This requires a close understanding of the community and thorough initial market research. Some enterprises may require start-up funds in order to purchase raw materials or initial inventory. There are a variety of strategies for raising such funds, including small grants, contributions, fundraising events, or investments by community members. Programs need to distinguish between contributions and investments, and initial planning activities need to make any necessary provisions for recouping and repaying start-up funds, as well as for distributing profits. Ideally, student-developed businesses will be successful enough to sustain themselves beyond the immediate instructional goals of the school program.
Students benefit from entrepreneurship education in many ways.
They also learn how to deal with risk and, sometimes, how to cope with failure. One of the more important benefits for rural students may be exposure to adult role models who understand the importance of learning skills for work. As is true of service learning, both schools and townspeople can benefit from a stronger sense of community as well as from the availability of new products or services.