business plan ideas for ict students

Business Plan Examples for Students

Ajay Jagtap

• December 29, 2023

26 Min Read

Do you know what’s the most common mistake students and rookie entrepreneurs make while preparing their first business plan?

Of course, it’s the first business plan we’re talking about; there’ll definitely be a few. However, overcomplicating things and failing to consider a business plan example still remains the most common one.

That’s why we decided to come up with a solution. We’ve curated this list of top business plan examples for students to help you get going.

So whether you need a business plan for a college project, start a side hustle, or win a business competition, these examples are just what you need to create business plans that stand out.

Ready to dive in? Let’s start by understanding the key elements of a business plan example:

Key Elements of a Business Plan Example

Business planning is not as complicated of a process as people think it is; they’re just overcomplicating things. (Don’t think so?)

Let’s simplify the key elements that make up a comprehensive business plan; you’ll understand it better that way.

• Executive Summary: A high-level overview or summary of your plan.
• Company Overview: A detailed description of your business idea, its fundamental elements, history, and future goals.
• Market Analysis: A study of your external business environment that includes details about your industry, competitors, and target market.
• Products and Services: Description of the products or services you intend to exchange for money.
• Sales and Marketing Strategies: A section outlining sales and marketing strategies your business will implement to achieve its financial goals.
• Operations Plan: A section outlining the business processes and daily activities involved in ensuring seamless business operations.
• Management Team: Introduction to your founders, key management, and their compensation plan.
• Financial Plan: Your financial plan is a detailed breakdown of your business’s financial projections and financing needs.

That’s pretty much it about the key elements of a business plan example. Next, let’s explore the best business plan examples for students.

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Top Business Plan Examples for Students

Now that you already know about the components of a business plan template, let’s review some of the best business plan examples for students.

1. Startup Business Plan Example

Upmetrics’ startup business plan example is the ideal solution for students planning to start up or participate in a business plan competition. This business plan template follows the SBA-approved business planning format used by thousands of successful entrepreneurs.

Whether your startup is about a new-age AI-based application, an online shopping site, or traditional IT consulting—this sample business plan is just what you need.

Unlike any traditional small business plan, this example of a startup business plan is lean and agile in approach, focuses on innovation, and emphasizes market validation.

2. Lean Business Plan Example

Since you’re transitioning from a student to an entrepreneur, you may not have enough time to spend on creating a detailed business plan. That’s where this lean business plan template can help.

It’s a condensed version of a traditional plan summarizing all its sections with a primary focus on covering only the critical aspects of the business.

This template is best for startups or businesses uncertain about business planning and student-turned-entrepreneurs with limited time and resources to prepare a business plan.

3. SBA Business Plan Example

Following an SBA-recommended business plan format is key to securing bank loans and business grants. Since it can be time-consuming to find a template that follows a similar outline as the SBA, this SBA-approved business plan example is the way to get started.

This SBA business plan template has nine primary sections, that include executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization, product description, marketing, funding request, and financial projections.

SBA business plan examples ensure you stay on track and don’t deviate from your funding needs.

4. One-Page Business Plan Example

As you may have already guessed, a one-page business plan is a one-page version of a traditional business plan. Since it’s a condensed version of a business plan, drafting it can be quite easy and quick compared to a lean or traditional plan.

Employees, partners, and vendors often use one-page business plans as a quick overview of your company and banks and investors as a summary of your operations.

While it may not be the ideal choice for entrepreneurs seeking investment or bank loans, students with side hustles and idea-stage startups can consider this option.

5. HBS Sample Business Plan

Harvard Business School’s new venture competition selected this sample business plan as a finalist in 2011.

This is a business plan of App Success, a collaborative web-based platform that connects low-income high school seniors with college students from top universities; this business will enable them to collaborate on college selection, college applications, and financial aid applications.

This example can be a great reference for those planning to start a mobile or web-based solution.

6. Kean University Sample Business Plan

Kean University organizes a business plan competition every year for its students where students prepare and present business plans to compete, and this is one of the sample business plans the University provides to participants to understand the format.

It’s a business plan of Blue Water Boatworks, Inc., a boat detailing and cleaning company specializing in servicing recreational fiberglass and aluminum watercraft.

This example can be a great reference for those planning to start a business related to housekeeping, cleaning, or maintenance.

7. UVM Sample Business Plan

If you are looking for a strategic business plan for a food business, the University of Vermont’s Fancy Foods Business Plan can be a guiding resource for you.

Despite the fact that it can be a good reference for detailed planning, it was written in 1998, so any statistics and numbers may not seem relevant to today’s market landscape. Make sure you keep that in mind.

You may closely follow this example as a reference if planning to start a food truck, restaurant, or any other business that serves food.

That was the list of best sample business plans for students. However, there’s more to talk about. You now have a business plan example, but what about pitching to investors? Let’s explore free pitch deck examples for students.

Free Pitch Deck Example for Students

Pitching to investors as a first-time founder can be exciting but also overwhelming at times. Worry not; we’ve got a solution—investor pitch templates. We’ve prepared a set of 8 investor pitch templates and examples for students and entrepreneurs to help create winning business pitches.

Whether you need a pitch to find an opportunity, ask for subject matter knowledge, or a problem-solving pitch, these investor pitch examples have got you covered. Download now.

How to write a winning plan for a business plan competition?

Creating a business plan is no different than creating one for a real business. Similar to how entrepreneurs prepare and present business plans to investors, Students in business plan competitions pitch to judges.

In short, the business planning process remains exactly the same. Let’s discuss how you can write a winning plan to help you win a business plan competition.

• Select a compelling business idea : everything starts with a compelling idea. Make sure you have a viable business idea to compete in the competition.
• Refer to winning business plan examples : Once you are sure about your business concept, refer to business plan examples from previous winners and how they planned the sections of their plan.
• Market Research & Industry Analysis : After referring to business plan examples, conduct industry research and market analysis to make your statistical and financial numbers accurate and realistic.
• Understand business model and revenue streams : Since you are preparing a business plan for a company that doesn’t exist, be sure about the business model and how the business will generate profit.
• Use AI business plan generator : Using an AI business plan generator like Upmetrics can be incredibly helpful in speeding up the business planning process. With industry-specific business plan templates and AI assistance to write your plan, you can write the first draft of your plan in literally no time.
• Presentation and visuals : Prepare visuals and graphs to make your business plan visually appealing and numbers digestible. You may not need to prepare these visuals if you use business plan software manually.
• Proofread and edit : Grammatical errors are the last thing judges want to see in a business plan. Make sure you proofread and edit your draft thoroughly before submitting it.

Easy as that, that’s the way to write a perfect business plan that can lead you to victory in any business plan competition on planet Earth. Let’s have a look at a real-life business and financial plan example.

Business and Financial Plan Example for Students

Having learned about business planning for students, let’s quickly discuss a coffee shop sample business plan and financial statements prepared using Upmetrics.

1. Executive Summary

The Cooper’s Cup will be a new cafe in Phoenix, Arizona. The 1,500 square foot café will be located in the newly constructed Market Square Plaza on the northeast corner of 135th Street and Mission Street. The anchor tenant, the Price Chopper grocery store, has already taken occupancy, and the excellent location brings more than 10,000 shoppers weekly.

The Cooper’s Cup, aptly named for the aromatic brown liquid that will fill the cup, fills the void of original cafes in the market and stands out from its corporate peers with its fast food concepts and prompt services. The Cooper’s Cup is the alternative to fast food/commercial/coffee shops and offers a much calmer, civilized gourmet coffee experience.

There are no televisions in the cafe, the background music is subtle, and work from local artists will hang on the walls. The restaurant is well-appointed, with overstuffed leather chairs and sofas in a library-like setting. The cafe is reminiscent of times gone by – yet is cutting edge technologically with WIFI and state-of-the-art espresso machines.

The Cooper’s Cup measures its financial success in terms of increased market share and earnings. This is a tremendous opportunity with a total local market of $54 million! The keys to success will be offering quality gourmet coffees, taking advantage of its small size, and relying on an outstanding barista staff.

To achieve these goals, the cafe will present some of the area’s finest gourmet beans from local distributors. Because of its small size, the restaurant can enjoy larger margins through lower overhead. The cafe will hand-select baristas and offer salaries comparable to the chains. The baristas will be trained to cross-sell and sell higher-margin products.

The primary objectives of the business plan for Cooper’s Cup are below:

• To increase revenues by $36,000 or 5% in Year 2 and $73,000 or 10% by Year 3
• Achieve a profit margin of 5.2% in Year 2 and 6.90% by Year 3
• Be the Cafe of Choice in the Phoenix area and the recipient of the Best Coffeehouse Award.

Guiding Principles

The Cooper’s Cup is committed to values such as excellence, passion, quality, integrity, and leadership, allowing them to navigate challenges and provide for future opportunities. These core beliefs start with their commitment to their products and their employees. Cooper’s Cup rewards excellence and cherishes loyalty. The cafe will work with its employees to build strong businesses and a secure future.

Mission statement

The Cooper’s Cup is committed to its products and employees, which they believe is the recipe for market success.

Key to success

The Cooper’s Cup stands out from the competition. Below are their Keys to Success:

• Great Products : providing exemplary products at market prices – will make customers want to return again and again.
• Hire Quality Baristas : Pay employees rates similar to the larger chains with opportunities for long-term careers and opportunities for advancement with long-term plans to open a second facility.
• Convert Customers to Connoisseurs : Only 40% of the nation’s coffee drinkers consume premium ground and whole bean coffee – this will aid in the continued growth.

Financial Summary

2. Business Overview

The Cooper’s Cup will be a coffee house/cafe located in Phoenix, Arizona. The cozy cafe will be located in the newly completed Market Square Plaza in the Arizona City area. The cafe will serve gourmet coffee, espresso, drip coffee, lattes, and smoothies. The simple pastry offerings may vary with seasonality, but the primary line will be muffins, bread, cookies, scones, and rolls. All pastries will be supplied daily by a local bakery.

The cafe will be owned and operated by Owen Jones, a veteran restaurateur with several years of experience running and managing chain restaurants. The cafe will be open for business Monday – Thursday 7-10, Fridays and Saturdays, 7-11, and closed Sundays.

The Cooper’s Cup will be formed as an S-Corporation owned by Mr. Doe.

Start-Up Summary

The Cooper’s Cup will have seating for 40 patrons. The rent is $2,075 a month, with a three-five-year lease available. The site comprises 1500 square feet of leased space consisting of a dining room, a coffee bar, two restrooms, and a storage room in the back.

This storefront needs to be plumbed and wired appropriately to be used as a restaurant. Painting, new floors, and countertops are also needed. A custom coffee bar needs to be built. With materials bought on sale and volunteer labor, the cost to renovate will be $71,725.

The coffeehouse equipment will consist of two commercial espresso machines, air pots and urns, a commercial blender, a commercial brewer, top-loading coffee bins, barista syrups, cold drink dispenser, frothing equipment, a commercial refrigerator, microwave, and stainless steel prep bar.

The cost of the equipment is $38,275. The furniture will consist of leather couches and chairs (purchased at auction), coffee tables, bookcases, and window treatments. The artwork will come from local artists and be sold on a consignment basis. The books were secured via donations. The total cost to furnish is $14,000. Other startup expenses will be dishes, furniture, rent deposit, and marketing.

Location and Facilities

The new coffeehouse is located in the highly desirable Phoenix, Arizona, area at the northeastern intersection of 135th Street and Mission Street in the Newmarket Square Plaza. The property is situated in an excellent location, with an easy 6-minute drive time to I-435 and 69 Highway. 

The property is 95% leased with Price Chopper as the Anchor Tenant. Other tenants include LifeSpring Med Spa, Jane’s Canines (Pet Store & Boarding), Pride Cleaners Kahn Dental, and Swim U. 

Price Chopper brings more than 10,000 shoppers per week to the center. The location comprises a population of 9,420 within a one-mile radius, 61,102 within a 2-mile radius, and 149,550 within a 5-mile radius – with a median household income of $120,856. Sprint / Nextel’s corporate office is within 2 miles of the site.

3. Market Analysis

Phoenix, Arizona, is an award-winning place to live and work and is considered the leading business community in the Midwest. National publications and organizations recognize Phoenix for its business environment and livability. Here’s a sampling: 6th Place, America’s Best Places to Live Money, Top 50 Cities to Live and Play, National Geographic Adventure, 3rd Hottest Town in the U.S., Money, Among 20 Best Places to Live & Work Employment Review, One of only 72 Sterling Tree Cities in the U.S., National Arbor Day Foundation, Top 10 best Locations to Raise a Family, Southern Business and Development, 1st Place, Kid Friendly Report Card, Population Connection, 2nd Best City in America to Live Business Development Outlook.

Phoenix is at the core of one of the most dynamic local markets in the U.S. It offers easy access to the Arizona City region’s amenities, and, as part of the Arizona City metropolitan area, it is within the most centrally located major market in the nation. I-35, I-435, I-635, and U.S. Highway 69 all pass through Phoenix, and no point in the city is more than 3.5 miles from a freeway. The city maintains an excellent arterial street network and plans to construct additional lane-miles as the area grows. Three airports serve the region. Arizona City International Airport (MCI) is just 25 interstate highway miles north of Phoenix. Johnson County Executive Airport—the second busiest in Arizona—provides complete services for private business jets and general aviation. New Century AirCenter, just 12 miles southwest of the city, offers available aviation services and accommodates cargo or passenger jets of any size.

Phoenix supplies some of the most highly educated workers in the nation, with 97% of Phoenix adults over age 25 holding at least a high school diploma. Johnson County, where Phoenix is located, ranks first among the country’s 231 counties with populations greater than 250,000. The county ranks sixth in the percentage of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree and 16th with a graduate or professional degree.

The Phoenix area has a population of 175,265, based on the 2010 census. The median household income is $77,881, and the median age is 37.9. (2010 U.S. Census)

Industry Analysis

The U.S. coffee shop industry includes about 20,000 stores with a combined annual revenue of about $10 billion. Major companies include Caribou Coffee, International Coffee & Tea (The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf), Peet’s Coffee, and Starbucks. The industry is concentrated: the top 50 companies generate more than 70 percent of sales. Coffee shops are part of the specialty eatery industry, including retail outlets specializing in bagels, donuts, frozen yogurt, and ice cream products. (First Research)

Competitive Landscape

Consumer taste and personal income drive demand. The profitability of individual companies depends on the ability to secure prime locations, drive store traffic, and deliver high-quality products. Large companies have advantages in purchasing, finance, and marketing. Small companies can compete effectively by offering specialized products, serving a local market, or providing superior customer service. Specialty eateries, which include coffee shops, are labor-intensive: average annual revenue per worker is about $50,000. Coffee shops compete with convenience stores, gas stations, quick service, fast food restaurants, gourmet food shops, and donut shops. (First Research)

Market Size

The U.S. coffee shop industry includes about 20,000 stores with a combined annual revenue of about $10 billion. Major companies include Caribou Coffee, International Coffee & Tea (The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf), Pet’s Coffee, and Starbucks. The industry is concentrated: the top 50 companies generate more than 70 percent of sales. (First Research)

Target Market and Segment Strategy

Most adult coffee drinkers said their lifelong habits began during their teenage years. 54% said they began drinking coffee between 13 and 19. Another 22% reported their coffee cravings started between 20 and 24. This means that 76% of adult coffee drinkers began drinking coffee by the time they were 24. So, despite a large amount of marketing and advertising directed at the younger age groups, savvy coffee shop owners will remember to cater some of their offerings to the adult and senior market. (National Coffee Drinking Study).

The Cooper’s Cup will offer a unique experience for coffee enthusiasts by providing a quiet, cozy, yet sophisticated cafe and a sense of refinement and peace in an otherwise hectic and fast-paced world. While other coffee shops cater to convenience with drive-throughs or loud music venues late into the night, the Cooper’s Cup will stand apart from its competitors with its quiet yet soothing ambiance, capturing a truly unique (and much-needed) market niche.

• Unique products (specialized roasts, local ingredients, locally-themed or named drinks, custom drinks by the star barista, etc.)
• Games, puzzles, mind benders, and other activities that encourage customers to linger over their coffee
• Hosting or sponsoring local events (entertainment, readings, book clubs, etc.)
• Using technology to creatively compete in marketing with big chains — services like FourSquare, Yelp, and Google Places can increase visibility in the local market.
• Delivering amazing service from knowledgeable baristas — spend lots of time training staff and utilizing online services like the American Coffee & Barista School.
• Selling coffee-related items (and tracking down any co-marketing opportunities with a local community college or another student-related group in the area)

4. Products and Services

Product/services descriptions.

The Cooper’s Cup’s primary offering is gourmet roasted coffees with mocha, carmelicious, white mocha, candy bar latte, and brewed coffee. Complementing the coffee will be a smoothie line including wild berry, strawberry, peach, mango, and lemonade. Rounding out the simple menu line will be pastries obtained from an outside supplier, freshly made and delivered daily. The pastry offerings may vary with seasonality, but the primary line will be muffins, bread, cookies, scones, and rolls.

Product/Service Sourcing

The Cooper’s Cup has negotiated supplier agreements with several local food-service wholesalers and coffee wholesalers in the Phoenix area that have a reputation for quality and reliability:

• Mean Beans Coffee Roasters
• Phoenix Brewers
• Healthy Harvest Bread Co.
• Mary’s Organics

If one of the abovementioned specialty suppliers cannot meet their needs, the following national suppliers can provide all the food-service products they require. In addition, the following wholesalers will supply the cafe with general restaurant supplies:

• Lawrence Food Products Corp.
• Gerry Food Supply Inc.

Future Products/Services

Young families, which comprise Phoenix’s third largest market share, are often overlooked in the coffee market. Coffeehouses traditionally have not been considered ‘kid’ friendly. To overcome this hurdle, Cooper’s Cup has long-term plans (5 years) to open a 2nd coffee shop: A combination indoor play area/coffee bar. This concept allows parents and caregivers to meet and relax with other adults while the children can enjoy the indoor playground amenities.

Additional future services will include in-store sales for home purchases and an online store.

The website will have the option to purchase a prepaid gift card program – Prepaid gift cards provide immediate cash, reduce credit card transaction charges, and draw new customers to the business.

5. Sales and Marketing Strategies

Swot analysis.

Unique Selling Proposition

The Cooper’s Cup stands out from a crowded sea of coffee chains and franchises. What sets it apart from the competition is primarily its smaller, cozier size combined with premium coffees served by knowledgeable baristas, providing so much energy and enthusiasm for its products.

Market Strategy and Positioning

The Cooper’s Cup utilizes a focus strategy on its Market. By specifically targeting three primary segments, they can cater specifically to their needs.

Senior Market (age 45+)

The Cooper’s Cup will target this Market simply by its well-selected location. Although this demographic group could readily drive downtown, they prefer a local cafe to unwind and relax and historically become some of the most loyal patrons.

Newly Hired Employees

The cafe will attract regular customers (weekly or more) – particularly the newly employed (first job) by providing free WIFI services and providing interesting games in the customer area.

Young Families

The third targeted Market, younger families, often find that coffeehouse is not ‘kid’ friendly. The company has long-term plans to create a combination coffee shop/play area so that parents and caregivers can meet with other adults while the children can enjoy the bounce houses, slides, and indoor playground equipment.

Pricing Strategy

The Cooper’s Cup primarily utilizes competition-based pricing. The cafe does not utilize coupons and discounts (other than opening promotions) because they believe that the most valuable customer demographic of daily coffee consumers is not influenced by discount programs or coupons.

Promotion and Advertising Strategy

• Online Advertising – The Cooper’s Cup will advertise regularly on popular social media sites like Facebook. Compared to traditional print advertising, this is a cost-effective tactic that will allow them to reach prospects in a highly targeted way (e.g., based on criteria such as age, gender, geography, etc.).
• Website – Cooper’s Cup will develop a simple Web site, which will provide basic information about the business, the menu, and links to their presence on the aforementioned social media channels.
• Radio Advertising – During the first six months of operation and the busy holiday shopping season, the business will advertise on local radio stations.

