An entrepreneur is someone who starts and runs their own business, taking on financial risks in hopes of making a profit. While a store manager works for someone else, an entrepreneur owns the store and makes the big decisions: what to sell, how much to charge, who to hire, and how to grow.

Entrepreneurs often start with an idea for something people need or want. Maybe they notice that nobody in town sells fresh bagels, or they invent a better kind of backpack, or they figure out how to teach piano lessons online. Then they invest their own money and time to turn that idea into reality.

Some famous entrepreneurs include Steve Jobs, who co-founded Apple, and Milton Hershey, who built a chocolate empire that still bears his name.

Being an entrepreneur means facing uncertainty. The business might succeed brilliantly, or it might fail. Unlike getting a regular paycheck from a job, entrepreneurs may earn nothing at first, working long hours while investing their savings. But successful entrepreneurs can create jobs for others, solve problems in their communities, and build something they're proud of. Many of history's greatest businesses started with one person willing to take that risk.