Running a small business
The canon's economic advice was given to householders and is unembarrassed: diligence, guarding what you have earned, good friends, and living within your means, with freedom from debt and a blameless life among a householder's kinds of happiness. The Sigālaka Sutta gives a master duties toward his bonded servants and hired workers — work they are able for, food and pay, care in illness, rest days — and theirs toward him; the household is ancient, and what carries is that the duties run both ways. The suttas do not do the accounts or tell you when to close. The nightly payroll in your head is worth separating from the payroll itself.
What the suttas say
Byagghapajja, these four things lead to the welfare and happiness of a gentleman in this life. What four? Accomplishment in initiative, protection, good friendship, and balanced finances.
Dīghajāṇu — the Buddha's household economics.
AN 8.54:2.1–2.3 · With Dīghajāṇu
Cattārome, byagghapajja, dhammā kulaputtassa diṭṭhadhammahitāya saṁvattanti diṭṭhadhammasukhāya. Katame cattāro? Uṭṭhānasampadā, ārakkhasampadā, kalyāṇamittatā, samajīvitā.
A master should serve their bondservants and workers as the lower quarter in five ways: by organizing work according to ability, by paying food and wages, by nursing them when sick, by sharing special treats, and by giving time off work. Bondservants and workers served by a master in these five ways show sympathy to him in five ways. They get up first, and go to bed last. They don’t steal. They do their work well. And they promote a good reputation. Bondservants and workers served by a master in these five ways show sympathy to him in these five ways. And that’s how the lower quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril.
The six directions — mutual duties of employers and workers.
Where this stops: Dated — it describes a master and his bonded servants and hired workers in an ancient household. What carries is that the duties run both ways (work matched to ability, food and pay, care when sick, time off); it is not a model of modern employment law or a case for servitude.
DN 31:32.1–32.6 · Advice to Sigālaka
Pañcahi kho, gahapatiputta, ṭhānehi ayyirakena heṭṭhimā disā dāsakammakarā paccupaṭṭhātabbā— yathābalaṁ kammantasaṁvidhānena bhattavetanānuppadānena gilānupaṭṭhānena acchariyānaṁ rasānaṁ saṁvibhāgena samaye vossaggena. Imehi kho, gahapatiputta, pañcahi ṭhānehi ayyirakena heṭṭhimā disā dāsakammakarā paccupaṭṭhitā pañcahi ṭhānehi ayyirakaṁ anukampanti— pubbuṭṭhāyino ca honti, pacchā nipātino ca, dinnādāyino ca, sukatakammakarā ca, kittivaṇṇaharā ca. Imehi kho, gahapatiputta, pañcahi ṭhānehi ayyirakena heṭṭhimā disā dāsakammakarā paccupaṭṭhitā imehi pañcahi ṭhānehi ayyirakaṁ anukampanti. Evamassa esā heṭṭhimā disā paṭicchannā hoti khemā appaṭibhayā.
Householder, these four kinds of happiness can be earned by a layperson who enjoys sensual pleasures, depending on time and occasion. What four? The happiness of ownership, using wealth, debtlessness, and blamelessness.
Money worry in the Buddha's own frame; blamelessness outweighs the rest.
AN 4.62:2.1–2.3 · Debtlessness
Cattārimāni, gahapati, sukhāni adhigamanīyāni gihinā kāmabhoginā kālena kālaṁ samayena samayaṁ upādāya. Katamāni cattāri? Atthisukhaṁ, bhogasukhaṁ, ānaṇyasukhaṁ, anavajjasukhaṁ.
“Mendicants, a lay follower should not engage in these five trades. What five? Trade in weapons, living creatures, meat, intoxicants, and poisons. A lay follower should not engage in these five trades.”
The explicit list of wrong livelihood.
Where this stops: A short list; most modern ethical dilemmas at work are not on it and need the speech and action teachings instead.
AN 5.177:1.1–1.4 · Trades
“Pañcimā, bhikkhave, vaṇijjā upāsakena akaraṇīyā. Katamā pañca? Satthavaṇijjā, sattavaṇijjā, maṁsavaṇijjā, majjavaṇijjā, visavaṇijjā— imā kho, bhikkhave, pañca vaṇijjā upāsakena akaraṇīyā”ti.
Don’t run back to the past, don’t anticipate the future. What’s past is left behind, the future has not arrived; and any present phenomenon you clearly discern in every case. The unfaltering, the unshakable: having known that, foster it.
The Bhaddekaratta verses — letting go of the chase after what is gone and what has not yet come, in favour of what is here.
Where this stops: The verses go on to urge effort today, since no one knows whether death comes tomorrow; they are about where attention goes, not a dismissal of planning or of a past that still needs repair.
MN 131:3.1–3.8 · One Fine Night
Atītaṁ nānvāgameyya, nappaṭikaṅkhe anāgataṁ; Yadatītaṁ pahīnaṁ taṁ, appattañca anāgataṁ. Paccuppannañca yo dhammaṁ, Tattha tattha vipassati; Asaṁhīraṁ asaṅkuppaṁ, Taṁ vidvā manubrūhaye.