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I switched back to a management-level web development job in January after 4 years of self-employment and 4 years running a small web business with 5 employees.

I switched back to a management-level web development job in January after 4 years of self-employment and 4 years running a small web business with 5 employees. I must say that I am now less stressed, financially much better off, healthier and see my friends more than ever. I do miss the supposed freedom of self-employment, but more often than not, it doesn't really exist. You're chained to running your company and paying the bills so you can't turn down all the bad jobs and bad clients. At least in a job, thats often someone else's problem. However, you will miss earning your own money and cringe at the thought of making someone else richer on you're time. I personally will return to running my own company eventually, but for right now, I'm quite content with my fat monthly pay check.

pmiller2 10y ago
This reminds me of something I told a friend of mine a few years ago when he bought a retail store: be aware you're buying yourself a job. He's since sold his store and moved back to being an employee.
hartator 10y ago
Ha! I am almost in the same situation/history. Been running a small starup for a while with up to 11 employees then a bit of freelancing. Now, I am considering just looking for CTO position in an early or more likily a middle management position in a bigger company. Do you mind if I reach out to talk? I am in the Austin area. my email: my HN username + gmail.com
mjnaus 10y ago
Sounds like you were NOT running a business, but the business you built was running you. In other words, you created a job for yourself, rather then a business.
- iamphilrae 10y ago
  Yes, that's probably very true but it's amazing how long it took me to realise and finally bite the bullet to move on. Basically I really enjoyed running my own business but I didn't like the business was running. It's also really hard to walk away from something you built and was actually bringing in a decent profit (and still is for the new owners). As a disclaimer I still don't like what I do as its in a similar area, but the reduced stress and stable pay check make it more fulfilling, especially whilst I save up the collateral and figure out the actual business I want to run.

pmiller2 10y ago

This reminds me of something I told a friend of mine a few years ago when he bought a retail store: be aware you're buying yourself a job. He's since sold his store and moved back to being an employee.

hartator 10y ago

Ha! I am almost in the same situation/history. Been running a small starup for a while with up to 11 employees then a bit of freelancing. Now, I am considering just looking for CTO position in an early or more likily a middle management position in a bigger company. Do you mind if I reach out to talk? I am in the Austin area. my email: my HN username + gmail.com

mjnaus 10y ago

Sounds like you were NOT running a business, but the business you built was running you. In other words, you created a job for yourself, rather then a business.

iamphilrae 10y ago
Yes, that's probably very true but it's amazing how long it took me to realise and finally bite the bullet to move on. Basically I really enjoyed running my own business but I didn't like the business was running. It's also really hard to walk away from something you built and was actually bringing in a decent profit (and still is for the new owners). As a disclaimer I still don't like what I do as its in a similar area, but the reduced stress and stable pay check make it more fulfilling, especially whilst I save up the collateral and figure out the actual business I want to run.