Introduction. This study deals with the issue of career plans of tourism and recreation students. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of willingness of the respondents to take on business proprietorship, and to identify determinants of their behaviour in this regard. The research focused on the preparation of students in the course of their education to take on business initiatives their own. Material and methods. The study was conducted in the 2010/2011 academic year, using the method of diagnostic poll and the auditorium survey technique. It included 167 first-year full time students majoring in Tourism and Recreation of the University of Physical Education in Warsaw (Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in Biała Podlaska). Results. The results of studies have showed that students express a great deal of interest in business proprietorship. They are primarily motivated by desire to maintain independence of decision-making, the need to develop their own interests and the expected high incomes. The main obstacle in this respect appears to be the lack of necessary funds to run own company. The assessed their professional business entrepreneurship skills relatively low, pointing to the lack of proper preparation in the course of the studies. Particularly low assessment was given to their skills regarding the raising funds necessary to start and run a business.