Sales Strategy

The Cooper’s Cup will use the following methods to increase sales revenue (as recommended by Andrew Hetzel on Better Coffee, Better Business):

• The menu will focus on the most profitable products sold. The cafe will always draw customer attention to the best products.
• As warranted, the cafe will raise prices to bolster its brand image. Prices communicate the perceived value of a product, so if set too low, the customers might assume that the beverages are inferior compared to the competition.
• Monitor flavoring inventory – Excess flavoring inventory ties up capital and valuable backroom space for storage. The cafe will utilize 4-6 varieties, including sugar-free offerings.
• Control waste and theft – audit sales and inventory reports to evaluate ingredient waste due to inefficient preparation, returned drinks, and employee consumption. Retail locations can easily waste 20% or more of their daily sales in these three key categories, which is a substantial and unnecessary loss.
• Monitor and evaluate hours of operation.
• Run employee sales contests – The baristas are the salespeople and have great influence over the customer ordering process. All baristas will have some form of sales and customer service training to make each transaction active rather than passive. Sales contests will emphasize high-margin items or cross-selling.

6. Operations Plan

Staffing and training.

An ongoing training and education program will ensure that each staff member learns and implements Cooper’s Cup’s exacting service and operational procedures standards. Staff meetings will reinforce service standards and principles. The Cafe will have detailed work descriptions and training programs for each position, from entry-level employees to the ongoing development of managers and owners. New employees will undergo an extensive training program. This ensures that each guest receives a quality experience from all employees, regardless of how long they have been employed. The Cafe embraces the concept of promoting from within. Excellence in one function typically leads to excellence in another. Regular staff evaluations and training will ensure motivation and address critical issues.

Inventory controls

The founder will be responsible for hiring and training managers who, in turn, will ensure that the day-to-day operations will comply with the standards set by Restaurant policy. Weekly management meetings will provide a forum to review and discuss financial and operational performance. Critical decisions related to purchasing, human resources, marketing, capital expenditures, and customer service will also be addressed.

Purchasing cost controls

Food preparation personnel will follow standardized recipes developed by the founders to control food costs and ensure consistency. The coffee shop will offer an innovative menu with nutritious food and beverages while achieving the most significant margin yield.

Customer Service

The hospitality business recognizes the client’s support experience is the critical driver to replicate business. The direction will Offer a superior degree of Professionalism by hiring individuals who deliver the ideal attitude to work and teaching them the skills required to accommodate guests. The restaurant will keep high levels of consumer satisfaction with talented, educated, and well-trained workers who understand and implement the fundamentals of fantastic service. Ongoing training will be provided to enable staff to perform their jobs with confidence and ability. Employees are well-spoken, well-versed, and trained to provide friendly, prompt, and professional service to each customer. This practice teaches employees who, by producing an exceptional customer experience, can optimize sales and raise their reimbursement. The team will have the knowledge and service required to create excellent daily service for every customer.

Technology & Software

While the quality of the cuisine and dining experience contributes significantly to a restaurant’s profitability, attention to business and financial details can transform small changes into significant returns. Critical sales, cost of sales, labor, inventory, marketing, and overhead metrics are monitored daily. Trends are evaluated, and constructive actions will be taken where improvement is needed. The management team will have access to the restaurant’s transactions and reports available in its real-time POS (point of sale) and accounting systems. Trends will be evaluated, and corrective action will be implemented as required.

7. Organization Structure

The Cooper’s Cup is formed as an S-Corporation wholly owned by John Doe.

Management Team

The Cooper’s Cup will be owned 100% by John Doe. Mr. Doe, a graduate of Arizona State University, has an undergraduate degree in business administration. During high school, he worked as a waiter in a local hospital coffee shop that purchased its beans from a local roaster. In addition to being an avid coffee drinker, this job allowed him to learn about the business first-hand. In college, Doe worked in a campus coffeehouse for four years, eventually becoming an assistant manager. Following graduation, Doe secured a business development position for a regional restaurant chain, which provided additional first-hand exposure to the food and beverage industry—especially the steps involved in establishing new locations.

Management Team Gaps

The Cooper’s Cup will rely on its POS (Point of Sale) system to generate daily accounting and cost activity reports. Mr. Doe will supply these to an outside bookkeeper for the preparation of annual income taxes.

Personnel Plan

Initially, the cafe will hire 1 manager, 5 baristas, and 2 part-time servers. In Year 2, the cafe plans to hire 1 additional full-time barista.

8. Financial Plan

Important assumptions.

• The sales forecast is conservative and assumes a 5% increase in Year 2 and a 10% in Year 3.
• The analysis accounts for economic seasonality – wherein some month’s revenues peak (such as holidays ) and wane in slower months.
• The analysis assumes the owner will not withdraw any salary till the 3rd year; at any time it is assumed that the owner’s withdrawal is available at his discretion.
• Sales are cash basis – nonaccrual accounting
• Moderate ramp-up in staff over the 5 years forecast
• Barista’s salary in the forecast is $36,000 in 2023.
• In general, most cafes have an 85% gross profit margin
• In general, most cafes have a 3% net profit margin

Projected Balance Sheet

Projected Cash-Flow Statement

Projected Profit & Loss Statement

Break Even Analysis

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write a business plan for a college project.

As mentioned earlier in the article, business planning for a college project or competition is no different than for a real business. You can write your business plan using these step-by-step instructions.

• Select a compelling business idea
• Refer to business plan examples
• Prepare a business plan outline
• Create a company description section
• Conduct market research and industry analysis
• Describe your product and services
• Outline sales and marketing strategies
• Create an operations plan
• Introduce management team
• Prepare financial projections
• Summarize your plan with an executive summary

What is a business plan for students?

A business plan is a necessary business document that highlights its purpose,  business goals, product/service offerings, go-to marketing strategies, operations and financial plan, key people involved in the business operations, and other necessary details.

As a student, consider a business plan example as a document that helps you better understand business and industry dynamics and learn how a business operates inside out.

What is a business plan competition for students?

Business plan competitions are competitions mostly organized by universities for students passionate about entrepreneurship and the business world. These competitions offer students a platform to showcase their entrepreneurial skills while also providing opportunities for mentorship and networking.

How can I increase my chances of winning a business plan competition?

There cannot be a straightforward answer to this question, but there’s surely a method that can increase your chances of winning a competition—Using AI-powered business plan software.

Why? An AI tool will make you 10X more productive while writing a business plan and preparing financial forecasts. So you can spend more time researching the market and brainstorming business ideas.

Where can I find more business plan examples for students?

Upmetrics’ library of 400+ business plan examples could be an incredible source for students to find more industry-specific business plan examples. There are examples for almost every small business category, including real estate, retail, entertainment and media, food & beverages, and more.

About the Author

Ajay is a SaaS writer and personal finance blogger who has been active in the space for over three years, writing about startups, business planning, budgeting, credit cards, and other topics related to personal finance. If not writing, he’s probably having a power nap. Read more

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Small Business Trends

50 tech business ideas: unlocking success in the digital age.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Tech Business Landscape

The tech industry is like a rocket ship, constantly zooming forward. It’s come a long way from the early days, growing faster than a weed in summer.

And let’s not forget AI (think of the now very popular ChatGPT and Google’s Bard ) and robotics. With smart technology and robots becoming more common, many tech businesses have sprung up to create, use, and improve these cool innovations.

Identifying Profitable Tech Business Niches

For example, consider web design. Every business needs a website. But not every business owner knows how to create one. That’s where a web design business comes in. It’s a profitable niche because it’s a service in high demand.

Criteria for Crafting Successful Tech Business Ideas: Our Methodology

50 innovative tech business ideas.

Here’s your peek into 50 profitable tech startup ideas. Each idea comes with a quick rundown of what it’s about. So, sit back, scroll down, and you might find the perfect idea for your next big thing. Let’s go!

1. Mobile apps development

2. web design business, 3. digital marketing agency, 4. artificial intelligence consultancy.

AI is revolutionizing various sectors, from self-driving cars in the auto industry to recommendation engines on streaming platforms like Netflix. By starting an AI consultancy, you can guide businesses on how to leverage AI technologies for their benefit.

5. E-commerce business

6. virtual reality gaming company, 7. cybersecurity services, 8. cloud computing services.

As companies like Google and Dropbox have shown, cloud computing is a major player in the tech world. A business in this field could offer services like data storage, backup, and security or even develop new cloud technologies.

9. Chatbot development

10. smart home automation, 11. software-as-a-service (saas) solutions, 12. drone services and technology, 13. internet of things (iot) solutions.

Devices are getting smarter, from refrigerators to thermostats, thanks to IoT. A business providing IoT solutions can help consumers and businesses alike by connecting their devices and systems.

14. Blockchain consulting and development

15. online education platform, 16. augmented reality applications, 17. niche social networking platform, 18. big data analytics and consulting.

With the surge of data collection, businesses need help making sense of all this information. A big data analytics and consulting firm could provide businesses the insights to make strategic decisions.

19. IT support and managed services

20. wearable technology development, 21. 3d printing services, 22. online marketplace for freelancers, 23. subscription box service for tech gadgets.

A subscription box service, like Loot Crate for gamers that delivers tech gadgets to enthusiasts every month can build a steady income and a loyal customer base.

24. Health tech and telemedicine solutions

25. video game development studio, 26. podcast production and editing, 27. livestreaming platform, 28. e-sports platform and event management.

The e-sports industry is skyrocketing, with competitive gaming drawing massive audiences. By creating a robust e-sports platform or managing e-sports events, you could tap into this enthusiastic market. Think big, like the League of Legends World Championship or the Dota 2 International.

29. Robotics company

30. smart city solutions, 31. online coding bootcamp, 32. digital wallet and payment solutions, 33. language translation software.

In an increasingly global world, language barriers can still pose a challenge. By developing a language translation software – like Google Translate, but perhaps with a specific niche focus – you could help bridge these gaps and facilitate smoother communication.

34. Custom PC building service

35. tech-focused affiliate marketing, 36. green technology solutions, 37. remote work software and tools, 38. online privacy and vpn services.

With digital privacy being a major concern, a business offering reliable VPN services or other privacy tools can be highly profitable. Offering a service that encrypts data, hides IP addresses, and protects against hackers could cater to a vast range of users.

39. Influencer marketing platform

40. content management system (cms) development, 41. mobile device repair services, 42. domain and web hosting services, 43. tech-focused youtube channel or blog.

Sharing your tech knowledge through a YouTube channel or a blog can be both fulfilling and profitable. Creating engaging content can attract a substantial following, whether it’s gadget reviews, coding tutorials, or industry news.

44. Graphic design services

45. crowdfunding platform for tech startups, 46. niche job board for tech professionals, 47. ethical hacking and bug bounty platform, 48. data storage and recovery solutions.

With businesses increasingly depending on digital data, a service offering secure data storage and recovery solutions can be extremely valuable. From cloud backup to disaster recovery, these services can provide peace of mind to businesses of all sizes.

49. Software localization services

50. social media management tool, turning your tech startup ideas into a reality, creating a solid business plan.

Remember, your business plan should reflect your strategic thinking, knowledge depth, and your tech startup’s unique aspects. It’s a document and a tool to help you shape your business’s future.

Funding Your Tech Business

Building a strong team, ensuring success in the competitive tech industry.

The tech industry, often likened to a rocket ship, has propelled itself to extraordinary heights in recent years. Several key drivers have contributed to this rapid ascent. Mobile technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, leading to a surge in demand for mobile apps and services. Cybersecurity has grown in importance as we spend an increasing amount of time in the digital realm, emphasizing the need for robust protection. Artificial intelligence and robotics have seen tremendous advancements, offering opportunities for tech businesses to innovate and contribute to these burgeoning fields.

Moreover, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions, drone services, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, and blockchain consulting are paving the way for tech innovation. Online education platforms are meeting the demand for flexible learning, while augmented reality applications offer unique interactive experiences. Niche social networking platforms cater to specific communities, and big data analytics provide valuable insights.

FAQs: Tech Business Ideas

What skills do i need to start a tech business, how do i market my tech business to attract customers, what are some challenges tech businesses face, and how can they be overcome, how can i ensure my tech business stays relevant and innovative in the long run.

To ensure your tech business stays relevant, keep up with the ever-evolving tech industry trends and anticipate changes. Listen to your customers and incorporate their feedback into your products or services. Continuously innovate and improve your offerings. Additionally, learn about roles every tech department should have on staff and then invest in your team’s learning and development to foster innovation. Remember, a tech business that stops innovating will likely fall behind.

How Do I Determine Which Tech Startup Idea Is Right for Me?

What are some ideas for starting a profitable business in the tech industry.

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25 Tech Business Ideas for 2022

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If you’re looking to start a business with high earning potential, you’ve probably looked into some tech business ideas.

And why wouldn’t you? In 2019, the estimated economic output of the technology industry was $1.8 trillion, comprising over 10% of the national economy, according to CompTIA. What’s more, the average successful startup exit (via either acquisition or IPO) has sat at $242.9 million since 2007.

However, for every successful startup exit, there are hundreds if not thousands of startups that have failed. So if you’re an entrepreneur hoping to hit it big in the technology sector, you need to start with a strong tech business idea.

In an industry defined by innovation and disruption, what constitutes a “good” tech business idea is constantly changing. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of tech business ideas that are poised for extreme growth in the coming years.

What is a tech business?

Tech businesses provide products and services that have applications across multiple industries — but at their core, they pertain to the research, development and distribution of technology-based goods. This includes businesses that manufacture electronics (like Apple), create software (like Salesforce), provide services relating to information technology (like Google) and more.

The best part about our technology business ideas is that they don’t require a lot of overhead—you can start small and grow over time. However, you will need some level of technical knowledge to be able to successfully start a business in the industry. If you don’t have any tech experience, consider starting with a coding bootcamp.

Here are some of the top tech business ideas, including some recommendations from tech entrepreneurs themselves.

How much do you need?

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We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

1. Food tech

Our first recommendation comes from Phil Strazzulla, founder of HR software company SelectSoftware. Strazzulla sees the food tech sector as a major growth industry in the coming years:

“Companies like Beyond Meat are just the beginning of businesses engineering eco-friendly and healthy food that is as delicious as our current diet. The science is now there, and the market for next-generation food is literally in the trillions of dollars, and it grows just as quickly as the world's population.”

2. Web design

One tech business idea that will never go out of style is website design. That’s because pretty much every business needs a professional-looking website in order to appear reputable and build their brand.

Web design encompasses a range of different services, including graphic design, interface design, copywriting, UX design, and SEO. According to IBISWorld , the web design business has grown at a rate of 6.6% over the last five years, and generated $38 billion in revenue in 2019, meaning you can rely on there being a market for this tech business idea for years to come.

3. Extended reality

Extended reality technology encompasses both augmented reality, or AR, and virtual reality, or VR, technologies. Kenny Trinh, editor of tech review publication Net Books News, sees extended reality technology proliferating in the coming years.

"In 2020, we’ll see more and more businesses applying extended reality to their brands to stand out from the competition and deliver a better customer experience,” says Trinh. “In fact, some businesses have been doing that already.”

Trinh points to the eco-friendly water packaging project W-in-a-Box, which uses AR to further explain the benefits of their product.

4. Robotics

Robotics is a bit of a catch-all term that encompasses mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, computer science and other related disciplines. The goal of robotics is to create machines that can move and react to sensory input. According to Statista , this industry is expected to grow from $80 billion in annual revenue in 2019 to over $200 billion in annual revenue by 2025.

5. Customer experience management, or CXM

Ian Kelly, VP of operations for a CBD oil company called NuLeaf, believes customer experience management platforms like ZenDesk will soon make customer relationship management platforms, or CRMs, obsolete.

"While a CRM can help you manage customer details, a CXM unifies all sales, marketing and customer service conversations into a single silo so that your customers are treated like the loyal fan-base they are,” says Kelly. “No more hitting your customer over the head with repeat promos, selling them on services/products they already have or letting them slip through the cracks when they've bought and never been properly onboarded.”

6. Influencer marketing

Influencer marketing is an industry enabled by social media platforms like Instagram involving endorsements and product placements from individuals or organizations who possess a certain level of expertise or social influence in their respective fields. While not just anyone can be an influencer, if you possess some level of unique knowledge or a lot of charisma, you can launch a business by gathering a social media following and hiring an influencer marketing agency to connect you with brands.

On the flip side, you can also launch a business focused on connecting brands with the right influencers for their products and mission.

7. Content automation

With content and social media becoming an ever-growing part of many businesses’ marketing plans, Gleb Myrko, an analyst at the market research firm Freedonia Group, believes content automation software presents a great opportunity for tech entrepreneurs.

"Businesses today have accounts on all different social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc. All of these channels require different approaches to content planning, content production and account management and analytics,” says Myrko. “There’s still not a widely applied tool for omnichannel management, promotion and analytics for the most popular social media. We need an all-in-one hub where marketers can analyze data/performance, as well as manage and promote their accounts on different social media channels in a more centralized, convenient and effective manner.”

8. Artificial intelligence

The term “artificial intelligence" is used to describe technologies pertaining to machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing and more. Although artificial intelligence is a technology that has been around for quite some time, as it becomes increasingly sophisticated, its market potential is growing as well.

Statista reports that the industry grew by 154% in 2019 alone—making it a great tech sector to build a business around.

9. Podcasting

If you’ve been paying attention to innovations in content over the past few years, you’re probably aware of the exploding popularity of podcasts. Today, 51% of the U.S. population has listened to a podcast, and podcaster Dre Baldwin sees podcasting’s prospects only increasing in the coming years.

“Entrepreneurs need to start building their podcast content library ASAP,” Baldwin says. “More and more people are consuming media on the go; audiobooks and podcasts are at the forefront of this. Any entrepreneur or business entity that wants the attention of consumers needs to be in their ears, literally.”

10. Streaming service

Services like Netflix and Disney+ get most of the attention when it comes to streaming services, but there is plenty of opportunity to start a streaming service for more niche content. For example, you can create a streaming service where users can upload instructional videos or a streaming service designed specifically for children’s content. You could also develop a platform for live streaming (like Twitch) or streaming music (like Spotify).

The global outlook on the streaming service industry is overwhelmingly positive. In 2019, streaming services generated $25 billion in revenue. By 2025, that number is expected to rise to $30 billion, according to Statista.

11. 3D printing

One of the more exciting technologies developed during the 2010s is 3D printing, which allows users to build a three-dimensional object from a computer-aided design model. Shayne Sherman, CEO of TechLoris, believes 3D printing will have increased importance in the next decade as the technology continues to become more sophisticated.

"There will always be the need for production companies, but just as the advent of the assembly line changed production, so too has 3D printing,” Sherman says. “The ability to manufacture whole components in single pieces has created a serious demand, especially in the medical fields. This demand means that 3D printing companies are set to grow exponentially, and if you can get into the business, it's a solid choice for the coming years.”

12. E-commerce

E-commerce is another technology that has been around for a while, but still has growth potential. Over the last year, Statista reports that e-commerce sales grew from $500 billion to nearly $550 billion.

If you have a unique idea for an e-commerce store, you can launch your own e-commerce business from the comfort of your home. No product in mind? Not to worry; dropshipping allows you to start an e-commerce business with products you are not responsible for warehousing or shipping.

If you want to grab a bigger share of the market, you could also take the time to develop your own e-commerce platform or marketplace. Just keep in mind that the e-commerce platform space is already dominated by giants like Shopify and Amazon. Therefore, if you want to start your own e-commerce platform, we suggest focusing on a niche market.

