More than 31 million entrepreneurs currently own small businesses throughout the United States, accounting for almost 16% of all workers. Pursuing a career as an entrepreneur allows motivated and determined individuals the opportunity to create a future that aligns with their professional, financial, and ethical ideals -- all the while filling a gap in the economy.
Entrepreneurs pursue many different academic routes to business ownership, including degrees in entrepreneurship. Interested students can learn more about the path to becoming an entrepreneur, what it takes, and where to find support at every step of the way.
What Does an Entrepreneur Do?
Entrepreneurs' days rarely look similar from one day to the next, but their general job is to identify an unmet need in the marketplace and create a product or service to meet it. While entrepreneurs shoulder the burden of risks involved with starting a new business, they also get to enjoy the rewards of a successful business. Some common responsibilities include:
- Setting business goals and directing employees to accomplish those goals
- Studying market trends and forecasting how those will affect the business
- Identifying roles that need to be filled and hiring new employees
- Looking for ways to bring in more new clients and keep existing clients
- Forging new connections, both with prospective clients and employees
- Creating a safe, ethical place for people to work
After completing an entrepreneurship degree, not all graduates immediately start a business. They may work as managers, business consultants sales directors, or even recruiters for a time before going out on their own.
Entrepreneur Salary and Career Outlook
An entrepreneur's salary can vary dramatically based on the size of the company they own, how many people they employ, and how well their product or service sells. It can also vary based on the amount of experience they possess, where the business is based, and how much education they have.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, chief executives earned median annual wages of $185,950 as of 2020, with those in manufacturing and professional, scientific, and technical services earning the highest at more than $208,000 per year. That said, chief executives in the bottom 10% of earners brought home less than $62,780 annually.
It's normal for businesses to earn less money when they're first started, meaning entrepreneurs early in their careers will also earn less than those with established companies.
How to Know if You Would Enjoy a Job in Entrepreneurship
It takes a special person to shoulder the weight of starting a new business from the ground up while putting their all into making sure it succeeds. Before diving into a career as a business owner, think about whether your personality traits fit within this path.
Entrepreneurs are known for being tenacious go-getters who don't get discouraged when they hit a dead end; rather, they just look for an alternate route. They also demonstrate flexibility to make things work, rarely taking a my-way-or-the-highway approach -- unless they feel it weakens their business. Entrepreneurs are self-motivated, possessing the determination and focus to put in hundreds of hours of work to see their vision through.
Lastly, entrepreneurs are persuasive. Whether convincing a potential client to use their product or service, or making sure they hire only the best employees, entrepreneurs know how to convince others to believe in their vision.
Steps to Becoming an Entrepreneur
Becoming an entrepreneur requires hard work, determination, and focus. Simply put, it is not for the faint of heart. That said, many entrepreneurs begin their businesses while in school or directly after graduating, making it a great option for motivated learners with a clear vision of what they want to create.
How Long Does it Take to Become an Entrepreneur?
The amount of time it takes to start a business can vary between entrepreneurs. The most important component students should consider is making sure they possess the knowledge, skills, and focus before trying to get their business concept off the ground.
Some entrepreneurs may launch their business idea while still in college, while others may spend years after graduating gaining the requisite skills needed for their type of company. There's no one size fits all approach to becoming an entrepreneur.
Best Degrees to Become an Entrepreneur
As students begin their search for a degree in entrepreneurship, they will likely notice that these programs exist at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Additionally, some schools offer concentrations to further hone knowledge in areas such as logistics, innovative leadership, or human resources.
At the very least, most entrepreneurs will need a business degree. Those looking to continue building their skills may decide that an MBA in entrepreneurship best suits their career goals.
10 Best Schools For Entrepreneurs
Universities.com uses a comprehensive methodology designed to rank colleges based on factors that matter to students, both while in school and after they graduate. Some of the metrics we consider when finding the best entrepreneurship programs include admissions, retention and graduation, instructors and faculty, and financial resources. A full list of schools can be found on our entrepreneurial studies hub page.
- University of Pennsylvania
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Boston College
- University of Miami
- University of Georgia
- University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- University of Florida
- Binghamton University
- The University of Texas at Dallas
- University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Where Can I Learn More About Becoming an Entrepreneur?
National Association for the Self-Employed: Whether an entrepreneur is looking to grow their business or take advantage of new opportunities, NASE connects them with resources.
National Federation of Independent Business: NFIB works to strengthen independent businesses and their owners by providing industry research, advocacy efforts, and legal information.
National Association of Women Business Owners: Joining NAWBO provides members access to continuing education, conferences, local chapters, and business mentorship from established women entrepreneurs.
United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship: USASBE supports entrepreneurs at every stage of their careers, from when still in college through to being a successful business owner.