Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the process of starting and running a new business. A person who takes the risk to start a business and aims to make a profit by offering products or services is called
an entrepreneur. A person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.
An entrepreneur is an individual who creates a new business, bearing most of the risks and enjoying most of the rewards. The entrepreneur is commonly seen as an innovator, a source
of new ideas, goods, services, and business/or procedures.
Example: When Elon Musk started Tesla to produce electric cars, he took risks, invested money, and created something new — that’s entrepreneurship.
🌟 Characteristics of Entrepreneurship
These are the key traits or qualities that successful entrepreneurs usually have:
1. Innovation
Example: Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, which was a new idea in the mobile phone industry.
2. Risk-taking
Explanation: Starting a business is not guaranteed to succeed. Entrepreneurs take the chance anyway.
Example: Jeff Bezos quit his stable job to start Amazon in his garage.
3. Vision
Explanation: Entrepreneurs have a long-term plan and know where they want to take their business.
4. Leadership
Explanation: Entrepreneurs lead teams, make important decisions, and inspire others.
Example: Ratan Tata led the Tata Group through major innovations like the Tata Nano.
5. Decision-making
Explanation: Entrepreneurs often make decisions under pressure that can make or break the business.
Example: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many entrepreneurs shifted to online business models quickly.
6. Persistence / Determination
Example: Colonel Sanders was rejected many times before KFC became a success.
7. Self-confidence
Explanation: Entrepreneurs trust themselves and their ideas, even when others doubt them.
8. Problem-solving ability
Explanation: Every business faces problems — skilled entrepreneurs solve them efficiently.
Example: The founders of Zomato turned a simple restaurant menu idea into a global food delivery service
Functions of an Entrepreneur
Functions are the roles or responsibilities that entrepreneurs perform to make their business successful.
1. Idea Generation
Explanation: Every business starts with an idea that solves a problem or fulfills a need.
Example: Airbnb was born when two friends rented out air mattresses during a conference.
2. Organizing Resources
Explanation: Entrepreneurs bring together everything needed to start and run the business.
Example: A bakery owner arranges for a shop, ingredients, staff, and ovens.
3.Division of Income:
The next major function of the entrepreneur is to make necessary arrangement for the division of total income among the different factors of production
employed by him. Even if there is a loss in the business, he is to pay rent, interest, wages and other contractual incomes out of the realised sale proceeds.
3. Risk Management
Explanation: Entrepreneurs take smart steps to protect their business from losses.
Example: A shop owner insures the business to avoid loss from fire or theft.
4. Decision-making
Example: Ola and Uber introduced app-based cab booking, which was new in India
7. Mobilizing Finance
Example: Startups often raise capital from venture capital firms or angel investors
Example: A café owner manages staff schedules, inventory, and customer service.
9. Adapting to Change
Example: During the pandemic, many gyms launched online fitness classes.
Example: Flipkart has created thousands of delivery and warehouse jobs in India
✅ Advantages of Entrepreneurship:
Entrepreneurs must constantly look for new business ideas or ways to solve problems.
They must also learn to filter out bad ideas and focus on what works.
🧠 Example: A woman in a village saw plastic pollution and started making bags from old clothes. Now she runs a successful eco-bag business.
🧠 Example: A man started a food truck in a college area. Within 6 months, his income became more than his old 9–5 job.
3. Flexibility in Schedule
They can work late nights or early mornings depending on their comfort.
🧠 Example: A mother started an online handmade jewellery business and works only when her kids are at school or asleep.
Long hours feel more rewarding when you’re building your dream.
🧠 Example: A teacher who loved baking quit her job to open a bakery. Now, she earns more and enjoys her work daily.
🧠 Example: A young man running a digital marketing startup faces new client issues daily but learns fast and enjoys the thrill.
❌ Drawbacks of Entrepreneurship:
1. Risk of Loss
🧠 Example: A friend opened a cafe, but it closed in a year due to COVID lockdowns.
2. Uncertain Income
🧠 Example: A fashion startup owner lived off savings for 2 years before seeing good profits.
3. Lower Quality of Life Initially
Long hours and stress can reduce time for family or hobbies.
🧠 Example: A startup founder missed family events for 6 months during launch.
4. High Responsibility
Entrepreneurs must make all decisions—even in unfamiliar areas like law or tax.
