Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-1-5-the-role-of-the-entrepreneur

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business.md) › [Edexcel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel.md) › The Role of the Entrepreneur

# The Role of the Entrepreneur

Business: Edexcel GCSE, topic 1.1.5

## Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur is a person who sets up a business and takes on the risk of enterprising activity. They have to be able to:

### Identify business opportunities

![Identify business opportunities](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/e97349e6-385e-43bf-a3ca-b809fd8bf9ea/shutterstock_561672106.jpg)

- Enterprise involves identifying business opportunities, and then creating a business (or expanding an existing business) to fill a gap in a market. 
- There is always a risk of failure, but there is often a large reward for success.

### Take risks

![Take risks](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/ce17d784-bb95-4ef8-959c-8dbd1ad3dd47/shutterstock_248863420.jpg)

- An entrepreneur is someone who takes on the risk of enterprising activity.

## The Role of the Entrepreneur

The role of the entrepreneur is to organise resources, make business decisions and take the risks involved with enterprise activity. This means they must have certain qualities:

### Hardworking

![Hardworking](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/ec004967-8dbf-4bde-ad3d-9aee9f8ce297/shutterstock_391947775.jpg)

- An entrepreneur must motivate themselves every day to work without someone telling them that they have to. 
- At the beginning, this can often mean working alone and without being paid.

### Organised

![Organised](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/634175c9-a1df-4e97-b26e-9752bcb13c4a/shutterstock_581985661.jpg)

- An entrepreneur must organise or do everything needed to run a business. 
- This includes accounting, marketing, sales and business strategy. 
- To be successful, an entrepreneur must stay on top of these tasks every day, whilst also planning for the future.

### Innovative

![Innovative](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/27385bf9-870a-4294-9bfd-d51df1087e9c/shutterstock_107629802.jpg)

- Spotting gaps in the market and providing solutions to complex problems requires entrepreneurs to think outside of the box and be innovative.

### Willingness to take risks

![Willingness to take risks](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/ce17d784-bb95-4ef8-959c-8dbd1ad3dd47/shutterstock_248863420.jpg)

- When setting up a business there is always a risk of failure.
- However, if an entrepreneur never takes these risks when investing money and giving up their current job, then their idea (or business) cannot succeed. 
- A business faces a constantly changing environment and even if an entrepreneur is very organised and plans well for the future, they never know what will happen.

## Test yourself on The Role of the Entrepreneur

- What is an entrepreneur?
- A entrepreneur has to be able to...
- Which of the following is NOT a good quality for an entrepreneur?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/e7efbfa0-222a-11e8-9249-b5781fc38111/section/1167df60-22c2-11e8-92ab-eb3be82bdc6f/session)

- Previous topic: [1.1.4 The Role of Business Enterprise 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-1-4-the-role-of-business-enterprise-2.md)
- Next topic: [1.1.6 End of Topic Test - Dynamic Nature of Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-1-6-end-of-topic-test-dynamic-nature-of-business.md)

