“Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.”    -Anon. MBA student, quoted in Entrepreneur Magazine

There’s nothing quite like being your own boss.  You make all the decisions, take all the risks, and reap all the rewards.  It’s an exhilarating ride to be sure, and for many people the dream of owning their own business is all-consuming.  They’re sick of making other people rich, and they’re ready to put all that hard work into making themselves some money!

If you’re one of the people who have always dreamed of being self-employed, then getting a small business associate degree is one of the smartest decisions you can make.  Why?  Well, the Small Business Administration (SBA) estimates that over 50% of new businesses close their first year.  Of the ones that are left, 90% will close in the next five years.

Yes, the numbers are sobering, but don’t let that discourage you.  One of the main reasons why so many businesses fail is because people go into business without the skills they need to succeed.  They don’t know how to manage their books, or place inventory orders, or manage their cash flow.  They don’t know how to market their business, and how to provide excellent customer service.  It’s no wonder that so many fail!

This is why getting a small business associate degree is such a great idea.  If you want your business to succeed then there’s no better way to learn how to do it than by going to school.

With a small business associate degree you’ll learn things like:

  • Inventory management
  • Economics
  • Small business Accounting
  • Sales and marketing
  • Customer service
  • How to write a business plan
  • How to pursue financing
  • How to manage cash flow
  • Business ethics
  • Communication
  • Business Strategy
  • And much more

Many entrepreneurs do not have training in these areas, so going to school to get your small business associate degree will go a long way to helping ensure your success.

Now, it’s impossible to say just how much you can earn with this degree.  Everything depends on what kind of business you start, and where you start it.  But, we can say this.  Most people do not get rich working for other people.  Most of the millionaires in the country are self-employed, and they’re making the big bucks because they built their businesses and never gave up.

Make no mistake: entrepreneurship takes a lot of hard work, dedication, persistence, and business skills.  But, by going to get your small business associate degree you’ll be learning a lot of the skills you need to know.  If you work hard and don’t give up, chances are pretty good that you’ll make it happen.  Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction in knowing that you created a living for yourself, instead of working for someone else!