For those who run their own businesses or OHs run theirs, what is your work/life balance like?

[BigSandyBalls2015]

DH has his own small company, employs one other person - without going into detail he's a tradesman. At the moment he is working 6 days a week out the house and then some evenings, a bit of Sunday doing paperwork etc.

His work/life balance is shit, I'm concerned about his health (he's in his 50s and it's very physical work) and yet again I'm about to meet with friends on my own as he's still not back from work. He'll catch up later, be knackered and prob fall asleep.

He earns fairly well but I'd rather have less money and see him more.

Interested in how others manage their own businesses/lifestyle.

If there is a salary coming into the house big enough to pay the bills
the other person is not self employed
they have a hobby

I find this very rude, and untrue.

I earn enough to support our family from my normal job. There have been periods when dp's business did not make money. At present he out earns me by a chunk, what he is doing is definitely not a hobby. But I would feel insecure if we weren't able to survive on my reliable income.

Thanks all, interesting reading. Does seem as though it's hard to switch off when it's your own business, there's always something to do.

I also work, four days a week. I've got no intention of increasing that as due to the hours DH works I'm left to do almost everything at home (two teens, who do 'help' but not enough).

My self employed career is insurance against dh being made redundant as well as paying for all our leisure, luxuries and holidays.
So it pays a chunk of the living costs.

My bugbear is the part time wedding photographers etc whose rate is undercutting the market while hubby works in the city

however the main point is

charge the right amount for your working hours
so that you get enough leisure hours to stay sane

My husband is a farmer so he works 7 days a week . We rarely do family days out but having said that the flexibility is good .

^We bring very similar amounts into the household.
So neither of our businesses is a hobby
as every penny coming into the house depends on the two of us seeking out contracts.^

That just sounds like any other household with 2 working adults to me. I think you are confusing people who make the odd wedding cake, take photos or do MLM with those of us who have high earning partner's but also run our own successful businesses. It certainly doesn't make our careers a hobby. I'm sure some of your client base are in the same position, but you wouldn't tell them that their businesses are a hobby when you send them their tax calculation!

Back to the OP The trouble with being a plumber, electrician etc is that you usually need to charge the going rate to attract new work and you can't rely on lot of repeat business if you fix a problem properly! I can see both sides, but try to encourage your DH to take time off on the days when you're not working and take back time during the day if he is called out in the evenings. As Ta1k says, he should charge premium rates for unsociable hours, because the customer either needs to compromise on the appointment time or price and will expect to pay more in an emergency.