At one time or another, most of us have thought about starting and/or owning a business. We relish the thought of being our own boss, making much more money than if we worked for someone else, and the idea that we have job security (Ex. No one can fire us). Those all sound like great reasons for taking the plunge and becoming an entrepreneur.
More than 400,000,000 entrepreneurs exist around the world, meaning that 1 of every 18 people owns a business. So, what is the attraction that would support these kinds of numbers?
Let’s start with money. According to entrepreneur.com, the average salary of an entrepreneur is $55,000, and that’s based on working an average of 66 hours per week. That’s a decent salary in certain low-cost areas, but it would be a struggle to live on those dollars in much of the U.S. So, while money is a consideration, it may not be the primary reason for owning your own business.
Let’s take a look.
Advantages of Small Business Ownership
Independence and Control
As a business owner, you have full control of everything, including your income, expenses, and debt. You make all critical decisions. You have no concerns about the whims of office politics.
Lifestyle and Freedom
You can set your own hours and decide when and where you want to work. If family time is important, you may want to operate your business from home and eliminate a commute. Your business can be a full expression of who you are. For women, especially, owning your own business can give the lifestyle flexibility necessary to raise a family and still have a successful career. There are more than 11.6 million businesses owned by women generating over $1.7 trillion in sales. Millennials who grew up with technology have turned to entrepreneurship due to low employment opportunities and increased interest in lifestyle over money. Even so, millennials are quite successful in this endeavor with 80% reporting profits, which is 3% higher than the national average for business.
Unlimited Financial Benefits
Assuming you have an appetite for high financial risk, there’s no limit to the number of revenues and income your company can make; and by operating your own business, you benefit from your own hard work. You may choose to raise and leverage money for your new business via investor’s capital instead of your own.
Creative Freedom, Personal Satisfaction, and Growth
As a business owner, you’ll work in a field that you hopefully really enjoy. You’re able to build something that may become part of your ongoing legacy and you could convert your skills, interests, and passions into income. Ultimately, (and with a good dose of sweat equity and a bit of luck), you’ll gain personal satisfaction from implementing your ideas, working directly with customers, and watching your business succeed.
Tax Benefits
Tax laws in most countries are structured toward reducing the taxes of business owners and nearly all business expenses are typically deductible, which reduces a company’s taxable income. Gains often are subject to lower long-term capital-gains rates.
Best of all, owning your own business can have you waking up with a smile on Mondays, eager to start work rather than dragging yourself into someone else's business.
Disadvantages of Small Business Ownership
So with all of these perceived benefits, why would we ever work for anyone but ourselves? Let’s take a look at some of the disadvantages of starting and owning a small business.
Financial Risk
Entrepreneurs by definition are risk-takers. However, what’s your appetite or risk tolerance to invest a lifetime of savings or even go into debt to start or grow your business? And do you have a backup plan, (or another source of income), if things don’t go well and you face a substantial financial loss? Will you give up a regular paycheck in order to start your business, and if so, will you be able to pay your bills or sustain your lifestyle? The unfortunate reality is that 4 out of 5 businesses fail within the first 5 years. On a positive note, start-ups with 2 partners are typically most successful.
Stress and Health Issues
As a business owner, you are the face of the business and you "wear many hats". There’s a non-stop list of concerns to deal with - competition, employees, bills, equipment breakdowns, customer problems, supplier shortages, and late deliveries - too numerous to mention. As the owner, you’re also responsible for the well-being of your employees, and you’ll probably have to perform some unpleasant tasks, like firing people. Even more difficult in a strong economy with low unemployment, you’ll have to recruit, interview and hire qualified people to staff your organization. Are you healthy enough, can you persevere through the tough times, and do you have the support of your family to survive these challenges to enable your success?
Time Commitment
People often start businesses so that they’ll have more time to spend with their families. In theory, you have the freedom to take time off, but in reality, you may not be able to get away. In fact, you’ll probably have less free time than you’d have working for someone else. For many entrepreneurs and small business owners, a forty-hour workweek is a myth - we’ve previously cited the typical 55-hour workweek, on average, of a business owner. You may find yourself working nights, weekends and holidays. And while we’re all accustomed to instantaneous communications, our lives have also been complicated by cell phones, iPhones, Internet-connected laptops, and iPads, meaning that many small business owners have come to regret that they’re reachable 24/7. The notion of having a standard "day off" may not be realistic, at least at the outset.
Unknown Variables and Threats
Despite your best intentions and superior planning prior to opening your business, multiple unknown factors can negatively impact your company. An unexpected geo-political event could thrust the economy into a rapid recession, causing consumers to cut back on discretionary spending. A strong competitor could enter your space and poach market share from you. A key contributor or business partner could take ill and, suddenly, you’re faced with additional responsibilities. The unknowns are unpredictable. Note - working and planning with your local Small Business Development Center will help you mitigate such circumstances - but the unknown aspects of such scenarios might keep you up at night.
Takeaways
In spite of the challenges and better than even chances of failure, roughly 250,000 new businesses are started each month in the US, according to the SBA. You may also realize a lot of personal satisfaction knowing that small businesses help people by creating jobs in their communities and being good corporate citizens.
Some companies and business icons started with a simple home-grown idea that changed the world. Think of Facebook or Microsoft and visionaries like Disney, Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Gates.
For some entrepreneurs, it’s a calling. You can shape your destiny and realize your dreams.
So, while your business may not rise to such lofty levels, you can still represent an agent of powerful change. And though you may not change the world, the impact that your product or service could have on individuals might be significant. And best of all, you may turn your passion into a job that you love.
The Duquesne University SBDC provides free business consulting for entrepreneurs in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Click here to request free consulting, or contact the SBDC for additional help and information.
Paul Bucciarelli is a part-time business consultant with the Duquesne University SBDC and serves in the New Castle/Lawrence County Area. He recently retired from the PNC Financial Services Group after 19 years as a VP - Supply Chain Manager. Paul holds a Master's in Business Administration from Youngstown State University and a Bachelor's degree in Advertising and Journalism from Penn State. He is a part-time faculty member for the Penn State Shenango Campus, and he also serves on the Advisory Board for PSU - Shenango.
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