A passion project in business is a self-initiated endeavor where you take the chance to explore your interests. If you’re interested in business, what better way to do it than by creating or managing your own business venture? Don’t let middle school deter you: embarking on such passion projects not only nurtures your entrepreneurial skills but also provides ample time to develop, scale, or pivot your ideas before you reach high school. Starting early allows for experiential learning and personal growth, laying a strong foundation for future endeavors.

What are passion projects for middle school students?

Passion projects are a great way to learn about subjects you are passionate about, and to build creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. While you’re still a student in middle school, the scope of these projects may be somewhat limited but you can still do things like launching a small enterprise, organizing events, or developing products or services that address specific needs or interests.

Why should I do a passion project in middle school?

Engaging in a passion project during middle school offers numerous benefits:

• Early skill development: Passion projects serve as a crash course in skills like leadership, communication, and financial literacy at a young age.

• Fairly risk-free exploration: The middle school environment provides a supportive space to experiment with ideas without the high stakes often associated with later academic stages.

• Long-term Growth: Starting early allows projects to evolve over time, offering opportunities to refine business models and strategies before entering higher education.

• Enhanced college applications: A well-developed passion project can distinguish you in future academic or scholarship applications, showcasing initiative and dedication.

30 passion project ideas for business

1. Start a handmade jewelry business

Design and create unique jewelry pieces using beads, wires, and charms. Experiment with different styles and materials to cater to specific audiences, such as friendship bracelets for kids or elegant designs for adults. You can take the help of a parent or guardian to sell your jewelry through online platforms like Etsy or local craft fairs.

• Materials/Investment Required: Beads, wires, tools; initial investment of $30–$50.

• Suitable for: Beginners with an interest in crafts.

2. Offer custom T-shirt printing

Create and sell custom-designed t-shirts using heat transfer paper, fabric paint, or screen-printing techniques. You can design shirts for school events, birthdays, or themed parties. A good way to promote your business is via social media or at school events, and you can offer bulk discounts for group orders to increase sales.

• Materials/Investment Required: Plain t-shirts, fabric paint, or heat transfer paper; initial investment of $40–$70.

• Suitable for: Students with basic design skills.

3. Try your hand at organic soap-making

Make and sell organic soaps using natural ingredients like essential oils, shea butter, and herbal infusions. Experiment with different scents and skin-friendly ingredients to cater to customers with sensitive skin. If you want, you can go a step further and package your soaps attractively and sell them online, at farmers' markets, or to family and friends.

• Materials/Investment Required: Soap base, molds, essential oils; initial investment of $135–$160.

• Suitable for: Beginners interested in chemistry and skincare.

4. Sell personalized stationery

Design and create customized notebooks, planners, or greeting cards with personalized messages or artwork. Use digital tools like Canva or hand-drawn designs to add a personal touch. Market your products to students, teachers, and professionals looking for unique stationery.

• Materials/Investment Required: Paper, printing supplies; initial investment of $20–$40.

• Suitable for: Students with artistic flair.

5. Offer pet sitting and dog walking services

Offer pet care services to busy pet owners in your neighborhood. Provide dog walking, feeding, and playtime services for pets while their owners are at work or traveling. Build trust by offering free trial services and requesting testimonials from satisfied customers to expand your client base.

• Materials/Investment Required: Leashes, pet toys; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Animal lovers and responsible individuals.

6. Start a tutoring service

Provide tutoring in subjects you excel at to younger students struggling with their coursework. Offer one-on-one sessions, group study programs, or virtual tutoring through Zoom. Create worksheets or practice tests to help your students improve and track their progress.

• Materials/Investment Required: Educational materials; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Students with strong academic skills.

7. Start an online bakery

Bake and sell cookies, cakes, or pastries at local events, school fundraisers, or online. Experiment with unique flavors or dietary-friendly options like gluten-free or vegan treats. Consider setting up a social media page to showcase your products and take orders.

