Being a business owner isn’t easy. There are amazing highs, but the lows are often quite intense as well. Somedays it feels like the problems never stop – regardless of how much success you achieve. The problems just grow, evolve, morph. So we asked business owners if they sometimes wonder what it would be like to just have a regular job and have shared some of the highlights below.

Sarah Willey

I love this question because it’s honestly not talked about enough. While I am extremely happy as a business owner, I find myself thinking about a new career often. Running your own business is not for the faint of heart, it’s hard. You deal with things you don’t think you’ll ever have to, and you have to come up with solutions on your own. Read more>>

Evin Harris she, her, ella

Ultimately, yes I am. The ability to make my own schedule and decide where to put my time an energy is so valuable. AND there have been moments of “what the actual f*** am I doing”. And I am not sure if those moments will ever go away? But hey it keeps me on my toes. Read more>>

Colleen Perry

Sometimes I do wonder why I work so hard and devote so much of my time and my life to my small business. The days are long and the demands on my time often seem never ending. Still, I enjoy going to the store everyday. Read more>>

Emily Lee

I am a lot happier owning a business than I was working at jobs – but it does come with its downsides. Read more>>

LeeAnn Barnes

I am happier as a business owner. I know that although I’m much busier than if I was employed at a job, I’m fortunate to have the freedom and flexibility to create my own schedule. Read more>>

Andre Rosdahl

Being a business owner gives me a great sense of pride. I enjoy the ability to make decisions that impact both my business and my client’s businesses in a positive way. Read more>>

Edgar Trevizo

Im certainly proud that I have made the choice to start this photography business. It has not been necessarily easy but I enjoy the pressure of it all. Especially when I receive that satisfaction that I did a good job when I finally let my customers see the final product. Every now and then I do think to myself if I could make a living solely on just taking images. Read more>>

Angel Villegas

This is the question that I ask myself quite a bit, along with asking myself, if I did the right thing by taking a risk and starting my own business. And I always come back to the same conclusion, which is, I’m glad I did it! I was actually just thinking about this very thing a couple of weeks ago, it is the slow time of year which means business is slow so then I have to think about the financial aspect of the business. Read more>>

Iynna Baker

Being a business owner comes with unique challenges and rewards that may not be available in a regular job. As a business owner, we have more control over our schedule, decision-making, and the overall direction of our business. Starting a business requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and risk-taking. Read more>>

Brandon Wright

Yes, I am significantly happier as a small business owner than I was working for other people/companies. The stress, frustration and angst of wondering each day, where is my next dollar/meal going to come from and how will I pay my workers or accomplish future goals, plagues me. It is a daily struggle. There are absolutely times I want to give up and just go work a “regular” job….. Read more>>

Allie Sarnataro

I think about this all the time. I love running my own business with co-founders and being my own boss. Prior to running Ride Above Disability I had several jobs as a regular employee. I liked them all but now have to say I love running a nonprofit. It is not always easy and it seems you are always working but if you do something you love you don’t work a day in your life. I believe that saying is true! Read more>>

LATOYA PERRY

I am extremely happy as a business owner even when I am not making any money. I love the flexibility and being able to do what I love daily. I have gone back to corporate America a few times but never for long because my heart is in my business. Read more>>

Kara Batey

I practiced law for 13 years as my “regular job” and do feel happier running my own personal styling business. At the same time, there are parts of being a business owner (especially when it’s just you) that aren’t particularly fun, ex. completing seemingly endless administrative tasks, or anything related to taxes. Read more>>

Bryan Litman

I don’t think for me there was ever such a thing as a regular job. I’ve never been part of a company or project that I didn’t genuinely care about, or where I was doing something simply for a pay check. Read more>>

Candy Meynarez

I absolutely love being a business owner. Definitely something I never even thought possible. Your entire life you go to school being prepped to work for someone else. Being trained to choose the right company. They never really bring up starting your own business. Maybe now things are different. Read more>>

Brittany Leigh

I wouldn’t trade being a business owner for working for anyone else ever. I enjoy working for myself and I only answer to my incredible clients that have more compassion than any boss I’ve ever had. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, when I was 13 I made fliers for my babysitter business and posted them around the neighborhood. Read more>>

Adam Chapin

Being a small business owner, and one in the arts, almost demands you have some level of imposter syndrome. It also is normal to have peaks and valleys, if you are continuing to scale your work and your prices. Read more>>

Stevie Delacruz

Being a successful business owner is one of the most rewarding feelings and especially knowing you’re tied to an ethical purpose that continues to grow. I’ve worked a regular job for about 5 years and that was enough for me to realize I should be building my own empire and building wealth to where I can be the one to provide others with amazing opportunities to where they don’t feel so confined and unhappy in their work position. Read more>>

Kimberly Nesmith

I never envisioned myself as a business owner. As a generational educator, I fought the urge to be an educator for many years. However, after completing my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and becoming a teacher, I didn’t have many aspirations of changing careers, much less owning my own business. Read more>>