Pros and Cons of Starting a Business
Image by Mika Baumeister
Everyone loves the idea of being their own boss.
The flexibility.
The freedom.
The ability to work in leggings while your toddler naps.
But if you’ve ever tried to actually start a business while also juggling kids, Costco runs, and keeping your house from falling apart — you already know: it’s not exactly a chill side project.
And yet, for so many parents, starting a business isn’t just about chasing a dream. It’s about building a future that doesn’t rely on one paycheck or one employer.
It’s about creating something that can grow with you — even if it’s built between school drop-off and bedtime.
So let’s talk about it.
The good, the bad, and the very real tradeoffs of starting a business — especially when you’re also raising a family.
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The Pros of Starting a Business
Starting a business can feel risky — especially as a parent.
But it also comes with powerful upsides that traditional jobs just can’t match.
Whether you’re looking for more income, more flexibility, or long-term freedom, there are real benefits to going the entrepreneurial route.
Here’s what makes it worth considering — especially if you’ve got a business idea and the drive to make it happen.
You Control Your Time
One of the biggest benefits of starting your own business is flexibility.
As a business owner, you decide when and how you work.
Want to take Fridays off during the summer?
Shift your work hours around school drop-off and pick-up?
You can.
It’s not always easy (especially in the early days), but over time, many entrepreneurs build schedules that fit their family’s needs — not the other way around.
If time freedom is a key motivator for you, focus on businesses with low customer urgency — like content creation, digital products, or retainer-based services.
Unlimited Income Potential
In a 9-to-5, your salary is decided by someone else.
In your own business, your income can scale as your business grows. You’re not limited by a pay grade or how long you’ve been in your role — you’re limited by value, not time.
That might mean hitting your first $1K month in year one, or building toward $10K months over time.
The potential is there — and it grows with you.
Depending on your business model, I would try and build recurring revenue early — think retainer clients, subscriptions, or digital product funnels — so income grows more consistently.
You’re Building an Asset
Unlike most jobs, a well-run business can grow in value.
That means your effort doesn’t just create income — it creates equity.
Whether it’s a brand you can sell one day, or something you pass down, starting a business allows you to build long-term wealth beyond your paycheck.
For example, a bookkeeping business with 10 recurring clients could sell for 2–3x annual profit. That’s a real asset you’re building — not just trading time for money.
Creative Freedom and Purpose
Want to create a podcast about budgeting for moms?
Launch a product that solves a real-life parenting problem?
When you run your own business, the vision is yours. No bureaucracy, no office politics — just the freedom to create something that actually lights you up.
From my experience, that creative spark is what sustains you when things get hard. So if you have a mission or message that matters to you, use it as your foundation.
Tax Benefits for Business Owners
When you start a business, you unlock a range of tax deductions that employees don’t get. Depending on your setup, you can deduct things like:
A portion of your rent or mortgage (home office)
Business-related travel, software, and supplies
Health insurance premiums
Meals or mileage related to your work
There are all sort of tax deductions you can take, and it changes every year. Talk to an accountant once you’ve earned your first dollar.
A good accountant can help you keep more of what you make and set up your business legally.
The benefits of starting a business go beyond income. It’s about control. Autonomy. And the chance to build something meaningful that fits your life — not fights against it.
Yes, it takes effort.
But if you’re strategic, focused, and ready to start small, the pros can far outweigh the cons.
The Cons of Starting a Business
Starting your own business can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do — but let’s not sugarcoat it.
It comes with real risks, real stress, and real tradeoffs that hit differently when you’re a parent managing a full plate.
Here’s what to consider before diving in:
Unpredictable Income
One of the biggest challenges new business owners face is inconsistent income.
You might make $5,000 one month and $500 the next.
For parents who rely on stable paychecks to cover childcare, housing, and family expenses, that variability can be stressful — and tough to explain to a mortgage lender.
Something to consider is to keep your day job while you build the business. Treat it like a side hustle until you’ve got at least 6 months of consistent income and a financial cushion.
It Can Take Over Your Time
Starting a business requires serious time investment — especially in the early stages.
You’re the marketer. The customer service rep. The bookkeeper. The product tester. The tech support team.
Unless you’ve got serious startup capital, you’re wearing every hat — which means you’ll likely be working often at night, on weekends, and honestly during whatever slivers of time you can find.
This looks different for everyone, but from my personal experience, this means:
Answering client emails at 10pm.
Creating content at midnight.
Editing videos during nap time.
Skipping rest days because your website’s down again.
