By Andy Sleet, Business Coach at Freedom Business Coaching
At some point, many of us decide to start our own business. Whether it’s driven by the desire for independence, passion, or simply the idea of being our own boss, we take the leap. We look at what we know best—our existing skills—and decide to build our business around them. A carpenter starts a carpentry business, an accountant sets up an accountancy firm, and so on.
It’s a logical first step: our skills allow us to hit the ground running and begin earning immediately. But here’s the question: is what you’ve built truly a business, or have you just created a job for yourself?
The Role of the Business Owner vs. the Technician
Let’s break it down. A business owner is essentially a shareholder, someone who has invested financially into a business and expects a return—similar to owning shares in a bank or any other company. Shareholders don’t do the work; they expect dividends or increased share value as their return.
On the other hand, the Managing Director (MD) creates and executes a plan that ensures the business delivers the expected returns to its shareholders. Meanwhile, the technician—be it the carpenter, accountant, or any other skilled professional—is responsible for delivering the product or service.
If you’re a sole business owner, you’re likely wearing all three hats: shareholder, MD, and technician. This setup limits your earning potential to your hourly rate multiplied by the number of hours you can physically work. No work equals no income.
The Challenges of Growth
As businesses grow, owners often hire employees, usually technicians, to increase capacity. But growth introduces its own challenges. You might find yourself working alongside your team during the day and tackling administrative tasks—like invoicing and quotes—late into the night.
This situation often leads to burnout. The very flexibility and work-life balance you sought by going into business can quickly disappear. Ask yourself:
- Is your hourly rate truly better, considering all the extra hours you work?
- Has your work-life balance improved?
- Are you a better boss to yourself than your last employer was?
Why Business Owners Struggle to Step Back
One of the biggest challenges for business owners is stepping away from the day-to-day grind to focus on their MD role—planning, strategising, and building the business for the future. The reality is, when you’re not directly serving customers, you’re not earning money.
However, the MD’s role is crucial. In most structured businesses, the MD earns more than the technicians because their contributions bring greater value by providing direction and structure. This becomes especially evident in businesses with 15 to 50 employees, where the owner often feels stretched thin, wondering how they’re holding it all together.
Traditional business training doesn’t always address this. What’s needed is support in areas like trust, delegation, time management under pressure, and ensuring consistent delivery across the team.
Is There a Way Out?
If any of this resonates with you, know that it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right guidance and strategies, you can step back, regain control, and create a business that works for you—not the other way around.
If you’re ready to explore how to transform your business and reclaim your time, I’d love to help. Let’s have a conversation about your challenges and goals.
Call Andy Sleet today on 01245 934591 or visit Freedom Business Coaching to learn how we can help you build the business—and life—you deserve.