The hidden costs of starting a business

This Mental Health Awareness Month, Alan Manly examines some of the overlooked psychological impacts entrepreneurs face when starting a business.

More often than not, the drive to start and build a business from scratch is motivated by far more than money. Martin Zwilling supports this claim in Forbes Magazine when he outlines the six motivations of entrepreneurs.

These include making a difference in the world, finding personal meaning from building a business, satisfaction of doing something great, personal growth and accomplishment, seeing the real value of one’s beliefs and helping others achieve their goals.

Notably, money doesn’t get a mention in the above list. So if the motivations are not monetary what would be the hidden costs of starting a business?

Below, I describe seven of these potential costs for the new business owner, which I’ve seen play out in multiple ways over the years.