13. Portable charging devices

Mobile devices go with us everywhere nowadays, but having your phone battery die on you while you’re out is still a far too common problem. That’s what’s driving the growth of the portable phone charging industry.

According to data published by BCC Research, the portable charging device market is expected to grow by 6.6% year over year from 2017 to 2022. Growth is driven by the fact that many newer phone models have lower battery capacity.

"Growing urbanization, rising disposable income and increasing mobile phone penetration will boost the mobile charger market around the globe,” according to the report’s author Mohammed Javed. “Increasing penetration of high-specification electronic gadgets/devices that drain batteries at faster rates will further boost the mobile charger market in the near future.”

14. Publishing e-books

An e-book is a book made available in digital form. If you’re a writer, there is a growing market for books published online. Businesses are creating e-books as a way to market their brand, and aspiring authors of fiction and nonfiction publish e-books as a way to reach more customers and grow their readership.

In 2019 alone, revenue generated from e-books topped $1.3 billion, and that number will rise to $1.6 billion by 2024, Statista reports.

15. Fitness tech

Technology has applications in nearly every industry — including the fitness industry. We’ve already seen new technologies like FitBit, Peloton and Strava change how people exercise, and more innovation is on the horizon. That’s the belief of Jared Weitz, founder of United Capital Source Inc.

"Fitness technology is an area of continued growth. Whether it is creating products like fitness trackers, wireless earbuds or smartwatches that have multiple functions, the market is constantly seeking new gear and technology,” Weitz says. “This niche is expanding from tangible fitness products to the apps and data that marry the physical and digital together. Combine a high-tech device with an app related to exercise or diet and you will be setting yourself up for success in 2020 and beyond.”

16. Online teaching

Do you know a foreign language? Can you build a treehouse? Do you cook really good soup? Then you can make money sharing your knowledge and expertise online. Thanks to services like Teachable and Udemy, teachers can now build their own online classes, sell them to students and teach the entire class online. If you’re a good teacher and know how to market your class, you can earn a livable wage by teaching your skills to others through the internet.

17. Mobile application development

Every business needs a website. And the way the market is trending, soon every business will also need their own mobile app. This presents an exciting opportunity for individuals skilled in app development. Successful companies like Braze and Leanplum have built their entire business around developing apps for others.

There is really an endless supply of app ideas. There were 194 billion app downloads in 2018 alone, and that number is only expected to climb. So strike while the iron is hot.

18. Search engine optimization consultant

Google is still an essential part of many business’s marketing strategies. They need to be able to appear as a top result in Google Search for keywords related to their business. That means they need someone who is skilled in search engine optimization, or SEO, to help them. Some businesses hire people to perform SEO in-house, but many organizations also work with freelancers or third-party agencies to implement an SEO strategy. If you can train yourself in SEO and keep up with its ever-changing trends, you can start a business providing SEO services to other organizations.

19. Social media consultant

If you’re not into SEO, but are good on social media, you can work with businesses to help them generate likes, shares, retweets, followers, comments, clicks and more as a social media marketer . In this role, you’ll consult with companies and help them manage their social profiles, spread content across the web and build their brand.

What’s more, the startup cost to be a social media marketer is minimal and can be done from your own home. Just be sure to buff up your social media skills and keep up with the latest trends and platforms.

20. Drone videography

If you own a drone and know how to use a camera, there’s a market for your services. Commercial and residential real estate agents are increasingly using aerial shots as a way to market their buildings and property. You can find real estate agents in your area using platforms like Zillow. Then reach out and offer up your services. Other industries, such as agriculture, events and more have uses for drones, as well.

21. Cybersecurity or IT consulting

Businesses today are increasingly threatened by cyberattacks, making the need for IT consultants greater than ever. As an IT consultant, you can help businesses evaluate their security systems, run tests and offer advice on how they can better protect themselves from cyberhackers.

More generally, an IT consultant can help businesses set up their computers and troubleshoot any general issues.

22. Venture capitalist

A vast majority of tech startups are backed by venture funding. If you have an interest in the tech space, but don’t have any technical knowledge yourself, you can try raising some money and becoming a venture capitalist or angel investor.

Similar to being an influencer, a venture capitalist isn’t something you can simply become overnight. That’s because being a venture capitalist requires allowing others to trust you with their money.

You need to start small and make some solid investments in order to make a name for yourself. Many independent investors join a VC fund for a while before striking off and starting their own fund.

23. Startup incubator

Another way to get involved in the tech world without having a lot of technical experience is to create your own startup incubator. The job of an incubator is to help startups plan and launch their business successfully. Services provided may include management training, office space and mentorship opportunities.

Of course, you’ll need some background in business to be able to successfully launch an incubator. The cost of creating your own incubator and attracting founders may also be difficult to muster. Many incubators start small and grow over time once they have successfully helped multiple startups enter the market.

24. Antivirus developer

An antivirus developer is a highly specific sort of tech business idea that pertains to the creation of antivirus software that can help businesses protect critical data. Antivirus software can be created using a variety of different programming languages. The overall goal of an antivirus is to detect and remove malware before it impacts a computer’s systems. Start networking with local businesses in your area to find out if there's a need for this service.

25. Domain name broker

Being a domain name broker is similar to being a stockbroker, except instead of stocks, you sell domain names. To get started you need a little capital to buy some domain names. You’ll then need to educate yourself so that you’ll be able to predict domain name requirements in the future.

So like most of the businesses on this list, it will take some work to get started. But everyone needs a domain name, so there will always be a market for this service.

Start Your Dream Business

The bottom line

We hope our list has helped you figure out which tech business idea is the right fit for your skills and interests. Regardless of the route you choose to take, you’ll need to write a business plan, create a business entity and maybe take out a business loan to get your startup off the ground.

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Provide real–world business plan examples for your students, inspire confidence in future entrepreneurs and easily create your class syllabus using industry–best business plans., liveplan gives students access to actual business plans so they can practice business planning in and outside of the classroom., it's not just a classroom project. it's your students planning for their futures..

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Technology Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their technology businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a technology business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Technology Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your technology business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Tech Company

If you’re looking to start a technology business, or grow your existing technology business, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your technology business in order to improve your chances of success. Your technology business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Technology Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a technology business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for technology businesses.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

If you want to start a technology business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your technology business plan template:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of technology business you are operating and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a technology business that you would like to grow, or are you operating technology businesses in multiple markets?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the technology industry. Discuss the type of technology business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of technology business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of technology businesses:

• Network technology : this type of technology company specializes in providing the computers, printers, scanners, and phones within an organization and making sure they are all linked together in order to work seamlessly with one another.
• Software technology: this type of technology company specializes in providing and/or installing the appropriate software needed for the business. This will include the programs and productivity tools for the organization’s computer network.
• Customer relationship technology: this type of technology company focuses on providing a customer relationship management system (CRM) that keeps track of all customer interactions and information in order to consistently provide exceptional customer service.

In addition to explaining the type of technology business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of client companies served, number of positive reviews, reaching X amount of client companies served, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the technology industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the technology industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating. 

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your technology business plan:

• How big is the technology industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your technology business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your technology business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, small businesses, and local companies that need technological services.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of technology business you operate. Clearly, large companies would respond to different marketing promotions than small businesses, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other technology companies. 

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes technology companies such as Geek Squad, local stores that sell and rehab tech equipment, online technology companies, etc.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other technology businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be technology businesses located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of technology do they provide?
• What areas do they serve?
• What type of technology company are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Is your technology business more capable than the competition?
• Will you provide technology services that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you provide faster technology service?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a technology business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of technology company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to technology services, will you provide computer repair, 24/7/365 service, phone installation, and any other services?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your technology company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your technology business located near an office complex, an urban setting, or a busy neighborhood, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your technology marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Website and SEO marketing
• Commercials
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising
• Business networking

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your technology business, including updating technology, client communication and scheduling, marketing, and implementing and installing the new technology for a client.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to obtain your XXth client company, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your technology business to a new location.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your technology business’ ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company. 

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing technologys. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a technology business or are connected to a wide network of professional organizations that frequently utilize technology.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you take on one new client company at a time or multiple new client companies ? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your technology business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. 

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a technology business:

• Cost of technology to be installed
• Cost of software and equipment
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your list of technology services, types of clients you will be targeting, and the areas your technology business will serve.  

Putting together a business plan for your technology business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the technology industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful technology business.  

Technology Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my technology business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Technology Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of technology business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a technology business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of technology businesses?

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Technology business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how a Growthink business planning advisor can create your business plan for you.

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The Best 36 Business Ideas for Students on a Budget 2024

Description

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When you are a high school or college student, you generally have huge batches of free time. There's no better way to spend them than becoming a student entrepreneur...

In the past decade, the world has seen many incredible businesses being started by college students (Facebook, just to name one).

Is it Possible to Start a Business While Being a Student?

The internet has removed many barriers that once prevented students from starting businesses. These days, there are no legal, financial, or knowledge restrictions holding you back from launching a side hustle while in school.

School and university demand many of your hours, but if you stay organized and make the best use of your hours, you will find time to both study and run your startup.

Best 36 Business Ideas for Students

1) sell used books.

Difficulty : Low

Investment : Low

Description : You finished your academic year, congratulations! Now check your desk… you have a pile of used books, right? In many cases, they end up in your house’s trash bins. However, there’s something better to do with them: sell them to younger students at a cheaper price than what a new copy is.

You'll probably, at least, make enough money to purchase the books needed for your next semester. The best of this idea is that it doesn’t require either any investment or much time.

Resources : Here’s an article on the 6 best places to re-sell old books and some tips on how to do it.

2) Flip Websites

Difficulty : Medium

Investment : High

Description : You buy websites that are exiting for a low price, grow them in 6 months to 2 years, and sell them at a much higher price for a profit. There are people who work full-time on this and make millions per year with their sites.

The key here is to buy a high-quality website at a low price. There’s a ton of information on what you should consider and check when doing it. At the same time, there are all kinds of free digital marketing courses that you will find useful if growing one of these websites.

Resources : Flippa , Empire Flippers, and Micro Acquire are three website marketplaces. Besides that, you should check out this article on how to find, evaluate and buy websites , as well as this review we've written about Micro Acquisitions course , which goes all about buying, growing, and selling sites.

3) Re-Selling

Investment : Medium

Description : There’s an ethical unresolved issue around re-selling sneakers, tickets, or whatever, but I’ve personally seen many people make loads of money buying items at a low price and selling them at a higher one. Re-selling works best with limited items (such as the mentioned tickets and some exclusive sneakers), as those who haven’t been able to purchase them are willing to pay more than their original price to have them once the item is out of stock.

The key when re-selling is understanding the market and anticipating which items will people be more willing to pay for once they run out. Note that it can be pretty risky; I know of a guy who bought 10 tickets for a concert and couldn’t re-sell them. He ended up inviting all of his friends for free with a huge loss.

Resources : This is a really inspirational article on how to re-sell sneakers and make a profit.

4) Writing Services

Description : Start a website that offers all kinds of writing services to students or businesses. It could be anything from sales & marketing copy, SEO content, essay writing, academic papers, or even simple proofreading.

There are already many trustworthy services online, and before starting out your own writing service, it is a good idea to work as a professional essay writer for a top website. After you have gained some valuable experience doing this, you can move on to creating your own essay-writing service. You could charge per hour or project.

+1 if the website invites other fellow students to offer such writing services and you charge a fee ;)

Resources : This article will help you decide whether you should or should not start freelance writing. If yes, make sure to check this one, which teaches you how to do it.

5) Play Cupid

Description : Set up a website or an app, exclusively for your college campus or local area, to let the singles meet. This will be much appreciated by the community and, with a small fee, the app could kick-off and be the Tinder of your campus or neighbourhood.

The app could, instead, be focused around networking. People could use it to meet other people and make new friends.

Alternatively, the app could also be focused around professional networking.

Resources : This Bubble template is a great and cheap point to start a dating app.

6) Motivational Apps

Difficulty : Hard

Investment : Medium 

Description : Motivational apps have a broad scope range. They could be for anything from academics to mental health.

Consider academics. The app could show events, seminars, or lectures and let the user log the attendance to these, getting award points in exchange. Such apps encourage improved productivity among students in a positive and fun way.

These rewards could be in the form of vouchers, coupons, or deals for any local service. For the sponsors, this would be a worthwhile advertisement option among the clientele too.

Similar apps could be designed for fitness, gym attendance, and other activities too.

The easiest way to monetize such an idea would be through ads.

Resources : There are many tools out there to build apps cheaply and fastly (even without coding). Check our Tools page .

7) Babysitting

Description : There will always be demand for babysitters and nannies. With both parents working and maternity and paternity leave shrinking in length, the market for this is only widening. If you have a knack with babies and have a pleasing personality, you are already good to go.

Resources : Here is a detailed article on how to properly set up your babysitting business and make the most of it.

8) Babysitting Network

‍ Difficulty : Medium

Description : You can create a sort of marketplace for babysitting. Other prospective babysitters could sign up for it and offer their babysitting services. Parents could select between the available babysitters and hire them through the platform. You could keep a commission.

Even if you are not able to do the babysitting job due to lack of time, you'll still make a commission from fellow babysitters who have signed up for the program.

Resources : Here is a long article on how to build and grow a nanny app.

9) Pet Sitting

Description : What’s better than babysitting? Pet sitting! Who doesn’t want to spend the whole day playing with dogs? There are busy workers and families taking holidays who need someone to take care of their loved pets.

There are two main ways to face this business idea. The most common one is to take pets for a one/two-hour walk every day/every two days. The second one would be to take care of pets of people taking holidays, for one to four weeks.

Resources : The Balance Careers has a huge series of resources for pet sitters.

10) Local Reviewer

Description : Every time we want to buy a product, the first thing we do is to look online for product reviews. Sure enough, all big cities have their own dedicated websites for such reviews from multiple sources. But what about small places or even campuses? There’s a huge opportunity there.

Start a website that reviews the local accommodations. You can make this exclusive for the campus itself or other accommodations in the area that students could rent out. This would work as a credible source rather than just word of mouth. There could also be options added to include listings and discussion forums. You can monetize this through advertising.

Resources : WPBeginner has a long article on how to build a review site using WordPress, which would probably be the cheapest and fastest way to do it.

11) Swap Website

Description : Swap websites are used to swap, sell, and borrow goods and services. For example, if a person needs something but only for a single use, it is best to rent it out rather than buy one.

On campus, there is more than one person who is willing to do that, but it is lacking a way to find that person. Such a website would simplify this while enabling people to save a few bucks.

Call it a new age barter system; especially on campus, there would be a lot of demand for this. Start this locally and then expand it later. There are loads to borrow and exchange from academic services, bikes, books, and even clothes. You can monetize it through advertising.

Resources : Here’s a list of 36 bartering and swapping websites to get some inspiration. We’ve also interviewed the founder of a shutdown swapping site who shared all the mistakes he made throughout his journey.

There are loads to borrow and exchange from academic services, bikes, books, and even clothes. You can monetize it through advertising.

12) Design Services

Description : All kinds of businesses have design tasks. So, you can create a site that offers different types of design services, such as logos, flyers, packaging, or even websites, and niche down to local businesses or even other students starting their own startups. This is a great startup idea for students and you could charge per hour or per project.

When you are a student, it can be hard to get businesses to trust you. There are many ways to achieve it, such as showing them previous high-quality work, offering one free project, and connecting them with your previous clients.

Resources : You may be asking how to build a portfolio if you’re just starting and have never had clients, right? Here’s a tool that generates fake client briefs for you to design and showcase in your site.

13) Digital Marketing Services

‍ Difficulty : Hard

Description : Digital marketing has grown a lot in the last decade, with the emergence of eCommerce and online businesses. The businesses that don’t digitalize themself and ignore working on their internet profile and presence are missing a huge percentage of clients.

There probably are many local businesses looking for help on their digital marketing strategies. You can reach their owners and provide them with a free consultation to show you know about the subject. You could help them with local SEO , social media management , and Google Ads / Facebook Ads campaigns, among other strategies.

Resources : Make sure to check out Acadium , a tool connecting businesses looking for digital marketing work to be done, and students who are willing to learn and do that work. They provide great free digital marketing courses on different topics.

14) Development Services

Description : Having a website is a must for any kind of business, and most local ones tend not to have one. There’s a huge opportunity there.

Learning to code is super accessible for everyone. There are thousands of free development courses, books, articles, and videos, so “I don’t know how to code” is definitely no longer an excuse. And if you don’t want to learn, you can even build a website without coding. This site was built with Webflow , a powerful visual web design tool.

Resources : Google “free web development course” and you will get 3.2B results… I think that’s enough ;) You should also check this complete guide on web development freelancing.

15) Cleaning Services

Description : Publish an online ad offering cleaning services in your neighborhood. Do a great cleaning job and build trust with your clients. Ask your clients for a referral and you will soon be cleaning the houses of all your neighbors.

That’s actually what Kisten Hadeed did and the origins of Student Maid, a really successful cleaning company in Florida. You can charge per hour and keep initial investment really low by asking clients to supply you with the needed equipment. 

Resources : This article from Entrepreneur.com teaches how to get started in this industry.

90% of startups fail. Learn how to not to with our weekly guides and stories. Join 40,000+ founders.

16) Pool Cleaning Services

Description : Cleaning pools is an alternative to the already mentioned cleaning neighbor’s houses business idea. It’s definitely not as easy, as it requires to be educated on what you’re doing. You might even need legal permissions to work on it, depending on where you are based. On the side, it requires some investment in equipment and products to be able to carry out the job.

Both the difficulty and investment issues come with a big chance of making great money. You can easily get paid $40-60/hour. Note that the business would mainly run during the summer seasons.

Resources : This article provides detailed information on how to set up and grow a pool cleaning business.

17) Moving Service

Description : Both neighbors and students need moving services eventually, whether it's because the academic year has finished and the student is moving back to their homes, or because a neighbor has rented a new house. You can make money (at least $200/moving) if you find it easy to pack items and move boxes.

Resources : Here’s a long article on how to start a moving company, some tips for growing it, and the recommended price you might want to charge.

18) Transcription Services

‍ Difficulty : Low

Description : Transcription services are needed in all kinds of fields, such as law, medicine, and businesses. It also doesn’t require either fixed hours or many skills. On the side, there are many forms of transcription, including video podcasts and recorded lectures, so you will probably be able to select the niche that interests you.

No formal training is needed in order to be able to do transcription services. Good listening abilities, great knowledge of English grammar rules, and fast typing skills would be a perfect combination to get high-quality work done fast.

Resources : Here’s a motivational story on how Benjamin Walker grew a transcription business to +$1M/year.

19) Translation Services

‍ Difficulty : High

Description : Offering translation services isn’t as easy as offering transcription ones. You will need to be bilingual in both languages and know the grammar rules of the two of them. Businesses may not be really willing to offer advanced translation work to students, but they might be if it is basic and unimportant translations.

You could start by translating lectures, books, and articles for professors. There’s a ton of high-quality content in other languages - professors might want to share it with their students but they can’t as it isn’t in the student’s native language. That’s where you can help and charge per word translated.

Resources : Here’s a whole content site dedicated to the business of translation.

20) Photography Services

Description : If you love taking photographs, you can take your hobby and talent into a photography freelancing business. Both students and local businesses may need your services whether because they want to update their Tinder profiles or because they are looking to promote their recently-launched products.

In the beginning, you can start offering all kinds of services, but as you grow the business, you will probably realize there’s a ton of competition and you will need to niche and focus on one segment or one specific photography service in order to be different than the rest.

The biggest issue for this kind of business is the cost of the photography equipment, which, if you’re moving from one place to another, can break and make it even more expensive.

Resources : Make sure to check this guide from Bplans on how to start a successful photography business.

21) Photography Portfolios

Description : Good photography skills need to be appreciated before they get lost in that Instagram page. Any campus will have a few fellows with exceptional skills in photography and videography. It would be easy to make a database of students who are interested in and create a platform to sell their work to others.

