How easy or tough is it to work in a start - up company?

Yes, there is a world beyond money but you need it in business. Many organizations do operate with little to no money. Some of them operate off of donations. Working in a start-up can be tough, especially if you don't have a plan, guidance, direction or a consultant to talk to. There's a lot that goes on in starting up a business, you just have to make sure that you have the right support, planning and resources behind you.

~CEO Business Management Solutions:

CEO Business Management Solutions is a management consulting company: www.CEOBusinessManagementSolutions.com .This company provides business management consulting services, counseling, strategic planning services and strategic management assistance.

Check this out

http://toostep.com/insight/working-for-start-up

• one has to have a a certain zeal for challange and no fear.
• Morals, values and principle will be challnged on every level, so do some soul searching.
• Do a business plan,  and keep it updated every 6 months.
• get some help from retired executives , and mentors.

Nice question and which fits me exactly. Right now am working in a start up company. In my perspective I'll call start up company as an open university which gives us a chance to fall and to learn by ourselve. On the other hand 20% of responsibility will be given and we must take the rest of 80% responsibility. A wondeful chance to learn and leverage knowledge and ppl as well.

Lots of advantages and disadvantages are there, i suppose. Right place to implement the business process but it would take time to adopt for an start up company. And finally I believe that we could learn the following

1. Time and knowledge Management

2. Management and Business Skills - we can view all the business and management process

3. People Management - easy to manage a team and to how to organize

4. Research Space for our dreams.

5. Where we build ourselves as a machine to work and to deliver

6. Helps us to work hard initially finally we convert that hard work in to smart work which makes others to think.

7. Project Management - this is very challenging one; which sucks our time to know about Project management. Agile / water fall and more.....

I have had the oppurtunity of working for 9 Startups.

 With this I have known both the Pros and Cons of working with Startups. All th 6 Points enumerated by Viktor are true. To continue I would also like to enumerate the flip side

 1 Working with startups becomes a habit and a preference. The rush of Adrenalene is required - like the Bungee Jumper who needs the jump... the fast driver who needs the dpeed to pep him up -  in the same way to work in Startups becomes an adiction.

2. After the startup the project enters the steady state and here the Startup adict finds himself out of place. the difference in competencies become apparant. the growth of the office politics (changing dynamics), is not the forte of the startup specialist. Innovativeness, in work sfits inti innovativeness in office (non office ) networking.

3. The habit of taking and recieving snap decisions, is not looked upon in the same light as in during the startup stage.

Well being a startup specialist myself... the turbulent water situation of today, (even in the steady state) is more of my cup of tea and expectantly each day of working is now like a startup situation.

 Best luck

 Rahul Sinha

There is something intriguing about the idea of working for a startup company. You can’t help but feel an adrenaline rush when listening to someone passionately discuss an innovative new idea or new business opportunity.

Granted, you have to be somewhat of a risk taker. You have to be willing to put in long hours. And there’s also the danger that if the startup fails, you will be out of a job. But the chance to work under the tutelage of a business trailblazer exploring new, uncharted terrain can be quite exciting.

Here are some advantages to working for a startup company:

• Exciting challenges. One of the biggest thrills of working for a startup company is being part of a team that is constantly striving to improve their product and service. Sometimes the goals are even loftier and are fueled by a drive to become the leader in the industry.
  
  
• Creative environment. Since startups tend to be more receptive arenas for new ideas, they attract imaginative types who enjoy brainstorming creative and clever ways of doing things. When you’re working to constantly build and improve something, success often depends on the ability to think differently.
  
  
• Camaraderie. In many startups and other small businesses, employees are often more like a family than merely a group of coworkers. When you’re as friendly with the CEO as you are with the person sitting next to you, you feel a strong sense of togetherness and purpose that larger, more hierarchical companies often lack.
  
  
• Skill-building opportunities. Employees of startups tend to have more varied duties, which can mean a chance to develop a host of valuable new skills. One day you may be designing a product, the next day closing a sales deal. It’s up to you to seize the many challenges and opportunities that come your way in such a fluid environment.
  
  
• Room to grow. Some of the most successful U.S. companies started out as small businesses. Working in a startup with huge growth potential can be very rewarding. Smaller companies can offer things that larger ones cannot, such as the chance to expand and advance with the company and the chance to play a central role in the growth of the business.
  
  
• Sense of pride. After the hard work of launching a startup is over, you can take pride in the company’s success and the role that you played. And should the startup never become the success everyone hoped for, you can still take pride in having had the guts to take the chance.

I am completly agree with what darpen answered above...

its hard core fact that to work in start up company is really a challenge and obviously great opportunity to learn a lot ..

ok might be it will not very much fruitfull initially but ultimate it will prove benifecial in long term carrier achivement and goals.