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.

Candice Luth

Small business ownership definitely has it’s ups and downs. For me, I am so thrilled to have finally followed my passion for weddings, flowers, and events. It was over a decade in the making and officially taking that leap was both incredibly scary and so exciting! Read more>>

Regina Schober

This thought usually crosses my mind under two circumstances: 1) I’m feeling particularly doubtful about myself, for whatever reason, or 2) the “mom guilt” is creeping in. Read more>>

Ann Adams

Yes, I am happier as a business owner. I’ve primarily been a business owner throughout my career, and I value the ability to shape my own future and avoid the uncertainty of being just another employee who could be let go. Indeed, I do sometimes consider having a regular job. Read more>>

Christine Hatch

I love being a business owner. Having the flexibility of my own time is what fuels me. It’s like every day is a blank canvas where I get to manage the day as I choose. No one to tell me I have to clock in or clock out, no one to answer to besides myself in terms of the number of hours I put into my business. Read more>>

Melissa Gould

I am a small town boutique owner. I started my shop without meaningful experience, training, or education. I saw an opening, felt compelled, and took a chance. It’s not glamourous, lucrative, or high-powered; but we are building networks, learning, and growing. Read more>>

Ndeye Packnett

I love being a business owner. At times it can become scary due to the fact that you don’t know exactly what to expect. Anything can happen. You have to make sure you’re planning for the future. We don’t have any paid time off. Some of us don’t even have any benefits. Read more>>

Amy Powers

I’m so much happier as a business owner – or rather, “businesses owner”, because I’m a big believer in creating multiple streams of revenue from different ventures. And frankly, I never think about going back to another way of living and working. Read more>>

Jackeline Cacho

It all starts with a dream and my dream began as a journalist, I worked at Univision as a national correspondent for the most important news programs of the networks and also host of the weekend news program in San Antonio Texas. Read more>>

Tye’Asja Youngblood

Am I happier as a business owner? With all honesty, my feelings change daily. When you’re solely relying on yourself to generate income for your family and to take care of responsibilities, it is a lot of pressure. Overall, I will say I am genuinely happy because I am doing what I feel I was guided by God to do. Read more>>

Violetta Ustayev

I love being a business owner and having the control of how I want to run things. I am the creator of my story and the author of my book. Before owning my own business I had worked for other businesses and never felt like it was for me. Read more>>

Natalie Brooks

This question is particularly interesting and humorous to me because I’ve had a wide array of jobs throughout my life. Some of these experiences were incredibly beneficial for running my own business, while others were quite absurd, like being a “white glove” for a quilt show (this literally meant I wore white gloves and turned over quilts when requested). Read more>>

Jacquelyn Schiewe

I LOVE being the owner of The Wine Sellers. I am certainly very senior in this position, and I cannot think of something I would rather be doing. Many of my friends have retired from their jobs (in and out of this industry). When I think about that possibility, I cannot figure anything else I might do that would be as much fun, as satisfying. Read more>>

Monique Whitley Phillip

I find being a business owner to be a fascinating adventure, as probably most other small business owners will also tell you. There are tons of ups and downs. It’s not something I thought about much over my career honestly, but it goes really well with my personality. Read more>>

Tara Cool

I definitely am happier as a business owner. I think about this often. I love coming to work, and if Meghan, my sister and business partner, is at the store for an event and I am not, I feel like I am missing out. It has been such a creative outlet and a dream come true. Read more>>

Erica Bentson

I owned a bakery in Portland, OR for 14 years and when I sold it in 2018, I was tired. I took some time off, thinking I would pursue another line of work, yet still in the hospitality industry. I eventually took a position as a Pastry Chef for a retirement home and it was there, believe it or not, I found my passion for baking again. Read more>>

Sandy Ghelfi

I am really happy to be my own boss and to run my own business but sometimes, it’s tiring. Most people think it’s easy to have no boss and run your own business. They think we can go on vacation whenever we want and sleep in all the time. Read more>>

Rebekah Greene

Am I happy as a business owner? Absolutely I am. I take great pride in the circumstances and consequence of hard work, dedication, and advocacy that has lead me to be able to maintain an Art Company that provides opportunity for others, no matter their background, no matter their age, a virtual network of like minded individuals with a shared passion to have a better world. Read more>>

Stacy Baker Masand

I’m far happier as a business owner. Even before I started a luxury fashion brand, I’ve had my own business working as a brand and creative strategist and I’ve been an author, all endeavors that allow you to take an idea from concept to execution. Read more>>