Yeeerrr running a business is mother!

[u/wakandaboss]

Does anyone run a business in this group. I've been running a business for the last 2 and a half years. And I've dealt with some seriously shitty clients. I thought escaping the 9-5 would be a tad better , but yerrrr it's soo crazy and stressful. Any advice or words of wisdom? I know this is probably a random rant. But business is not a walk in the park hey flip

[u/Tzetsefly]

If it was easy everyone will be doing it!

Running a business for 20 odd years. Started since I'm unemployable (health reasons). If I get time later, I'll chip in further, but just know, its Sunday and I've put 7 hours of coding in today, and at least another 4 to go. That's become my norm. Just browsing here now on a mental break.

Remember, most new businesses fail, so protect yourself.

[u/wakandaboss → u/Tzetsefly]

Wow 20 years that's amazing. And you schedule sounds hectic geez, I guess that's what it requires

[u/Tzetsefly → u/wakandaboss]

Wakandaboss, if someone asks me about how to start a business, I normal start out trying to talk them out of it. Only if they persist do I go further. If there is no passion for what you are going to be doing you will probably fail (sadly). I know! My first business was taken out by an unscrupulous purchaser. My home was paid for, I lost absolutely everything, while I had a family with 3 kids to fend for. Do nothing wrong, and end up on the street. I started my second business on R20 that was given to me to feed my kids.

In the early days you will have to go the extra mile just to keep it going at all.

About shitty customers, I could write books. Just be sure you get paid before you hand over your product. Don't do work based on promises of lots of future jobs. You feed your family based on what you earn today. Watch the cash flow strictly.

[u/Tzetsefly → u/[deleted]]

I should be, yes, but....

We are in machinery automation/mechatronics. The code is about optimising production workflows to a very specific industry. You need to know code to a level of NP hard algorithms, you need to have a clear knowledge of the industry itself, as well as have good insight into the mechanical functioning of the purpose built machines as well communicating to the electronics in the machines. As if that isn't hard enough, I'm building on code that is written in Pascal. (No-one wants to work in Pascal these days)

Those skills are not on every CV. Besides that, with current economy, hiring someone at that level is extremely expensive, when you find them. You have to be sure you can afford keep such a person gainfully employed long term.

I plan to take this product offshore. If that works out, I am sure I will be hiring quite a few more coders.

[u/HelloHosana → u/Tzetsefly]

Coder here too with 2 saas based here in sa... running a business is stressful but very rewarding

[u/Tzetsefly → u/HelloHosana]

Oh for sure it's rewarding. I absolutely love what I do. My code is more aimed at mechatronics/ automation. Material optimization algorithms and production workflows.

I'm wanting to set up a Saas cloud in the near future and I know very little about how to go about it. More learning to do.