Businesses are a key driver of any economy. And every business starts with a entrepreneur. This is someone who develops an idea by identifying gaps in the market. They then attempt to create a business to market a product or service. The level of drive, innovation, perseverance and business acumen is what lies behind entrepreneurship. In this article, we explore what it means to be an entrepreneur and how entrepreneurship works.
Key takeaways
- Entrepreneurs are individuals who undertake the organization of a new business and the risks and rewards that come with it.
- Entrepreneurs tend to be classified as those who embark on high-growth, high-risk innovations, while small business owners oversee an established business with an established product and customer base.
- Successful entrepreneurs are considered a driving force in the modern economy.
What is an entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur is an individual who starts and runs a business with limited resources and planning. This person is responsible for all the risks and rewards of their business. The business idea is usually encompasses a new product or service rather than an existing economic model.
Such businesses aim for high returns with an equally high level of uncertainty. The entrepreneur is willing to risk his financial security and career, devoting time and capital to an uncertain venture, arranging the necessary capital, raw materials, manufacturing sites and skilled employees. Marketing, sales and distribution are other important aspects controlled by the entrepreneur.
Even if some of these functions are outsourced, the risk remains borne by the entrepreneur. This differentiates entrepreneurship from inheriting and/or running an existing business, working for a startup or entrepreneur for a salary, being a commissioned agent, or selling goods or services already available as an agent. franchise or at a dealer.
How to be a successful entrepreneur
There are several theories put forward by researchers from leading institutes on entrepreneurship. But there is no single model for (successful) entrepreneurship. Generally speaking, entrepreneurship is born either from passion or from the identification of suitable business opportunities.
A person who is passionate about developing electronic circuits can (accidentally) develop a great device. Such a person does not necessarily have business acumen, but is driven by pure passion. They listen to no one, follow their instincts, and one day develop a highly marketable product that delivers extremely high performance. Back. They fall into the first category of passionate entrepreneurs.
A businessman with keen business acumen who spots a profit opportunity with a mix-n-match approach falls into the latter category.
Regardless of the category of origin, an entrepreneurial idea, if well nurtured and properly conducted, can turn into a very profitable business venture.
Myths about entrepreneurs
There are several misconceptions about entrepreneurship. One of the most common is that entrepreneurs make uncalculated and unknown decisions. risks without any plans. This myth is partly true since entrepreneurs often do it. But we must remember that these businessmen are conserving their resources and planning as much as they can to face the unknown.
Here are some of the other myths about what it means to be an entrepreneur:
- Entrepreneurs start with a revolutionary invention: This is also partially true. Indeed, not all entrepreneurial ventures constitute real breakthroughs. Most identify and capitalize on a mix-and-match approach. Google didn’t invent the Internet, McDonald’s didn’t invent the cheeseburger, and Starbucks didn’t invent coffee. It is the identification and capitalization of the idea and the rapid growth rate that makes the business entrepreneurial.
- Contractors have experience: Most entrepreneurs are younginexperienced individuals who follow their passion.
- Entrepreneurs conduct in-depth research: Unless an existing company is establishing a new line of business on a new concept, entrepreneurs start with very limited or no research. However, they have a good awareness of the potential of their offering, which gives them the confidence to take on the risk.
- Entrepreneurs start with sufficient capital: Capital is the first requirement of any entrepreneurial venture. Most entrepreneurs fail to secure sufficient capital from outside sources unless they have a proven track record or a marketable prototype. As a result, most entrepreneurs start with insufficient capital with the goal of obtaining more along the way.
Types of Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship comes in many shapes and sizes. Each type depends on the idea, scope, and risks individuals are willing to take. We have noted some of the main types of entrepreneurship below.
Scalable Startup
A to start up is a new company that is in its early stages and has not yet started full-scale operations. it focuses on a product or service that the owners want to develop and market. A scalable startup is therefore a nascent business that is trying to grow at a rapid pace. When successful, these startups can be very popular because they identify gaps in the market.
Small business
Many entrepreneurs start (and stay) small enterprises. The majority of entrepreneurs are small business owners. In fact, 99.9% of American businesses are small businesses, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Small businesses generally offer well-known and established products and services. Limited growth with continued profitability is what many small business owners are looking for. As a result, they remain confined to their own domain and group.
582 million
The number of entrepreneurs in the world in 2023.
Big business
This is the type of business that most people are familiar with when they think of entrepreneurship. Keep in mind, however, that big business is the most advanced and complicated version of what it means to be an entrepreneur.
These businesses may involve large-scale production, manufacturing, and production. distribution, and are composed of different management levels. Demand often keeps these companies at the forefront of people’s minds. Examples include Walmart, Amazon and Microsoft.
Examples of Entrepreneurship
KickStart International
Exchanging goods, such as purchasing entire lots of branded shampoo at wholesale prices and selling them at retail in your retail store or online, does not constitute entrepreneurship. However, by making your own innovative herbal shampoo, achieving a patent on it, and marketing it to businesses using the same sales channels is considered entrepreneurship.
A good example is Africa-based KickStart International (not to be confused with Kickstarter), which designs and manufactures low-cost, low-effort, high-yield irrigation products to help African farmers and end poverty. Their main product is the MoneyMaker Max, a “high-quality, human-powered pedal irrigation pump” and they offer a less expensive, hip-operated version. Future product plans include a starter pump and submersible solar pumps.
In this example, the entrepreneur risks his or her time, effort, and financial investment to manufacture the herbal shampoo, obtain the necessary licenses, and handle legal disputes arising from consumer complaints and contests.
Airbnb
Airbnb (ABNB) implemented the mix-n-match entrepreneurial approach to build a network of all available rentals in a given area and make it available to tourists. Without owning a single property, their innovative business model provides a win-win situation for all parties.
Landlords get high-paying short-term guests (tourists) instead of low-paying long-term tenants. Tourists benefit from relatively low costs and a secure stay, just like at home. Airbnb benefits from service fees to offer this buyer-seller market model, monitor sales or distribution channel without owning a single asset.
Here, the contractor is responsible for ensuring a reliable community of owners willing to offer suitable facilities, as well as the responsibility to manage conflicts arising between different parties.
What is an entrepreneur?
The term entrepreneur refers to a person who creates and builds a new business. This person may work alone or with others to launch their business, assuming the risks and bearing the financial rewards at the same time. Entrepreneurs know how to find gaps in the market and develop ideas that can be commercialized.
What are some types of entrepreneurship?
Some types of entrepreneurship include startups, small businesses, large businesses, and social entrepreneurship.
Who are the most influential entrepreneurs?
Many of the world’s largest companies started with a simple idea, including Microsoft and Amazon. As such, some of the most influential and successful entrepreneurs include Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. Other big names include Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.
The essential
Innovation, success and profits are among the common goals of many entrepreneurs. These are individuals who identify what is missing in the market and develop ideas to fill those gaps. In addition to meeting their own needs, the minds of entrepreneurs help fuel the global economy. This is because they create businesses that not only bring new products to market, but also create jobs and encourage people to spend.