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Objectives:
 Identify characteristics of successful
entrepreneurs.
 Recognize the importance of
entrepreneurship in the economy.
 Describe opportunities and risks of
entrepreneurship.
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“The greatest danger for most of us is not
that our aim is too high and we miss it, but it
is too low and we reach it”.
Michelangelo
“There is nothing like a dream to create the
future”.
Victor Hugo
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An entrepreneur is someone who takes a risk in
starting a business to earn a profit.
Entrepreneurship is the process of starting,
organizing, managing, and assuming the
responsibility for a business.
Entrepreneurs create new product ideas and
new businesses. Their ideas often respond to
customer needs that are not being satisfied
with current businesses.
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It takes unique skills and personal
characteristics to develop a new idea for a
product or service. Not all people who own or
manage a business are entrepreneurs.
It is important to have an understanding of
business operations and management.
Entrepreneurs come from all age, racial, gender
and ethnic groups.
Many entrepreneurs own their first business
while in their teens while others may not take
that step until retirement.
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Satisfaction from taking a risk and becoming
a success.
Showing expertise and skills.
Working from home / flexible schedule.
Gaining profit.
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Total responsibility for the business.
Long hours. Time and effort are important
pieces to making a company successful.
Financial risks.
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Entrepreneurship is a key part of the U.S.
economy.
Nearly 1 in 10 of all Americans 18-64 years
old is involved in some type of
entrepreneurship activity.
About 40 percent of new business owners run
their own businesses with no help.
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Most of the money needed to start a new business comes
from the entrepreneur and his or her family and friends.
1 in 5 Americans has invested in a business of someone
they know well.
Family and friends invest over $100 billion in new
businesses each year.
Venture capital is another source of money. It is money
provided by large investors to finance new products and
new businesses that have a good chance to be very
profitable.
Loans from banks and financial institutions and credit
from businesses are other sources of financing.
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Small businesses are responsible for nearly
half of the U.S. gross domestic product each
year.
Small businesses account for 55 percent of all
innovative products and services developed.
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Opportunities begin with the creation of new or
improved products and services.
An innovation is an invention or creation that is
brand new.
Not all entrepreneurship opportunities emerge
from inventions and innovations. Many come
from an improved design, more effective
procedures, or greater attention to quality.
An improvement is a designed change that
increases the usefulness of a product, service,
or process.
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Lack of adequate capital
Low sales
Higher than expected expenses
Goals are NOT realistic
Competitive pressure
The owner is unprepared to manage a growing
business
Operations require more time than the owner is
willing to commit
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