Use Your School’s Resources To Start A Business

BY Dec. 31, 2010 13 Comments


Starting a business while still in school can be quite hard but there are ways to minimize that difficulty. You may not know it, but your college or high school campus can be full of resources that can help launch your business. Schools are slowly but surely catching on with the fact that their students are becoming more and more interested in entrepreneurship.

Business & Marketing Teachers

The easiest thing you can do is sign up for any business classes that your school offers. Make sure to choose classes that are relevant with your business. For example, if you have an online business, sign up for an e-commerce class.

Once you’re in a class, get to know the teacher and let him/her know about your business and what you hope to gain from their class. They will be very excited to hear that your already engaged in business.

If your school has an advisory or study period, see if you can meet with them during that time. It would be a really good time for them to take a look at your business and help you with improving it.

When seeking help from your teachers, make sure your not taking up all their time. As they may be able to help, they don’t want to spend all of their time helping you with your projects. They have papers to grade.

Library

Your school’s library is a great place to do the research for your business. You can gather information on your industry, target market, and marketing techniques.

On top of the books, your library should have an area with computers where you can do most of your online research. Make sure to ask your librarian if the computers have an online database. Online databases are search engines that require a membership and give you accurate and reliable information. On these databases, you can find sources from newspapers, books, and other media.

Fellow Students

Who better to try your product or service than your very own friends? The people you attend school with everyday will already know who you are and trust that your selling them a good thing.

But, be careful, the administrators may not appreciate it when you start selling things between classes and you may even get shutdown. I’ve seen this very thing happen to a friend of mine. So, be wise and do your advertising during school but your selling after it.

Your school mates can also be a great way to test your product before you market it to the rest of your community. Chances are, if your friends like the product, so will others outside of your school.

How do you use your school’s resources to start a business?

Entrepreneurship, Launching Tips
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  • http://www.murlu.com Murlu

    Although I’m out of school I can add in one other thing I recently noticed – go check out the book store (or school library) to see what books “made it” into publishing – there’s a TON of information based books about the same topics we write about that are absolutely awful – we could do better! Get some ideas and then own it!

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen Perkins

      Hi Murray,
      I’ve noticed the same thing. Just imagine what kind of book could come out of all the people on here.

      Thanks for your comment.

  • http://gettingtothapaper.com/about-2/ William Tha Great

    Hey Stephen,

    Great job on the article thanks!

    I totally agree with you that schools can be wonderful for your business. That is really the best place I get work done is at school. Whenver I’m at school I’m surrounded by people working which even stregthens my motivation to work. I am always a productive person, but at school I’m twice as productive! haha.

    Thanks again!

    God bless,
    William Veasley

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen Perkins

      Hey William,
      Glad you liked the article. Like you, I ind that some of my best ideas are developed while I’m in class. I think it’s just the quiet atmosphere that helps me the most.

      Thanks for commenting.

      • http://Gettingtothapaper.com/about-2/ William Tha Great

        Hey,

        Thanks for the response!

        I believe more people should test out studying or going to a school to get work done. They might just find out that it boost their productivity in the time they put forth. When building a business it’s important to find the place your most productive.

        Justnmy 2 cents.

        Thanks again!

        God bless,
        William Veasley

  • http://www.blogthebank.com Blog the bank

    I defiantly can agree with this my graphic design teacher was great helping me focus my talent and also helping with a couple of projects I had at the time.

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen Perkins

      I’m glad to hear that your teacher helped you out. They can give great advice on projects your working on. Always nice to have an outside prospective.

      Thanks for the comment.

  • http://moderncommunicator.com David Guzman

    If there is one regret that I have it is not taking advantage of the professors I had in college that were more than willing to help – whether that be through consulting, product development, brainstorming, sales, etc.

    Also, the resources that are available to you at that stage tend to be significant. In terms of access to people, software, technological equipment, etc.

    Great article and a great point!

    Best,

    -d

    • http://www.sperkinsblog.com Stephen Perkins

      Thanks for your comment David. Yes, college professors are something that people shouldn’t overlook.

  • http://www.megabizflakes.com Samuel

    Awesome post bro. You are right. But it depends on the kind of school you attend. In my country Nigeria, I don’t think that will be possible :) Thanks so much for sharing. Have fun.

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  • http://www.theinternetbook.com/ Angelique

    Hmmm… Very good out-of-the-box thinking. Kudos to your thinking and huge thanks for sharing your idea.