Starting a business is path to experiencing the extremes of emotions–the extreme negative ones are a sacrifice, but the extreme positive ones are a gift. You take time from leisure activities, but if you enjoy and believe in what you are doing, that time can be a net win. You lose some friends, but you gain others. You lose money along the way, and you make money.

If you are going to start a business, look at the balance in sacrifices and rewards, and the form your life takes along the way.

QuickBooks is a good software tool for managing business finances. You can get started with it by setting up a few accounts (read on this or get an accountant to help you). With a good initial setup, you can then mostly learn as you go.