I know from personal experience what running a traditional small business is like and also now what benefits starting a small business on the internet has over the traditional model.
I used to own a sandwich shop. One of those famous franchises that spring up everywhere. I remember being excited about starting it and was sure it would succeed since it was part of such a big well known chain. Boy was I wrong!
Firstly it nearly bankrupted me to get the place even open. All the equipment and building costs eating into my savings before the doors even opened. Then once I started I had endless troubles with employees stealing stock and money and worse than that was the sales weren't sufficient to make a profit.
I finally sold it at a huge loss to someone else who thought they could do a better job. Good luck to them!
All that was long ago and I now have an online business as an affiliate marketer, selling other people's stuff for a percentage commission. I don't have employees stealing stock or not turning up for work. I'm my own boss and I do everything myself.
The startup costs of a traditional small business are considerable. I still wince when I think how much I paid to get that sandwich store open. My internet business cost me nothing but my own time and effort to set up and it's operating costs are virtually nil.
The best difference in the two types of business is the potential earnings of the online business is huge compared to selling sandwiches. Every week I start a new project and get it up and running. Even if it only brings in $30 a month I would consider it a success since that just keeps ticking over month after month with no effort.
It doesn't take long before all those little projects start to add up to something big and that is the real potential of small businesses on the internet. They may be small but the profits are big.
Oh, one other difference between my two businesses. After a day's work on the internet I don't have to spend an hour cleaning up and washing dishes. I don't miss that at all!
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