• Materials/Investment Required: Baking ingredients, packaging; initial investment of $50–$100.

• Suitable for: Aspiring bakers.

8. Offer lawn care services

Mow lawns, trim hedges, and offer garden maintenance in your neighborhood. Advertise your services through flyers or word-of-mouth and offer discounts for recurring customers. Investing in basic gardening tools and maintaining a reliable schedule can help build a steady client base.

• Materials/Investment Required: Lawnmower, gardening tools; initial investment of $60–$100.

• Suitable for: Students who enjoy outdoor work.

9. Create and sell recycled art pieces

Create and sell art pieces made from recycled materials such as bottle caps, old magazines, and cardboard. Use your creativity to turn waste into decorative items like wall art, sculptures, or handmade greeting cards. Promote your eco-friendly business through social media and community events.

• Materials/Investment Required: Recyclable materials, art supplies; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Environmentally conscious creatives.

10. Create sustainable school supplies

Use recycled materials to make school stationery like pen holders, notebooks, bags, and more, customizing them with your own designs. Since waste materials are cheaper, you can obtain these for a bargain and make a decent profit while still offering competitive pricing.

• Materials/Investment Required: Recyclable materials, art supplies; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Environmentally aware students.

11. Start a handmade candle business

Make and sell scented or decorative candles using natural wax, essential oils, and dyes. Experiment with unique scents and designs, such as layered or themed candles. Sell them online, at local markets, or to friends and family.

• Materials/Investment Required: Wax, fragrance oils, molds, wicks; initial investment of $140–$170.

• Suitable for: Creative students interested in crafts.

12. Make digital greeting cards and invitations

Design and sell customized digital invitations and greeting cards for birthdays, weddings, or holidays. Use tools like Canva or Photoshop to create eye-catching designs and offer customization options. You can sell your designs on Etsy or Fiverr as downloadable products.

• Materials/Investment Required: Graphic design software; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Students with an interest in digital design.

13. Sell recycled fashion accessories

Create and sell eco-friendly fashion items, such as upcycled denim bags, scrunchies, or jewelry made from recycled materials. Promote your brand as sustainable and offer tutorials to attract an eco-conscious audience.

• Materials/Investment Required: Sewing supplies, recycled fabric; initial investment of $20–$50.

• Suitable for: Creative students passionate about sustainability.

14. Write an e-book or workbook

Write and sell an e-book or printable workbook on a topic of interest, such as beginner coding, art, or creative writing prompts. Sell on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or Etsy.

• Materials/Investment Required: Writing and formatting tools; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Students who enjoy writing and research.

15. Organize a school supply exchange

Set up an exchange initiative for school supplies, sourcing from older students to younger students. Decide on a convenient location, multiple time slots, and organize the items to make it as convenient as possible for your customers. Advertise it in your school through word of mouth, flyers, or even on your school social media.

• Materials/Investment Required: Social media knowledge; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Students comfortable with social media marketing.

16. Sell personalized stickers and decals

Design and sell custom stickers and decals using a Cricut machine or print-on-demand services. Offer different themes, such as motivational quotes, fandom-based designs, or aesthetic patterns.

• Materials/Investment Required: Sticker paper, cutting tools; initial investment of $50–$100.

• Suitable for: Artistic students with an eye for design.

17. Offer Web Design Service

Learn website development using platforms like Wix or WordPress, then offer affordable website design services to local businesses or student organizations. Start with simple projects and expand your skills over time.

• Materials/Investment Required: Web design software; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Tech-savvy students with an interest in coding.

18. Grow and sell houseplants

If you have an interest in botany, you can start growing commonly loved houseplants in your own home, nurture them, and then sell them to people in the neighborhood or advertise to more clients via social media.

• Materials/Investment Required: Plant seeds, aesthetic pot, potting supplies, soil.

• Suitable for: Students interested in botany and nature.

