Ruth Clark

Featured in Your Business Spring 2026

Have You Ever Wondered Whether Running a Business Is Really Worth It?

Perhaps you’re working longer hours than ever, carrying the responsibility for your team, your customers and your family.

After all, you started your business to create freedom, but sometimes it feels as though the business is running you instead. The pressure can be overwhelming, and the self-doubt can creep in. Despite everything you’ve achieved, there are moments when you wonder whether it would be easier to walk away and get a job.

If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone.

I’ve felt it too.

My Story

Business has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

I grew up in Colombia in a family of entrepreneurs. My father ran a business, as did my uncles and cousins. Later on, my older brothers also ran their own businesses. As a child, I saw both the rewards and the sacrifices that came with building a business.

Family meals would frequently be interrupted by discussions about customers, cash flow and business challenges. Some days, I only saw my father for a few hours, while my brothers often worked such long hours that I’d only see them at weekends.

Back then there were no business coaches, no mentors, no online communities. Families simply worked through the ups and downs together.

Later, while studying at college, I had the opportunity to run a business with my older sister, supporting professionals and small companies to outsource their secretarial skills. We’ve always shared a special bond and, although the business had its fair share of challenges, it taught me valuable lessons about trust, communication, resilience and working towards a shared goal. The business came to a natural end when I moved to the UK, but the experience helped me appreciate the unique dynamics within family-run businesses.

After many years working in corporate finance, I decided to combine my professional experience with the lessons I’d learned growing up in an entrepreneurial family. The idea was to build a practice focused on helping business owners create sustainable businesses that support family life.

What I didn’t realise at the time was how difficult that journey would be.

I joined a pilot accountancy franchise, believing it would help me learn how to run a successful practice. Instead, I ended up trying to learn everything on my own at the same time as pushing myself far outside my comfort zone.

I still remember my first one-minute business pitch. Honestly, I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

Nothing had prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster of business ownership. The uncertainty. The self-doubt. The pressure. The responsibility. The feeling that everything rested on my shoulders.

There were times when I seriously considered giving up and returning to corporate life. But, instead of walking away, I asked for help.

I found mentors.

I invested in learning.

I rebuilt my confidence.

And, step by step, I built the practice that had been my original vision.

Today, that journey has grown into RMC Accountants — a family business that now allows me to work alongside my husband and a dedicated team, helping family-run and owner-managed businesses gain clarity, confidence and control over their finances.

Along the way, losing my nephew to cancer completely changed my perspective on life. It reminded me how precious time is, and how important family really is. That experience reinforced something I had always believed:

A successful business should support your life, not consume it.

What I Learned

Over the years, I’ve learned that most business owners don’t need more information. They need clarity.

They need someone who understands both the numbers and the realities of running a business.

And they need support from someone who understands that, behind every business, is a person, a family and a future they’re trying to build.

That’s why our approach goes beyond compliance. Yes, we prepare accounts, tax returns, payroll and VAT returns. But we also help business owners understand their numbers, improve profitability, strengthen cash flow and make better decisions with confidence.

Because, when you understand your business finances, you gain the confidence to build the future you want.

Ready to Find Out How Financially Healthy Your Business Really Is?

Take our Business Health Check and discover the opportunities, risks and next steps that could help you build a stronger, more profitable and sustainable business.