So, why'd you start your small business?

[RPower]

Together with Xero, as part of the Business of happiness campaign, we want to find out what makes business owners happy, we're looking for your thoughts and opinions.

This week, we want to know why you started your business in the first place. Was it borne out of a desire to work for yourself, so you can have a more flexible (and happier!) lifestyle?

Or did you accidentally fall into it? And what kind of business do you run?

I'll start with my dad's story; he began his small painting business many years ago, because he wanted to combine his skill with the opportunity to work at something which allowed him to pick and choose his hours. He's very much a family-loving man, so it suited him really well (and still does).

So what's your reason?

Your answers may even be featured in an article on BusinessZone, our sister site.

 

[fisicx]

I didn't start it, I just sort of drifted into it.

I began to get paid for doing things I enjoy and after while I stopped the full time job and now just do the things I like doing. The don't earn anywhere near as much but it now means I only work when I want to. I've got it down to under 5 hours a day so far.

 

[lumencreative]

As with fisicx, I too kinda fell into the business.

I was regularly being asked to design websites for friends and family, that progressed into all sorts of design and print services. I love the work, love meeting new people and have the freedom to do work when I want to (within reason).

I don't want to be 'rich', I am happy earning enough to pay my bills, so money was never a driving factor.

 

[Scott@KarmaContent]

One of the biggest reasons for me was having control over my own life. I used to work in recruitment and marketing and used to really put the hours in, but I've got a young daughter now and realised that I didn't want to be one of those dads who miss their kids growing up. I probably work the same hours as I did before (if not more) but it's when I want to do it. So I can take her to school, read her book with her when she comes home and take her to the park etc.

 

[Simon.P]

I probably work the same hours as I did before (if not more) but it's when I want to do it. So I can take her to school, read her book with her when she comes home and take her to the park etc.

^ ^ ^ This is exactly why more people are deciding to get away from wage slavery IMO. hours are getting longer, there is no efficiency in size of business and even if the individual is super efficient you have to arrive at 9 and leave at 5 or 6

 

[tony84]

I had 2 employers not deliver on their promises and I knew I could earn more than I would with them as my bosses, that was 18 months ago and it is so far proving to be the best decision I have ever made.

I also mistakenly thought I could pick and choose my own hours but that seems to have gone by the wayside at the minute as I am very busy... It could be worse though, I could be quiet.

 

[estwig]

I'm unemployable, dislike people, have poor relationship skills and never had a 'job' in my life.

This limits your choices.

 

[Mitch3473]

...because I didn't have the staff to start a big one.

 

[Paul Murray]

It just sort of happened. I started getting freelance work whilst I was a student and was able to go straight into self-employment once I'd graduated.

I was offered jobs in studios off the back of placements, but didn't want to let down the clients I'd gained and opted to stay self-employed. Plus, once you've worked for yourself there's little incentive for employment to be honest.

 

[sirearl]

I'm to lazy to work for a living.

 

[TODonnell]

Before I got my current job, I realised that I could advertise and get some money for my skills and that it would be good to get a company going for a) appearances and b) liability reasons.

It gave me an insight into business from an employer's point of view.

 

[ADNattan]

It seemed like the natural progression, given the way my career was going. Add in "disagreements" with a director at the company I worked for, and the "where is my life going?" soul-searching prompted by my upcoming 30th, and you've got a recipe for a big, risky change.

It's going well so far.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

So, why'd you start your small business?
Because nobody would ever employ me and that was on a good day

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I'm to lazy to work for a living.

I knew I had something in common with you Earl

 

[miggygreene]

...because I want to be an independent kind of person

 

[BartJr]

Because I like to make money while I sleep

 

[godoit]

Control over life and not have deal with managers that make rules for rules sake of it. Cant stand it. I now get to spend loads of time with the family and ensure that I can make a little bit of a difference in kids lives. and i get to choose who i want to deal with.

