Why Entrepreneurs Should Still Get A Business Degree

For budding entrepreneurs, it’s tempting to just set off into the world of business, determined to follow your dreams and make your own way. The free market holds a lot of promise, but for those just starting off it can often be a confusing, complex environment—littered with obstacles that can sink a dream before it’s even had a chance to start. Feeling like you have the next great idea can be invigorating, and the thought of waiting might seem unbearable, but to give yourself the best chance to succeed, it’s important to be prepared. When it comes down to it, there are few things that can better prepare you for this journey than an education in the field of business. Degrees in business have a variety of specializations to choose from, each with something to offer entrepreneurs that will help give their new start-up the opportunity to flourish.

As an entrepreneur, it’s critical to be able to wear many different hats within your company, since the early days will largely rely on your abilities alone. In addition to a chosen specialization, business degrees include a broad education on a variety of topics, like accounting, management, and marketing, which are key to any company regardless of size. Possessing a basic level of knowledge in each of these areas, and more, will enable you to effectively communicate with those working for you and ensure that your employees are doing everything you need them to.

Business degrees are also often built under the idea of providing graduates with the tools to continue teaching themselves. They provide insights into areas of business that aren’t always the most intuitive, such as business law and interpreting data analytics, which can act as a foundation for further learning. Since these programs can’t go into detail on the regulations for each and every industry in which a graduate might work, universities must ensure they have the ability to perform research and stay informed on their own.

Specializations and majors within a university’s school of business can be quite beneficial to entrepreneurs, depending on their plans and their own capabilities. While a focus on administration or management has obvious benefits to someone planning to run their own business, other specialization options shouldn’t automatically be overlooked. A major in finance would provide a business owner with the education to make wise fiscal decisions, read the market, and more closely monitor the flow of money that acts as the life blood for business. Some universities even offer majors, minors, or other specializations in entrepreneurship, tackling difficult hurdles like venture capital funding, idea generation, and patent law. No matter what specialization you choose, a degree acts as a signifier of dedication and competence, and may give potential investors and clients the confidence in you that they need to strike a deal.

One often overlooked benefit of attending university in pursuit of a degree in business is networking. Over the course of a degree program, students have the opportunity to meet dozens, if not hundreds of other students who may someday make great business partners, financiers, or employees. Professors will have their own network of contacts which they may offer, as well as a lifetime of knowledge and experience which is available for you to tap. Universities will also frequently have seminars hosted by guest speakers, many of whom are successful businessmen or women eager to share their own experiences and warn you of the pitfalls they faced. As a graduate of a university, you will also gain access to the alumni association, made up of thousands of other graduates that share your alma mater, which may just provide the edge you need when it comes to striking deals or getting a foot in the door for a meeting with influencers in your area or industry. Alumni associations often put on events and gatherings with networking in mind, as the success of graduates reflects positively on the university.

While it’s true that a university degree cannot prepare you for everything in life, it can equip you with the knowledge you need to handle unexpected situations as they come. Business degrees offer a wide base of information, and specializations can help to hone your skills in a particular area that’s most relevant to your business plans. University study has more to offer than just a diploma, and the contacts and opportunities made available to students and graduates alike can be nearly as valuable. Entrepreneurs should carefully consider all of these factors when deciding if they wish to pursue a degree or simply push ahead and start their business. Your dream deserves the best shot at success you can offer, so don’t risk it all by going in untrained and unaware.