Ondo, a senior at Chatham University who studies sustainable business, is a dedicated beekeeper who manages a 50-hive apiary in western Pennsylvania. Ondo harvests the honey twice a year and sells it to help pay for his tuition.

"I have some scholarship opportunities and do take one small federal loan, but other than that, I'm able to pay the rest of that tuition with money from my business," Ondo, 23, told Business Insider. “Since day one, I've made a profit.”

"This is the ultimate side business because you don't necessarily need to be there 9-to-5 every day. There's flexibility," he added.Ondo needed more land for his apiary, so he armed himself with bottles of honey and knocked on doors, asking if he could put beehives in backyards.

"I negotiate with property owners to keep the hives on the property. I give them my little 30-second pitch and let them try the honey. I've been very successful," Ondo said, adding that the owners are typically happy to accept a few bottles of honey as payment.

Ondo has also found luck through partnerships, including one with Dillner Family Farms in nearby Gibsonia. He also sells his honey to local cafs and small businesses in the area.

"As I grow the hive count, I've collected thousands of pounds of honey that I have to distribute," Ondo said. “I try to be mindful of who I choose, and educate them on the importance of the local honey.”