## Business: Edexcel GCSE contents

### 1 Investigating Small Business
- 1.1 Enterprise & Entrepreneurship
  - [1.1.1 The Dynamic Nature of Businesses](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-1-1-the-dynamic-nature-of-businesses.md)
  - [1.1.2 Risk & Reward](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-1-2-risk-and-reward.md)
  - [1.1.3 The Role of Business Enterprise](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-1-3-the-role-of-business-enterprise.md)
  - [1.1.4 The Role of Business Enterprise 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-1-4-the-role-of-business-enterprise-2.md)
  - [1.1.5 The Role of the Entrepreneur](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-1-5-the-role-of-the-entrepreneur.md)
  - [1.1.6 End of Topic Test - Dynamic Nature of Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-1-6-end-of-topic-test-dynamic-nature-of-business.md)
  - [1.1.7 Grade 9 - Dynamic Nature of Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-1-7-grade-9-dynamic-nature-of-business.md)
- 1.2 Spotting a Business Opportunity
  - [1.2.1 Customer Needs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-2-1-customer-needs.md)
  - [1.2.2 Market Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-2-2-market-research.md)
  - [1.2.3 Market Segmentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-2-3-market-segmentation.md)
  - [1.2.4 The Competitive Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-2-4-the-competitive-environment.md)
  - [1.2.5 Primary & Secondary Market Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-2-5-primary-and-secondary-market-research.md)
  - [1.2.6 End of Topic Test - Business Opportunities](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-2-6-end-of-topic-test-business-opportunities.md)
  - [1.2.7 Application Questions - Business Opportunities](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-2-7-application-questions-business-opportunities.md)
  - [1.2.8 Exam-Style Questions - Market Segmentation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-2-8-exam-style-questions-market-segmentation.md)
  - [1.2.9 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Competition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-2-9-diagnostic-misconceptions-competition.md)
- 1.3 Putting a Business Idea into Practice
  - [1.3.1 Business Aims](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-1-business-aims.md)
  - [1.3.2 Business Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-2-business-objectives.md)
  - [1.3.3 Business Revenues & Costs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-3-business-revenues-and-costs.md)
  - [1.3.4 Costs - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-4-costs-calculations.md)
  - [1.3.5 Revenue - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-5-revenue-calculations.md)
  - [1.3.6 Business Profits & Break-Even Analysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-6-business-profits-and-break-even-analysis.md)
  - [1.3.7 Profits & Losses - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-7-profits-and-losses-calculations.md)
  - [1.3.8 Interest - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-8-interest-calculations.md)
  - [1.3.9 Cash & Cash Flow](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-9-cash-and-cash-flow.md)
  - [1.3.10 Cash & Cash Flow 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-10-cash-and-cash-flow-2.md)
  - [1.3.11 Cash Flow - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-11-cash-flow-calculations.md)
  - [1.3.12 Sources of Business Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-12-sources-of-business-finance.md)
  - [1.3.13 End of Topic Test - Business in Practice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-13-end-of-topic-test-business-in-practice.md)
  - [1.3.14 Grade 9 - Business in Practice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-14-grade-9-business-in-practice.md)
  - [1.3.15 Exam-Style Questions - Business in Practice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-15-exam-style-questions-business-in-practice.md)
  - [1.3.16 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Profit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-16-diagnostic-misconceptions-profit.md)
  - [1.3.17 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Company vs Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-17-diagnostic-misconceptions-company-vs-business.md)
  - [1.3.18 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Economies of Scale](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-18-diagnostic-misconceptions-economies-of-scale.md)
  - [1.3.19 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cash Flow](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-19-diagnostic-misconceptions-cash-flow.md)
  - [1.3.20 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Break-even](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-20-diagnostic-misconceptions-break-even.md)
  - [1.3.21 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fixed Costs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-3-21-diagnostic-misconceptions-fixed-costs.md)
- 1.4 Making the Business Effective
  - [1.4.1 The Options for Start-Up & Small Businesses](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-4-1-the-options-for-start-up-and-small-businesses.md)
  - [1.4.2 Limited Liability](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-4-2-limited-liability.md)
  - [1.4.3 Franchising & Not-For-Profits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-4-3-franchising-and-not-for-profits.md)
  - [1.4.4 Business Location](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-4-4-business-location.md)
  - [1.4.5 The Marketing Mix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-4-5-the-marketing-mix.md)
  - [1.4.6 Business Plans](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-4-6-business-plans.md)
  - [1.4.7 End of Topic Test - Effective Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-4-7-end-of-topic-test-effective-business.md)
  - [1.4.8 Application Questions - Effective Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-4-8-application-questions-effective-business.md)
  - [1.4.9 Exam-Style Questions - Business Plans](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-4-9-exam-style-questions-business-plans.md)
- 1.5 Business Stakeholders
  - [1.5.1 Business Stakeholders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-5-1-business-stakeholders.md)
  - [1.5.2 Technology & Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-5-2-technology-and-business.md)
  - [1.5.3 Legislation & Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-5-3-legislation-and-business.md)
  - [1.5.4 Legislation & Business 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-5-4-legislation-and-business-2.md)
  - [1.5.5 The Economy & Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-5-5-the-economy-and-business.md)
  - [1.5.6 External Influences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-5-6-external-influences.md)
  - [1.5.7 End of Topic Test - Business Stakeholders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-5-7-end-of-topic-test-business-stakeholders.md)
  - [1.5.8 Grade 9 - Business Stakeholders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-5-8-grade-9-business-stakeholders.md)
  - [1.5.9 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Recessions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/1-5-9-diagnostic-misconceptions-recessions.md)

