How much time do you need to spend when having your own business? (employees, work)

[Life7]

Does it depend on the type and size of the company? For example, when I have enough experience I have this idea of starting my own printing business run by myself and maybe 1 or 2 other workers. I would be the manager of this small company. Would I have to devote over 40 hours a week to this (including weekends) to make sure everything runs smoothly?

For now, this is just an idea I have as it's something that interests me. I don't know if I'd actually want take on this large amount of responsibility in the future.

[charlygal]

Yes, you will spend more than 40 hrs a week to get a printing business off of the ground. You won't be able to hire employees right away and you will be doing all of the work yourself.

If you aren't willing to put in the time, don't do it.

[EzPeterson]

Figure between:
Marketing
Accounting
Facility Maintenance
Production

You'll spend a minimum of 60-75 hours per week, if not much more.

[fishbrains]

How much time will you spend?

All of it.

The smallest of businesses require the most time. You need to do all of the administrative stuff in addition to the actual printing. Plus, there will be a huge temptation to simply work more rather than commit to paying another person wages.

[Huckleberry3911948]

the commitment to self employment is unlimited if you dont like working 40 now u wont like working 80 then.
when u wake up u r at work.
when u lose a customer u have just been fired.
when u want to rant about the devil boss u go in the bathroom and turn on the light.
vacations and days off are just pretty words and only a dream we used to have.
answering the phone and saying he is not in right now call back during regular working hours is not an option.

[S.S. Lazio]

I 'work' 80-90 hours a week.

Then there's the additional 7 hours a week I am mentally working while eating dinner

Another 7 hours a week while I take a shower

Another 14 trying to fall asleep.


See? Your work is your life. It follows you, haunts you. The beginning is the worst. As years to by, you hire people. Eventually you get to a point you only work 20-30 hours a week. At that point your workers accuse you of never working a day in your life and thus, are a slave driver and a greedy person. This is also the time they demand a salary it took you 15 years to achieve.


Self employment; not for the faint of heart.

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by Life7

Would I have to devote over 40 hours a week to this (including weekends) to make sure everything runs smoothly?

Of course not. Just waltz in some time in the morning to make sure your staff is there, take a quick look around and then leave to return at the end of the day just to make sure the place is all shipshape.

When you run your own business you do it 24/7, eating and sleeping it.

[Hemlock140]

I had a similar business for 17 years. There will be big orders with short deadlines which mean doing all-nighters, but generally with marketing, budget, payroll and taxes in addition to the production work, minimum 60 hours a week. More when you get busy but haven't hired additional help. With good employees you may be able to leave early at times but that's rare. I typically left at closing (5pm) but started by 5am.

[Life7]

What if I start out opening and running the place with someone else, like we both decided to start a business together and it's run by the 2 of us? Would we then share the responsibilities and there's less time spent by 1 person?

[EzPeterson]

Not really. You will get out of it what you invest. Owning your own business is 2-3X the work of working for someone else.