Small Business Owners Question

[Edith Grove]

I'm in the midst of an informal research project trying to answer this question: As a small business owner, what keeps you up at night?

What are your biggest two or three worries? I'm also curious about your biggest technology worries. I'd appreciate any feedback from ABQ small biz owners!

[Sara]

I had a small, eco-friendly house keeping business. I was worried about having enough clients as folks lives shifted and they moved away or couldnt afford a house keeper. I worried about the price of gas and how it was cutting into my profit as I drove from the south valley to the foothills for some of my jobs. I worried about sick days and how to make up the lost money. I worried that I wouldn't be able to figure out the tax paperwork for a self-employed individual (and I wasn't). I worried that my carpal tunnel was so exasberated from the work that my hands would be permamently damaged. But, I did love the feeling of making my own hours and knowing that everything I worked for was for my own self.

[Stephanie James]

doing good work.

quoting good prices

getting repeat business

*biggest worry/pain in the butt: getting paid.

[Tricross]

I owned a retail business for about three years. My biggest worry was keeping my overhead in check with rising costs of rent, utilities and insurance. Finding and keeping good employees was right up there too. I hope to start another business in a couple of years. I will never, ever (I know, never say never) maintain a store front again. It will be a low overhead, service oriented business for me.

[Michelle]

Okay, I worry about money- mostly working the books and accounting stuff. Right now I love my staff, but that took time and training and during that period I was stressed about having everything covered, and done right and keeping my customers happy. It is something new all the time....Time, I never have enough TIME!

[jeff]

cash flow and feeding the cycle of "get the work, do the work..."

technology? aside from the daunting challenge of switching from pc to mac, deciding how (or if) to implement BIM software is a pretty huge deal for architecture, engineering & construction firms right now.

[Joe S Sausage]

I don't worry, I proceed as if i were climbing a snowy mountain. risk management, due diligence, education, networking, advisors, listening , reading, praying, improving and expanding skillsets, R&D, legal education, i'm too busy and inspired by learning that worry is not in my vocabulary.

[jeff]

i worry that joe isn't worrying enough.

[Joe S Sausage]

jeff, i don't know if you intended that post to be funny, but i am cracking up....which could be nervewracking. when i used to have cable and watch leave it to beaver reruns, june cleaver used to worry about the beaver a lot and she wasn't even in business. i'm sorry, i think that i'm too immature to know that i should worry.

[Stephanie James]

I wish Joe could teach me how not to worry! It's been over ten years and my worry is only slightly letting up. :D

[Michael Loewenthal]

Go getem Joe, you will know when it is time to worry.

[neal copperman]

The neverending list of undone things that need to get done. A list that is clearly never going to be completed, but is more stressful now that I am responsible for everything on it!

[Monochrome Chucks]

A) Gross Receipts Tax

B) Employees who aren't at work when you need them there the most.

C) Other taxes, being audited.