There is nothing like being a business owner. I describe it as being the best and the worst.I worked at a print shop for years and one day the owner decided to retire and suddenly I was a business owner. I had employees and everything. I had total freedom to make my own decisions. I remember one day I decided to bring the dog to work. It was awesome! I didn't even have to ask the boss. I was the boss. The freedom was fantastic! The fact that the dog didn't like some of the delivery workers or barked at a customer or two - well okay maybe bringing the dog to work everyday might be a freedom I have to re-evaluate.

When I was working for the boss, every night I would leave the office when my workday was over. As I walked out the door I would often look back and see the owner in his office doing who knows what. He was single at the time so maybe he didn't have much else to do. Running a business can't be that difficult.

Oh how wrong I was!

After only a few weeks of being a business owner I was staying late at the office every night and I couldn't understand how in the world the previous owner got all of the endless paper work done. Yet when a friend asks for a ride to the airport, sure no problem I can take you. If a potential client wants me to go golfing, of course I can make it. If I want to do an afternoon coffee run it is done on my schedule. Those are the little freedoms that are the best! 

Employees expect to get paid and they don't cared that you are waiting on a big check from your customer to cover payroll. That is your problem and yours alone. Sales tax, payroll, workers comp, invoicing, billing, accounts, lawyers, and government regulations are never fun but they all have to be handled. So does all of the ordering, marketing, sales, shipping, and even simply keeping the office clean. Those are all up to you as well. Do it yourself or delegate, but the decision and end results are your responsibility.

I think I did say owning a business is the best and the worst.

As a business owner, in theory you have the freedom to take unlimited vacation days anytime anywhere but the reality is that there is so much workers and responsibility that even one afternoon off to spend with the kids is difficult to find. The money can be flowing in like it will never end and you get to write all kinds of things off on your taxes. It's a total high and that is why you became an entrepreneur. Then just as fast, the economy shifts, competition gets aggressive, a key employee leaves, production costs soar, etc. etc. As an entrepreneur you had better get used to riding the ups and downs of a roller coaster, and on those days when things get really bad, at least you know you can bring your dog into the office for a bit of moral support.