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Do cubicles and long commutes make you cringe? Have you ever wanted to start your own business? If so, you are certainly not alone. Every year, thousands of people take a leap of faith and strike out on their own.
One of our DashBurst community members, Zohaib Akhlaq, is well-versed in the language of the modern entrepreneur. He is a digital marketing specialist, freelance writer and the founder of How Entrepreneur, a site dedicated to providing entrepreneurship and small business advice.
In “Top 7 Reasons to Run Your Own Business,” an article which recently appeared onTheSelfEmployed.com, a site focused on small-scale entrepreneurs and startup owners, Akhlaq identifies the seven most popular reasons for starting a business.
About one in ten workers in the US is self-employed. For those who don’t have the “entrepreneurial spirit,” this can be quite perplexing. Why would anyone voluntarily forgo a job which provides a steady income, benefits and annual raises? On the other side are those who could never work for anyone other than themselves. These people are the entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and freelancers of the world.
But maybe you’re not sure where you fall on this spectrum. Well, read on.
Why Start Your Own Business?
How did Akhlaq figure out what motivates independent business owners? He asked them.
1. Freedom and Flexibility
Do you do your best work at midnight, while wearing pajamas? As an entrepreneur, you have the opportunity to work when you want while wearing what you prefer … unless you’re around other people.
Which leads to the second reason…
2. A Better Work Environment
Starting a business is often a dream-come-true for people who have the desire (and the discipline) to work from home. You no longer have to worry about office politics or catching the stomach virus that’s going around. Instead, you can play your own music as loudly (or quietly) as you wish. (And, if you have kids, perhaps avoid the cost of daycare.)
3. Achieving Your Dreams
Many who start their own business become fed up with pouring their hearts (and time) into growing other people’s companies. Often the paycheck doesn’t seem commensurate with the effort. Starting a business allows these people to pursue their own dreams.
Which leads to the fourth reason…
4. Earnings Potential
You’ll be kidding yourself if you think you’re going to make tons of money from your new business overnight. It’s more realistic to think of entrepreneurship as a marathon and not a sprint.
However, once you become established, and your business has grown, then you do have the potential to earn more.
5. Reaping the Rewards
This goes hand-in-hand with reasons four and five. Some men and women start their own businesses after seeing their own ideas, time and effort enrich others. When you own a business, it’s you who reap the rewards.
Which leads to the sixth reason…
6. More Fulfilling
You may work for a company that recognizes its dedicated and hard-working employees. Even so, there is nothing quite like the feeling of accomplishment you’ll get each time you reach a business goal, close your own deal, make a sale, etc.
Which leads to the seventh reason…
7. It’s Worth the Hard Work
Losing sleep so you can complete a large project, stressing over unpaid bills or having mild anxiety attacks after submitting proposalsn is definitely not for the faint of heart. This is all part of being an entrepreneur, though, and every one who spoke with Akhlaq told him it was totally worth it.
Online resources to help you start a business
Of course, the logistics alone may dissuade some would-be entrepreneurs. On the other hand, starting a business is somewhat easier than in the past, thanks to the Internet.
In the United States, a great place to start your research is The U.S. Small Business Administration website. This site provides a wealth of information, resources and support to entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Another helpful resource is Shopify, an ecommerce site where anyone can build an online store. Shopify provides an excellent — and free — business encyclopedia. The encyclopedia tackles dozens of terms and topics which are relevant to starting and running a business, regardless of the industry.
Are you a business owner or thinking about starting one soon?
Republished by permission. Original here.
Startup Photo via Shutterstock
All great reasons to start a business and I’m very supportive of entrepreneurs. However, remember that with great power (and freedom and flexibility and financial gain) comes great responsibility. You become your own boss so you’ve got to be focused and motivated on your own. Look to establish a support system of friends/families/colleagues to help you.
Robert: Wise words from you! 🙂
All the Best,
Martin
Agree with all the reasons you mentioned. The would be entrepreneurs will want to balance this with the expectation of hard wok that goes with this. Many of them see just one side of the coin and become very disappointed when the come across challenges that need to be overcome to reap the rewards.