Entrepreneur Training Schools

Length of Training

Training can take anywhere from one to four years.* Some specialized programs are only a few days or weeks long but do not result in an official credential. While many entrepreneurs have been successful with no formal, post-secondary education, it is recommended.

Program Options

Community development centers and non-profit organizations frequently offer short entrepreneurial training workshops covering business plans, marketing strategies, and bookkeeping. These programs last a few days to a few months, but they do not lead to an official educational credential.

At post-secondary schools, entrepreneur training programs are generally offered as certificate or bachelor's degree programs.

Certificate programs can be stand-alone courses of study or add-ons to other majors. Many institutions allow students from any academic area to complete an entrepreneurship certificate as part of their degree. Some certificate programs are at the graduate level, meaning you must have a bachelor's degree to be admitted.

Bachelor's degree programs typically take four years to complete. Some schools offer fast-track options that allow you to finish in less time.* Business administration or management degree programs frequently offer entrepreneurship as a specialization.

Typical Courses

Entrepreneur training usually offers instruction in topics like:

• Business plan preparation
• Venture funding
• Marketing
• Public relations
• Accounting and business finance
• Product development
• Business law
• Organizational behavior
• Strategic management
• Customer relations

Skills You Can Learn

You can become adept at:

• Developing a business plan
• Creating marketing strategies
• Testing ideas for new products or services
• Making financial decisions
• Managing staff
• Communicating with suppliers and customers

Education & Training FAQs

What kind of education is required to be an entrepreneur?

Technically, no formal education is required to start a business. However, you will need to be familiar with the industry you want to work in. For example, it would be good to have some culinary training or experience if you want to open a restaurant. Some basic bookkeeping knowledge is also useful.

Many entrepreneurs have college educations. One report revealed that in 2020 over half of the entrepreneurs (51.4 percent) had bachelor's degrees, and 22.6 percent had a master's degree or higher.

Post-secondary entrepreneur training programs can help you gain the business expertise to develop an effective plan and see your vision come to life. But most importantly, you have to be prepared to keep learning and adapting to stay successful.

How many years does it take to become an entrepreneur?

You could launch a website tomorrow and call yourself an entrepreneur. However, depending on the nature of your business, the state of the market, and a host of other factors, it can take years to start seeing a profit from your venture. Success requires patience, persistence, and hard work.

Earnings

It's difficult to estimate how much entrepreneurs make. The reality is that some entrepreneurs are unsuccessful and do not ever reach a point where they earn an income. There is no top limit to what a successful entrepreneur could make.

Job Outlook

According to a report by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, business ownership in the U.S. nearly doubled between 2001 and 2019.

And the SBA notes that as of 2020, there were almost 32 million small businesses across the U.S. which created 1.6 million new jobs.

What an Entrepreneur Does

Entrepreneurs establish and operate new businesses. They take a unique or innovative idea and develop it into a product or service. Some set out to follow their long-held passions, while others seek to take advantage of what they see as a lucrative opportunity.

Entrepreneurs secure funding for their new ventures by approaching possible investors and creating a solid business plan to present to loan officers.

In terms of daily tasks, entrepreneurs do whatever is necessary to keep the business going. That means they might:

• Recruit and manage staff
• Create budgets and oversee financial activities
• Set marketing strategies
• Negotiate with suppliers
• Direct day-to-day operations

Work Settings

The work settings of entrepreneurs depend on the nature of their industries. In most cases, they work in offices. But they might also work in:

• Factories
• Restaurants
• Retail stores
• Construction sites
• Any other type of workplace

Career FAQs

What are the qualities of a successful entrepreneur?

Most successful entrepreneurs are:

• Passionate about their business: They love what they do and are willing to put in as many hours as it takes to make their business succeed.
• Determined: They're focused on a goal and are prepared to learn from setbacks or failures.
• Self-motivated: They do whatever needs to be done because they know that their business's success ultimately rests with them.
• Unafraid of taking calculated risks: They don't hesitate to venture into the unknown and try something that's never been done before if they believe there is a good expectation of success.
• Creative and innovative: They're always looking for ways to improve and do things better than the competition, and they're willing to adapt their strategies as circumstances change.

How do I begin a startup with no money?

A lack of funds is a challenge, but there are things you can do to overcome that issue:

• Look for free resources. Maybe you could promote your business through a free Facebook page rather than a professionally designed website. Or maybe you could convince someone in your field to introduce you to some influential contacts in exchange for your help on one of their projects. Figure out what you need to get started and see if there are no-cost alternatives.
• Drum up cash in unique ways. Ask friends and family to invest in your business. Find a cofounder with access to capital. Or look into crowdfunding. Sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo can help you raise cash and get free advertising at the same time.
• Explore government programs. The SBA has developed partnerships with lenders to give small business owners easier access to loans. Eligibility requirements vary, so be sure to look into the details.