Which is Better, Investing or Owning a Business?

Author: Scott Johns

There are many benefits to owning your own business. I would like to compare this to investing to help you decide which is better, investing or business ownership. While each has its benefits, both are certainly not for everyone. They have there difference and definitely have their similarities. Both represent a form a gaining financial independence. So which one is better?

Owning your own business means you have no boss and more tax benefits. It also means how much money you make is up to you. If you work hard enough at anything then it will eventually be profitable. The big benefits include doing whatever your passion is and getting paid for it, deciding when and where you want to work, and being your own boss. This truly represents a freedom that almost everyone desires.

The cons of owning your own business could be huge start up costs, working long hours to get the business on its feet, and dealing with big company competition. These are certainly not insurmountable obstacles but they must be considered. The other thing to consider is that many businesses are not even profitable for the first year or so. This is not to say that yours would not be and you hard work would not pay off eventually.

Investing in a business is much like investing in the stock market. You are spending money on something right now that you hope will produce more money in the future. However, depending on the types of stocks you are investing in, you can avoid a lot of the cons that come with starting a business. For example, you can actually be very profitable in a short time with the right stocks, such as penny stocks. You can also start with a relatively small amount of money as you learn how to invest.

You can keep you day job and use a portion of you income every month to invest in the stock market either through a traditional broker or online trading account. This is not to say that you cant start your own business and put money into investing. Its just that for many it would be too financially difficult to do both. Many businesses are definitely good investments but if that seems beyond your risk tolerance then give stock market investing a try. If you learn the ropes you can earn just as much if not more than if you would have started a business, except you wont have any business expenses except for the small trading fees.

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