I try to keep the following in mind when I start to quesion my decision to open a shop: Look how many real estate agents there are, the good ones succeed the bad ones drop out. There is virtually no barriers to entry, there is no buy out for an agent at the end of a career, it is sink or swim for them. Same with so many other self employed businesses, think of all the trades - carpenters and such.

The good ones do well and new agents start every day. Some are very successful, regardless of what the market conditions are when they start.

I think the good custom installers will succeed and the hacks will struggle..

David