For those working at a startup, how many days and hours a week do you work?

We only started in earnest this year (non-CS based startup, so we needed lab space), but according to my time sheets I worked 106 hours in January (mostly logistics and setup, no lab work), jumped to around 135 in June/July when I actually got into a lab space and could start doing real work, and expect to come in around 210 in September (now that I've got things up and running).

For me it's been highly variable. Some days (weeks?) I'm too frustrated to get anything productive done so I just take some time to recover and think. Some weeks I have piles of tasks that make sense to do so I just work 10+ hour days doing it.

I think that the number of hours you work and the number of days you work strongly depends on the type of work you're doing, and your personal stamina. It's no use trying to push harder than you can handle, you'll just end up too tired, or in a mental rut, or not spending enough time actually looking at what you're doing and you'll waste piles of time running down things you could have easily told in advance were dead ends.

Plus, some recovery time and rest is just a natural part of any high-creativity work, some days you're in the zone, some days you're not, and you just have to accept that and learn to ride the mental energy both ways.

I think the best goal you can have is to try to set up short term goals, to make sure you always have a clear idea of what your real priorities are in the short term, to make sure that those goals especially include prioritizing communication with coworkers, consultants, contractors, and consultants to make sure they're not lost just because you are, and to not worry about hours. It's not about time put in, it's about productive work done. Always strive to make sure you've got in your own mind a sense of what is most important, and focus on that while trying to keep the less important stuff moving forward at a steady pace (even if that pace is slow).

Open for 10 months, 6 days a week so around 80 ~ 90 hours a week. I would say the better question is when do you not work ...

My problem is not the hours, but the productivity. I "work" from the moment I wake up to the moment I sleep. Most days its 10am-3am.

However my actual productivity is probably 6 hours - if that. It sucks but when you're a one man shop you have a shit ton of things on your mind and I find it hard as hell to concentrate.

16 hours.

You end up working harder than in a job. Late nights and early mornings to keep to schedule. Yet in my last year I have tried really hard to maintain a typical 40 to 45 hour working week, with exercise and decent breaks. When this is possible I am far more efficient and focused, but sometimes business needs take over.

Every day, 10am to 1am. Always on call. But the odd couple of hours off a week to chill out.

it's fucking hard! Ups and down. And sometimes you'll lose momentum.

I work about 9 hours a day. Perhaps 10-7 or 9:30-6:30. It is pretty manageable, now that we have real revenue and staff. When I worked 14 hours a day, I was a real mess and I don't think I actually got much more done and perhaps a lot less.

Passed year 2, now about a quarter into year 3.

2.5yrs, we try to limit to a <em>jogging</em> pace of 65-75hrs/wk. This way no one's burned out in case we need to <em>sprint</em> (90+hrs/wk). We've only had to sprint twice.

But as a founder, there's no off button. I am thinking about work from the moment I wake up to the moment I sleep.

If in USA be aware, they have to pay you overtime too!!!

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/overtimepay.htm

And also pay attention have you been misclassified as a contractor where you are actually employee. Startups using contractors to avoid paying taxes.

Inform yourself folks :

http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Independent-Contractor-Self-Employed-or-Employee

Before you sign contract, do know your rights!