Why aren't most people starting their own business?

I think most people never take the leap into entrepreneurship because it requires stepping into the unknown. Fear plays a huge role in this. There is the fear of failure, financial instability, and the sheer uncertainty of whether the effort will pay off. And to be fair, the odds aren’t exactly encouraging.

With a large percentage of startups failing, many people see it as a risky bet compared to the stability of a traditional job.

Beyond fear, a lack of the right skills holds people back. From an early age, we’re trained to follow structured career paths, not necessarily to build something from scratch. Many don’t even consider starting a business because they’ve never been exposed to that possibility. Even for those who do, turning an idea into a functioning business demands a range of skills, marketing, finance, operations, and leadership. Without those, the process can feel overwhelming.

Then there’s the practical side. Balancing personal expenses while trying to grow a business is tough, especially if you're still working another job. Progress can feel slow, and when people don’t see immediate results, it’s easy to lose motivation.