Quote:
Originally posted by Dionysus
Have any of you guys looked into self-employment?
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ACK!!!! No! No! Don't do it!!
Both of my parents started their own businesses, so I grew up in that atmosphere. Having your own business (no matter what it is) means working 24/7, 365 days a year. It means filing more forms for the IRS than you ever imagined, more often than you can ever imagine! It means March and April are completely miserable months for you, as you and your accountants/tax attorneys wrestle over what's deductable and what's not.
It means living off of your savings for the first three to five years you're in business.
It means friends will always expect a break in price, and sometimes spending holidays with complete strangers because no one else will (but that's a little more specific to their businesses). It means that every unsatisfied customer is a potential litigant, even though you've done everything imaginable to satisfy this client. It means being on first name basis with magistrates, as you have to file a lien on someone's house when they don't pay their bills. It means guilt tripping your kids if they don't jump to pick up the torch and continue the business. It means referreeing between employees over "who is better" when they're both very good - in their own way. It means the end of your "real" popularity, and the beginning of people kissing your rear to try to get ahead - but stabbing you in the back.
That's just a starter - I could go on and on!