I had an apprenticeship doing a thing that I loved and was naturally good at. After 8 years was helping run the shop with my talented but jerk of a boss. I was so in to the work that I had a all the equipment and tools at home. After 10 years I had clients asking why I put up with the talented jerk and saying if I’d leave they’d give me work. So I quit, rented a cheap place and have been swamped with work and growing ever since. The initial investment was probably about 10K for all the equipment and tools. The key to success was having developed a marketable skill, built trusted relationships with customers (B2B), and being super fugal. But fugal I mean, make your own coffee, pack your lunch, only hire people when you’re making enough to pay them if they work or not, only buy new equipment when you have a job that requires it an that will help pay for it, spend less than you make.