Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Support independent student journalism. Support independent student journalism. Support independent student journalism.
The Dartmouth
July 28, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Student entrepreneurs balance books and bills

Most students at Dartmouth find their day passes quickly enough as they hurry from classroom to classroom, activity to activity and sport to sport.

But some students choose to add an additional layer of complication to their undergraduate careers. These students run their own businesses, which they operate out of Hanover and in between classes.

"The key is identifying a niche in the market," Baron Carlson '96 said. Carlson is a partner in Black Phoenix Sportswear, which sells Dartmouth sportswear and apparel. "You have to keep your eyes open."

Carlson bought into Black Phoenix this year. But buying into a business is only one way to become a student entrepreneur. Some students prefer to start their own businesses, perceiving a void in the Hanover community that they believe they can fill.

Bringing service to Hanover

Mitch Jacobs '94 founded the Hanover Green Card during his senior year at the College. The Green Card is a card that allows students to charge meals at local restaurants to a credit account.

Jacobs said he created the Green Card because he saw a need for a debit card accepted off-campus. He said his inspiration came from his own experiences: when he and his friends wanted to eat off-campus, they all realized that no one carried cash.

Ryan FitzSimons '96 and Craig Creelman '94 co-founded their own business in Hanover. FitzSimons and Creelman now manage Campus Mark-It Boards and College Promotional Packages. College Promo-Packs were distributed to Dartmouth students during registration.

Like Jacobs, FitzSimons said he built his business based on a need he saw in Hanover. "I asked the clients what they wanted," he said.

In addition to being a partner in Black Phoenix, Carlson also founded his own business, Dartmovers. Dartmovers moves students in and out of rooms at the beginning and end of terms.

Carlson said he plans to expand the Black Phoenix, which he purchased from a graduating senior, by entering new markets such as catalogs. A group of fraternity brothers founded Black Phoenix a number of years ago because they wanted to make jockwear for the Greek houses on campus.

Student-run firms are not always created from scratch. FitzSimons said he prefers to improve on already existing services. "Everything's already been created," he explained. "We're just bringing it here."

Jacobs said it is important to enter a business that is manageable. For instance, FitzSimons was forced to abandon his last venture, a food delivery enterprise, after it became too time consuming.

Carlson said while starting a business is an accomplishment in itself, student entrepreneurs need to constantly search for ways to expand or start a student-owned business.

'Freedom and creativity'

All three entrepreneurs said they felt that Dartmouth is a good campus for student run firms.

"This campus is a breeding ground for freedom and creativity," FitzSimons said.

"College is a great crowd," Jacobs said. "It's a challenging thing to build a business with a customer service based on students."

Jacobs said students are never afraid to express their criticism, which makes them tough client s.

All three entrepreneurs said both classes and student organizations -- including the Student Assembly -- help them run their businesses, as well as sharing information and resources with each other.

Jacobs said he found both Economics 26: Money, Banking, and Finance, and a Business Ethics course especially useful in his business ventures.

Jacobs said Dartmouth professors have been his best advisors, as they have helped him gain the knowledge he needed to complement his ambitions.

Being both a student and a business owner is no easy task, according to the entrepreneurs. FitzSimons likened the responsibilities involved to "juggling 20 glass balls in the air."

Jacobs said he also found it challenging to be both a student and a businessman, but said he found the experience worthwhile.

"What you learn is invaluable," he said. "Pursue your ideas, but keep in mind the other important things and keep all in balance."

Getting started

Starting a business often takes large amount of capital expenditure and financial resources, which most college students do not have. But FitzSimons said extravagant financing is not a necessity.

"You can make something out of nothing," he said.

FitzSimons's first business venture began with $10 and some business cards. He said he was successful because of advertising.

Careful planning is also an integral factor in the successful creation of a business, according to Jacobs.

Before presenting his product to local merchants, Jacobs said he spent months discussing his ideas with students and professors, researching, organizing and "getting the package down."

Jacobs said his extensive preparation gave business owners confidence that he would deliver the promised products.

FitzSimons said good preparation is essential. "There's always skepticism, but if you have an idea with heart then there's no one out there who won't listen to you," he said.

All three students said they plan to remain active in business in the future.

Jacobs said he will continue to run the Green Card and plans to expand his operations to other college campuses.

"Once you've got the mechanics down, you can start to consider different ways to apply them," Jacobs explains.

FitzSimons said he will remain with Creelman and also try to enter new markets. "Each experience is a building block and priceless," he said. "It will never stop growing."