🧠 Example: A tech founder struggled with legal documents until he hired a consultant.
5. High Stress
🧠 Example: A bakery owner had anxiety about paying rent during the off-season.
Entrepreneurs work more than 9–5 jobs, especially during early growth stages.
🧠 Example: An online seller works 14 hours/day during festival season to fulfill orders.
You don’t need to invent something new, just improve existing ideas.
Write down ideas, even small ones—they can grow into great business plans.
🧠 Example: Ola didn’t invent taxis—they just made it easier to book one.
🧠 Example: The founder of Nykaa left her secure job to start an online beauty store—now it’s a billion-dollar company.
3. Responsiveness to Opportunity
🧠 Example: Zomato added grocery delivery during COVID to survive when restaurants were closed.
Entrepreneurs must lead the team, share the vision, and keep people motivated.
🧠 Example: Elon Musk inspires his teams at Tesla and SpaceX to innovate continuously.
🧠 Example: Apple patents its product designs and technology to protect from competitors.
Project Identification is the first and most important step in starting a business. It means choosing the right business idea or project that is realistic, profitable, and suits the
entrepreneur’s skills and market needs.
🔍 It is like finding the right seed to grow a tree. If the seed is bad, the tree (business) won’t grow well — no matter how much water and sunlight (money and effort) you give.
Here are the main steps involved, explained in simple terms with real examples.
1. Self-Assessment / Self-Analysis
Explanation: Before starting a business, the entrepreneur must know what they are good at and what they are passionate about.
Example: If someone loves cooking and has experience in catering, they might think of starting a food truck.
Explanation: Entrepreneurs need to observe what is happening around them – customer needs, competitor actions, government policies, etc.
Example: In recent years, more people are buying eco-friendly products. This trend shows a business opportunity in biodegradable packaging.
Meaning: Finding gaps or needs in the market that can be converted into a business.
Explanation: Look for problems people are facing and think of solutions that can be turned into a product or service.
Example: Seeing that there are no good gyms in a local area, an entrepreneur may start a fitness center there.
4. Idea Generation
Meaning: Creating multiple ideas that could become potential business projects.
Explanation: Entrepreneurs brainstorm several business ideas using creativity, research, or team discussions.
Example: A college graduate might list down ideas like mobile repairing, online teaching, or opening a stationery shop near a school.
Explanation: Not all ideas are good. The entrepreneur must check feasibility, risk, investment, and personal interest.
Example: If someone has little capital, they may drop the idea of starting a factory and go for a home-based tiffin service.
6. Market Research
Explanation: Before finalizing the project, do a small survey or research to know if people will actually buy the product or service.
Example: If planning to open a coffee shop, the entrepreneur might talk to local residents, check footfall, and visit existing cafes.
7. Feasibility Study
Explanation: This includes studying technical feasibility (can it be made?), financial feasibility (do I have the money?), and legal feasibility (is it allowed?).
Example: Someone planning to build an app must check if they can hire developers, how much money it will take, and whether it meets app store policies.
Explanation: The entrepreneur finally selects the most suitable and profitable project to move forward.
Example: After evaluating 3 ideas, a person selects online pet accessories selling because it has demand and low competition.
Explanation: It includes details like the objective, location, marketing plan, financial needs, production process, and expected profit.
Example: A bakery startup writes a report to present to banks for a loan. The report includes cost of machines, raw materials, expected sales, etc.
Explanation: Once the project is chosen, the entrepreneur needs support from government bodies, banks, or investors.
Example: A solar panel company may apply for government subsidy and a loan under the Startup India scheme.
He wrote reports, raised money, and built one of India's biggest companies.
A Project Life Cycle is the series of phases that a project goes through from start to finish.
Even though every project is different, most follow the same 4-phase structure:
✅ Project Sponsor
The person or group who provides funding/support.
✅ Stakeholders
People affected by or interested in the project.
🧠 Real-Life Example:
🔹 Goal: Create a complete plan for how the project will be done.
🔹 Main Activities: Time estimation, budgeting, resource planning, risk analysis.
Implementation: Vendor is contacted, lab tables and wiring plans are made, technician duties are assigned.
✅ 3. Execution Phase – “Doing the Work”
🧠 Real-Life Example:
The lab construction starts. Workers install furniture, computers are set up, internet is connected.
