When you spend all of your time scheduling classes and moving from lecture hall to labs, the last thing you probably want to be thinking about is whether you have what it takes to be a student entrepreneur. As a student, you’re probably already stretched to capacity. You’re trying to meet academic deadlines, and if you’re like many students, you have a ton of extracurriculars as well. Spreading yourself too thin as a student leaves you exhausted, stressed and in some cases, on the brink of failing. So, why in the world would you want to set up a business of your own while trying to hold everything else down?

Let’s take a look at these five reasons below:

Minimal Risk

Again, this is not for everyone, so assess your personal circumstances very carefully before exploring this as an option. As a parent of a college student, I unequivocally believe that getting and maintaining good grades comes first. However, when considered objectively, you may have very little if anything to lose as a student, especially if you are already a good student, possess great time management skills, have a legitimate business idea, as well as a business plan, that you had decided to sit on until after college. You’re probably already stretched for both cash and time, so why not at least consider the possibilities? Being a student, you likely have no established credit. If you are serious about becoming a student entrepreneur, the option to apply for credit cards with no credit to cover your initial running costs exists as a possibility. This is not a decision to be made lightly, however; therefore it’s recommended that you discuss this with your parents or another responsible adult with business experience before moving forward.

Access To Resources

While you’re on campus, you have access to libraries filled with information. You have fast, reliable internet connections, advice from professors who love to get involved in student entrepreneurship and you have an entire campus of students for market research purposes at your disposal. And all of it is at no cost!

Hands-On Experience

Starting a business while in college provides you with something that stands out on your resume. You gain real-world experience that you simply cannot get from most classrooms. Starting your own company is probably far more difficult than any group project and in most cases, may prove to be more valuable long-term.

Customers Galore

Popularity isn’t always everything in college, but when it comes to starting a new business, being popular can be very beneficial. In college, your popularity can generate profits, as friends and acquaintances will be the people you test your business ideas on. They can become your potential clients, recommend your services or product to others and ultimately give you the jolt that your startup may need. They’ll be very candid with their responses and therefore you be prepared to either keep going or go back to the drawing board with your concept.

Building A Career

Starting a legitimate business, even if it ultimately fails, looks impressive on a resume. You can delve into your ideas and your plan in-depth during job interviews. It can become an excellent talking point with an employer, especially if your business idea is related to the hiring company’s mission. Your efforts demonstrate tenacity, an eagerness for innovation and profit generation. Despite all the stress that accompanies academic commitments, it shows that you have character and grit. Having a business that is successful speaks for itself, but the fact you even attempted to get started as a student speaks volumes about you.

There are challenges at any point in life that you might try to start a business. Becoming a student entrepreneur while in college, of course, comes with a bunch of them. The question is whether you have the guts to go for it anyway. It doesn’t matter if it fails – the point is that you want to try, while still maintaining your GPA of course, and that kind of drive is admirable.

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