Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Business Studies)

An entrepreneur must be able to gather and coordinate the resources necessary to start and operate a business

E.g. When Michael Dell started his computer company from his garage, he had to organise resources such as space, computers, software tools, and employees, and manage the finances

Entrepreneurs must be able to make decisions that will determine the success or failure of their business

E.g. A restaurant owner may need to decide what type of food to serve, where to locate the restaurant, and what prices to charge. These decisions require a combination of market research, creativity, and business skill

Making the wrong decisions can lead to wasted resources, lost opportunities, and ultimately business failure

 Entrepreneurship involves taking risks - financial, personal, or professional

E.g. An entrepreneur may invest their life savings into a new venture or quit a secure job to start their own business

• They may also take risks by introducing new products or entering new markets

These risks can pay off with great rewards, but they can also lead to failure and financial loss

Entrepreneurs take financial, personal, or professional risks

An entrepreneur may invest their life savings into a new venture or quit a secure job to start their own business

• They may also take risks by introducing new products or entering new markets

• These risks can payoff with great rewards, but they can also lead to failure and financial loss

Entrepreneurs must be able to make decisions that will determine the success or failure of their business

• E.g. A restaurant owner needs to decide what type of food to serve, where to locate the restaurant, and what prices to charge

• These decisions require a combination of market research, creativity, and business skills

• Making the wrong decisions can lead to wasted resources, lost opportunities, and ultimately business failure

An entrepreneur must be able to gather and coordinate the resources necessary to start and operate a business

• E.g. When Michael Dell started his computer company from his garage, he had to organise resources such as space, computers, software tools, employees, and finances

Developing new solutions to solve existing or emerging problems is a key entrepreneurial role that helps a business stand out from rivals and achieve success

• During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses used their creativity to switch production techniques to cater for what the market wanted

• E.g Harrogate Gin switched from producing gin to hand sanitiser

Entrepreneurs need to be persuasive communicators

Persuading lenders, investors and customers to support their business is central to achieving financial success

Starting a business is often the sole responsibility of a single entrepreneur, who will need to be able to solve problems with limited support

• E.g. The owner of Gymshark, Ben Francis, started off the company by buying a sewing machine and making gym clothes in his parents garage with a few school friends

  • This led to the growth of a multi million pound company employing hundreds of people