*raises hand*
I own and operate a dance studio. We have over 250 students, mostly recreational but a few dozen who are tuition performers and competitive dancers, and have been featured in a national arts industry magazine for our "sustainable" practices and our "21st-century" technology/digitized marketing and registration. We'll be traveling around the country and have two more upgrade programs available to our patrons by January 2016. I also still take contract work with area theatres for choreography, judging regional and sectional competitions, and auditions for area dance teams.
We've been in operation going on 3 years. We're investing in expansion now to two other rooms in the building we rent. We started breaking even in 7-9 months after opening. Then our profit margins were minimal. Now I make more money than my husband does at his bread and butter job. I worried many years ago he would be upset if I did, but turns out he's very very proud and happy for me, and he supports my business and helps out however he can too.
Go for it. Never quit. Never. There'll be many times quitting is the most rational option and the most enticing decision when you hit a brick wall....and those brick walls never stop hitting you. But still, never NEVER quit. Never. One of the best decisions I ever made. I found out how much I love having sex and embraced acting like a "whore", and then I found out how much I love making money and embraced acting like a "corporate sociopath". I **** off people on the right and the left ends of the spectrum for not acting in a way that I'm expected to. Oh well.
Yeah. Never quit. Invest in yourself. Invest in your people. Invest in technology that will keep your business relevent with the crowds. And have fun. 14 hour days are typical. But 14 hours doing something you love is amazing.