Get real help on projects while mentoring local students

PrePair connects small businesses with motivated college students for short-term, educational projects. Low cost, simple process, real results on tasks you've been putting off.

Last updated: December 2024

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Why owners look for extra hands

Your business has a running list of important tasks that somehow never get done. Update the website copy. Plan some Instagram posts. Research what competitors are doing. Get customer feedback on that new service idea. These aren't urgent enough to drop everything, but they'd genuinely help your business if someone just handled them.

The problem is the gap between "we really should do this" and "we can afford to hire someone for it." Bringing on staff means payroll, benefits, and long-term commitments you might not be ready for. Agencies and freelancers often charge more than your entire monthly marketing budget for projects that should be straightforward.

Meanwhile, these tasks pile up on your already full plate. PrePair exists specifically in that gap—giving you access to motivated talent for projects that are important but not mission-critical, at a price that makes sense for small businesses.

How PrePair helps your business

PrePair gives you a simple way to get real work done while supporting local students who need practical experience. You're not just getting help—you're investing in future talent while moving your business forward.

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Access to motivated students

From nearby universities who are eager to apply their classroom learning

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Short, scoped projects

With clear deliverables instead of open-ended commitments

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Predictable monthly cost

Around $20 instead of large project invoices

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Chance to mentor future talent

And potentially identify strong candidates for future paid roles

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Progress on postponed projects

Like social media strategy, website updates, market research, and content creation

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Structured process

That doesn't require HR overhead or complicated onboarding

Your journey as a host (step by step)

Here's exactly what happens from the moment you decide to try PrePair through completing your first project:

You hear about PrePair

And identify a project you've been putting off—maybe updating your website copy or planning social media content.

You create a simple host profile

With basic business information, your industry, and the types of projects that would help your business.

You subscribe for about $20/month

To access the platform and start posting projects for local students.

You write and post your first project

With a clear scope: what you need done, rough timeline (usually 2-6 weeks), and what type of student might be a good fit.

You review student applications

And profiles, then select someone whose background and interests align with your project needs.

You have a brief kickoff conversation

To set expectations: what the final deliverable looks like, how often you'll check in, and roughly how many hours you expect it to take.

You support the student as they work

By answering questions when they come up, providing feedback at one or two key milestones, and being available for quick clarifications.

You receive the completed work

And give feedback, then decide whether you want to work with that student again or try a different type of project.

What kinds of projects students can do

Social media content planning

A marketing or communications student creates two weeks of Instagram posts for your coffee shop, including captions and photo suggestions. You get fresh content ideas and they learn about brand voice and social strategy for a real business.

Website copy refresh

A business or English student rewrites your "About Us" and services pages to make them clearer and more engaging. You get professional-quality copy and they gain experience writing for real clients with real business goals.

Customer research project

A business student surveys your customers about what additional services they'd want, then presents findings in a simple report with recommendations. You get valuable insights and they practice research methods on a real business challenge.

Email newsletter setup

A marketing student helps you set up an email newsletter system and creates the first few issues of content. You finally launch that newsletter you've been planning and they learn about email marketing in practice.

Process improvement analysis

A business or operations student analyzes your customer intake process and suggests improvements with simple templates. You streamline operations and they gain hands-on experience with business process optimization.

Brand asset creation

A design student creates simple marketing materials like flyers or social media templates using your existing brand guidelines. You get professional-looking materials and they build their portfolio with real client work.

How much time and oversight it really takes

The most common concern business owners have is: "Will managing a student become another full-time job?" The answer is no, but students do need some guidance—that's part of the educational value.

Projects are intentionally designed to be manageable for busy owners. They're scoped to focus on specific deliverables, limited in hours (typically 10-30 total), and structured so they enhance rather than interfere with your daily operations.

Here's what's typically expected from you as a host: an initial conversation to clarify the project scope and expectations, availability to answer questions when they come up (usually via message, not constant meetings), and time to review work at key milestones and provide feedback.

Typical time commitment from your side:

45-60 minutes to define the project and brief the student
15-20 minutes every few days for questions and quick check-ins
30-45 minutes for final review and feedback

Most owners find this manageable because the projects are designed to be self-contained rather than integrated into critical business operations.