The principal and IT staff check if everything is working properly.
A Balance Sheet is a financial statement that shows a business's financial position at a particular point in time. It lists:
💡 Formula:
Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity
It helps entrepreneurs understand if their business is financially healthy and is used for loans, investment decisions, and planning.
🔹 Meaning:
It organizes assets and liabilities into subcategories like current and non-current, to make the financial position clear.
🔹 Format:
It divides:
Assets into:
o Current Assets (e.g., cash, inventory)
Liabilities into:
🔹 Example:
- Inventory 10,000
🔹 Use:
🔹 Meaning:
It lists assets and liabilities in a simple format without dividing them into current or non-current categories.
🔹 Format:
🔹 Example:
🔹 Use:
🔹 Meaning:
It compares financial data from two or more periods (e.g., 2024 vs 2025) to see growth, changes, or decline.
🔹 Format:
🔹 Example:
🔹 Use:
🔹 Meaning:
It expresses each item on the balance sheet as a percentage of total assets (or total liabilities). This shows financial structure clearly.
🔹 Format:
🔹 Use:
🧠 Real-Life Example
In Year 2: He applies for a loan, so he uses a classified balance sheet for the bank.
To analyze where most of his money is used, he prepares a common-size balance sheet.
Economic Evaluation means checking if a business idea or project is worth the investment — in terms of profit, cost, return, and impact on the economy.
There are five main types of economic evaluation methods used in entrepreneurship:
🔹 Meaning: Compares the total expected costs with the total expected benefits of a project.
🔹 Example: If starting a gym costs ₹5 lakhs, but expected monthly profit is ₹30,000, it will recover the cost in 17 months — a good investment if customer demand is high.
🔹 Meaning: Compares the cost of different options to achieve the same goal.
🔹 Meaning: Calculates the current value of future profits by subtracting the initial cost from the future expected cash flow (adjusted for time and inflation).
🔹 Example: A business will earn ₹1 lakh each year for 3 years, and today’s value of those earnings (after adjustment) is ₹2.5 lakh. If the startup cost is ₹2 lakh, then:
🔹 Meaning: It’s the interest rate at which NPV becomes zero — shows the efficiency of the investment.
🔹 Example: If a project has an IRR of 18% and the bank interest rate is 10%, then the project is a good choice.
🔹 Use: Helpful for investors and funding agencies to evaluate project value.
5. Payback Period
🔹 Example: If a food truck business needs ₹4 lakh and earns ₹1 lakh profit per year, the payback period is 4 years.
🔹 Use: Easy for small business owners to understand risk and break-even point.
Economic evaluation:
Economic evaluation is the systematic process of comparing the costs and consequences (outcomes) of different interventions or policies to identify the most effective and efficient
option, ultimately aiming to inform resource allocation and decision-making.
-Resource Allocation: Economic evaluations are crucial for making informed decisions about how to allocate limited resources, especially in healthcare, where choices often involve trade-
offs between costs and benefits.
Policy and Purchasing Decisions: These evaluations provide evidence to support rational policy and purchasing decisions, ensuring that interventions are cost-effective and provide the
best value for money.
-Prioritization: Economic evaluations help prioritize interventions and programs, focusing on those that offer the greatest benefits relative to their costs.
Key Concepts:
Costs: This refers to the resources (e.g., money, time, personnel) used to implement an intervention or policy.
-Consequences (Outcomes): These are the effects of the intervention or policy, which can be measured in various ways, including health outcomes, economic impacts, and social
impacts.
-Comparative Analysis: Economic evaluation involves comparing the costs and consequences of different alternatives to determine which option is the most effective and efficient.
-Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA): Compares costs with a single, non-monetary outcome (e.g., life-years gained, cases averted).
-Cost-Utility Analysis (CUA): Measures health outcomes in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), which reflect both the length and quality of life.
-Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA): Expresses both costs and benefits in monetary terms, allowing for a direct comparison of the financial value of different options.
-Cost-Minimization Analysis: Focuses on comparing the costs of interventions that have the same outcomes.
-Cost-Consequence Analysis: Presents costs and multiple consequences in their natural units without aggregation into a single consequence.
-Input Cost Analysis: Focuses on the costs of inputs used in a program or intervention.
