The best way to create a successful mini-company for your Transition Year (TY) is to offer goods or services you care about or are interested in. Still, figuring out exactly what to do for a mini-company takes time and effort. That is why we have compiled this list of mini-company ideas you can use for your transition year.
1) Christmas Decorations
This mini-company can only be implemented for a few months out of the year, so it’s not always an option for students. However, christmas decorations are simple to make and can be created using affordable and accessible materials. Not to mention the fact that Christmas decorations are relatively easy to sell and turn a profit on. Creating this company would require a process for manufacturing, marketing, sales, and accounting. However, this allows you to showcase a broad spectrum of the necessary skills to run a mini-company.
2) Gardening Services
Most houses have gardens with grass and/or flower beds. As a result, homeowners need to maintain their gardens to prevent them from overgrowing regularly. Here lies the opportunity for your mini-company.
You can offer basic gardening services like weeding out unwanted plants and cutting the grass. Depending on your services, you can pick up some basic gardening tools like a trowel for a few euros, and you’re ready to get started.
3) Selling Stationary at School
Stationery items like pens, pencils, rulers, etc., will always be in demand in a school. As a result, you could supply this demand by selling stationery in your schools. It’s a simple business idea, you buy pencils for 10c in the shop and sell them for 15c at school.
You can ‘employ’ other students to sell and market the pens and pencils, and you’ll also need to keep track of the books.
4) Content Creation
Do you have a love of social media? Do you have great writing skills, creativity, and a good sense of humour? If so, then content creation could be a useful service that you offer in your mini-company.
Many people want to build social media followings for various reasons. These people are often willing to pay money for someone to write their social media posts or create Tik Tok videos. Small businesses also rely heavily on social media to market their services, which means that they are always looking for interactive content that reaches more users.
5) Dog Walking or Sitting
Are you an animal lover? If you are, a dog walking or dog sitting service could be a great mini company for you. All you need to do is create some advertising, like a flier, offering dog walking and sitting services. Then, you would need to distribute this advert to market your services to the many dog owners who do not have the time or energy to walk their four-legged friend.
Then when someone reaches out to you, you get to play with someone’s pet and get paid for it. Just make sure that the dog is kept on a leash so it can’t run away.