Do You Need A Degree To Start A Business?

(This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on a link to the Merchant’s site and purchase something I may earn a commission.The price you pay will be the same if you went to the Merchant’s site directly.)

It all depends on what business it is. For example, if you grew up in a family that ran its own business, the chances are you acquired the knowledge and skills by just being involved on a day to day basis. However, a business has many areas to it such as accounting, stocking, marketing, sales, and may even include some form of production.

However, the question I am asking is, do you need a degree to start a business?

The short answer is NO. Let me explain.

You Start With An Idea

A business usually starts with an idea originating from one person.

For example, a person has an idea that if brought to fruition will satisfy a need or solve a problem for a large enough segment of the population to create demand and therefore sales.

Phew! That was a mouthful. Go read it again and let that sink in your mind. Eventually a business needs sales that are PROFITABLE!

Having a business degree and no idea for a business is useless. The chances are if you got a degree, you will apply to work for a company in an area they need help to run their business.

If you are going to start your own business you need to have an idea, fueled by imagination and hard work to make it successful.

Build A Team

You may have noticed, many of the hugely successful businesses today were started with individuals who were drop-outs from college.

However, they had an idea and realized they couldn’t do it alone. So they invited their friends who had the experience or qualifications they needed to help launch their idea off the ground.

There is a lot of synergy when a team works together. Supporting ideas are bounced off each team member that can result in something magical.

Take Apple for example. It was the imagination of Steve Jobs coupled with the technical prowess of Steve Wozniak that launched that company in the family garage. Decades later it became one of the largest companies on the planet!

Trial and Error

This is where the fun lies. It takes hard work trying out new things to make that idea real. In the process there will be failures. Errors will be made. That is how the team learns what not to do and eventually will find out what works. It may take weeks, months or years to create a viable business.

Jeff Bezos founder of Amazon was willing to wait years before his company started making a profit. His initial objective was to expand market share doing whatever it takes. Even if it cost the company money. That was included in their business plan. And now they are also one of the largest companies in the world. And Jeff currently holds the title of the worlds most wealthiest person!

Sweat Equity

Since money is tight, most start-ups involve the original members working long and hard with little or no income. They believe in their mission and write a business plan that involves doing everything necessary to launch their business successfully. A good plan will estimate how long it will take to break even and then make a profit. It evolves as the company does.

The leaders always have their long term vision planted squarely in their minds. When the going gets tough, which is always does, they look at that vision to remind them of their eventual goal. The end is always in sight. What can we all learn from that?

Sources For Investment

No matter how you cut it, money will be required to pay for expenses related to getting the business going. Usually the members themselves will have saved money, or they will get loans to keep the business alive. Often family and friends are called upon to invest in the business. When they can show the bank that they have skin in the game, combined with a sound business plan, the bank will be willing to lend them money.

Off course, later in the process they could go public by offering to sell shares, This usually starts with a pre Initial Public Offering (Pre IPO). However, at this stage the company has developed significant maturity and is closer to becoming a viable entity.

Stop!

 

So far I have not mentioned anyone involved requiring a degree in business. When the company gets further along in their evolution this will change. They will need to employ individuals with sound knowledge in business. Now they need to use business skills to incorporate acceptable accounting standards, and to make sure its actions are legally compliant. This is where the situation can get complicated.

The business is now becoming real!

However, a degree in business is not necessary to start one.

Is This Something You Want To Do?

Are you passionate enough to start a business based on your own idea? If you answer YES, then go for it. And if you answered NO! Then what?

But you still want to create a business but wished to keep it simple and not involve other people? Can that be done?

The answer is YES IT CAN!

With the power of technology merged with eCommerce, you can launch a one person business online. You won’t need a degree either. In fact, spending four years in a college learning how to do eCommerce may even derail your plans. That’s far too long in this fast paced environment.

So what kind of business am I talking about? First let me list what you don’t need.

You don’t need…..

  • A Degree
  • Products
  • To Ship Anything
  • To Collect Payment
  • To Travel To Work
  • Employees
  • To Be In One Place To Run It
  • Insurance

Now you see why you don’t need a degree to launch and run this business? I am sure you may be wondering what kind of business is this. Before I answer that, let me tell you what you do need.

You need:

  • A Computer
  • A Website
  • A System To Market Products Supplied By Others
  • The Ability To Communicate With People
  • To Be Consistent In Publishing Content
  • The Skills To Reach Your Target Market Online
  • The Ability To Make Your Readers Feel Good
  • To Solve A Problem THEY have or Satisfy A Need
  • Patience and Staying Power

Questions

  • Is this the kind of business that interests you?
  • Does the thought of getting paid while you sleep excite you?
  • Are you willing to get trained properly to do this business?
  • Would you like to replace the income from your day job with passive income?
  • How much is a business like this worth to you?
  • What will you pay to acquire the knowledge to succeed?
  • Do you want to know the name of this kind of online business?

