Student clubs can be a great way to meet new friends, explore a passion and develop important organizational skills that can help build your resume while in high school or college. While recreational, student clubs still require a significant amount of responsibility. Student business clubs provide a forum for discussing business topics, learning about investment or practicing networking skills crucial in the business world. Understanding the steps involved in establishing a student business club will help make yours a success.

Advertise informally for other students interested in helping develop the student business club. Post fliers around campus with contact information, detailing some of the key goals you’re hoping to reach through the club. If you're a college student, insert an announcement in the business department’s weekly news bulletin or ask business professors to make announcements in class.

Ask a teacher or faculty member to be your club adviser. Your business club may want active involvement from your club adviser or may just want a faculty member to sign off without having much responsibility. Be clear with potential faculty members when describing expectations so that there’s no misunderstanding later. Potential advisers could include business professors or professionals from the school’s business arm.

Complete your school’s application for starting a student club. Most schools have a formal application asking members to describe the club’s purpose, meeting schedule and budget. Collaborate with other business-minded students to outline goals, which might include inviting business leaders to speak at your club meetings or raising money to benefit a specific charity.

Advertise more formally for club members using social networking accounts, fliers, the campus newspaper and classroom visits to explain the objective of your business club. Distribute bookmarks printed with business tips or posters describing how everyone, not just business majors, can benefit from basic business knowledge. You can also set up tables at school fairs to distribute club materials.

Tip

Build funds for your student business club by requiring dues from members. Dues can help organize fundraisers to attract more money, pay guest speakers or purchase business resources (such as magazine subscriptions) that members can access.

Interact with other clubs so your efforts aren’t duplicated; learning how to supplement ongoing fundraisers and awareness activities is a positive business skill.

Warning

Club meetings can devolve into ego fests if roles are not clearly delineated roles, so create a business club charter outlining the responsibilities involved for club officers and other members. Encourage open discussion, allowing all members to have their voices heard.

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