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JDG: Freedom, adventure and ZUS every month! Or the whole truth about sole proprietorship that no one told you
When you start a sole proprietorship (SME), everyone around you keeps saying:
“You will be your own boss!”
“You decide when and how much you work!”
“Unlimited earnings, complete freedom!”
Sounds wonderful, right? Well… welcome to the world of entrepreneurship. What is life really like on JDG and why many entrepreneurs dream of a quiet, full-time job after a few years? Here's the brutally honest truth.
Freedom? You can work whenever you want… but you always work anyway
The myth “I am my own rudder, sailor, and ship” actually looks like this:
You can take time off in the middle of the week.
❌ But that means you'll have to catch up on Saturday.
You can work any hours you want.
❌ But you will still spend most of your day on the phone with clients and answering emails.
Working as a self-employed person is like having a small child – even if you’re not looking, somewhere in the back of your mind you’re worried about whether everything is working, whether customers are happy and invoices are paid.
Summary:
Yes, you have freedom. But it's like a hamster running on a wheel - you run because you can, but it's harder to stop.
Flexible working hours – yes, but why do you end your day at midnight?
When you run your own business, there is no one standing over you and telling you when to start and stop working. But here's the problem:
- In the morning you have a lot of energy, but then you have to answer emails and get things done. invoices.
- In the afternoon you have even more work to do, and suddenly your clients all want something.
- In the evening you promise yourself that you will finish early today... and at midnight you close your laptop.
Flexible working hours on JDG means one thing: you work all the time, because "just one more thing."
Unlimited earnings
Right? Yes, but…
An invoice for 10,000 PLN? Great! But remember that half of that is taxes, ZUS and costs.
Have you forgotten about ZUS? Don't worry, ZUS never forgets about you.
As income grows, income tax and health insurance premiums rise with it.
At the beginning of the month you feel like the king of life. In the middle - like an ordinary employee. And at the end, after paying for everything, you start calculating whether it will be cheaper to eat pasta with sauce or just pasta.
Do-It-Yourself Bookkeeping – Why Is It a Bad Idea?
Every entrepreneur thinks at first: "What the heck, I'll handle the accounting myself!" And indeed, issuing the first invoice is easy. And then the questions arise:
How to complete VAT-7?
Can I include this expense in my costs?
Why is the Tax Office calling me?!
If you’re brave enough, you can do your own bookkeeping. But don’t be surprised if you wake up one day and think, “I think I need to hire an accountant before the IRS treats my tax returns as science fiction.”
Invoices, taxes, obligations… where is the time for running a business in all this?
- It was supposed to be like this:
- You are starting a business.
- You do what you like.
- You make money.
And it is like this:
30% time – actual work.
30% time – invoices, settlements, taxes.
20% time – talking to clients and finalizing formalities.
20% of time – wondering, "why I didn't become a postman".
Running a JDG means that you must not only be a specialist in your field, but also accountant, salesperson, marketer and logistician in one person.
10 typical thoughts of an entrepreneur after 3 years of JDG
After a few years of running your business, the following thoughts will pop into your head:
1️⃣ “If I became a postman, would I have less stress?”
2️⃣ “Why does ZUS cost more than my rent?”
3️⃣ "I could have stayed in my job and had peace, but no, I had to be ambitious..."
4️⃣ “What if my client wants an invoice, but without VAT?”
5️⃣ “Why does my family think that because I own a business I can pick them up from the airport in the middle of the day?”
6️⃣ “Will I finally earn more this month than I pay in taxes?”
7️⃣ “If I have time to go on vacation, does that mean I’m doing something wrong?”
8️⃣ “Why don’t they teach you how to file tax returns in school?”
9️⃣ “Why don’t we close down our business and open a food truck in Bali?”
🔟 "What if I became a postman?"
Is JDG freedom?
Running your own business is a great adventure, but also a huge responsibility. You have freedom, but you have to discipline yourself. You can earn a lot, but taxes and contributions won't let you forget about them. You can work whenever you want, but if you don't watch yourself - you'll be working all the time.
Is it worth it?
If you like challenges, can manage yourself and are not afraid of formalities – Yes.
If you dream of a peaceful life and regular working hours – maybe you should look for a good full-time job.
One thing is certain: no one will tell you it will be easy. But once you take matters into your own hands - you won't trade it for anything else.
And you? What are your experiences with JDG? Share in the comments!
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