do any of you run your own business?

[micegg]

I am guessing there are quite a few of you out there running businesses. Can you tell em what you do, how it all works in terms of family and what are the best/worse bits. I have always been interested in running my own business but just need some inspiration. Thanks

I run a business with my DH - a residential recording studio. The residential bit is not in the house but in the building next door. It's tough with a baby in the house because you are running from one thing to another and there is little separation between house and work.

The best bit for us is the five second commute though

If I didn't work with my DH his commitment to it would really piss me off though, sometimes he disappears for several days at a time leaving me holding the baby (literally). That'd be the worst bit.

I also run a business with dh - programming and websites and stuff. It's also in our house currently, but that's really annoying as a) your employees use all your pans at lunchtime and b) you can't "go home" although lack of commuting time is handy and currently I can work while ds2 naps. we're having a separate office when we move though.

the office thing aside, pros and cons of running your own business are these:

pro: you have control over the hours you work
con: except you don't really, because clients can always go elsewhere if you delay too much in responding to them. Most people who run their own businesses work more than 40 hours a week.

pro: you don't get bossed around
con: there is no-one to tell you what to do unless you pay them!

pro: you make pots of cash
con: the above was a lie.

SP - I make pots of cash....sadly running our business costs several more pots of cash than we make!

I should have said "you earn pots of cash"

Run a B&B, DD in nursery three mornings a week, DH stays and helps with breakfast and then goes to work, self employed.

Everything is done in the morning, so get afternnons and weekends with DD,

Cons, you can get some grotty people, but the lovely ones outweigh the not so nice ones. Struggle a bit over the winter financially so we have to put money aside in summer.

I'm a pimp.
AKA headhunter for banks.
I also teach bankers how to program, and do the odd bit of journalism.

I've just started up in the last week! I used to work for a large company, liaising with independent financial advisors who brought the business in. I now offer my services to IFAs - admin support, research, that type of thing. I'd envisioned working at home, but most of the clients want me present in the office. It's not that much of a problem as they're all local. Pros: I can choose my own hours, although I can't see myself turning down work. I get paid well for basically doing monkey work. Very low start-up and running costs. It's different every day. Cons: demanding client group! It's worked well so far, and I know of a few people who have successfully done something similar for different types of business.