### 2 Building a Business
- 2.1 Growing the Business
  - [2.1.1 Business Growth](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-1-1-business-growth.md)
  - [2.1.2 Finance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-1-2-finance.md)
  - [2.1.3 Changes in Business Aims & Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-1-3-changes-in-business-aims-and-globalisation.md)
  - [2.1.4 Ethics & Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-1-4-ethics-and-business.md)
  - [2.1.5 The Environment & Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-1-5-the-environment-and-business.md)
  - [2.1.6 End of Topic Test - Growing a Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-1-6-end-of-topic-test-growing-a-business.md)
  - [2.1.7 Application Questions - Growing a Business](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-1-7-application-questions-growing-a-business.md)
  - [2.1.8 Exam-Style Questions - Business Growth](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-1-8-exam-style-questions-business-growth.md)
- 2.2 Making Marketing Decisions
  - [2.2.1 Product](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-1-product.md)
  - [2.2.2 Product Life Cycle](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-2-product-life-cycle.md)
  - [2.2.3 Price](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-3-price.md)
  - [2.2.4 Pricing Methods](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-4-pricing-methods.md)
  - [2.2.5 End of Topic Test - Product & Price](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-5-end-of-topic-test-product-and-price.md)
  - [2.2.6 Grade 9  - Product & Price](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-6-grade-9-product-and-price.md)
  - [2.2.7 Promotion & Advertising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-7-promotion-and-advertising.md)
  - [2.2.8 PR & Sales Promotions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-8-pr-and-sales-promotions.md)
  - [2.2.9 Sponsorship & Product Placement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-9-sponsorship-and-product-placement.md)
  - [2.2.10 Promotional Mix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-10-promotional-mix.md)
  - [2.2.11 End of Topic Test - Promotion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-11-end-of-topic-test-promotion.md)
  - [2.2.12 Application Questions - Promotion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-12-application-questions-promotion.md)
  - [2.2.13 Exam-Style Questions - Promotional Mix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-13-exam-style-questions-promotional-mix.md)
  - [2.2.14 Place & Wholesalers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-14-place-and-wholesalers.md)
  - [2.2.15 Direct to Consumer](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-15-direct-to-consumer.md)
  - [2.2.16 E-commerce & M-commerce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-16-e-commerce-and-m-commerce.md)
  - [2.2.17 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Decreasing Price](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-17-diagnostic-misconceptions-decreasing-price.md)
  - [2.2.18 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Advertise vs Promote](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-18-diagnostic-misconceptions-advertise-vs-promote.md)
  - [2.2.19 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Social Media](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-2-19-diagnostic-misconceptions-social-media.md)
- 2.3 Making Operational Decisions
  - [2.3.1 Job Production](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-1-job-production.md)
  - [2.3.2 Batch & Flow Production](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-2-batch-and-flow-production.md)
  - [2.3.3 Working with Suppliers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-3-working-with-suppliers.md)
  - [2.3.4 Effective Supply Chains](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-4-effective-supply-chains.md)
  - [2.3.5 Just In Time & Just In Case](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-5-just-in-time-and-just-in-case.md)
  - [2.3.6 Managing Quality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-6-managing-quality.md)
  - [2.3.7 Total Quality Management](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-7-total-quality-management.md)
  - [2.3.8 The Sales Process](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-8-the-sales-process.md)
  - [2.3.9 End of Topic Test - Operational Decisions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-9-end-of-topic-test-operational-decisions.md)
  - [2.3.10 Grade 9  - Operational Decisions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-10-grade-9-operational-decisions.md)
  - [2.3.11 Exam-Style Questions - Managing Stock](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-11-exam-style-questions-managing-stock.md)
  - [2.3.12 Diagnostic Misconceptions - JIT vs JIC](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-3-12-diagnostic-misconceptions-jit-vs-jic.md)
- 2.4 Making Financial Decisions
  - [2.4.1 Gross Profit & Net Profit - Definitions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-4-1-gross-profit-and-net-profit-definitions.md)
  - [2.4.2 Gross Profit - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-4-2-gross-profit-calculations.md)
  - [2.4.3 Net Profit - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-4-3-net-profit-calculations.md)
  - [2.4.4 Rate of Return](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-4-4-rate-of-return.md)
  - [2.4.5 Rate of Return - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-4-5-rate-of-return-calculations.md)
  - [2.4.6 Research & Financial Data](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-4-6-research-and-financial-data.md)
  - [2.4.7 Marketing Data](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-4-7-marketing-data.md)
  - [2.4.8 Percentage Change - Calculations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-4-8-percentage-change-calculations.md)
- 2.5 Making Human Resource Decisions
  - [2.5.1 Organisational Structures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-1-organisational-structures.md)
  - [2.5.2 Organisational Structures 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-2-organisational-structures-2.md)
  - [2.5.3 Recruitment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-3-recruitment.md)
  - [2.5.4 Effective Recruitment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-4-effective-recruitment.md)
  - [2.5.5 Training a Workforce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-5-training-a-workforce.md)
  - [2.5.6 Motivating a Workforce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-6-motivating-a-workforce.md)
  - [2.5.7 End of Topic Tests - Human Resources](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-7-end-of-topic-tests-human-resources.md)
  - [2.5.8 Application Questions - Human Resources](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-8-application-questions-human-resources.md)
  - [2.5.9 Exam-Style Questions - Human Resources](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-9-exam-style-questions-human-resources.md)
  - [2.5.10 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Owners vs Shareholders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-10-diagnostic-misconceptions-owners-vs-shareholders.md)
  - [2.5.11 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Internal Recruitment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-11-diagnostic-misconceptions-internal-recruitment.md)
  - [2.5.12 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Employee Motivation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/business/edexcel/2-5-12-diagnostic-misconceptions-employee-motivation.md)
