How Do I Become an Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurs create and run businesses, and in order to become an entrepreneur you will need to develop a business opportunity for yourself. This involves investigating the potential customers and demand for whatever products or services you intend to sell. It is a good idea to write a business plan detailing your specific goals for your business and how you intend to achieve them. This provides a blueprint for you to follow and can be used to attract potential business partners or investors. Once you've done this, the next step in becoming an entrepreneur is launching and running your new business.

Starting a new business is a risky endeavor that requires hard work and perseverance. Entrepreneurs are typically independent-minded people who believe strongly in their abilities and are willing to take risks. You are more likely to succeed at becoming an entrepreneur if you are passionate about your business concept and have the discipline, organizational skills, and financial knowledge to compete in the business world.

To become an entrepreneur, you will need to come up with an idea for a business opportunity. You might be able to turn a hobby, craft, or interest you have into a business by selling products that you make or by providing some type of service. Examples include woodworking, jewelry making, dog walking, web site development or being a disc jockey. You might recognize that your neighborhood or community lacks a certain kind of business for which there is probably a demand — an organic grocery store, for example, or a landscaping service. You might believe that you can do or provide something better than what is being sold by existing businesses in your area or on the Internet.

In order to be successful, a new business must generally have some kind of competitive advantage over other similar businesses already operating. The advantage might be lower prices, unique merchandise or outstanding customer service. You will increase your chances for success as an entrepreneur if you create a business that offers something new, different, or better than what is already available in the marketplace.

It is important to examine the financial feasibility of any potential business opportunity. A business is not profitable unless there is demand for what it provides. Before you become an entrepreneur you may want to conduct market research or pay a consultant to do it for you to determine if there is customer demand for the business you are considering starting. A market analysis of your potential business would investigate what types of customers are likely to be interested in your products or services.

To become an entrepreneur, one of the most important steps is to write a business plan. A detailed business plan lays out your specific goals for your business and explains in practical terms how you will achieve them and why you think they are achievable. Your plan would explain the results of your market research and examine the potential financial performance of your proposed business. This would include a detailed accounting of your expected expenses, such as materials, supplies, taxes, insurance, and other costs. Your business plan would also explain your plans for pricing your products or services and show what kinds of profits you expect to make.

You might be able to use a well-written business plan to attract financial partners or investors or to get a business loan from a financial institution. This is especially important if you lack the capital, or cash, that you need to get the business started. In addition, it can take a while for new businesses to become profitable because expenses often exceed profits during the early stages of a new business. It will be helpful if you have an initial cash fund sufficient to pay your start-up expenses and cover your initial operating costs.

Once you've taken these steps, you'll need to launch and run your new business. It would be a wise idea for you to gain or expand upon your business knowledge before you launch. Before you become an entrepreneur, you may want to take college classes or otherwise educate yourself in basic business skills, such as accounting and financial management. Your business plan will also be helpful as you begin operating your new business by providing you with a blueprint to follow to achieve your entrepreneurial goals.


Written By: Kim Masters Evans
Edited By: Susan Barwick Last Modified Date: 15 July 2011

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