I agree this forum should include an entrepreneurship/small business category (this has been requested but I'm guessing the demand isn't too big).
You know, I looked through all of the subforums looking for just such a category 3 times, before making this post. I can't believe this sub-forum doesn't exist.
I disagree with your general premise though. Starting a business can be very risky, time consuming, and requires a lot of creative energy. It isn't for everyone.
This isn't everyone though. The readers of this blog, in general, are way more resourceful and knowledgeable than the general population. If you're smart enough to engineer your own early retirement in 5-10 years, you're smart enough to start a business.
It's only as time consuming as you let it be. I started this business with a newborn in my lap, in the evening after I got home from my day job, talking to Chinese suppliers from 11pm-2am.
Let's not turn this into an "excuses for not starting a business" thread.
I think the most value that you can add as a business owner posting on here is telling your story. Share your highs and lows, what worked for you and what didn't. A snapshot of your financials. Stuff like that. There are many people here who have started businesses and it'd be great to have them share more.
My story:
I side hustled flipping cell phones and electronics on craigslist 4 or 5 years ago to pay down debt. Made an extra $700 a month or so. I tried to scale up by buying inventory in bulk and got burned, and scammed out of $6,000. I quit that hustle.
I decided to buy low-priced websites on Flippa after that.
1) I bought a niche clothing site for $300, that made me a few grand, before I sold it as it was a flash trend.
2) I bought a sub-contracted snow plow business in Ohio for $1200, that made me a few grand, before I learned that the previous owner had burned all his sub-contractors, and was under multiple lawsuits. I sold that business.
3) I bought a web-design company for $5,000, with outsourced contractors in India, only to find that all of the traffic data was fake, there were no customers, and that my $5,000 was gone forever. Scammed again.
Next, I started an appliance repair company two summers ago. Fixing/flipping washers/dryers on Craigslist. When I decided to scale, and bring on a full-time employee, quality control went to crap, and I really wasn't making much profit, and I was beat down by the end of the day. I decided to return to teaching.
My daughter was born, and I knew I had to start a business that worked, because my day job was going to keep me from spending time with her. So, on my three month maternity leave, I started the business that I mentioned in the OP with a $100 bill, re-invested 100% of the profits for a year and a half, and am now selling $70,000+ a month of XXXX products.
Does business have risk? yes. Will your first business fail? probably. But, if you get it right the 4th or 5th time, it still seems far preferable to me than sticking with a job and putting an extra $xxxx a month into an index fund.