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Is it possible to start a business/company as a chemical engineer?

Hi there, I want to be a chemical engineer when I grow up, but I also want to start a business/company. Is that possible, and if so, how does it work? #chemical-engineering

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Francisco’s Answer

Hi Areum!

Of course you can start a business! Anyone can regardless of your background, and it doesn't even have to be related to your degree. I have a friend who is a manufacturing engineer and she has her own brand of steel toes shoes, or another who is a dermatologist and has her own jewelry store. Your business ideas can be completely independent of your day job, it depends on you what you are passionate about and want to pursue. Obviously creating and growing isn't easy, but many people have done it and there's plenty of resources out there to learn. Also, if you are really interested in business, maybe consider doing your MBA, which can help you understand the basics and also connect with people in the entrepreneurial community of wherever you study.

Hope this helps! Good luck!
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Robert’s Answer

You can certainly start your own business with a ChE degree; however, it is challenging to start your own business and *apply* your ChE degree to it unless you work as a ChE for some time beforehand. As the other two answerers point out, you can start a ChE consulting business after you have enough experience, and anyone can start their own business more generally. But ChE training focuses on large facilities with huge capital outlays, not the stuff of startups or the self-employed. They would only have cause to bring in ChE's after they make it big. See also https://www.careervillage.org/questions/208942/biomedical-engineering-or-chemical-engineering (Make sure you know what ChE's actually do!) On the topic of starting your own business: make sure you know what that's about, too. I was the first employee at two small firms, and it really helped me understand the tradeoffs of being your own boss. Too many people think it is a panacea: for some it is heaven, but not everyone who thinks they are cut out for it actually is.
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Michael’s Answer

Yes, you can be a chemical engineer and start your own business. You can start a business as a consultant. You can start and business you’d like to.
You would probably want to get some experience working as an engineer for a few years at a company though.
Thank you comment icon Thank you to everyone! Areum
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