How to Survive the Peaks and Valleys of a Seasonal BusinessThink launching a startup is challenging? Consider the life of the seasonal business owner: It's all start, restart, rinse and repeat.

The parties often went late into the night, with up to 150 friends milling about their pool, gathered around the piano, singing, talking and laughing. Scott Jones and his partner, Kell Hicklin, loved entertaining. So when they decided to tank their respective careers in marketing and human resources, the couple determined it was time for a complete change. They bought a then-failing seasonal inn and restaurant on Martha's Vineyard.

"She was just an old girl that was all rough and worn out and needed somebody to love her," Jones says.