Monday 27 May 2013

Running Your Own Student Business Has Distinct Advantages over Choosing a Regular Job

By Whitney Sparks


As the youth unemployment rate in Canada continues to hold at a somewhat bleak 14%, some young people looking for jobs have a challenge on their hands. One increasingly popular option is for young workers to start their own companies. Despite the disadvantages like irregular pay and the potentially large learning curve, students with an eye for business and an inventive idea might find that the advantages outweigh the challenges.

Doing some research is a great first step, as running a company requires a working knowledge of advertising, accounting, scheduling, customer relations, sales, and much more. If you are still in school, you may even be able to find business grants for students, like the Government of Ontario's Summer Company. This program offers eligible student candidates coaching, support and up to $3000 to start and run a summer business. Amongst the many granting opportunities, there are also numerous helpful tools and articles on the internet. It's very important to make sure that these are relevant to you and your business before spending too much time on any one tool or application.

Another benefit of being an entrepreneur is the flexibility. You can set your own hours - you don't have to ask permission to go to a doctor's appointment, book a vacation, or meet your friends for lunch. However, most business owners admit to working more hours than they did at a regular job. When your pay relies on the amount of hours you work, and you really care about building your business, sometimes it is hard to leave work behind at all. It's important to remember to schedule "down time" just like you would schedule any other meeting.

Part of the draw to entrepreneurship is the vision of being singularly in control of your own destiny. You can work with associates you admire, take on customers you enjoy working with, make decisions quickly, take chances, be creative and stick to your core values. For most, it's important to have close friends and associates to look to during challenging times, but knowing the decision is yours in the end can be energizing and rewarding as your business continues to grow.

When running your own business, you also run your own finances. You can choose when it makes sense to put money back into the company, and when it makes sense to raise your own pay. Assuming your business is viable and sustainable, the harder you work, the more likely you are to increase your income. So, unlike a regular job, you can have a direct effect on when and how much your money intake increases.

For many new business owners, pride of ownership is one of the most rewarding aspects of entrepreneurship. This is something you built, and motivation to keep going comes from the passion that got you started in the first place. So, when you are considering the options for summer jobs for students in Ontario, don't forget to consider becoming your own boss.




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