How To Juggle Your eCommerce Side Hustle And Online Classes (A Guide For Student Entrepreneurs)

As a student entrepreneur, balancing your academic commitments with your eCommerce side hustle can be challenging. However, many students are leveraging their branding and starting their businesses with the rise of online learning and eCommerce platforms.

According to a report by Junior Achievement USA, over 60% of teenagers are considering some form of entrepreneurship instead of traditional jobs. It's true that a side hustle can feel fulfilling and rewarding, but experienced owners know it isn't easy. It can negatively impact school performance and be detrimental to one's mental health without the proper approach.

In this article, learn about the challenges of juggling an eCommerce side business and online classes, helpful tips and advice for managing both, and valuable tools and resources for student entrepreneurs.

Common Challenges Student Entrepreneurs Face

Starting an eCommerce side hustle while being a student can be daunting. Many students struggle to find the right balance between academic commitments and business operations.

Around 19% of small business owners work at least 60 or more hours weekly, with 70% working at least one weekend regularly. These hours can lead to a lack of focus and reduced academic performance.

Furthermore, the lack of resources and experience can pose a significant challenge for student entrepreneurs. Many of these pupils may not have access to funding or mentorship programs, making it challenging to navigate the complex world of eCommerce.

The lack of experience and real-world knowledge of running an eCommerce—with responsibilities like marketing, fulfilling customer service requests, and managing a team—puts young entrepreneurs at a significant disadvantage.

Running an eCommerce side hustle can also affect their mental health. The pressure to succeed and academic stress can cause burnout, anxiety, and depression. Student entrepreneurs must prioritize their mental health and seek support when needed.

Tips and Advice for Juggling Your eCommerce Side Hustle and Online Classes

As a student entrepreneur with an eCommerce side hustle, balancing academic commitments and business operations can be challenging.

However, some practical tips and advice can help you manage your time and streamline your business operations while still maintaining good grades. Here are some tips:

1. Create a schedule

Time management is vital to balancing academics and business operations. Creating a schedule that includes time for studying, working on your business, and self-care can help avoid burnout.

You can use a planner or calendar to keep track of deadlines, assignments, and business tasks.

2. Maximize your resources

Take advantage of resources provided by your school, such as mentorship programs and business incubators. These resources can provide valuable direction, support, and access to funding and networking opportunities.

You can also look for programs or courses online to further develop your skills.

3. Set realistic goals

Setting achievable goals that align with your academic schedule is essential. Having attainable objectives can help you stay on track and avoid burnout. Try breaking down bigger goals into smaller, more manageable ones to make progress toward your vision.

4. Prioritize self-care

The business isn't everything. Pursuits that help you wind down, such as exercise, unrelated hobbies, meditation, and spending time with friends and family, can reduce stress and improve mental health. Students who prioritize self-care activities can boost productivity and creativity, ultimately benefiting their businesses.

5. Automate tasks

Use automation tools like email marketing software and social media scheduling to streamline business operations. You can automate email campaigns and social media posts to save time for other responsibilities.

6. Outsource tasks

Consider outsourcing tasks such as content creation and customer service to free up time for other aspects of your business. Hiring more mundane duties can allow you to focus on your core competencies and leave other tasks to experts.

7. Network

A network of people who share your hunger for success and can support and guide you is invaluable. So, attend events and conferences associated with your line of work to expand your network. You can attend industry events to meet potential mentors, partners, and customers.

Useful Tools and Resources for Student Entrepreneurs

How you manage your time and resources might make you stand out from everyone else as a student entrepreneur. You can rearrange your business procedures and keep up with your academic workload thanks to the abundance of tools and resources that are available.

1. Trello

This popular productivity app allows you to organize your tasks and projects visually, using a system of digital "boards" and "cards." You can assign tasks to team members, set due dates, and track progress in real-time.

2. Udemy

Udemy, a platform for online learning, provides a range of courses in entrepreneurship, marketing, eCommerce, and other subjects important to aspiring student entrepreneurs. It is much simpler to adjust to your academic workload because you can complete the courses at your own pace.

3. Hootsuite

Social media is an indispensable advertising tool for many businesses, but managing multiple platforms can be time-consuming. Hootsuite allows you to plan posts, track analytics, and monitor conversations in one convenient dashboard.

4. Canva

Canva is a free graphic design service that provides a ton of design templates and tools to help you make graphics and visuals that look professional and will help you convey your brand's narrative and draw in more customers.

The best thing is that using it doesn't require you to be an expert in graphic design because it greatly simplifies your work. When compared to hiring a professional designer, it can save you time and money.

5. SCORE

SCORE is a nonprofit group that provides free resources and mentorship to small business owners and entrepreneurs. They offer one-on-one mentorship, online workshops, and a vast library of business planning, marketing, and finance resources.

6. Fiverr

As a freelancing platform, Fiverr allows you to outsource tasks such as content creation, graphic design, and web development to skilled professionals worldwide. This site can free up your time to focus on other facets of your company while ensuring high-quality work.

Mastering the Balancing Act

Juggling the demands of a student entrepreneur is a problem many other students may not relate to. However, achieving success in both areas is possible with the right mindset and tools.

Some crucial tips for balancing school and business include creating a schedule that includes time for studying, working on your business, and self-care. You can also take advantage of resources provided by your school and set realistic goals that align with your academic schedule.

There are many beneficial tools and resources available that you can use to make balancing school and business more manageable, such as productivity apps like Trello, online learning platforms like Udemy, and graphic design platforms like Canva.

But perhaps the most critical advice for student entrepreneurs is to stay motivated and focused on your goals. Stay inspired, take risks, and never stop pursuing your dreams.