Individuals who left their corporate jobs to start their own businesses

Hello everyone,

I’m in my late 20s and feeling exhausted by the 9-to-5 routine. I’ve always dreamed of opening my store.

Currently, I’m networking and seeking clients as a partner in a social media marketing firm. Additionally, I have a vending machine business and am working on launching my clothing brand.

Has anyone else just quit their job to pursue their ventures?

I still live at home, which I’m grateful for, but I need to contribute to rent and cover my bills. I have nearly $4,000 saved up.

My vending machine business hasn’t started yet because I’m still looking for a location and the machines. Starting the clothing line also requires more capital.

I’m eager to leave my 9-to-5 job. Over the past year, I’ve invested about $10,000 into setting up my LLC, hiring a CPA, taking classes, and funding my side projects like the clothing business.

Although I don’t want to stay in a corporate job, I still have financial obligations. I lack sufficient capital and don’t want to manage multiple LLCs without seeing any profits.

I’m feeling lost. After work, I spend my time networking and trying to save more money, aiming to open a vending machine location this year.

I’m considering applying for grants, but I know it would require hiring someone to help, and my time is limited.

How did you break free from the 9-to-5 lifestyle? How did you start your business? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I’ve heard it’s best to focus on one side hustle at a time, but I’ve already invested $2,000 into social media marketing and arranged for wholesale shirts so a friend can handle the printing. I’m also getting a digital sketchpad to start designing.

I need all the advice I can get. I understand I should concentrate on one project, but I’m determined to work for myself. However, right now, I’m self-funding everything out of pocket to pursue my dreams. I refuse to spend the next 40 years in a 9-to-5 job, but I’m feeling overwhelmed and emotional. Any guidance would be helpful.

Thank you for reading :face_with_hand_over_mouth: :face_with_hand_over_mouth:

6 Likes

I recently quit my corporate job, which I had been at for about 21 years, to start my own business.

But I’ve saved up more than $100,000. For our family, more than a year’s worth of runway in case my business falters or begins slowly.

That $4k won’t last too long.

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4K is not good. It takes three to five years to pay off, and even then there’s a significant risk. It took me eight years and two enterprises to establish myself and feel at ease.

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$4K was spent before I completed reading this post.

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Three years seems like a long time. I had two quarters to prove that I was cash flow positive ahead of schedule. I closed that after six months of consulting as business increased.

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My house is paid for and I have a similar amount saved. In addition, I have around $30k in orders for my side business that need to be shipped for the next month, and I’m still not sure whether I can quit my 9 to 5.

I suppose I’m less of a risk-taker than OP.

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What does $30k orders to ship mean in terms of revenue or profit? And if you made it your full-time career, how much more could you make? To reduce risk, you must have those answers before committing.

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100k might not be sufficient, depending on the type of firm you run. If at all feasible, give your decision to resign some serious thought. Being a business owner is not always easy. Yes, we despise our employers, but if your new business fails, you’ll detest everything even more. Sincerely, I hope you have the best possible luck in life.