The Answer – Affiliate Marketing!

You may have already figured this out by the title of my website. If you are not familiar with it, you may be asking yourself what is Affiliate Marketing and why do I think it is the Best Home Based Business you can have. Click this link and you’ll find out!

How about also finding out the Best Way To Learn About Affiliate Marketing! Click this link to find that out too!

You will need to start with a NICHE! Want to know more? Click How To Chose A Niche In Affiliate Marketing to find out the role a niche has in and how to get a head start.

There are other posts in my website I have created especially for you to learn more about this amazing opportunity. Please feel free to explore.

Getting back to my original question, “Do You Need A Degree To Start A Business?” My answer is an EMPHATIC NO!

I would love to hear what you think. What did you learn? Do you feel this is worth diving into? Do you have any burning questions?

You can ask me any question as I am here to serve you.

Success is just a click away!

Edwin

 

10 thoughts on “Do You Need A Degree To Start A Business?”

  1. Thanks for introducing affiliate marketing and I must say, it is a sure way to make money online without any degrees. 

    Starting a business requires no degrees but like you stated, along the line, there would be times where there would be urgent need for people with higher level of knowledge in the field. In truth, getting started is all about the golden idea and how to launch it with the right set of people with the same mindset and having an achievable set goal. 

    These tips are great and I’m sure anyone can pull it off so far, there’s passion and drive rather than only degree

  2. I totally agree with you on this discourse here. It’s not all businesses that one needs to have a degree. In fact, there are some business that one only needs a few tools and you have mentioned it here. Affiliate marketing. 

    The one who invited me doesn’t have a degree but can write to an extent. I’m glad that you have given the tips on how to make money as a business owner. I believe that leading a good team is very important. I like the angle that you have used to put down this post, it was enjoyable. 

    Thanks again!

    1. I love your comments. Thanks for sharing a good example of your sponsor who does not have a degree but is great in writing. You have a good mentor. You’re going to do well I’m sure.

      All the best to you.

      Edwin

  3. Affiliate marketing has really being a life saver for me, ever since I left college years ago. At first it all looked like a mirage to me; I tried everything, nothing worked and but then I quit and still found myself trying to see if I could make it work. 

    All I lacked then was the proper training to get it working. After some trials and errors, I found my answer and then the financial freedom I had always longed for. I’ve checked those links in the ending part of your post, and I must say, it’s a must read for everyone who wants answer to mind boggling questions on affiliate marketing.

    Regards!

    1. Jordan,

      Thanks so much for your validating comments. Glad you checked out the links I placed as they were an integral part of my post. I wish you much success in your affiliate marketing business.

      Cheers!

      Edwin

  4. Very nice, pretty simple but still thorough and informative article! Having a degree to be able to start and run a business is one of the most fundamental and common misunderstandings most people have. 

    Yeah, most of the time it may help you but it is not necessary. And as you mentioned and explained in your article, there are many other things you don’t need to run business. You don’t need a warehouse, a specific place to run businesses or even products to sell or trade. Even me, “veteran” of a couple of weeks in online businesses, could talk hours about running online businesses by having just a computer, website and ability to reach your customers or readers and solve their problems. 

    However, thanks for a good article, I will take a further look at your website and other articles here.

    1. Jesse,

      I appreciate your validating comments. The articles connected with the links are integral to this post so I hope you are able to check those out. If you do it would be terrific to leave a comment.

      Thanks once again. And I wish you much success in your online business.

      Cheers!

      Edwin

  5. Hi Edwin, could not agree more with you. In my opinion, the whole schooling system is overrated. The only purpose of a degree is getting a job. Maybe also people see it as a status symbol, so they can show it off to others. And yes I do have a degree, but I never use it in front of my name. 

    Important to me is that you have the skills to back up your knowledge and the ability to communicate with others on their level and willingness to help them to succeed by sharing your knowledge. 

    We all have different backgrounds and experiences, we all can learn from each other. By listening to others and not forcing your opinion down their throat. 

    Great post Edwin and top website good quality helpful articles, I will be back to read some more.

    1. Eric,

      Thanks so much for sharing your ideas here. Glad you liked my linked posts. As well as this website. It makes me feel my effort was all worthwhile. 

      And I’ve only just got started! Lots more articles to write.

      I wish you all the best.

      Edwin

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