Hey everybody, it's Mariel.

Have you ever thought about starting a business, like beyond the day-dreaming stage?

Have you wondered what it would actually take or how to go about it?

Well, we have a treat for you.

It's the first episode of the Planet Money Summer School series, and it's all about entrepreneurship.

You'll learn the fundamentals from a business school professor, and you'll hear two case

studies with founders who learn the hard way what goes into starting a business.

Enjoy.

This is Planet Money, from NPR.

That bell can only mean one thing.

It's time for Planet Money Summer School.

Whenever the temperature rises and the beach beckons, we show up with a batch of easy lessons

to make those lazy afternoons a wee bit more productive.

In summers past, Planet Money Summer School has taught us to think like an economist and invest

like a boss. This year, I think we're ready for graduate school.

Oh yeah, a master's in business administration.

An MBA, the easy way. I should trademark that.

I'm your host, Robert Smith.

Now some might be thinking, Robert, I don't want to spend my precious summer doing

hostile takeovers of underperforming businesses.

I want to fire up my barbecue, not fire all my workers.

Why do I need a cut rate MBA?

...