Starting your own business as an entrepreneur while in school can be one of the most rewarding experiences that life can offer you. However, it is wise to keep a certain level of perspective about this process.
While some student entrepreneurs can experience immediate success with their efforts and become the next Mark Zuckerberg, others might not. Being a student entrepreneur means being ready for everything, not only the success but also the challenges that come with creating a business.
In this short comprehensive guide, we will discuss the pros and cons of becoming a student entrepreneur. Check them out to determine if you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur.
Pros
-
Networking
Science has shown the most successful individuals are often also those who depend on the power of networking.
As a student, you’re surrounded by students from diverse backgrounds, networks, and industry experience. You can easily collaborate with them for a startup, which is a tremendous advantage.
Besides, universities allow students to access professors and seek advice from guest speakers. Students can also get free access to events that may cost a fortune. In these events, they can talk to industry professionals, potential investors, and mentors.
Any student wishing to start a business needs to marshal up energy, motivation, and confidence to make authentic connections. For example, if you have an idea about an app. You can attend a tech event and pitch your idea to various CEOs of prominent app development companies.
-
A Chance Do Something You Like
When most students finish college or university, they end up taking any job that comes their way. As such, most of them tend to work entry-level jobs. This means that the post you work at the beginning of your career might not be the one you desire.
Becoming a student entrepreneur, on the other hand, gives you more freedom. You can start a business that revolves around the things you’re knowledgeable about. So you get to do what you’re passionate about and make a profit off of it while having a job that you love.
You become your own boss, and more importantly, you gain the freedom to make decisions, which are vital to your business success.
-
Lower Risk
Most student entrepreneurs often have fewer financial commitments. Therefore, they are unlikely to experience either an unrecoverable financial disaster or permanent reputation consequence from a failed business.
They don’t have to put up significant collateral for a loan. Also, they don’t have to worry about building a college fund for their kids or a retirement plan for themselves.
-
Self-Motivated
Individuals who start their business while in college are usually self-motivated, and they easily believe in their work. They are confident and self-assured compared to adults and can inspire themselves in line with what they want.
And because they have a deep knowledge of the area they work in, the entrepreneurs can create new ideas and come up with something unique, never thought of before.
Student entrepreneurs excel at being their own bosses, and they enjoy that more than any other age group.
-
Time
Student entrepreneurs have a lot of time and know when they are busy. They can dedicate about 100% of their time to a passion project in hopes it will lead to a full-time job and long satisfaction.
Having more time compared to duty-bound adults. Young entrepreneurs can easily schedule their classes and holidays in advance to create time for their business.
Furthermore, young entrepreneurs in school often take problems and hardships that come along their path as opportunities for growth, development, and learning.
Cons
-
Stress
As a young entrepreneur, running your business alone can be very stressful. You will have to worry about many things, including competition, bills, customer problems, employees, and equipment breakdowns. And since you’re the sole owner of the business, the well-being of your employees falls into your hands.
-
Lack of Experience In Running A Business
Most students lack experience in running a successful business. If you start a business blindly, issues like overtime, employee payments and health, tax consideration, company policies, and other financial and human resources legalities can easily bite you and result in serious consequences.
-
Securing Financial Backing is Hard
Investors often find it hard to invest in ideas presented by student entrepreneurs. First, because young entrepreneurs usually lack a track record. Secondly, they don’t have any assets or collateral.
-
Workloads
It’s a hustle to get a business up and running, and for the most part, you’ll be doing all the hard work, especially when it’s just starting out. All the heavy lifting can be hard for one individual to handle. While starting a business can be exciting and full of possibilities, it can also be exhausting.
Final Thoughts
A student entrepreneur can make the art of handling business flexible and exciting. Using the knowledge they’ve gained in schools, students can develop unique ideas, innovations, and inventions.
Nevertheless, these entrepreneurs face various challenges, such as lack of experience, lack of general business skills, and small networks. Besides that, most young entrepreneurs find it difficult to build credibility. But they can overcome most of these challenges by remaining determined and willing to learn on the fly.
Becoming a student entrepreneur is exciting. However, you should not drop out of school to start a business. There’s a high chance you will fail. Colleges and universities act as a safety net that students can fall back on if their ventures fail.
That said, if you have a business idea that seems worthwhile to pursue, then consider talking to your friends, mentor, family, and professors to receive advice and know the way forward.
Thank you for stopping by!
