other consultants over time.

7. Content Creation

We obviously spend most of our time in the digital realm – where we search for interesting, educational, funny, & entertaining content. This is exactly what makes Content Creation is a popular choice among talented individuals with enough proficiency in writing or web design. What can you do as a content creator? The number of options is almost countless, but here are a few suggestions:

write Blog posts & Online stories
create Marketing copies & Landing pages
Design attractive images, infographics, & animations
make Audio files & Podcasts
produce Videos and GIFs

The business is highly versatile, but it pays off since you can easily earn over$50K a year.

8. Data Analyst

With the rise of “big data,” increasingly more companies need to make sense of heaps of info to adjust their overall business strategies. A data analyst is someone who has the technical expertise to do this, often has a background in economics, mathematics, or finance. Data analysts who work for large, international corporations can earn more than enough money to support an extravagant lifestyles.

9. Drone Videographer

If you like flying Drones, perhaps you should consider working as a Drone Videographer. You get to go to interesting places, meet cool people, and eventually develop a portfolio that could land you a job in Hollywood. Video drones are very expensive, but you can start small with a mid-sized drone and a GoPro camera and go from there.

10. eCommerce Business

Online retail has been flourishing in the last few years because the number of Internet users keeps growing steadily. Besides that, people can quickly compare offers & prices online + enjoy the convenience & comfort of shopping from their homes. The global eCommerce market is currently worth around $4,200 Billion, but it is projected to grow to more than $6,500 Billion in 2023. This basically means that the industry is still developing, so there is more than enough room for you to step in and grow your startup. You can create an independent eCommerce business from scratch, but it’s easier to use an existing platform such as WooCommerce or Shopify to launch the store quickly. A average eCommerce company can expect to bring in $39,000 of revenue in their first month while generating $6.5 Million in total revenue after three years. What an opportunity !!!

11. E-Magazine

These days it’s very easy to start an e-Magazine; you can outsource everything online and act as the Chief Editor. The subscription model allows you to know exactly how much money you will make the next month, and the global nature of the web gives you a very large audience to target.

12. Flyer creation

Despite the explosion of online marketing, Flyers and many other methods of offline marketing are still just as effective – if not more effective – than the digital alternatives (both in terms of cost & ROI). Flyers, in particular, are a great way for businesses to reach large quantities of potential customers quickly – whether by having people handing out flyers on the high street or by targeting residential locations (this is quite common in the food delivery business). To start a Flyers agency you’ll need an economic and high-quality printer and a basic to good skill level in graphic design. You’ll also need contractors to deliver large quantities of Flyers (ie, students). You can run this business from your home and market yourself by Flyers to local businesses to start (as a demo of how effective it can be).

13. Graphic design

Are you a whiz with software tools like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop? Many small businesses are desiring affordable access to professional Branding, such as logos, banners & signs. If you’re about to leave college with 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.

14. IoT Service Provider

the Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding at a rapid rate, and it appears that soon every device will be connected to the Cloud. Businesses & organizations of all sizes will need someone to provide them with the necessary infra-structure, hardware sensors, & continuous support.

15. IT support

As the world becomes more technology focused, many businesses have struggled to keep up. This is a problem – as Information Technology (IT) equipment often needs attention. There is a constant demand for IT savvy professionals who can fix broken computers, repair networking issues, replace damaged hardware, advise on IT procurement etc. IT support will require you to have a good understanding of different operating systems, security systems (including anti-virus) & hardware (computers and laptops).

The majority of IT problems are the result of software issues or errors (due to accidental damage or attack by a virus or third party). This software focus means you’ll only need a small amount of specialist equipment to get going.

16. Language Translation

Despite the impressive advancements of online translation, the demand for skilled translators is still very high and will probably remain so for quite some time. You can start looking for work on platforms such as Fiverr or Upwork and slowly build your Clientele. It’s also a good idea to directly contact popular Bloggers, and ask them if they would consider having their Blog translated into another language Spanish.

17. Marketer – Affiliate

How does this work? You need to create a Website and publish a lot of top-level Content about a given Niche. As your traffic numbers keep growing, you can begin cooperating with brands & promote their products or services discretely. Similar to Video production, Affiliate Marketing gives you a whole palette of possibilities that you can seize to earn trust and make money along the way. It looks like more than 70% of affiliate marketers earn over $40K annually, PTso it’s definitely worth a shot.

