Anyone who is self-employed knows that there can be a great deal of stress involved in being your own boss. People who work for others may think that being work for yourself is carefree. You can set your own hours, choose your own jobs, and only do work that you want to do. While all of this is true, there are some downsides to being self-employed that can make it much more stressful than having someone else to tell you what to do. The three most common issues of being self employed are the lack of a consistent salary, economic issues, and the uncertainty of success. These issues make being self-employment much more stressful than many people realize.One reason that being self-employed is stressful is that there is not any consistent salary. When you work for someone else, that boss generally ensures that you will receive a salary regardless of how much business you bring in during a given week or month. When you are on your own, that cushion is missing. Instead, there is more of a feast and famine aspect to your business. During months where you have a lot of customers, the money may seem to be rolling in quickly. However, these months are generally followed by slower months where money is stretched much more tightly. These fluctuations in salary can make it difficult for people who are their own bosses to know how much money they can expect to make in any given month. This can make budgeting difficult and stressful unless the entrepreneur has a sizable emergency fund to draw from during slower months.Another stress of being an entrepreneur is that many businesses rise and fall with the economic issues of the time. With the current economy being weak, many small businesses are struggling more than they normally would. Since small businesses generally offer premium goods or services, they can lose a great deal of business when the economy gets difficult and people start cutting back on their spending. This puts small businesses in a bind because they tend to have a very narrow profit margin, and not very much margin for error. In a difficult economy, this can make running a business very unpredictable.The last major stress of running your own business is the uncertainty of success. Many small businesses fail, mostly within their first year. Most small business owners know this, and the uncertainty lurks in the backs of their minds, creating stress that people working for a larger company do not have. Taking time for some exercise, meditation and ways to relax is important for getting your energy back.Although it might look easy to set your own hours, and be your own boss, it is not. You have to learn how to budget without a consistent salary, manage during a weak economy, and deal with uncertainties. But the positives can outweigh the negatives. To be able to live your dream, bring your vision into the light of day, not have to punch a time card and be able to stay home with your kids and arrange your schedule is priceless to many. This creates a strong motivation that can help you to succeed.