Entrepreneurship is an area where ambition, hard work and risk taking intertwine to give birth to projects with various impacts. Among the multiple reasons that push a person to launch a business, the lure of gain is often distinguished as a powerful engine. However, more and more entrepreneurs say that the quest for money is not the only one, or even the main one, a reason that pushes them to get started. But then, should we consider money as the main motivation to undertake, or are there other equally important factors?
Money: a tangible and motivating objective
It is undeniable that money is a major motivation factor for many entrepreneurs. The desire to succeed financially, to create a prosperous business and to harvest the fruits of his work can play a decisive role in the decision to get started. Studies show that gain in gain is one of the most frequently invoked reasons by business creators in France. According to a survey carried out by INSEE, 45 % of business creators in 2022 claimed that the financial objective represented one of the main reasons for their approach. The idea of making money by developing an innovative product or service may seem particularly attractive in a context where profitability is often perceived as the key to the sustainability of companies.
Money also rewards effort and ensuring personal stability. According to a study by the Companies Observatory in France in 2023, 67 % of entrepreneurs stressed that one of the main reasons for their project was to be able to improve their financial situation and that of their loved ones. Financial gains are also used to reinvest in the company, hire new talents and stimulate growth. In this regard, money plays an essential role not only in the realization of personal ambitions, but also in the development of activity.
The quest for meaning and personal accomplishment
However, it would be reductive to think that money is the only motivation that drives entrepreneurs. Increasingly, values such as ethics, social and environmental impact or the desire to make a positive contribution to society seem to take over. The concept of entrepreneurship is not just a financial objective, but to the desire to create something significant. The search for meaning becomes a decisive motivating factor for many business creators.
A study conducted in 2021 by Paris-Dauphine University reveals that 57 % of young entrepreneurs prefer to develop a business that has an impact on society rather than a purely profitable company. Similarly, 40 % of entrepreneurs from generation Z claim that they would be ready to sacrifice part of their financial gains to create a business that defends ecological or ethical values. This phenomenon is growing rapidly, especially in sectors such as mission companies, social startups and projects aimed at solving environmental issues.
This change of mentality is explained in particular by the rise in power of the concept of responsible entrepreneurship “, which highlights long -term objectives much more than an immediate quest. If money is always important, it is no longer perceived as an end in itself. Personal development and the desire to leave a lasting imprint have become equally legitimate reasons for undertaking.
The balance between passion and profitability
One of the major challenges for entrepreneurs lies in the balance between passion for a project and the need to generate financial profits. The entrepreneur passionate about his field of activity could, in theory, lead a fruitful adventure provided that he succeeds in combining passion and profitability. A 2023 study carried out by Xerfi shows that 78 % of French entrepreneurs believe that their project has a deep meaning, but that they know that the financial aspect must be taken into account to ensure its viability. The passion for a product or service is not always enough to guarantee the success of a business.
The entrepreneur must show pragmatism and financial management to avoid seeing his dream turn into a failure. Moreover, the Agency France Entrepreneur (AFE) reports that 30 % of the companies created fail in the first three years, mainly due to financial problems, which shows that money and resource management are essential elements to maintain its afloat activity.
In this sense, the financial factor remains essential to guarantee the sustainability of the company. The entrepreneur cannot ignore economic realities on the pretext that he seeks above all to accomplish a mission. Profitability then becomes a means of continuing to exercise your passion and carrying out your objectives. This balance between passion and finance is, in fact, one of the keys to success for many creators.
Entrepreneurs and their vision of profit: an evolution of mentalities
With the rise of new generations of entrepreneurs, the concept of profit evolves. The short -term economic model gradually gives way to a more sustainable and long -term vision. For generations Y and Z, money is certainly important, but it is no longer a goal in itself. These young entrepreneurs prefer personal satisfaction, the creation of a coherent team, the search for innovation and the development of a healthy working environment. These factors become levers to attract talent and guarantee a future for their business, sometimes to the detriment of immediate profits.
The companies that are distinguished today are often those that succeed in combining strong human values with rigorous management of their finances. Money, in this context, becomes a means of materializing a vision, and not a central objective. This does not mean that entrepreneurs seek to get rid of profit, but they seek to make it compatible with values that transcend simple financial logic.
