Is Business for Me? Deciding to Start
Decide honestly whether to start a business, in what form, and what you can afford to risk, then write a one-page direction statement and a 90-day commitment.
What you'll learn
- Explain why formal jobs are scarce in Ghana and what self-employment looks like for most people who do it
- Spot the common myths about capital, ideas and connections, and the hype in 'get rich quick' offers
- Rate yourself honestly on the five weekly demands of running a business
- Identify your entrepreneur profile, with its strengths, blind spots and the kinds of business that suit it
- List what you already have (skills, time, phone, people, savings, family support) and use it as your starting point
- Set an affordable loss in cedis and hours before you spend anything
- Choose between starting full-time, starting on the side, preparing first or taking the job route, and explain your choice to your family
- Write a one-page direction statement and a 90-day commitment with a review date
Who this course is for
- University, technical university and college students in Ghana who are thinking about self-employment
- National service personnel deciding what to do when service ends
- Unemployed and underemployed graduates aged 18 to 35 who are tired of waiting
- Anyone starting the Youth Enterprise LaunchPad programme (this is Stage 1: Decide)
- Parents, mentors and youth workers who want a realistic guide to share
Course content
7 sections · 36 lessons · 5h 45mStart here 3 lessons · 15 min
Module 1: The honest picture of work and business in Ghana 6 lessons · 48 min
Module 2: What business asks of you, and who you are 5 lessons · 47 min
Module 3: Start with what you have, risk only what you can lose 6 lessons · 52 min
Module 4: Side hustle, full-time and the family question 5 lessons · 48 min
Module 5: Fear, direction and your 90-day commitment 6 lessons · 58 min
Final module: your decision and your evidence task 5 lessons · 1h 17m
Before you start
- No business experience and no capital needed
- A phone with internet access; every lesson is written to be read on a small screen
- About one hour per module, and the willingness to answer questions about yourself honestly
About this course
Everybody has an opinion about what you should do after school. Your mother wants a 'proper job'. Your friend on WhatsApp says only fools work for other people. A motivational speaker says you can be a millionaire by 25. None of them will be there at 5 am when you are packing orders, or on the day a customer refuses to pay.
This course is Stage 1 (Decide) of the Youth Enterprise LaunchPad. It is for students, national service personnel and graduates in Ghana who have never run a business and do not have much money. It does one job: it helps you decide, with your eyes open, whether to start a business now, start one on the side, prepare first, or put your energy into finding a job.
We begin with the truth about work in Ghana: why formal jobs are scarce, why most businesses here are small and informal, and why income usually comes slowly. Then you look at yourself. You will check how you handle the five things business asks for every week, find your entrepreneur profile (The Hustler, The Maker, The Organiser or The Connector), and list what you already have: skills, time, a phone, people and small savings.
After that you set your affordable loss, which is the amount of money and time you can lose without damaging your life. You choose between a side hustle and going full-time, plan the conversation with your family, and prepare for fear and bad weeks.
You finish with your evidence task: a completed self-assessment and a one-page 'my direction' statement with a 90-day commitment, which you download and keep. If you conclude that business is not for you right now, that is a good result too, and we show you where to go next.
Your instructor
SkillsPillar Faculty
Practitioners and trainers in strategy, public service, enterprise and workplace compliance
SkillsPillar courses are written by practitioners who have trained graduates, managers, public servants and business owners across Ghana. Every course is built around real situations, practical tools and activities that test judgement, not memory.
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Frequently asked
How do I pay for a course?
Pay securely with MTN MoMo, Telecel Cash, AT Money, Visa or Mastercard through Hubtel. You get access straight after payment.
How long do I have access?
For life. Once you enrol, the course stays in your account and you can learn at your own pace, including any updates we make.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. Finish every lesson in a course and a certificate is issued automatically. Each one has a QR code and a public link employers can use to check it.
Can I learn on my phone?
Yes. Everything works on a phone, tablet or computer, and your progress follows you between devices.
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