The platform could charge a fee to either the photographer or the customer. On the side, it could also work hand in hand with a photography club giving more chances and connections to both sellers and buyers by offering more exposure.

Resources : Here’s a no-code template to build such an app.

22) Food Delivery Services

Description : Create a platform to deliver quick eatables, like sandwiches and smoothies, made by local businesses. Start by targeting firms with employees in younger age groups, who often go out to grab a meal during lunch breaks. This is a gold mine, with food deliveries for simple items that don't break their wallet, the business would be exponential. With options to schedule deliveries made earlier to arrive at lunchtime, this could actually be a problem solver for the firms.

Take a step further and make these homemade too. This way, it is not necessary to rely on multiple third-party services. The food will be authentic, tasty, and have a personal touch to the service.

Resources : Steven Long was the founder of Chowdy, a Toronto-based food delivery startup making $110k/month which had to shut down due to some legal issues. Ali Jiwani is the founder of MealSurfers, a Canadian food startup that made an exit when it was making $7k/month. Make sure to check those two stories and learn from both the wins and mistakes of each.

23) Deliver Food Hampers

Description : How often have you thought about that mac and cheese your mom makes so deliciously. Or even wondered when you are finally going to eat something healthy?

Well, the lack of time or will to go to a grocery store and cook something is in the least probable category. And the parents are well aware of this too. So design an app where parents can make such orders for kids that would be delivered to them. 

This will have the personal touch and love of a package coming from home itself. You could monetize it by taking a shipping fee.

Resources : Entrepreneur.com has a complete article about food hamper businesses. You should check it out!

24) Blogging

Description : Is there anything you really enjoy talking about? Are your friends tired of listening to you talk about it? Then start a blog about that topic, build an audience, and monetize it through ads and premium content.

 The startup costs of building a blog are super low nowadays (with a domain and hosting would be enough, so less than $50/year) and the information to grow such a site is free all over the internet.

When we started this site, we had 0 knowledge of how to grow it. Nowadays, it receives +150k users every month from all over the world. Note that it took us 3 years to build such an audience. Consistency is key when blogging.

Resources : GrowandConvert is a content marketing agency that has an amazing blog related to creating and publishing content on the internet. Backlinko is another blog that publishes content-related articles, particularly about the search engine optimization of these. 

25) Video Classes

Description : Visual media often makes things easier. That is precisely the reason why we are all so hooked up on Youtube, without having a clue why we are watching a cat playing piano at 3 am. The thought is simple, won’t lectures be so easy to understand with such visuals? With a creative mind and some graphic design skills, it could be put to use for this.

The idea is to make a visual representation of any lectures and offer them to tutors and students. It would make studying so much better and more straightforward. You could monetize it by pricing every video or through a monthly subscription.

Resources : Here’s a great guide on how to make videos look professional without investing much money.

26) Class Notes

Description : We all know those students who are pretty lazy to actually take notes or those others who tend to miss classes under any kind of excuse, right? Those students would be your niche market if you set up a class note business.

There are some people who are really great at taking lecture notes, being able to summarize the information in a nice-looking and concise way. If you are that kind of person, you should consider re-selling your notes to other students. You could sell them independently per class or in packages of all the notes related to one exam or to one semester.

Resources : Make sure to check this well-known book , in which Sönke Ahrens shares his unique technique to take smart notes that are easy to study and learn from.

Description : Where there are students, there are tutors. If you stand out in one subject, you can probably teach it to someone else who struggles to understand it. A common trouble-maker subject is Maths, but note that there are many math tutors as well.

Schools and professors tend to be helpful with students starting their tutor businesses. Some schools even have a database of tutor students, so make sure to check if there is one in your school. The monetization model would be per hour; you can charge anything between $10-$100, depending on the subject, the concepts taught (how advanced they are), etc.

Resources : This article is super inspiring for anyone starting a tutoring business. The writer shares how he is making $1,000/week as well as lots of recommendations and mistakes you should avoid.

28) Organize Trips

Description : It is a known fact that most of the group plans for a trip but never happens. The WhatsApp groups have seen hundreds of failed plans. It is the time that someone takes responsibility and get things done.

Organize trips to various destinations which could be for events, festivals, or even just weekend trips. You can charge a commission or a fixed amount for an all-inclusive deal.

Resources : Here’s a detailed guide from Bplans on how to start a travel agency.

29) Event Organizer

Description : Lots of students enjoy parties and socializing, so why not capitalize on it? Everyone is willing to spend $10, $30, or even much more on a great party. These can take all forms and shapes, from organizing a small meetup at a nightclub to running Project X 2.

What will you need? Excellent communication skills to convince everyone they can’t miss such a party (social media is a MUST to promote it!) and advanced organization abilities to make sure everything is in the right place at the right time.

Resources : Here’s a long article from Capterra explaining how to turn those small parties/events you have maybe carried out in the past, into a profitable business.

30) Campus Newsletter

Description : This is quite a unique business idea for students. If your campus doesn't have a newsletter already, it is time to start one. The source of money from this could come from advertisements from local businesses or even other student startups.

The newsletter could be sent as emails rather than printed versions or both. As a third party, a student can even make a deal with the college to create brand awareness among potential students using the letter. It could be used for promotional purposes, branding, and lead generations outside the campus too.

Resources : Here’s an article on 7 tips to create a school newsletter.

31) Campus Podcast

Description : Instead of a campus newsletter, you could do a podcast. It could be an interview podcast, talking with students and professors, or more like a solo podcast, talking about the news, events, and things going on in the campus.

The equipment needed is pretty cheap, with the possibility of recording even with your phone. As for monetization, it could be done through sponsorships from local businesses or premium content for those who love the podcast.

I haven’t personally seen this on many campuses, which makes me think this is one of the most innovative and unique business ideas for students on the list.

Resources : Here’s an article on the 5 steps required to start a school podcast.

32) Language Course

Description : Do you excel in any language? Do you enjoy teaching other people? Then you should set up a Skype language course and sell classes to people from anywhere in the world while staying in your home. You could easily charge $20-$60/hour and work part-time on it.

Growing your client base is all about building an online presence and getting referrals from your existing customers. In the beginning, you could boost your initial customers by providing them with a free 1-hour call.

Resources : Here’s a long guide for beginners on how to make $30/hour teaching languages and 6 places to get your first clients.

33) Bookkeeping

Description : You don’t need to have a finance degree in order to be able to manage a local business’s bookkeeping records. An online course or even just some Youtube videos would be more than enough to start with. As all businesses require such work to be done, you probably won’t have big issues finding your first customers.

The initial investment costs are super low, as you can ask the business owner to supply you with the needed tools. As for monetization, most bookkeepers charge per hour and the amount depends on the complexity of the tasks ($30-$100 or more).

Resources : Here’s a detailed video on how to start a bookkeeping business in 2021.

34) Jewelry Business

Description : This is a great startup idea for students because jewelry making isn’t as hard as it sounds. You can easily learn about it through online courses and Youtube tutorials. You will then need to practice a lot until you start getting great results. Profit margins can be really high when you achieve a nice looking product.

There’s a ton of competition in the jewelry space so you will have to identify a niche. Social media (particularly influencers) are among the most usual strategies carried out by this kind of businesses.

Resources : Shopify has a detailed guide on how to start such businesses. Besides that, a few years ago we interviewed , on this site, the founder of a jewelry business that shut down and then emerged again with a new business model just to start making +10k/month.

35) Baking Business

Description : Selling cakes, cookies, bread or other baked goods can be another startup business idea for students. You can easily post an online ad or some leaflets around your campus. Make a client happy, and you will have 3 new ones. The food industry works a lot with word of mouth.

There are two main ways to monetize this. The first would be to prepare the goods based on requests from customers. The second could be to produce 100 cookies, rent a bike, and wander around the campus and neighborhood looking for hungry people. The chosen price for the cookies would be cheaper than if it’s a requested job.

Resources : Here’s a detailed article on how to set up and grow such a business. You should also watch this video from the founder of a “late-night cookie delivery service” in his college city.

36) Youtuber

Description : Becoming a YouTuber looks like a easy and lucrative career. Many see it as a great business plan idea for students because you make videos on a niche that you enjoy and then make money off them through ads and sponsorships. But the reality is that becoming a well-known YouTuber is not an easy feat. 

Behind every famous one, there is a long, painful journey of hard work. Start by creating content and keep iterating from there with the help of your audience. It won't be an overnight success, but if you keep going for some time, you'll see amazing results.

Resources : Here’s an article about a checklist to become a successful Youtuber.

How Can a Student Start a Business?

Or in other words, how do you become a student entrepreneur?

The list of business plan ideas for college students mentioned above is nonsense if you don’t now take action toward the chosen business.

If you are a Business student, you probably have an idea of what are the steps that involve setting up and launching a business. However, all kinds of students read this article, so here are some common steps that entrepreneurs carry out:

1) Decide on the idea

All of the business ideas for college students on the list are really interesting ways of making money, but you definitely can’t work on them all.

To decide which to focus on, make sure to think about what you enjoy doing in your free time, what you excel in, and what would you be willing to keep doing even if it doesn’t bring money (or it means negative numbers). We have compiled a list of both online business ideas and offline business ideas so you can pick the one that best suit your needs and skills. We hope we came up with some innovative startup business ideas for students that you would have never imagined.

Make sure to also consider your initial investment. Some featured in the list are business ideas for college students without investment or little resources, while some others will require a few hundred or thousands to start.

Note that some of the above are business ideas for students in university (or would work better with them) and others are business ideas for students in school (those that don’t require much money and getting physically involved).

2) Decide on a niche

Nowadays, there are businesses of all sizes and shapes. Building one has become so easy that the internet is full of websites, millions of videos are uploaded to Youtube every second, and thousands of LLCs are formed every day.

This means that there’s a lot of competition in any industry. The best solution for students who don’t have enough resources to invest in research and development and build a unique product or don’t have the capital required to set up a huge factory and win over competitors through economies of scale (= low pricing), is to focus on a niche.

A common niche could be to geographically limit the business so that you just focus on people within your neighborhood or your college campus. Another could be to focus on people with certain interests and likes.

3) Choose a name and a brand style

Here’s a detailed article on how to choose a name for your startup. The key is to brainstorm many, evaluate each option, and ask for feedback from your partners.

As for branding, here’s another article on how to build the brand of a business. There are free tools to do it. Don’t spend much money/time on it, at least at the beginning.

4) Launch the business

It’s now time to push the LIVE button for your business.

This needs to happen as fast as possible so that you quickly validate whether it is worth it to keep pushing towards that business idea or it’s better to move to a new one from the above list of entrepreneurship ideas for students.

There’s a common issue entrepreneurs face when launching new startups that’s called “ paralysis by analysis ”. They keep improving the product, adding features, changing the design, etc, and spend months and months without launching it.

This is exactly what you need to avoid, especially if this is your first business. 90% of startups fail (I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this), so you need to launch fast, validate early, and move to another business if it didn’t work.

5) Market your business

You pushed the LIVE button and you didn't get any sales, right?

The “build it and they will come” phrase is a completely unreal myth . It will take you blood, sweat, and tears to get your first clients.

Do some advertising, go outside your home and deliver leaflets (there actually are some unique business ideas for students at home above, in case you’re too lazy), knock on your neighbor’s doors, send cold messages to potential customers that you found on Facebook groups, etc.

6) Make sure your customer is happy

Many of the college business ideas tend to market themselves by word of mouth and referrals. That is why it’s essential to make sure that each of your clients is happy with the results.

Interact with your customers, ask them what they think you could do better next time, provide them with a discount if any parts of the job were done incorrectly… there are so many ways to make your client happy, even if the price of the service is high or the quality of the work wasn’t the best.

If the business is going well, you will soon find yourself with many tasks under your belt and little time to work on them, along with studies and extracurricular activities.

That’s when you might start considering hiring your first employee. In order to avoid the risks of going into negative numbers during a bad month, you can work on a commission-based wage.

In this stage, the selection of new team members is essential. Remember that word of mouth can be a key way of promotion and marketing. If you hire someone who has zero knowledge of the tasks they are required for, delivers low-quality work, or mistreats clients, you will soon find yourself ceasing operations.

Now It’s Your Turn!

There is no direct and simple answer to the question of how to start a business in college.

As smooth as the above startup ideas for students may sound, they will all inevitably require a lot of dedication and perseverance.

There is an abundance of resources at your fingertips, from valuable classes to school technologies, and access to professors. So make use of them in the best way possible, and if the idea still doesn’t seem feasible, lay the groundwork for it.

You would be getting practical knowledge and work experience before finishing the course. Even if it fails. Remember that college is the time to blossom and experiment, and it is only the beginning of your life journey.

If you have any questions, have other small business ideas for students you think we’re missing, or want us to help you with your new startup, make sure to reach us at [email protected] !

Which Business is Best For Students?

Here are some of the best businesses: flip websites, re-sell sneakers or tickets, baby or pet sitting, deliver writing, design or development services, start a blog, sell your class notes, become a tutor, organize others’ trips, organize parties, and create a campus newsletter or podcast.

What Kind Of Business Can a Student Start?

Students can start all kinds of businesses, but it’s really common that they start a service-based one, such as house cleaning, pool cleaning, food delivery, content writing, content transcription, graphic design, and website development, among others.

First, decide your business idea and choose the segment of the market that you’ll be serving. Then, choose a business name and design your business’ brand. Once it is launched, market your business in your neighborhood or campus. Finally, hire employees and scale it!

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35 Best Profitable Tech Startup Ideas for Beginners [With Examples]

35+ actionable & promising startup ideas that you can try out right now at an affordable cost.

Ever had a headache to find a great idea for a tech startup?

You know the best way to start a tech business industry is to get an idea . But 2020 and 2021 weren’t that great for most businesses out there due to the pandemic situation.

However, any crisis can bring out the perfect business solution; all you need to have is the right idea to tune in to the situation. As an example, look at the sales businesses made by selling facial masks and sanitisers.

The post-Covid world will mainly depend on the power of the internet, and for the same reason, most businesses are rapidly moving online.

Over the past several months, you might have witnessed how the pandemic had forced many small and large scale businesses to move online. This massive online migration of small and large scale businesses unfolds new possibilities for tech startups to build unique models for these businesses .

So, why don’t we spend some time together researching some promising new tech startup ideas that could help you build your business empire!

What are the Best Tech Startup Ideas to Watch for in 2023?

One thing is for sure: the evolution of technology in recent years proves that unless businesses are adopting the latest available tech in the market, they will get eliminated from the game of business.

With a rising number of new tech or software startups growing and receiving funds for their unique business models, many new opportunities are arising for them amidst the Covid-19 at rampage.

Let’s get straight into the complete list of 21 promising tech startup ideas that have impacted 2021 and will have immense potential in 2022.

Here are the Most Profitable Tech Ideas for Startup:

1. artificial intelligence.

For the past decade, AI has been gaining a lot of attention, and there’s no doubt AI would evolve even further. In the future, most mainstream businesses will be equipped with AI, thus opening numerous tech startup opportunities.

Nowadays, AI can read for us, speak, write, hear, see, and analyse things in terms of videos and photographs. All of this is completely transforming organisations and helping them re-imagine and streamline their business processes. Read the advantages of AI in mobile app development .

For many industries, this Covid-19 pandemic was disastrous. But, it only accelerated the use of AI across the U.S economy. During this time, many companies started to create new services for remote workers and students. They build up online shopping, dining options, make customer call centres more efficient, and speed up development of essential drugs.

With the increased infection rates and bio lab cases due to the pandemic situation, AI plays a crucial role in maintaining the analysis of those overwhelming volumes of data.

Today, one out of 10 organisations uses more than 10 AI applications. It includes chatbox, security, fraud detector, and more. The increase in adoption of machine learning across industries has proved that how its algorithms and techniques are solving complex real-world problems efficiently.

AI.Reverie, Anodot, Dataiku, BigML, etc., are examples of leading AI startups shaping the AI industry.

The business you choose should resonate with your skill and market demand. Love to code? Then a build a software company. Check out some trending business ideas now .

So, from healthcare to IT services and cybersecurity, startups have a plethora of areas to be explored. And in 2022, the demand for them is only going to increase.

2. Telehealth and Virtual Medical Services

The one thing that changed a lot in the health industry during the past year is tech’s tremendous medical services involvement. For this case alone, many tech companies are streamlining their services for the healthcare industry.

Recent studies have shown that telecalling the patients could resolve about 80% of primary medical attention required. Furthermore, hospitals can improve their online healthcare system with the aid of virtual medical services.

These services open an abundance of tech startups opportunities to compete against more prominent players within the same industry. The demand for such services is increasing day by day as more and more startups discover its benefits like:

• It can help cut costs
• Shorten wait times
• Bring healthcare to people in rural areas
• Keep a close eye on newborns
• Help keep at-risk patients healthy by providing quick check-ins

It is not a pleasant way to wait in a doctor’s office and spend a long time. By having contact with other sick people, there’s a high chance that people might leave with diseases worse than what they came with. Telemedicine help avoids such risks, and that’s why it is booming now.

Read: Most Important Features Needed When Developing a Healthcare App

See how Telemedicine The Future Of Health Care.

3. Remote Working

As the Covid-19 pandemic has hit worldwide, “Work from Home” abbreviated as WFH, has gained popularity across the tech industry. But as months passed, we know how things escalated quickly.

Issues started arising as more and more companies began switching to a remote working model. Like it becomes more challenging to highlight professional achievements, the engagement between workers becomes much harder, etc. This problem gave rise to tech solutions like personal remote process automation.

Also Read: How to Work Effectively with Your Offshore Development Team: A Detailed Guide

4. EdTech Startup

The industry that gained the most attention during these uncertain times is the education industry. When students, teachers, and their families feel burned out from pandemic learning, companies that market online learning tools to schools were enjoying a coronavirus windfall. Investors are happy to invest high in EdTech startups.

According to CB Insights report , (a firm that tracks startups and venture capital), venture and equity financing for EdTech startups has more than doubled. This means it rises from $4.81 billion in 2019 to $12.58 billion worldwide last year.

With all those schools, institutions, and other academic centers taking their business entirely online, startups secure funds and grow even as Covid-19 continues.

Even in the post-pandemic world, many organisations have already taken initiatives in designing a suitable online curriculum.

The increasing demands for online coaching businesses are also showing how vast the opportunities for tech startups are within the EdTech industry.

Most startups depend on venture capitalists, angel investors, and microloans to raise funding. Want to explore other flexible funding options?

Read now: Different sources of funding for startups

Byju’s is an EdTech company from India, which spread its wings all over the world. See how much does it cost to create an eLearning app like Byju’s.

Also Read: All You Need to Know Before Developing a Winning E-learning App

5. Biotech Startup

Many biotech startups emerge every year alongside the rapid growth of technology. Such startups gain publicity and support from angel investors and governments because biotechs are essential to improving human life quality.

Many of these companies attract entrepreneurs, executives, and investors because the payoffs can be huge when breakthroughs are made. However, the challenges faced are not easy, either.

If lots of caution and innovative ideas proceed, you can have a massive opportunity as a tech startup to impress investors and receive multimillion-dollar investments and even attract the media and gain some fame.

See how young VC-backed founders share their stories on launching BioTech Startup.

6. Robotic Delivery

It is not a simple task for entrepreneurs to run robotics startups. Yet the number of robotics startups working on groundbreaking technologies are growing in numbers.

Robotics have been fast-growing for the past few years, but the current pandemic situation accelerated its growth even further, giving every startup a chance to up their game.

The astounding number of efficiencies that robotics perform in limiting human-to-human interaction has helped fight the virus. This adds a higher demand for robotics in upcoming years where autonomous robots are brought to most businesses’ front lines. Amazon is working towards perfecting their drone delivery system.

