Welcome to steemit. I know the feeling and have been scammed by contractors more than a few times (though with minimal damages luckily). I myself am looking for opportunities to strike out and start working for myself. Any advice you can share would be welcome and look forward to future to your future submissions.
I'll definitely write more about it all soon...
The main thing to remember though is the old saying, Rome wasn't built in a day. If you can start your own business whilst having a regular income from elsewhere, it will be a lot easier financially and emotionally.
Especially in the current environment, don't put all your eggs in one basket, times and business are changing faster and more than at any point since the industrial revolution. Find something you believe in, some product or service you are willing and proud to put your name to and it will make the sleepless nights and never ending work hours a little more tolerable.