 

[RPower]

Some great answers here - thanks for the feedback! Interesting how many of you have 'fallen into' business. It's funny how that happens, but the most important thing is that you're happy with what you're doing!

If you could change anything about it, what would that be?

 

[Miss Chris]

It was sort of thrust up on us. A friend needed help and somewhere to store his fathers equipment.

He slowly lost interest and my partner did lots of the work and it became more regular and when the money start coming in the "friend" wanted back in. Either lots of money, the equipment or to be our boss and pay us a wage while we did the work and he took the money and gave us a wage.

He thought we would go with the wage idea so he could make money doing nothing but instead we told him to come and collect all business equipment and information..

We got our own equipment rebranded, got a new name and started alone.

We are better than ever and he gave up after a few months! Its been nearly 3 years now!!

 

[tony84]

Im sure anyone could find things they would change whether employed or self employed.
For me the big things are:
Switching off - I was working at about 9.30pm lastnight.
Money - thankfully I am now in a position where I could afford to not work until the end of the year if I wanted but you are always conscious that no matter what happens if youdo not pull your finger out it will not be long before the jobs dry up. Where as being employed there are normally other employees who will carry you to some extent.

 

[Richpoole]

It was sort of thrust up on us. A friend needed help and somewhere to store his fathers equipment.

He slowly lost interest and my partner did lots of the work and it became more regular and when the money start coming in the "friend" wanted back in. Either lots of money, the equipment or to be our boss and pay us a wage while we did the work and he took the money and gave us a wage.

He thought we would go with the wage idea so he could make money doing nothing but instead we told him to come and collect all business equipment and information..

We got our own equipment rebranded, got a new name and started alone.

We are better than ever and he gave up after a few months! Its been nearly 3 years now!!

I imagine I've missed it, but what is it you are involved in if I might ask?

It seems a lot of those that 'fell' into their business are in the Web design (or developers? I don't want to insult either one somehow) business.

 

[series530]

We had reached something of a cross roads - I had spent much of my life working away from home during the week and, lately, felt totally forgotten and unappreciated. My wife's father died suddenly and, with her mum having dementia we needed to be more flexible about supporting her, my parents and each other. My wife was sick of the teaching profession.

We had paid off our mortgage and had some savings and decided that if we didn't do something now we would never do it and would always wonder what may have happened had we done something.

It's been a massive learning curve but a really exciting one. We needed that opportunity to get a bit of mojo back. We have it, and much more as well.

While the overall financial benefits may not be quite as high as before the whole thing is far more rewarding than it was when we were employed. Plus, we have given two employees and income that they may never have had otherwise.

I wouldn't, for a second, go back to what I was doing before.

 

[BustersDogs]

To keep my dog! On a career break for family reasons, it stretched from anticipated 3-6 months to 2 years. By that time I had adopted a rescue dog who was extremely challenging and I had to create a job for myself that suited him. He changed my life! He's 10 this year, and my business will be 7 a month before that. I NEVER wanted to be self-employed. I wanted to work for BIG companies with unions and canteens and pensions and you could have a week off for a sprained ankle without losing any money.

I still sit in amazement that I, yes, me!, created jobs. Because when I used to watch the news and it would mention numbers of jobs created, I always wondered how jobs were just invented from thin air. And now I know! Not only have I created jobs within my own team, but I help other dog walkers create their own dream jobs, and even take on their own staff.

 

[beasty]

To keep my dog! On a career break for family reasons, it stretched from anticipated 3-6 months to 2 years. By that time I had adopted a rescue dog who was extremely challenging and I had to create a job for myself that suited him. He changed my life! He's 10 this year, and my business will be 7 a month before that. I NEVER wanted to be self-employed. I wanted to work for BIG companies with unions and canteens and pensions and you could have a week off for a sprained ankle without losing any money.


You have just summarised my definition of hell

 

[Karimbo]

never ever have I been happy working for someone else.

 

[Nisa Pan]

good question, why I start my small business? I thing should be for my own living.