1. Immediate millionaire? Myth: Own business means quick and large profits. Fact: Before you start your business, put aside 20-30 thousand zlotys. The decision to give up your current job and start your own business cannot be made overnight. You have to be realistic and be aware that your business will not immediately bring the expected profits. Even if your idea is really good and you are sure it will interest many customers, it takes time for them to find out about it. You, on the other hand, will need money for current expenses and, of course, for further investments to help promote and improve your business. Therefore, your account should include from several to tens of thousands of zlotys, which will be a kind of guarantee that in case of initial difficulties, you will be able to make appropriate payments and above all support yourself and your family.

2. No more eight-hour working day? Myth: Nobody imposes working time on me, so I can have time off whenever I want. Fact: As a business owner you actually work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. How long have you dreamt of finally freeing yourself from the rigid framework of an eight-hour working day five days a week? Well, when you start your own business, you're going to go into what you call irregular working hours, but you'll soon find that it's not necessarily a change for the better. Being the owner of a company you are responsible for every aspect of its operation and, above all, you have to make sure that every order, even the smallest one, is completed on time. This means that in many cases you will spend much more time at work than before. Of course, if you can organize your work well, it is possible to limit the time you devote to the company, but you have to be prepared for the fact that at any time there may be a problem that will take you even a whole day to solve.

3. work will finally be a pleasure? Myth: I will do what I enjoy. Fact: Own company is not only a pleasure, but also a tedious duty. Having passion is something very important, and when we can turn it into our work, it seems to be the perfect solution. However, we must remember that in addition to doing what we like, there are also tasks ahead of us, which are not so attractive anymore. A good example is the photographer, who in fact only spends about 30% of his time taking pictures. The rest is primarily acquiring customers by preparing a marketing strategy and implementing it, but also by meeting potential customers who are interested in such services. It is worth taking this into account in order not to be too disappointed when we find out what the reality of an entrepreneur looks like.

4. More time for the family? Myth: After all, work will not interfere with family life. Fact: It will be difficult not to "bring" your work home. Unfortunately, when we own a company, we no longer have the luxury of being completely cut off from work when we return home. Telephone calls from customers at different times of day or even night or the need to complete a project at the weekend are just a few examples. Especially when you work from home, it becomes particularly difficult to separate work from family life. The child does not have to understand that you cannot give him/her time, even though you are at home. And your partner or partner will have every right to be angry when you're still sitting in front of a computer, despite the late hour, instead of helping at home or spending time with your loved ones. It is very important to really try to make a rational distinction between these two spheres of your life, otherwise you may endanger your company or family relationships.

5. More money to spend? Myth: There was money in my pocket for the order, so I can go shopping. Fact: It's time to take stock and plan future expenses. There is no room for madness in running one's own business, especially in financial matters, so money management should be approached in an exceptionally rational way. Remember that every month you may be surprised by a lot of unexpected expenses. These may include the costs of repairing equipment necessary for our work, but also the purchase of additional tools or the commissioning of some external work necessary to complete the order.

Regardless of which industry you intend to operate in as part of your own business, the most important thing is to manage your company wisely from the very beginning. Doing what you love is not all, because suddenly you become responsible for the success of every order you take on, but also for your obligations to such authorities as the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) or the Tax Office. However, the reward for the effort may be independence and high salaries. Beginnings may be particularly difficult, so it is worthwhile to consult people who have been operating on the market for a much longer time. An example of such an exchange of experience is the Pro-innovative Business Cluster, which also offers business consulting. Such consultations can change a lot in your thinking, so it is definitely worth taking advantage of them.