Are you single and running your own business? I've been running my own business for four years now and I have learned the pros and cons to this endeavor as a single. It is no easy task for anyone to start and run a business as it takes tenacity, perseverance and money. When you are single, there are other issues that may arise that makes the endeavor different than if you have a companion or partner at home.

When singles are running their own business, there are three major issues that are challenges. They are finances, support and accountability.

Finances: When starting any new business endeavor, it takes money to get it going. When you are single, we are relying only on our own financial makeup to get the project going. There is not a spouse to help pay for the mortgage or rent. Singles have to pay for everything. One person in a couple can fall back on their partner to cover some or all of the monthly expenses. When you are single, you're it. Somehow, we need to make sure we are covered financially when running our own business. Some people work a normal job and run a business on the side just to make it financially. This is even harder as time becomes very limited in doing all the things that need to get done.

Support: If you are married and you have a bad day, you can come home and vent to your spouse. If you are single, we have to consciously think of someone to call to vent. We have to actively seek out support from others whereas couples have an automatic venting support waiting at home. Or sometimes, singles don't vent and therefore, keep it inside and the thoughts or emotions are not released naturally and can build up. So we may tend to dwell on life happenings a little bit more than if we have a mate at home to talk about it and "get it off our chest".

Also, it is nice to have a partner to bounce ideas around with. Singles tend to get into tunnel vision thinking and we don't get another perspective as we would if we have a supportive mate at home. Singles have to again consciously ask for feedback or advice. But this also makes singles become a little more resourceful.

Furthermore, singles have to do everything at home such as cook, clean, and bring home the bacon. Married couples may say, "I have to do all that myself anyway" but at least married people have someone to fall back on if you cannot get to it. Not singles, we have to do it ourselves. If you have a spouse, they are helping with household chores (hopefully) and doing errands as opposed to singles having to do all the chores plus the errands. This is on top of the all the demands a business can give you.

Accountability: Single people don't have anyone watching what we do. We can do things in our lives and nobody would know. So it is harder for some of us to stay on task. We know we may need to do something in our business but nobody is keeping an eye on us on a daily basis to keep us on task.

So are the single people complaining about this? NO. It is what it is. We do what we have to in order to get through the day. Plus couples have their challenges as well, it's all a trade. It is only a matter of looking at the needs of singles when running a business as different than those of couples.

So what do you do to help singles run their business more smoothly and enjoy it?

1. Seek out ongoing support. Get into a mastermind group. Join a business support group. Get a coach. I have a coach, which helps me with the accountability and support. My business coach is available anytime to hear what is happening with me. And the other good thing is she knows me well. She calls me on my foibles but also she gives me tons of support. Also, I've been part of a great business group called Make It Fly with Dave Block and Victoria Munroe. You will instantly be part of a great group of passionate business owners who want to help you grow. Also, they help you with accountability as well. There are other coaching organizations such as Action International and TAB that help people with their businesses as well.

2. Create an accountability system and stick to it. I have a system I use to keep me on task each day. Everyone uses a different system, whether it is using a Blackberry or just the basic daytimer. It is crucial to have a routine set up to keep you on track with what you need to do. Also, recruit one of your friends to help keep you accountable towards your goal.

3. Hire out some of the tasks you do not like to do or just don't have time to do. The best money spent is getting someone to clean your house. We tend to shy away from someone coming into our homes and messing with our stuff. But doing this will help you do two things, one it makes you pick up the clutter in your house that is easy to accumulate and it also gives you a good feeling when coming home to a clean house. The other thing that is great money well spent is to hire a bookkeeper. Bookkeepers will keep your routine financial life in order. This is such a great deal and they are such a great help in areas some of us would like to ignore.

Singles have their challenges but also there are great things about being single as well. Many content singles are happy in their lives and are having a great time with their business and personal life. Singles are passionate people that do not let these things keep them from what they want in life.

Beth Anderson owns www.singlocity.com and is the publisher of the Colorado Singles Resource Guide. For more information or if you would like to advertise, call Beth at 303 424-2300.

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