Whenever a person is looking at starting their own business, money and time are two areas that can make the decision a tough choice. On the one hand, leaving the current job is more than a leap of faith in their own abilities and the viability of their business plan it is also a high gamble on the finances of their family. Unless there is already a waiting list for their product or services, it can take some time before the income from the new venture is enough to meet all of their business and personal expenses.



Most people who start a new business pour the majority of their money back into the business and usually only pay themselves as much as they need to get by. Unfortunately, for many new businesses there may not be enough initial income to meet all of their personal obligations as well as business expenses. Even if the business is located inside the home, there will still be money needed for many areas of its operation.

It really comes down to a simple question of whether to hang onto their old job and start the new on a part-time basis or, if they have sufficient savings to make the full-time plunge. Understanding that if they decide to pursuer the avenue of a full-time business, their savings is not going to last forever and at some point they may have to find another job to support their family if the business does not begin to progress as planned.

Depending on the type of business being started, it may not be possible to begin part-time, and some service industry businesses will need to be available on a regular schedule. However, that does not mean it cannot be started part-time, with the new owner making contacts to look for their first customer. A common mistake among new business owners is having no idea where their first customer will come from and once they do have their first client, how to translate that into referrals for more work.

One advantage some new service industry businesses may have is being able to offer the services during hours traditionally not met by existing businesses. Companies that work during the day may charge a premium for their services if they have to be performed after traditional hours. A person working in the industry full-time may be able to add customers who also work during the day and need the services performed in the evening. This can be an availability niche to help get a new business off the ground.

Starting the business on a part-time schedule is going to be a two-edged sword in that the owner will be putting in extra hours working in the odd hours. However, if they dedicate the income to the business and continue meeting personal expenses from their day job, they will be able to eventually make the switch to working in their business on a full-time basis, allowing it to grow to meet their financial needs.

Copyright ? Aisha Mobley