Mid-2021 changed everything for me. That’s when I finally opened my own small coffee shop, turning a long-held dream into reality.
If you’re thinking about starting your own business, I want to share my story with you. Not the polished, Instagram-perfect version—the real one, with all its messy ups and downs.
The Truth About Starting Your Own Business
Everyone dreams of being their own boss. I certainly did. But here’s what nobody tells you: it’s harder than you think, and it won’t make you rich overnight.
You’ll Work Harder Than Ever Before
When I started, I thought working for myself meant freedom. In some ways, it does. But I also worked more hours than I ever did as an employee.
My typical day? I wake up at 5:30 AM to set up tables. I spend 30 minutes cleaning the espresso machine group heads until they sparkle. Then I haggle with my milk supplier over a 500 Riel difference per liter, just to save money, and how to take perfect photos for Facebook even when I was exhausted.
I didn’t hire staff, so every single task fell on my shoulders. Some days I felt energized. Other days, I wondered what I’d gotten myself into.
Money Will Be Tight at First
Here’s something I wish someone had told me clearly: you won’t make money right away. Some days my little shop would buzz with customers, and I’d feel on top of the world. Other days, I’d sit there for hours with barely anyone walking through the door.
My income jumped around wildly. One week felt promising; the next week left me worried about paying rent. You need savings to survive this rocky beginning period. Don’t quit your day job until you’re really ready.
You’ll Wear Every Hat in Your Business
When you start out, you become everything: the salesperson, the social media manager, the accountant, the janitor, and the customer service representative.
I studied for two years at COFICO vocational training school and worked another two years as a professional barista. I thought I knew coffee inside and out. But running a business? That required a completely different skill set.
Suddenly, I needed to understand marketing, finances, inventory management, and customer psychology. I spent my evenings watching YouTube videos about business strategies and reading articles about how to attract more customers.
Never Stop Learning
Even with my coffee training, I kept experimenting. I tried new recipes—coconut smoothies, jasmine-flavored drinks, and different brewing methods. Some flopped completely. Others became customer favorites.
The learning never stops, and honestly, that’s one of the parts I’ve grown to love most.
Failure Taught Me More Than Success Ever Could
I need to be honest with you about something difficult.
As I wrote in my previous article about my business failure, things didn’t go as planned. That failure crushed me. For weeks, I questioned everything. Should I give up on this dream? Was I just not cut out for business?
But then something shifted. Instead of seeing failure as the end, I started seeing it as an expensive education. I analyzed everything that went wrong:
- Why did certain customers never come back?
- Where was I wasting money?
- What did I do well that I should keep doing?
I didn’t give up. I worked on improving my skills, saved money again, stayed patient, and rebuilt my confidence. In mid-2023, I reopened. This time with The Press Day Coffee—and this time, armed with hard-earned wisdom.
That resilience, that ability to get back up, matters more than natural talent or luck.
Your Customers Are Your Real Business Partners
I learned something crucial: your business doesn’t exist to serve you. It exists to serve your customers.
That means:
- Really listening when they tell you what they want.
- Paying attention to which drinks they order repeatedly and which ones they ignore.
- Asking for feedback and actually using it to improve
- Creating an experience, not just selling a product.
Some of my regular customers have become like friends. They don’t just come for the coffee—they come for the warm atmosphere and personal connection. That’s what keeps small businesses alive in a world of big chains.
Connect With Other Business Owners
Starting a business can feel incredibly lonely. You’re making decisions that affect your livelihood, and sometimes you don’t have anyone who understands.
That’s why connecting with other entrepreneurs changed everything for me. Other small business owners get it. They’ve dealt with difficult customers, supply chain problems, and sleepless nights worrying about money.
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Join local business groups. Find a mentor if you can—someone who’s a few steps ahead of you and willing to share what they’ve learned.
These connections have saved me from countless mistakes and given me encouragement during tough times.
Is Starting a Business Worth It?
After everything—the failures, the exhausting days, the financial stress—would I do it again?
Absolutely yes.
Running The Press Day Coffee has taught me more about myself than I ever expected. It’s pushed me to grow, forced me to solve problems creatively, and given me a deep sense of pride in building something with my own hands.
But it’s not for everyone, and that’s okay.
If you’re thinking about starting your own business, go in with your eyes wide open. Understand it will be hard. Prepare for setbacks. Save more money than you think you’ll need. And most importantly, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons—not just to escape a job you don’t like, but because you genuinely want to create something meaningful.
The journey of entrepreneurship transforms you. Sometimes it breaks you down first, then builds you back stronger.
For me, that transformation has been worth every difficult moment.
Have you thought about starting your own business? What’s holding you back, or what questions do you have? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