19. Personalized birthday party planning services

Build your organizational and crowd management skills by offering party planning services. Provide individualized solutions to the parents of your peers, organizing materials and setups according to the budget and space available. Advertise your services in your school or online on social media.

• Materials/Investment Required: None, except an organizational mindset.

• Suitable for: Students with organizational skills and good aesthetics.

20. Hand-paint tote bags

Design and sell hand-painted or printed tote bags with fun slogans, artistic designs, or custom artwork. Market your products as eco-friendly shopping bags.

• Materials/Investment Required: Fabric paint, plain tote bags; initial investment of $30–$50.

• Suitable for: Artistic students.

21. Offer school spirit merchandise

Create and sell school-branded merchandise like hoodies, caps, and water bottles. Partner with your school to promote products at events and fundraisers.

• Materials/Investment Required: Print-on-demand services; initial investment of $50–$100.

• Suitable for: Students with an interest in school branding and marketing.

22. Make and deliver healthy snacks

Using basic baking materials and an oven or microwave, start making healthy, easy to carry snacks like granola bars, healthy chips, or trail mixes and sell them in your school or neighborhood.

• Materials/Investment Required: Nuts, seeds, butters, grains, access to an oven, microwave, and refrigerator; initial investment of $100-$150.

• Suitable for: Students with an interest in cooking and nutrition.

23. Start a custom gift basket business

Curate and sell themed gift baskets for birthdays, holidays, or special occasions. Personalize baskets based on customer requests and offer different pricing tiers.

• Materials/Investment Required: Gift items, baskets, wrapping materials; initial investment of $50–$100.

• Suitable for: Students with an eye for presentation.

24. Start a virtual event planning service

If managing physical events is difficult in your area, then you can try your hand at organizing online events like trivia nights, book clubs, or school club events. Manage event details, create digital invitations, and coordinate activities.

• Materials/Investment Required: Event planning software; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Students with organizational skills.

25. Used book reselling

Collect and resell gently used books online or at local markets. Offer book bundles or rare finds to attract more buyers.

• Materials/Investment Required: Used books, online selling platform; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Students passionate about reading.

26. Start a handwritten letter service

Offer a personalized handwritten letter service for people looking to send heartfelt messages for special occasions. Charge per letter or per set of notes.

• Materials/Investment Required: Stationery, postage; minimal initial investment.

• Suitable for: Students with good handwriting and creativity.

27. Start a podcast on business topics for kids

Start a podcast discussing simple business concepts, entrepreneurship, and interviews with young business owners. Build a niche audience and monetize through sponsorships.

• Materials/Investment Required: Microphone, recording software; initial investment of $50–$100.

• Suitable for: Students interested in public speaking.

28. Set up a homemade ice cream or lemonade stand

Make and sell homemade ice cream or lemonade at community events or school functions. Experiment with unique flavors and offer seasonal specials.

• Materials/Investment Required: Ingredients, stand setup; initial investment of $30–$70.

• Suitable for: Students interested in food businesses.

29. Start an upcycled home decor business

Transform old furniture or household items into stylish decor pieces. Sell repainted chairs, refurbished frames, or DIY decorations at craft fairs or online.

• Materials/Investment Required: Paint, brushes, tools; initial investment of $40–$80.

• Suitable for: Creative students interested in DIY projects.

30. Build a subscription box service

Curate and sell monthly subscription boxes based on a theme, such as stationery, snacks, or self-care items. Source affordable but high-quality products, package them attractively, and offer different pricing tiers. Use social media to promote your service and encourage customer feedback to refine your selections.

• Materials/Investment Required: Box packaging, themed products; initial investment of $50–$100.

• Suitable for: Students with organizational and marketing skills.

We know these ideas sound fun and easy, but bringing them to life requires discipline and proper guidance. If you're looking for a place to do it, check out our Junior Explorer Program here.

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.

The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure! 

To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.

Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this page!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

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