School can give you the academic backing to pursue your dream career, but starting a business teaches you valuable lessons you won’t find in a classroom. There are several benefits to pursuing a business idea in college—and it’s not too late to cash in on them.
📊 Gain real world experience in business. Sure, business school can teach you theory and formulas, but there’s nothing like doing business to learn the ropes.
🛠 Learn skills that may not be taught within the curriculum. Strengthen your skills in empathy, delegation, stress management, customer service, and more. Student entrepreneurs have a leg up on fellow graduates once they hit the job market. The skills you learn outside the classroom become just as valuable as those learned in class.
🤝 Build your professional network. By the time you graduate, you already have a contact list full of people to approach for references, mentorships, and even jobs.
👩🏻🎓 Try out an industry before you graduate. Studying fashion management? Run your own business selling clothes online to get a taste for the industry.
📝 Flesh out your résumé. As a new graduate, your CV may be pretty sparse. But if you run your own business in college, you can add “CEO“ to your list of accomplishments.
💰 Earn extra cash. Saving to pay expenses and minimize debt is a good idea if you want to lessen the burden after you graduate. A part-time retail job can also be a source of income, but when you’re the boss, the earning potential is up to you.
📆 Enjoy an income source that works around your studies. The common struggle of scheduling a part-time job around studying and classes can add stress. Work on your business on a flexible schedule and then go all in on your summer break.
💡For parents and teachers: Know a younger student looking for a summer opportunity? Browse age-appropriate business ideas for teens or business ideas for kids and help them start a business that sets them up for success.