-Cost-Related Outcome analysis: Examines the relationship between costs and specific outcomes.
2. Data Collection: Gather relevant data on costs and consequences, including clinical trials, observational studies, and expert opinions.
3. Modeling: Use mathematical models to project costs and outcomes, particularly when data is limited or uncertain.
4. Analysis: Perform statistical analysis to compare the costs and outcomes of different interventions.
5. Interpretation: Interpret the results and draw conclusions about the relative value and effectiveness of different interventions.
6. Decision Making: Use the findings to inform resource allocation and decision-making.
6. Compare Alternatives
If you have more than one business idea, compare their returns.
o Lowest cost
o Shortest payback
o Sustainable impact
🧠 Real-Life Example
Investment 5,00,000
Since the project pays back in under 2 years, with good demand, it is economically viable.
Write a detailed business plan with cost estimates, raw materials, and financial forecasts.
o Banks
o Personal savings
Liability means the financial obligations a business has to outsiders (like banks, suppliers, or government). These are mostly shown in the balance sheet.
🔹 A. Current Liabilities
Bills payable
Wages payable
Short-term loans
Taxes due
Examples:
Lease obligations
Bonds payable
🔹 C. Contingent Liabilities
Examples:
Product warranties
👉 Total liabilities are the sum of what they owe to outsiders + what owners have invested.
A partnership is a business owned and managed by 2 or more people who share profits, losses, and responsibilities.
🔹 3. Shared Responsibility
🔹 5. Flexibility
🔹 6. Tax Benefits
🔹 7. Long-Term Stability
If one partner leaves or dies, the firm can continue if terms are agreed upon in the partnership deed
🧠 Real-Life Example:
→ They grow quickly because of teamwork, shared money, and different skills.
Profit Planning is the process of setting financial goals and creating a step-by-step plan to reach those goals.
It helps businesses grow, stay financially healthy, and make smarter decisions.
1. Increased Profitability
What it means: Setting financial goals helps a business know how much money it wants to earn.
Example: A bakery wants to increase its profits by ₹1,00,000 this year. With profit planning, it decides to launch party cakes, reduce waste, and cut unnecessary expenses.
2. Improved Decision-Making
What it means: Profit planning gives a clear picture of where to spend money and how to make better choices.
Example: Instead of blindly spending ₹20,000 on flyers, a business may choose online ads because the plan showed it's more cost-effective.
3. Enhanced Control
What it means: A written profit plan helps keep expenses under control.
Example: A gym tracks spending monthly. If utility bills go higher than the limit, they find ways to save like using LED lights.
What it means: Having a solid financial plan reduces anxiety and gives confidence in business operations.
Example: A small shop owner sleeps peacefully knowing all bills, staff salaries, and taxes are planned for the next 6 months.
Once the profit plan is made, the next step is to implement it. This is called Programming in the context of profit planning.
🧾 Definition:
Programming means putting the profit plan into action by allocating resources, managing tasks, and tracking performance.
What it means: Distribute your resources (money, people, time) where they are most needed.
Example: A clothing store wants to promote a winter sale. It allocates ₹30,000 for ads, assigns two staff to handle inventory, and sets aside 2 weeks for campaign
execution.
2. Task Management
What it means: Assign the right tasks to the right people and set deadlines.
Example: The marketing head designs ads, the sales team updates price tags, and customer support prepares FAQs for the promotion.
What it means: Track progress and compare it with the original profit plan. If anything goes off-track, take action to fix it.
Example: If the sale campaign doesn't bring enough customers in the first week, the team switches from Facebook ads to Instagram, based on customer data.
4. Continuous Improvement
What it means: Review and improve your plan regularly for better results.
Example: After 1 month, the store realizes customers prefer combo offers over discounts. So, it adjusts the strategy for next time.
BUSINESS OWNERSHIP – IN DEPTH
Business ownership defines who legally owns and controls a business, how much risk and reward they take, how they are taxed, and what legal responsibilities they
have. For entrepreneurs, the right choice of ownership structure can make the difference between success and failure.
Definition: Business owned and managed by one person. No legal separation between the owner and business.
