Campus is the new alternative to online community college that provides a 100% live and online Associate of Arts in Business Administration degree program. Our comprehensive, career-focused business program equips students from across the U.S. with a solid foundation in core business principles to set them up for success no matter what their next step is. Read on to explore the world of business and how starting with a business degree might be your next best move.
Ever wanted to be your own boss? Do you have creative business ideas, but you just don’t know where to begin? In that case, you need to enroll in a small business management degree program.
This degree offers several courses pertaining to starting a small business. It includes programs like business principles, finance, entrepreneurship, and communication, among others. In addition to traditional business subjects, small business management courses focus on niche areas crucial for entrepreneurial success, such as market analysis and risk management.
With a small business degree, you can start your own small business or provide business management services to small and large enterprises. Exploring small business management careers can lead you to lucrative opportunities as a business consultant, where your expertise in organizational efficiency becomes invaluable.
Small businesses play an important part in the country’s economy, as they boost economic growth and deliver new products/services to the market.
However, according to Forbes, 99.9% of businesses in the U.S. are small businesses. That means you may find it difficult to stand out in the market without a proper plan of action. Understanding market dynamics is pivotal, especially for small business management degree holders aiming to navigate the competitive landscape.
This is where a bachelor's degree in small business management or an associate degree in small business management can help.
This guide will inform you about all the benefits of earning a small business management and entrepreneurship degree.
Let’s get started!
Want to learn more about Campus?
Our admissions advisors can answer your questions.
What is Small Business Management?
Small business management primarily concerns coordinating the different areas of running a small business. These may include managing employees, communicating with suppliers, checking up on the finances, and creating road maps for the business.
When you’re dealing with such critical responsibilities, you must have the right skill set to ensure effective management. In fact, according to Harvard Business Review, good managers have a greater impact on a business’ success than any other critical area, including IT, R&D, and even employee skills.
Considering this, you must perfect your skills if you want a career in business management or its related fields.
Small Business Management Degree Programs: A Closer Look
A small business management degree allows you to learn the art of organizing, planning, and analyzing different business processes.
You can gain business acumen and perfect several skills like critical and strategic thinking, organization, problem-solving, leadership, project management, reporting, and communication, among others.
These abilities can help you in your professional life as you can learn to manage teams, provide insights, and make ethical and managerial decisions that can direct your firm toward success.
Every institution offering an associate degree in small business management may have its own programs. However, the following subjects are commonly covered by most institutions:
- Customer relations
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- E-commerce
- Sales and promotions
- Personal organization
- Marketing
- Management
- Economics and accounting
- Computer-based business analysis
With these courses, you can develop several skills, such as:
- Leadership: These skills can help you effectively manage a team, reduce turnover, and increase employee productivity.
- Marketing: With marketing skills, you can learn ways to make your small business stand out in a competitive environment.
- Operations: This offers you complete competency in organizing, prioritizing, and managing the operations of your small business.
- Finance: Having an insight into your business’ finances can help you track your progress and make informed decisions.
- Communication: Communication skills can help you build strong partnerships with clients, vendors, and employees.
Now, you must be wondering, how long does it take to get a business degree? Well, the answer is anything between two to six years. When considering your career path, the duration of small business management degree programs becomes a crucial factor in planning your educational journey.
To understand the timeline better, you need to look into the community college vs university debate.
For example, if you get your associate degree in business management from a community college, you can potentially complete the program in as little as two years.
However, if you go for a bachelor’s degree in small business management, your higher education journey will likely take at least four years.
If you decide to pursue a master’s degree, you will most likely spend two additional years (six in total, including the years it took to earn your bachelor’s) to earn your business degree.
Want to learn more about Campus?
Our admissions advisors can answer your questions.
Types of Small Business Management Degrees
Before you enroll in a small business management degree program, take the time to learn about the different options you have. These include an associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree.
Each program has its own set of benefits. You can pick the right option by planning out your career path. For example, if you want to work while continuing your education, you can consider an associate degree from an online college for entrepreneurship.
Make sure you check out all of the program’s courses to make sure they align with the skills you seek.
Diving deeper into small business management courses, you'll find specialized modules focusing on entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable business practices. Let’s explore what a business administration degree is in more detail!
Associate degree in small business management
A great value of an associate degree is that you can continue to work while taking your classes, especially if you have enrolled in an online program. You can potentially complete an associate degree program in two years’ time and start entry-level jobs post-completion.
These programs usually have courses that cover the basic principles of business management. One of the benefits of earning an associate degree in business is that you can become eligible for entry-level positions.
This can enhance your resume and provide you with better chances to apply for a bachelor’s degree and transfer your credits to a bachelor’s program.
You can pursue these programs in several ways.
For example, you can either select a college that specifically offers a degree in small business management, or you can choose a business-related degree (such as Business Administration) that offers a specialization in small business management.
Bachelor’s degree in small business management
A bachelor's degree typically takes at least four years of full-time study. These programs provide you with comprehensive insights into business management.
You can expect to take courses like business management, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, accounting, and other subjects.
Parallel to an associate degree, you can also complete a small business management program or seek specialization within a different degree (like a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration). Small business management degree programs provide a comprehensive understanding of business fundamentals alongside targeted courses tailored to the unique challenges faced by small enterprises.
Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship degree
If you want to become deeply proficient in business management, you can go for this option. This education can make you well-versed in small business management and may open up several career opportunities.
You can also earn your Doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in small business management and entrepreneurship.
However, you must research your institution’s unique requirements for small business management studies beforehand to make sure you’re choosing the right program for yourself.
What Can You Do with a Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship Degree: Career Outcomes
What can you do with a small business management degree? A lot!
The skills offered by a small business management program are quite transferable and practical for a lot of different careers in numerous industries.
For example, you can find several career opportunities in business management, project management, finance, and more. Exploring small business management careers reveals a diverse array of opportunities spanning industries such as retail, hospitality, and technology. This degree can also help you start your own business if you have an entrepreneurial spirit.
Let’s take a look at some career options with this degree:
- Business Analyst: This role requires you to audit an organization by studying its documents, processes, and systems, to check if they can be made compatible with modern technology. On average, a business analyst can earn up to $95,290 per year.
- Market Research Analyst: This job requires you to study market conditions, customer preferences, sales data, and make future predictions. If you have an associate's degree, you can get an internship in this field. However, if you have a bachelor's or master's, you can make up to $68,230 annually.
- Finance Analysts: With this job, you will be required to provide businesses with guidance on their financial management. You can start this career after completing your bachelor's. The average income for this role is around $95,390 annually.
Ready to Study Small Business Management?
By honing your skills through small business management courses, you equip yourself with the tools needed to thrive in the dynamic world of entrepreneurship. A small business management degree can open up several doors for you career-wise. You can either apply your skills to a job or leverage them to start your own business.
The degree provides a holistic insight into running a small business, making it the perfect tool for your entrepreneurial ventures.
You can pursue a degree in small business management or specialize in this subject while pursuing a related business degree. Either way, you’ll gain knowledge that you can apply in the business world.
If you’re looking to enroll in a business program, check out our online associate degree in business program that can help prepare you to manage your own small business and more. This program offers skill development opportunities that include management, marketing, accounting, finance, and HR.
Explore our comprehensive small business management degree program to embark on a journey towards realizing your entrepreneurial dreams while gaining essential expertise in business administration and strategy.
Request more info to learn more.
Want to learn more about Campus?
Our admissions advisors can answer your questions.