So, I have a theory: "the sharing economy" no, seriously. I have family that ran busineses. I have run businesses. Most successful small business don't pa

So, I have a theory: "the sharing economy" no, seriously. I have family that ran busineses. I have run businesses. Most successful small business don't pay much better than driving for uber, and driving for uber is a lot less risk, a lot less effort. (there's also a lot less upside, but let's be honest here... making a small business that pays better than working for google that isn't just contracting, even when you have the same skills, is extremely difficult.) - if you drive for uber, at least the capital you blew is on something that is still useful after you quit the business. I know a lot of people with a bunch of branded cups and other junk from their previous failed ventures. I mean, I had some pretty marketable skills when I started my own business, so I did better than the uber driver, but I worked hard and made like 1/4th of what I get working for other people. The other thing is that unless you are in the business of getting funding, it's way easier to start a business when the economy is shit. In '09, nobody tried to undercut me. Now? I would not want to be in that market anymore, just 'cause there is so much competition that is willing to lose money to buy marketshare. In '09, I was able to pick up good people who were temporarily unemployed as employees; now? if you wanna hire someone good, you are competing with people willing to pay netflix level money. (I mean, all this, I think, is actually pretty great. But it is not so good for facilitating a small self-funded company)