Entrepreneurship

Whether you want to open a food truck, start a landscaping company or grow a side hustle into a full-time business, this certificate gives you the practical tools to do it. You’ll work on your own business idea from the first week.

What you’ll learn

• Identifying customers and testing your idea
• Writing a business plan and financial projections
• Small business accounting, pricing and cash flow
• Digital marketing and social media for small businesses
• Legal structures, permits and funding options

Why Palmetto Ridge

Classes combine online coursework on RidgeLearn with evening workshops at Ridgeview Commons. Each student is paired with a mentor from our network of Lowcountry business owners, many of them Palmetto Ridge alumni. The year ends with the Hawks Pitch Night, where students present to local investors and community lenders for seed grants. Instructor Luis has launched three businesses of his own and knows what works in a small Southern market. Veterans can connect with SBA resources for veteran-owned businesses, and credits can apply toward our Business Administration Transfer degree.