Features: Owner gets all profits,Owner bears all risks and losses,Easy to start, low cost
Examples: Local kirana (grocery) store,Freelance graphic designer,Home bakery by a single person
Cons: Unlimited liability (personal assets at risk),Harder to raise large capital,No continuity if the owner dies
Definition: A business owned by two or more people who share responsibilities, profits, and liabilities.
Types:
Limited Partnership – Some partners invest money but don’t manage the business
Features:
Cons: Unlimited liability (for general partners),Conflicts between partners possible,Profit sharing
Definition: A business structure that combines the limited liability of a corporation with the flexibility and tax benefits of a partnership.
Features: Separate legal entity,Owners are called “members”,Can be managed by members or managers
Cons: Costlier to register than sole proprietorship,Some compliance required (e.g., annual filings),May not attract large investors like corporations
Definition: A business that is legally separate from its owners (shareholders). It can be private or public.
Types:
Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd) – Shares not sold to the public
Pros: Limited liability,Easy to raise capital by selling shares,Continues beyond the life of the owner
Legal Identity
No (same as
No (unless registered) Yes (separate entity) Yes (separate entity)
owner)
Liability Unlimited
Unlimited (general
Limited Limited
partners)
Taxes
Personal (owner’s Pass-through (partner Flexible (pass-through or Corporate + Dividend
tax) tax) corporate) Tax
Business Continuity Ends with owner Ends unless specified Can continue Perpetual
Small Scale Industries (SSIs) are the backbone of the Indian economy. They generate employment, boost exports, and support rural development. To nurture this sector, the Government
of India and State Governments have created several agencies that offer financial help, training, technical support, marketing assistance, and more.
1. National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC)
✅ Role: Promotes, aids, and fosters the growth of small-scale industries., Offers raw material support, marketing assistance, and technology upgradation.
📌 Real-life Example:
"Apex Precision Mechatronix Pvt. Ltd.", a small-scale tool manufacturer in Pune, partnered with NSIC to exhibit at international expos. Through NSIC’s marketing support, they secured
orders from Germany and Japan.
🌟 Key Services:
✅ Role: Apex financial institution for the MSME sector., Provides loans, venture capital, and equity support.
📌 Real-life Example:
"Mithila Handicrafts", a startup in Bihar, received a low-interest loan from SIDBI to buy raw materials and expand their handicraft product line. Their business scaled from a local market
to Amazon India.
🌟 Key Services:
🏢 3. Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) (Now called the Office of DC-MSME)
✅ Role: Designs national policies and coordinates with other institutions to promote small-scale enterprises., Conducts census and surveys of small businesses.
📌 Real-life Example:
SIDO worked with small textile units in Ludhiana to modernize looms and introduce power-saving machinery through cluster development programs.
🌟 Key Services:
Policy support
📌 Real-life Example:
Priya Meena, an aspiring woman entrepreneur from Rajasthan, attended a NIESBUD workshop on organic farming. She later started a successful vermicompost business with help from
a mentor assigned by the institute.
🌟 Key Services:
✅ Role: One-stop-shop for entrepreneurs at the district level., Provides loans, registration, project guidance, and subsidy linkage.
📌 Real-life Example:
Manoj Kumar from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, started a dairy business after getting a ₹2 lakh subsidy through DIC and training on cattle management.
🌟 Key Services:
MSME registration
PMEGP application support
✅ Role: Promotes rural entrepreneurship via khadi, handloom, handicrafts, and agro-based industries.
📌 Real-life Example:
Ruma Devi, a woman artisan from Barmer, Rajasthan, started a women-run embroidery business with KVIC’s help. Today, her products are sold internationally and have walked the ramp
at fashion weeks.
🌟 Key Services:
✅ Role: State-run institutions that give term loans and financial services to small industries in their state.
📌 Real-life Example:
Karnataka State Financial Corporation (KSFC) gave a term loan to a Mysore-based Ayurvedic cosmetic startup, helping them build their first production unit.
🌟 Key Services:
Subsidy-linked financing
📌 Real-life Example:
A group of 30 ITI students in Chennai attended a SISI-sponsored CNC machine training course and later launched a machining startup that now supplies parts to auto companies.
🌟 Key Services:
📌 Real-life Example:
NEDB designed the Entrepreneurship Awareness Program (EAP), which led to increased student participation in start-up clubs in polytechnic colleges across Maharashtra.
🌟 Key Services:
Policy formulation
Program evaluation