Entrepreneurship Pathway
Is your student always starting new things with energy and vision? Do they have ambition and a tendency towards risk? Have they already started their own business—a babysitting service, a lawn care company, or a catering company? If so, they might have what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur.
Entrepreneurs start and run businesses. Those who succeed have a keen knowledge of their market and their customers, and deliver a superior product or service at the right price. They need to know a little of everything—from accounting to finance to marketing and sales. And they know how to put together a solid business plan—and see it through.
Stride Career Prep offers a rigorous, project-based learning curriculum to give your student the practical skills they need to be an entrepreneur. And our experienced teachers guide them through developing a marketing plan for a small business. Our curriculum is designed to give students the knowledge, skills, experience, and confidence necessary to start a new venture or business right after graduation—or maybe even while still in high school.
Our Entrepreneurship Pathway is flexible, too. We position students with a well-rounded background in business that could transition to a formal business degree or that would be of value to many employers. We also jumpstart the job search by helping them create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo—the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, they connect virtually to working business professionals and entrepreneurs through Nepris.*
Our Entrepreneurship Curriculum in Detail
All of our students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below, however, shows the additional classes your student will take as an Entrepreneurship Pathway student, and the industry-recognized certification exams they can prepare to take. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
Great News
Stride Career Prep programs with the Entrepreneurship Pathway are available in our tuition-free Stride K12-powered, fully accredited, public online schools in the following states: Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin.
Don’t see your state? There are also tuition-free options in related fields like the Accounting pathway and the Business Finance pathway!
Occupational Spotlight
Accountant
Many accountants are self-employed; others work for accounting firms or government entities, or as an employer’s in-house accountant. Accountants prepare and certify the accuracy of financial statements, including clients’ or employers’ balance sheets and income statements, as well as companies’ and individuals’ tax filings. Accountants can also advise clients regarding how to legally limit their tax liability. Many accountants are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Publicly traded companies are required to have CPAs sign documents they submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including annual and quarterly reports. Some accountants are forensic accountants, who specialize in uncovering financial crimes and fraud. Others specialize in auditing, or examining an organization’s records to identify fraud, waste, and abuse.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$62,688
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
61,700
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
4% (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree; CPAs must also pass an exam
Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and answer questions. Work is typically done by phone.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$35,887
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
-59,000
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
-2% (decline)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Insurance Sales Agent
Insurance sales agents contact potential customers and sell one or more types of insurance. Insurance sales agents explain various insurance policies and help clients choose plans that suit their needs.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$62,806
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
27,500
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
5% (faster than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED; insurance agents must also be licensed in the state in which they practice
Real Estate Agent
Real estate agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. Real estate agents may specialize in commercial or residential real estate, and in working with buyers or sellers. When working with sellers, real estate agents handle all aspects of listing the property, recommend repairs and upgrades, recommend a listing price, advertise through direct mail campaigns and magazine and newspaper ads, hold open houses, and assist the seller in negotiating and closing a deal. When working with buyers, real estate agents identify suitable properties, accompany buyers on property visits, and assist in putting together an offer, negotiating a final contract, and closing the sale. Most agents are self-employed, although many are affiliated with (though not employed by) a real estate brokerage firm (e.g. Long and Foster).
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$46,612
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
11,300
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
2% (slower than average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, plus state real estate license, which typically involves taking a few courses and passing an exam; requirements vary by state
Small Business Owner
Small businesses are generally defined as employing fewer than 500 employees, though many small businesses employ no one at all other than the owner. Small business owners range from owners of retail businesses, like bakeries, bike shops, and restaurants; to self-employed childcare providers, web developers, and consultants; to landscaping and construction businesses. No matter their specialty, they must oversee all aspects of their business, from marketing and sales to accounting and tax reporting—and, of course, they must ensure they turn a profit.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$69,748***
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
Data not available. However, in 2020, there were 30.2 million small businesses in the U.S.
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
Data not available
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, and significant expertise (and often required licenses) in the industry the individual is entering
FAQs
What is an entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur is a fancy name for someone who starts a business. The term can imply that the person has unusual drive and ambition and is undertaking the business at great financial risk.
The truth is that entrepreneurs are just as diverse—in terms of age, gender, race, ethnicity, and background—as the businesses they run. They might start a bakery, a martial arts studio, or a party planning business. They might invent and market shapewear (Sara Blakely), found a website that helps parents of special needs children connect with each other (Sehreen Noor Ali), or start a new fitness craze like Zumba (Alberto Perez).
What all entrepreneurs have in common is a can-do attitude, a high tolerance for risk, the ability to multitask, and a laser-like focus on the customer and the product. They also know that success doesn’t happen overnight, and is really the result of careful planning and masterful execution.
We took this into account when designing our Entrepreneurship Pathway. Our entrepreneurship classes are practical, hands-on, and require each student to develop a real business plan. We wrap this into a unique project-based learning curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and teamwork.
How can someone start their own business while in high school?
The first step in starting your own small business is to know what you are going to sell and to whom. Once that’s clear, you’ll need to determine if you need a business license and, if so, apply for one. You may also need to incorporate your business.
Then, you’ll need a business plan. This requires analyzing your expenses to understand how much it will cost you to create your product or provide your service, determining the right price to charge, and developing a sales and marketing strategy.
Finally, of course, you’ll need to ensure you record all income and expenses to correctly file your taxes.
Sound complicated? That’s why we break it down for students in our Entrepreneurship Pathway and guide them in developing their own business plan. Plus, they can learn from their peers—several of our students are already entrepreneurs!
Do you need a college degree to become a real estate agent?
While many real estate agents have college degrees, it is not necessary! The minimum requirement is to be licensed in the state in which you sell real estate, which typically means passing an exam. Check out this comprehensive guide to getting your real estate license.
Getting your license is only the first step. To be successful, you’ll need fantastic marketing and people skills. Plus, real estate agents need to learn to be tech-savvy and super organized; those open houses and real estate mailings don’t organize themselves!
What classes should my student take in high school if they want to have their own business someday?
Budding entrepreneurs can take classes in accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, computer literacy, and other business courses while still in high school. They can also join student clubs for aspiring business leaders, take on leadership positions in student clubs, spearhead new initiatives and fundraising campaigns, participate in business case competitions, shadow entrepreneurs, and offer to volunteer or work for an entrepreneur or local small business. There’s no substitute for getting an insider’s view into the world of entrepreneurship!
Our Entrepreneurship Pathway is excellent preparation for a career as a small business owner or entrepreneur. Your student will take two full semesters of hands-on training in entrepreneurship, and our experienced teachers will guide them through developing their own business plan. We wrap this into a unique project-based learning curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and teamwork.
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
Hear How Stride Career Prep Can Work for Your Teen
Thinking this might be a good fit for your student and interested in learning more from current Stride Career Prep students, families, and teachers? Submit questions to people that experience our program firsthand and get direct answers!
1Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
**Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
***PayScale.com. Accessed October 12, 2020. †Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
