I, 18 year old male, have been in university for over 2 months now, and I have so much free time that it feels stupid to not be perusing something else alongside my degree. Im studying a degree (business with communications and media) that I don't really see much potential in alone, and I want more for my life. I'm willing to take the time and dedication to starting my own online business/side hustle, however the only issue is I have literally no idea where to start. Whether its a long term business or short term side hustle, all I know is I want something that's atleast slightly interesting, will make me money and potentially secure me more opportunities for the future. I have no Idea what this could be. I'm open to any ideas, suggestions or resources. Thanks.
18M what are some options when it comes to starting a business/side hustle? How can I make money?
byu/Alert_Objective_3943 inEntrepreneur
Posted by Alert_Objective_3943
8 Comments
Start with a pain or a problem that you face. Identity those pains and problems and then research what solutions exist today.
Pick one pain to start with, and then go do customer discovery, and do it properly.
The most critical step in launching a business is customer discovery.
I wrote this piece about it: [https://www.yourstartupadvisor.com/resources/problem-identification-analysis-startup-guide](https://www.yourstartupadvisor.com/resources/problem-identification-analysis-startup-guide)
I also this piece on customer interviews: [https://www.yourstartupadvisor.com/resources/ideal-user-interview-framework](https://www.yourstartupadvisor.com/resources/ideal-user-interview-framework)
You are only 18! Just get going. You will make mistakes and you will learn from them. As time passes, you will get better and better at it.
Buy water, sell in busy places
becoming an partner?
Build a SaaS about a problem you’ve faced on Lovable, market it on Aftermark AI
Go to YouTube and type in exactly what you typed here. Go down the rabbit hole and try the ones you believe align
Ideas are everywhere, check big companies you like, try to find something they do badly, or try to find another vertical and create it. Also check on websites like ProductHunt, there are plenty of ideas, don’t copy them, but try to target another audience or do things differently.
What skills or interests do you already have that you’d actually enjoy turning into something people would pay for?
At 18, you should start with internships and freelancing, that will give you an idea of what interests you most, what you can actually achieve, and how much you can earn without concrete skills. Later if you find what you like or some business idea, just start it, don’t worry about will it work or not, that’s your responsibility to make it work. Make it something that users can’t resist, refine your offer, etc. You won’t get it right the first time, but by the time you finish college, you will have so much experience that your peers can’t match. But if money is a need right now, just do freelancing or internships. Don’t rely on apps or platforms, simply find people around you who may have opportunities for you.