Why do so many people prefer starting a business over getting a degree?
Because a successful business can bring much higher income, while a job after a degree usually has a fixed salary. A degree takes about 4 years and costs a lot. A business can start with small capital and might grow 4 times in those same 4 years. Plus, many graduates still struggle to find good jobs.
•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?
•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?
that is not true indeed. many business man want to achieve a degree because it can be helpful for his business or social status. a business man who has a established business along with a valuable degree, he is the most honorable person in the society than others. many people complete their study even they are doing good in business and they are not looking for any job. so degree is not only for a job. if someone only has a degree he only can do a job. a limited income. but in many occasion degree is important for business.
Whether you have a degree or not, you'll need money which can come from your own business or from the strenuous job you are doing from 8am to 5pm in the evening on a 5 to 6 days per week. Those that are doing business have the freedom to go for vacations, employ workers that will work for them and this doesn't implies that you must be a graduate.
There are business men that started doing business from when they were young and since they have the money and connections, they decided to further their education so that they can get more knowledge and get respects from people around them.
Bill Gates dropped out of college to worked on himself and build Microsoft we are seeing today before he went back.