How to Turn Your Hobby into a Business (Even If You’re Still in School)

You have what it takes!

If you’ve ever asked yourself “What if I’m not good enough?”, you’re not alone. Doubt has a sneaky way of showing up—especially when you're trying something new, big, or bold. Maybe you are passionate about a hobby of yours that could be anything, for example painting, coding, baking, or journaling. You’ve probably thought, “This is fun, but it could never be a real business... ” Well I'm about to prove you that you don't

have to be an adult or have a business degree already to launch your own startup.

Let me tell you about my personal journey of launching a startup. This school year, I co-founded TeeReise with six of my classmates from Economy & Law class. Our school took part in the YES (Young Enterprise Switzerland) Company Programme 2024/2025. While the programme provided us with valuable structure and guidance for developing our business plan, there are many additional resources out there to support the growth of your company.

TeeReise — From Passion to Project

To develop our idea, we knew we wanted to create a product that was consumable, healthy, and heartwarming. But how could we make it truly special? That’s when we decided to infuse each tea flavor with stories, characteristics, and the cultural essence of our home—Kanton Zug... Zuger TeeReise (TeaTravel). We started selling the tea packs at local christmas markets, handing out hot fresh tea to engage with potential customers (a great sales idea). With help of the local newspaper our product gained much popularity, and new customers encouraged us to expand our tea collection across Switzerland. Taking their feedback to heart, we launched two new editions, one that goes through Switzerland and one through the historic Silk Road. Now we are mostly selling on our online shop, which got more visits thanks to social media, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn, and online platform articles.

How You Can Get Started

Starting a business might sound intimidating, especially while you're still in school—but it’s absolutely possible. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you take your hobby and turn it into something real:

1. Business Development

Start with something you love. Whether it’s a hobby or a talent, don’t be afraid to share it with others. If there’s demand for what you do, you can turn it into a business—and everyone benefits, including you.

Take some time to brainstorm and research:

• Which products or services can you create or provide?

• Who would buy them, and why?

2. Know Your Target Audience

Once you have your product or service, figure out who it’s for:

• Are your customers teenagers, adults, or families?

• Are they mostly women or men?

• What are their interests and needs?

  
  

Once you know your audience, you’ll figure out the best ways to reach them. Social media is very powerful nowadays.

Little tip: Gen Z scrolls on TikTok & Instagram= focus on short, relatable video content and trends, while Millennials spend more time on Facebook & YouTube= longer videos, Facebook groups, or how-to content on YouTube—they prefer value and community over fast trends. LinkedIn is great for B2B marketing. Once you start making profit you can invest in your very own website.

Also explore local events, popular fairs in Switzerland, or pitch competitions.

And take a good look at your competitors, compare and learn—even big brands can inspire you with their packaging, customer service, or design.

3. Build Your Brand

Now it’s time to stand out. Think about:

• A name

• A logo

• A short slogan that expresses your brand identity

  
  

Tip: Simple and unique is always more memorable!

After that, define your brand’s values.

My most used and recommended tool for designing a brand is Canva Pro. But there are many others like Adobe and Snappa.

For example, TeeReise aims to create regional, biologically sourced tea that takes customers on a tasteful travel experience.

What experience or feeling do you want to give your customers? More calmness with mute colours or energize them with peppy corporate design and upbeat values.

4. Manage Your Time Wisely

Balancing school and business is challenging—but with good planning, it’s totally doable. If I was able to do it so can you!

Create a weekly schedule that includes schoolwork, business time, and downtime. I'm pretty old fashioned with my agenda booklet, but useful tools can be Google Calendar, Notion or Outlook.

Set small goals each week—you’ll be surprised how much progress you make over time.

5. Handle Your Finances

You don’t need a big budget to begin, but you do need to track your money. Keep an eye on:

• What you spend (materials, tools, packaging, shipping)

• What you earn (sales, donations, investments)

• How much profit you’re making

  
  

A simple spreadsheet is enough to get started.

Later, you can explore budgeting tools or financial templates. And don’t forget to learn the basics about taxes or opening a student-friendly bank account—especially if your business starts growing! If you will sell at fairs and markets in Switzerland a TWINT QR-Code is always well received.

Some more tips:

• Get Feedback. Improve. Repeat.

  Ask your friends, teachers, or early customers for honest opinions. Every bit of feedback helps you improve. Small changes can lead to big results over time.

  
  

• Use the Power of Media

  Don’t be shy—share your journey on social media, in school newsletters, or local events. Speaking up helps you gain visibility and might attract support you didn’t expect.

  
  

• Build Your Network

  You don’t have to do it all alone. Reach out to people who can help or join forces with others who believe in your idea. A strong team can take your project further.

  
  

• Be Patient

  Not everything will work right away. That’s normal. Keep learning, adapting, and believing in your vision. Your persistence will pay off.

Setbacks are the key to success

And my last touch in this article is that setbacks and failures are normal. Every great startup experiences them and they do develop and strenghten you for the future!

As long as you don't give up on it.

There is a great article on failure to motivate you

👉https://www.swissventuregirls.com/post/why-failing-is-the-secret-ingredient-to-crushing-it-in-business

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts."

Winston Churchill