Students aged 12 to 29 can get access to this program!
Business Ideas
Students have started many different types of business with the help of YV. There are business opportunities everywhere and the YV coordinators help you find one that suits your abilities. We can help you come up with business ideas. We can help you test out your own ideas to see if it will work for you, and to see if there is a market for your idea.
Kiddie Catering
A group of students, or possibly even one with a lot of drive, could form a catering service. This service could provide lunches to day camps, day cares, and at special events. Further to this, they could host themed birthday parties (i.e., Barbie or Yu-gi-oh) where the come into a home with all the fixings and then clean up after. This could be marketed as a birthday alternative for busy parents.
Bicycle Courier Service
This could be promoted to local business. Many businesses have to wait days for invoices to be received by customers. This courier service would deliver important documents that need to be received quickly and the business could provide this service at a fraction of the cost of express post.
Pick Up and Delivery Service
Slight expansion on the above idea for someone with a vehicle. Many fast food places are now contracting out to delivery companies to compete in the take-out market. Not only that, but this service could be used by those people without access to a car to have their groceries delivered, items picked up, etc. Not a PEOPLE taxi service.
Photographers
For anyone with an interest in visual art, this business could be marketed in traditional ways (ie, weddings) but also to the casual person for birthday parties, work events, etc. Possibly to be teamed up with a kiddie caterer. Could provide good work at low cost. You need to know something about photography.
Store Front Cleaning
Student could be hired to sweep parking lots on a regular basis. They could also clean external windows and doors. This would be good for sandy areas and would provide business people the opportunity to maintain the cleanliness of their property at a lower cost. This business could also be marketed to homeowner.
Mobile Car Wash
This business could be used in an area where there is some competition. The student, who would need access to a vehicle, would run a regular car wash but would go to the customer. The only thing the customer would need would be a tap. Could be promoted on the basis that the customer saves gas.
Recyclable Collector
Many people want to recycle, but have nowhere to put their cans and other recyclables so they just throw them out. In areas with few people are recycling, students could go around with bins and bags and give them to homes and businesses. They could then collect them every three or four days. (Worked like a charm in the states two 12 year olds made nine grand each.)
Berry Picker/Seller
All over the province people scramble to buy blue berries, red berries, strawberries and bake apples. They can be sold to tourists, the community or converted into food goods such as jam. The business could even be expanded to include growing berries and picking them.
Housekeeper/Cook for Elderly
Students could go into the homes of the elderly and cook them meals and do any housekeeping that might need to be done. They could also do any odd jobs outside the house as well. Could also be converted to a meals-on-wheels type of business.
Video Taping
Instead of photographing special events a student could video tape it and put in special effects for certain events, this would work well if the person was paired with a photographer they could go to events together. The customer can then have both a videotape and photography of the event. Recommended that you have some skill videotaping and know how to use the equipment and get good shots.
Selling Things on Ebay
Many students have things that they no longer want or need. They could take these items and sell them over the net and make shipping the buyer's expense. This would allow the students to get rid of the clutter they may have and make some money at the same time.
Entertainment for Kids Parties
A student or a group of students could dress up as clowns or other kid idols (i.e., Barney, Pokemon) and entertain kids at birthday parties. They could do a magic act, sing, dance, whatever it is they want to do.
Typist
Many businesses and students need documents typed up. Sometimes these people don't have the time to do it or they just don't want to. Students with good typing skills can offer these services around town and charge for the work. This would work really well during the school year also if the services were marketed to post-secondary students, many of whom don't have time to type up all of their assignments.
Making, Bagging and Selling Ice
Many rural communities don't have large ice machines or places where you can buy it. This would be a great opportunity for someone to take advantage of that fact.
Face Painting
This is a good idea that can be done at any community event - especially one that draws a lot of children. Simple to start up, the venture can even be marketed to birthday parties.
Day Camps
Camps for kids have always been successful. A week-long subject camp could be marketed to parents for children who are having trouble in a particular subject. A creative counsellor could think of interesting ways to teach. Think Bill Nye the Science guy and science. This would be a really good venture for someone who wanted to teach when she or he gets older. Other ideas: sport camps, dance camps, etc.
Customer Service Car Wash
Another variation on the car wash idea: set up in the parking lot of a mall or retail store. Great selling point: Your car is cleaned while you shop. Could even talk to the retail store and say give special to those who present receipt from the store in order to get permission to use lot.
Suncatcher Craft Production
This product should be made by the craftiest of people! They could buy raw glass shaped catchers and add their own artwork, preferably Newfoundland scenery and designs because these are more appealing to tourists.
Business Shredders and Filers
Most businesses just keep putting shredded materials in a shred pile and stack their files into little corners, until there is just no space left or something is lost. This would be a business for older youth, who can prove they are reliable and can be trusted with potentially confidential/privileged information.
Computer Training
Students, who are experts in web design or for particular applications, may offer seminars or one-on-one sessions for less experienced computer users.
Party Garnishes
Students could make party accessories (i.e., Wine bottle holders made out of ice for parties, weddings, etc.) This would be a great thing to market to weddings as a way to give a gift, other than matchbooks and cake, for guests to take home.
Tourist Tour Guide
A student that knows a lot about the local area could give guided tours to tourists. Think about the haunted-walk tours in St. John's...
Maintain Cemetery Plots
Many people to do not have the time to invest in proper upkeep of their loved one's cemetery plots. A student could change flowers, reface gravestones, cut the grass.
Computer repair
A student with a lot of know-how about computers could set up shop repairing them. The student could also branch out and buy used computers to fix up and sell.