18. Market Research

Starting a business is tough, especially in established markets. New businesses often struggle to understand their customers, market, and how their company, products & services are viewed. This is where Market Research becomes critical allowing businesses to make key decisions off verified market data. This can involve quantitative & qualitative research techniques such as carrying out surveys, reviewing competitors, market analysis, etc. You’ll need to have a background in market research / business intelligence, understand the core different types of research and have prepared formats to carry out research for different clients with their objectives in mind. Then write reports summarizing the finding from market to present to Client). To market this business, you can reach out to local businesses and list your research services on freelancer sites.

19. Mystery Shopper

Retailers care about what their customers think. However, it can be difficult for them to get feedback about the shopping experience in their stores from traditional market research (how many customers want to fill in questionnaires?). With a positive shopping experience being heavily linked to overall sales & customer loyalty, the phenomenon of Mystery shopping came into existence to help retailers understand how customers view their shopping experience. Mystery shopping is where a person is paid to visit a retailers shop, purchase goods, assess the interior and ask customer service people for help. During this process, they are assessing the shopping experience across several aspects, then providing a report to the retailer. Setting up a Mystery shopping company requires you to build relationships with local retailers, sell them in and then source/pay individuals to act as mystery shoppers. You effectively act as the middleman between the retailer and the mystery shopper, summarizing information and providing valuable market research/ insights on shopping experience to the retailer.Students commonly take up mystery shopping jobs (although wider demographics made be required for some jobs), so try reaching out to advertise through your local universities or colleges. As you scale this business, you can then start looking to work with national retailers, sourcing mystery shoppers for regional and national campaigns.

20. Nutritionist

Eating healthy has never been more difficult, as the working week has increased more and more people are struggling to find time to shop, cook or acquire the knowledge needed to help them keep a healthy level of nutrition (just look at the significant increase in obesity in the USA (from kids to adults) to see the impact of poor nutrition). Nutritionists work with individuals to devise meal/nutritional plans so they can lead healthy lives. The dieting & nutrition industry is big business with a growing demand for nutritionists as a service. To get started, you’ll need to be a certified Nutritionist, have basic plans for nutrition that can be adapted to each client & a business website/phone number. To market your nutrition business, you can advertise your services through local publications, partner with local gyms and trying putting Flyers in busy urban areas. If you want to, you can also expand revenue by providing a healthy meal service, so Clients don’t have to worry about purchasing healthy food/finding the time to cook it. Alternatively, you can partner with other organisations to provide this service and take a commission (ie, Home Chef, SunBasket, Gobble, Green Chef, Blue Apron, etc).

21. Personal Fitness trainer

Fitness is a key part of any person’s life, its crucial for health, longevity, + to look & feel better. Personal trainers work one-to-one or in a group with clients to help them meet their health & exercise goals through the coaching of exercise and in some cases nutritional advice. Thus, it’s probably no surprise that the personal training market in the UK will be worth over $750 Million by 2022. You’ll need to have a good level of fitness, goal setting & understanding of exercise + how to provide Exercise training. You’ll need to find a space you can rent for sessions (or provide outdoor sessions at Client’s homes or public locations). Having a website and business phone number is also a must for this business. Finally, you’ll need to get Certified & get Public Liability insurance coverage (as well as 1st aid training/ certification). From there, it’s all relationships game. personal training empires are built of word of mouth referrals from happy clients. To get started securing clients, you should consider partnering with a local gym to reach their clientele. Personal trainers can earn anywhere from $50 to $500 an hour. In the age of digital, you can also now be a personal trainer virtually, working with and checking in on your Clients via Chat platforms (though you will to establish yourself as a fitness thought leader online first, via content & video guides).

22. Podcasting

is a fantastic way how to make a few bucks on the side – for anyone who deals with interesting or niche topics that are suitable for this type of format. Do you like classic or ethnic music? Interested in startups and entrepreneurship? There are definitely plenty of people just like you, who would look forward to hearing your show on their way to work or school.

23. PR (public relations) services

PR is a relationships game, if you’re good at PR you’re likely friendly with journalists in all sorts of publications. A huge proportion of PR’s operate as freelancers either working directly with clients or on behalf of larger PR agencies. Fees are usually paid on a project or success basis, with larger PR firms this tends to work on a monthly Retainer. Starting as a freelance PR requires very little beyond access to businesses & journalists, alongside some understanding of how to present businesses/pitch journalists.

24.SaaS Business Owner

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a business model in which software is licensed on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted. It has the advantage of predictable monthly revenue and complete control over the entire project. It takes time, skill, & effort to develop SaaS software, so have patience.

