Before diving in, let me frame this with my own experience. When I started my concrete raising business, I had no background in the industry. My previous 24-year career in environmental remediation had absolutely nothing to do with lifting concrete—I was literally learning the job on day one. I also didn’t have large cash reserves or heavy financial backing; the business had to become profitable quickly because my bills weren’t going to wait.
Your experience might differ: you might already be an expert in your field or have plenty of startup capital. But if your story is anything like mine—starting from scratch—here’s the unvarnished truth about what you’re likely to face.
There’s this idea that starting your own business means instant freedom—calling all the shots, making your own hours, and working from exotic locations. Sounds amazing, right?
Here’s the cold, hard truth: that freedom exists, but it’s on the other side of a long, winding road littered with coffee-stained invoices, sleepless nights, and countless YouTube tutorials.
Congrats! You’re Now CEO, Janitor, and Unpaid Intern
At first, you’re everything. And I mean EVERYTHING.
One minute you’re confidently solving a customer’s emergency, and the next you’re desperately Googling, “How to use QuickBooks without crying.” You’re the technician, salesperson, scheduler, accountant, receptionist, and yes—even the social media manager whose only experience is liking cat videos on TikTok.
Glamorous? Hardly. But knowing every role in your business from the ground up means you’ll know exactly who to hire later and how to guide them—mostly so you never have to do those things again.
Say Goodbye to the 40-Hour Workweek
That whole idea of “setting your own schedule”? Technically true, if by “setting your own schedule,” you mean deciding which nights, weekends, and holidays you’ll sacrifice first.
Initially, 60- to 80-hour weeks are standard. Your business becomes your second full-time job—right after your first full-time job, which is managing everything else in your life. Sleep? Overrated. Strong coffee? Essential.
But here’s the good news: this part isn’t forever. It’s just a brutal rite of passage. And if you push through, it gets better—way better.
Your Money Doesn’t Belong to You (Yet)
You land your first big job and think, “I’m finally Scrooge McDuck diving into piles of cash!” Then reality smacks you: it’s more like diving into mountains of receipts, bills, and unexpected expenses you didn’t even know existed. Tools, software, insurance, advertising, gear—and, if you’re lucky, paying other employees.
Early on, if you get to pay yourself at all, it’s usually in leftover pizza and vague promises about “next month.” This is totally normal—and totally temporary.
Hang In There—Efficiency Changes Everything
The last thing you want is to make costly mistakes when providing services for customers. Mistakes can hurt your reputation, drain your bank account, and cost valuable time. Until you become a true expert, the only way to avoid these costly errors is to slow down and take your time. Remember, you’ll be competing with experienced businesses pricing jobs competitively. Expecting huge profits when you’re slower and less efficient isn’t realistic. Patience is crucial!
Eventually, with persistence, things do shift. Once you figure out your systems, train your crew, and finally create processes that don’t rely entirely on caffeine and prayer—that’s when the magic happens.
You’ll transition from constantly putting out fires to actually planning ahead. You’ll shift from being chained to your business, to genuinely running it. Those relentless workweeks shrink, and that mythical “freedom” starts feeling within reach.
Getting here is tough, but it’s also one of the most rewarding parts of the whole journey.
Your Employees Won’t Care Like You Do—And That’s Okay
Here’s a harsh truth: your employees aren’t going to treat your business like their baby, just like you don’t obsess over your friend’s kid’s first tooth. Sure, it’s nice, but let’s keep it real—it’s not yours. For a business owner, everything feels personal. Employees don’t have that perspective—and that’s okay.
If you find yourself disappointed when your staff isn’t pulling all-nighters like you did, remember: that’s on you, not them. Your job is to set clear expectations, reward solid work, and build a strong culture. But expecting anyone else to obsess about your dream? That’s just asking for disappointment.
Emotional Whiplash Is Totally Normal (and Snack-Related)
One morning you’re on top of the world, ready to conquer your industry. By afternoon, you’re wondering if it’s normal to stress-eat an entire family-sized bag of chips. (Hint: yes, absolutely normal.)
The ups, the downs, the doubt—it’s all part of the entrepreneurial rollercoaster. It doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re building something real. Persistence is essential—you’ll get knocked down, a lot. Keep getting back up. Brighter days really are just around the corner.
Wrapping It Up: Reality Check (With a Twist)
Starting your own service business can be one of the best decisions you ever make—but it’s also one of the hardest.
Go in with your eyes wide open. Expect challenges. Know it’ll take time, sweat, and probably a few tears. But also know that if you stay tough, work smart, and keep pushing—it does get better.
Eventually, you’ll genuinely be your own boss. And sure, you could work from the beach—but let’s be honest, sand gets everywhere, Wi-Fi sucks, and margaritas don’t mix well with laptops anyway.