Web page design for businesses
Sticking with the computers, a student skilled in web and graphic design could take advantage of the growing market for websites. Local businesses that could otherwise not afford a website could be approached. Local bars, for example, could see the advantage of having a website for entertainment schedules, etc.
Tracing family histories
Camps for kids have always been successful. A week-long subject camp could be marketed to parents for children who are having trouble in a particular subject. A creative counsellor could think of interesting ways to teach. Think Bill Nye the Science guy and science. This would be a really good venture for someone who wanted to teach when she or he gets older. Other ideas: sport camps, dance camps, etc.
A group of students, or possibly even one with a lot of drive, could form a catering service. This service could provide lunches to day camps, day cares, and at special events. Further to this, they could host themed birthday parties (i.e., Barbie or Yu-gi-oh) where the come into a home with all the fixings and then clean up after. This could be marketed as a birthday alternative for busy parents.
This could be promoted to local business. Many businesses have to wait days for invoices to be received by customers. This courier service would deliver important documents that need to be received quickly and the business could provide this service at a fraction of the cost of express post.
Slight expansion on the above idea for someone with a vehicle. Many fast food places are now contracting out to delivery companies to compete in the take-out market. Not only that, but this service could be used by those people without access to a car to have their groceries delivered, items picked up, etc. Not a PEOPLE taxi service.
For anyone with an interest in visual art, this business could be marketed in traditional ways (ie, weddings) but also to the casual person for birthday parties, work events, etc. Possibly to be teamed up with a kiddie caterer. Could provide good work at low cost. You need to know something about photography.
Student could be hired to sweep parking lots on a regular basis. They could also clean external windows and doors. This would be good for sandy areas and would provide business people the opportunity to maintain the cleanliness of their property at a lower cost. This business could also be marketed to homeowner.
This business could be used in an area where there is some competition. The student, who would need access to a vehicle, would run a regular car wash but would go to the customer. The only thing the customer would need would be a tap. Could be promoted on the basis that the customer saves gas.
Many people want to recycle, but have nowhere to put their cans and other recyclables so they just throw them out. In areas with few people are recycling, students could go around with bins and bags and give them to homes and businesses. They could then collect them every three or four days. (Worked like a charm in the states two 12 year olds made nine grand each.)
All over the province people scramble to buy blue berries, red berries, strawberries and bake apples. They can be sold to tourists, the community or converted into food goods such as jam. The business could even be expanded to include growing berries and picking them.
Students could go into the homes of the elderly and cook them meals and do any housekeeping that might need to be done. They could also do any odd jobs outside the house as well. Could also be converted to a meals-on-wheels type of business.
Instead of photographing special events a student could video tape it and put in special effects for certain events, this would work well if the person was paired with a photographer they could go to events together. The customer can then have both a videotape and photography of the event. Recommended that you have some skill videotaping and know how to use the equipment and get good shots.
Many students have things that they no longer want or need. They could take these items and sell them over the net and make shipping the buyer's expense. This would allow the students to get rid of the clutter they may have and make some money at the same time.
A student or a group of students could dress up as clowns or other kid idols (i.e., Barney, Pokemon) and entertain kids at birthday parties. They could do a magic act, sing, dance, whatever it is they want to do.
Many businesses and students need documents typed up. Sometimes these people don't have the time to do it or they just don't want to. Students with good typing skills can offer these services around town and charge for the work. This would work really well during the school year also if the services were marketed to post-secondary students, many of whom don't have time to type up all of their assignments.
Many rural communities don't have large ice machines or places where you can buy it. This would be a great opportunity for someone to take advantage of that fact.
This is a good idea that can be done at any community event - especially one that draws a lot of children. Simple to start up, the venture can even be marketed to birthday parties.
Camps for kids have always been successful. A week-long subject camp could be marketed to parents for children who are having trouble in a particular subject. A creative counsellor could think of interesting ways to teach. Think Bill Nye the Science guy and science. This would be a really good venture for someone who wanted to teach when she or he gets older. Other ideas: sport camps, dance camps, etc.
Another variation on the car wash idea: set up in the parking lot of a mall or retail store. Great selling point: Your car is cleaned while you shop. Could even talk to the retail store and say give special to those who present receipt from the store in order to get permission to use lot.
This product should be made by the craftiest of people! They could buy raw glass shaped catchers and add their own artwork, preferably Newfoundland scenery and designs because these are more appealing to tourists.
Most businesses just keep putting shredded materials in a shred pile and stack their files into little corners, until there is just no space left or something is lost. This would be a business for older youth, who can prove they are reliable and can be trusted with potentially confidential/privileged information.
Students, who are experts in web design or for particular applications, may offer seminars or one-on-one sessions for less experienced computer users.
Students could make party accessories (i.e., Wine bottle holders made out of ice for parties, weddings, etc.) This would be a great thing to market to weddings as a way to give a gift, other than matchbooks and cake, for guests to take home.
A student that knows a lot about the local area could give guided tours to tourists. Think about the haunted-walk tours in St. John's...
Many people to do not have the time to invest in proper upkeep of their loved one's cemetery plots. A student could change flowers, reface gravestones, cut the grass.
A student with a lot of know-how about computers could set up shop repairing them. The student could also branch out and buy used computers to fix up and sell.
Sticking with the computers, a student skilled in web and graphic design could take advantage of the growing market for websites. Local businesses that could otherwise not afford a website could be approached. Local bars, for example, could see the advantage of having a website for entertainment schedules, etc.
Camps for kids have always been successful. A week-long subject camp could be marketed to parents for children who are having trouble in a particular subject. A creative counsellor could think of interesting ways to teach. Think Bill Nye the Science guy and science. This would be a really good venture for someone who wanted to teach when she or he gets older. Other ideas: sport camps, dance camps, etc.