25. Sales & Marketing

If you’re comfortable cold calling or emailing businesses to sell products/services and feel comfortable closing sales with a reasonable amount of product knowledge, then working as a freelance Biz developer might just be the perfect business for you. The majority of small businesses suffer from poor sales due to lack of understanding of the sales & marketing process. Being such a critical part of any healthy business there is a constant demand for anyone who can generate & close new clients/sales. (it’s worth checking out Straight Line Persuasion). You’ll also need to be comfortable using a CRM and marketing automation tools needed. The majority of business developers will charge based on a Success fee (% of any sales), this means if you’re a good salesman with a great product/service, the sky is the limit in terms of what you can earn (remember to learn your product/service through and through).To kick things off, you can list yourself on platforms like PeoplePerHour to get quick well-paid work.

26. Social Media consulting

Want to put that marketing or communications degree to good use? Consider starting a S/media consulting firm. Small businesses often have to take care of their own Social Media Marketing. With so many other responsibilities, though, the company’s owners may be too busy to come up with great strategies for each of the growing number of social channels businesses are expected to utilize. As a Consultant, you can help businesses determine the best tactics, posting schedules & content for your Clients’ target audiences. You can specialize (ie, in running Facebook ads) or you can be a generalist who can navigate LinkedIn, Snapchat stories, Twitter, etc. S/media tools make this job easier. If you get good, you could earn big bucks – >$100K. As their follower counts grow, so will your business.

27. Solar Contractor

People are embracing Solar energy and are even using it to become completely self–sufficient. Solar contractors help build complex Solar projects by supplying suitable equipment and ensuring that everything will be properly installed. Background in Electrical Engineering is definitely recommended.

28. Tour Guide to Central America (ie, Costa Rica)

Tourism is big business in CR. If you’re visited the major attractions, there’s money to be made from providing Guided tours to beach, landmarks & historical sites. To get started as a tour guide, you’ll need to have specialist knowledge of the area you plan to take tourists around and setup predefined routes/information to provide on the tour. You also may need to have a qualification and put in place the necessary Public Liability insurance. First aid training is also advisable so that you can provide necessary aid in the event someone becomes ill on one of your tours. You can market your tourism business by working with the local Silicon Valley tourist office or networking with Latino groups. Digitally you can offer tours via platforms like Airbnb, where they offer these services when people book accommodation (walking/hiking tours are very popular on this platform, as always they do take a fee for any tours booked).

29. Training Consultant

If you have in-depth knowledge of a particular subject, you can provide off or online training to individuals or companies whose staff require training or development. Each year businesses invest nearly $3Billion into training. This is because training is critical to creating productive employees & retaining them. To get started with a training company you’ll need to decide a training niche (ie, design, IT, sales, testing, marketing, etc), develop a brand, website and set default training programs (that be adapted to your Prospect’s needs) you can provide to businesses. You’ll also need to create learning material to accompany programs. If you want to create a digital course, you’ll need to structure this, then create video versions of your programs. A training business comes down to your level of expertise and ability to sell it. So do some research to learn everything you need to no. For growth, long term training companies rely heavily on repeat business/recurring clients, so make sure the training value you offer exceeds expectations..

30. Translating, Editing & Proof-reading

It can be hard for some writers to proof-read their own work. So many professionals hire editors & proof-readers to review their writing before submitting it to a client or publishing it online. Do you want to learn how to become a professional Proof-reader? Check out the Proofread Anywhere online course where you will get all the training you need. You can also find editing & proof-reading work at freelancing brokerage sites like Upwork.

31. Transcription service (regular & foreign language)

TS is where you take audio files, listen, then convert them into written content – (ie, Spanish). Businesses regularly use transcription services to convert audio & video to written content (for media businesses this is typically audio interviews). You’ll need good hearing, access to decent headphones and the ability to touch type or type accurately at speed. To get started, you can find transcription jobs on platforms like Mechanical Turk by Amazon. Just listen to some audio and write every word down. There’s also a higher-priced market – if you can translate to/from foreign languages from audio.

32. Tutoring

Some people just love teaching, they really enjoy helping others learn. If that’s you and you have a good level of education, then you could be making money as a Tutor. You can tutor students in a group, one-to-one & even remotely via the internet. There are even apps like Tutorme that can help you monetize your tutoring. Besides apps, there are online platforms like Preply, where you can teach online on your own schedule from anywhere! It offers a stable base of students from all over the world, secure payments & constant customer care. Plus, you set your own hourly rate and can change it at any time – depending on the situation. If you want to find local tutoring clients you can strike up partnerships with the local schools, colleges & universities in your area (or at the least ask them to post your Flyer. As with any business it helps to specialize on what you provide to stand out and present yourself as an expert in a certain area (ie, math, science, IT, Spanish, business tutor, tech, s/media, etc).

