You're a successful machinist/plumber/accountant/chiropractor/electrician/IT specialist/etc with a couple decades under your belt working for other people. In

You're a successful machinist/plumber/accountant/chiropractor/electrician/IT specialist/etc with a couple decades under your belt working for other people. In decades past you'd strike out on your own. In 2021 you look at the regulatory environment and overhead costs of starting a business, say "screw that" pick it up as a side gig and find a day job where you can coast. Maybe if you have some special love for the IRS you make an LLC and call yourself a consultant. This change has affected both the blue collar trades and a growing share of white collar professions these days. The larger of a headache it is to be Real Business(TM) the larger the potential upside needed to justify it. Unless you think your ideas are gonna change your industry or you plan to become the regionally dominant player in your niche why start a real business when a cash only side gig will scratch that itch most of the time?