Self employed vs employee

Hi,

The question is would you rather be self employed or employed by a company/organization/individual?

On the one hand, I would prefer being self employed and running my own business, as I am in control; I get to choose my own hours; I get more job satisfaction and maybe more money. But on the other hand, I could go bankrupt; I may not get a holiday; and I have to employ staff. I know I am very bad in a retail environment as my family used to own a store, and I was someone with a bad temper. I know customer service is not what I strive in - but I know plenty of other businesses where you can make more money with less customers or at least gain a lot of commission.

However, being employed by someone gives me the chance to get paid holiday; have a steady income; work less hours; get more perks; and gain qualifications and skills. A few downsides would be working hours you are not comfortable with; undertaking tasks that you don't wish to do; being pushed around a lot; pressured into reaching targets.

Both types of employment have their ups and downs. Which one do you prefer and why?