How this compares to hiring, freelancers, and agencies

PrePair isn't a replacement for professional staff or agencies when you need expert-level work. It's positioned as a practical middle ground for tasks that are important but not urgent enough to justify major investment.

Here's how the options compare:

Hiring full-time staff

Higher ongoing costs with payroll, benefits, and long-term commitment. Makes sense when you have 30+ hours of work per week in a specific area. Requires HR processes, training, and management overhead.

Freelancers and agencies

Professional-quality work but often $50-150+ per hour or $1,000+ per project. Best when you need expert-level results and have the budget. Less opportunity for ongoing relationship building.

PrePair

$20/month subscription with projects completed by motivated students. Educational framework means students are learning while helping your business. Opportunity to mentor future talent and potentially identify future hires. Best for moving forward on important but non-critical projects.

Pricing and what you get for it

PrePair uses one simple monthly subscription designed to be accessible for small businesses operating on tight budgets.

About $20 per month gets you:

Ability to post clearly scoped projects to students from local universities
Access to browse student profiles and review applications
Direct messaging and project coordination through the platform
A record of projects you've hosted and students you've worked with
Support from PrePair if you need help structuring a project or resolving issues

The goal is to make quality support accessible at a price point that works for small businesses. Instead of choosing between doing everything yourself or paying professional rates, you have a structured way to get help while investing in future talent.

Is PrePair a fit for your business?

PrePair is likely a good fit if your business:

Has a backlog of marketing, content, or research tasks that would help but never quite get prioritized
Can break down work into clear, specific projects that a motivated student can own
Is open to mentoring and providing feedback to someone who's still learning
Values supporting local students while also moving business goals forward
Wants to try new approaches without major financial risk

PrePair might not be the right fit if:

You need immediate professional-level results on mission-critical projects
You're looking for guaranteed revenue growth or overnight business transformation
You don't have time to provide basic project guidance or answer questions
You're uncomfortable with the educational, unpaid framework of student projects
You need ongoing, full-time support rather than project-based help

Business FAQ

Do I have to pay students directly?

No, students are not paid for PrePair projects. This is an educational framework where students gain experience, portfolio pieces, and mentorship. You pay only the monthly platform subscription.

What makes unpaid projects fair to students?

Students are the primary beneficiaries—they're gaining real experience, portfolio material, and professional references that help them land paid internships and jobs later. The projects are structured as educational experiences with clear learning outcomes.

How many hours should a typical project take?

Most projects range from 15-40 total hours over 2-6 weeks, which breaks down to about 5-15 hours per week. You'll see time estimates when reviewing student applications and can adjust scope accordingly.

What if the student doesn't finish or the work isn't usable?

We provide support to help resolve issues and can connect you with alternative students if needed. Most problems stem from unclear initial expectations, which is why we emphasize thorough project scoping upfront.

Can I offer a bonus or stipend if I'm happy with the work?

While projects are designed to be unpaid educational experiences, some businesses choose to offer small thank-you gifts, recommendations, or future paid opportunities. This should be discussed openly with students.

Can successful projects lead to paid internships or jobs?

Absolutely. Many businesses use PrePair to evaluate potential talent for future paid positions. It's a low-risk way to see how someone works before making hiring commitments.

What kinds of businesses can use PrePair?

Any small business, nonprofit, or startup that can benefit from marketing, content, research, or light operational help. We work with restaurants, retail shops, professional services, nonprofits, and local startups.

Do I need to be in a specific city?

We're starting with NYC-area businesses working with Fordham University students, then expanding campus by campus. If you're interested in other locations, we can notify you when we launch there.

How much experience do students typically have?

Students range from first-years exploring interests to seniors with some internship experience. We help match student experience levels with appropriate project complexity. Many projects are designed specifically for motivated beginners.

Is there support if I need help designing a project?

Yes, we provide guidance on structuring projects that work well for both students and businesses. We can help you break down larger goals into manageable student-sized projects.

Ready to move those postponed projects forward?

PrePair gives you a simple, affordable way to tackle the important tasks that keep getting pushed to tomorrow while providing local students with the real-world experience they need to build their careers.

If you can think of at least one project sitting on your to-do list—updating website copy, planning social media content, researching customer needs, or organizing business processes—you're exactly the kind of host PrePair is designed for. The combination of motivated student talent and structured educational framework means you get meaningful help while supporting future professionals in your community.

Plan your first PrePair project