So, if you are thinking of a robotics startup, you should learn the do’s and don’ts on building it as it grows and matures.

7. eCommerce Startup

Are you thinking of starting an eCommerce business ?

As reported by Forbes , in the first quarter of 2021, the U.S. eCommerce sales grew by 39% year after year to $199 billion. This growth is only increasing, as global e-commerce sales are predicted to reach $4.2 trillion this year.

Developing a simple and easy website along with a mobile app is all you need to grow your eCommerce business. Talking about the eCommerce business, now is the best time to start one.

In almost every sector, the eCommerce industry is booming. From running a top-rated online fashion store to selling old pieces, it should all work.

The purchase behaviour of people has changed a lot ever since Covid-19 has hit the world. People enjoy the ease of online shopping as well as the websites providing deals and discounts.

They heavily rely on eCommerce to shop for everything from essential goods to holiday gifts. This is not just an eCommerce acceleration, but a massive shift in user behaviour which opens doors for startups in the eCommerce sector.

No matter if a thousand more tech startup founders emerge under the eCommerce sector, there are still plenty of opportunities arising each day. You have to find the right niche to start your business.

Alternatively, you can be the shovel seller rather than mining gold. This means you could start giving various services for those who are new to the eCommerce business.

Even with the restrictions of being a student, building your startup is feasible. The first and foremost thing to consider is to find a business idea and gather the intel required. Here is a an ultimate one-stop guide to launching your startup as a student.

Either way, there’s no better time for launching this business than today. Ali baba, Amazon are leading companies in the eCommerce sector. Take a look at the Complete, 10-Step Guide to starting a business .

8. Internet of Things

In this technology driven world, the internet connects everyone from every part of the world. Similar to that, the products and services can be connected to each other through mechanical devices embedded with sensory chips and software that helps in the exchange of data with other devices without human intervention.

This can be used to improve efficiency of devices and help you enable new services that promote safety and environmental benefits. Internet of Things (IOT) is the new future and companies are already incorporating it in their products.

The local camera and door lock systems use your mobile phones to communicate with the devices kept at your home and ensure better safety and avoid miscommunication.

9. Social Media Influencer

“use Signal, “the controversial tweet from Elon Musk that increased the number of users for Signal in a single day. This is an excellent example of how a person can influence a vast crowd with a simple tweet.

Suppose you are willing to work on your social media presence and give the netizens the information as a credible source. In that case, your followers will increase, giving you the power of opinion to many people. Marketing firms utilise this power to promote products or services among the public.

Since the opinion is coming from someone they trust, they will be influenced. There are a lot of social media influencers today, so to earn your mark, you would have to work hard, and your work should be trustworthy.

Read: 13 App Marketing Strategies That Startups Must Know

10. VR and Gaming Arcade

Virtual reality computing (VR) has a whole new set of opportunities for you to venture. With the introduction of the metaverse, the VR industry is getting ready to soar high.

What’s better than gaming? Living the game.

People want to experience the events of the game in real life, and VR makes it possible. The gaming industry is growing, with gamers going live on YouTube and making a decent income.

Many games are now designed for VR specifications like Batman: Arkham VR, suggesting the gaming industry’s shift to VR. Don’t be under the fact that VR can only be used for gaming; there are a lot of applications for this.

Social interaction through VR is possible nowadays. You can take a tour of properties on a real estate platform from your home without moving an inch. Attending social events has never been more accessible, and distance is never a problem.

In these pandemic times, VR can help with providing better quality schooling to students without actually going to school.

11. Cyber Security Services

Privacy is the utmost concern in these technology-driven times. With all our information available in digital form, there is a massive concern about our data falling into the hands of others who misuse them.

Scams, malware, ransomware, etc., are increasing day by day, calling for foolproof data security. A cyber security expert can rule out any chances of data breach. Cyber security market is expected to reach $352.25 billion by 2026 and this makes launching a cyber security startup a good idea. Take a look at this mobile security checklist to keep your application safe.

Pro tip: “You need high coding proficiency to excel here.”

12. Digital Marketing

To attract the new crowd, we go where they spend most of their time. It was in front of a television a few years back, and now it’s their phones. In this digital era, marketing has found new ways to attract potential customers.

If you are looking for a great tech startup idea, digital marketing is a great online business idea if you have the right creative team.

The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the digital marketing world has improved the chances of getting personalised pitches to customers. Uber, Airbnb are all examples of companies that use AI to create marketing campaigns. AI also helped reduce work for people as they optimised the search results based on the need and capabilities of the customer.

Even with a massive opportunity for growth in the field, you have to be picky when hiring. Your team is what will determine the success of this promising idea. The creativity and innovative minds of the social media marketer are the critical catalysts for your growth in this industry.

13. Data Analysis Firm

The use of the internet has grown exponentially over the last few years. With the increased number of users, the data they upload and consume is humongous. A big data company analyses this data of the users for various purposes.

This data can be used to understand the marketing strategies to target the customers. Learn the likes and dislikes of the majority and devise a method for a specific set of potential customers.

Data analysis is required while doing software or app development to understand the customer. Social networking sites like Facebook use these data analytics to find people and suggest people you may know.

Machine learning software is optimised through data analysis. This improves the scope of robotics, automation, self-driving mechanisms, etc., where the machine learns to do its work through data analysis.

Pro tip: “Background in mathematics, economics, or finance is an added advantage.”

14. On-Demand Services

We all have demands; when we are hungry, we need food. While sitting on that comfy couch, we don’t want to get up and go out to get it. Like a gift from God, we have Uber food delivery at your doorstep. That is a prime example of on-demand services.

We can get products and services just by searching online in the comfort of our homes. There are a lot of services ranging from food delivery to cleaning to choose from. The quality of the service you provide will determine your position in the market.

This is a highly competitive industry as many companies have established their place in the market. If you can give the customers what they desire at a reasonable price, there is always a market open for you.

Also Read: A Step by Step Guide to Build an On-Demand Courier Delivery App

15. Fintech

Fintech or financial technology is aimed to remove the traditional financial services to an online service. PayPal is a fintech company that primarily deals with the transfer of funds. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Fintech deals with digital lending credit, cryptocurrency transfers, trading, insurance, and so much more. Anything that deals with finances online is a part of Fintech. Digital wallets are now widely used and accepted. This eliminates the hassle of carrying money and keeping it safe and easy to give the exact change when needed.

The boom in the crypt world has increased the market for this service. As this deals with finances, you have to be careful with the security of the funds deposited by the people. Though it is a high-risk and expertise-required field, it has a future if you are up to the task.

Check out the 15 things you didn’t know about the Fintech Industry

16. Health and Renewable Energy

The Covid-19 pandemic has created a sense of health awareness all around the globe. More people are inclined towards choosing a healthier lifestyle. Many apps and software are developed to help them through this journey.

We have seen considerable developments in the field of health. Many companies have profited from this pandemic with the help of their impeccable products and services. For tech startup ideas, you can always create an app that focuses on health and exercise. There is also an opportunity of creating new innovative machines that can replace traditional tools to give a more accurate service.

In health, people are also now more than ever inclined to clean energy sources like solar and electricity. Carbon footprint reduction is also a significant prospect for many companies. This is an upcoming trend and has the scope of high scalability if you have the right business plan.

Tesla is now dominating the electric car market, look for a way to tap into those renewable resources, and you will have yourself a successful business idea .

17. Business Incubator

Incubators provide everything for a startup to thrive and grow – from workspace to funds. You can attract valuable talent if you have an ideal location to provide services for the new upcoming CEOs. You need to provide them with basic facilities like electricity, office space, internet connectivity, etc.

The main catch of this startup is that you wouldn’t need to start big. You can start small and grow along the way.

18. Travel and Tourism Agency

During this pandemic, tourism had a downfall, but it is bouncing back more vital than ever, and you can get a piece of this action. Many people are coming forward with the urge to travel to new places but lack a clear idea of planning the trip with minimal expenditure.

With you providing them the perfect itinerary to travel, many will come for your services, and if you give them the whole package deal of accommodation and travel routes, you will have a decent startup in your hands.

Not only the travel enthusiasts but you could also attract business travel clients.

American Express Global Business Travel is one such example.

19. Custom Drone Building

Drones are now used widely for surveillance, and now it has evolved into a sport of drone racing with colossal prize money up for grabs.

Professional drone racing requires custom-made drones, and you could start small with the expertise and scale it to good heights.

20. Freelance Work

Do you have exceptional skills sought by many?

If yes, then freelancing is the best way to sell your skills. Many companies require professionals to do work at a fast pace and with quality. With your skills, you can grab opportunities like those to create a way income for yourself without the pressure of a 9 to 5 job.

You can do your work in your own time and present them for an agreed remuneration. Many are registered on sites like Upwork , Fiverr, etc., where freelance work is available. The growth in social media has also contributed to the development of freelance workers.

21. 3D printing

The 3D printing industry is an underrated startup idea. From building houses to organs for transplantation, 3D printing is slowly introduced into many sectors and is growing day by day. The expenses of printing items have come down, and this is an excellent time to tap this emerging industry.

You have to keep in mind that even if you have a 3D printer, it will not be enough. You need to get expert knowledge before starting, and you have to do a bit of advertising to attract possible customers.

Bonus Infographic – Tech Business Ideas

22. Data Mining

The world is moving towards a data-driven economy. To make decisions on all spheres, a company needs information, and they depend on data to function smoothly.

Data mining is the process of finding patterns, correlations etc., from a vast set of data to predict outcomes. It is used to understand customer mentality, task allocation, risk reduction and many other factors that help run a business. As far as a tech startup idea is concerned data mining can be a promising field with the right resources.

23. SEO Agency

With most of the customer base turning to online methods, new companies are also trying to establish and reinforce online presence. Your company details need to show up at the top of the search engine to make that a reality. SEO specialists will help you achieve this.

SEO specialists help businesses optimise their online presence by making their online content more search-friendly. Content optimisation is just the tip of the iceberg; SEO specialists handle link building, analytics tracking and many more processes to help improve the page ranking of your website, all the while consistently seeking the best SEO software for agencies to ensure a seamless optimization experience.

24. Web Designing Service

A business that wishes to create an impact on its customers needs a website that is unique and creative. If you have skills in designing and coding, web designing will prove to be fruitful for you.

An average customer constantly searches online as the first research mode before buying a product or service. If a company has a website with all the details in a professional fashion, it will help to increase the credibility of the company and acquire a reasonable conversion rate.

So the demand for a great web designing company is always present in the market.

25. Software Development Service

Software requirements for each company are different. They need solutions for the particular problem they are facing at the moment. Software is required in different sections for the company like user interface, backend architecture, and so much more. Though it is an aged field, the growth rate in the industry is still strong.

If you are a skilled software developer, you can freelance your work or start a software development company. Starting your own business to create programs for the client specifications can be a highly profitable domain.

26. Mobile Application Development

Mobile applications are a great tech startup idea in this era tech-driven era. There are thousands of apps in app stores. Developing your own apps or apps for clients is a great way to start a profitable business.

With a development team with specific skill sets, you can develop mobile apps using different technologies across platforms like Android, Apple etc.

27. Cloud-Based Services

The new data-centric world is flooding online platforms with customers’ data. Companies need to be careful with the data they collect, and businesses need a safe backup system to gather and store data.

This is where a cloud-based service comes into play. If you can offer cloud technology to businesses and charge them based on the space they use this is a tech startup idea that can help you raise a profitable business. Companies are constantly on the lookout for cloud services, and with the proper software management, you can step in to help them.

28. Social Media Consultancy

Social media is a powerful tool to communicate to a wide audience. Many businesses need experts to manage it for them. Managing an active social media presence can help a business grow rapidly. If you know how to wield that social media sword properly, this is the right business for you.

Social media consultancy is not limited to businesses, many celebrities need to have an active social media presence. Even politicians require good social media experts to reach the people positively and not let them say things that will get them banned on Twitter.

29. UX Service

User Experience services or UX services are mainly involved in creating a stable interaction between the service user and products. This is an essential part of an online platform. The features you offer through UX services will help businesses increase their conversion rate.

If you have the knowledge and creativity in creating UX services, this field of business will help you on your road to success.

Learn more: Top 9 Mobile Usability Issues and Solutions to Fix Them

30. Live Chat Service

Live chat services are now popular among businesses. Customers require answers to their queries in real-time, and if you can manage to create a team that can deliver this service with quality, there is always a market present for you.

Customer engagement is an integral part of every business as it will help clear all the doubts of customers and get them to make a purchase.

Also Read: How to Manage Your Tech Startup as a Non-tech Person

31. Chatbot Creator

Chatbots are necessary for a business to filter queries that need human assistance. Creating chatbots for companies is an excellent business to start now as more and more businesses have online customers, and they need chatbots to handle that volume. With a chatbot, customer queries can be answered quickly and efficiently.

32. Web Analytics Service

Website analytics help businesses perform better. The customer journey through a website is a goldmine of data for a company. They can analyse their problems and improve their functionality to improve customer experience. Ab web analytics service can tell businesses how they can turn cluttered customer data into growth opportunities.

33. Crypto Mining

Cryptocurrency has become a household term nowadays, and there are miners everywhere. With the boom of bitcoin, more and more cryptocurrencies have taken the main stage like Cardano, Etherium etc., with the right analytical knowledge setting up mines is a profitable venture.

Crypto mining takes up a lot of energy, especially bitcoin mining, so a sizeable initial capital might be spent to create the farms required for the mining process. If you have the resources at your disposal and a keen eye for the crypto market, you can mine a fortune.

Non-fungible tokens are cryptographic assets in the blockchain with unique identification codes. NFTs are profitable investments you can make; they are like unique pictures like the Mona Lisa, which you will have sole possession of.

Before you head into the NFT market, be sure to be well versed with the NFT market and its statistics before proceeding. Even though NFTs are rewarding, they are subjected to different market fluctuations. You can either build NFTs or invest in them based on your skillset and resources.

35. Meta Real Estate

With the introduction of the metaverse, new windows of opportunities are opening before us. Owning prime real estate properties and managing real estate in the metaverse is becoming a new normal. With proper research , you can create a profitable business out of it. Properties worth millions of dollars have been sold, and if you become a meta expert, you can get a piece of that action too.

There’s no doubt a successful business does give you financial freedom. With the above list, I have presented you with some of the best tech startup ideas to build your business in 2022.

However, you need to know that everyone does have some ideas. Even though ideas are great, it alone could never build a successful startup.

Your priority is to determine whether the idea you have within you is a scalable one . If so, you need to hire the right app developers to successfully develop your product. Always remember, it’s not an easy task to run a tech startup company, so don’t refrain from asking for help. Having a tech partner like NeoITO can guide you in this journey.

We helped many startups build their businesses from scratch and guide them by giving free startup product development consultations. Most importantly, we helped them achieve financial freedom by developing their idea into a business model.

Now you have some amazing and promising tech startup ideas. Want to learn more about if you’re really ready to convert your ideas into a business? Then check out our expert take on great signs you’re ready to start your own business which will help you take the next big step!

PREVIOUS BLOG:

Top 15 profitable software startup ideas for emerging entrepreneurs, 17 pro tips to pitch your tech startup ideas effectively.

Abdu Rahman is a marketing professional with over 5 years of experience. He currently heads the team at NeoITO, specializing in SaaS startups and optimization. He is known for his strategic thinking, data-driven campaigns, and experience in B2B and B2C markets. Abdu is passionate about staying updated with the latest marketing trends and experimenting with new technologies.

We are NeoITO A team of engineers, product managers & strategists helping you build enterprise-grade products and scale your business 2x faster.

8+years | 100+ Projects | 100+ Startups Impacted | $50 Million+ raised by startup clients

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24 of My Favorite Sample Business Plans & Examples For Your Inspiration

Published: February 06, 2024

I believe that reading sample business plans is essential when writing your own.

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As you explore business plan examples from real companies and brands, it’s easier for you to learn how to write a good one.

But what does a good business plan look like? And how do you write one that’s both viable and convincing. I’ll walk you through the ideal business plan format along with some examples to help you get started.

Table of Contents

Business Plan Format

Business plan types, sample business plan templates, top business plan examples.

Ask any successful sports coach how they win so many games, and they’ll tell you they have a unique plan for every single game. To me, the same logic applies to business.

If you want to build a thriving company that can pull ahead of the competition, you need to prepare for battle before breaking into a market.

Business plans guide you along the rocky journey of growing a company. And if your business plan is compelling enough, it can also convince investors to give you funding.

With so much at stake, I’m sure you’re wondering where to begin.

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First, you’ll want to nail down your formatting. Most business plans include the following sections.

1. Executive Summary

I’d say the executive summary is the most important section of the entire business plan. 

Why? Essentially, it's the overview or introduction, written in a way to grab readers' attention and guide them through the rest of the business plan. This is important, because a business plan can be dozens or hundreds of pages long.

There are two main elements I’d recommend including in your executive summary:

Company Description

This is the perfect space to highlight your company’s mission statement and goals, a brief overview of your history and leadership, and your top accomplishments as a business.

Tell potential investors who you are and why what you do matters. Naturally, they’re going to want to know who they’re getting into business with up front, and this is a great opportunity to showcase your impact.

Need some extra help firming up those business goals? Check out HubSpot Academy’s free course to help you set goals that matter — I’d highly recommend it

Products and Services

To piggyback off of the company description, be sure to incorporate an overview of your offerings. This doesn’t have to be extensive — just another chance to introduce your industry and overall purpose as a business.

In addition to the items above, I recommend including some information about your financial projections and competitive advantage here too.:

Keep in mind you'll cover many of these topics in more detail later on in the business plan. So, keep the executive summary clear and brief, and only include the most important takeaways.

Executive Summary Business Plan Examples

This example was created with HubSpot’s business plan template:

This executive summary is so good to me because it tells potential investors a short story while still covering all of the most important details.

Image Source

Tips for Writing Your Executive Summary

• Start with a strong introduction of your company, showcase your mission and impact, and outline the products and services you provide.
• Clearly define a problem, and explain how your product solves that problem, and show why the market needs your business.
• Be sure to highlight your value proposition, market opportunity, and growth potential.
• Keep it concise and support ideas with data.
• Customize your summary to your audience. For example, emphasize finances and return on investment for venture capitalists.

Check out our tips for writing an effective executive summary for more guidance.

2. Market Opportunity

This is where you'll detail the opportunity in the market.

The main question I’d ask myself here is this: Where is the gap in the current industry, and how will my product fill that gap?

More specifically, here’s what I’d include in this section:

• The size of the market
• Current or potential market share
• Trends in the industry and consumer behavior
• Where the gap is
• What caused the gap
• How you intend to fill it

To get a thorough understanding of the market opportunity, you'll want to conduct a TAM, SAM, and SOM analysis and perform market research on your industry.

You may also benefit from creating a SWOT analysis to get some of the insights for this section.

Market Opportunity Business Plan Example

I like this example because it uses critical data to underline the size of the potential market and what part of that market this service hopes to capture.

Tips for Writing Your Market Opportunity Section

• Focus on demand and potential for growth.
• Use market research, surveys, and industry trend data to support your market forecast and projections.
• Add a review of regulation shifts, tech advances, and consumer behavior changes.
• Refer to reliable sources.
• Showcase how your business can make the most of this opportunity.

3. Competitive Landscape

Since we’re already speaking of market share, you'll also need to create a section that shares details on who the top competitors are.

After all, your customers likely have more than one brand to choose from, and you'll want to understand exactly why they might choose one over another.

My favorite part of performing a competitive analysis is that it can help you uncover:

• Industry trends that other brands may not be utilizing
• Strengths in your competition that may be obstacles to handle
• Weaknesses in your competition that may help you develop selling points
• The unique proposition you bring to the market that may resonate with customers

Competitive Landscape Business Plan Example

I like how the competitive landscape section of this business plan below shows a clear outline of who the top competitors are.

