An honest book about opportunities, risks, and reality.
Those who want to become self-employed are motivated on all sides.
Founders' initiatives, startup support organizations, business angels, chambers of commerce and industry, and chambers of skilled crafts – all encourage taking the plunge. But hardly anyone warns against the risks.real risks and pitfalls.
And that's exactly itnegligent.
Because behind every business there is not only a person, but also a family and a circle of friends.
Starting a business can become a huge burden – sometimes even a breaking point.
Why this book is important
In 2018, almost20,000 companiesinsolvent – with around200,000 jobs lost.
These figures show that self-employment is an enormous challenge.
There are many reasons for failure – you will learn about some of them in this book.
This book is for the bravewarn and prepare.
Those who have read it gono longer unpreparedinto the adventure of self-employment.
And whoever looks for thatstillAnyone who wants to become self-employed knows what they are getting into – informed, realistic and conscious.
A book with two perspectives:
📘 For founders: an honest, unsparing warning about typical mistakes and pitfalls.
📗 For politics and business: a valuable analysis of structural problems that make life unnecessarily difficult for founders.
Contents
The book is divided into several chapters:
- The environment of the self-employed person
- Typical “natural enemies” such as the tax office, employees, GEZ (German public broadcasting fee collection agency) or professional associations.
- A list of the most common pitfalls to avoid when starting a business.
About the authors
Matthias BüttnerHe is a serial entrepreneur and successful business owner. He knows the opportunities and risks of self-employment from his own experience.
Guido JoestHe is a tax advisor and has already accompanied many people on their way to self-employment.
Together they bring clarity, honesty and valuable experience to the point.
A book that is a wake-up call – and offers real preparation for self-employment.
