So your dream is to start a business as a wedding professional and quit your day job, right? It’s an amazing dream to have, and one that we think you can totally accomplish. We know you have at least one burning question, though.

How do you know when you can quit?

This question is subject to change based on each person’s preferences and situation. However, there are still common factors that we believe everyone should be able to check off their list before turning in their notice.

You Have a Business Plan

First and foremost, if you don’t have a clear business plan or a plan of action written out, you aren’t ready to quit. You should have a clear outline of your goals, how you expect to reach those goals, the steps you will take to start generating revenue, etc. Even better, you’ve already started bringing in a little income from your business. You also must be willing to be flexible because goals are fluid; they can bend and change given whatever circumstances you’re in.

You should also know who your ideal client is, where they are, and how you’re going to serve them, so you can create a marketing strategy. If you need help figuring this out, check out this blog post.

You’ve Already Gotten the Word Out

Before your quit, it’s recommended that people should already know you’re starting your business. Word of mouth travels quickly and is one of the most organic marketing methods, so be sure to let your friends and family know of your plans, and then keep reminding them. This is part of your pre-launch strategy. You’ll see better results by keeping the thought at the forefront of people’s minds that you’re starting a business versus waiting to announce once it actually happens.

You Have an Emergency Fund in Place

Although you should have an emergency fund regardless, if you haven’t started generating income from your business yet while still at your 9-5, having a nest egg can still serve the same purpose. Not only will it allow you to feel more comfortable with quitting, you’ll have a backup stash to make up for that lost income when you’re making the transition. You should have enough to at least cover your bills for a few months, though the more you have, the better just in case it takes you longer to replace your 9-5’s income than you thought.

You Have Someone or Something to Learn From

Education is one of the most important pieces of starting or growing any business, no matter the industry. Whether you’ve enrolled in a membership program, a course, or just have a personal mentor, having a place or person to learn from will make the transition much less overwhelming for you.

At the very least, you should have a support system. Starting a business can be scary, and you’ll often have moments where you doubt yourself or wonder if you can do this. You can, but it never hurts to have extra support where it’s needed. We have a Facebook group just for wedding pros where we encourage you to ask questions and seek overall support, and we’d love to have you join it.

You Know What Your Schedule Will Look Like

You’ve gotten used to your schedule working a corporate job, but working on your own time is much less demanding. Know that you’re going to have a lot more freedom than you may be used to, and you should be prepared to spend that time wisely. If you’re going to be working from home often, plan what your days will look like. It can be helpful to follow a similar schedule as you would at your 9-5.

Also try to have a dedicated work space set up. While we enjoy working from the couch as much as the next person, having a home office has been a huge help in our overall productivity and how we accomplish our goals. We aren’t saying you have to go spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy desk, dual monitors, and an office chair, however. Working on a laptop at your dining table is just fine.

If you’re able to check these 5 things off of your list, you just may be ready to quit your job and pursue your business full-time. As we said before, though, these things are subjective to each individual person and their needs, so if you feel in your heart that in order to give your all to your business, you need to quit a little earlier than expected, then by all means, do so. As long as you have a clear plan of action, know what steps you’ll take to reach your goals, and are adamant, we bet you’ll be up and running in no time.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to DM us on Instagram or email us at team@theabundance.group.