It also highlights specific industry knowledge and the importance of location, which shows useful experience in this specific industry. 

This can help build trust in your ability to execute your business plan.

Tips for Writing Your Competitive Landscape

• Complete in-depth research, then emphasize your most important findings.
• Compare your unique selling proposition (USP) to your direct and indirect competitors.
• Show a clear and realistic plan for product and brand differentiation.
• Look for specific advantages and barriers in the competitive landscape. Then, highlight how that information could impact your business.
• Outline growth opportunities from a competitive perspective.
• Add customer feedback and insights to support your competitive analysis.

4. Target Audience

Use this section to describe who your customer segments are in detail. What is the demographic and psychographic information of your audience?

If your immediate answer is "everyone," you'll need to dig deeper. Here are some questions I’d ask myself here:

• What demographics will most likely need/buy your product or service?
• What are the psychographics of this audience? (Desires, triggering events, etc.)
• Why are your offerings valuable to them?

I’d also recommend building a buyer persona to get in the mindset of your ideal customers and be clear on why you're targeting them.

Target Audience Business Plan Example

I like the example below because it uses in-depth research to draw conclusions about audience priorities. It also analyzes how to create the right content for this audience.

Tips for Writing Your Target Audience Section

• Include details on the size and growth potential of your target audience.
• Figure out and refine the pain points for your target audience , then show why your product is a useful solution.
• Describe your targeted customer acquisition strategy in detail.
• Share anticipated challenges your business may face in acquiring customers and how you plan to address them.
• Add case studies, testimonials, and other data to support your target audience ideas.
• Remember to consider niche audiences and segments of your target audience in your business plan.

5. Marketing Strategy

Here, you'll discuss how you'll acquire new customers with your marketing strategy. I’d suggest including information:

• Your brand positioning vision and how you'll cultivate it
• The goal targets you aim to achieve
• The metrics you'll use to measure success
• The channels and distribution tactics you'll use

I think it’s helpful to have a marketing plan built out in advance to make this part of your business plan easier.

Marketing Strategy Business Plan Example

This business plan example includes the marketing strategy for the town of Gawler.

In my opinion, it really works because it offers a comprehensive picture of how they plan to use digital marketing to promote the community.

Tips for Writing Your Marketing Strategy

• Include a section about how you believe your brand vision will appeal to customers.
• Add the budget and resources you'll need to put your plan in place.
• Outline strategies for specific marketing segments.
• Connect strategies to earlier sections like target audience and competitive analysis.
• Review how your marketing strategy will scale with the growth of your business.
• Cover a range of channels and tactics to highlight your ability to adapt your plan in the face of change.

6. Key Features and Benefits

At some point in your business plan, you'll need to review the key features and benefits of your products and/or services.

Laying these out can give readers an idea of how you're positioning yourself in the market and the messaging you're likely to use. It can even help them gain better insight into your business model.

Key Features and Benefits Business Plan Example

In my opinion, the example below does a great job outlining products and services for this business, along with why these qualities will attract the audience.

Tips for Writing Your Key Features and Benefits

• Emphasize why and how your product or service offers value to customers.
• Use metrics and testimonials to support the ideas in this section.
• Talk about how your products and services have the potential to scale.
• Think about including a product roadmap.
• Focus on customer needs, and how the features and benefits you are sharing meet those needs.
• Offer proof of concept for your ideas, like case studies or pilot program feedback.
• Proofread this section carefully, and remove any jargon or complex language.

7. Pricing and Revenue

This is where you'll discuss your cost structure and various revenue streams. Your pricing strategy must be solid enough to turn a profit while staying competitive in the industry. 

For this reason, here’s what I’d might outline in this section:

• The specific pricing breakdowns per product or service
• Why your pricing is higher or lower than your competition's
• (If higher) Why customers would be willing to pay more
• (If lower) How you're able to offer your products or services at a lower cost
• When you expect to break even, what margins do you expect, etc?

Pricing and Revenue Business Plan Example

I like how this business plan example begins with an overview of the business revenue model, then shows proposed pricing for key products.

Tips for Writing Your Pricing and Revenue Section

• Get specific about your pricing strategy. Specifically, how you connect that strategy to customer needs and product value.
• If you are asking a premium price, share unique features or innovations that justify that price point.
• Show how you plan to communicate pricing to customers.
• Create an overview of every revenue stream for your business and how each stream adds to your business model as a whole.
• Share plans to develop new revenue streams in the future.
• Show how and whether pricing will vary by customer segment and how pricing aligns with marketing strategies.
• Restate your value proposition and explain how it aligns with your revenue model.

8. Financials

To me, this section is particularly informative for investors and leadership teams to figure out funding strategies, investment opportunities, and more.

 According to Forbes , you'll want to include three main things:

• Profit/Loss Statement - This answers the question of whether your business is currently profitable.
• Cash Flow Statement - This details exactly how much cash is incoming and outgoing to give insight into how much cash a business has on hand.
• Balance Sheet - This outlines assets, liabilities, and equity, which gives insight into how much a business is worth.

While some business plans might include more or less information, these are the key details I’d include in this section.

Financials Business Plan Example

This balance sheet is a great example of level of detail you’ll need to include in the financials section of your business plan.

Tips for Writing Your Financials Section

• Growth potential is important in this section too. Using your data, create a forecast of financial performance in the next three to five years.
• Include any data that supports your projections to assure investors of the credibility of your proposal.
• Add a break-even analysis to show that your business plan is financially practical. This information can also help you pivot quickly as your business grows.
• Consider adding a section that reviews potential risks and how sensitive your plan is to changes in the market.
• Triple-check all financial information in your plan for accuracy.
• Show how any proposed funding needs align with your plans for growth.

As you create your business plan, keep in mind that each of these sections will be formatted differently. Some may be in paragraph format, while others could be charts or graphs.

The formats above apply to most types of business plans. That said, the format and structure of your plan will vary by your goals for that plan. 

So, I’ve added a quick review of different business plan types. For a more detailed overview, check out this post .

1. Startups

Startup business plans are for proposing new business ideas.

If you’re planning to start a small business, preparing a business plan is crucial. The plan should include all the major factors of your business.

You can check out this guide for more detailed business plan inspiration .

2. Feasibility Studies

Feasibility business plans focus on that business's product or service. Feasibility plans are sometimes added to startup business plans. They can also be a new business plan for an already thriving organization.

3. Internal Use

You can use internal business plans to share goals, strategies, or performance updates with stakeholders. In my opinion, internal business plans are useful for alignment and building support for ambitious goals.

4. Strategic Initiatives

Another business plan that's often for sharing internally is a strategic business plan. This plan covers long-term business objectives that might not have been included in the startup business plan.

5. Business Acquisition or Repositioning

When a business is moving forward with an acquisition or repositioning, it may need extra structure and support. These types of business plans expand on a company's acquisition or repositioning strategy.

Growth sometimes just happens as a business continues operations. But more often, a business needs to create a structure with specific targets to meet set goals for expansion. This business plan type can help a business focus on short-term growth goals and align resources with those goals.

Now that you know what's included and how to format a business plan, let's review some of my favorite templates.

1. HubSpot's One-Page Business Plan

Download a free, editable one-page business plan template..

The business plan linked above was created here at HubSpot and is perfect for businesses of any size — no matter how many strategies we still have to develop.

Fields such as Company Description, Required Funding, and Implementation Timeline give this one-page business plan a framework for how to build your brand and what tasks to keep track of as you grow.

Then, as the business matures, you can expand on your original business plan with a new iteration of the above document.

Why I Like It

This one-page business plan is a fantastic choice for the new business owner who doesn’t have the time or resources to draft a full-blown business plan. It includes all the essential sections in an accessible, bullet-point-friendly format. That way, you can get the broad strokes down before honing in on the details.

2. HubSpot's Downloadable Business Plan Template

We also created a business plan template for entrepreneurs.

The template is designed as a guide and checklist for starting your own business. You’ll learn what to include in each section of your business plan and how to do it.

There’s also a list for you to check off when you finish each section of your business plan.

Strong game plans help coaches win games and help businesses rocket to the top of their industries. So if you dedicate the time and effort required to write a workable and convincing business plan, you’ll boost your chances of success and even dominance in your market.

This business plan kit is essential for the budding entrepreneur who needs a more extensive document to share with investors and other stakeholders.

It not only includes sections for your executive summary, product line, market analysis, marketing plan, and sales plan, but it also offers hands-on guidance for filling out those sections.

3. LiveFlow’s Financial Planning Template with built-in automation

This free template from LiveFlow aims to make it easy for businesses to create a financial plan and track their progress on a monthly basis.

The P&L Budget versus Actual format allows users to track their revenue, cost of sales, operating expenses, operating profit margin, net profit, and more.

The summary dashboard aggregates all of the data put into the financial plan sheet and will automatically update when changes are made.

Instead of wasting hours manually importing your data to your spreadsheet, LiveFlow can also help you to automatically connect your accounting and banking data directly to your spreadsheet, so your numbers are always up-to-date.

With the dashboard, you can view your runway, cash balance, burn rate, gross margins, and other metrics. Having a simple way to track everything in one place will make it easier to complete the financials section of your business plan.

This is a fantastic template to track performance and alignment internally and to create a dependable process for documenting financial information across the business. It’s highly versatile and beginner-friendly.

It’s especially useful if you don’t have an accountant on the team. (I always recommend you do, but for new businesses, having one might not be possible.)

4. ThoughtCo’s Sample Business Plan

One of the more financially oriented sample business plans in this list, BPlan’s free business plan template dedicates many of its pages to your business’s financial plan and financial statements.

After filling this business plan out, your company will truly understand its financial health and the steps you need to take to maintain or improve it.

I absolutely love this business plan template because of its ease-of-use and hands-on instructions (in addition to its finance-centric components). If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing an entire business plan, consider using this template to help you with the process.

6. Harvard Business Review’s "How to Write a Winning Business Plan"

Most sample business plans teach you what to include in your business plan, but this Harvard Business Review article will take your business plan to the next level — it teaches you the why and how behind writing a business plan.

With the guidance of Stanley Rich and Richard Gumpert, co-authors of " Business Plans That Win: Lessons From the MIT Enterprise Forum ", you'll learn how to write a convincing business plan that emphasizes the market demand for your product or service.

You’ll also learn the financial benefits investors can reap from putting money into your venture rather than trying to sell them on how great your product or service is.

This business plan guide focuses less on the individual parts of a business plan, and more on the overarching goal of writing one. For that reason, it’s one of my favorites to supplement any template you choose to use. Harvard Business Review’s guide is instrumental for both new and seasoned business owners.

7. HubSpot’s Complete Guide to Starting a Business

If you’re an entrepreneur, you know writing a business plan is one of the most challenging first steps to starting a business.

Fortunately, with HubSpot's comprehensive guide to starting a business, you'll learn how to map out all the details by understanding what to include in your business plan and why it’s important to include them. The guide also fleshes out an entire sample business plan for you.

If you need further guidance on starting a business, HubSpot's guide can teach you how to make your business legal, choose and register your business name, and fund your business. It will also give small business tax information and includes marketing, sales, and service tips.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of starting a business, in addition to writing your business plan, with a high level of exactitude and detail. So if you’re in the midst of starting your business, this is an excellent guide for you.

It also offers other resources you might need, such as market analysis templates.

8. Panda Doc’s Free Business Plan Template

PandaDoc’s free business plan template is one of the more detailed and fleshed-out sample business plans on this list. It describes what you should include in each section, so you don't have to come up with everything from scratch.

Once you fill it out, you’ll fully understand your business’ nitty-gritty details and how all of its moving parts should work together to contribute to its success.

This template has two things I love: comprehensiveness and in-depth instructions. Plus, it’s synced with PandaDoc’s e-signature software so that you and other stakeholders can sign it with ease. For that reason, I especially love it for those starting a business with a partner or with a board of directors.

9. Small Business Administration Free Business Plan Template

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers several free business plan templates that can be used to inspire your own plan.

Before you get started, you can decide what type of business plan you need — a traditional or lean start-up plan.

Then, you can review the format for both of those plans and view examples of what they might look like.

We love both of the SBA’s templates because of their versatility. You can choose between two options and use the existing content in the templates to flesh out your own plan. Plus, if needed, you can get a free business counselor to help you along the way.

I’ve compiled some completed business plan samples to help you get an idea of how to customize a plan for your business.

I chose different types of business plan ideas to expand your imagination. Some are extensive, while others are fairly simple.

Let’s take a look.

1. LiveFlow

One of the major business expenses is marketing. How you handle your marketing reflects your company’s revenue.

I included this business plan to show you how you can ensure your marketing team is aligned with your overall business plan to get results. The plan also shows you how to track even the smallest metrics of your campaigns, like ROI and payback periods instead of just focusing on big metrics like gross and revenue.

Fintech startup, LiveFlow, allows users to sync real-time data from its accounting services, payment platforms, and banks into custom reports. This eliminates the task of pulling reports together manually, saving teams time and helping automate workflows.

"Using this framework over a traditional marketing plan will help you set a profitable marketing strategy taking things like CAC, LTV, Payback period, and P&L into consideration," explains LiveFlow co-founder, Lasse Kalkar .

When it came to including marketing strategy in its business plan, LiveFlow created a separate marketing profit and loss statement (P&L) to track how well the company was doing with its marketing initiatives.

This is a great approach, allowing businesses to focus on where their marketing dollars are making the most impact. Having this information handy will enable you to build out your business plan’s marketing section with confidence. LiveFlow has shared the template here . You can test it for yourself.

2. Lula Body

Sometimes all you need is a solid mission statement and core values to guide you on how to go about everything. You do this by creating a business plan revolving around how to fulfill your statement best.

For example, Patagonia is an eco-friendly company, so their plan discusses how to make the best environmentally friendly products without causing harm.

A good mission statement  should not only resonate with consumers but should also serve as a core value compass for employees as well.

Patagonia has one of the most compelling mission statements I’ve seen:

"Together, let’s prioritise purpose over profit and protect this wondrous planet, our only home."

It reels you in from the start, and the environmentally friendly theme continues throughout the rest of the statement.

This mission goes on to explain that they are out to "Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to protect nature."

Their mission statement is compelling and detailed, with each section outlining how they will accomplish their goal.

4. Vesta Home Automation

This executive summary for a smart home device startup is part of a business plan created by students at Mount Royal University .

While it lacks some of the sleek visuals of the templates above, its executive summary does a great job of demonstrating how invested they are in the business.

Right away, they mention they’ve invested $200,000 into the company already, which shows investors they have skin in the game and aren’t just looking for someone else to foot the bill.

This is the kind of business plan you need when applying for business funds. It clearly illustrates the expected future of the company and how the business has been coming along over the years.

5. NALB Creative Center

This fictional business plan for an art supply store includes everything one might need in a business plan: an executive summary, a company summary, a list of services, a market analysis summary, and more.

One of its most notable sections is its market analysis summary, which includes an overview of the population growth in the business’ target geographical area, as well as a breakdown of the types of potential customers they expect to welcome at the store. 

This sort of granular insight is essential for understanding and communicating your business’s growth potential. Plus, it lays a strong foundation for creating relevant and useful buyer personas .

It’s essential to keep this information up-to-date as your market and target buyer changes. For that reason, you should carry out market research as often as possible to ensure that you’re targeting the correct audience and sharing accurate information with your investors.

Due to its comprehensiveness, it’s an excellent example to follow if you’re opening a brick-and-mortar store and need to get external funding to start your business .

6. Curriculum Companion Suites (CSS)

If you’re looking for a SaaS business plan example, look no further than this business plan for a fictional educational software company called Curriculum Companion Suites. 

Like the business plan for the NALB Creative Center, it includes plenty of information for prospective investors and other key stakeholders in the business.

One of the most notable features of this business plan is the executive summary, which includes an overview of the product, market, and mission.

The first two are essential for software companies because the product offering is so often at the forefront of the company’s strategy. Without that information being immediately available to investors and executives, then you risk writing an unfocused business plan.

It’s essential to front-load your company’s mission if it explains your "Why?" and this example does just that. In other words, why do you do what you do, and why should stakeholders care? This is an important section to include if you feel that your mission will drive interest in the business and its offerings.

7. Culina Sample Business Plan

Culina's sample business plan is an excellent example of how to lay out your business plan so that it flows naturally, engages readers, and provides the critical information investors and stakeholders need. 

You can use this template as a guide while you're gathering important information for your own business plan. You'll have a better understanding of the data and research you need to do since Culina’s plan outlines these details so flawlessly for inspiration.

8. Plum Sample Business Plan

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16 Best Business Ideas for Students with Little or No Investment

Last updated on: November 21, 2022 by Mani Karthik

Looking to start a new business, but not sure what or where to start? Look no further. Here are some of the best business ideas for students.

The entrepreneurial bug can bite anyone, anytime. Success in the entrepreneurial line does not discriminate based on age or gender, which means anybody can give it a shot, irrespective of their age.

The youth is definitely buzzing with ideas and energy. Channelising that energy and resources to start a side hustle is a great way for students to earn an extra income. If you are looking for ideas to use your free time to earn some extra bucks, and build your entrepreneurial muscle, here are ten business ideas for students like you. Also, a little extra money never hurts anyone! 🙂

1. Start a Website/Blog

2. become a youtuber/ start vlogging, 3. resell books, 4. sell on online marketplaces like fiverr, gumroad, dukaan, 5. become a model for stock photographs, 6. start a tutoring service, 7. event promotions, 8. t-shirt business, 9. food preparation business, 10. home baking business, 11. social media management, 12. social media influencer, 13. freelancer, 14. sell handmade craft like scrunchies, mask, 15. jewellery making, 16. child care, what can i sell as a student, how can students make money fast, what business can a 12-year-old start, what business can a 16-year-old start, business ideas for students.

Let’s start with the first one. Something very close to us here at Dukaan and probably voted the top among best business ideas for students.

Starting an own website or a blog is one of the most rewarding things for the new digital-age student. With a wide range of options with respect to free website and blog hosting platforms, it becomes even easier! Once up and running there are further options to monetise these properties.

Affiliate marketing, taking up sponsored posts, running ads etc are few of the many ways one could monetise a website/ blog. One great example of how successful you can become by starting a website is Umer Qureshi . He made a business out of affiliate marketing which makes about 50L a year – all at the age of 15!

Yet another high returns business idea is to become a Vlogger! Setting up an YT channel doesn’t take any investment. All you need is some familiarity with the platform and knowing the nitty-gritties of how it works.

The next few steps include understanding your target audience, finding your niche, branding yourself uniquely, and a basic setup that will help with the shoots and production. Once you are all set up and established, consistency in creating creative content is key. In no time, you will see a spike in followers and brands approaching you for paid promos.

Carryminati is an inspiring example to many. He started his YT channel about ten years ago in 2010 and is today the number one vlogger in India. Doesn’t his growth story speak volumes about the scope this business offers?

Many students are clueless about what to do about their used books and many go to trash. A better and a more benefitting thing to do would be to resell the used books every year/ semester. And whoever complains about some extra pocket money?! 😉

With many online platforms out there selling/ donating your books or any item that is not of use anymore, has become way easier and hassle-free. Read more about reselling business here .

Who said you need tangible products to be able to sell? How much ever niche your talent or ability is – you will have someone seeking your services/ consultation.

Be it logo designing, website development, UX/ UI designing, mascot building, animation , doodling, customized illustration.

And with digital platforms like Fiverr , Gumroad , and Dukaan , the gap between service provider and the seeker has been narrowed like never before.

Many students aspire to become models. What if we told you that you could start modelling while you are still in your school/ college and even earn money for it? That’s right. Modelling for stock photographers is something that students can explore. The good part is there’s something for everyone – and there are no strict standards that you need to meet in terms of height of physique. Stock photography is something more natural and realistic.

