Building a Business Can Be Downright Terrifying. Here's How to Cope. (Infographic) A new survey has found that you're probably a lot more prepared than you think.

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Choosing to be an entrepreneur can be downright terrifying.

In a new study conducted by the UPS store, a majority of respondents claimed that building a business was the second scariest "life-changing event' that they ever intended to face, followed by concerns surrounding retirement savings.

Entrepreneurship was a scarier prospect for the 1,700 consumers and business owners surveyed than getting a divorce, becoming a parent or moving to a new city.

Related: How I Overcome the Fear of Failure

At the same time, the survey found, there are ways to temper these anxieties. Eighty-two percent of small business owners, for instance, said that tapping a mentor helped them power through their initial trepidations.

And, it turns out, many of these fears were ultimately found to be unwarranted. More than half of respondents reported that they were actually more prepared to start their businesses than they initially thought.

For additional stats and coping mechanisms, check out the infographic below.

Related: 20 Motivational Quotes from Legendary Entrepreneurs, Leaders and Visionaries (Infographic)

Click to Enlarge

Building a Business Can Be Downright Terrifying. Here's How to Cope. (Infographic)

Related: 10 Fears You Must Overcome When Starting a New Business

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Zillow Predicts These 10 Places Will Have the Hottest Housing Markets in 2025

Zillow predicted that the hottest housing market of 2025 will be Buffalo, New York. Here's why.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Science & Technology

5 AI Books Top Entrepreneurs Are Reading in a Rush for 2025

Entrepreneurs must embrace AI or risk falling behind. Discover 2025's top 5 AI books to gain a competitive edge, featuring insights from "The Wolf is at the Door" and a free AI Success Kit.

Business News

These Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs That Only Require a 2-Year Degree — With Some Around $100,000 and Higher

People with two-year degrees may see career growth in the healthcare, aviation, and technology industries over the next 10 years, according to a new report.

Growing a Business

Want to Build a Digital Business? Here's the Framework You Need to Succeed.

The article emphasizes how ISO 20000-1 serves as a strategic tool for entrepreneurs to structure entirely digital businesses.