Edinburgh Student Builds £100/Week PDF Business While Studying Computer Science

EDINBURGH, Scotland - July 2, 2025 - PRLog -- EDINBURGH, Scotland - Calum Kerr, a 20-year-old Computer Science student at Edinburgh Napier University, has successfully launched SnackPDF, a profitable online PDF compression tool that generates over £100 in weekly revenue while he continues his full-time studies.

Frustrated with expensive subscription-based PDF tools like SmallPDF (£12/month) and daily-limited free alternatives, Kerr built SnackPDF as a pay-per-use solution that charges just £0.05 per compression - making professional PDF tools accessible to students and small businesses.

"I was constantly frustrated with PDF tools that either had daily limits, expensive subscriptions, or just didn't work properly," said Kerr. "As a university student, I couldn't afford £12/month for SmallPDF, and the free alternatives were terrible. So I built my own."

Since launching in May 2024, SnackPDF has processed over 5,000 PDF compressions for more than 1,000 users, proving that students can build successful tech businesses while studying. The platform offers up to 96% file size reduction while maintaining document quality.

Key achievements include:
- £100+ weekly recurring revenue
- 1,000+ registered users
- 5,000+ PDF compressions completed
- 95%+ customer satisfaction rate
- Zero external funding (bootstrapped)

"This proves that you don't need a big team or massive funding to build a successful tech business," Kerr added. "Sometimes you just need to solve a real problem that affects people every day."

SnackPDF's pay-per-use model offers credit packages starting at £5 for 100 compressions, with no subscriptions or artificial daily limits. The platform automatically deletes files after processing for user privacy.

Kerr represents a growing trend of student entrepreneurs who are building profitable businesses while pursuing their education, challenging traditional notions about when to start a company.

About SnackPDF: SnackPDF is a web-based PDF compression tool founded by Calum Kerr, a Computer Science student at Edinburgh Napier University. The platform offers professional-grade PDF compression with transparent pay-per-use pricing, serving students, freelancers, and small businesses worldwide. Learn more at https://www.snackpdf.com