You could search for photographers on the stock photography websites and write to them directly expressing your interest in modelling. These modelling projects will not only earn you money but also groom and prepare you for professional modelling if you aspire to become a model.

And if you are a person who likes being behind the lens, you could also explore photography, click images, and sell it on digital platforms .

Teaching is the most novel way of earning some extra money for students. Imparting knowledge is the best way a student can give back to society. Pick your favourite subject and start an online tuition business. It is as simple as that. This fosters a two-way growth – it not only helps those who are seeking external help with a subject they struggle with but also helps you learn and grow better.

Reaching out to the student is also easier – a simple flyer or word-of-mouth within your circle of friends/ school/ college itself will help you gain enough traction.

If you are a social media junkie and have a boast-worthy number of followers, you could simply promote events happening in and around your city. This is a commission-based business idea.

Many event organisers are on a continuous lookout for economic, organic, and creative ways to market their events – be it exhibitions, parties, flea markets or weekend popup-stores.

They often handover the task to those with good followers on social media rather than investing heavily on paid ads. Again, a win-win for both parties.

One thing that never goes out of fashion is unarguably the T-Shirts. Regardless of their size, colour, material, and brand – there will be takers. T-Shirt wearers are more like a cult. Most of the trending t-shirt styles don’t belong to the big labels. Most of the designers are young quirky heads – even school/college students. Realising its money-making potential, students have turned t-shirt designing into a full-fledged business that includes printing, dying, and customization.

Artists and business owners can make creative designs that range from quotes to artwork depicting superheroes and pop culture, and print them on t-shirts. These can then be displayed and sold through various online channels. It’s a simple model that doesn’t require a lot of investment.

• Learn how to start a t-shirt business online.

If selling T-Shirts online was too easy, there’s the food business for the passionate.

Among the few businesses that flourished during the pandemic is the food business. Demand for simple, healthy and home-cooked meals is high, now more than ever. If cooking is your forte, you could use your free time to cook some basic homemade food or plan a limited menu to start your food business. You may even take help from the elders at home with the dos and don’ts of planning, cooking, packaging etc.

Healthy snacks are a hotbed for business folks today. You could go niche with sustainably packaged natural and organic healthy snacks.

If you’re passionate about starting your own food business, now is the time.

• Checkout 30 food business ideas with low investment.

Hotcakes sell like hotcakes – no kidding!

If you are good at following instructions, baking is one of the easiest things to do. Just follow the recipe and measurements, your cake is sure to turn out great. This is another online business idea for students that can grow big and is highly profitable.

If you are determined enough to start your baked goods business, you may even consider enrolling yourself in a baking class.

There are also countless free tutorials available online that break it down well for beginners. To make your cake business a success, all you need is time and continuous upskilling. It may seem to be a simple affair but the art of baking and decorating cakes is getting bigger and more involved every day.

The present-day cake market demands you to be an artist and not merely a baker.

One needs to draw, paint, sculpt, and continuously evolve creatively to stand out from the clutter. Networking is key too – small food businesses thrive on word-of-mouth popularity. Once established, you will need to collaborate with delivery partners if you want to grow your business.

Example: LocalBee India (Mr. Parshwa Mehta from Mumbai is selling home cooked food with help of Dukaan)

Gen-Z is a natural pro at social media and its management. They are absolute experts, and many are turning their social media skills into successful businesses by offering social media management services. Companies have realised the importance of social media and are hiring young students to strategize and manage their social media presence. These students charge monthly retainer fees that make for a good extra income.

To start, you need to have good knowledge of different social media platforms. Investing in tutorials on planning and executing paid campaigns will be a great place to start.

You also need to be hands-on with photo and video editing apps and possess qualitative copywriting skills to get your side hustle up and thriving.

This profession has only emerged in the last few years and has taken social media by storm.

Influencers are social media personalities who have a huge following and can potentially influence their followers with their clout. They leverage their social media ‘influence’ to promote businesses, products, services, and brands and get paid to do so.

Influencers create interesting content to gain followers on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Once you have a large fan following, businesses approach you to do paid promotions of their products, services, and brands.

To be a successful influencer, you need to be consistent with creating content that is original and creative, and posting content online.

You may also need to invest in some of the latest gadgets to improve the quality of your content. Upskilling on photo and video editing techniques and complete know-how of social media marketing also contribute to the overall success of a social media influencer.

A freelancer is an expert or professional who offers their service in exchange for a fee. The reason why they are called freelancers is that they only work on project-basis, and are not tied to a particular company or bound by fixed working hours. Freelancers can work on multiple projects with multiple clients, hence they are ‘free’ in the true sense!

If you are good at writing, you can become a freelance content writer. If you are good at graphics design, you can become a freelance graphics designer, and so on. The key is to be able to manage time, work and clients seamlessly. Freelance business is one of the best things to do as a college student as you can do what you like and set your working hours. Many students moonlight as freelancers by setting up their Dukaan profile and making a good living.

Here are some online platforms where you can register yourself as a freelancer.

Even on Dukaan, there are many folks who are selling their digital services as a freelancer. Look at this guy . ;

Small Business Ideas For Girl Students

If you are one who loves art and crafts and other DIY stuff, this one’s for you. It could be something as small as scrunchies, masks, eye masks, stoles, or anything that you love and suits your likes. You could even think of creative ways of recycling stuff that’s lying unused at home. Recycling and upcycling are catching up and people are getting more and more conscious about brands that are mindfully selling such products.

Here is an example of a brand owned by 15YO that sells scrunchies and dog tags . All you need is a smartphone to click attractive pictures of your handmade products and dedicated pages on social media to promote your online store. With eCommerce platforms like Dukaan, owning an online store is literally three simple steps and takes under 30 seconds to set up!

Traditional jewellery is expensive. Many women (and men of course) are opting for new and unique jewellery styles and inexpensive yet eye-catching designs.

Thanks to the world of the internet, today one does not need to be a certified jewellery designer to be able to sell jewellery. Think of a popular new jewellery brand popular amongst teens, and chances are it’s founded and run by a teenager! Many students are putting their creative skills to use and making homemade jewellery that’s quite different from traditional jewellery.

To start, find your design speciality, like beads, charms, terra-cotta, paper quilling, recyclable products, etc. and look up online tutorials on how to make jewellery.

Once you discover your speciality, start by selling to friends and family to gauge your work’s demand. Simultaneously, you could consider selling your products through eCommerce platforms or online stores like Dukaan, making selling easy and hassle-free. Before you know it, you’d be running a successful jewellery business online!

Here are some Jewellery stores on Dukaan.

• Krystalsnbeads

Many professionals are returning to work but schools haven’t opened. So, who will look after their kids? Child care service is one of the best business ideas for young students. You can take care of children when their parents aren’t home and charge a fee for the service.

To start this business, you don’t need any investment apart from your time. You may have to create business pages on social media and promote your services online. You need to be good with children and should know the basics of child care – the ability to put them in the stroller, feed them, change the diapers, reading stories, playing safely in their home, etc.

In exchange for your service, you can charge the parents an hourly fee. This is a great business with good earning potential and is in its nascent stage in India.

We, at Dukaan, hope that the above-mentioned business ideas for students will tempt you to jump right up and start your own side hustle. Whichever option(s) you pick, learning and having a business plan will help . Along with a business plan, channelizing your youthful energy and sincere efforts in the right direction will be critical to the success of your business.

For most of the above-mentioned business ideas for students, Dukaan is a great place to get started.

Step 1 – Sign up for Dukaan – Web Version | Android App | iOS App

Just give your mobile number, verify OTP and you’re in.

Step 2 – Choose your store name and category.

Step 3 – Upload your products.

Step 4 – Promote your Dukaan store.

Simple! Isn’t it?

From t-shirts and hand-made jewellery to books and baked goodies, there are many things you can sell as a student. To simplify, you can sell anything that does not require government licensing and special permissions.

There are many jobs and businesses that students take up to make money. They can offer freelancing services, become influencers, start their online store/Dukaan to earn ad revenues, work in call centres, become a delivery agent, or sell goods. Thanks to easy access to the internet, money-making business ideas for students are umpteen.

12-year-olds can start businesses that don't require them to be legal entities or pay taxes. They can start businesses for:

• Books & Magazines Recycling
• Newspaper & Milk delivery
• Social media content creators
• DIY tutorial channels
• Fun experiment video creators

There are a lot of things 12-year-olds can do. They can even do household chores and get pocket money for themselves.

In many countries, 16-year-olds are not legal entities, but they can still do many things to earn some extra bucks. Some of them are:

• Web Design & Development Services
• Social Media Services
• Cooking, Baking & Catering Services
• Cleaning Services
• Babysitting
• Pet-sitting
• Delivery Services
• Tuition & Coaching Classes

Got questions? Ask in comments below.

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• Improve learning

Information and communication technology (ICT) in education

Information and communications technology (ict) can impact student learning when teachers are digitally literate and understand how to integrate it into curriculum..

Schools use a diverse set of ICT tools to communicate, create, disseminate, store, and manage information.(6) In some contexts, ICT has also become integral to the teaching-learning interaction, through such approaches as replacing chalkboards with interactive digital whiteboards, using students’ own smartphones or other devices for learning during class time, and the “flipped classroom” model where students watch lectures at home on the computer and use classroom time for more interactive exercises.

When teachers are digitally literate and trained to use ICT, these approaches can lead to higher order thinking skills, provide creative and individualized options for students to express their understandings, and leave students better prepared to deal with ongoing technological change in society and the workplace.(18)

ICT issues planners must consider include: considering the total cost-benefit equation, supplying and maintaining the requisite infrastructure, and ensuring investments are matched with teacher support and other policies aimed at effective ICT use.(16)

Issues and Discussion

Digital culture and digital literacy: Computer technologies and other aspects of digital culture have changed the ways people live, work, play, and learn, impacting the construction and distribution of knowledge and power around the world.(14) Graduates who are less familiar with digital culture are increasingly at a disadvantage in the national and global economy. Digital literacy—the skills of searching for, discerning, and producing information, as well as the critical use of new media for full participation in society—has thus become an important consideration for curriculum frameworks.(8)

In many countries, digital literacy is being built through the incorporation of information and communication technology (ICT) into schools. Some common educational applications of ICT include:

• One laptop per child: Less expensive laptops have been designed for use in school on a 1:1 basis with features like lower power consumption, a low cost operating system, and special re-programming and mesh network functions.(42) Despite efforts to reduce costs, however, providing one laptop per child may be too costly for some developing countries.(41)
• Tablets: Tablets are small personal computers with a touch screen, allowing input without a keyboard or mouse. Inexpensive learning software (“apps”) can be downloaded onto tablets, making them a versatile tool for learning.(7)(25) The most effective apps develop higher order thinking skills and provide creative and individualized options for students to express their understandings.(18)
• Interactive White Boards or Smart Boards : Interactive white boards allow projected computer images to be displayed, manipulated, dragged, clicked, or copied.(3) Simultaneously, handwritten notes can be taken on the board and saved for later use. Interactive white boards are associated with whole-class instruction rather than student-centred activities.(38) Student engagement is generally higher when ICT is available for student use throughout the classroom.(4)
• E-readers : E-readers are electronic devices that can hold hundreds of books in digital form, and they are increasingly utilized in the delivery of reading material.(19) Students—both skilled readers and reluctant readers—have had positive responses to the use of e-readers for independent reading.(22) Features of e-readers that can contribute to positive use include their portability and long battery life, response to text, and the ability to define unknown words.(22) Additionally, many classic book titles are available for free in e-book form.
• Flipped Classrooms: The flipped classroom model, involving lecture and practice at home via computer-guided instruction and interactive learning activities in class, can allow for an expanded curriculum. There is little investigation on the student learning outcomes of flipped classrooms.(5) Student perceptions about flipped classrooms are mixed, but generally positive, as they prefer the cooperative learning activities in class over lecture.(5)(35)

ICT and Teacher Professional Development: Teachers need specific professional development opportunities in order to increase their ability to use ICT for formative learning assessments, individualized instruction, accessing online resources, and for fostering student interaction and collaboration.(15) Such training in ICT should positively impact teachers’ general attitudes towards ICT in the classroom, but it should also provide specific guidance on ICT teaching and learning within each discipline. Without this support, teachers tend to use ICT for skill-based applications, limiting student academic thinking.(32) To sup­port teachers as they change their teaching, it is also essential for education managers, supervisors, teacher educators, and decision makers to be trained in ICT use.(11)

Ensuring benefits of ICT investments: To ensure the investments made in ICT benefit students, additional conditions must be met. School policies need to provide schools with the minimum acceptable infrastructure for ICT, including stable and affordable internet connectivity and security measures such as filters and site blockers. Teacher policies need to target basic ICT literacy skills, ICT use in pedagogical settings, and discipline-specific uses. (21) Successful imple­mentation of ICT requires integration of ICT in the curriculum. Finally, digital content needs to be developed in local languages and reflect local culture. (40) Ongoing technical, human, and organizational supports on all of these issues are needed to ensure access and effective use of ICT. (21)

Resource Constrained Contexts: The total cost of ICT ownership is considerable: training of teachers and administrators, connectivity, technical support, and software, amongst others. (42) When bringing ICT into classrooms, policies should use an incremental pathway, establishing infrastructure and bringing in sustainable and easily upgradable ICT. (16) Schools in some countries have begun allowing students to bring their own mobile technology (such as laptop, tablet, or smartphone) into class rather than providing such tools to all students—an approach called Bring Your Own Device. (1)(27)(34) However, not all families can afford devices or service plans for their children. (30) Schools must ensure all students have equitable access to ICT devices for learning.

Inclusiveness Considerations

Digital Divide: The digital divide refers to disparities of digital media and internet access both within and across countries, as well as the gap between people with and without the digital literacy and skills to utilize media and internet.(23)(26)(31) The digital divide both creates and reinforces socio-economic inequalities of the world’s poorest people. Policies need to intentionally bridge this divide to bring media, internet, and digital literacy to all students, not just those who are easiest to reach.

Minority language groups: Students whose mother tongue is different from the official language of instruction are less likely to have computers and internet connections at home than students from the majority. There is also less material available to them online in their own language, putting them at a disadvantage in comparison to their majority peers who gather information, prepare talks and papers, and communicate more using ICT. (39) Yet ICT tools can also help improve the skills of minority language students—especially in learning the official language of instruction—through features such as automatic speech recognition, the availability of authentic audio-visual materials, and chat functions. (2)(17)

Students with different styles of learning: ICT can provide diverse options for taking in and processing information, making sense of ideas, and expressing learning. Over 87% of students learn best through visual and tactile modalities, and ICT can help these students ‘experience’ the information instead of just reading and hearing it. (20)(37) Mobile devices can also offer programmes (“apps”) that provide extra support to students with special needs, with features such as simplified screens and instructions, consistent placement of menus and control features, graphics combined with text, audio feedback, ability to set pace and level of difficulty, appropriate and unambiguous feedback, and easy error correction. (24)(29)

Plans and policies

• India [ PDF ]
• Detroit, USA [ PDF ]
• Finland [ PDF ]
• Alberta Education. 2012. Bring your own device: A guide for schools . Retrieved from http://education.alberta.ca/admin/technology/research.aspx
• Alsied, S.M. and Pathan, M.M. 2015. ‘The use of computer technology in EFL classroom: Advantages and implications.’ International Journal of English Language and Translation Studies . 1 (1).
• BBC. N.D. ‘What is an interactive whiteboard?’ Retrieved from http://www.bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/Whatisaninteractivewhiteboard.aspx
• Beilefeldt, T. 2012. ‘Guidance for technology decisions from classroom observation.’ Journal of Research on Technology in Education . 44 (3).
• Bishop, J.L. and Verleger, M.A. 2013. ‘The flipped classroom: A survey of the research.’ Presented at the 120th ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Atlanta, Georgia.
• Blurton, C. 2000. New Directions of ICT-Use in Education . United National Education Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO).
• Bryant, B.R., Ok, M., Kang, E.Y., Kim, M.K., Lang, R., Bryant, D.P. and Pfannestiel, K. 2015. ‘Performance of fourth-grade students with learning disabilities on multiplication facts comparing teacher-mediated and technology-mediated interventions: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Behavioral Education. 24.
• Buckingham, D. 2005. Educación en medios. Alfabetización, aprendizaje y cultura contemporánea, Barcelona, Paidós.
• Buckingham, D., Sefton-Green, J., and Scanlon, M. 2001. 'Selling the Digital Dream: Marketing Education Technologies to Teachers and Parents.'  ICT, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum: Subject to Change . London: Routledge.
• "Burk, R. 2001. 'E-book devices and the marketplace: In search of customers.' Library Hi Tech 19 (4)."
• Chapman, D., and Mählck, L. (Eds). 2004. Adapting technology for school improvement: a global perspective. Paris: International Institute for Educational Planning.
• Cheung, A.C.K and Slavin, R.E. 2012. ‘How features of educational technology applications affect student reading outcomes: A meta-analysis.’ Educational Research Review . 7.
• Cheung, A.C.K and Slavin, R.E. 2013. ‘The effectiveness of educational technology applications for enhancing mathematics achievement in K-12 classrooms: A meta-analysis.’ Educational Research Review . 9.
• Deuze, M. 2006. 'Participation Remediation Bricolage - Considering Principal Components of a Digital Culture.' The Information Society . 22 .
• Dunleavy, M., Dextert, S. and Heinecke, W.F. 2007. ‘What added value does a 1:1 student to laptop ratio bring to technology-supported teaching and learning?’ Journal of Computer Assisted Learning . 23.
• Enyedy, N. 2014. Personalized Instruction: New Interest, Old Rhetoric, Limited Results, and the Need for a New Direction for Computer-Mediated Learning . Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center.
• Golonka, E.M., Bowles, A.R., Frank, V.M., Richardson, D.L. and Freynik, S. 2014. ‘Technologies for foreign language learning: A review of technology types and their effectiveness.’ Computer Assisted Language Learning . 27 (1).
• Goodwin, K. 2012. Use of Tablet Technology in the Classroom . Strathfield, New South Wales: NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre.
• Jung, J., Chan-Olmsted, S., Park, B., and Kim, Y. 2011. 'Factors affecting e-book reader awareness, interest, and intention to use.' New Media & Society . 14 (2)
• Kenney, L. 2011. ‘Elementary education, there’s an app for that. Communication technology in the elementary school classroom.’ The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications . 2 (1).
• Kopcha, T.J. 2012. ‘Teachers’ perceptions of the barriers to technology integration and practices with technology under situated professional development.’ Computers and Education . 59.
• Miranda, T., Williams-Rossi, D., Johnson, K., and McKenzie, N. 2011. "Reluctant readers in middle school: Successful engagement with text using the e-reader.' International journal of applied science and technology . 1 (6).
• Moyo, L. 2009. 'The digital divide: scarcity, inequality and conflict.' Digital Cultures . New York: Open University Press.
• Newton, D.A. and Dell, A.G. 2011. ‘Mobile devices and students with disabilities: What do best practices tell us?’ Journal of Special Education Technology . 26 (3).
• Nirvi, S. (2011). ‘Special education pupils find learning tool in iPad applications.’ Education Week . 30 .
• Norris, P. 2001. Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Internet Worldwide . Cambridge, USA: Cambridge University Press.
• Project Tomorrow. 2012. Learning in the 21st century: Mobile devices + social media = personalized learning . Washington, D.C.: Blackboard K-12.
• Riasati, M.J., Allahyar, N. and Tan, K.E. 2012. ‘Technology in language education: Benefits and barriers.’ Journal of Education and Practice . 3 (5).
• Rodriquez, C.D., Strnadova, I. and Cumming, T. 2013. ‘Using iPads with students with disabilities: Lessons learned from students, teachers, and parents.’ Intervention in School and Clinic . 49 (4).
• Sangani, K. 2013. 'BYOD to the classroom.' Engineering & Technology . 3 (8).
• Servon, L. 2002. Redefining the Digital Divide: Technology, Community and Public Policy . Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers.
• Smeets, E. 2005. ‘Does ICT contribute to powerful learning environments in primary education?’ Computers and Education. 44 .
• Smith, G.E. and Thorne, S. 2007. Differentiating Instruction with Technology in K-5 Classrooms . Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.
• Song, Y. 2014. '"Bring your own device (BYOD)" for seamless science inquiry in a primary school.' Computers & Education. 74 .
• Strayer, J.F. 2012. ‘How learning in an inverted classroom influences cooperation, innovation and task orientation.’ Learning Environment Research. 15.
• Tamim, R.M., Bernard, R.M., Borokhovski, E., Abrami, P.C. and Schmid, R.F. 2011. ‘What forty years of research says about the impact of technology on learning: A second-order meta-analysis and validation study. Review of Educational Research. 81 (1).
• Tileston, D.W. 2003. What Every Teacher Should Know about Media and Technology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
• Turel, Y.K. and Johnson, T.E. 2012. ‘Teachers’ belief and use of interactive whiteboards for teaching and learning.’ Educational Technology and Society . 15(1).
• Volman, M., van Eck, E., Heemskerk, I. and Kuiper, E. 2005. ‘New technologies, new differences. Gender and ethnic differences in pupils’ use of ICT in primary and secondary education.’ Computers and Education. 45 .
• Voogt, J., Knezek, G., Cox, M., Knezek, D. and ten Brummelhuis, A. 2013. ‘Under which conditions does ICT have a positive effect on teaching and learning? A call to action.’ Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. 29 (1).
• Warschauer, M. and Ames, M. 2010. ‘Can one laptop per child save the world’s poor?’ Journal of International Affairs. 64 (1).
• Zuker, A.A. and Light, D. 2009. ‘Laptop programs for students.’ Science. 323 (5910).

