Entrepreneurship

Designed for experimenters, risk-takers and innovators, in this program you’ll cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and learn how to launch a new business or develop an existing one.

You’ll build a solid foundation in business skills, professional development and presentation techniques, complemented by essential coursework in sales, marketing, finance and human resources, as well as an internship. Whether you go on to develop your own business or take your skills to a company, you’ll graduate with the tools needed to create value and problem solve.

Explore What You Can Do with Your Major Here

Looking for ideas or next steps? This page is built for you. Try a virtual work experience through Forage to build real-world skills, and insights into the key competencies employers value, find professional associations, Labor Market Insights (where there is job growth!) and check out alumni who were once in your shoes and are now ready to network with you! Whether you’re just starting to explore or getting ready to launch your career, you’ll find tools and ideas to help you move forward.

Interested in starting your own business or exploring an idea? This page connects you with tools, resources, and real-world experiences to help you get started.

One of your first decisions is how to legally structure your new business. This affects your taxes, liability (risk), and paperwork. Here are the most common options for students:

What it is: You and the business are the same entity.

Pros:

  • Very easy and inexpensive to start
  • Minimal paperwork
  • Full control

Cons:

  • No legal protection—you’re personally responsible for debts or legal issues
  • Harder to raise funding

Good For:

  • Side hustles
  • Freelance work
  • Testing an idea quickly

What it is: A separate legal entity that protects your personal assets.

Pros:

  • Protects your personal assets (if the business is sued or has debt)
  • Flexible taxes (can be taxed like a sole proprietor or corporation)
  • More credibility than a sole prop

Cons:

  • Costs money to register (in MA, filing fees apply)
  • Requires some ongoing paperwork

Good For:

  • Students who are starting to make real money
  • Businesses with some risk (products, services, clients, etc.)

What it is: Two or more people share ownership.

Pros:

  • Easy to form
  • Shared workload and resources

Cons:

  • Shared liability (you can be responsible for your partner’s actions)
  • Potential conflicts if roles aren’t clear

Good For:

Co-founded student ventures

What it is: A more complex, formal business structure.

Pros:

  • Strong liability protection
  • Easier to raise investor funding (especially C-Corp)

Cons:

  • More complex setup
  • More regulations, paperwork, and costs

Good For:

Startups planning to scale quickly or seek investment

Massachusetts-Specific Notes

  • You register businesses through the MA Secretary of the Commonwealth
  • LLC filing fee is typically around $500 (plus annual reports)
  • You may also need:
    • A business certificate (for sole proprietors using a business name)
    • Local permits/licenses (depends on town + industry)

University pitch competitions: Ask us about them!

MassVentures

COMMONWEALTH innovation funds

Check out local Chamber of Commerce organizations, Community develpment finance institutions of crowd funding platforms for local options and microgrants.

Branding: Canva, Looka

Website: Wix, Squarespace, Shopify

Finance: Wave (free accounting), QuickBooks

Project management: Trello, Notion

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Contact & Location

Phone
508-213-2489
Address

Fels Student Center, Suite 201
121 Center Road
PO Box 5000
Dudley, MA 01571

CPDC Service Hours

Monday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tuesday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thursday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm