How many of us own our own business?

[jenjscott]

My daughter tattoos, I pierce. We have been open a little over a year. The last couple of months have been agonizing.

 

[Omran]

I am in excavations and construction business and it is mainly in Grading and New Landscaping.
the last year and half being nothing but hard, I really don't know how I am still in business till now, but put it this way it is very very hard, especially when you have so many payments to pay and no one is spending $$$.
But I am going to try my best till the end, and I am praying for better times.

 

[fitzy]

i've been piercing for 11 1/2 years and had owned this shop for 9 of those...things seem to be very cyclical in this industry. that's one of the reasons i'm trying "farming" stuff....i was raised on a farm so i have a basic knowledge and can usually find help on here or by calling my dad (he likes to poke fun at me). apparently our town was voted "least affected by the economy in the nation" but i don't know how much i believe that and i believe you should have some sort of back up plan....ya never know what the future will bring, and it seems that the people who have posted on this thread are in some sort of "recession proof" business, have diversified themselves enough to change directions when necessary, or have at least taken the time to carefully survey their situations and decide what changes are necessary for their continued success.


when i become president, i'm gonna pick my cabinet from BYC members!

 

[Rosalind]

DH is a tattoo artist who pays a percentage of his earnings to a shop owner, who maintains the storefront, does some marketing and convention administration and supplies some of the larger, more expensive equipment (autoclave etc.). The slow season, late fall - early spring has been reeeeallly slow but the rest of the year was fine so far. DH is making up the losses by traveling to other shops where the weather is decent year-round; helps him get more clients, wider reputation. He wants to travel overseas where the weak dollar helps him income-wise, but we haven't really had the spare time for that. Normally I try to schedule my science geek conference travel around his travel plans, or vice versa, but for some strange reason my boss won't buy it that I desperately need to attend a week-long conference in Basel...

 

[TipsyDog]

We are in real estate. Have alot of income property and lucky we didn't notice the downslope in the economy too bad. The only thing I've been worried about is constant fees and taxes increasing since local municipalities are all in debt and want me to bail them out! I'm assuming it's the same story coast to coast at this point.

 

[country freedom]

Wow

 

[Wifezilla]

Yup...same story everywhere. More fees and more taxes on small business.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Quote:
Oh, heck, yeah! My commercial sewer bill is more than some people's mortgage.

 

[nop169]

As you all probably already know from the rant post

! I own a small feed/farm supply business. My wife is a RN. We are hanging on by our teeth these last 2 months - but we are blessed & will make it through. What we are worried about is that it looks as if the last 2 months are going to become the norm for us here. Our local unemployment is 14%. No jobs - no money!!!! Oh well - we have made it through rough times in the past & will do whatever it takes to honor our commitments! Just hoping our local economy eases up some - don't want to be rich - but would like to pay the bills!!! Our business has been off for 14 months now but really dropped to about 30% of our normal flow last month. Wife is picking up extra shifts at the hospital (thank you Lord) to help me cover the store expenses. As I said in my rant it is more about the loss of rural living, honesty & integrity that has wounded us the most..... but after the MANY replies - we feel so much better & are again strong mentally for the ride (or drop!) ahead. THANKS

 

[Hen_House_Rocks!]

My husband and I own a toy business. So far things are okay for us. People always find away to keep up with their toy collecting even in a bad economy.