How can we make money as college students with $5,000 to invest?

Hey everyone,

I’m a college student majoring in Finance at a public university in the U.S., and I’m looking for some business ideas or ways to make money with my friends while we’re still in school. We have about $5,000 that we’re willing to invest in a venture, but we’re not sure where to start.

We’re open to almost anything—side hustles, online businesses, small local ventures, or even investing. It doesn’t have to be super complicated, just something manageable that could bring in some extra income while we balance schoolwork.

I know it’s a broad request, but any suggestions or guidance would really help. If anyone has had success with a particular idea as a student or knows of good opportunities, We’d love to hear them…

Five grand is a good amount to start with. You could try flipping things like sneakers, textbooks, or anything you can sell for a profit. Since you’re finance majors, you could also offer services like bookkeeping or tax prep for other students or small businesses. Tutoring is another option, especially if you’re doing well in your classes. If you’re interested in investing, you can start learning about the markets, but make sure you’re careful. Check out sites like Investopedia or Wall Street Prep to build your knowledge. There’s also a free investing newsletter called Prospero that uses AI to find good stocks – it’s helped me spot some great ones. Just remember, starting any business takes hard work…

You should consider starting a drop servicing agency. A lot of older people assume that younger folks know all about online stuff, so this is a great opportunity to resell digital services. There are students as young as 16-21 making decent money with this.

You don’t even need to be an expert in the services yourself…just find skilled freelancers to do the work, and you handle the client relations and reselling part.

Plus, AI is a huge buzzword right now :fire:. You could focus on offering AI-related services or solutions, which could really catch people’s attention…

Wow, it’s awesome that you guys are ready to invest… One idea could be starting a tutoring service, especially since you’re finance majors. You could offer help in subjects like accounting, finance, or even general business courses. With exams and projects, there’s always demand on campus. You can keep your costs low by advertising through social media and student groups, and maybe offer online sessions if it gets popular…

If you want to dip your toes into investing, maybe try peer-to-peer lending platforms. You can start small and spread your money across different loans. It’s pretty hands-off, and if you research well, it can be a good way to generate some passive income. Just make sure to check out the risks and do your homework before jumping in.

You could try starting an e-commerce business where you resell products through platforms like Amazon or eBay. You can use your $5,000 to buy products in bulk and flip them for a profit. It’s something you can manage alongside school, and once you get a good flow going, it can be a solid source of income. Some people even start with drop-shipping, so you don’t have to manage inventory directly :wink:

Since you have finance knowledge, why not offer freelance financial planning or budgeting services to fellow students or even local small businesses? A lot of people struggle with managing their money, and if you can help them with budgeting, tax prep, or even tracking expenses, it could be a great business. You’d get practical experience while also making some extra cash!!!