Again, not to be discouraging but to bring a couple of things to mind.....
Quote:
"it seems that many successful businesses are also a labor of love. If you don’t love doing it, it can be hard to put all of your heart into it."
Very true but you have to love business as well. When it's 3am and you just realized a vendor didn't send you that custom part after 10 phone calls and you're deadline is 8am. OR...the great guy who you rushed a conversion for to get him to race day and his check bounced....how come he doesn't answer his phone anymore?
- Inventory (That custom adapter takes 4 weeks to fab)
- Cash flow
- Disgruntled customers. (Engine blew: had to be the way you installed it. See ya in court)
- Legal fees (Non litigation related)
- Accounting (Oh what fun)
- Should I patent this new idea?
- Brochures, marketing, Website
- Advice seekers(AKA tire kickers or time consumers)
- Ok I'll stop
"...if it only pays for itself for a while that will be ok as long as the potential is there."
You've arrived at a very important milestone when a business pays for itself. Plan to lose money. If you don't great if you do you're prepared.
Actually, you can get a good taste by watching (and reading between the lines) those custom chopper builders' shows.