Related information

• Information and communication technologies (ICT)

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

NEW: Classroom Clean-Up/Set-Up Email Course! 🧽

30 Lesson Plan Examples for Every Grade Level and Subject

Lots of ways to prepare for top-notch learning.

Writing lessons might be a fun activity for you (all the things you’ll do!) or it may be a necessary evil (so many boxes to fill). Either way, it’s an important part of teaching and can make or break your week, month, and year. Whether you’re a brand-new teacher or an experienced educator looking for some new ideas, these lesson plan examples offer inspiration for every subject and every grade level.

Lesson Plan Sections

Preschool lesson plan examples, elementary school lesson plan examples, middle and high school lesson plan examples.

Many lesson plans include some or all of the following sections.

• Objective : These should be specific and measurable. Often they align with Common Core or other learning standards.
• Materials: List any items you’ll need, including worksheets or handouts, school supplies, etc.
• Activities: This is usually the longest section, where you’ll lay out what the lesson and its activities look like. Some teachers write these in great detail. Others include just an overview to help them plan.
• Assessment: How will you assess your students’ learning? This could be a formal assessment or something simple like an exit ticket. ( Get lots of formative assessment ideas here. )
• Differentiation: Describe how you’ll vary the level of difficulty for students at all levels, including any enrichment for early finishers.

Some people think preschool is just playtime, but pre-K teachers know better! Here are some of the ways preschool teachers plan for their lessons.

Weekly Lesson Plan

Venngage/pre-K lesson plan via Venngage.com

Weekly preschool lesson planning helps you plan each day and ensure you’re tackling all the most important skills.

Learn more: Venngage Pre-K Weekly Lesson Plan Template

Pre-K Theme Lesson Plan

Pre-K Printable Fun/Caterpillar and Butterfly Lesson Plan via PreKPrintableFun.com

If you like to plan by theme, try a template like this. It includes space for a variety of activities that fit your topic.

Learn more: Pre-K Printable Fun

Alphabet Letter Lesson Plan

This Crafty Mom/Letter S Lesson Plan via ThisCraftyMom.com

If you’re focusing on a new letter of the alphabet each week, try lesson planning like this. You can see the week at a glance, including all the materials and books you’ll need.

Learn more: Alphabet Letter Lesson Plan by This Crafty Mom

Centers Lesson Plan

Pocket of Preschool/Centers Lesson Plans via PocketofPreschool.com

Your centers need some planning too! Whether you change them out weekly, monthly, or as needed, use plans like these to stay prepared.

Learn more: Pocket of Preschool

Weekly Unit Lesson Plan

This Crafty Mom/weather unit lessons via ThisCraftyMom.com

Adding pops of color and a few images can make it easier to locate the lesson plan you’re looking for in a snap!

Learn more: Weekly Weather Unit Lesson Plan by This Crafty Mom

Since elementary teachers tackle multiple subjects every day, their lesson plans might look like a general overview. Or they may prepare more detailed lesson plans for each topic to help them stay on track. The choice is up to you.

Weekly Overview Lesson Plan

Mrs. Jones Creation Station/lesson plan example via MrsJonesCreationStation.com

Don’t be afraid to write out your lesson plans by hand! A side-by-side setup like this lets you see a whole week at once. We love the use of color to highlight special things like fire drills.

Learn more: Mrs. Jones Creation Station

Yearlong Schedule

Planning a whole year may seem daunting, but it can show you where you’re going to need to stretch a unit and where you can circle back and review. Mrs. D from Mrs. D’s Corner has ideas on how to structure a yearlong lesson plan using Google Sheets.

Learn more: Mrs. D’s Corner

Guided Math Lesson Plan

Tunstall’s Teaching Tidbits/Guided Math lesson plan example via TunstallsTeachingTidbits.com

This example on adding three numbers together can be altered to fit any math lesson plan.

Learn more: Tunstall’s Teaching Tidbits

Art Lesson Plan

Artsy Blevs/lesson plans via TeachandShoot.com

While these are elementary art lesson plan examples, you can easily use this style for teaching art at upper levels too.

Learn more: Artsy Blevs

Special Education Lesson Plans

The Bender Bunch/lesson plan example via TheBenderBunch.com

Lesson planning for special education looks different than general classroom lessons in that the lessons have to cover specific IEP goals and include lots and lots of progress monitoring. The Bender Bunch starts each lesson with independent work (read: IEP practice) and then heads into mini-lessons and group work.

Learn more: The Bender Bunch

Interactive Read-Aloud Plan

The Colorful Apple/interactive read-aloud lesson plan example via TheColorfulApple.com

Interactive read-alouds aren’t something that should be “on the fly.” The Colorful Apple explains how to choose a book, get to know it, and get ready to teach it. Once you’re in the book, sticky notes may be the best lesson-planning tool you have for marking questions and vocabulary words you want to point out to students.

Learn more: The Colorful Apple

Social Studies Lesson Plan

Mrs. Jones’s Class/social studies lesson plan example via MrsJonessClass.com

Including images of your anchor charts is a great idea! That way, you can pull one out and have it ready to go in advance.

Learn more: Mrs. Jones’s Class

5E Lesson Plan for Elementary School

What I Have Learned Teaching/example from 5E lesson planning via WhatIHaveLearnedTeaching.com

The 5Es stand for Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaborate, Evaluate. This type of lesson planning can be helpful for students as they work through each of the 5Es related to the topic you’re studying.

Learn more: What I Have Learned Teaching

Science Lesson Plans

Venngage/Science lesson plan example via Venngage.com

If you like to plan your lessons in more detail, take a look at this elementary science lesson plan example.

Learn more: Venngage Science Lesson Plan Template

Reading Groups Lesson Plan

First Grade Fairy Tales/reading groups lesson plan via TheFirstGradeFairyTales.com

Lots of elementary schools have differentiated reading groups. Use a template like this one to plan for each one, all on one page.

Learn more: The First Grade Fairy Tales

P.E. Lesson Plan

American Coaching Academy/P.E. lesson plan via AmericanCoachingAcademy.com

Gym teachers will love this lesson plan idea, which includes directions for playing the games.

Learn more: American Coaching Academy

Music Class Lesson Plan

Victoria Boler/music lesson plan via VictoriaBoler.com

Plan out the skills and songs you’ll need for a meaningful music class with a lesson plan like this one.

Learn more: Victoria Boler

At the middle and high school levels, teachers often need more detailed plans for each class, which they may teach multiple times a day. Here are some examples to try.

Google Sheets Lesson Plans

Busy Miss Beebe/Google sheets lesson plan example via BusyMissBeebe.com

Google Sheets (or Excel) is terrific for lesson planning! Create a new tab for each week, unit, or class.

Learn more: Busy Miss Beebe

Weekly History Plan

Teachers Pay Teachers/Coaching History lesson plan via TeachersPayTeachers.com

This example shows how you can plan out a week’s worth of lessons at once, and see the entire week all in one spot. This example is for history, but you could use this for math, ELA, or social studies too.

Learn more: Coaching History on Teachers Pay Teachers

Outline and Pacing Guide Lesson Plan

Read it. Write it. Learn it./pacing guide example via ReadItWriteItLearnIt.com

A pacing guide or outline works for both you and your students. Share it at the beginning of a unit to let them know what’s ahead.

Learn more: Read it. Write it. Learn it.

5E Lessons in Middle and High School

Teach Science With Fergy/5E lesson plan via TeachScienceWithFergy.com

5E lesson plans (Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaborate, Evaluate) are great for middle and high school as well. This example is for science, but you can use the 5E structure across all lessons.

Learn more: Teach Science With Fergy

Math Intervention Plans

Lindsay Gould/middle school math lesson plan via TeachersPayTeachers.com

When students are in math intervention, they’re reviewing material they learned last week or last year. Lesson plans need to provide time for them to activate their prior knowledge (and make sure they’re remembering it all correctly) before reteaching and practice.

Buy it: Teachers Pay Teachers

The Sticky-Note Lesson Plan

The Wise & Witty Teacher/sticky note planner via WiseWittyTeacher.com

At some point, you’ll know what students are doing each day, you’ll just need some reminders for questions to ask and key points to cover. The nice thing about using sticky notes for lesson planning is if you get ahead or behind schedule, you can move the entire sticky note lesson to another day.

Learn more: The Wise & Witty Teacher

Read more ways to use sticky notes in the classroom .

Backwards Planning Lesson Plan

Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching/Understanding by Design lesson plan example via cft.vanderbilt.edu

If your school uses Understanding by Design or other backwards planning, you’ll be thinking about the outcome first and working back from there (rather than forward from an activity or task). Backwards planning lesson plans are intensive, but they’re also something you can use over and over, modifying them slightly for each group of students you have.

Learn more: Vanderbilt Center for Teaching

Visual Arts Lesson Plan

Venngage/visual art lesson plan example via Venngage.com

Detailed lesson plans take longer to prepare, but they make it easier on the day (especially if you wind up needing a sub).

Learn more: Venngage Visual Arts Lesson Plan Template

ESL or Foreign Language Lesson Plan

TeachEnglishAbroad.co/ESL lesson plan via TeachEnglishAbroad.co

Whether you’re teaching English as a second language (ESL) or a foreign language to English speakers, this lesson plan style is perfect.

Learn more: Teaching English Abroad

Music Lesson Plan

Melody Soup/lesson plan example via MelodySoup.Blogspot.com

Use a lesson plan like this for choir, orchestra, band, or individual music lessons.

Learn more: Melody Soup

Blended Learning Lesson Plan

Hot Lunch Tray/blended learning lesson plan example via HotLunchTray.com

If your instruction includes both computer-based and in-person elements, this lesson plan idea might be just what you need.

Learn more: Hot Lunch Tray

One-Sentence Lesson Plan

Norman Eng/Introducing the One-Sentence Lesson Plan via CultofPedagogy.com

This kind of lesson planning isn’t for everyone, but the extreme simplicity works well for some. Describe what students will learn, how they will learn it, and how they’ll demonstrate their knowledge.

Learn more: Cult of Pedagogy

Need more help with lesson planning? Come ask for ideas on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook !

Plus, check out 40 ways to make time for more creativity in your lesson plans ..

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Biden extends time frame to get credit toward student loan forgiveness

Republicans largely oppose student loan forgiveness.

Borrowers have until the end of June to consolidate. ( iStock )

In an effort to fix administrative issues that resulted in student loan borrowers not qualifying for forgiveness, the Biden administration announced an extended consolidation deadline for borrowers with certain loans.

Student loan borrowers have been dealing with errors that inaccurately counted their student loan payments toward forgiveness programs like income-driven repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Within these programs, borrowers can have their remaining debt balances forgiven after they’ve worked in the public service sector for so many years or have paid toward their student loans for a set amount of time, typically 20 to 25 years. The Biden Administration’s fix ensures borrowers get the right number of credits applied towards their payment timeline.

The payment count adjustment is expected to be fully complete by September. This extended timeline gives borrowers with Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) until June 30th to consolidate them into a new Direct Consolidation Loan . Previously, borrowers had until April 30th. A consolidation allows borrowers to take advantage of federal forgiveness programs like Biden’s SAVE program , which can lead to partial or complete forgiveness.

"The Department is working swiftly to ensure borrowers get credit for every month they’ve rightfully earned toward forgiveness," U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal said. "FFEL borrowers should consolidate as soon as possible in order to receive this benefit that has already provided forgiveness to nearly 1 million borrowers."

If you have private student loans, federal relief doesn't apply to you. If you're looking to lower monthly payments and ease the burden of student loan debt, consider refinancing your loans. Quickly and easily check your rate options with Credible .

A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY FAFSA CHALLENGES

Republican senators largely oppose Biden’s student loan forgiveness plans

The presidential election draws near, so both President Biden and former President Donald Trump are releasing their plans for future policies. Among them is Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan .

Many Republican senators have released statements against the president’s plan. Sens. Mitt Romney, Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Mike Crapo and Katie Britt all signed a letter addressed to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, which details their perceived issues with the president’s plan.

The statements cite higher tax rates for citizens that didn’t choose to take on student loans as one of the main reasons these Republicans don’t want forgiveness passed. Additionally, the senators believe the ruling is outside the Department of Education’s purview. 

Sen. Mitt Romney has also joined 18 Republican senators in pushing forward the No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act .

"The Biden Administration’s student loan relief schemes are unfair and irresponsible—forcing hardworking Americans to pay off debts they never agreed to take on—and I introduced the Student Loan Accountability Act in 2022 to block these schemes. But no one should especially support a taxpayer bailout for students who engage in the criminal behavior we’re seeing on college campuses across the nation right now," said Senator Romney in response to the creation of the act.

The legislation would make any individual convicted of a criminal offense related to protesting on campus ineligible for student debt relief.

If you can qualify for a student loan refinance at a lower rate than you're currently paying, it often makes sense to refinance. You can use Credible to compare student loan refinancing rates from multiple private lenders at once .

A MAJORITY OF STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO REPAY THEIR LOANS

Federal student loan interest rates reach highest point in nearly a decade

Interest rates on federal student loans are rising again for the next school year. The newly announced interest rates are the highest they’ve been in years.

Each loan type has a different interest rate associated with it. Direct federal loans for undergraduates are up from 5.5% to 6.53%. Direct federal loans for graduates are also up to 8.08% from 7.05%. Parent PLUS loans meant for parents have the highest rate at 9.08%.

Any federal student loans made after July will carry the new rates. These rising rates could pose an issue for Biden’s plan to keep the student loan crisis under control. Rising rates often make it more difficult for students to tackle their debts.

It's helpful to use an online resource like Credible to compare fixed and variable rate private loan options from multiple lenders.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCES NEW STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PLANS THAT COULD BENEFIT 23 MILLION AMERICANS

Have a finance-related question, but don't know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at [email protected] and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.

Communication Technology Business Plans

Administrative service business plan.

Everywhere Assistant is a new start-up virtual assistant business, offering administrative, accounting, marketing, and graphic design services to clients.

Cell Phones Retailer Business Plan

Garbles Cellular’s mission is to offer its customers the highest quality cell phone products and services.

Computer Laser Accessories Business Plan

Brilliant Points develops cutting edge laser/optical controls for computers used in large audience business presentations.

Computer Repair Business Plan

PC Repair will provide computer and technical consulting to local small businesses as well as home PC users.

Integrated Communications Business Plan

Aero Technologies, Ltd., is a start-up company that offers high-tech communications systems to businesses in Botswana.

Satellite Communications Business Plan

Blue Sky Satellite Communications is an ongoing comunications solutions and satellite service provider in Africa.

Telecom Wireless Business Plan

Cellular Providers is taking advantage of an opportunity to become a highly distinguished and recognized industry leader in the cellular communications industry.

Telecommunications Business Plan

TeleSpace, Inc. develops and markets programmable personal communications and unified messaging services for individuals and businesses.

Telecommunications Products Business Plan

OSS Telecom Technology is an established steel conglomerate which is now branching out into the telecommunications sector.

Telephone Sales Business Plan

University Telephones will offer State University students landline phones, cell phones, and cell phone plans.

Tracking Device Maker Business Plan

RQM Technologies (RQM) is a start-up company which will develop and distribute miniaturized Personal Locator Devices.

Wi-Fi Kiosks Business Plan

Stroll Net, a start-up company, will install Wi-Fi compatible, Internet access kiosks in public venues, offering customers casual walk-up anytime access to World Wide Web applications.

Wireless DataComm Business Plan

Pie in the Sky Wi-Fi specializes in the setup, delivery, marketing and maintenance of secure wireless communications (Wi-Fi) for individuals, businesses, and entire communities.

Communication technology, also known as information technology, involves any and all equipment, software, or devices that process and communicate information. It’s an ever-evolving industry, with opportunities for new businesses to enter the market with different, advanced, or alternative communications solutions. However, it can be a difficult industry to find success without a solid business plan to guide you.

Start your telecom provider, cell phone or computer retailer, or other communications company out on the right track with a sample business plan.

The quickest way to turn a business idea into a business plan

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No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.

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What's the difference between Microsoft 365 plans for home or business

Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that makes sure you always have the most up-to-date modern productivity tools. If you're looking to buy Microsoft 365, but not sure which plan is right for you, use the information below to help guide your decision.

Watch: Business plans versus personal and family plans

Business plans versus personal and family plans

Microsoft 365 business subscriptions

Microsoft 365 business subscriptions  can help you grow your business, no matter if you're a team of one or more. 

Microsoft 365 Family and Personal

Personal and family subscriptions are ideal for personal use like home, personal, or family projects and school related activities.

The right plan for you will depend on what your needs are. Let's explore the options.

If you're leaning towards a business plan, deciding which one can depend on your specific business needs. The Microsoft 365 plan chooser is designed to help you with this. The chooser will make recommendations based on your answers to questions such as the size of your business, your field of work, the devices you use, and what kind of features, IT support, and security you're looking for. See Find the right plan for your business .

Looking for more product details and prices? Check out the comparison tables:  Compare Microsoft 365 for business plans

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Do you need both a business plan and a personal plan?

In some cases, a single Microsoft 365 plan will suit all your needs, but there might be instances when having both plans is the correct decision for you.

For example, you may want to keep your personal files, photos, and other documents separate from your business, having two plans will allow you to do this.

Additionally, if you already have Microsoft 365 Family that you're sharing with friends and family who aren't part of your business, keeping that personal subscription might be the best thing for everyone. This means you don't have to move anyone off that plan, and you don't have to worry about any personal files you already have associated with that subscription and your personal account. 

Switch from a personal Microsoft 365 subscription to Microsoft 365 for business

Have you already been using Microsoft 365 Family or Personal for your business and now you're ready to switch your business to Microsoft 365 for business? It's possible to transfer your business documents and files to your new business plan. Learn more about your options to help you with this process.

Follow the steps in  Switch from Microsoft 365 for home to a business subscription .

Work with a Microsoft 365 business partner in your area: Find the right partner for you .

Our product experts are available to help you with this free of charge:  Contact product experts online. Note: Help from Microsoft business consultants isn't available in all markets.

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