5 Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Are PrivilegedAs a Black woman entrepreneur, I've managed to run a successful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultancy for the past six years. But despite the years I dedicated to my entrepreneurial journey, I still benefited from a level of privilege that many don't share when it comes to entrepreneurship.

As a Black woman entrepreneur, I've managed to run a successfuldiversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)consultancy for the past six years. But I promise, it wasn't easy. For me, becoming an entrepreneur looked like getting a doctorate in organizational leadership and working my way to owning a business. Despite the years I dedicated to my entrepreneurial journey, I still benefited from a level of privilege that many don't share when it comes to entrepreneurship.

I've talked for years about howBlack women don't receive the supportor mentorship they need in the workplace to succeed as well as about the many ways Blackentrepreneurs struggle in this space. But we should talk about the privilege that those of us whodosucceed in business have. We should also talk about the reasons why people in marginalized communities start businesses from the beginning and how their entrepreneurial endeavors can be long-lasting and successful.

The complexities ofprivilege in entrepreneurshipare vast but worth discussing. We have to peel back the layers to discover how more entrepreneurs from marginalized communities can lift themselves out of poverty and into prosperity.

Related:18 Business Leaders on Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Society

1. Having start-up funding is a privilege

How will I fund my business? This question looms over many entrepreneurs. When66%of them use their own money to start a business and another33%start with less than $5,000, it's a perfectly valid concern. This means that if they aren't born with a silver spoon in their mouths, some folks have to look beyond their personal bank accounts to kickstart their businesses.

Venture capitalists, friends, family or bank loans arefunding options, but most of these come with serious strings attached. It's a privilege to have access to these resources in the first place, but it can feel oppressive to have to ask, in general. Knowing that the loan you used to start your business will double, triple, or quadruple your personal debt is a daunting realization.

I was fortunate enough that when I started my DEI consultancy, I didn't have to struggle for funding. I had the privilege of having a husband who was ahead of me on his entrepreneurial journey. His business endeavors gave me the freedom to build my consultancy without the pressure of needing to contribute to our household income. Not everybody has that opportunity.Equitable access资金业务并不容易找到和every entrepreneur falls into a different place on the spectrum of privilege and oppression when it comes to funding.

Related:6 Ways to Offer Allyship to Black Entrepreneurs

2. Having other entrepreneurs to look up to is a privilege

Whether it's a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, having someone in the family who is an entrepreneur helps make the dream of starting a business of your own feel more achievable.

I didn't have an entrepreneur in my family, but my husband did. His dad was the example that inspired a ripple effect of entrepreneurs in the family. Seeing his family members start, grow and scale businesses was inspiring to witness. As we all know,representation matters. Watching entrepreneurs who look like us experience the ups and downs of business helps us know our dreams are possible.

However, if we have never seen entrepreneurs like us, it's harder to imagine how starting and growing our businesses would be possible. For some of us, having access to a successful entrepreneur in our lives is a privilege that likely impacts the success of the businesses we hope to create.

3. Having a college education before starting a business is a privilege

As someone who received her doctorate, I'm in the minority of entrepreneurs:62%of entrepreneurs have at least a bachelor's degree while7%have a doctorate or other degree. I also reap additional financial benefits as a result of my educational privilege. It turns out entrepreneurs with doctoral degrees earn35%more than those with high school diplomas.

But not all entrepreneurs have the privilege of going to college. Many people choose entrepreneurship because of the seemingly unlimited earning potential it promises, even those with only a high school diploma. For many marginalized folks who didn't have access to college or university, entrepreneurship may feel like the only way to pull themselves out of their economic situation and into a brighter future.

4. Having a business that lasts more than three years is a privilege

Despite Black women being one of thefastest-growingdemographics of entrepreneurs in the U.S., CNBC reported thateight out of 10 Black-owned businessesfail in the first 18 months. Having a great business idea and some funding to boost your journey will help; however, maintaining a business for more than five years is a rarity. Around49%妇女所有的企业都不到五年old and as they approach the six to 10 year window, that number shrinks to 17.5%.

There are many reasons why the privilege of business longevity isn't afforded to all. Funding runs out, an unexpected business emergency shows up or the entrepreneur simply has a change of heart about their venture. Regardless of the reason, having a business that lasts decades is a privilege that somemarginalized entrepreneursonly dream of.

Related:10 Reasons Why 7 Out of 10 Businesses Fail Within 10 Years

5. Starting your own business can actually创建privilege

In light of the recent layoffs nationwide across many industries, now is one of the best times to try entrepreneurship. The main motivators for becoming an entrepreneur are the numerous ways it can grow and expand our financial and personal futures.Research showsthat women who start their own businesses do so because they are ready to chase their passions and work for themselves.

Entrepreneurs of color are starting businesses for similar reasons. Dissatisfaction with their boss and the lack of diversity, equity and inclusion in corporate America cause many to start their own businesses.

Most importantly, for many entrepreneurs, their salary ambitions can reach whole new heights. While the average womanearns 82 centsfor every dollar a man earns, the average woman entrepreneur earns91 cents. Although a one-to-one earning ratio would be the best-case scenario, it's clear that for many women, starting their own business helps them close the pay gap.

The lifestyle and flexibility perks of entrepreneurship cannot be overstated either, such as working from home with hours that fit your schedule. The ability to parent or become a caregiver to someone you love or simply being able to avoidmicroaggressions, pay disparities and unequal treatment at work are all new privileges afforded by starting your own business. For many marginalized folks, this kind of economic and personal freedom is a dream that can only come true with entrepreneurship.

Related:Why Paying Women An Equal Wage Helps — Not Hurts — Your Business

Final thoughts

As marginalized folks balance the pros and cons of becoming an entrepreneur, those of us who have already found success in this space should ask ourselves: What can we do to lift up more entrepreneurs from marginalized communities? How can we leverage our privilege and power to be sensitive to the issues that arise for new entrepreneurs? How can we fund and support them in the most critical stages of their business?

In my opinion, successful entrepreneurs have an obligation to share their privilege with others and help more folks confidently enter into the entrepreneurial space. Say the names of new entrepreneurs in rooms that matter. Offer a loan or donate capital to entrepreneurs in marginalized communities. Mentor new entrepreneurs and flatten their learning curve so they can be more likely to thrive beyond the five-year mark.

Sharing entrepreneurial wisdom and offering resources when available can help more women, folks with disabilities, queer and people of color reach entrepreneurial success and grow their careers beyond imagination.