You hit the nail right on the head.
For example, in this state as I'm sure it is in others, landscaping is a HUGE industry!!! That and shit that goes along with it like lawn services (mowing, spraying, seeding) and tree trimming. Some of it is gruelling work, but nothing is free.
You pay your dues, get buried up to your neck in shit and still have a grin on your face, and in a few years or so you could even have someone doing the "dirty" work while you run the business.
Both the paper work, and shop work of owning a business are equally demanding however. Someone has to find the work, bid on it (to make money, not lose money) do the work, inspect, and deliver. Then someone has to do the billing, accounts receiveable and payable, accounting, and on and on.
I prefer getting my hands dirty to doing paper work.