Should You Tell Your Teachers About Your Business?

According to Junior Achievement USA, 75% of teens say they’d consider becoming an entrepreneur. If you’ve already started your own business or have an up-and-coming idea, you might be wondering, should you tell your teachers? The short answer: it depends. There’s no official rulebook for this. In this article, we’ll break down some good reasons to bring it up with a teacher, plus a few things you’ll want to think through first. 

Reasons You Might Want to Share 

If there’s a teacher you admire or someone you think has great mentoring skills, they might have tips or experience that could support you on your business journey. If you would like to share, you can mention your idea during a break or after class to see what they think. 

Another reason to talk about your business with a teacher is that it might tie into your schoolwork, especially in classes like economics or marketing. Some schools also offer entrepreneurship classes or competitions where you’re encouraged to share your business ideas with teachers and peers. 

Things to Consider First 

Here are a few things to think about before you talk to a teacher or staff member about your business: 

• Keep Boundaries in Mind: Teachers are there to help you with schoolwork. While some might be open to giving advice, they’re not required to mentor you or offer business tips. It’s important not to expect free consulting or special treatment just because you shared your entrepreneurial goals. 

• Know Your School’s Rules: Some schools have specific rules about promoting or selling products on campus. Even putting up flyers or mentioning your business in class could go against those policies. If you’re not sure what’s allowed, it’s a good idea to check in with your principal or a school counselor. 

• Protect Your Focus: When you’re at school, your main job is being a student. That means studying, focusing in class, and preparing for tests should come first. Try to keep your business work outside of school hours, and be careful about how much you talk about it with classmates or staff so it doesn’t distract you from your academics. 

When It Makes Sense to Talk About It 

As a teen entrepreneur, it’s easy to have a bunch of business ideas floating around without ever acting on them. But once you’ve actually started a business and feel like you’re balancing school and entrepreneurship well, that’s when it might be time to consider sharing it with others, including your teachers. 

Before doing that, keep a couple of things in mind: 

• Make sure you’re doing well in class. If your grades are steady and your time management is solid, you’re in a better position to talk about your business without it seeming like a distraction. 

• Only share with teachers you trust. If there’s a teacher you feel comfortable with—someone you think will give honest feedback and respect your privacy—that’s a good sign they might be open to hearing about your work. 

There are also specific situations where it makes sense to bring up your business: 

• It comes up naturally during a class project or discussion. 

• You’re applying for a scholarship, business contest, or college program and need a recommendation. 

• You’re involved in a business club where teacher input or support could be helpful. 

If it feels like the right time, and the right teacher, go ahead and bring it up—just make sure the conversation fits the moment. 

How to Bring It Up 

A good moment to speak about your business might be before or after class or during their office hours when things are more relaxed. Keep it brief and respectful. You could say something like, “I started a small business outside of school, and I’ve learned a lot from it. I just wanted to share in case you had any advice.” There’s no need to go into full detail unless they ask questions, and if they do, you can always follow up with more. Just remember to be mindful of their time since not every teacher will have the capacity to get involved, and that’s okay. 

School Comes First 

There’s no hard and fast rule about whether you should talk to your teachers about your business. Just remember that school comes first, and boundaries matter. And if you’re keeping up in class and feel comfortable with a specific teacher, then it’s totally fine to open up and talk about your business when the time feels right. 

If you’re a teen entrepreneur in Florida, the Kantner Foundation scholarship could help you pay for college. Learn how to apply here!