How can I smoothly transition from full time worker to self-employment?

The ways I've done this in the past are
1) Find some customers that are willing to hire you (or your product) but know that you'll only be free nights & weekends to support/work with them.
2) Find a "partner" (co-founder or other) that's got a flexible schedule that can help build the business while you're at work.
3) Block out nights, mornings and weekends to build the business till you have enough orders to cover 50% of your salary. This might mean 7pm-11pm most nights, and 4 hours each day Sat & Sun. Make progress (sales $$$) and momentum.

All that being said, it's risk reward. Sounds like you want to avoid taken the risk, and I get that .. but the upside is always smaller. Unless you put yourself in a position to have to succeed (ex: quitting your job) then you may never make the scary decisions that are required to build a company (like cold calling, going in debt, making a presentation, etc).

I'm on company #5 with many other side projects started nights & weekends .. so I get it - but don't be afraid to bet on yourself and go all in.

Reality check question: What do the team members get for launching your business while you are still working?

In other words - while you are avoiding taking the leap (aka risk) and they are building a potentially viable business for you to transition into once it's safe to quit your job - why do they need you?

It's certainly possible to launch a start-up while working (though I'd suggest it's generally slower doing it that way - and sometimes slow kills)...

But my experience (personal and via my coaching clients) suggests that a start-up requires several things that you will not be able to provide if / while you are still employed and working a full-time job.

Things like time and energy that will be VERY challenging to put in while you are working.

And if you still need the income from a J-O-B then how are you going to fund the start-up costs? To pay the team? To invest in your start-up in the areas you discover offer the greatest ROI?

I respect your desire to move forward with a start-up (it's an incredibly exciting move!) but I'd suggest you get a solid strategy in place to do so to ensure the greatest probability of success.

I wish you the best of luck!

You're thinking way too big without enough action.

Planning a startup on the side as an employee will result in one thing - continued employment.

Get your feet on the ground. Make things happen. Create momentum.

What you WANT is the problem of having way too much happening and momentum towards success on the side that you simply won't be able to stay in your job.

Build up these things:
-Stamina
-Endurance
-Efficiency
-A really awesome network
-A client/customer base
-Resistance to bullshit

I have wanted to be an entrepreneur since I was 23 years old but was tied to a full-time job for health insurance and income to pay off medical and student loan debt. In 2010, I decided that I wanted to start a blogging/content consulting company. By 2011, I was making $5K a year with my side business and by 2012, I was making 1/3 of my full-time income. In 2013, my side business amplified, and two weeks ago, I left my full-time job.

When I share this story, folks think that I accomplished some amazing feat, but I didn't. I worked my ass off -- 17 hour days for a year and a half straight. I networked relentlessly for client work and built a strong foundation to never have to rely on a full-time job again.

I think that your transition will depend on the type of business you're running. You'll need to develop your assets + client base. When you feel like you have a strong foundation and can support yourself financially, jump.

There isn't really any such thing as a smooth transition. There will always be a leap of faith, when the new venture isn't quite providing enough income yet starts demanding an inordinate amount of your time and energy.

I lost my job in 2001 at a time when there weren't many jobs in my industry, so I was forced into entrepreneurship. It turned out to be a great thing, because I love working for myself and I don't think I ever would have had the guts to walk away from a steady job. So I understand your concerns.

I did have an opportunity to do more what you're talking about a few years later. As I transitioned that first business to my business team I would work in that business for the morning, then go work on my new second business in the afternoon. It was great, because I was motivated to get all my work done in the morning so I could pursue my passion in the afternoon. It wasn't smooth, though. Some days I spent all my time at the first business. Some days I had to leave the first business hanging in favor of the second. And even though I have a great team in the first business it was still a leap of faith to commit myself full time to my new venture.

Now my team runs the first business and I'm full time in the second business.

It's doable. I just wouldn't ever expect it to be smooth.

If you want to set up a call I would be happy to hear more about your situation and help you think through a strategy to smooth out this transition as much as possible.

The other way to put up your question is "What's the best time to quit a job and don entrepreneurship hat?". The answer is, there's always a good time to start. Just make sure you don't put your legs on two boats at a time. In time of crisis you'll end up in water, losing foot hold on either.

The transition will be smooth only when you sit down and invest some time to plan your business. And, that can't be done as long as you don't have that passion to live your dream.

Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t. Make sure you're ready to live that life.

I've been in your shoes. Before I Rent a Coder was big enough to support me full-time, I had to find a way to smoothly transition from my stable full-time job, without causing myself a coronary. ;-)

I took the tactic of working a full-time job to support myself, and then coming home at night and then working on my start up another 6 to 7 hours. This isn't the strategy for everyone since some people have family and other commitments that prohibited. But if you are single like I was, it is the safest way to make the transition, because you are never without an income. This can be crucial if there are problems with your business plan (which is almost always the case) and it takes longer to create a sustainable business than you first anticipated.

Here's another tip: when Rent a Coder was finally doing well enough to support myself, I told my boss about it in my intention to work on a full-time. Since I had done a good job for him, he offered to let me work part-time and taper off my hours over time as the business took off. This gave me additional income to feed into the business when it was still very new and fragile, and gave me more confidence in making the transition successfully.

Best of luck to you with making the transition and if you need any advice, you can look me up here on clarity.

Good idea--build the revenue while you're still working, so that the strain isn't directly placed upon the new business.

There's a book and a group on Facebook specifically for people like yourself. It's called How To Quit Working. The book is by Jeff Steinmann, and you can get it on Amazon. The Facebook group is called "How To Quit Working Circle".

I'll leave you to search for those things if you like, because I don't want to be told it's promotional to link to them. This is a person I've learned from, and I believe his book is one of the top three business books I've read in the past 10 years.

Well my dear the possible way of doing that can be:
Thinking out a demand
Believe that you can get it done
Map out settings that such products is demanded
Start with the list amount you can start with
Take risk and
Bear losses and gains
Thanks
B

Work today looks hugely different than it did just a few years ago. There are many options for pursuing your passion, work is often completed in defined projects, and for many businesses it is cost and resource efficient to outsource work. This shift has intersected with the underlying revolution of American workers in search of greater control of their destiny, and the desire to do work aligned with their passion and expertise. From our State of Independence in America study, we know that the cataclysmic workforce shifts of the past decades have fuelled a new kind of productivity, wealth, and personal growth opportunity for American workers and companies. We also know that the majority of those who choose to pursue self-employment are very satisfied and plan to continue working as an independent.
While it is exciting to take control of your career path, lifestyle and income, there are also many questions surrounding how to become a consultant. What steps should you take to prepare? What do you need to start an independent business? How do you leave your employer? Successful independent professionals come from all walks of life, but they share a common trait of being planners. They are savvy professionals who do their research, ask good questions and work towards their goals. Deciding to go independent involves thinking through many aspects of how self-employment will affect your life from preparing financially to considering how you will handle benefits, retirement savings, and childcare management. Look for real-life advice and references before taking the leap.
Before I give you the tips, you must understand that everyone has different path to transition, if path X is beneficial for person A it is not true that it will be successful with person B as well. Like I have already said deciding to go independent involves thinking through many aspects of how self-employment will affect your life from preparing financially to considering how you will handle benefits, retirement savings, and childcare management. Here are the tips:
1. Review your traits and skills: When you are considering self-employment, assess your readiness by examining some of the common traits of successful independents:
I. An identifiable, sellable talent
II. Tenacity and resiliency
III. Confidence in your abilities
IV. Focus
V. Integrity
VI. Networking skills
2. Financially prepare: Before you make the transition, it is critical to have a plan for your finances. You should either:
1. Have a project you will be able to start, that will bring immediate cash flow, or
2. Have a cushion that will cover you until you begin to generate income.
You should have at least a three-month cushion but may require more depending on your industry. Be realistic about when you can expect income.
3. Evaluate insurance plans: Assess how you will protect yourself, your family, your business, and your retirement. Find out the costs associated with health, life, and business insurances.
4. Create a marketing plan: Be conservative with your spending. There is no need to make investments in office space, logos, or branding at the beginning. Reputation, your network, a services brochure, and maybe a white paper is all you will need to get started.
5. Find mentors and advisors: Trusted advisors or mentors can provide valuable guidance and feedback on your plan. Find someone who has taken the journey with whom you feel comfortable speaking. A mentor can help you test, and refine your plan, practice your messaging, and give you the confidence you need to move forward in your independent career.
6. Consider starting part-time: The optimal situation is to test independence while still employed. If your schedule allows consulting on the side, and you are not violating your employment contract, moonlighting, or working on a part time basis can help smooth your transition to an independent career.
7. Write a business plan: A formal business plan is always a good idea, but at the very least you should have a roadmap that will help you navigate the journey. Have a 12-month and 3-year plan for both a short-term and long-term perspective.
8. Research your industry: Research your industry to discover what is in demand. This will help you to develop a service menu that meets the needs of your market. Learn market rates—both bill and pay rates to gain an understanding of the potential for compensation.
9. Decide how to leave your current job: Make sure that you are mentally and financially able to leave and have an alternative plan ready to go. Do not risk your current employment by having the conversation too early. Go into the exit conversation committed to your decision to leave. Before you resign, do your legal and policy research. It is important to know what documents you signed and how they impact your transition. For example, non-competes are quite common in employment contracts.
Besides if you do have any questions give me a call: https://clarity.fm/joy-brotonath

Many people are looking at self employment over full time work, but as an experienced business consultant.We advise our clients to establish a strong foundation and business management policy and knowledge before making a permanent decision to self employment.
Being a full time worker means you have been having a little time to understand and organise your policies in the new job your willing to start unless otherwise if your employing qualified and experienced workers to help you in boosting sales and proper management in order to amplify business growth.
I'm available for more consultations on phone call and I will give you ideas and strategies to be laid down in order to start self employing yourself.

When it comes to transitioning from a full time job to running your own successful business, there are several ways to which you can go about doing this. The following is ranked in list from most risky to least risky.

Quit Your Job, Start Your Business
In the book 'The E-Myth' Michael Gerber mentions how many employees tired of working for someone else one day decide to just quit and start their own business. Usually they do so out of frustration at their work and imagine how much better life would be if they were their own boss.

Unfortunately they don't realise the hard work and risk involved. This approach can be summoned to jumping out of an aeroplane and building your parachute whilst in mid-air. Unfortunately for most of these people, they run through their savings, etc and never actually get to launch their business.

Save Up Some Money, Then Quit Your Job To Start Your Business
The second approach is to carry on working in your job for 6 months to a year where you build up your savings. Then when you have enough stored up in a bank, you quit your job.

Whilst this approach is a little less riskier as you will have savings keeping you going for longer to work on your business, don't get too complacent. For time will always tick away and if your business doesn't take off on time, you will have to get another job in order to keep yourself afloat.

Wait Until Retirement To Start Your Business
This approach may seem like the safest option of them all. Just keep working away at the job until you retire. Once you reach retirement, then you are free to build up your business.

The trouble with this approach is you will be waiting till your later years in life to get your business going. Hence delaying your dreams. And you will never unfortunately know what the future holds. Will you make it to retirement age in good health? If at all?

And in years to come when retirement does come around, will your business idea be financially viable by than.

Start Your Business On The Side - Grow It Until You Can Leave Your Job
In my opinion this is the best route to go. Yet I must say that it is the one which would probably require the most work. For not only will you be working in a full time job but also working on growing a business.

However I would strongly recommend you consider this approach for a few reasons. The first is that you will be learning whilst you grow your business: learning skills like accounting, sales, marketing, etc. All whilst having the comfort of a job.

Second of all, if your business reaches the right size, you can pack in your job and live off your business net profits. Now a question that may be going through your mind is "what if the business I plan to start is one which will initially require my full time presence: like opening a physical shop?"

Well in that scenario, I would recommend holding off from starting such a business. Instead work on a business which can be scaled up whilst it is worked on part time. And then once it is up and running, quit your job and use your spare time to start your other, more time intensive business.

If you would like help on taking the steps required to get this done, do feel free to book a 1-2-1 consultation with me.

Making a transition from full-time worker to being self-employed is both exciting and challenging. You would start asking yourself why did I even chose this?
First of all, you should be quite sure in yourself to be able to do it, and really everyone is capable of doing it, it's just the lack of discipline and creativity holding you back.
1. Plan financially - Start by assessing your financial situation. Calculate your current monthly expenses and create a budget.
2. Choose your niche - identify the specific area in which you'll offer your services as a self-employed professional. Make sure this aligns with your skills, expertise, and passions. You should be able to market yourself properly.
3. Create a Business Plan - the most important thing I'd say is this. Take in consideration everything; your free time (the time you can take off to work on your business), define your target audience, services, pricing, marketing strategies.
4. Network - meet and learn with/from people who started their own thing. Don't be afraid to ask questions. There are no stupid questions. This is also quite important, consult with people that are near you, they might give you practical answers that you can implement.
5. Discipline really - work on your hustle whenever you can. Don't leave it for another day, don't be lazy and work your way through everything. It pays off eventually, big time. You can do it, just pursue it with all your might. Hope this helped, have a good one! :D

That's awesome that you're considering transitioning to self-employment. Here are a few steps you can take to make a smooth transition:

1. Plan and save: Start by creating a financial cushion to support yourself during the transition. Save up some money to cover your living expenses for a few months, as it may take time to establish your business.

2. Research and identify your niche: Figure out what you're passionate about and what skills you can offer as a self-employed individual. Research the market to see if there's a demand for your services or products.

3. Create a business plan: Outline your goals, target audience, marketing strategies, and financial projections. This will help you stay focused and organized.

4. Network and build connections: Reach out to others in your industry or related fields. Attend networking events, join online communities, and connect with potential clients or collaborators. Building a strong network can open up opportunities and provide valuable support.

5. Establish an online presence: Create a professional website or portfolio to showcase your work. Utilize social media platforms to promote your services and engage with your target audience.

6. Start part-time: If possible, begin your self-employment journey while still working full-time. This will allow you to test the waters, gain experience, and build a client base before fully committing.

7. Seek guidance and support: Consider finding a mentor or joining entrepreneurial groups or communities. Their insights and experiences can be invaluable as you navigate the challenges of self-employment.

Remember, transitioning to self-employment takes time and effort, but with proper planning and dedication, you can make it happen. Good luck! 🌟