5 good reasons to start a business before 40
Flickr/Hugh Mason
Almost all of us think about starting a business at some point. The thought enters our minds when we come up with an ingenious way to stop an ice cream cone from dripping.
Or we get a job and realize we want more control over our work.
Or we hear about the multi-billionaires of the world and start fantasizing about making our own riches.
Related: How to Be Taken Seriously As a Young Entrepreneur
Whatever your own motivation, if you’re going to start a business, there’s an ideal time to do it — while you’re still in your 20s and 30s. Why is that?
1. Long-term potential returns
Imagine for a moment that you’ve built a successful business. It’s profitable and stable and generates a nice six-figure salary for you. Assume that this setup can continue indefinitely and that you enjoy the work. Wouldn’t you want to reap the accompanying rewards for as long as possible?
If so, start your business as early as possible. Yes, it’s an optimistic scenario, but an achievable one, even if it takes you two or three tries to build a successful enterprise. The bottom line is, the more time you can spend as an entrepreneur, the better long-term returns you’re going to see.
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2. Risk tolerance
Let’s face it: Not all startups are going to make it. You need to be realistic, regardless of your age. Starting a business demands a lot of up-front investment, in both time and money, and you’ll bear significant risk, in both your finances and your current or “backup” career.
Just as happens in the financial markets, the younger you are, the better you’re going to be able to tolerate that risk. You’ll have fewer responsibilities, fewer commitments and much more time to make up any losses you incur. Therefore, starting a business as early as possible mitigates your potential losses.
Related: What Young People Must Know About Entrepreneurship
3. Energy and motivation
It takes a lot of work to run a startup, too. Don’t forget that. Though not written in stone, the general rule is that younger professionals have more energy, motivation and enthusiasm than their elders.
Maybe you'll be a youthful spirit for the next several decades, but the thing is, you can’t know for sure. What seems like a solid “maybe” idea now may become a “no way” idea in 10 years; and the work you throw yourself into now may be work you'll avoid at all costs next decade.
Every year, your energy and motivation will decline. Take advantage of these personal assets while you have them.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider