Many people will have the ambition and dream to not have to work for somebody else and to be their own boss. Whether that is simply freelancing and just working for you, or whether you work towards creating a business and company that at some stage has employees and big offices. The dream is different for everyone, but with one thing in common, leaving the day job and doing it for yourself.
However, with so much focus around paying bills and having to have some form of normal employed job, for many people the risks involved and the faith it takes can be too overwhelming, and they therefore never make that step. But, if you do get to a stage in your life when it could become your reality, you may be wondering what steps you can take to ensure that it happens for you.
So here are some of the common things to think about to help you get started on this new journey to become your own boss.
What is the idea?
One of the first things that you need to think about is the idea that you have to make a business or work for yourself. What is it that you want to do? Some people are very fortunate to already know what it is they want to do. They have that idea there ready and waiting that has been nurtured for a while.
Something to consider would be to look back over your previous job roles and the experience you already have and see if there is anything that you can do along those lines. You may find that perhaps you could work for yourself doing something similar to what you already do. This can often be the hardest thing, but once you know what it is you want to do, the rest can really fall into place.
Do you need more knowledge of the business?
Once you know what it is you want to do, the next thing to think about would be to gain as much knowledge as possible. This could be a generalized surrounding business where articles you find online could help, or it may be quite specific to the role you want or the niche and area of business that you want to go into.
The more knowledge that you have, the more confident you will be in your approach to making it your reality. Take time to work through things, the more information you have the better position that you are in.
Have you got a financial backup?
A great thing to do ahead of leaving your job would be to ensure you save some money before you do it. Putting aside a percentage of your wages can help you to build up a nest egg quickly, which could be used as a replacement for your wages while you set up a business or find clients for your freelance business.
The more you focus on putting yourself in a better position, the less scared you will be about taking that plunge to leave the safety net of your job and try and go it alone.
Would financial investment help?
Once you have your idea and the grounding all worked out, you can now start to put your plans into action. But one thing that could be stopping you is whether or not you need the financial investment to help make it happen. There are a number of options you could consider, and so you would want to take the time to work out what it is that will work for you.
You could use your own savings to get started. Or maybe seeks the help of family or friends to invest in you and your business. A popular option is to go to the bank with a business plan and have them lend you the money in a different way, or at some stage be in a position where you can get outside investment.
Where can you work?
It can all feel like it is coming together now, so the next thing you might want to think about is where you will work. Some people like the idea of starting from home, and this can save you a hefty amount in overheads as you have fewer costs to outlay.
Working from home can also give you great flexibility in terms of time, but it can be hard to differentiate between working and home life. If you want to work from home, having a dedicated space to work can make all of the difference. Consider the times of day where you will have time to work on your business or perhaps when you are most productive. Some people like to work first thing in the morning whereas others work at night when the family is asleep.
However, if you don’t want to work from home, you could look into a lease where you rent an office, use shared office space, or even get to the stage where you open up a shop or business premises straight away.
Making your business known
Of course, you now will want to make sure your business is known, and one of the best ways to do that would be to use a website and be present and consistent on social media platforms. It can be the easiest way to build a following and direct people to your website, so having a content strategy in place could help you make this a reality. The more you focus on this, the better it will be when it comes to your new business venture.
Having the patience to make it succeed
Finally, always ensure that you are realistic. These things take time, and because of that, you need to have the patience to make this a success. It will happen if you work for it. Take the time to work out your plan of action and ensure that you know the best route to take.
Let’s hope this has helped you to finally leave the day job for good.