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1HumblePainter2's avatar
1HumblePainter2
New Member
17 hours ago

Need guidance

Hi I’m new to this community but to sum it up I’m a dad of two looking to become self employed and I’m ready to branch out on my own but I have no way of securing enough jobs to maintain my finances and I need to go all in to make it happen but at the same time my current full time job won’t allow me to what can I do 

2 Replies

  • Well - Roger pretty much summed it up , not sure what more anyone  can say following that type of info he just gave you.

  • Roger's avatar
    Roger
    Jobber Ambassador

    Here’s the reality: you don’t quit your job to start a business—you earn the right to quit by proving you can get customers first.

    What you should do instead (practical path)

    Build income on the side first (non-negotiable)

    If your current job blocks your schedule, you still have:

    • Early mornings
    • Evenings
    • Weekends

    That’s enough to validate demand. You don’t need 40 hours—you need consistent paying jobs.

    Focus on quick jobs, quick cash, not perfect branding.

    Get your first 5–10 jobs manually

    Forget fancy marketing at the start. Do this:

    • Post in Nextdoor / local Facebook groups (“We’re working in your area this week…”)
    • Reply to people already asking for help
    • Knock a few doors where work is obvious
    • Ask friends, past contacts, coworkers

    Your only goal: prove strangers will pay you.

    Stack cash, not risk

    Don’t quit until you hit at least one of these:

    • You’re making 50–70% of your job income consistently for 2–3 months
    • Or you have 2–3 months of expenses saved + jobs booked ahead

    Right now, you’re trying to jump the gap without a bridge.

    Create leverage before quitting

    Once you see traction:  

    • Line up jobs for 2–4 weeks ahead
    • Raise prices slightly (test demand)
    • Build repeat clients

    That’s when quitting becomes a calculated move, not a gamble.

    The uncomfortable truth

    You don’t need permission from your job—you need discipline to use your off-hours. A lot of people say “my job won’t let me,” but what they mean is “I’m exhausted.” That’s real—but it’s also the price of transition.

    You’ve got two kids. That means your plan has to be boring and reliable, not risky and exciting.