It’s doable. But it’s a lot.
As soon as your income allows, outsource the things that drain your energy the most — even if it’s just 2 hours of virtual assistance per week.
In the meantime, block time each week for focused business work — and time off from it too.
Burnout won’t build your dream.
You Might Lose Money
Not every idea takes off.
And yes, you might lose money along the way — on branding, tools, inventory, or ads that don’t convert.
Even lean businesses have startup costs, and not every investment pays off.
We too often call this failure. But in reality, it’s part of the learning process. Even if your business fails, you can take these learnings and apply it to your next idea.
When you’re launching your business, start small. Test ideas before you scale and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
The Emotional Load Is Heavy
Running a business means constant decision-making, self-doubt, and isolation — especially if none of your close friends or family are entrepreneurs.
You’ll second-guess everything.
You’ll feel behind.
You’ll wonder if you're cut out for it.
This is normal. It doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong — it means you’re stretching into something new.
Search for a business friend, coach, or community where you can vent, celebrate wins, and get unstuck.
You don’t need to be fearless to start a business. You just need to be clear-eyed about the effort involved.
The risk is real — but so is the potential.
If you're considering it, ask yourself: Do I want the upside badly enough to work through the messy middle?
If yes — you’re already ahead of most people.
How to Know If It’s Right for You
Starting a business can be one of the most empowering financial moves you make — but it’s not the right fit for every season of life.
Especially if you’re a parent already stretched thin by work, childcare, and trying to keep everyone fed.
The goal here isn’t to hype up entrepreneurship as the ultimate dream — it’s to help you figure out whether it makes sense for you right now.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself before jumping in:
Do I want flexibility more than I want stability right now?Entrepreneurship can create freedom, but it often comes with instability in the beginning. Are you ready to trade a steady paycheck for more control — even if the income is bumpy at first?
Can I afford to take a financial risk in this season? Do you have savings or a fallback plan if the business takes time to grow? Are your household finances in a place where you can absorb a slow ramp-up or small losses?
Do I have a business idea I believe in enough to stick with it when it’s not exciting anymore? The early days are energizing. But what happens when sales are slow, or you’re debugging your website at midnight? Belief in your idea is what gets you through the boring parts.
Am I trying to build something long-term — or am I trying to escape my current job? Starting a business out of inspiration leads to different outcomes than doing it out of frustration. Make sure you’re running toward something, not just away from something else.
These aren’t pass/fail questions — they’re guideposts.
You don’t have to wait until everything’s perfect.
But you do need a clear understanding of what’s at stake — and what support you’ll need to stay in it when things get hard.
Starting a business can be a powerful path to freedom.
But it works best when it’s aligned with your life, your goals, and your current reality.
Tips for Starting Smart
If you’ve read through the pros and cons and feel like starting a business might be the right next move — amazing.
But before you dive headfirst into website builders and logo design, let’s talk about how to do this strategically (and without burning out).
Starting smart doesn’t mean having everything figured out. It means making intentional moves, protecting your time and money, and setting yourself up for slow, sustainable success.
Here are five key ways to get started the right way:
Start as a side hustle. Keep your full-time income while you validate your idea. That extra financial security gives you room to experiment, make mistakes, and build with less pressure. Even 5–10 hours a week can move the needle.
Validate before you build. Before investing in a website, branding, or paid ads, talk to people. Ask questions. Pitch your offer manually. Make one sale. You don’t need a perfect funnel — you need proof that someone wants what you're offering.
Keep it lean. Use free or low-cost tools. Don’t drop $10K on a website before you’ve earned $1K in revenue. The goal is traction, not perfection. Get scrappy. Make your first dollar, then optimize.
Track everything. Start with a basic spreadsheet. Know your revenue, expenses, hours worked, and customer feedback. You can’t improve what you don’t measure — and even small insights early on can lead to big wins later.
Get support. Don’t do it alone. Join a community, hire a coach, or find one friend who’ll cheer you on when imposter syndrome kicks in. Support systems help you stay consistent — and sane.
The best business owners don’t move fast — they move intentionally. You don’t need to go viral. You need to go steady.
It’s Not Easy, But It Can Be Worth It
Starting a business is hard.
Anyone who tells you otherwise probably hasn’t done it while sleep-deprived and packing lunches.
But it can also be life-changing.
It’s one of the few paths to real freedom — not just of time, but of income, purpose, and ownership.
And if that’s something you want, you can build it. One small step at a time.
Whether you’re starting, buying, or side hustling your way there — just know this: it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
