Cheers to business owners

[Irving]

Here is a hearty cheers to all business owners.

You hear about the stresses of starting a business, but you can't imagine it until you experience it. I started a pretty simple, low key (in my opinion), one man business, and the amount of stress and financial loss it has netted me so far is crazy. I'm pretty sure every other business owner goes through worse than me, and yet it's a wonder that anyone ever bothers to start a business at all. I know there are several business owners on here, so here is a big high-five to you. Keep up the great work, as painful as it is. Your customers (mostly) appreciate you. If you know of a local business, *go patronize them.

[Beer][Beer][Beer]





*This is not an advertisement of my, unnamed, business.

[Fentonite]

Agreed. Did the same, except with a couple partners. It?s been an education, for sure. Hoping for you and me both (and the others here) that there will be a payoff.

ETA: which is why I haven?t been around much.

[Irving]

That's right, I forgot that you were jumping into the business owner pool. It's deep and the currents are swift.

[Fentonite]

That's right, I forgot that you were jumping into the business owner pool. It's deep and the currents are swift.

And don’t forget about the sharks.

[Mazin]

And don’t forget about the sharks.

CONTRACTS CONTRACTS CONTRACTS is everyones best friend when it comes down to having partners, unfortunately the days of a gentlemens deal is very rare if not completely over Imho. Building you own business can be the hardest and most rewarding thing i think a person can do. I wish you both and all the members here unlimited success in all of your endeavours!
[Beer]


Did I mention you should have CONTRACTS!?

[Irving]

I've seen that with some of my other friend's business endeavors. Contracts are important.

I have zero employees and three customers, yet somehow, I have contracts.

[Squeeze]

It certainly has been a learning experience. I've been really blessed and fortunate with the customers I've dealt with. All are really good people and many are repeat. I hope to keep things going for a long time and still be able to enjoy doing the work.

[encorehunter]

I started a small business last year with two partners. I am super lucky that they have let me make most of of the decisions and don't really argue at all. Most of the time, they are very well researched decisions, but even with that, the amount of stress has made me come close to walking away several times.

[Bailey Guns]

I loved owning and running my own business. I loved it even more when I was able to sell it.

[CS1983]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxbCHn6gE3U

[Irving]

That's an interesting video. One thing I've noticed, is that when you pitch your idea to people, a LOT of people will tell you why it's a terrible idea and why it won't work, and why they wouldn't do it. It can be healthy to talk to those people just to get an idea of either a worse case scenario, or get a feel for the people who might not utilize your business and why. However, it's very important to realize that those same people often don't start businesses of their own. There are always detractors from a ideas, even good ones.

[CS1983]

Whenever your wife asks why you are on this forum instead of working on the business, just tell her you're procrastinating towards success!

[iego]

That's an interesting video. One thing I've noticed, is that when you pitch your idea to people, a LOT of people will tell you why it's a terrible idea and why it won't work, and why they wouldn't do it. It can be healthy to talk to those people just to get an idea of either a worse case scenario, or get a feel for the people who might not utilize your business and why. However, it's very important to realize that those same people often don't start businesses of their own. There are always detractors from a ideas, even good ones.

At some point you just have to say, WTF. I'm doing it.

Congrats, and I know how hard it is. Doing sales taxes on the 15th of the month, payroll taxes every quarter, estimated taxes on income, etc. The government sure doesn't make it easy.

Never mind making a profit...

-John