Sergio Guevara
Head of Client Success at Gradehacker
Starting a business is not an easy task, much less if you are still studying. However, entrepreneurial thinking and mentality occur naturally in many college students. Others have to learn how to start a business in college. An entrepreneur is always full of ideas, strategies, and desires to start a new project. Some of our clients are precisely studying to improve their business and leadership skills to become a successful entrepreneur but, is that enough?
Without a doubt, college students are the people who can offer the best approaches to start a business. Mark Zuckerberg began working on Facebook while he was a student, and well, we all know how that story ended. You don’t have to wait for success after you graduate to start working on your future much sooner.
A business is a mix of passion, knowledge and good advices so That is why we want to share with all college students these incredible tips to start a business in college.
1) Businesses and collegestudents are not incompatible!
Being a student has many positive factors. You can make friends with colleagues who have the same entrepreneurial thinking as you do. You have the library and the spaces within your campus, and more importantly, you have access to specialized information that not everyone can access. At the same time, a college environment is an excellent place to test your business ideas, and to observe how a young and specialized customer reacts to your product or service.
2) Better the passion, better the business
What do you like the most? Sales, merchandise, or manufacturing? Regardless of the nature of your idea, it is always essential that you choose to develop a business that you are passionate about.
In this way, all the time and effort you put into building your dream will not be seen as a sacrifice, but as a job you want, and that will surely have great rewards. You know what they say, choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
3) Find a balance between time to study and time for your business
Since having to go to class was not enough, now you are also focused on creating a business. And you can’t take this lightly! You should share your time equally with your projects and college, always trying to generate an appropriate relationship between both responsibilities. You can see our blog post 9 Hacks to Better Manage Your Time to improve your productivity, and always stay focused on what is really important.
4) A great boss Develops a business-focused mindset
If you want to start a business, you can’t see things like the rest of the people. Program your mind to always think based on your business, how to improve your product, and how to reach a better audience. You can achieve this through interaction with your teachers and classes, always being attentive to any information that may be useful to apply in the construction of your business. Also, ask your friends hypothetical questions about a service they would like to use, or their opinion about existing companies and how they could be improved.
5) A starting business does not need too much money
One of the biggest problems facing college students when starting a business is financing. According to the Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, more than a third of entrepreneurs start their businesses with personal savings.
On the other hand, entrepreneurs such as Ana Gavia, owner of the Pinkcolada swimsuit brand, launched her company with only $ 200. In reality, this depends on how determined you are to start your business with the resources you have available. Growth will come gradually as you get more and more involved in the learning process.
6) A business needs a face! Create a web page and social media
Sometimes the idea of a business may seem as simple as offering a service on social media. And this, in many cases, is the reality! Food or drink businesses can gain a huge customer base in a short time thanks to the influence of social media.
In these spaces, you can talk about your business, about yourself, in addition to telling your customers what you can do for them. Also, these platforms are an excellent visual resource for people to be attracted to your business. For example, you can check out the best mobile apps for entrepreneurs right now.
7) Try new things, make mistakes and learn
Keep in mind that the first idea you have is probably not a million-dollar idea. Trust your business, your skills, and the people around you. Remember that starting a business is a constant learning process, where you interact with colleagues, mentors, and customers to improve the product you offer, as well as improve the lives of people who consume that product. Don’t see mistakes as a failure. See them as a new opportunity for learning.
8) Failure in businesses is part of the process, so don’t stop trying
The most crucial advice is never to stop working. If an idea does not go well, you must put your ego aside and trust that you are a person capable of going out with a new and better view. Do not compare yourself with others, since not everyone can study and run a business at the same time. Recognize the uniqueness of your skills and trust the value of your effort.
A few last minute tips when creating a business
Creating a business while in college is not easy or fast, but it is enriching. In the future, you will look back, and you will surely tell yourself, ‘I made the right decision.’ These incredible tips to start a business in college will be the first step you will do in the entrepreneurial world. The entrepreneur’s life is only for people who are really willing to pursue it, and that entails a lot of sacrifices, but also many rewards.
Do you want to learn some other skills that will help you to be the boss you always dreamed of? CHeck our articles related to this subject. We hope your entrepreneurship adventures are as exciting as successful!
Sergio Guevara
Sergio Guevara has been an avid essay writer and researcher for Gradehacker since 2018. He has helped countless non-traditional students with a plethora of subjects like literature, nursing, and history. Now as the head of the Client Success Team he’s constantly involved with SEO-driven content that can make the life of both non-traditional and traditional college students much easier. You can find him on LinkedIn
