The Entrepreneurship Concentration provides special training for students who may wish to establish their own enterprise, buy a franchise, operate a new and rapidly growing business, or manage an independent venture in an established corporation. The concentration will also be useful preparation for those who expect to become involved with a family-owned business. This concentration will enable students to:

1. Identify and evaluate a business opportunity
2. Write a winning business plan to successfully exploit the opportunity
3. Identify and acquire required resources, including financing
4. Build the firm into an enduring great company

Importance of Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is assuming an increasingly important role in our economy. During the 1980s, new and small U.S. firms generated over 20 million new jobs, while large firms destroyed four million. From 1990 to 1994, large U.S. firms eliminated 3.8 million jobs while firms employing less than 100 employees created 7.7 million jobs. Since WWII, 95 percent of all radical innovations and 50 percent of all innovations have come from new and small firms.

Small business is recognized as the backbone of Florida’s economy, representing 98.9 percent of all firms and employing 55 percent of all non-farm workers.

Advantages of Small Business Ownership

1. Gain control over your own destiny
2. Make a difference
3. Reach your full potential
4. Reap unlimited profits
5. Prestige and recognition
6. Do what you enjoy doing

Forty-six percent of self-employed workers describe themselves as extremely satisfied with their chosen field of work, versus only 24 percent of workers who are employed by someone else (source: Roper Starch Worldwide, 1996).

The E-Generation is Here

A Boston study found that 60% of 18-24 year olds want to own their own business in five years At the Kellog Graduate School of Management, 28% of incoming students intend to start a business -- up from 8% three years earlier.

For more information on the Entrepreneurship Concentration, please contact:

Dr. Sandra Kauanui
Phone: (239) 590-7433
Email: skaunaui@fgcu.edu
Office: Lutgert Hall - Room 3313