Do Entrepreneurship Courses Really Put You in a Better Position to Start a Business?

Have you ever seen those ads that tell you you can quit your job and become a millionaire with their program? Or met a student studying entrepreneurship at a prestigious business school? Over the last couple of years, there has been an explosion of entrepreneurship courses, both online and in-person.

If you're thinking of starting a business, you might have been tempted to sign up for a course to help you get started. So how do you know if an entrepreneurship course will actually make a difference when it comes to starting a business?

What are entrepreneurship courses?

Entrepreneurship courses are usually aimed at people who want to start their own businesses, but they are also open to those who want to work in a more entrepreneurial environment. They can be found at all levels of education, from secondary school right up to postgraduate level.

Both colleges and industry training providers sometimes run courses that lead to something like a Level 2 Certificate in Enterprise. These courses are designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of starting a business. Depending on your personal circumstances, being able to learn the basics while gaining a formal qualification might be really beneficial. It's also worth exploring if there is funding available to you to complete a course like this.

In terms of more traditional education routes, universities are increasingly offering courses in entrepreneurship, at both undergraduate and Master's level. These courses tend to focus on a mix of academic theory and practical learning. Increasingly, some more traditional business courses like MBAs now also offer an option to focus on entrepreneurship rather than corporate practice and consultancy.

Industry-led entrepreneurship courses often take a more practical approach to teaching, taking students through a series of exercises and steps that are focused on getting ready to launch your business. While some might help you come up with an idea, most are designed to help you turn your idea into reality, focusing on topics like market research, pricing, marketing and sales.

Is an entrepreneurship course better than learning by doing?

You've probably heard the phrase, "learning by doing". Well, when it comes to a lot of aspects of business, it's probably true. There are so many things that you can only learn by doing them yourself, and from making mistakes first-hand. But what if you could use some guidance while you were figuring it out? What if someone could help you avoid some of those common mistakes, or give you some tips on how to set up your business legally? That's where entrepreneurship courses can come in.

The truth is, even the fanciest MBA in the world isn't going to guarantee that your business is a success. Likewise, there's no evidence that taking a course is going to make it harder to start a business! In our opinion, the best entrepreneurship courses will offer you practical experience, so that you're not just learning from books or in a classroom. This way, you learn by doing, but with the support of someone who's been-there-done-that.

Pros and Cons of Entrepreneurship Courses

The argument for taking an entrepreneurship course is that it puts you in a better position to start a business. You'll have a better understanding of how to structure your business, how to avoid common mistakes and guidance on how to set up your legal structure.

You'll also find yourself studying alongside like-minded people who are in the same boat as you. Having peers who know what you're going through can be a lifeline when the going gets tough.

On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to taking an entrepreneurship course before starting. For example, it might delay you getting started. If you're considering doing a business course, ask yourself, are you doing the course because you think you'll learn something, or just to put off getting started? If it's the latter then you might not be doing it for the right reasons.

Taking a course can also give some people a false sense of security. There's no substitute for experience when it comes to running a business, even if you've taken an entrepreneurship course. Going into your new business venture, knowing that you don't know everything (regardless of what you've studied) is probably the smarter way to approach it!

Finally, while some courses are free or low-cost, others may cost thousands of pounds (MBAs can cost tens of thousands of pounds a year). Unless there are other reasons for you wanting to complete a course like this, we'd urge any aspiring entrepreneur to look for more cost-effective options. For example, our sister company Smarta has grant funding and partial bursaries available for many businesses, for most of their specialised courses (including some that will help you get started!).

So, do entrepreneurship courses really put you in a better position to start a business? The answer, it seems, is - it depends. It depends on the individual's goals and it depends on the course. Finding something that leaves you feeling more confident and with the practical knowledge you need to get started can only be a good thing. But if you want to take the leap and figure it out as you go, then that's okay too!

Main photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash