Small Business Management

In the Pickens Technical College Business, Marketing, and Public Administration pathway and Small Business Management class, you have the opportunity to prove that you’re ready to run a business. The Small Business Management program at Pickens gives you the competencies and skills you’ll need to build your own business or find a fit with one of the many start-ups and small companies booming throughout the Denver metro area and beyond.

Of course, you know that your experience in the Small Business Management program at Pickens prepares you for a career in entrepreneurship, e-commerce, or any type of business you want. An emphasis from day one in this pathway is on starting your own company and learning how to build up a business from nothing.

But you can do much more with a certificate in Small Business Management from Pickens. Starting a business is a great way to make a career and a ton of money, but it’s also a big risk. If you want to get started in the booming business world of Denver and the surrounding area, you can consider becoming a consultant or joining the sales or management team of a business, small or large.

Getting Experience

Getting a start in a company as a sales team member might sound like the bottom of the totem pole, but it can be a great way to make a good living and build your experience beyond what you got from learning and working in the Pickens Small Business Management program.

A good place to look for a start in the business world is the bank. I don’t mean looking for a business loan. Many banks have small business consultants and loan officers working with small business owners (or prospective ones) to help them set up the company of their dreams. You can be involved in the start of new small businesses in your community while sharpening your financial and business skills before you strike out on your own (if you want!).

Banks are good places to start because they offer support for entry-level workers, along with competitive salaries, from day one. You’ll get the support and experience you’ll need to go into consulting one day or into running your own business.

Consultancy: The Promised Land

Consultants command a wide range of salaries depending on their experience and skill. Right now in Colorado, the average small business consultant makes almost $75,000 a year. That average is undoubtedly bolstered by high-powered consultants and executives charging their high-profile clients high rates (that are worth it). Consultants often run into the same pitfalls as freelancers and even small business owners. Competition is fierce, and connections and networks are gold. You’ll have to work hard to build your network as a consultant to reach the high end of the small business consultant salary range in Colorado.

The good news is that clients typically only care about results. You’ll have to show that you’re educated and experienced in small business management, but at the end of the day, results are more important than business degrees and certificates.

The Small Business program at PTC is an excellent place to start for anyone interested in starting their own business or helping other small companies grow into powerful entities.