How to Build a Business When You Can’t Quit Your Job

Most of us get the urge to become an entrepreneur at one point or another. We may be called to create something from scratch, or lead a team of people or just earn money without having to answer to a boss. Whatever the motivation, the urge strikes us, but only a fraction of us ever take that all-important next step of actually building a business.

Why don’t more of us take that step? For starters, most of us already have jobs, and we can’t quit them smoothly or conveniently, so we just continue working them without pursuing our dreams. But what if you could build a business without quitting your job? It’s possible with the right approach.
Why not quit?

First, let’s take a look at why you’re not quitting your job in the first place. There are some valid reasons, but the reality is, you may not need your job as much as you think you do.

You need the money.
Money is tight during the early stages of entrepreneurship no matter how good your idea is. However, if you can secure enough venture capital or a good line of credit, you can scrape by without needing a supplementary job.

You’re afraid of plateauing in your career.
You may worry that if you quit, you may be unable to return to the workforce in the future. This is somewhat illogical in most cases. Talk to a boss or supervisor you trust, and get their opinion on a potential return if your business doesn’t pan out.

You’re unsure about your idea.
If you don’t have a good idea yet, you probably shouldn’t leave your job. While this is a valid reason, why not spend more time developing your idea?
You’re afraid of the risks.

You may want to keep your job as a safety net, but safety nets don’t always lead to a better overall performance.

If you’ve considered any of these reasons to hold onto your job, and you’re still convinced you can’t quit, follow these strategies to start a business successfully while still maintaining your daily responsibilities.
Be realistic.

First, be realistic about what you can and cannot do while still maintaining your job. You can work on your ideas, build some infrastructure and maybe even manage your business during the early stages, but you can’t feasibly manage this forever. There are only so many hours in the day, and you’ll need to make a commitment to one side or the other eventually. Read more…

Culled fro the Entrepreneur