CAREERS & BUSINESS
From Issue #13
Make Money in School
To Be Or Not To Be...THE BOSS
By Mireille Messier
With a little ingenuity and some elbow grease you
could start your own business—and make some extra cash—
without having to leave the classroom.
Here are 10 school-based businesses that you could run
from your own locker:
Happy B-day: Run a custom-designed locker decoration service for
students’ birthdays
Hallmark, Shmallmark: Create and sell original cartoon birthday
or special occasion cards
Has Henna. Will Travel: Install a henna painting booth at outdoor
school functions or even during lunch hour
Surfing for Cash: Design web pages for students, teachers or
various school teams/groups
Scanning Opportunity: Make a CD version of the school yearbook
by scanning the pictures
Say Cheese: Snap some school pictures from September to
December and create a picture calendar on sale in January
Action!: Videotape school events (e.g. sports and plays) and sell
edited videotape copies to students, teachers and parents
Expert Hair-Braider for Hire: Offer your services to do French
braids, corn rows, etc...before big school events (e.g. dances and prom)
No Task Too Long or Too Short: If you have a knack with the
sewing machine, offer to do hems, darts or even turn those nasty cords
into a cool hippie cargo skirt (see this link for ideas www.mmmbed.com)
Get Dirty: If you know how to do an oil change (and have a space
where this can be done!) suggest your services to students and teachers.
Being your own boss can be
great. On the other hand, having
to fire yourself when things
go bad would really be a drag.
Before you take the plunge, ask
yourself these questions:
• Is there a need for my product
or service?
• How much will it cost me
to start this business?
• How much can I realistically
expect people to pay for my
product or service?
• Will I be able to make a
profit?
Here are two very useful links
to help gauge if running a school-based
business is for you:
www.mvp.cfee.org
www.ayn.ca
Remember, not all teachers or
principals are keen on having you
run a personal business in their
school. Check it out with them
before you invest the money for
your start up materials!