33. User Testing

When you launch a new software/web product or service, it takes a lot of time to get out all the bugs & errors. To mitigate this problem and speed up the error/bug fixing process, companies spend a lot of money on user testing. A company out-sourcing user testing will generally give you access to and use of software to record/spot bugs/errors. User testing varies greatly in terms of complexity and the fee paid. To get started, you can sign up as a tester for many third-party user testing platforms (UserTesting.com), set yourself up on the usual freelancer platforms or set up your own Website promoting your user testing services. As you expand, it may be worth approaching businesses directly offering testing services.

34. Video Reviews of different Products

Do you know how to shoot appealing Videos? If yes, then you might as well produce Video reviews & publish Product comparisons. The easiest way to do it is this:

create your YouTube channel and brand it properly
choose a specific Niche to become a well-known Expert
publish at least a few product-related Videos and describe these items honestly & objectively
give Users some good tips & suggestions
when you accumulate enough subscribers, reach out to companies and propose to make reviews of their products
get paid for publishing excellent product Testimonials, Review & Comparisons

Depending on your popularity, you could be earning anywhere between a few $100 and a few $1000 a month.

35. Videographer

Document important occasions such as weddings, parties and corporate events in the form of video. They then edit and provide a finished video of such events. Videographers also do work for promotional videos, documentaries. To get started you’ll need to have experience with shooting Video and access to the right Videography equipment (a decent DSLR with a Rode mic will work early on). You will also need advanced editing skills and access to video editing software.To advertise your services, you can reach out to local businesses with packages (ie, promo videos, house tour, product or services explainer, etc). You should also look to partner with local photographers as your services are complimentary.

36. Web Developer

Modern web development requires much more than just mastering HTML with CSS and, perhaps, learning PHP or JavaScript. Any Web developer who wants to be competitive must become familiar with various frameworks, supporting technologies, & trends. If you don’t already have this skill, taking low-cost online courses is a good place to start.

37. Webinars

The best Webinars are live video sessions, where a specific topic is covered by expert/s, and the audience can interact/ask questions. Effectively they can be a form of online training. Webinars have boomed in popularity in recent years – particularly in the technology, marketing and other business areas (complex subjects & products). Webinars are an excellent way to market products & services. To start building a Webinar business, you’ll need to decide on the Webinar software you’re going to use. You’ll also need expertise in a particular area that is popular, prepare course materials and have enough reach via paid advertising or existing marketing channels to get participants to sign up to your Webinar. Typically, Webinars are used to establish you as a thought leader in a particular field and then monetised through selling your services directly (educational courses, consulting) or through affiliate products.

38. Website design

New trends start every day, and some of them grew to be pop culture sensations. Your job as a niche Website owner is to capture the Latino market before it gets too saturated. Creating a niche Website (using WordPress) will allow you to secure your place on the very top of search engines via SEO -resulting in thousands of daily visitors. Using a tool like StudioPress can make this even easier. Blogging effectively will also grow your audience. Ready to begin? Step #1 is choosing the right host. SiteGround is one of our favorites Web Hosts and currently our top recommendation.

39. Writing Service

As a recent Univ Grad, you must have all the necessary skills to launch an assignment or dissertation help agency. You would be surprised to learn how many students look for professional Essay writers to learn how to write or get their academic papers done on time. The best thing about this type of work is that students leave Online reviews, so you can quickly build a professional reputation and develop your startup.

40. YouTube star-Vlogger

Popular YouTube stars make a ridiculous amount of money in advertising revenue. One viral video can lead to YouTubers becoming overnight stars and racking up huge amounts of revenue (YouTube averages pay-outs of $1,750 per 1 million views). To get started, you’ll need to decide on the type of video content you’re going to produce. Some of the most popular niches include health, lifestyle, fashion & beauty. Next, you’ll need to create your YouTube account and get to grips with understanding the platform (how to write titles, what contents popular, how you can grow, etc). It’s important to note that although some YouTubers become stars overnight, for the majority – it takes years of hard work creating & publishing innovative content to build a serious subscriber base that brings in consistent advertising revenue. Many brands have also started paying YouTube stars (influencers) directly for promoting products/services, and this is another revenue source you can grow once you have a large enough subscriber base (reach).

Conclusion

Startups come in all sorts and formats, but the best of the best always have one thing in common – a great business idea. If you want to build a successful company, you have to research the market and figure out how to approach it in a way that looks fresh and exciting in the eyes of the target audience. No matter what type of business (on or offline) you would like to start or how much money you have to invest, we are sure that, at least, a few ideas from our list will match your criteria. Just remember that the idea alone is not enough. It takes hard work. You have to show passion, persistence, & dedication to overcome all challenges as they arise. If you do, there’s nothing that can stop you from joining the ranks of successful entrepreneurs from all around the world.