Entrepreneurship has established itself in the lives of the French with the proliferation of structures such as nurseries, incubators and other training courses demonstrating that to start a business without wasting time or money, it was sometimes necessary to prepare well. It must be said that there are clichés and the collective unconscious nourishes thousands of them for each area. And the world of entrepreneurship is no exception! Received ideas should not prevent you from getting started, or, on the contrary, paint a somewhat too attractive portrait of a world which, like everywhere, is neither white nor black.
“All it takes is one great idea!” »
Unfortunately, this is the most common idea. If you are at the head of several million euros, and extremely well surrounded, a good idea can – if necessary – be enough. Otherwise… This one may seem revolutionary, but it must fit into a market, or be likely to be of interest. Then, you will have to get into execution and in particular find money, create your product or service and get people talking about it (communication, marketing). The path has only just begun since subsequently, you will have to sell it and constantly improve and innovate, so as not to be caught up by the competition.
“It’s impossible to get financing in France…”
Even if France doesn’t have the best reputation in terms of investment, you shouldn’t be afraid to get started! The French system just requires more patience, and perhaps more progressive strategies. In recent years, financing solutions have greatly increased for start-ups that are not yet on the market, especially for those that have been in existence for more than two years. To begin with, love money and Business Angels are excellent alternatives to bank financing. They will bring weight to the company which will later allow it to raise funds. In addition, there are more and more aids, incubators and nurseries, as well as competitions, to help launch projects. Many other entrepreneurs, especially in the web sector, simply started with initial funds. MyLittleParis has almost never needed to raise funds!
“They no longer have a life…”
Entrepreneurs are often seen as machines, who completely confuse professional and private lives. Many of them start their project without leaving their job, which leaves them, it is true, quite little time. And it is certain that the 35 hours do not apply to the status of business manager! The first years are hard, entrepreneurs are quite unanimous on this point, but work does not necessarily invade all of their private lives. The main thing is to know how to delegate, and not to do everything alone. Hence the interest in undertaking together, to share tasks according to skills, responsibilities, and above all… pressure.
“With the internet, everything is possible”
The bursting of the internet bubble has certainly opened up infinite possibilities. Setting up a project and making it concrete becomes simpler. Projects require fewer physical and financial resources. But mastering the Internet requires advanced technical know-how which often surprises more than one person! You must – at the very least – have the skills of a graphic designer, a developer, a programmer, as well as notions of web marketing. And of course, have the skills of a manager if you don’t occupy all these positions! On the other hand, companies have invested heavily in this area and standing out from the crowd is becoming more and more complicated.
“I’m going to double my salary!” »
Just because you’re going to become your own boss doesn’t mean you’re going to pocket your old boss’s salary. So, it’s true, you decide how much you pay yourself. But be aware that a start-up can take a long time to make money, and, when it is profitable, it will still be a matter of paying off debts or investing. Other projects do not have a business model at the start, and are waiting for strong traction to monetize their system, which can take a long time. Frédéric Mazzella, the founder of BlaBlaCar, spent the first two years combining his job and launching his project, and waited a few more years before monetizing his solution!
“No need for market research”
This is a step that is increasingly underestimated when creating a project, with entrepreneurs often being too sure of the future success of their product. However, this is advice regularly given by those who have proven themselves: communicate around your project, get opinions, come and test the market beforehand, etc. Even on a small scale (family, social circle, questionnaire on social networks, etc.), having feedback is essential! Market research is less essential if you are joining a market that is already growing strongly. On the other hand, be careful here to differentiate yourself in order to survive in the midst of competition and the fact that certain players are particularly sensitive to it, notably investors!
“Entrepreneurs have studied extensively”
A lot of entrepreneurs started because they did not have a high level of education, but a lot of experience in a particular field and they still wanted to break into a world where it is difficult to change social status. When you are a business manager, no one is going to look at your diploma and it is the experience that counts as well as your economic model. More than long studies in a field, the entrepreneur benefits from knowing how to carry out different tasks. Martin Bouygues, one of the first fortunes in France and business manager, has just the baccalaureate level and he is not the least qualified!
“Entrepreneurs like risk…”
Not all entrepreneurs are poker players! Even if many of them enjoy the challenge, entrepreneurs seek to minimize risks! Of course, they learn to manage pressure, but they are aware that the riskier a project, the more perilous it is, and the more likely they are to lose money and the time they invest in their business. The business manager generally seeks, on the contrary, to anticipate, study and minimize risks upstream to ensure success.
No general truths in entrepreneurship!
When we look at interviews with entrepreneurs, the vast majority of them say they were surprised by this or that point, not having imagined this, or having underestimated that, etc. There are few general truths in entrepreneurship, and no typical profile. However, specific qualities are recommended: patience, perseverance, lucidity, anticipation, speed, and creativity. The best way is to refer to the concrete experience of small and large business leaders in 2026, through testimonies, interviews and portraits, and to read Dynamique.
