how to gain business experience w/out owning a business

[investopediafreak]

Are there any small business classes, or business classes (in or out of college) I should take, which would assuage the "fears" of a seller of an established business who is selling (using seller financing) to a buyer with little business experience.

I know that "qualified buyers" are usually whom the sellers want to sell their businesses to. Would taking classes help my case in making myself a qualified buyer, if I cannot afford my own business to gain experience needed?

If so, which classes?

thanks,
Tess

[GlobalWealth]

I don't think any amount of classes will give a seller a comfortable feeling if they are seller financing the deal. They want to know their buyer has the knowledge and experience to run and improve their business enough that they can afford to take the risk. One option you may consider is taking on an experienced partner. You will give up some equity but some equity is more than no equity.

[ethansmith]

If you are still in college (or even high school) there are a number of different nationwide organizations that you could join. Check into local/university chapters of College Entrepreneurs Organization or Students in Free Enterprise.

If you are looking for some experience outside of the institutional setting check out different job boards - like Enternships.com to get jobs at startups and new businesses. This kind of internship exposure should give you a decent idea of at least a part of what running a business is like.

[noob]

From personal experience, I'll tell you that most classes you take in most colleges or universities teach the wrong stuff about real world businesses. Some stuff applies but at the end of the day nothing can replace the experience of actually running your own business.

Rather than try to buy over an existing business, you should try to start one from the ground up. It doesn't always cost a lot of capital starting off.

[party-fouls]

only way IMO is to get in real business. Classes don't come close.

[JTpreneur]

I agree. Classes simply teach you the theory, at the end of the day its yourself.