The benefits of starting your own business are numerous, and some of them may surprise you. If you’re still on the fence about whether or not now is the right time to start your own business, consider these six surprising benefits of starting a business.

6 Surprising Benefits of Starting a Business

1) The journey

The journey of starting your own business can be both exhilarating and daunting. On one hand, you're in control of your own destiny. On the other hand, there's a lot of risk involved. But the rewards can be great. Moreover, the opportunity to work for yourself will help reduce stress levels.

2) Financial rewards

Owning your own business comes with a lot of financial rewards. Whether you are running a marketing agency or looking at franchise opportunities. For one, you get to keep more of the profits. And, you can deduct business expenses from your taxes. Plus, you can set your own salary and choose how to reinvest your earnings. You also have a flexible schedule, meaning you can spend time with family while working hard on your business at the same time.

3) Learning opportunities

There are a lot of learning opportunities present when you start running a business. Sure, you can learn a lot from books and blog posts, but there’s nothing quite like learning from experience. When you start a business, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• * Try out new ideas and see what works (and what doesn’t).

• * Hone your problem-solving skills.

• * Build your network.

• * Learn how to manage money and resources.

Over time, the above will help you build a whole new skill set to be able to tackle nearly any business problem. This is why many people believe that starting a business is better than learning about how to start a business at university. Because truly, nothing teaches you quite as much as actually doing something.

4) Work/life balance

One of the best things about being your own boss is that you can create a work/life balance that works for you. If you want to take a three-hour lunch break to go rock climbing, you can do that. Of course, you’ll have to make up the time somewhere else, but the point is that you have the freedom to structure your day as you see fit. It's also important to be realistic with yourself and know what tasks are worth putting in extra hours on. The benefits of this come in many forms: better work-life balance, improved relationships, and even more productivity in general.

5) Fitness goals

Most people think that starting a business is all about making money. And while it's true that profitability is important, it's not the only thing that matters. In fact, there are plenty of other benefits that come with being your own boss. For instance, you will improve your health and fitness. As a business owner your mental and physical health are your biggest asset, the more energy you have the better you will work. Knowing that you are more keen on prioritising your health.

6) It’s not about the money

While you may be working for yourself, it doesn't mean that you're going to get rich quick. If anything, the opposite is true. If you're looking for money, this probably isn't the route for you. However, if you're happy with a little less cash in exchange for having the freedom to do what you want and when you want, then running your own business can be worth it. Inherently, starting a business helps you feel happier because you are working towards a goal that actually means something to you.