The Struggle of a South Bend Small Business Owner

Eight years ago, before we got married, my wife and I made the conscious decision to stay in South Bend to help build the artistic community in this city. Little did we know that that decision would lead us to found MAKE SOUTH BEND a few years later.

When we started our business, we did so in the middle of what has been called the South Bend Renaissance. We were hardly the only plucky entrepreneurs trying to start a company in the city. The recovering economy has been fertile ground for scores of small businesses. We expected that at as long as we didn't do anything stupid, we'd be able to keep the shop open.

But, there were a few things we weren't expecting.

It Might Take People Months to Become Customers...or Longer

When we hosted our grand opening, we had a pretty decent turnout—maybe around a hundred people or so. Most were friends and family, with a few strangers who heard about us on social media.

Across that first year, as customers started trickling in, they told us they'd been following us on Facebook—get this—since before we even opened.

That might not be a huge surprise in the first six months. But when people are saying the same thing at your second-anniversary party, it's a bit jarring.

But the hard truth is that small businesses don't always stay open. No matter how trendy or hip your new business is, many businesses don't survive their first year. As frustrating as it might be, many of your target customers are going to hedge their bets before they actually give you any money.

You Probably Won't Be the First Person To Get Paid

Conventional entrepreneurial wisdom says you should always pay yourself first. But this isn't always realistic advice.

As owners of brick-and-mortar businesses, we're constantly stuck between having enough time to grow the business and having enough money to pay for employees. If we try to do it all ourselves, we get too bogged down on the day-to-day to focus on big picture. Hiring help gives us the time to grow the business, but it's expensive.

However, wages are tax deductible, and using an online pay stub maker can help minimize payroll expenses.

But if your goal is to build your business to the point where you might be able to pay yourself (which, let's be honest, is all of us), you're probably going to have to pay some employees first.

It Beats Working for Someone Else

Through all of the sixteen-hour days, months on food stamps (it happens), and complete lack of work-life balance, you're going to have a few late nights wondering if it's all worth it. Why not just call it quits and go back to your old desk job?

You won't have to worry about a stable paycheck, or setting aside enough money for taxes or healthcare or building a retirement fund. All you gotta do is show up, do what you're told, and go home. Easy.

But the end of the day, independence isn't an easy habit to kick. And when you don't have to submit vacation requests to HR or sit through pointless meetings, you get pretty spoilt.

We do this because it's worth it. The freedom to work at what you're passionate about on your own terms is the best feeling in the world.

Running a business isn't a walk in the park, but when all your other options require you to chase someone else's dream, it's a pretty easy choice.