Do you, or your spouse, have a goal to quit your job?
What are the steps you should take to make that happen as soon as possible?
When is it safe to quit? Or should you quit?
I’ve begun to work with some clients who have a goal to either quit their job.
Or a goal to make enough passive income so they don’t NEED to make money in their business. That way, they can work in their business because they love it without feeling like they have to make money.
I recognize that each person’s situation is unique. Therefore, I don’t recommend anyone just quit their job without getting some guidance for their own situation.
I know if someone would have given me some advice 12 years ago about when to quit my job to go full time in my business, it would have saved me some grief.
So here are a few key things to do BEFORE quitting your job….
1. Know your numbers – Clarity creates confidence. If you know your financial numbers well, it’s easy to plan. I had one client in a direct sales company that wanted to retire her husband. When I asked how much they needed each month to live comfortably, they had no idea (This is normal for business owners). When we finally got all of the numbers, and made some easy changes, we were able to retire him within a month! If you don’t know your numbers, you’ll be too scared to quit.
2. Build some savings – It’s ALWAYS a good idea to have some cash savings before making the leap. Each situation is different. But having at least 6-12 months of your monthly expenses is preferred. And yes, that can include retirement plans. But I wouldn’t rely to heavily on that. If your monthly expenses are $5,000 a month, you would want at least $30,000 – $60,000 saved up. Warning – this also depends on what your business is currently paying you.
3. Have a working business – Make sure your business is earning money before you quit your job. Some people make the emotional decision to make that leap too early. I made this mistake. I was so tired of my job that I left the company before the money was really coming in. As excited as I was, I was also scared that I wouldn’t be able to provide for my family. That unnecessary pressure drove sales AWAY from me. Real money is made during the overtime hours. Focus on creating some stability in your business. Once it gets so busy that it’s hard for you to do both, either cut down to part time or quit at that point.
4. Have your business pay you 10% MORE than what you’re earning now – This one is critical. Ideally, you want your business paying YOU 10% more than your current paycheck. This isn’t your business revenue (total sales). This is PROFIT! Money you bring home when all expenses are paid in the business. MANY make this mistake and it creates some major stress. You want 10% more because you will likely need to pay for certain expenses that your company used to provide as benefits, such as health insurance. Occasionally, I have got lucky, and some of my clients SAVED money on insurance costs leaving their job. But that’s not common.
This may require some patience. But don’t worry! Your job is the financing source that allows you to NOT need the money and build some savings so you can make the leap.
In some cases, it can happen MUCH FASTER than you think if we get creative with your finances. One client just freed up over $4,100 a month getting her that much closer. In fact, her husband could quit and they’d be just fine now.
Every case is different and every person is in a different stage of business. But done the right way, it can lead to financial peace and freedom.