Ep 305: 3 GOOD reasons NOT to start a business.

3 Good Reasons NOT to Start a Business

We make starting a business look so glamorous these days, don’t we? Just picture it: sitting on the beach, laptop open, “working” for 45 minutes while the money rolls in. Cute idea… but totally unrealistic. The truth? Business ownership takes dedication, skill-building, and a whole lot of showing up when you’d rather be doing something else.

After 25+ years of running my own businesses, I’ve watched plenty of people get stuck in the in-between — not fully running a business, but not just enjoying their passion as a hobby either. And when you try to walk down two different roads, you end up split right down the middle (or as I like to say, “a man who walks two roads splits his pants”).

If you’re dreaming of starting a business, here are three really good reasons you might want to keep it as a hobby instead:

1. You actually just want a hobby.

Hobbies are wonderful. They let you relax, get creative, and enjoy something purely because you love it — no pressure, no deadlines, no customers. But the minute you turn it into a business, you’re also signing up for marketing, customer service, sales, and tracking your numbers. That’s not a bad thing… but it’s a very different thing. If you want your passion to be your happy place, it’s okay to leave it as a hobby.

2. You’re not willing to learn (and be bad at) new skills.

Running a business means you’ll spend plenty of time doing things you’re not great at — at least in the beginning. Marketing. Finances. Sales conversations. Audience-building. Inventory management. Just like learning a new sport, there’s an awkward “learning curve” phase where you’ll drop the ball a lot. If you’re not willing to lean into that and learn, business ownership will be frustrating.

3. You don’t fully believe in what you’re selling.

If you don’t believe your product or service makes a real difference in people’s lives, you’ll struggle to sell it. Customers can sense hesitation. You need to know in your gut: This helps people. This matters. Without that belief, it’s better to refine your offer or keep it as a personal passion project.

If these points hit a little close to home, it doesn’t necessarily mean business ownership isn’t for you. Maybe you start with a small “test” version of your business. Maybe you tweak your offer. Or maybe you just need someone to guide you through the first steps.

There’s no shame in choosing hobby over business. A hobby can fill your life with joy and purpose. And a business, when built intentionally, can create impact and income you never imagined. The key is making a clear choice — not living in the land of “kinda, sorta” and wondering why it’s not working.