What do I do

richie_greenuk

Hi folks,

Just hoping I can call upon some of your valued advice.

My background is in self employment combined with flexible shift work until last October, when I was made redundant from my job. My self employment (running a web and software dev agency - I am responsible for Sales and Marketing) was not generating sufficient at the time to go full time. So I was forced to take on a 9-5 job which I have never done (and hate!) - I was in that job for 5 months before moving to a new job - another 9-5 - and now I hate this. In the meantime, my business has started to pick up and I have assessed the marketing opportunities and compiled an exhaustive plan. I feel 75% confident I can make this successful with a part time job to supplement the income - BUT, do I risk it. At present, I am on a decent wage of £23500 but I sit here all day wishing I was elsewhere. I could go back to the industry where I was made redundant in a lesser role and be paid less but I would be in a position then to work more on my business.
Part of me is saying 'go on, bite the bullet and go full time at work' whilst another part says 'stay where I am'. I lost a good friend in Afghanistan a month or so ago and this has really made me re-evaluate what I am doing.

What would you do in my position?

spanglish

You don't mention how much you need the income you are currently bringing in. Do you need to be earning a full time wage or could you afford to take a small cut for a short period of time? Can you work on your self-employment out of office hours or is it the sort of work that requires you to be available 9-5 to succeed?

If you can afford to take a cut in income, then I'd definitely say go for it. If not, and the part time option will remain open, see if you can put aside a little money until at least the autumn (in my experience July and August are pretty dead months and not the best time to go it alone) to build a cushion and do as much groundwork "out of hours".

I became self-employed purely by accident just as a way to keep my brain occupied whilst on a maternity career break, but would now never go back to working for someone else, even though income isn't as regular or reliable as before. Life's too short (and yes, it was also the death of a close friend that made me go for it!)

richie_greenuk

I can afford to take a small pay cut in the short term and it does really need 9-5 commitment as we are in web/software development. I Earn around £1400 per month and could afford to drop to around £1000 p/m. The part time work is not going to be open for long so I need to tell them my intentions asap ideally.

I am off on holiday next week so am going to give this serious thought,

Cheers

cagneuk

hi richie,

bite the bullet. I've worked my 9-5 for 8 year now I have a mortgage wife two daughters, car and debt. I cannot get out of my job. when I started there were 8 of us now only 3 remain. three of the leavers have left to start their own business, took the risk now all are doing what they love. one is on a bit less that what he was here, but as he runs his own bookshop he spends most days on here and makes extra money online.

richie_greenuk

Thanks.

I have a young family, mortgage and loan but fortuanetly my wife also works part time with her wage covering most of the outgoings should things get real bad. The thing is I can always get a part time job to supplement my other earnings.
Having worked for myself before I fully appreciate the commitments and requirements of self emplyment so feel I am reasonably well prepared.
Oh decisions, decisions!