How To Start A Business Without A College Degree

Is it possible to start a business without a college degree? 

Read on to find out!

man smiling Source: Giphy

Exploring entrepreneurship at a young age leads you to a future with more financial freedom. 

A relevant college degree is not mandatory to start your own business, although a little bit of knowledge in the field certainly helps. The best part is, you don’t have to grind through three years in college before starting one. 

According to Lauren Grech, CEO of the international event management firm, LLG Events, any entrepreneur should be familiar with at least the basics of business topics, such as planning a business as well as handling finances, taxes, and sales. 


Benefits Of Starting Your Own Business Without A College Degree

 

Financial Stability 

Who doesn’t love the scent of money? Once you’re done setting up your business and have a buildup of loyal customers, your bank account will be loaded with profits! 

Gain Experience 

By stepping into the industry early, there is plenty of time and opportunities for you to gain more experience. 

Learn From Your And Other’s Mistakes 

Starting your own business at a young age may mean making more mistakes, but this allows you to learn from them, which will make you a much more skilled entrepreneur in the future! 

There are many factors to be considered before you start a business. Here are some things to help you begin:

Have A Business Plan
Entrepreneur planning a business without a college degree.
Image source: Pexels

A smooth-sailing business plan helps to manage your startup better. This leads to more funds, better business partners, and bigger investments. Despite the lack of a college degree in business, you can be creative with your business plan as long as it meets your needs and has a standard professional structure. A traditional business plan is common among investors and lenders as it is more detailed and comprehensive. Your plan should have some of these items: 

  • Executive summary
  • Company description
  • Market analysis
  • Organization and management
  • Service or product line
  • Marketing and sales
  • Funding request
  • Financial projections 

One way to point your business plan towards the right direction is by researching an ideal marketing method to promote your product and service. Try to introduce your product or service using a special introductory offer and put a time limit on your deal. This encourages a sense of urgency for customers to quickly grab the deal before it’s over. Some examples of a good deal are discounts, bundle pricing, buy one get one free, and if you’re feeling generous, a free gift with every purchase.

Have A Financial Stability
Hands counting money.
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Financial stability sustains a startup. It funds your business expenses, manages risks, expands opportunities, and ensures that the enterprise is financially prepared for a potential deficit in the economy.  

To maintain a steady financial statewe recommend setting practical goals that your business can accomplish. A clear goal helps you to prioritize the right steps in your business development plan. Being ambitious is admirable, but if the plan is too far-fetched for a startup, it might do more damage than good especially when you apply for a business loan. Therefore, it is best to borrow only what you need because this gives your business better financial flexibility for future development. 

Stay Committed To Your Business
Female entrepreneur planning a business without a college degree.
Image source: Pexels

When you choose to be an entrepreneur, you’re also signing up to be an owner, a leader, manager, sales representative, and many other roles in business and finance. To commit to these roles, it is important to have patience alongside the passion for entrepreneurship. 

With or without a college degree, starting a company is a complex process. You are stepping into multiple responsibilities while juggling many roles at a time, so here’s a tip: Learn skills that contribute to business management. You can sign up for online marketing and management courses coached by established entrepreneurs or broaden your knowledge of sales and finance by reading related articles and business magazines. 

Master Your Trade 
Entrepreneurs gathered in a business meeting.
Image source: Pexels

Hands-on learning helps you assess your skills and knowledge in managing a business. It also helps you determine which areas have to be improved before you carry out your business plans. Students may learn about business elements through informative facts while studying for a college degree. However, you truly learn what it means to be an entrepreneur when you step into the industry facing real risks and challenges. 

To do so, delve into your chosen industry to identify skills needed for your business. Working in similar companies through an apprenticeship or internship opens your mind to how a company operates. Besidesit boosts your confidence and motivation to make your business dreams come true as you discover and improve your strengths and weaknesses.

Be Open To Criticism
Guy giving constructive criticism to girl.
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Receiving feedback and being open to criticism help expand your mindset and knowledge to better improve your business. If you want your business to successfully kick off, you should seek advice from people with a similar experience.  

Expand your network and get to know more people from the business field. They can provide you with priceless advice about establishing sizeable businesses, learning from mistakes, and even secret tips that lead to their success. Theyve been in the industry far longer than you have, so listen to their opinions and take their criticisms positively. It is also helpful to have an external source point out things that you miss.  

Have Faith In Yourself  
Businesswoman scrolling her phone in a cafe.
Image source: Pexels

Establishing a successful business is possible regardless of your college degree, as long as you put in consistent hard work, commitment, and confidence. Mistakes are common when you first start out, but don’t let this hold you back. Many entrepreneurs withdraw their great business ideas after facing failure once. They are afraid of making the wrong move again, so they stop being curious and taking risks. Learn from your mistakes instead of fearing failure; if you don’t think your plan works before you try, then it most certainly won’t. 

Another tip for a steady start is to weigh your preparedness before diving too deep into your startup.  If you’re revving with confidence and certainty that this is what you want, go for it. However, you should take it easy and do more research if you have doubts. 

 

college degree may not be necessary to start a business.

However, attending college and learning about time management, accountability, ownership, and other soft skills will boost your experience as a budding entrepreneur. If you think attending a business school helps in better establishing your business, you can always pick up useful skills and knowledge with some business courses! 

Female graduate holding a college degree.
Image source: Pexels

Also… Check out this article for more ways to earn money without a degree.

For more information about business courses, contact us at +60 11-2069 9087 or drop us an email at [email protected]. 

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