The way we perceive work is changing, quickly. The days of accepting any old job as long as it pays a nice salary and has decent benefits are quickly disappearing, mostly because of the internet and digital revolution; there are so many more options, there’s no need to settle.

Nowadays, people want work to be something fulfilling and meaningful, and they want something that supports their desired lifestyle.

Enter the lifestyle businesses. Essentially, a lifestyle business is one that is set up to facilitate the lifestyle the owner wants to live. They tend to be small, are often run over the internet, and require minimal intervention by the owner.

The financial and personal freedom this business model offers makes lifestyle businesses an attractive option for many people. But as with anything, it’s not for everyone. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself to see if a lifestyle business is the right choice for you.

Where do you find your passion?

For lifestyle business owners, their true passions usually lie outside of work. Many love to travel, hike in remote locations, create art, SCUBA dive and so on, and since these hobbies don’t often pay too well, they set up businesses to help support their pursuit of what they love.

But not everyone is like this. Maybe you’re not all that adventurous, you crave routine or you simply prefer a job where you have to immerse yourself completely each and every day. If this is you, then a lifestyle business may come up short of meeting your professional needs. The whole point of a lifestyle business is to put in a lot of work in the beginning, then step back and let your hard work bring in modest yet sufficient revenues.  

But don’t make the mistake of thinking lifestyle businesses aren’t for the passionate. Most of these businesses have at least something to do with owners’ interests. For example, this coffee subscription service was set up because the owner loves coffee and wants to use it to transform people’s lives and the world. While he may not want to pour hours and hours into running the business, the business itself is in-line with what drives him.

Do you want to make a lot of money?

It’s important to be clear that a lifestyle business is not set up to make the owner filthy rich. Lifestyle entrepreneurs usually know what they need to be happy, and therefore don’t look to earn much above that threshold.

If you are looking to start a business because of the massive earning potential, a lifestyle business is going to come up short. This isn’t to say you’re guaranteed to get rich starting up another company, but the chances of this happening with a lifestyle business are pretty slim. Take stock of your financial needs and desires and this should help you decide if a lifestyle business is right for you.

The takeaway

If you’re someone who finds joy outside of work and who doesn’t need a ton of money, a lifestyle business can be a great career move. But if you’re looking for something more involved and financially rewarding, you might need to look elsewhere.

Author bio: Caroline is a writer and marketer who has been involved with several successful lifestyle businesses. She loves the flexibility, learning opportunities and dynamic environment but fully understands they aren’t for everyone.