You don’t need any qualifications to start a business.

Now that doesn’t mean that you can start selling houses if you don’t have a real estate license. Or that you should start a business as an OBGYN without a medical license (like Dr. Love).

What that means is that depending on the type of the business that you start, you don’t need any qualifications. You also don’t need any certificates, awards, or special letters behind your name.

So, you usually don’t have to have qualifications if you’re starting a general type of business (regardless if it’s online or a brick-and-mortar business).

Keep in mind that you will need to have the legal requirements in place, such as business permits, business license, etc. Also, you may need to register your business with your state.

Should I get a business degree to start my own business?

That’s really up to you if you want to get a business degree to start a business. But again, it’s not necessary.

I think the biggest scam that colleges tell students is that they need a degree to be successful, get a job, or start a business. However, that’s not true.

Unless your business (or job) requires a special degree like a lawyer or doctor, I don’t think it’s necessary to go to school or to get a degree to start a business. In fact, the dirty little secret about college is that some professors or teachers who never had a business get paid to teach you about business.

So, how can a person who’s never worked in that field (but only read a book on it) tell me how to start (or run) a business?

The irony of it all is that the the best teacher is you. Life experiences are the best way to learn about starting a business (through successes and failures).

Let’s put this myth to rest today. You don’t need a business degree to start a business. You don’t need any degree to start a business (unless it’s a specialty or required).

If you decide to get a degree, then that’s a great thing, too. Don’t get me wrong.

I’m not going to discourage anyone from learning or seeking a higher education. That would hypocritical of me since I went to school for 19 years to become a lawyer.

However, I just don’t want people to think that they have to go to college to be an entrepreneur or start a business.

How do you start a business without a degree?

If you don’t know anything about your industry, then you should figure out a way to learn more about that industry.

This can include reading books or finding a mentor, doing your own research, or joining an online business forum. You can also seek out resources online like the Small Business Administration or network with other people in that industry.

Wrapping It Up

“The system” tries to make it harder for people when starting a business. Here’s some food for thought.

Why can a 23 year old take out a $200,000 loan for school, but can’t get a $20,000 loan to start a business?

That’s backwards. “The system” encourages you to work for others (and not for yourself). “The system” also encourages you to go to school, rack up debt, and get a job to pay for that debt.

But isn’t the point of school to stay out of debt (and not get into debt)? But, I digress.

Education is key, and I’ll always advocate for people to learn. However, education doesn’t just happen in a classroom. You can even start a business without any knowledge if you have the desire to succeed.

Some of the most smartest people I know never even graduated from college. So, don’t be discouraged (by any perceived lack of education).

You’re just as smart as anyone else. And you’re capable of starting any business you want.

So will you go get a degree before starting a business or will you go without it?