As with anything in life there can be as little to none or a great deal of risk involved with starting and running a small business. One may become involved with a pre-existing business through family owned businesses or franchises with little or no risk involved or a start up business taking a chance that the product you may be trying to introduce to the consumer may not sell well.
I have been a part of both a family owned business and one I franchised and also one I started from the ground floor. Out of the three, the one I am proud to have been a part of was the family owned business. The business my father started from the ground floor was a very profitable boat repair business in California. Before he decided to retire, I had the opportunity to help with the accounting. Once he decided to retire, the business was sold. The other two business I ran from home. One of which I still operate. I wont say it is very profitable since it is in a very highly competive market but I havent given up and I seriously doubt I will. It is something I enjoy doing, I repair and build computers. There are some computers that I will purchase for next to nothing, refurbish and sell at nearly no profit to familys unable to afford a computer and are wishing to better the education of their children without the high cost. I may make a small profit or I may lose but the rewards of seeing a child smiling because they can be like others and have their own computer is far greater than dollars and cents.
