What is it like to own a business?

A. Francis Gorman, Lawyer
There was never any doubt that I would become a lawyer. My parents both trained as lawyers, as did my grandfather. When my father retired, I became sole proprietor of the family business. We're a small firm specialising in inheritance law. We help people write wills, manage their estates, and just generally make sure that their finances are in order. Some people find it unpleasant to think about these topics. I mean, no one really wants to contemplate what life will be like for their families when they're no longer around. However, if you don't plan ahead, you're bound to run into problems. I'm proud of the work we do and, at times when I help a client through a difficult moment, the job gives me a feeling unlike any other. My work certainly has challenges, such as long hours and stress, but I wouldn't change professions for anything.

B. Simon Fellows, Hardware Shop Owner
According to my family, I've always been good at fixing things. When I was a kid, I used to repair furniture that I found in the street. At one stage I was given a basic toolbox, and it became my most prized possession. So it came as no surprise to anyone when, in secondary school, I got a part-time job at a hardware store. I wasn't what you could describe as academic, to say the least. However, when I did hands-on work I came into my own. The owner of the hardware store was pleased with my work, as were our customers. After a few years, I had the idea to go into business for myself. I thought my boss would be upset, but instead he was supportive. He helped me take out a loan, rent space and invest in merchandise. I'm grateful to him for believing in my abilities. I don't make a lot of money, but I feel lucky to spend my days doing something I love. If you ever need help with a "do-it-yourself" project, drop by and I'll be happy to give you advice.

C. Scott Kennedy, Headhunter
I'm the owner of a large recruitment agency. I worked in the field for many years before making the decision to start my own firm. A lot of people don't have a sense of what recruitment involves. In reality, the idea is simple. All companies need workers, but small firms don't always have the resources to carry out job searches themselves. That's where we come in. Rather than rush the process and hire the first person that comes along, companies have us find suitable employees for them. It's a great system because it allows businesses to focus on other tasks. Meanwhile, for us it works out profitable. We make a commission on every candidate we place, with an additional bonus if the worker stays more than two years. Most recruitment agencies specialise in one particular industry. My firm deals primarily with health care workers. Soon, we're planning to expand and work with other types of professionals.

D. Louis Andrews, Pet Shop Owner
My cousin and I are the joint owners of a pet shop. Our grandparents used to have a farm, so as kids we'd spent a lot of time around animals. However, at first neither of us thought this background could turn into a career. Instead, after finishing university we both took corporate jobs. My field was banking, and my cousin worked in sales. A few years ago, we realised that neither of us was satisfied with our jobs. My cousin's goal was to spend less time in front of a computer. Meanwhile, I wanted to build meaningful connections with my clients. In that sense I think our business has been a success. A lot of neighbourhood families have been coming to us since the beginning, and often stop by just to say hello. Unfortunately, it's been harder than we expected to make ends meet. If business doesn't pick up soon, we might have to close.