Why do people go into business? I was listening to a Republican spokesman today,

[hedgehog]

Poll question: Why do people go into business? I was listening to a Republican spokesman today,

and he claimed people went into business to become wealthy. That's not my experience. The small business owners I know are in business so they can make a living doing something they like - like the horse owner who runs a small feed and tackle shop, and the musician who ran a small music store. The people I know don't need a tax break; they need the security of being able to buy affordable health insurance and a pension fund.


So why do most people go into business?

[Synicus Maximus]

1. It's not one or the other. The small business people I know mostly

started their business to do something they liked or were good at,but with the idea of becoming at least well off. They don't do it as a hobby, they do it to make money. But I think very few of them started out to be "wealthy". Most of the businesses only make a few hundred thousand to a couple million a year.

[hedgehog]

3. Well, the question is, what is "well off"? Here are some examples I know of:

- the guy who built up a business running excavating equipment and portable cranes with a little bit of welding fabrication tossed in. He built himself (and I do mean "built himself" as in did the construction with his own two hands) a nice house on top of a hill with a swimming pool just outside the front door. He has a "party room" consisting of an attached double garage that's finished off inside and has a wood burning fireplace at one end.

- a couple of guys who retired early and used their overtime to buy a large fishing boat. They run charters out on the lake to pay for operating the boat, and they enjoy fishing.

- a lot of people around here have a small herd of cattle. They work like dogs to keep the farm going, and often work a full time job to generate cash. Their small businesses barely break even, but they wouldn't trade their life for all the money in the world.

Most of these people aren't rich, although the guy who runs the excavation outfit has a lot of capital tied up in equipment. All they really want to do is keep doing what they are doing now.

[T Wolf]

6. A business that makes (nets?) "only" a few hundred thousand to a couple million a year should not

qualify as a small business.

And should not get breaks meant for Mom&Pop stores or single-owner-employee operations.

[hedgehog]

8. I assume you're talking about profits. Lots of small businesses

take in a lot of cash, but by the time they pay suppliers and employees and reinvest in new equipment, there's not much profit. Farmers may own a million dollars worth of equipment and land and end up making a modest income.

[old mark]

2. I have heard this many times in the past. Evidently the republicans

can not conceive of any goal in life other than to become rich. They don't seem to understand the idea of peopel being happy with a good family or making a decent, secure living. Their ideal seems to be a driven workaholic man supporting a homemaker wife and several obedient kids...The man makes a fortune and drops dead, the widow lives quietly on the money and the kids go to Bob Jones U...

They claim to be so family oriented, yet never fail to penalize anyone who actually is raising a family - all their efforts are for the wanna-be rich.


mark

[Fumesucker]

4. I know two different felons who started their own businesses..

Basically because with a felony on their record they were all but unhireable..

They both have done pretty well in business, not wealthy but making an above average income most of the time.

[T Wolf]

5. Most people go into business to spend their workday doing something of their choosing, not following

the orders of some boss.

Rethugs (in contrast to people), go into business so that they can become wealthy and not have to actually do any work ever again, just like the rich folks they seek to emulate.

That is a major difference. Maybe the major difference.

[hedgehog]

7. My Dad is 80 years old and still working at his business -

he's a sales rep - sort of a free lance sales man for various industrial suppliers. He sets his own hours, gets out to chew the fat with people, makes trips when he decides to and has time to take care of my mother who is increasingly frail. I don't know if he will ever retire as long as he can keep the sales ticking over. He enjoys the work too much. I don't know if he knows that technically he runs a small business!

[WolverineDG]

9. Well I started my own business to get away from ridiculous rules &

office/organizational bullying. And hopefully to eventually make more money than I was. That won't be for a few more years yet, but for now, not having to deal with stupid rules & bullying is a good enough trade for me.

Oh wait, I just said I want to make money...guess that means I'm not a Democrat. :eyes:

dg

[Skittles]

10. most of the ones I know just want to be their own boss

many have left very high paying jobs to do it so no, it's not about wealth for many of them

[rucky]

11. Is masochism an option?

[hedgehog]

12. Well , that goes without saying!

;-)