[ndeast]

As others have said, running a record label (in this day and age) is a labor of love. You do it because you love the music, you love the artists and you love the scene. I am friends with a few label owners and it's an absolute treat when their release breaks even. I don't think a whole lot more needs to be said really. You are approaching this with entirely the wrong motivations here. Start with a passion in music and the desire to give your friends band a platform to try and scrape together a barely sustainable living, or even just get their songs pressed on a physical medium. At least that will be spiritually profitable.

[cpach]

Good point.

Also: Please correct me if I’m wrong but I would guess that quite a few owners of indie labels also have other sources of income in order to make a living…? I.e. a dayjob.

[ndeast]

The vast majority of indie label owners are toiling away by day to fund their passions. If you are a successful indie label you are likely investing a lot of your profit back in to sign and put out more bands. Some are able to run a profitable record label along side a more 'traditional' business like a record store, recording studio, or being in a fulltime touring band.