--
If you're in college and you have a great idea for a business, you might not want to wait until graduation to get it up and running. Becoming an entrepreneur while you are in college can be challenging, but you can juggle classes and your business and even a part-time job if you have to. The tips below can help you manage this challenging but exciting time.
Staying in School
It can be tempting to think that if your business is doing well, you should leave your program. In fact, it is a good idea to invest in higher education because it gives you more flexibility. You may not want to run your business forever, and a college degree can open doors for you later. If you are concerned about how to pay for school, particularly if you are not getting enough federal aid, you might want to look into taking out a student loan from a private lender. Researching private lenders online is fast and easy.
Use Resources
There are a number of resources that are available to you as a college student. For example, you should try to take some classes that are specifically related to your business, including classes in entrepreneurship. You can also ask questions in class or even design projects around your business. For example, if you are taking a marketing class, you could focus on exploring ways to market your idea. This is also an excellent time to find mentors.
Manage Your Time
Time management will be critical to your success in building your business and in school. The trick will be not shortchanging either of these, but there might be times you will have to choose to prioritize one or the other. One thing you might consider doing is trying to have all your classes on the same days so that you have the other days free. If this isn't possible with the schedules offered by your school and the classes you need to take, you could also consider trying to group all your classes at a certain part of the day.
For example, if you have classes every morning, this might free up a few hours each afternoon to work on your entrepreneurial projects. It may be tough, but you'll probably also need to learn how to tell people no sometimes. Clearly articulating your priorities to yourself ahead of time can help you with this resolve.
Finding Funding
You may need more startup cash than you're able to come up with as a struggling student. First, think about the position you are in as a strength. There may be grants and other funding specifically aimed at student entrepreneurs.
You can also look beyond those grants at the kind of funding that might be available for any other kind of company. This could include loans or investments. Depending on the industry, crowdfunding may be appropriate in some cases, particularly if you plan to sell a product and people who contribute can get it early or at a reduced price.
Release ID: 89004829
Google
RSS